http://irenakohler.com/blog/archive_201503/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ Spring is one of my favorite times of year in eastern NC. At the coast, we have a brief period of time before the tourists arrive in droves to enjoy our pretty towns and beaches. We get surprise beach days, where the parking is ample and the weather is warm. We rejoin the community that we had to watch from cold glass windows in the winter and we get outside!Every year my family eagerly awaits the opening of our many local farmers’ markets. We countdown the days until we can visit places such as Lewis Farms and pick strawberries until we collapse at picnic tables with a cone of fresh ice cream. Mmmmmm.....ice cream. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite farmers’ markets and agrarian adventures. To be honest, I will be putting this list on my refrigerator so that I don’t miss visiting any this season. Enjoy!Poplar Grove Farmers’ MarketOpens April 1stThis farmers’ market is one of my very favorites. It is the perfect place for families. We usually take a long walk on the trails then buy all of our yummy treats. There is a family day scheduled in June. You can find more information about Poplar Grove and their farmers’ market by visitinghttp://www.poplargrove.org/farmers-market/Carolina Beach Farmers’ MarketOpens May 16thThe Carolina Beach Farmers’ Market definitely conveys a bit of an island flare. We love to visit this market if there is time in our schedule to take a quick ocean dip or to boogie to the music that is performed at the market. This market also has a large array of crafts made by local artisans. To see the vendor lists, schedules, etc. visithttp://carolinabeachfarmersmarket.com/Riverfront Farmers’ Market (downtown Wilmington, NC)Opens April 4thThis market is the one that my family visits most frequently due to its proximity to our house. Although it has typically been a bit smaller in offerings than the others in previous years, each year it gets bigger. I hope that this market continues to expand. I love picking up gifts for friends and family at the Riverfront market. From pickled peppers, fresh flowers, to local honey I can always find something that makes for a unique gift. Pickled collard greens anyone?http://www.wilmingtondowntown.com/events/farmers-marketEagle Island Fruit and SeafoodOpen Year RoundThough Eagle Island is not a farmers’ market it is an amazing place to buy fish, fresh produce, and plants. Eagle Island has a rotating inventory and the best is when they have fresh cakes made by locals in stock. They also serve up a HUGE cup of ice cream for not very huge prices. This place is a true general store. It is the kind of place that I grew up hanging out in with my Pawpaw, and I take my kids here to experience the slower pace of a lot of regulars talking farm out front.  Oh, and if oysters is what you want then you might want to bring the pick-up.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eagle-Island-Fruit-Seafood/146282825406866Lewis FarmsOpened March 27thThere are a few different Lewis Farms locations. The one that I visit (and love) is the Gordon Road location. I have more Lewis Farms buckets (you get one to fill when you enter) than I do drinking glasses! This place is kid heaven, and it isn’t too bad for parents either. We go to pick strawberries, though they do sell plants and pre-picked veggies. The berries are very reasonably priced, and picking them yourself makes them taste better, I’m pretty sure. Because the berries are planted in long rows on knee high mounds little kids can only go so far. They have a long row to run, and you are usually the only group in your row. This place became a favorite when I had toddlers. After picking berries heading to the picnic tables to enjoy fresh berry ice cream is the best. Sometimes we drive out to Lewis Farms just for the ice cream, it's that good.http://www.lewisfarms.com/lewis-farm-marketsGreenlands FarmstoreOpen year roundGreenlands Farmstore often becomes one of our family stops to or from Oak Island. The farm is located on Midway Road and it opened in 2001. This place has a little bit of everything and you never quite know what you are going to get. There is the farm store which offers  everything from jellies to goat’s milk soap. There is the cafe serving up super yummy sandwiches. There are pony rides and a petting farm. My favorite offering (even though I have not had the chance to explore it) is the Homestead and Jr. Homestead Dinners. These are farm fresh dinners that are scheduled two times a month. There are too many awesome things to list (like hayrides for the kids and s'mores). I will definitely be making room in my summer schedule to experience the farm to fork dinner. http://www.greenlandsfarmstore.info/homesteaddinners/There are so many great places in our area for buying (and eating) amazing locally grown farm fresh foods. I will be adding to this list as the season progresses and I have the opportunity to explore more of them. Where should I go? Guide me by commenting on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/seacoastrealty http://irenakohler.com/blog/1322/farm-fresh-eastern-nc/ Tue, 31 Mar 2015 12:00:00 -0500 The word Brunswick conjures up two images for me...beautiful beaches and stew! I am comforted by both of these things. Sean Skutnik comforted a sweet abandoned pup some 8 years ago, and that pup was given the name Brunswick! Sean, a self described adrenaline junkie, is a Broker in our Leland office. Originally from Binghamton, NY, Sean has lived in Wilmington for the past 22 years. Living at the coast has given Sean the opportunity to explore his passions of motocross, biking, surfing, and just about anything else sports related. We are honored to have someone so willing to stop and help as a part of our Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage team. This is Sean’s best friend, Brunswick’s story...I was driving around on hwy 210 in rural Brunswick Co, when I encountered a pack of five puppies that ran across the road. It was near dusk. There were no houses in site, so I pulled over and got out of my truck. As I walked towards them all except one, jumped into a deep ditch with cat tails, mud, water, etc. The one that didn’t, surprised me and came running to me when I whistled. He was scared and immediately fell onto his back. I could tell he was in bad shape. He was very malnourished, hair was falling out, bugs and ticks were all over him. He was so cute though. I picked him up and put him in the passenger seat. He thoroughly enjoyed the AC blowing from the vents. He sat there like he belonged. I knew I had an amazing dog right then and there! I continued to look for the other puppies, but unfortunately they got off into the woods and it was getting dark. I regret not saving them all, but was glad to have saved one of them. His name is Brunswick Skutnik.   Jumping forward to now, Brunswick is 8 years old, in great shape, and there is not one person he comes across that he does not like! He has the sweetest soul.He does so many funny things. He loves to hunt lizards around the perimeter of the fence during the warmer days. He has one squirrel that waits for him every day on the back fence that he thinks he will catch one day (while running after him with a ball in his mouth growling as if he is mean). If he did catch him he would probably only sniff him!On Saturday’s he enjoys the dog park and a trail run at, “Brunswick Nature Park” in Leland. I let him lead the way on the trail, and I follow on the bicycle. He keeps a good pace for about 1 mile before he gets pretty tired. Like myself, “Brunswick” loves adrenaline but loves his downtime too. He has his own chair, 2 beds to relax on, a screened in patio, and doggie door for keeping the back yard clear of squirrels and lizards! Brunswick is also proud to be the reigning “King Of Paw Jam” from the last event held at Battleship Park. Yep, he has it made!Have you ever stopped to help an animal? Did it change your life?Please share your rescue experiences with us on Facebookhttp://on.fb.me/1CrGlx1For great pics of rescue animals and products that make their life more comfortable follow us on Pinteresthttps://www.pinterest.com/insideseacoast/At Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage we are committed to saving animals. We will be participating on March 28, 2015 in the Canines for Service Dog Dash. For more information on this great program or to donate visit  http://www.caninesforservice.org/ http://irenakohler.com/blog/1323/meet-sean-skutnik-and-brunswick/ Fri, 27 Mar 2015 12:00:00 -0500 Empie ParkThis is my favorite pooch place in Wilmington. The dog park is large and located right near the front of Empie. Two acres are divided up by chain fencing to separate the dogs by size. There is one area specifically for dogs under 20 pounds. The park is well-maintained. Empie is a great park for humans too! It boasts one of the best playgrounds, tennis courts, walking trails, and picnic areas. As Wilmington’s first off-leash park Empie has proven to be a huge success. There are always furry friends enjoying the dog park. This is the link with the list of rules for Empie Dog Park (and I believe all New Hanover Dog parks):http://bit.ly/1tKcHzLOgden Dog ParkAnother dog park that satisfies both human and dog friends is Ogden Dog Park. Ogden Park is on the newer side. The only complaint that regulars have is the sand in the dog area. Some dogs have gotten sand spurs in their paws, and we know that cleaning sand out of dog fur is a never ending process.  But, as a human living at the coast, I have come to know two things quite well...sand and sand spurs! Ogden park offers a great walking trail, good playground for the kids, and covered picnic areas. Ogden Park is currently raising money for a new skate park! As the Ogden area grows I expect that this park will gain popularity pretty fast.Hugh Macrae Dog ParkHugh Macrae Dog Park is set up much the same as Ogden and Empie. There are both small and large dog areas. Because Hugh Macrae is so large and popular with Wilmington residents, this dog park tends to be a bit busier than the others. If you are looking to meet a human dog-loving friend, this might be the park for you. With the larger crowds here, it is important to watch your dog a little more closely. This park does have more grass than Ogden Dog Park, so there is a slightly lower risk of sand spurs.Oak Island The beach at Oak Island is not a dog park, but is a great place for you and your dog to run! Oak Island allows for leashed pets on the beach year round. They do require a leash from March 15 - October 15 (peak tourist season). A day trip to Oak Island is easily accomplished as there is ample free parking on the island, most beach accesses are equipped with waste baggies and waste receptacles, and it is only 30 minutes away from downtown Wilmington. I often find it easier to shoot down to Oak Island than to battle parking at Wrightsville. Bonus, I get to take my dog!Abbey Nature Preserve at Poplar GroveIf you are looking to exercise yourself as well as your pooch, the Abbey Trails might be the thing to do. The trails are dog-friendly and are often used by pet owners. The trail is 2.4 miles long with a beautiful pond located at its end. You will want to bring your pets water, etc. with you. This trail is easy to hike but will most likely take over an hour. At my last visit there were no rules posted. Many people have dogs off-leash, so be aware that you may have overly excited company! You may want to check the Poplar Grove calendar (its located http://www.poplargrove.org/). Some events are extremely popular and people often take to the trail while visiting Poplar Grove. Where do you like to take your dog? Visit us on Facebook and let us know!https://www.facebook.com/seacoastrealtyor Tweet us @InsideSeaCoast http://irenakohler.com/blog/1324/fun-places-to-go-in-and-around-wilmington-on-your-dogs’-day-off/ Tue, 24 Mar 2015 12:00:00 -0500 Patty Paone is one “failure” that Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage is happy to have on our team. Patty is what is known in the rescue world as a, “foster failure.” Believe it or not, she has fostered successfully (8-10 times). Patty recently moved from New York where she was active in a dog sanctuary. Obviously, Patty is an extremely patient and giving person. She currently has a pack of FIVE dogs, all rescues. I’m pretty sure that she has enough material to write a book, but this is Phoebe’s story.My Phoebe was rescued from a Puppy Mill in Ohio in March of 2013.  By the time she got to us in August 2013, she had been in 3 foster homes and a short stay at the sanctuary.  She was so shut down. She was getting bounced around trying different situations to help her.  She wouldn’t go out or come back in on her own. She had to be carried out and then chased down to get her back in.  We would often bring our dogs to the sanctuary when we were going up for the day.  In comes my overly social boy (Mack) who got her out of her shell one day while visiting the sanctuary. He just wanted her to play and wouldn’t give up until she did. After 2 weeks, we decide to see how she would do in our house.  We have a very social pack. Hoping less chaos and a smaller pack would help her, we took her to ‘foster’.  I used to just sit outside and give attention to all the other dogs, letting her come to me when she was ready.  We thought about rehoming her when she came out of her shell, but we think it is our pack that keeps her going, after all she has been through. We cannot imagine causing her to shut back down.To meet more amazing pets and their humans or to tell us about your furry friends visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/seacoastrealtyFollow us on Twitter @InsideSeaCoastColdwell Banker is committed to helping rescues in 2015. You can learn more about the #homerocks campaign http://blog.coldwellbanker.com/home-dog/In an effort to support our local furry friends we are participating in the Canines for Service walk/dash. To learn more about the Canines for Service organization or to make a donation visit http://www.caninesforservice.org/  http://irenakohler.com/blog/1325/meet-patty-paone-pet-person-of-the-week/ Fri, 20 Mar 2015 12:00:00 -0500 The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "Luck" as, “A force that brings good fortune or adversity”. On St. Patrick’s Day, we frequently heard the word luck. This had me thinking about the ways in which I have been lucky, and what I would do if Big luck struck. I have been the winner of exactly one contest in my life. When I was 11 years old, I purchased a raffle ticket at my local pharmacy. The ticket sales were to sponsor a Special Olympian in my hometown. I won! The pharmacy called, and told me that I was the winner of one of the five or so prizes that were up for grabs. I pictured over and over the bucket of beauty items that I would be picking up later that day. When I arrived the counter clerk handed me what every 11 year old girl would want...an oscillating fan.I did not win the make-up. I won the fan.  Lucky streak number one seemed to have come to an end. As an adult living in Wilmington, North Carolina I can now see the benefit of winning a fan!I may not have won very many contests, but I am still prone to buying a lottery ticket if the jackpot is huge. Luck can change in an instant, right? As soon as the ticket is mine, I think of all the ways that I could spend the money. I wonder what the very fortunate lady from Brunswick county (she won $188 million) will do with her riches? For me it always goes back to charity (animals and the arts), my family and friends, and my home. And, I mean a big home with a stunning view and a pool.6454 Shinnwood Rd. Wilmington, NCColdwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage gets to be a vehicle for luck everyday. When a seller gets his/her offer or when a buyer has his/her offer accepted, those people feel lucky. Once a month we call one very fortunate person to tell them that they are the winner of our ongoing Coast in and Win contest. This person is the recipient of a $500 check from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. How did they enter the contest? By walking in and looking at one of the beautiful homes hosting a weekend open house! What luck! It is a pretty big stretch to think that I would ever win the lottery, but $500 seems pretty possible. I think I would treat myself to a shopping day at some of my favorite local stores, and hire a really nice babysitter for the evening. What would you do with an extra $500? Would you donate it? Would you treat yourself? Let us know what you would do with an extra $500https://www.facebook.com/seacoastrealtyLearn more about our Coast in and Win Contest and view our open houseshttp://bit.ly/JVRxujYou can find more information on the house in the photo above by visiting http://bit.ly/1CrMonj(Home listed by Jessica Edwards and Associates The Carolinas Finest) http://irenakohler.com/blog/1326/lucky/ Wed, 18 Mar 2015 12:00:00 -0500