Amy Boehm Sellin' & Lovin' The Texas Hill Country Blog

What's more fun than hanging out a Rodeo!  The smell of the Midway, Carnival Rides, and yes, livestock, all come together for an unforgettable experience.  An daren't we the lucky ones to have one of the most amazing rodeos in the country located right here in  San Antonio.  Seventeen days of fun, music, rides, food, and bull riding, did I mention the food :)

There are special days for the Military, Senior Citizens, College Students and Families with free admission, not to mention $1.00 days when everything on the midway including admission is only a $1.00.  

Do you love country music, well this is the place to be.  San Antonio is well known for bringing in the biggest stars to serenade you.  Don't like country, there's always a band or a comedy act for you.  

So put on your cowboy boots and head on over to the Freeman Coliseum for some rip roaring, knee slapping, boot scoot'n fun!

Cutest home in the neighborhood sitting on two lots.  Open floor plan that boast a lovely rock fireplace in the living room.  Stainless appliances, tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.  Ceiling fans accompany all the bedrooms.  Double vanity in the master bathroom.  Enjoy the extended deck for your entertaining and relaxing pleasure.  This property is complete fenced with a gate at the driveway.  Peaceful and tranquility await you in this perfectly maintained home.  Enjoy the wildlife and access to the parks. MLS#928429  $210,000 located in Spring Branch, TX  For more pictures and information please go to www.myboehmteam.com

The Health & Wholeness Center

Presents

Living with Intention

A Presentation by Joan Harris, LPC

It’s never too early to think about the legacy you want to leave.

Professional Counselor, Joan Harris, will share with you the value of living

with intention now and being deliberate with your legacy wishes.

Please Join Us!

Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012

11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Benedict Hall

216 W. Highland Street

Boerne, Texas 78006

Brown Bag Lunch

There is no fee to attend but reservations are required.

Please RSVP by Jan. 27^th to

Teresa Jones, Director

830-816-8470

hwcenter@gvtc.com

Event underwritten by

Frost Bank Boerne

The Health & Wholeness Center

Invites you to join a DRUM CIRCLE!

The Connie Butaud Drum Circle

Beginning on Jan. 18, 2012

Come make some NOISE!!!

It will be music to your ears!!

And GREAT FUN!!

At Benedict Hall

216 W. Highland Drive

Boerne, Texas 78006

NO COST TO ATTEND

Future dates Feb 15, March 14 and April 11

Call 830-816-8470 for more information.

Remarkable Hill Country style home boasting views surrounded by the peace and tranquility of The Texas Hill Country.  You will be amazed by the pristine flooring, wood burning fireplace, open floor plan and gourmet kitchen as you enter the lovely foyer.  The ultimate cook’s kitchen with granite, stainless appliances, under mount sink, gas cooking and a pot filler faucet waiting for all those wonderful meals.  An abundance of light shines through the windows to add to the warmth and beauty of the home.  You will enjoy the multiple outdoor living areas with plenty of room for entertaining.  Plenty of storage with a huge walk in storage area above the garage. This property is located in Woodridge Estates of Comfort, Texas.  MLS#927216  $400,000 and sitting on 4.25 acres.  For more pictures please click on the picture for the virtual tour or go to www.myboehmteam.com for more information.  

Almost every morning I wake up and turn on the news only to hear about another house fire. The one that hit most tragically Christmas morning was one of three children and the grandparents dying.  The heroic grandfather was found trying to save one of the children.  And then today one of our own Keller Williams Realtors lost his home and a fireman was injured.  These morning news stories break your heart.  In hoping to prevent more fires, I have collected some safety information for fireplaces and furnaces.  

Wood-burning fireplaces

1. If you use your fireplace on a regular basis be sure and have it swept by a chimney sweet every year.  I didn't know that a certified chimney sweep also checks to make sure that the damper is working and that there are no cracks in the flue liner.  If you do not use your fireplace very often, you can get away with going up to 5 years between sweeps.  

2. Keep your damper closed to prevent the warmth from your heater escaping.

3. Install a chimney cap to keep critters from finding their way into your home as well as birds from nesting in it.

4. Here's something else I did not know.  Did you know that you should "prime" your fireplace.  You do this by holding a lighted newspaper at the back of the firebox to start the warm air rising.  This apparently warms your flue so that your home will not be filled with smoke, hot air rises, cold air sinks!  (Lora says this explains a lot, now if she can just get her father-in-law to believe her :)

5. Burn aged, dry hardwood, which I think most of us know.  Green wood just doesn't burn very well.  Never ever burn anything that you are not sure what might be in it so that you do not deliver any toxic chemicals into your home, i.e. construction debris.

6. Do not clean out the fireplace when the ashes are still hot. And dispose of the ashes in a place where wayward embers won't start a fire.   I feel this is the most important of all.  The news said this may be the reason the above story about the grandparents and children happened.  

Fireplace with gas starter

1. If the flame goes out, wait at least five minutes before attempting to relight the fireplace. This allows time to clear the fireplace of gas.  Please, please do this, we wouldn't want you to be posting to facebook with no hair on your head or arms :) or even worse :(

2. Be alert for unusual odors or odd-colored flames, which are often a sign that the fireplace is not operating properly. In such cases, contact your dealer or licensed technician for servicing. Contact the gas company if you smell gas when the unit is off.  And men, listen to your wives, they have a better sense of smell.  If they say something smells funny, be cautious and listen! 

Gas furnace maintenance (I know I have blogged about this, but here's a reminder for safety reasons)

1. Have your gas furnace maintained yearly by a qualified heating specialist.  They will check for problems, vacuum out the unit, inspect the blower motor and heat exchanger, check all the electronics and make sure that the system is in tip top shape for the season to come.

2. Change those filters!  It keeps the air flowing properly.

3. Keep vents, space heaters and baseboards clear of furniture, rugs and drapes to allow free air movement.

4. Do not store items close to your furnace so that it has plenty of airflow around it as well.

5. Do not store or use combustible materials, such as chemicals, paint, rags, clothing, draperies, paper, cleaning products, gasoline, or flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of the furnace.

6. Install a carbon monoxide alarm.  

Have a warm and safe winter!

Check out our new property search, we are really excited about it.  No more humdrum searching by just home size, bedrooms, bathrooms, and is there a gameroom?  How about searching for a home because it is in walking distance of your favorite coffee shop or dress store!  Now is that more fun!!  OK, so you can still put in the practical stuff, and also add what schools you might want to be close, but go ahead take a moment and see if your dream home is just minutes from your favorite bakery!  http://www.myboehmteam.com/sanantoniohillcountrypropertysearch.html

Last week we had a couple of nights below freezing temperature here in the Texas Hill Country.  And there was some scrambling around the house to get the pipes ready for the weather as well as some of our vacant listings.

Taking the advice of a plumber here are things that we all need to do for those occasional freezes.

Guess what his first statement was:  "Preparation is the key!"

Since we do live in South Texas & the Texas Hill Country and freezes are few and far between some of our pipes are more exposed. Plastic and copper pipe are both capable of freezing.  Be proactive and get out there and protect those pipes before that next freeze.

Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are all vulnerable to freezing, especially if there are cracks or openings that allow cold outside air to flow across the pipes. 

WHEN IS IT COLD ENOUGH TO FREEZE?

Homeowners should be alert to the danger of freezing pipes.  In San Antonio, any time temperatures dip to 32° pipes may freeze - especially when wind chill is a factor.

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine or as the case may be a little forethought can save your from a flooded home!

• Know where the water cut-off valve is located in your home.
• Remove, drain and carefully store hoses used outdoors.
• Keep garage doors shut if any water lines are located inside
• Seal all openings where cold air can get at unprotected water pipes. 
• During freezing weather, leave cabinet doors open under kitchen or bathroom sinks if they are located near outside walls
• Let faucets drip slowly to keep water flowing through pipes that are vulnerable to freezing.
• Exterior pipes and hose bibbs (outdoor faucets) should be drained or enclosed in 2-inch insulation sleeves.
• When weather is very cold, keep thermostats at the same temperature day & night.  Lowered temperatures at night may contribute to colder attic temperatures, and thus, more vulnerable pipes.

OH! Dear!!!  The pipes are froze!

• Inside try using a portable hair dryer to blow warm air on the pipe,
• Keep the faucets open until the water starts flowing again to relieve pressure

If your water pipes have already burst, turn of the water at the main shut-off valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on.  And call the Plumber :( 

Dickens on Main

December 2, 5:00 PM - December 3, 10:00 PM @ Downtown Boerne

Downtown Boerne, Texas becomes a magical destination for 2 weekends after Thanksgiving. Delight in the Snow every hour, music, theater groups, artisans, horse-drawn carriages (a small fee applies), & of course, Santa Claus outside the Little Nature Store!

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 2, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Boerne All Faith Christmas Festival & Chili Cook-off

December 3, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM @ “The Alley” at First United Methodist Church

Live music by: Ruben V Rachel Hubbard (From American Idol) And more! Children’s Area Texas Washer Throw Down People’s Choice and Celebrity Chili Judging Music, Praise and Worship Parade Float Send Off Tickets $5.00 each. All proceeds donated to the Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries Building Program.

Weihnachts Parade

December 3, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ Downtown Boerne

Boerne's twinkling lighted Christmas Parade!

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 3, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Songwriters Circle at Tin Roof

December 8, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 9, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Boerne Market Days

December 10, 10:00 AM - December 11, 5:00 PM @ Main Plaza

Market Days has become synonymous
with great shopping in an outdoor setting
with artists, craftsmen and vendors
showing their creative talents and wares to
the background music of some of Texas'
best homegrown musicians.

2nd Saturday Art & Wine

December 10, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM @ Galleries and 'Other Walls' throughout Boerne

On Second Saturdays the galleries and "Other Walls" of Boerne host joint openings. Come out and enjoy a glass of wine and the latest offerings on the Boerne Art Scene. Park your car and take the free trolley to see the "Best Art East of Santa Fe".

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 10, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 16, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch

December 17, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM @ Enchanted Springs Ranch

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 17, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch

December 18, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM @ Enchanted Springs Ranch

Songwriters Circle at Tin Roof

December 22, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse 

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 23, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 24, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 30, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse 

Live Music at Tin Roof

December 31, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM @ Tin Roof Steakhouse