This is the time of year when I take a few moments to contemplate the holiday season and what my holiday giving will be. The Red Stocking Fund is an annual giving avenue for me and will continue to be because they are so active on a local level.

I have found another great opportunity to give to a very great organization this year.  It was brought to my attention by some really great travel bloggers who have organized a fundraiser called Passports with Purpose.  It is a raffle with many great prizes and you can participate too!  Raffle tickets are $10 each and you can choose which gift(s) you would like to take a chance on.  I have contributed a $100 gift card for Amazon.com.

All of the proceeds will go to Heifer International.  This organization focuses on ending world hunger and believes that they can accomplish their goal and has been successful to date based on the following Cornerstones:

• Passing on the Gift
• Accountability
• Sharing and Caring
• Sustainability and Self-Reliance
• Improved Animal Management
• Nutrition and Income
• Gender and Family focus

ON THE

• Genuine Need and Justice
• Improving the Environment
• Full Participation
• Training and Education
• Spirituality

“PASSING ON THE GIFTS”

The holidays can be stressful but I find making these kinds of contributions brings me back to the core and resets my outlook on what the holidays mean to me.

Rental home bookings continue through the fall and right up until the beginning of the season.  Critical things to consider when trying to decide when to book your vacation home:

• Most owners know whether their repeat tenants are coming back by the end of September.  If you are a new tenant or looking to change houses it may be difficult to get a commitment prior to that.
• Steamship Authority (vehicle ferry) opens up ticket sales for the summer months around mid January.  Tickets sell out quickly for the weekend turnover days during the season.
• January is a strong booking month because of the ferry ticket sales and many popular houses will book up quickly.
• Rental homes are listed through out the season, to a certain degree, making last minutes bookings a strong possibility.

All in all, you should consider booking your Martha’s Vineyard vacation home ahead of time, especially, if you have specific criteria, price and dates in mind.  If you can be somewhat flexible, any time is a good time!  We have a house for you with over 500 listings in our inventory.