Fallen LeavesOctober 28, 2010
A sure sign of winter approaching is the falling leaves. We get a lot of leaves because we have 3 large maple trees in our back yard and the neighbours on both sides of us each have a large maple tree. Across the road in front of our house there are more trees that drop leaves, neighbouring properties with lots of trees and our huge, old willow tree. Most of our
Fallen Leaves
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Bringing in Potted Plants
When frost threatens the garden, bringing in potted plants and tender plants is an ideal way to keep plants for the next spring. There are a couple of problems with bring in plants with the main one introducing insects indoors. I kid you not, I brought in an asparagus fern that hid a spider almost the size of a quarter! Other common insects in potted plants are ants, earwings and pill bugs.
Food in Uncertain Times
I've been following a discussion about the 5 crops (foods) that should be grown for sustainable living in uncertain times. They are: potatoes, corn, beans, squash and eggs. My gosh I have to say I disagree with the potatoes and corn. I will be discussing this in greater detail on my cooking blog but from a gardening perspective you really do need a fair amount of space to grow enough potatoes
Palm Trees
Palm TreeOctober 7, 2010
Palm trees are very popular where our vacation home is. They are rather problem free, tolerating the heat and humidity well. Pictured is one of the palm trees near our vacation home. Now palms actually come with one itsy, bitsy problem. They attract palmetto bugs aka American cockroach. I am not impressed with palmetto bugs at all even though I know they don't bite
Caladium
CaladiumOctober 6, 2010
I love doing a bit of garden surfing so to speak in our vacation home community. Our vacation home is is Zone 9B so considerably warmer than our home Zone 6 B. That means I get to discover a lot of rather interesting tropical plants. This is a showy bulbaceous bulb that does not do well at temperatures below 60ºF. While I won't be able to grow this gorgeous plant
Corking in Jalapeno Peppers
Corking in Jalapeno PeppersOctober 22, 2010
I picked a fair amount of various peppers over the last few days in anticipation of frost soon to come. Pictured are some of the jalapeno peppers. See the thin white striations on the lower three jalapeno peppers? These striations are known as corking. Some believe that corking is an indication of that jalapeno pepper being hotter than those without
CREATING WOMEN and GIVEAWAY
Take a look back with me if you will, to a post I intended to write ONE MONTH ago, our trunk show.
The goods and the talented women of Chicago that I would love to share.
A board spotted in Paris.............LOVE this photograph!
Rebecca's collection starts in our beloved Chicago to Paris, England, Italy and recently Israel.
Jess is as beautiful inside as her gorgeous outward appearance. Spend time with her, and you will be instantly energized.....this girl has a lust for life . She began her biz when she was fifteen and is now nationwide. Jess and I are in the beginning stages of contemplating 'Empowering Women' get-togethers at the Chicago shop, would you be interested?. Visit her blog, Make under my life for inspiration.
All of Jess's collections are named for renown streets in Chicago.
This line, 'Diversey' was launched at our event
.
Diversey earrings. All jewelry is Paladium gold plated
The classic Chevron pattern, 'Division', in sterling silver
Vintage New York City map.
Jewelry maker + private chef = a life lived creatively and passionately.
Amanda named her purposeful company after her toddler Genevieve, "Veve" for short. Her mission statement is less chemicals, small footprint, natural ingredients for a superior product all crafted by hand in small batches.
Next post..........another giveaway!
Best of luck
fondly,
Debra
A Pot of Onions
Potted OnionsOctober 22, 2010
The milder weather has given me extra time to get plants indoors. Yesterday I brought in a pot of onions. I planted the onions in early June but by mid-July they were pretty much done. I intended to dump the pot and replant but forgot. When we returned home from our September vacation I was pleasantly greeted with some rather healthy looking growth. It looks
Hail!
The sky was a gorgeous blue yesterday morning. It had rained the night before so I was waiting for the gardens to dry a bit before raiding them again. I figured I would get the last of any of the green tomatoes since if a frost hits them they won't ripen off the vine and gathering a few herbs. I didn't get the chance. By afternoon the skies turned ominous looking then let out a blast of hail!
Last Large Vegetable Harvest of 2010
Last Large Vegetable Harvest of 2010October 20, 2010
My gosh, by any stretch of the imagination home gardeners and commercial growers in our area have not had a good growing season. Despite that the fall has been rather on the mild side meaning the garden has been producing longer than normal. It is beyond our ADFF and we have yet to have a frost. The weather is turning and based on the
Ideas and Inspiration : Home decoration for Halloween
Halloween is here ! I see people decorating their homes and I am so inspired. Every year its fun to try new decoration ideas and get creative. For some like me, internet comes to rescue. Halloween decoration is specially fun because of the wackiness and crazy ideas.
I have put together a few decoration ideas for Halloween to inspire you to create your own. Most of these are past year's inspiration from Pottery barn, and some simple diy too. Get your creative juices flowing and let the craziness begin :))
I have put together a few decoration ideas for Halloween to inspire you to create your own. Most of these are past year's inspiration from Pottery barn, and some simple diy too. Get your creative juices flowing and let the craziness begin :))
Carving is not for everyone. But with simple stencils or help from internet, one can come up with this stunning decoration. Halloween and pumpkins, but add a twist and try your hand at this. You are sure to get compliments :)
Inviting people over, and short of Halloween ideas, this decoration is tasteful and fun, lots of gothic galmour here, black and white with a good dose of orange.Love the table runner !!
It might look like a challenge to decorate your doorway but not so much. Get loads of pumpkin and spay cans in white and silver. Use some thrifted lamps, dollar store candles,dried branches from backyard, get the inspiration. Stunning yet simple.
Loved this Halloween decor idea. Black and orange rules. Get some foamy sheets and stamp out the leaves, need not be so elaborate. Buy some interesting candle stands, use some creativity and bring out good old black umbrellas. Boo !
This has to be the simplest yet the cutest Halloween decoration ever ! Large orange paper lanterns, sprinkling of dried leaves and a spooky tree. Love the evil faces and simple diy project. Get your kids together and make one for your home today ! My favourite :D
This is so elegant, but the inspiration behind is simple to use. Black and white in large glass jars. Befitting treat and a beautiful way to decorate any corner. Use the candies for kids who come knocking too. ;)
A simple and stylish idea for Halloween. Little mess and very pretty. For those who like to celebrate Halloween in quite elegance. Perfect for stairs and doorway.
I loved this Halloween decoration for bar, there is a lot of thought put into this design.With friends coming over, a good way to keep spirits high on a Halloween night. Perfect !
I would so love to see how some of you decorated your homes for Halloween. Do share any pictures you would like. Send me a message and I will love to post it here :) Happy Halloween everyone !
The Weather is Turning
I spent the morning bringing in plants and doing a bit of picking in the garden. The weather is still quite nice but it's easy to see it is turning. The weather forecast for today is a low of 0ºC and a low of -3ºC tomorrow making the possibility of a frost all that much closer. I decided it would be prudent to make a clean pick of the remaining vegetables. That way if we get a frost they
How to Make an Herb Wreath - Putting it All Together
Okay, let's make an herb wreath. I've included instructions here. There is also a helpful (I hope) slide show at the bottom of this post. If you missed part one (prep) you can visit it at: How to Make an Herb Wreath - Part 1
We're going to take a traditional approach and assume you want to make a dried herb wreath from which you will harvest herbs later. Your best bet is to use a strong base
Waiting on First Hard Frost
We still haven't had our first frost so things are still trickling in from the garden. I don't clean out the garden beds until after first frost which kills off the plants making clean out a bit easier. Leaving the plants also protects the soil a bit from erosion. Many of the farmers here have gone to leaving the stubble in the fields rather than plow the field under for the same reason. The
Lush color for your home !
I love home decor in bright colors, with season changing, the day getting dull and cold, bright colors bring into our lives the cheer and energy. I love sunny days, and flowers and lush green, if you would like your interior and home decor to keep the summer alive, these home decor ideas may help you design your own little 'summer' :)
Glam up a room, or design a new look, get inspired by some of these colorful nook and areas and let the your heart guide you. With a little inspiration, make your home the perfect haven for you.
Full of flowery design and bright colors, this design would be ideal for summer but if you are like me, love brightness and color all around, this one is a love mish mash of all things wonderful !
Grey wall is the perfect canvas for this colorful display. Its perfect to bring the rainbow of colors into your live.It maybe be grey and snowing outside, but this will keep your spirit cheerful and happy .
The stark white wall and mix of colors in it is so pleasant and crisp.Orange and green stand out the most, and brings in energy and pleasantness.Simple layout for ideal for an apartment.
This decor is not for the timid, its lush in its colorful extravaganza. The pink and yellow along with the mix of colors is so bright and powerful. For the fun and young at heart, I love the energy !
Simple and easy way to add some color to your kitchen is to use a ceramics in a whole array of colors. It is pretty and functional and the cuteness is sure to fetch you loads of compliments.
Its quite amazing how prints and color can transform any room. While its quite a task to change the wall color and furniture, its easier to change the upholstery. The pretty colors and the amazing prints all bring liveliness to this other wise staid room. Love the little stool, with embroidered flowers !
White has a way of reflecting light and opening up areas, the flowers and pretty cushions add the zing and character to this room. A simple way to make a living room stylish and beautiful.
This post has been a riot of colors and I hope you would be as inspired as I am. A little bit of color, tastefully done,can bring a world of a difference to any room.
A Leopard Frog Visits the Garden
Leopard Frog(Rana pipiens)October 16, 2010
Oldest and youngest grandchildren visited yesterday. On their way to the car after our visit we stopped to check out the garden. Imagine oldest grandchild's squeals of delight at spotting this beautiful leopard frog. This is the first time I've seen a frog in the garden. It sure was a pleasant surprise.
Happy Gardening!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2010
Chive and Cheddar Cheese Soup
When there's a chill in the air, nothing beats an old fashioned cream soup. The herbed chive and cheddar cheese soup recipe below has the rich goodness of potatoes and cheese without all the fat. Give it a try.
Chive and Cheddar Cheese Soup Recipe
8 cups vegetable stock (you can substitute chicken stock)
1 pound red potatoes, peeled and cubed
3/4 pound broccoli, florets
1 yellow onion,
A Bit of Nice Weather
My gosh! Like many I've complained about the local growing conditions this year. It was certainly by any stretch of the imagination brutal. Autumn has arrived and guess what despite warnings of an early frost we haven't had one. That means I'm still harvesting peppers, tomatoes, herbs and chard. It really is nice after having such a nasty season that we are seeing an extended harvest.
Happy
How to Make an Herb Wreath - Part 1
Learning how to make an herb wreath is one fall weekend activity you're sure to remember fondly. I grow lots of herbs, and over the years I've tried many herb wreath making methods. Most of them work, but like driving to Chicago, you can reach your destination via a number of different routes.
In the next few blogs, we'll be making herb wreaths with our fall herb harvest. This intro describes
CityofOceanShores.com Newsletter ~ September 2010
Beach Updates
We went razor clam digging last weekend for the opening dig and I've got to report that we had a great time. It seems the more often you go, the easier it gets to find the holes to suck them up. Anyway, we got our clams, took them home, cleaned them and then fried 'em up. They're so good... and the price is right. Anyway, if you haven't eaten razor clams and done the wh
ole "dig 'em up and eat them" thing, you're really missing out. Again, really good and really easy. This is a pretty good instructional video I found on the net...How to dig a razor clamYouTube 2:10Watch video on Bing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S_YHSyBrLsv=6S_YHSyBrLs
Ocean Shores and the North Beach areas typically feature the best razor clams on Washington's coast. The WA State Department of Fish & Wildlife determines when we'll have a razor clam dig and they typically schedule it just a few weeks beforehand. As of right now, they still haven't scheduled one for November. Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-WA/Ocean-Shores-Real-Estate/42604953991 to receive alerts as to when the next dig will be. If you need a license or gear, pop on by Ace Hardware in Ocean Shores to get those things.If you want more info about digging razor clams, send me an email.
Be a Fan of Ocean Shores Real Estate on Facebook!If you haven't visited the Ocean Shores Real Estate Facebook page lately, please check it out. I'm serious! In fact, this newsletter was posted there before this email was sent out! You should at least go look at the page... There's more timely info about the real estate market, pictures, news, etc. Get the full scoop on what's going on with real estate at the beach by being a fan! Visit the page today by clicking the logo or the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-WA/Ocean-Shores-Real-Estate/42604953991. Thank you to everyone who has recently signed up.
Ocean Shores Real Estate UpdateI'm pretty shocked that 2010 is likely going to end up being a better year for real estate in Ocean Shores than it was in 2009. Activity is still up. The summer was pretty lame for sales, but because of a strong spring, the year should finish out quite well. See my Year-to-Dates down below...
September Home Sales
15 Homes sold in Ocean Shores during the month of September for an average price of $207,940 compared to 16 sales in August at an average price of $177,706. Home sales are still pretty flat but at least something is selling... The average sales prices are up because of a couple high end sales - an ocean front for $375,000 and a bayfront for $432,000. The cheapest house to sell in September was $115,000. Average time on the market was only 241 days... Average price per square foot comes in at $138.02. Only 27 homes are pending right now, compared to 34 homes last month. There's 244 homes on the market right now compared to 258 homes last month. Home inventory will drop as winter comes.
Year to Date
134 Homes have sold through the first three quarters of 2010 for an average price of $171,543. The cheapest was $35,000 while the one that brought in the most was $450,000.
129 Homes sold last year during the same period for an average sales price of $176,491. The cheapest was $31,500 while the most expensive one was $495,000.
I guess you could say things are a little better although it really doesn't feel like it. I guess we all expected the market to vastly improve this year over last... and of course we know that didn't happen. All things considered, staying flat from 2009 to 2010 is a win these days...
September Vacant Lot Sales
18 Lots sold in September for an average price of $21,711 compared to 13 Lots in August for an average price of $30,185. Average prices don't mean a whole lot in Ocean Shores for lot sales as one or two high end lots can spike the averages. The cheapest lot to sell last month was a lot out by North Jetty which was unloaded for a measily $8,500. One lakefront sold for $85,000, while three canal lots sold for $39,000, $35,000 and $26,500... Prices are way down for vacant land... The Street LID is the main culprit driving down lot prices... 17 lots are currently pending around town. There are 503 lots on the market right now compared to 567 last month.
Year to Date
126 Lots have sold through the first three quarters of 2010 for an average price of $29,618. The cheapest was $7,000 while the one that brought in the most was $179,500.
102 Lots sold last year during the same period for an average sales price of $36,235. The cheapest was $8,500 while the most expensive one was $155,000.
September Condo Sales
Three condos sold in September for an average price of $103,000. Two were these tiny little downtown one bedroom cheapies that sold for for $25,000 & $35,000, while the other was an oceanfr
ont at Ocean View Estates that was practically a giveway at $249,000. There are no condos pending right now.... Ugh. There's 155 condos listed right now on the NWMLS! There's enough condos to last 10 years in Ocean Shores if we're lucky! This high amount of inventory is ridiculous and not likely to change as there a couple (two too many) real estate brokers who appear to like to have a bunch of overpriced condo listings in their inventory that no one is interested in buying. These big condo projects like the Villages of Ocean Shores (28 condos listed as active by the developer. Nothing has sold) and the Gitche Gumee (58 condos listed as active by the developer. Nothing has sold) really need to reduce their on-the-market inventory. There's only about five or six good buys out there right now anyway in the condo market. Call me and I'll share...Year to Date
16 Condos have sold through the first three quarters of 2010 for an average price of $115,088. The cheapest was $25,000 while the one that brought in the most was a Dreamscape unit at $259,000.
14 Condos sold last year during the same period for an average sales price of $155,162. The cheapest was $57,000 while the most expensive one was $350,000 and two actually sold for that.
It should be pretty easy to see why the average sales prices for this year were so much lower. On the other hand, it's quite hard to believe that condo sales are up (over 10% if you do the math) in Ocean Shores...
If you have any questions regarding Ocean Shores/North Coast Real Estate, call Jeff Daniel of Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties at 360.581.9020 or visit my website at http://www.cityofoceanshores.com/. Thanks! All statistics are supplied from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Be a Fan of Ocean Shores Real Estate on Facebook!
If you haven't visited the Ocean Shores Real Estate Facebook page lately, please check it out and you shouldn't even be reading this because you already should have clicked the link up above... There's more timely info about the real estate market, pictures, news, etc. Be a fan and be cool! Visit the page today by clicking the above logo or the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-WA/Ocean-Shores-Real-Estate/42604953991. Thank you.
Upcoming EventsCat Fanciers' Association Cat Show
October 16-17, 2010A Cat Fanciers Association All Breed Cat Show. See an incredible variety of cats from the ordinary to the very unusual. Vendors will be selling unique pet items as well on Saturday. 10-5 on Sat & 9-4 on Sunday. http://www.cfa.org/shows.html
Art Walk
October 16, 2010Art Walk in the galleries and retail shops all over Ocean Shores from 3-8 p.m.
7th Annual Irish Music Festival
October 21-24, 2010The West Coast's Largest Irish Music Festival. 6 stages, 4 venues and 20 great bands. Come tip a pint and kick up your heels Thursday October 21 through Sunday the 24th. For more information and a schedule of the bands and events visit http://www.galwaybayevents.com/
Jazz at the Beach
November 5-7, 2010Jazz bands from all around the U.S. & Canada join together at the beach to offer up over 65 hours of live jazz at several venues throughout Ocean Shores. A three day passis only $60 if you order before 10/1/10. After that, they're $70. Single day badges are priced seperately. There's a free jazz hour for kids of all ages featuring the North Beach High School Jazz Band on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Convention Center. Special umbrella parade to be held Saturday night at 8 p.m. - also at the Convention Center. http://www.osjazz.com/
Razor Clam Dig
November TBA 2010The State hasn't announced the November dig yet, but if you want to find out when the next dig is in a timely fashion, visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-WA/Ocean-Shores-Real-Estate/42604953991 to find out more info!
Winter Fanta-Sea
November 26-28 2010
Over 70 arts and crafts booths feature thousands of unique handmade items just in time for the holidays! Bring the kids, Santa will be there to listen to all of your Christmas wishes.
See you on the beach!
Jeff Daniel Managing Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
Cell Phone: 360.581.9020749 Point Brown Ave NW
PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
360.289.3111 (fax)
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