A Mother's Day Bouquet is a fitting tribute to all moms, moms to be, and mom like people!  I love to buy flowers and my husband likes to plant them.  Notice I did not say he loves to plant them. Our yard always has some type of annual flower as our weather in Benicia, California allows us blooming plants anytime of the year. We have snapdragons and pansies positioned in the front and back yard. He planted over 200 bulbs last fall.  The daffodils came up first with smiles on their face waving to passersby walking past our house.  The tulips came next and bloomed in reds, blues, and yellows.  Our irises grew straight and tall but decided to hold on to their show later than usual.  I noticed around our town the iris were blooming but not ours. Easter weekend, while we were camping they dec... 05/08/2011

" Dump & Donate"  We are raising funds for Relay for Life that will take place this coming August.  We have several teams busy raising as much money as we can for this worthy cause to fight cancer. This week we have two activities going on. Tomorrow (May 5) is Fish Tacos from 1130-1PM.  We are accepting $5 donations for 2 fish tacos made with Alaskan Halibut at the office. After your fill of tacos, come back on Saturday and get rid of your unwanted items. Where: Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific 900 First St. Benicia (back parking lot) When: May 7, 2011 Saturday 8:00am - 12:00pm Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific & Buchanan Construction is offering an opportunity to DUMP AND DONATE! Get rid of unwanted items that have been cluttering your garage and closets. TWO receptacles: one for metals; on... 05/05/2011

Beauty and the Beast at Benicia High School is being produced and played by our local high school students.  So far reviews are running high for this classic show currently playing for the next week.  I remember seeing the stage show in Los Angeles years ago when my daughters were 4.  They are now 20, but still love Beauty and the Beast. Evening shows are May 6th and 7th at 7PM.  Matinees will be on May 7th and 8th at 2PM.  All shows will be in the Performing Arts Building on the Benicia High School Campus located on 1100 West Military. Cost is a nominal fee of $8 for children and students with IDs, and $10 for general admission.  For more information and tickets you can call 707-751-2338. Don't miss out supporting our local Benicia High School students and enjoy a highly entertaining c... 05/04/2011

This Friday May 6th is our annual fundraiser for Reach Out Benicia.  Reach Out Benicia is a local service provided for youth and young adults with drug and alcohol problems.  One of our local Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific Realtors, Earl Miller, is the back bone of this program.  He and his wife, Jane, started the program 19 years ago.  They have poured their soul and heart into it, saving many youths and adults over the year. Friday night it starts at 6PM til 10PM.  There will be a live and silent auction with fantastic items. The cost is $25 and includes supper and rocking out with music featured by local musicians at the Clocktower in Benicia CA. Tickets can be bought at Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific, or ABC Music or you can just call me! Rock out with Reach Out Benicia! 05/01/2011

There is a garage sale in Benicia April 30th which will benefit Relay for Life.  Our office is collecting gently used items to sell this coming Saturday. The garage sale will be set up behind our office at 900 First St in Benicia, CA.  It starts bright and early at 8AM.  Some of us will be there early to help get the items set out. One of our clients donated some books, beautiful old picture frames and a gorgeous brass desk lamp.  I have my eye on that one!  Our office's basement is getting filled up with treasures ready to be bought by eager bargain hunters this Saturday. Please stop by, browse, and buy something!  All proceeds will be donated to Relay for Life. Don't miss the garage sale in Benicia April 30th! 04/27/2011

Benicia Water-Wise Landscaping Workshop Series is set to start in May.  There will be three sessions with Wednesday May 4 being the first date. All workshops will be held at the Heritage Hall 1400 East 2nd in Benicia and they are FREE.  The same workshops will also be held in Vallejo for three Mondays in May. May 4th - 6PM-8PM  This will cover water wise basics.  Learn the basic principals of water-wise gardening.  There will be hands-on demonstrations and displays to help you see the importance of soil type, amendments, mulching and basic design elements.  Benicia has clay soil, what a great way to find out how to work with this yucky stuff! May 11th - 6PM-8PM  Irrigation Design will be the feature for this workshop.  Discover strategies for how to use water wisely, solve the mystery o... 04/20/2011

Yesterday my husband and I laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes.  We love birds and started with finch feeders and wildbird feeders last fall.  As time goes on more and more birds come to our restaurant. We love the finches and their antics.  The blackbirds we would like to see less of and the occasional, ugh, pidgeon.  The lady pheasants peck around and the male pheasant is a colorful sight to see. What happened yesterday was a bird came to perch close by.  I took a picture.  Can you tell me which is live and which is fake?  I am pretty sure this is easy, but who knows?  They both look fake to us!  They both sat for a long time without moving. This got us laughing that a bird could sit for 5 mintues and not budge. Which is real and which is fake?  And can you tell me what they are? 04/19/2011

Opening Day on the Straights and Blessing of the Fleet Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM    Benicia Yacht Club hosts the 32nd annual Opening Day on the Straits and Blessing of the Fleet.  This year's theme is Island Time.  In addition to the boat parade and blessing, the fun filled day will include arts & craft vendors, food and beverage booths, music, and games for the children on the Marina Green.  The Yacht Club and all festivities are open to the entire community and include the following: 10:00 am - Arts and Craft Booths Open 11:00 am - Boardwalk Games Open 12:00 pm - Opening Ceremony and Music 2:00 pm - Blessing of the Fleet & Decorated Boat Parade 3:00 pm - Rubber Ducky Race 3:30 pm - Junior Sailing Scavenger Hunt 5:00 pm - Raffle Drawing, Awards - Boat Parade & Sc... 04/16/2011

We have another Benicia Short Sale Success story this week. It has been a roller coaster for my business partner, Jenny, and I.  We have been working on this particular short sale with LBPS and Citimortgage since last October. Another agent in our office came to us last year and asked if we would team with him on short sale transaction. So we jumped in and took over the paperwork.  We had a buyer and the buyer walked.   We got another buyer who stayed the course.  The reason it was a roller coaster is LBPS at the last minute said we could not close, even though we had an approval letter.  They said they had to do another interior evaluation of the property which would then take us past the approved close. WHATTTTTT?  Buyers and Sellers had signed papers, funds were in title and they sai... 04/15/2011

It helps to be Benicia Water Wise, even through there is no drought.  The State of California announced some time ago we have enough water.  We go through this every year with the officials measuring the snow pack up in the mountains.  That snow pack melts and eventually makes it way to the valleys and places beyond to help serve our state. Even with that said, it is amazing how much water we use in our homes.  I realized this when we had a slab leak recently.  Holy Toledo, our water bills spiked and the gas bill was off the charts.  It was as much as a mortgage payment!! How much water does one use when going about their daily activities? Washing hands with the tap running...up to 45 gallons YIKES!  Wash and rinse in the sink-up to 5 gallons. Brushing Teeth with tap running....10 gallo... 04/14/2011

DOG LOVERS UNITE AND GET READY TO TAKE AN "ARMORED FLIGHT"-JOIN US FOR THE VEGETABLE PATCH SPRING FLING FAIRE--BENICIA REAL ESTATE Are you a dog lover?  Did you ever stop to think that K-9 dogs are at risk of getting injured in the line of duty?  Honestly, the thought never occurred to me.  The Solano County Sherriff's Department K-9 unit is asking for your help in raising funds to armor their dogs with vests and prevent man's best friend from getting hurt while they provide an invaluable public service.  A bullet proof vest for man's best friend costs around $1600.  Who better to help "armor" our canine friends, but Armored Flight?  If you have never had the pleasure of meeting any of the members of this band or hearing them play, then get ready to be impressed.  These are some of the ... 04/14/2011

365 THINGS TO DO IN NAPA AND SOLANO COUNTIES-FRISBEE GOLF-- BENICIA REAL ESTATE Benicia Parks and Recreation has approved a nine-hole disc golf course in the open space between Lake Herman and Community Park. The proposal was made by the Benicia Disc Golf Club, which guaranteed funding for all equipment and provide the manpower to build and install tee boxes and the elevated baskets that are the equivalent of the holes on a regular golf course. Disc golf, also known as Frisbee golf, resembles its older and more well-known cousin in a couple of ways. First, players start each hole at a tee box and try to get their disc, often called a Frisbee, into a hole, in this case a basket about 4 and a half feet off the ground, with the fewest tosses. Those looking for a manicured lawn reminiscent ... 04/13/2011

Benicia Bee Removal-Honey Any One?  We closed an REO listing in Benicia this last week.  There was a colony of bees in a small shed at one end of the property.  The way we found out was another agent held an open house.  He saw more than just a few bees buzzing around. My business partner went on the quest to find a bee keeper.  We thought it would be easy peasy to get this accomplished.  She talked to pest control companies and bee keepers far and wide.  This was a bigger project than we could ever imagine. We did not want to kill them as they are good for the cycle of life and food. No one wanted to touch it.  This was not just a hive, but an entire colony of bees.  Thousands and thousands of bees.  All engaged on the underside of the shed floor.  It took the bee lady several days to ... 04/10/2011

Benicia Homes for Sale what is the Most Expensive and the Least Expensive? As of 4-10-2011 (BARIES), the Most Expensive home in Benicia is:   1230 Columbus Pkwy has 4 bedrooms and 31/2 baths sitting high on a hill overlooking the Carquinez Staits. It is a"castle in the sky" on 2.76 acres.  Escape the hustle and the bustle to your private oasis yet if you need the urban life of San Francisco, hop on the freeway or take the ferry for the skyscrapers and nightlife.  This home is listed for $999,950.  Listing agents are Earl Miller, Jenny Castaneda, and yours truly (Melanie Ross) from Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific    Least Expensive Home in Benicia as of 4-10-2011:     900 Cambridge #66 Benicia has one bedroom and one bath.  It is a condo located in the Highlands. The complex is nestled am... 04/10/2011

Benicia sunshine and flowers is a great combination.  Spring did a little tease to us about a week ago with temperatures in the 70's and up to 80.  Then the storm clouds gathered and it cooled down.  Now I realize for those of you in true winter states are laughing when I say "Brrrr to 45 degrees".  But, heck, I am sick of this rain and damp weather.  I want some sunshine for longer than one day.  I love where we live.  Benicia is small yet we are close to San Francisco. We have had some nice days this past week.  Still not warm enough for me.  I want to wear a short sleeve shirt to walk in.  I want to bask in the sunshine to get my dose of Vitamin D, the doctor says I need. There has been enough sunshine to get our bulbs blooming.  My husband is retired and loves to work in the yard.  ... 04/10/2011

Benicia Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for April 24, 2011.  This is an annual event and sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.  The location is the Benicia City Park on the corner of First and Military Streets.  Activities will begin around noon, but the "Benicia Easter Egg Hunt" starts at 1PM.  This free event is open to children between the ages of 2 and 10.  Some children come dressed to the nine with their Sunday best.  This is all about fun for the young ones. Watch them scurry around searching for the most colorful egg with eyes wide open and delight in the "hunt".  In addition to the Egg Hunt, there will be face painting, candy giveaways, prizes and of course an appearance by the Easter Bunny. My daughters are now grown, but I fondly remember the Benicia Easter Egg Hunts from previous year... 04/10/2011

Short Sales in Benicia and Vallejo (edit/delete) Short sale experts, In solano County (edit/delete) Short Sales in Benicia  Short Sales in Solano County Foreclose or Short Sale?  Benicia, Valleo Ca, Short Sales  COLDWELL BANKER SOLANO PACIFIC SHORT SALE TEAM  Earl Miller has teamed up with two of Solano Counties top experts on Short Sales. We can get the job done and you can get on with your life. No more stress or fear.  Call the experts.                                                Call 707-280-6366          www.earlsbeniciarealestate.com 707-280-6366 Earl Miller  Jenny Castaneda ,  Melanie Ross Earl Miller Benicia Real Estate Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific Short Sale Experts Buying, Selling, Forclosures, Relocation all Bay Area locations 04/08/2011

BENICIA REAL ESTATE-MARCH 2011 SALES There were 23 sales in Benicia real estates for March 2011.  The average sales price was $420,141, while the average list price was $423,783.  The average days on the market were 103.  The average sales price was $187 per square foot.  Here is a list of the homes that sold in Benicia real estate last month.    Street Full Address Listing Price Selling Price 498 Gray Ct 545,000 525,000 831 Oxford Way 441,000 420,000 139 W Seaview Dr 483,500 460,000 334 E N St 245,000 232,750 1499 W 2nd St 449,000 446,000 516 W J St 303,000 386,000 1001 E 5th St 235,000 220,000 482 Gray Ct 509,000 503,000 434 Larkin Dr 425,000 420,000 80 Vista Grande Ave 200,000 195,000 150 Chelsea Hills Dr 349,900 359,000 364 Mccall Dr 549,500 539,000 876 Channing Cir 399,000 405,000 ... 04/05/2011

Benicia Goats, our local weed eaters, are visiting again.  Benicia is a great place to live, grow up and grow old.  We have hills that reach up to the sky from the Carquinez Straits.  Spring is my favorite time of year as the hills are turning green.  As the hills turn green, the weeds will grow. The tall weeds can become a fire hazard in the summer and fall.  One economical way to keep the weeds down is to have goats roam the hills, systematically munching the tall weeds down.  Every year about this time, people will stop their cars, point to the hills, and watch the goats do their job. The city has a goat herder come in with his goats and herding dogs to keep the Benicia Goats on track. This past Sunday my husband pointed out the goats grazing on the hill seen from our backyard.  We e... 03/30/2011

Waters End Benicia is going green.  This is one of my favorite times of years as the hills turn a luscious color of green, not unlike Ireland, which I visited 10 years ago.  In addition to our hills turning green, bulbs planted last fall are up and blooming.  Waters End is a great place to live, grow up and grow old.  This is our newest neighborhood in Benicia, being built in the early 2000s and still getting built out. Pick from Craftman or Contemporay architectural style, single story or two story. Homes are 4-5 bedrooms with 3-4 baths up to 4300 Sq Ft priced from the low $500K. Want a view of the hills?  Want to live near the Waters End Park?  Want open space behind you to see the deer roam and rabbits hop? Want some urban life, San Francisco is 35 miles away.  Like to snow ski?  The... 03/26/2011