BLOGGING SPACE UPDATE

This post will be short as I have tons of work to finish up today to get it in the mail and also laundry, packing and some quick cleaning....ALL IN ONE DAY.

Tomorrow morning we are leaving for a week for Pennsylvania to the Market Square Wholesale Buyers Show and Cash & Carry for over the weekend...then off to Lancaster for the rest of the week for more shopping and visiting relatives there....and more shopping....did I say that before??? lol Soooo, that being said I won't be posting here for over a week...but hopefully I will at least be able to check in and comment on other blogs.

I had many e-mails asking about the black desk in the post below....well, 3 years ago when I started in my business I needed some kind of desk and I wanted it in the main part of the house because we don't have EXTRA rooms here.

So we set off in search of one for over a year looking at so many different styles, colors and NOTHING suited us/me....I wanted/needed certain thing for the functionality of it.

A couple years prior we had our fireplace surround, book cabinets built by this young gentleman and we were so pleased I thought why not ask him if he could build one. From there I drew out the plans/dimensions of what I wanted and presented them to him....got an estimate and WALLA....he did an excellent job.

As you can see it mostly doesn't look like a desk - it's 6 ft. long and acts as a buffet, cabinet and desk....so we have three pieces in one and I got all the interior functions that I was searching for.

I have three drawers on the left, bottom one is for files, then the center door pulls out and then slides into the side and is hidden and when we need to we pull a chair over to sit there, and on the right all the shelves pull out, one for the printer, one for the scanner (which I don't have anymore cuz it's an all in one) and one for supplies.... Didn't he do a great job?

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE...

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Custom Builders NW ~ New Construction Status 1.26.09

Hi everyone! Here's an status update on Custom Builders NW's current projects in Ocean Shores... Feel free to click on any of the addresses below for more info & thanks for reading!

261 Clover Creek Ave NW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569 ~ $174,900 ~ COMPLETE IN ONE WEEK
Brand new 2 bed/2 bath Beach Chalet features awesome vaulted ceilings, open & spacious kitchen, dining & living room areas, stainless steel appliances, gorgeous propane fireplace and more! 1080 sq ft. 2 bed/2 bath. MLS# 28092667
This house is nearly complete will be finished no later than Friday, January 30th. Another one of these chalet's is now under construction on Helm Street and will be listed soon.

255 Sunrise Ave SE, Ocean Shores, WA 98569 ~ $219,900 ~ THREE WEEKS 'TIL COMPLETION
Custom Bay View Home is under construction and will be ready in time for your arrival. Open-concept floor plan, hardwood floors, stainless appliances, tons of decking, granite tile counters, spacious two-car garage and more! 1056 sq ft. 2 bed/2 bath/2 car garage. MLS# 28154739
Still time for your buyers to pick out colors, flooring, etc...

213 Octopus Ave, Ocean Shores, WA 98569 ~ $239,900 ~ ONE MONTH 'TIL COMPLETION
Gorgeous New Golf Course Home featuring maple laminate, slate and carpet floors, propane fireplace, granite tile counters, vaulted ceiling, attached 2-car garage & more! 1440 sq ft. 3 bed/2 bath/2 car garage. MLS# 28154738
Still time for your buyers to pick out colors, flooring, etc...

168 Point Brown Ave SE, Ocean Shores, WA 98569 ~ $274,900 ~ FOUNDATION JUST POURED
Sweet New Grand Canal Home under construction just down the street from the Beach! Features include: hardwood, slate and carpet floors, propane fireplace, granite tile countertops, vaulted ceiling, attached 2-car garage! 1440 sq ft. 3 bed/2 bath/2 car garage. MLS# 29005813
Still time for your buyers to pick out colors, flooring, etc...

If you have any questions regarding any of these homes or would like more info regarding Custom Builders NW custom work for you, please call me @ 360.581.9020. Thanks!

Jeff Daniel
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
Cell Phone: 360.581.9020

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WHERE I BLOG/WORK

Linda and Janae posted where they enjoy blogging from and their rooms are seperate from the other rooms in their home - mine unfortunately has to be in the main room of our home.

My work/craft room is upstairs and I really don't like being cooped up there away from the main part of the house so I always have my laptop sitting on our desk and when I want to relax while using it I just carry it over to the loveseat across from the desk and also that's where I do my actual stitching of my Penny Rugs as well.

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WISHING AGAIN!

I just can’t help myself in the winter dreaming of things past - and this is one of the things….A couple years ago we took our kids on a cruise. I think that was one of our best vacations ever and wish we could repeat it!

We were on Royal Caribbean’s VOYAGER OF THE SEAS for a one week cruise headed for the Western Caribbean - Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Labadee Haiti.

I know the kids had a great time because we barely saw them except at dinner or to go on shore….while we were on the ship they were doing their own thing. We usually split up to do the shore fun because we all had our own ideas of ‘what was fun’. Being younger the kids took part in all the snorkeling, horseback riding, water sports and one of their favorites - ‘Carlos & Charlie’s’.

On one of the islands our middle son purchased an engagement ring and proposed to our now daughter in-law….a very special day for all of us.

So enjoy these warm filled pictures and let it take you to a warmer place like it does me.


Arriving on bus to the ship


At embarkation


In lounge before semi-formal evening

One of the formal evenings

A day on the ship

Brett, Doug and Darren on the cruise lines private island LABADEE, HAITI

And the ever popular Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Our ship at Ocho, Rios embarking passengers to their shore excursions

Our three sons, Doug and daughter in-law on next to last night.
They didn't know I was behind them with the camera...seriously - I guess that's why I think this picture is so special and perfect

Last of the sunset and ships trail

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PENNSYLVANIA STAR BARN

I do believe this has to be the most wonderful site in all our travels we have taken over the years...

Last Spring on a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania we stopped and took some pictures of a beautiful old barn.

We have traveled this route for 30 years and seen this wonderful piece of architecture and never gotten off the highway to visit it, but after hearing it will be re-located we thought it was time to visit this wonderful beauty.

Over the years it has taken a hit with wood decay and shoddy upkeep and was due to be demolished if someone didn’t come forward to save it.

Fortunately enough funds have been raised and has been purchased and all buildings will be taken apart board by board, stone by stone, numbered and re-assembled in their new location sometime this year.

Here is the video clip of the announcement and new location http://www.wgal.com/video/16764868/index.html

Go to this site to read about this beautiful piece of architecture. http://www.thestarbarn.com/About_OwnershipHistory.aspx

On February 29, 2000, the Millport Conservancy and Preservation Pennsylvania joined forces and funds to purchase The Star Barn Complex. The two organizations shared common goals in moving to save this endangered property: to preserve The Star Barn complex as a symbol of the region’s agricultural heritage and to insure its future survival by making it a part of the life of the communities that now surround it.

In December, 2007, Agrarian Country, a non-profit corporation from Middletown, Pennsylvania, assumed ownership of The Star Barn. AND SHE WILL BE SAVED!!!

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MINI VACATION

Seems I have been missing for a few days!
We have had my brother and his wife here since Wednesday - We go up north to their place for a couple days and trade off with them coming down here a month or so later. It's fun being best friends with your brother and SIL.

Ohhhhh it's sooooo very, very cold here today. When we got up and all of us went to breakfast it was minus 14 degrees! And it seemed no matter where we went for meals these past few days it was COLD in the restaurants - I guess it’s just too hard to regulate the temps with minus temps

I haven’t even had time to check in to see what all my friends have been up to so I have lots to catch up on.

On Wednesday it was Doug’s birthday so we went to a dinner/theater with my brother and SIL. We saw Rock’n In The 50’s part 2...oh what fun.

Besides a wonderful dinner we saw such a great musical performance with all the great songs of the 50’s and again I’m dating myself…lol But there’s nothing more catching than the Rock N Roll songs of the 50’s. There were ballads to Rock A Billy!

Then yesterday we took a drive into Milwaukee to visit the Mitchell Domes…it has been many, many years since we visited them and I was still impressed at the flowers and trees and birds - There are three domes each housing a Tropical and a Dessert zone and one with flowers and that one changes with the holiday and season……but it wasn't open because they were changing over from Christmas to Spring/Easter.

We were happiest in the Tropical Dome with a rain forest atmosphere - for Doug and I it reminded us of our trips to the island of St. Kitts to visit our friends, but for now we were content to walk through this tropical splendor. When you entered the dome you got this wonderful scent of spices and flowers and the humidity was so refreshing on that minus 12 degree day! When you closed your eyes you could just imagine being in the island. Lots of ginger and cinnamon scents.

I only posted a couple pictures and one especially of my favorite tree the TRAVELERS TREE and then the MONEY TREE.

A variety of Orchid

I think this was my favorite - although I didn't get a picture of the tree itself...but I had to giggle at the bottom line....what else is money used for...except to buy ornamental things! lol

This is the TRAVELER'S TREE

The bananas start growing from a pod and coming from the center are long chutes and they turn into the banana. After the tree has produced the fruit and is harvested that branch dies and you cut it off.
This particular banana tree is in the yard of our friends in St. Kitts

Then afterward we went downtown Milwaukee to the Museum and took the rest of the day going through the 4 levels of this wonderful museum. The first part of our stay there was to tour the TITANIC exhibit. You can read about it and see movies about it but to see the actual artifacts that were brought up from the deep is astounding.

Hopefully most of you take advantage of the wonderful entertainment/educational offerings in your community….unfortunately we don’t but will try and change that - after yesterday we decided we need to get out there and support all those wonderful institutions offering so much wonderful entertainment.

Karen

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WHERE DO YOU CRAFT?

Many times I've been asked where I craft - well, all over the house actually - but I do all my designing, cutting, placing pieces on the fabric....all the messy preps in the upstairs craft room/office.

It was originally one of our son's bedrooms, then my husbands office/2nd guest bedroom and then when I took over the guest bed got taken down and in I came! lol
But Doug still has the same space he had originally - but I sure did surround him.

And yes, after I'm done cutting, etc, it does look like this - one thing I can't stand is to come back up there to do more work and have piles of cut fabrics, scissors, etc. all over the place. I find things much faster this way.....and I guess I'll admit it...I'm kind of a neat freak but not in a bad way, really! Just like to be organized.

I think that was taught to me in Home-Ec class back in the 60's (yeah, I know....wow, she's old!) but it stuck. Home-Ec back then we were taught the basics of being a good home maker and wife...I think it needs to be that way again...but I digressed didn't I.

So, this is where I do my work....where do you do yours???

See, he still has a space left to work at....I wasn't all that pushy! lol

And the loveseat in the den is where I spend all my sewing time....and I can see the tv from there which is in the family room below....but mostly I don't watch tv.

Hugs,

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COLD, COLD DAY

Well today was sooooo cold it was a great day to be inside.

I had lots of orders to work on and also ship a few out. Sometimes I'm sitting so long sewing that I think my butt is going to get as wide as my sofa I sit on...lol

Decided to have a 'comfort food dinner' tonight so I made Stuffed Pork Chops w/gravy, Mashed potatoes, Corn and Pineapple Rings w/Cottage Cheese. Boy it went down just wonderfully.

I browned the two huge chops in my black iron skillet, added one large jar of Heinze Classic Chicken Gravy (from the jar), about 1/4 cup of water and put the whole thing in the oven for about 40 minutes and walla....meat and gravy.

Now the picture is making the whole dinner look blah, but NOT!!!!!!!! You should have tasted it - the gravy after mixing with the meat for that long and simmering in the oven tasted as good or better than homemade....try it!

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MARKET FINDS

Well, I didn't find anything fun at Market for myself except a candle and two little decorative table top stands...not sure what in the world I'm going to do with them - if I can't decide, then possibly I will put them on my website (which I think is where they are going to end up!) I just can't find a good place for them. www.kmprimitives.com



But we did get some Easter items - go check out my website in the NEW ITEMS catagory to view....they're cutsie, not prim so I was tentative putting them on my site but this will be just for like Easter and Halloween items, then it will be taken off. I don't want customers to start thinking I'm going away from Prim or Colonial.



I've been on the computer most of the day and now it's time to get off - hope you all had a wonderful day!

This is the gray shelf - fits in a corner and it's almost identical to the cupboard I have it on

And it's SOLD to Becky!!!!!!!!! Thanks Becky, it's on its way!

The red one is a corner one as well but equal on the sides.

Both have a little wood peg to hang something on.

Picked up a few of these Willow Candles too!

I bought 2 of these tin holders for the flicker tea lights to sit in! Aren't they cute?

Hugs,

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Cityofoceanshores.com Newsletter ~ 12.2008

Top Stories of 2008
Not much happens out here at the beach, but a few events managed to make headlines last year....
* Hundreds of mysterious silver-colored canisters that once contained rat poison washed up on our beaches...
* Ocean Shores was featured as one of the top 16 most affordable coastal communities in Coastal Living magazine...
* The Ocean Shores / Westport Ferry known as the El Matador shut down operations because of too much muck in the Marina...
* The Fire Department moved forward with the construction of a new 20,000 square foot fire station on Point Brown Avenue...
* The Grays Harbor County Commissioners approved a $3 million dollar loan to construct a new water system just outside of town...
* The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a permit for the Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Co. to conduct a feasibility study for generating power from wind and wave energy off of our coast. Hopefully coming soon...
* The Weatherwax property - an undeveloped 120 acre forest tract near the center of town - will stay that way...
* The local election brought us a strong mayor in Ocean Shores for the first time (rather than an appointed one). We also found out that Mayor Dean Bunkers is the highest paid government official in Grays Harbor County (never came up during the election interestingly enough) just before he announced the layoffs of eight city employees.
* The beach had more snowfall than most can remember this past December. It sure doesn't feel like global warming these days...

Real Estate Update
It's no secret that 2008 was a horrible year for most if not all businesses (except Walmart of course) in the country. Here are some numbers regarding Ocean Shores real estate:
* 206 Homes sold in 2008 for an average sales price of $194,480 compared to 241 Homes sold in 2007 for an average sales price of $209,783.
* Currently, there's 228 Homes on the market for an average price of $259,367 compared to 217 Homes on the market last year at this time for an average price of $275,592.
* 189 Lots sold in 2008 for an average sales price of $47,799 compared to 322 Lots sold in Ocean Shores during 2007 for an average sales price of $54,655. Ouch.
* Currently, there's 518 Lots on the market compared to 580 Lots on the market this time last year.
* Condo sales at the beach this past year wasn't very good. That's the bad news. The good news, is that condo prices in Ocean Shores are more reasonable than ever. There are some screaming deals these days on waterfront condos at the beach. Send me an email to get a list.

On another note, even though the Ocean Shores real estate market was off this past year, consider how bad the market is in a couple of other beach towns. All things said, real estate is doing pretty good in Ocean Shores.
* Ocean Shores sold 206 Homes and 189 Lots in 2008 compared to 241 Homes and 322 Lots in 2007.
* Seabrook/Pacific Beach sold 5 Homes and 1 Lot in 2008 compared to 16 Homes and 16 Lots in 2007.
* Westport sold 29 Homes and 8 Lots in 2008 compared to 51 Homes and 22 Lots in 2007.
* Long Beach sold 43 Homes and 15 Lots in 2008 compared to 73 Homes and 39 Lots in 2007.

Summary: Ocean Shores is still the most affordable coastal community in the country and that's a big reason why a lot of baby boomers are retiring in Ocean Shores and numerous people move here to work, play and buy their vacation getaways. Now is the best time to buy in Ocean Shores!
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties is #1

Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties finished out 2007 as the Number One (#1) Real Estate Sales Office in Ocean Shores last year. This year, not only were we the #1 office in town again, we are the #1 office in all of Grays Harbor County! We sold more properties in the county this past year than any other office around. 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 Grays Harbor County.
On a personal note, I would very much like to thank everyone who helped me in becoming the #1 agent in not only Ocean Shores, but all of Grays Harbor County as well.
-all real estate statistics are supplied by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Here's a list of Sweet Deals for Sale at the Beach!

Upcoming Events
Four-day razor clam dig approved starting January 8th
Clam diggers have received the go-ahead to proceed with a razor-clam dig starting Thursday, Jan. 8, with an additional dig tentatively planned for February. our evening digs are scheduled at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks Jan. 8-11, while Long Beach is scheduled for three digs Jan. 9-11. As with previous openers, digging will be allowed only during the hours between noon and midnight.

Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container. A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 Washington state annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. Washington's beaches, which are managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, are considered state highways and all rules of the road apply.

Opening dates and evening low tides:
Thursday, Jan. 8 (4:13 p.m., -0.2 ft.) Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks Friday, Jan. 9 (5:07 p.m., -0.8 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks Saturday, Jan. 10 (5:58 p.m., -1.1 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks Sunday, Jan. 11, (6:45 p.m., -1.2 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Beaches scheduled to open are:
Long Beach, which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point. Twin Harbors Beach, which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the south jetty at the mouth of Grays Harbor. Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor north jetty to the Copalis River, and includes the Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis areas. Mocrocks Beach, which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
Digs tentatively scheduled for February:
Friday, Feb. 6 (3:55 p.m., -0.1 ft.) Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks Saturday, Feb. 7 (4:50 p.m., -0.4 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks Sunday, Feb. 8 (5:39 p.m., -0.6 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Ocean Shores Antique & Collectible Show
Feb 14-15, 2009The 7th Annual Show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Over eighty booths offering a wide variety of antiques including dolls, glass, furniture, American Art pottery, and much, much more. Last year's event raised $4,235.90 for the Ocean Shores Food Bank and the SeaPal Quilters for their quilt guild charities. For a small donation to local charities and nonprofits, you can have your treasures evaluated. Hourly Door Prizes.

News
Local Doctor will merge with proposed Medical Complex
Dr. John Holm, of Coastal Family Medicine, has decided he will merge his practice with the proposed Ocean Reach Medical Complex, set to open in early 2010. Late last year, David J. Freeman, an architect from Gig Harbor of Snodgrass Freeman and Associates, announced he is working with a developer to build a $7.8 million, 42,000 square foot urgent care clinic at a 1.5 acre site at the corner of Point Brown and Magellan avenues. Currently, Holm's office is one of the only medical facilities in the North Beach area, and he is not taking any new patients. The new facility could employ up to 30 people, including three family practitioners, two physician assistants, four nurses and a few specialists. The project is set to include a health spa, a drive-through pharmacy as well as classroom space for students in the nursing and medical technician programs at Grays Harbor College. - source: the daily world.

Grass Carp are back
The State Department of Ecology has awarded $75,000 to the city to purchase grass carp to control Brazilian elodea, the invasive aquatic weed in the fresh waterways system. The city has plans to put approximately 7,500 grass carp (that's a buck a fish which is cheaper than any fish you can buy at Walmart by the way) into the fresh water systems to feed on the elodea. The city did this in the past as well to mixed results. Some of the old carp are visible these days in lengths of up to four feet long. Elodea has created many problems in the Ocean Shores waterways for years. It grows in thick, dense strands, which makes recreational activities, such as swimming, fishing and boating difficult. The city has tried to control the weeds for years with minimal success. The city had some success using herbicides to kill the elodea in recent years, but the cost was too high and it killed all the native weeds as well which really destroyed the bass fishing. Bass like weeds, especially native weeds. The thought is that the new carp will just eat the Elodea and stay on top of it. Hopefully this will work for a year or two... - source: the daily world.

I hope your Holidays were great!

Jeff Daniel
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
749 Point Brown Ave NW/PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
1.360.581.9020 (cell) - 1.888.469.3100 (toll free) - 1.360.289.3111 (fax)
PROPERTY SEARCH: http://cityofoceanshores.postlets.com/
PROPERTY SEARCH: http://www.coldwellbanker.com/local/jeffdaniel
OCEAN SHORES INFO: http://www.cityofoceanshores.com/
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://oceanshoresrealestate.blogspot.com/
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://activerain.com/jeffgdaniel

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