Elaine's Blog

I Will Pay You on Tuesday for a Hamburger Today!The hamburger is one of the world’s most popular foods, with nearly 50 billion served up annually in the United States alone. Although the humble beef-patty-on-a-bun is technically not much more than 100 years old, it's part of a far greater lineage...

Moving On Up: Buying a Luxury HomeBuying a luxury home is equal parts exciting as it is nerve-wracking. When buying a luxury home you're investing a lot of money and/or committing to a substantial mortgage. With a large investment like this comes a lot of homework and ensuring you're buying the r...

St. Patrick’s Day: Then and Now Modern St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, at least in the United States, are likely be to characterized by commercial lucky charms and green beer—all of which has very little to do with the historical figure of the saint. As it turns out, it took centuries for the hol...

Guess who is Coming for Dinner? Squirrel stew, jelly beans, & hoecakes: The presidents' favorite foods! Presidents of the United States have had some eccentric choices for favorite foods. So take heed this is what was served for dinner if one wanted to impress the President who happened to coming...

Till there was Yew: The Yew Tree The yew (Taxus) genus represents many varieties of evergreen trees and shrubs that are easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. These plants are highly adaptable for landscaping and make a nice addition to a garden border or when used ...

To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse: What is Smudging? I have been in Real Estate for many years.  I have people buying homes and they will smudge the homes for different reasons.  Buyers from all different cultures and religious beliefs will do this. Other cultures worldwide may burn herbs or incense f...

Your Front Door: Color Me Feng Shui Many years ago I wrote an article on Feng Shui. This you can find on my website.  Now I want to blog just about the door regarding Feng Shui. In feng shui, your front door is one of the most important areas of your home and represents the face you show to the w...

All Aboard: Your Virginia Trolley Winery Tour!Visiting Virginia’s local wineries is always a good idea. That’s especially true if you can get together with your closest friends and not have to worry about who will drive. That’s what makes the Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg so special. This compa...

Legend or Myth: Who is the Virginia Giant?  I have longed been intrigued by the legend of the “Virginia Giant” so let us break it down who he was and his role in history.  Peter Francisco (born Pedro Francisco; July 7, 1760 – January 16, 1831) known variously as the "India", the "Giant of the Rev...

Fry Bread: Is So Delicious! Try Some!  I would like to start this blog by saying, I love and adore Fry Bread.  My go to at Pow Wows and to make at home even. So easy and worth a try! A vessel for savory or sweet toppings! Before we get into “complexities” of Indian fry bread history (also spelled...