One alternative is to go with cornish game hens. Buy two, and it's like a mini turkey. The "left behind" thanksgiving I went to when I first moved to MD did this since they weren't sure how many people were coming. The 2020 Thanksigiving it was just my family (4 of us, only 2 eating meat).

If you can find them fresh, do a simple brine the day before and the cook up pretty quickly. Much less involved than a turkey or even a chicken.

Most houses in that range are going to be on the quieter side of things. Traffic in Columbia tends to flow to major roads, so aside from the downtown or merryweather district, the traffic inside neighborhoods isn't too bad.

"Good" schools is going to be really subjective. Some of the highest ranked ones have minimal diversity. And, while there will be lots of opportunities for your kids, there will also be a lot competition for them and within them. Some parents prefer smaller schools for that reason. Either way, a good gauge is to look at the percentage of parents in the PTA.

As far as neighborhoods being good for kids - again this is going to be your preference and how you raise your kids. Columbia Assessed (part of the Columbia Association) properties tend to be on a network of wonderful biking/walking trails with tot-lots for kids. The houses will be older (60s-70s) and the lots smaller, plus you get an extra tax. I think it's all worth it, since this can build a sense of community within in your neighborhood. Conversely - some people prefer to move into the new-builds. Houses and yards are bigger, no CA fee, and if you can find one of the newer neighborhoods there will be more kids.

And, after doing all the research, know that school zoning does and will change.

Drive a little to Loudon Park

I work at Crest Lawn in Marriottsville. We are corporate owned but it is a very beautiful cemetery and I know we all care about our clients. If you pre plan, we will work with you to try to get as big a discount as possible because corporate owned places are usually a bit more expensive (the discount is not an available option for when a service is needed immediately). If you want a tour or talk about possibilities, my coworker Betsy would be the best person to help you, the number is 410-442-5700

There are people who would rent space in a home for this amount. You should definitely post this around the internet. For example, we have a condo that is being renovated now that no one lives in and we are not selling and keeping in the family. We have a family member moving back next spring after school who we offered the place to help him out for a bit. But I would have totally let someone rent for 3 months at that rate.

Did you find a source for fried turkey? I was at the Laurel Dutch farmer's market this past weekend and saw that one of the vendors DJ's Wings is selling fried turkey for Thanksgiving. You can check the farmer market website for their phone number to call and order. Another vendor there is selling smoked turkey. I think they were called Yoder's. I bought a smoked turkey last year from ShoNuff near Maple Lawn. It was good, just reheat in the oven.

I personally dislike having a statement regarding where should be buried or ashes spread. And also dislike having pre-bought graves since decades from now the cemetery may be under new ownership or even bankrupt. So leave enough money for a decent burial/cremation and make a statement about being buried or ashes spread wherever the administrator of the will sees fit.

My family has made too many world-treks trying to meet a family member’s last wish. All of our family members have promised that they won’t make a specific demand of where buried. Other than my spouse has asked that which ever of us two goes first that they be cremated and then buried with whomever dies last. Neither of us will probably be married again - too set in our ways- so shouldn’t be too difficult to schlep around the cremains.

Great options here. Also would like to add Honey Baked Ham has a turkey breast already prepared.

Me too. We love Clemens. Great schools, walkable paths. We almost moved but could not bear the thought of leaving the neighborhood.

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I see Dr. Prakash at Gastro Center of Maryland and have had the best GI care in over a decade! After switching to her my health has improved in ways I couldn't imagine from either of my previous GI doctors.

Well, we are having issues with Meadowridge with a headstone we have been working on ordering for the better part of a year. They keep ghosting us even though it was paid for long ago.

Saint Johns looks very nice - was just there last weekend for a funeral and I know of several people buried there.

Yeah I'll dm you. You don't need to be.

I’m guessing that if you’re not a member of St. John’s you probably can’t be buried there, although I’d love it if I was wrong!

I'm familiar with a few. Howard county has a couple options, I'm familiar more with Jewish options but St. John's in Ellicott City is nice and more affordable. Columbia Memorial Park is a corporate cemetery and is generally more expensive.

You wont find a lease for 3mos anywhere near that price, most places are minimum 1yr. You can however find basements/attics/in-law suites for that, and those folks are more likely to accept short term stays. Try apartments.com or airbnb.

Thanks for posting this, very helpful

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Thank you!! I’d love to support a local company now that I’m hearing about them. I’ll check out both Trueths and Boarmans!

Also, a lot of students and the universities try to sublet their places out for the summer.

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Trueth's in Oella (just over the river from Old Ellicott City) is an incredible butcher shop! +1 for Boarman's too

I have a room that’s under that. DM about you.

Thanks!! This was the one place I was thinking of, seems like the most definite bet.