Home Repair Minimalist: January 2008

The History of Tussie-Mussie

Have you heard of the infamous and misunderstood tussie-mussie? Currently thought of as a nosegay, or compact bouquet of flowers and herbs, it has a colorful, if obscure, past with hilarious connotations. In light of its modern bridal and festive associations, I really couldn't pass on the irony.The language of flowers, having robust historical and literary antecedents, includes this little gem,

Growing Your Own Saffron

Saffron is an expensive spice that has a very distinct flavor and aroma. It is prized throughout the world, but often only used for special-occasion dishes because it is so expensive.

Where Does Saffron Come From, Anyway?
Saffron comes from the three stigmas of an autumn blooming crocus plant, the Crocus Sativus. The Crocus Sativus is hardy from zones six through nine in the United States, and

Using Herbs for Dental Care

Because commercial toothpastes and other tooth cleaners and whiteners contain harsh abrasives, detergents, and bleaches, you can give your teeth a break by buying herbal toothpastes, or making your own. Here are some tips for quick, effective tooth care:A sage leaf rubbed over the teeth and gums will help clean them and make them feel smooth and fresh.Alpine strawberry rubbed over the teeth can

Do Poppy Seeds Contain Drugs?

The poppy is a red flower with a thick seed pods that carry the popular poppy seeds used in cooking. Although there's been a great deal of misinformation about the ability of poppy seeds to create false positives in drug testing, more modern testing does not confuse culinary poppy seed ingestion for drug use, and you shouldn't refrain from eating or using poppy seeds in cooking because of it. If

Make Lavender Sugar

For an unexpected and rich taste, try making your own lavender sugar. This is a unique treat that's easy to make and fun to use.Uses for Lavender SugarLavender sugar is a great alternative to vanilla sugar as a topping for candies, cakes, and other pastries. It's also a wonderful sweetener for tea. You can leave your lavender sugar white, or use food coloring to give it a slight tint. Either

Herbs for Oral Health

If you've had concerns about the use of strong mouthwashes and toothpastes, consider their safer and gentler alternatives. Herbal oral products provide antibacterial protection without the fillers and stabilizers associated with major manufacturer's brands. They also often drop the strong bleaches, chemical antibiotics, and dyes that you've come to accept from the more common drug store

Crabbing Vessel Stuck on Copalis Beach

Agencies Respond to Incidents

U.S. Coast Guard January 25, 2008 SEATTLE, WA

The Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) continue response efforts in an incident this week along the Washington coastline.

The crabbing vessel Anna Marie became grounded on the north end of Copalis Beach (just North of Ocean Shores) in the early hours Wednesday morning. None of the four crew members reported injuries and remain on board.

The 78-foot vessel is known to be carrying 2000 gallons of fuel and approximately 200 gallons of other petroleum products. The vessel is not taking on water, and no fuel is leaking.

Attempts to remove the Anna Marie from the beach during high tide Wednesday and today were unsuccessful. The vessel's owners have hired a salvage company to pull the boat off the beach using tugs and helicopters during today's high tide.

The Griffiths-Priday State Park on the Copalis River is closed to the public until further notice to accommodate equipment needed for the removal efforts.

Monitoring and salvage efforts for both vessels have been coordinated between Coast Guard Sector Portland and Ecology. Other agencies and parties

involved in coordinating the effort include: Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Quinault Nation, Olympic Marine Sanctuary, National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration and Department of Interior.

(Photos and editing of the original story by Jeff Daniel)

It's Not Too Late to Protect Your Plants from the Cold Weather

The cold weather is upon us, and if you live where there's a freeze, be kind to your plants. Check to make sure that plants that are borderline for your growing zone are well mulched and protected from the wind chill and freezing temperatures. A Calla lily that survived last year's mild winter may not make it to spring this year without a little help. Be good to your plants when the

Make Lavender Bath Salts

Reduce stress by bathing with lavender. Lavender aromatherapy can help you relax and regroup. Use your bath to get the aromatherapy benefits of lavender while enjoying the natural muscle relaxers in Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). Magnesium sulfate has also been proven to reduce your blood pressure and adrenalin levels.

When you have a few moments, make some lavender bath salts to use or give

Homemade Ginger Beer

Ginger beer is a light, refreshing ale that you can easily make at home. Brewed with yeast, it is a unique beverage that will become a summer tradition at your house. It's great to make with the kids, and there's something magical about waiting for it to be "done" and ready to drink. Create a memory for your children this season by making ginger beer.

Ginger beer recipes are plentiful on the

Free Herb Catalogs

Below is a listing of free herb catalogs; some are snail mail and some are PDF files. Happy Shopping! Click on the name to go to their request pages.

Horizon
Herbs

Mountain Valley Growers

Mountain Rose Herbs

Nichols Garden Nursery (PDF Download)

Richters

Prairieland Herbs (PDF Download)

Medicinal Herb Plants

Sand Mountain Herbs (online only)

Sandy
Mush Herb Nursery (Download only)

Using Herbs for Breast Enlargement

I am asked this question frequently, and there is no easy answer. Although I do recommend herbs to relieve the symptoms of menopause, my feeling about using bulk herbs for this purpose is pretty negative. The idea of increasing breast size without surgery is, I'm sure, attractive, but realistically, the impact herbs can have on developing your breasts without having serious side effects is

Four Thieves Vinegar

In my explorations of the history and uses of lavender, I came across some interesting information about Four Thieves Vinegar. I'd heard of it before, but didn't know what it meant:The Legend of Four Thieves VinegarOne version goes that in the 1630's, when the plague was raging in France, the town of Toulouse was beset with looters. Four looters were apprehended, but rather than punish them, the

Make Your Own Herbs de Provence

Herbs de Provence is a robust mixture of herbs made popular in the southeastern region of France. It is often used in the preparation of grilled meats, fish and vegetable stews, and is usually added before or during cooking.

Changes in Herbs de Provence Over Time

The ingredient ratios have altered over the years, and ingredients like tarragon, chervil and fennel have been added to some versions

Hops - More than Just an Ingredient in Beer

The history of hops can be traced back to first century (A.D.) Rome, where it was used as a vegetable and decorative plant. Several hundred years later it had spread throughout Europe and was in widespread use in brewing.Healthful Benefits of HopsThe xanthohumol in hops is showing promise in preliminary trials in inhibiting the growth of breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancers, and may be

Herbs and Foods that Can be Toxic To Your Pets

For many of us, our pets are members of the family, and there are unpublicized hazards that can impact their health.Household Dangers to Your PetYou may not know it, but using high heat with your non-stick pans can be toxic to your birds, that aspirin and aspirin-like pain relievers can kill your cat, and onions can be toxic to your dog.Chocolate and raisins can also be harmful to your dog, and

Lavender in Literature (Quotes about Lavender)

Lavender has a long literary past. With a fine fragrance, medicinal and culinary value, and a history of favor at court, lavender waxes poetic in these memorable quotes and passages:Lavender and Culpeper(The Complete Herbal, 1652)Being an inhabitant almost in every garden, it is so well known, that it needs no description.Lavender and John Gerard (Herball, 1597) The floures of Lavender picked

The History of Lavender

If you are a lover of lavender, then its associations with luck from the early St. John's Day festivals, and its reputation as an anti-plague herb are tidbits you'll enjoy with your morning coffee.

Books like "The Book of Herb Lore" by Lady Rosalind Northcote, with its historical and literary references add another dimension to the herb-keeping hobby. Lavender is one herb with a rich and

Keep Lavender Indoors

Lavender makes an attractive and useful indoor plant. When kept in a sunny window, it brings its unique fresh fragrance to your living space. A lavender plant requires little care, preferring to dry out between waterings, although it needs good air circulation, so don't crowd it with other houseplants.The Best Lavender to Pick as a Houseplant French lavender (Lavendula dententa) adapts well to

Propagating Lavender

Lavender can be propagated from cuttings, seed, or division.

Propagating Lavender from Cuttings

Lavender is easy to grow from cuttings in spring or fall. Take young stems with a heel attached and dip them in rooting compound. Plant the stem cuttings in sandy soil in a sunny spot that's sheltered from the wind. Lavender is also easy to propagate indoors if you have a sunny window.

Propagating

Cityofoceanshores.com Newsletter ~ 01.2008

Springtime at the Beach!
Well it's not here yet, but Mother Nature has been teasing us lately with a few gorgeous days with lots of sunshine, no wind and warm weather. This year is promising to be another great one for Ocean Shores and the entire North Beach area. The entire coast is booming with new towns, stores, homes and more as people are finally realizing what a great place this is.

Storm Watching
Vertical rain, 70-mph wind and 30-foot swells don't sound much like visitor attractions, but Pacific coast storm watching is the newest lure for the been-there-done-that crowd. Savvy tourism marketers know they have to offer more than howling wind and rain in your face to lure you to their coasts, so they've concocted storm-watching packages that appeal to nature lovers or nesters. Dozens of high-velocity storms batter the coast between November and March. January and February traditionally deliver the most wicked weather.
Washington state's coastline shoulders up against the Pacific like a bully challenging Mother Nature to give

him her best shot. And come winter, she does, sending battering-ram wind, frothy waves and occasional power outages. Kalaloch Lodge, 185 miles from Seattle and 195 miles from Portland, is located between two rain forests, so you're sure to get rain as well as winter storms. The $169 "Storm Catcher" package includes one night in a picturesque cabin (ask for an ocean view), two Kalaloch mugs, breakfast for two and rain ponchos, valid Jan. 2-Feb. 29. Ocean Shores, one of two spots in Washington where you can drive your car on the beach, is 168 miles from Portland and 134 miles from Seattle. Downtown draws families to its carnival-spirited arcades and taffy shops.
The Ramada Ocean Shore's "Storm Watcher" package includes two nights, massage and spacious rooms for $530. Large oceanfront suites with fireplaces and soaking tubs set the stage for the "Perfect Storm" package at Ocean Shore's Quinault Beach Resort and Casino. The $299 enticement includes one-night's accommodations, two half-hour massages, breakfast and dinner for two at ocean-front Emily's.

Real Estate Update
Here are some stats comparing sold properties in Ocean Shores versus current active listings:
* 241 Homes sold in Ocean Shores during 2007 at an average sales price of $209,783. Average price per square foot was $153.46 and the average Days on Market was 178 days.
* Currently, there's 217 Homes on the market at an average price of $275,592. Average price per square foot is $175.62 and the average Days on Market is 214 days.
* 322 Vacant Lots sold in Ocean Shores during 2007 at an average sales price of $54,655. Average Days on Market was 142 days.
* Currently, there's 580 Vacant Lots on the market at an average price of $85,181. Average Days on Market is 233 days.

Summary: There's too much inventory and current average prices are still higher than what buyers are willing to pay. This market is still correcting itself from the dramatic upswing that started in 2003 and ended in 2005. Once the market corrects, values will again rise on the beach.
On an even more optimistic note, Ocean Shores is still the most affordable coastal community in the country and that's why nearly a new home is built everyday here. More and more baby boomers are retiring in Ocean Shores and numerous people move here to work and play while there are still a lot of people coming from Portland, Seattle and Bellevue to invest in property and to buy their vacation getaways. Now is a great time to reinvest in Ocean Shores or buy for the first time while prices are down. Once they go up again, many properties here will no longer be affordable!

Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties is #1
The totals are in and Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties finished out 2007 as the Number One (#1) Real

Estate Sales Office in Ocean Shores. We sold more properties this past year than any other office in town. Congratulations and thanks to the customers, owners, agents, employees and friends of Coldwell Banker for making us the top real estate office in Ocean Shores and the entire North Beach Area.

Upcoming Events
* Antique & Collectible Show - Feb 9-10
The 6th Annual Ocean Shores Antique & Collectible Show will be held February 9th and 10th, 2008 at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Huge event! Over eighty vendors offer a wide variety of antiques including dolls, glass, furniture, American Art pottery, and much, much more. For a small donation to local charities and nonprofits, you can have your treasures evaluated. New this year will be a certified quilt appraiser. Hourly Door Prizes include a Weekend Get-Away Package for two, provided by the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino.
* Beachcombers Fun Fair - March 1-2
21st Annual event features exhibits, seminars, information booths, vendors, a kids science fair Saturday morning plus beach walks on Sunday morning.
* Razor Clam Festival - March 14-15
Top chefs from area restaurants bring their best clam chowder and entrees for a chance at "The Best on the North Beach!" Vendor and food booths, music and more. A great family event!
* North Coast Folk Festival - April 18-19
John Stewart (original member and song writer of the famed Kingston Trio), Tillers Folly (Canadian Celtic performers), renowned blues artist Del Ray, Tom May and Prairie Flyer (an award winning bluegrass band from Spokane) are just part of the bill. In addition to a great weekend of music, there will also be vendors, food and drink. You won't want to miss this exciting event.

News
* Great White Shark Hoax
There is a not so funny story that has been circulated on the Internet about a large Great White Shark that towed a vessel backwards after being tail looped and the

story says that this happened here in Ocean Shores. The story, a hoax, is posted on my blog at http://oceanshoresrealestate.blogspot.com. The pictures of the Mako shark was captured off the coast of Nova Scotia, NOT IN OCEAN SHORES!

* First Razor Clam Dig of 2008 is this Weekend.
The first razor clam dig of 2008 is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 18-21 on three ocean beaches. That's a three-day weekend, with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday the 21st. If marine toxin tests confirm that the clams are safe to eat, Twin Harbors Beach at Westport will open for late-afternoon digs all three days, while Long Beach and Copalis will be open Jan. 19 and 20. Digging on those beaches will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight, according to the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
* US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge Getting Set to Close
The Washington State Department of Transportation is planning to close the US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge to all traffic beginning Feb. 19 for 10 weeks. During the closure, traffic will be detoured over the nearby Riverside Bridge. The Riverside Bridge will be reconfigured from two westbound lanes to one lane in each direction. Crews will replace the electrical and mechanical components of the bridge's draw span during the closure. Here is the link to the project web page: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US101/SimpsonBridgeRehab/. Plan in advance so you don't spend too much time stuck in traffic.
* Voters Will Elect a New Mayor in March
Ocean Shores voters will elect a new mayor and two new City Council members during a March 11 special election. Filing for all three positions is open and runs through Feb. 23rd according to Grays Harbor County Elections.
* The Wave of the Future
The waters off Makah Bay near the tip of Washington's Olympic Peninsula could become home to the world's first commercial wave-energy project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday issued its first license for a so-called hydrokinetic energy project to British Columbia-based Finavera Renewables, a company working to develop wind and wave-energy projects in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and South Africa.
"Today is historic as we enter a new energy frontier," FERC Commissioner Philip Moeller said in a written statement. "For the first time, we allow the harnessing of electricity from wave-energy power that results from the gravitational pull of the moon."
To date, Finavera is the only company that has sought an FERC license to move ahead on a project. But numerous companies have applied for permits to begin studying proposed projects. A Seattle-based company, for instance, has applied for a permit to conduct a feasibility study on what would be a massive wind- and wave-energy farm along a 28-square-mile stretch along the coast at Westport and Ocean Shores. Cool stuff!

See You on the Beach!

Jeff Daniel
Designated Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
749 Point Brown Ave NW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
1.360.581.9020 (cell) - 1.888.469.3100 (toll free)
PROPERTY SEARCH: http://homepages.com/JeffDaniel/AgentHome.aspx
OCEAN SHORES INFO: http://www.cityofoceanshores.com/
AGENT INFO: http://www.coldwellbanker.com/for/jeffdaniel
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://oceanshoresrealestate.blogspot.com/
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://cityofoceanshores.spaces.live.com/
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://activerain.com/jeffgdaniel
MY KAYAK SURFING BLOG: http://nwkayaksurfing.blogspot.com/

Understand the Different Types of Lavender

Lavender is enormously popular, but not all lavender is created equal. Using different varieties of lavender will yield different results, and knowing the right lavender for your garden or intended use will help your project be more successful. Lavender flowers can be large or small, and lightly shaded or vivid, depending on the variety you choose. There are even lavender flowers that are white,

Remove Mineral Deposits and Sterilize Your Plant Pots

When I can't work in the garden, most of the houseplants are dormant, and the new season's seed catalogs haven't arrived yet, I turn to cleaning.One of my regular winter chores is to remove scale and mineral deposits from my plant pots and trays. I used to live with the chalky waterline that marked most of my pots, but now I use vinegar to clean them before spring.Clean Mineral Deposits From Your

The Healthful Benefits of Cranberries

You may not be growing them in your garden, and they may technically be a fruit, but cranberries are proving to be very beneficial to your health.I didn't design this blog to discuss current medical research, but time to time some things just jump out at me. I figure, like me, you enjoy understanding the uses of your herbs better. I think this leads naturally to an interest in the uses and

Growing Lavender

Lavender is one of the most easily distinguished, popular, and restful of fragrances. It is attractive to both men and women, and is the main fragrance in a wide range of beauty and home products.

Lavender Planting Tips

Lavender likes a well drained, sunny spot, and can tolerate dry conditions. It prefers sandy soil to which lime has been added, and will grow from 18" to three feet. New

Log Under Interesting Gadgets - The Neti Pot

If you are one of the few people who hasn't heard of the neti pot (also referred to as the salt lamp or nose bidet), it is an ingenious Indian device used to irrigate nasal passages. A "do it yourself" appliance, the neti pot can give you relief from cold or allergy discomfort without drugs.

The neti pot has a pour spout and handle, and is a little larger than a tea cup. It's a great solution

Can We do it All?

I just received my first seed catalog in the mail and watched a useful cable how-to on composting. My original plan for the day included writing notes about both these topics, as well as making a batch of scented bath salts. Well, I made the bath salts, but the rest is going to have to wait for another time.When? you ask. I don't know. Tomorrow maybe.So, to the question of the day: Can we do

Victory Vegetable Garden

During the Second World War, and during other wars before and since, people were encouraged to grow their own produce. These were "necessary" gardens that insured that there would be food on the table in uncertain times. We can learn something from these simple gardens that were scratched out of vacant lots, or sometimes tucked along the side of the road.They Called it a Victory Garden for a

Garlic as a Pest Deterrent

I have a garlic update since I blogged about keeping rue and garlic together near your roses.Japanese Beetle DeterrentI've mentioned that you can grow garlic and rue with roses to keep pests like the Japanese beetle away. In a past garlic post, I admitted that I've never gotten a harvest of large bulbs from my garlic, probably because I plant them in spring. Spring garlic plantings won't develop

Propagate Aloe Vera

I get lots of requests for information on propagating Aloe Vera, so here is my take on the subject.Watch For Aloe Vera Plant PupsAs a succulent, Aloe is easy to keep and grow. It requires well-drained, loose, sandy soil that is low in nutrients. It needs room, lots of it, because it's a fast grower during the summer months. From a central whorl, it sends up small shoots or "pups". Your plant has

Natural Hangover Remedies

If you're feeling a little the worse for wear after your New Year's Eve celebration, try taking some honey. Naturally high in fructose, honey will help your body metabolize any residual alcohol. Staying hydrated by drinking lots of water will help too.Other herbs that will help you deal with the day after headache and sour stomach are: ginko seeds, ginseng, cherry birch bark, mint, and