Holly Kirby Weatherwax, Your Realtor in Reston

Back in middle and high school, I tried to hide my tendency to turn to books as friends. Once in college, it became 'cool' to love to read and I was able to embrace my true love of reading.

As a young girl I spent hours and hours at small branch of the Fairfax Country library at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston. That branch has since closed--to be replaced by the Reston Museum--but I can still remember the thrill of the hunt when I would leave the heat of a warm summer day to enter the cool quiet of the library.

Fast forward many years...I now go to the much larger Reston Regional Library. Sometimes I even just get my fix by logging on to the library website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.

Many a Sunday morning will find me sitting at my computer, looking up recommendations I just saw in the Washington Post Book World. With a click of the mouse I can reserve anything and have it sent to Reston Regional. As much as I love spending money at bookstores, I do try to keep checks on my spending (and acquisition) and this really helps!

I have even found that there is a recipricol arrangment with Loudoun County Library: http://library.loudoun.gov/

This has enabled me to link my Fairfax County Library card to the Loudoun County Library and check books out in both places!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There may be similar relationships with Arlington, Falls Church and Alexandria, but I have not (so far) had the need to investigate.

Back in the day when I was the mother of toddlers, we often participated in the library programs. They were informal, well managed and a fun way to break up the day. I can't speak to the current programs, but with their history of excellence, I feel fine recommending them. More information can be found at: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/tots/.

Another program that intrigues me is the All Fairfax Reads program. This summer the featured book was, The Uncommon Reader, by Alan Bennett. This program is designed to get people reading and discussing books. The county provides questions to spark these discussions.

If you look around the site, you will find that they have programs for everyone: home schoolers, teens, adult book clubs, volunteer opportunities.

If you are a reader, like me, you could not find a better place to satisfy your craving for new books than Fairfax County. While I only spoke of the Reston Branch, I have been to many of them and they were all wonderful. Get out and explore this wonderful--and free-- resource!

I might be a funny one to write a tribute to a preschool since my 'baby' is in middle school, but I am so warmed by the way that this local preschool has touched so many people.

Anyone who has read my blogs knows that I grew up here, in Reston, VA. We moved here when I was in 2nd grade, so I did not go to preschool here. A lot of my high schoool friends did, however, attend LANk (as it is known--or 'Lankie' as our family calls it). The original founders were parents of my contemporaries.

All three of my children went there. My youngest stayed all the way through kindergarten--mostly because I couldn't stand to leave after so many years. The staff is the best and my children talk about them to this day.

What has me thinking of this wonderful school is the number of friends my children have, today, that we originally met while attending LANK. It has a tremendous community reach. So many of my friends I met at LANK while first navigating the terrain of 'stay at home mom.' It is a wonderful school and has helped to create a wonderful community. We will be packing our daughter off to college on Saturday with another family that we met back in the LANK days.

Sometimes an institution is 'so much more' than what it is. I would say that is true of LANK.

Here is to you, Lake Anne Nursery Kindergarten--Lankie!

With a cup of coffee in hand, I strolled last week down to the dock at South Lakes Village Center. I took these photos because they reflect how peaceful being by the lake feels--even on a hot and humid day.

If you are interested in seeing which merchants are at the SLVC, you can go to the website: http://southlakesvillagecenter.com/

There are currently 10 properties for sale on the lake in the South Lakes Area (also includes Lake Audubon) These properties range from a 2 Bedroom condominium, listed at $525,000 to a beautiful contemporary detached home $1,230,000.

Here are some photos from the famous Lake Anne Village Center. This was the first section of Reston to be built and the place where I spent a lot of my child hood. I have fond memories of playing in the fountain, the playhouse and the cement play area (on the left). We actually used to dive off the towers and swim in the lake...not allowed to do that now! I remember my surprise when my childhood playground showed up in my college Fine Arts textbook.

For more information about Lake Anne, there is a website that you can go to: http://www.lakeanneplaza.com/lap_site_/lap_idx.htm

At the website you will find more information about the merchants, the concerts, the museum and scheduled activities.

There is currently one waterfront home (as indicated by the multiple list system) for sale, listed at $560,000.

Last Friday I went out and took some photos of areas around Reston. These are some shots taken by Lake Newport in the area called North Point (also referred to as North Reston). There are homes that surround the lake, but there is a path that goes around the lake for the enjoyment of all. This part of the path is around the lake, although parts of it wind in to the surrounding neighborhoods before returning lake-side.

If waterfront living is something that interests you, there are currently two waterfront properties available, both are single family, detached home. One is listed at $1,199,500 and the second is listed at $1,295,000.