Doug Mayberry Property Management

Summer in Key West?

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

The kids will be out of school and the waters around Key West are warm and perfect for snorkeling, diving and swimming. A trip to historic Ft. Jefferson is also a must. The crowds are fewer and there are bargains galore from restaurants and attractions. The tropical ocean breezes with sooth you as you enjoy relaxing or reading a good book under our shady palms. So plan now to stay in one of our stunning vacation homestays at greatly reduced summer rates.

Ho-Ho-Ho!

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Doug Mayberry Property Management (and Hemmy, too!). We hope you have a safe and prosperous New Year in 2012.

My Excuse, By Hemmy, the Key West Conch Cat 3/18/11

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

This is my excuse blog. I call it the big "K"

I was Katnapped. Really, and big time…I was Katnapped from Key West to brrrrrr! New York City.

I had never, never been out of Key West. I had heard stories about tourist taking Key West tabbies, geckos, birds and chickens with them, but never in my wildest dreams thought it would happen to me... I guess my new motto is "expect the unexpected".

I kept a diary just in case I never made it back home to Key West and hoped somehow the diary would find its way back to John, Doug Mayberry's Property Manager.

But hey, I am an optimist. I knew I would be back in Key West. I always keep in mind that I have nine lives, especially Key West tabbies with six toes, like me. We are survivors. It runs in our blood. It comes from our ancestors who spent most of their lives in pirate…oops, I meant merchant ships.

I will recount in the next blogs bits of my diary of my "Katnap" and my return to Key West. But I have to get to business here.

Wow, so much have happened since I was “away.” John has already taken the company international. Doug Mayberry Property Management has established a great relationship with a high-end private home stay company in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica for information contact John at rentals@dougmayberry.com

I wish I had been Katnapped to Costa Rica, not trapped in a pent-house in New York watching snow and people dressed in black all the time.

It’s good to be back in warm and sunny Key West, where there is no snow and people dress in bright colors.

Ciao,

Hemmy

Concha, Concha Cabana, The cutest vacation home stay north of Havana! By Hemmy, The Key West Conch Cat

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Hi there.

It's me Hemmy. It's been a while. I know and there are no excuses. I do have one though and it's a four month one...But I will reserve it for the following blogs. Hint, it starts with a "K."

Ok, let's pick up were we left of...Si, Ay..I was to visit this lovely "shotgun" home John has in the beautiful portfolio of private vacation home stays through Doug Mayberry Property Management.keywesthomesforrent.com

Let's start with the name "Concha Cabana" cool ah..reminds me of the Manilow song...I start to hummm...Concha, concha cabana, the cutest vacation home stay north of Havana...Where is the conga cat line?Concha Cabana...Cha,Cha,Cha!

You truly open the door to Key West’s past when you arrive at “Concha Cabana,” as the host named it, a quaint 1923 “shotgun” house just a stone’s throw from where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Gulf of Mexico.

Completely restored, updated and uniquely furnished, your hosts have missed no detail inside or out. Behind the white picket fence is a beautifully tiled sidewalk and steps leading to a breezy, cheery front porch where you can sit and watch the locals and visitors pass by on foot or bicycles.

This cute as a button one bedroom home is furnished in vintage rattan seating and accents with a tropical motif.

The modern kitchen faces the living room with its wide bar, perfect for entertaining. The nostalgic bathroom has an onyx tile interior and tropical décor, including a shower curtain with a vintage cigar label motif, a historical nod to Key West’s early days.

The large vintage bedroom will make you feel right at home with all its amenities.

Step through the back door onto a wide and shady back porch, where you can read, nap or just listen to the sounds of a true Key West neighborhood.

The back yard is partially sunny and partially shaded by a neighboring Tamarind tree, purported to be the largest one in North America, so there is plenty of privacy for sunning.

You’ll feel like a real “Conch” staying at “Concha Cabana.”

I guess John is preparing some "Cuba Libres" for happy hour…

I asked our hosts' where did they get all the great vintage items in the home..Well they were very nice to give me the information which I a passing on to you.

Salud!

Hemmy

Happy Holidays from Hemmy, John and Michael by Hemmy the Key West Conch Cat

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Ay, I know, its been a while.

I got caught up in something...I always do...Ay...

I did tell John that I would write when the spirit moved me...Well the spirit of the holidays is moving me now...Key West, full of lovely, smiley people so happy to be here. I just love mingling among them. I was at the boat parade, the bicycle parade, the holiday parade...so many parades, so little time.

It's so nice to hear our guests speak about how grateful they are to be here in Key West when up where they come from...yes I said up..is very cold...Well it's been a tad, just a tad cold here...but nada compared to elsewhere in this US of A.

I am very happy for John, the Property Management business is starting to florish...Just check out the really cool portfolio of beautiful private home stays that reflect the diversity of Key West and the wishes of our out of town guests. Hey, that's Truman looking at you. He is my best friend and John's too.

I am on my way to check out a new casita which has the most cute name...Concha Cabana...It makes me think of Barry Manilow's song...how did it go...Oh well. This one is the cutest private home stay north of Havana...I am going to check it out and give you my impressions...in my next blog.

Well, that's all for now and hey, I will leave you with best wishes for 2011 from John, Michael, the Doug Mayberry sales team and myself (Hemmy).

Hope you will come down to Key West to spend the winter with us.

Ciao,

Hemmy

My friends on Big Pine Key by Hemmy the Key West conch cat 11/17/10

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Hi there, my invisible friends.

It's been a while...I know. I had gone to Big Pine Key with John and Michael. They are the Property Managers for Doug Mayberry Real Estate. I am sure you know that by now...But there is no harm in saying it again and again....

They had gone to Big Pine Key which is about a 23 mile scenic drive from Key West to add to their really cool portfolio of seasonal rentals this beautiful home with access to the open water called "Bella Luna."

You can check Bella Luna at www.keywesthomesforrent.com

At Bella Luna which means Beautiful Moon, both in Spanish and Italian, I made the acquaintance of two felines that live there. Silverado a curious and cool cat and Victoria; very shy with humans, not with her own kind. The humans have nicknamed her "the ghost."

One thing to mention is that the guests of this lovely home are kindly requested to dole out some dry food once a day to assist in the sustainment of Silverado and Victoria.

Of course, now Sil and V are my best friends and of course I got caught up in their Big Pine adventures, hence my excuse for this blog's two, or is it three weeks hiatus.

That's Silverado no pix of Victoria the ghost

Yep, I stayed for a couple of weeks with Sil and V checking out Bella Luna which is vast and to see all that Big Pine Key has to offer. And, I am exhausted....

Thank goodness Michael came back to do some photographs of the home and I got a ride back to Key West.

Could you imagine me by foot to Key West?...No, not this cat!

I am putting together a list of things to do and to enjoy in Big Pine...I will get it out to you soon. (heh..heh)

Ciao,

Hemmy

Where is Hemmy? by Michael Philip

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

It's been a while now...I know!

We have not heard from Hemmy. I know for a fact Hemmy said that writing happens when the mood strikes...That's a Key West Conch Cat for you...I will keep looking...And please help me out too...If you see a kind of well fed, yellow/orange cat with six toes prancing around your neighborhood or hanging by your pool, please contact me at keywesthomesforrent.com

Hemmy promised me to get blogs at least an entry a month...Who knows I may get a load of them pretty soon. Well in the meantime I guess it will be up to John and I to maintain the blog until M.Hemmy comes back...We will keep you posted.

Michael

PS. Your friend Truman misses you too...

(Truman is John's conch cat and maybe a distant relative to Hemmy. John is the Doug Mayberry property manager executive. If you happen to have any sightings of our dear Hemmy please contact John at rentals@dougmayberry.com

Who knows Hemmy may be hanging at one of the lovely properties we have taking a little R&R.

Michael

Joan of Glass by Hemmy the Key West conch cat

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Hi there,

I am in Joan’s kitchen waiting for my afternoon snack.

Joan lives in a cottage across the street from John our Doug Mayberry property management czar, www.homesforrent.com

Joan is an artist that transforms glass into really amazing objects, and I am always mesmerized seeing the beautiful, shiny pieces she creates.

Joan also loves dolling out afternoon treats to a whole bunch of us, count me in the group of two talkative chickens, three fellow cats and one dog that lives down the lane.

After the bunch of critters has left, I stay on to have a little chat with Joan, so you my friends can get to know her better.

Why Key West?

My husband and I came here on vacation some 20 years ago and became addicted to the Keys. We retired here 5 years ago…We moved from Northeastern CT…

Special Key West holiday…

It’s really hard to pick one of our “special” holidays, but the most fun ones are the Christmas Parade (google videos of 2009 Key West Christmas Parade)and the costume parade on Friday night before the Fantasy Fest parade…The Fantasy Fest parade is fun too, but in a different way. www.fantasyfest.net

Misconceptions about Key West…

I think most people who come down here think that Duval St. is Key West (and many of them don’t remember being there). They don’t see anything but the downtown crowds. They very seldom get an opportunity to get out to the smaller Keys in a kayak or go snorkeling, or even walk through Old Town. www.fla-keys.com/keywwest/

Typical Key West morning routine…

I get up really early, about 8:45AM or 9:00AM that is after Emil, my husband has given me at least two cups of coffee. If we go out to an appointment we of course stop for a “con leche” (Cuban coffee with milk and sugar). If we are at home we have the con leche around noon time. This wakes us up for our afternoon activities such as reading and floating in the pool.

Favorite Key West personalities….

I love the Roosters and Hens and their little ones and of course the variety of cats that will come into your kitchen or patio and join you for a snack.

You enjoy… Well…Good friends of course… Also, wine, food and good conversation.

OK…. Time for me to hit my happy hour haunt…for some food, wine and good conversation.

Ciao,

Hemmy

Phillipe's Guacamole by Hemmy the Key West Conch Cat

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Finally! I got Phillipe to email to John his precious Guacamole recipe he prepared with the avocado that nearly killed your dear friend...Me!

Enjoy...

Ciao,

Hemmy

Avocados in September....Oh my

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Hi there,

Just when I thought all the fruits had done their number for the season, I am caught of guard. I am just minding my own business and boom an avocado falls right next to me. Thank God it did not land on me…I look up to the sky and see a tree covered with avocados…Oh my!!

The weather in Key West, I never even try to make heads or tails out of it…We are in the height of the hurricane season and not even a little gust of wind…It rains most every day, but nice, cool summer showers, and a nice breeze coming from all directions, I climb up on the deck chair to wallow in it. You cannot predict the weather in Key West. We Key West conch cats just take it as it comes. It just is!

(Miss September 2010)

Ah September, believe it or not many great Key West restaurants are not closed in September as in many resorts, and most have great menus at half prices…Some extend their half price selection to visitors, some just honor the locals for sticking out the summer in Key West…Which according to me, is not a bad thing to do….Check out Santiago’s Bodega www.santiagosbodega.com and The Grand Cafe www.grandcafekeywest.com. Both offer diverse sides of the Key West dining experience spectrum. Hey I know what I am talking about!

The drawback thing is you cannot just hang clawing the kitchen door waiting for a taste of the left over special of the day because they are all gone so fast. Such is the demand! Even for me with inside kitchen connections…Oh well!

(Waiting.....Wanting....)

But, I thank that avocado that fell from the sky. I rolled it down the way to my good human friend Philippe, he is the nicest guy; VGL French-Canadian-American and manager at the Alexander’s Guesthouse, www.alexanderskeywest.com, a beautiful place to put up your gay friends when all the beds in your Key West vacation home for rent are taken. There is a room for everyone in Key West. And if you are looking for a house for the season be sure check out www.keywesthomesforrent.com

Philippe prepared his famous avocado dip…Of course, I got first dibs on it. The small pleasures of life in Key West….Muy sabroso!!

Ciao,

Hemmy

My portrait by a wonderful Key West artist 9/21/2010

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Hi there,

As you all know Key West is a great artist hang out. Lot's of art in this community and of all sorts, from high brow to low brow, for every taste, ahh the diversity of this tiny little island...And I enjoy spending time hanging around them...You learn so much and they are a lot of fun...And as I am so cute...heh, heh, I mean lucky , I get portrayed by them. I do have my own private collection and as we get to know each other more and more, I will share my collection with you.

The first artist I will share with you is Andy Thurber, he is a really nice man and a great painter. I love asking him questions and he loves to draw me...Here is Andy's interpretation of moi...

He draws me while I am on his worktable, I don't know how he manages because I am not one to usually stay quiet for long periods of time...

I ask Andy about himself and why Key West is such a special place....

What is your favorite Key West holiday?

Halloween, because it feels like everyday is Fantasy Fest here.

Typical Key West morning routine...

OK, Monday thru Friday 6AM Sandy's Cafe,,,"Oye macho, dame un chiquito, con una azucar" (1026 White St. 305-295-0159)

(one small...one sugar)

Most important items in a Key West fridge...

Mojo, Bush Beer, Guava Puff

Most admired person(s) in Key West....

I admire the sweet old conchs most

Your idea for a great Key West party...

Sometime in August why not "Go to work in your underwear day" party.

A book about Key West our guests at our vacation homes for rent should read....

To Have And Have Not

You can see Andy's work at Gallery on Greene and visit him at his studio at The Studios of Key West.

Ciao,

Hemmy

Key Lime Margaritas recipe from Gourmet Magazine 9/14/2010

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

OK...here is the Key Lime Margarita recipe...It's from Gourmet magazine (March 2009) The author Melissa Roberts also has a video on how to juice the tiny Key Limes...

Ciao,

Hemmy

Cozy, Cozy, Purfect for Fantasy Fest 9/14/2010

curryshoresjohn@yahoo.com

Hi there...

Here I am trying to nestle in this chair that looks like a butterfly. Ok...I got a great position, for now.

This cozy vacation home for rent in Key West used to be a old fashion cinder block Key West house until your host, an award winning architect from Atlanta, turned it into this cool, modern home...He wants it to be his dream retirement home in Key West. But don't worry, he is still not ready to retire, so you and I can be his guests for a while...check all the details on our vacation rental page.

And now that Fantasy Fest is right around the corner, this will be the perfect vacation home for rent in Key West for a single person or a couple looking to join the spirit of the Fantasy Fest festivities and get away from the cold that is starting to settle in up north...

As you put together you costume for the festivities, prepare yourself a pitcher of Margaritas with real Key Limes that you get from the Key Lime tree planted by the porch of this lovely home. Of course, John gave me a recipe for "the best margaritas" that he cut out from where else, Gourmet magazine...

Ciao,

Hemmy

Hemmy 3/9/2010

Hemmy is a six toed (a polydactyl!) Conch cat who adopted the property management team and, due to a proclivity to be out and about town and lounging or entertaining at some of Key West’s finest homes, was promptly recruited to write our property management blog…but only when the mood strikes.

Through Hemmy’s blog you will make friends with a wide array of Key West characters and you will learn about the fun events and happenings in Key West from an insider’s point of view.

In a couple of weeks you will be able to read Hemmy's blog and get a glimpse of wonderful Key West Living from the Point Of View of a conch cat.

Why Key West Vacation Homes For Rent? A new concept in vacation home stays 2/5/2010

sam@bookt.com

Doug Mayberry vacation homes for rent is an exciting new property rental company in Key West.

All of our properties are carefully selected and professionally managed so you can be sure of the high quality and enjoyment of your stay.

We also provide a wide range of concierge services to make your vacation easy and enjoyable.

If you have any questions make sure you call us or email us and let us help start planning your vacation today!

Our goal is to exceed your expectations when it comes to home stay vacations in Key West.