Home Repair Minimalist: April 2010

The Magnificent Mint Mojito

I'm waxing a bit poetic, but if you like mint, rum and lime, this Cuban cocktail was made for you. It's refreshing on a hot day with just the hint of a citrus bite to keep it interesting. On Kentucky Derby day, this wonderful little drink makes a nice change from the traditional mint julep, especially if you aren't into bourbon.

A classic recipe follows. Mint and limes are essential for a

I wonder what it’s all going to be???

I had such a great day today – the weather was beautiful
and the sun was shining….and my aches and pains have died down.

Today was ‘lunch day’ with my former co-workers…as I’ve mentioned before we get together at a restaurant or here about every 6-8 weeks and catch up on each others families, animals, trips and pains…yes, pains…we’re all about the same age so there’s lots to talk about.

And at lunch I couldn’t make up my mind if I wanted a side salad or a grilled Chicken Salad – went back and forth in my mind and ended up ordering the Chicken Salad….so when the salad came I ate it. As well as the girls who ordered a meal and had soup…then – the waitress brought out the meals..and another salad for me! WHAT???? I then realized that I did indeed order the Chicken Salad – lol

I told her I didn’t want it now – I had already eaten a salad…but she said it was her mistake and so I might as well eat it…yeah right…you bet it was her mistake! And so I tried to eat SOME MORE SALAD – but I started to feel very much on overload by that time so home it came with me.

Then this afternoon I got busy with preparations for some new
items but I’m not saying what they are but here’s a peek at
what i was up to all afternoon.

And then I tore some fabric to use on these….

So what do you think it’s all going to turn into…guess you’ll have to wait!
I’m just full of surprises and mystery this week aren’t I?

Don’t forget to check my previous post to
sign up for my 450th Follower Give A-way…http://mycolonialhome.blogspot.com/2010/04/450-followers-give-way.html

Thanks for visiting me…I appreciate all your comments!
Hugs, Karen

Garden Tips and News From Around the Web

It's time for a little more link love and I have some goodies for you.Here's a great garden seed planting chart (mostly for veggies) that will help you know how much space you'll need for the yields you have in mind: Seed Planting ChartTake a moment to check out my two new TLC articles: How to Grow Your Own Indoor Herb Garden How To Bring the Outdoors in With Indoor GardensIf you garden, and you

450 Followers Give A-way

I said when I reached 450 FOLLOWERS I was going to have a GIVE A-WAY in honor of it - well there’s a twist –
IT’S GOING TO BE A SURPRISE GIVE A-WAY
so you won’t know what you won till the
day I draw YOUR name!

Now I will give you all until Midnight May 8th to get your name in and then on Mother’s Day, May 9th I will draw the lucky name…all you have to do is
1. Be a follower of mine
2. Post a comment here
3. Post your e-mail address so I can find you – if I have to look for you then I’ll just have to draw another name.

Now just what do you think it will be?
Could it be one thing – or maybe two?
Well how about 3 items…..hmmmmmm, only time will tell.

Do you think it might be some of my Penny Rug items, or maybe some grungy ole’ Primitive I made…or maybe something sweet and yummy?
I guess you will have to wait to find out…
don’t you just love surprises?

And then again…maybe I just might post the prizes
at a later date…LOL

Good Luck to everyone.

Karen

AND THE LARSON -JUHL WINNER IS...............

VICKIE H.!

This generous give-away was sponsored by Larson-Juhl, the renowned frame manufacturer.

Their division Artaissance has over 3,000 art images for you to peruse and customize for your home. Vickie's choice was 'Mardi Gras Queen', shown above, on canvas.

By artist Marta Wiley.

In asking the staff of Larson-Juhl to choose a winner randomly, they opted for a website called Random.org.
Having not known about this site (am I the only one?), you can count on this being pulled up for the next Phillips' Christmas drawing. :-)

CONGRATS VICKIE! AND THANK YOU STEVE McKENZIE OF LARSON-JUHL!

Debra

CityofOceanShores.com Newsletter ~ March 2010

Beach Updates
The Pacific Ocean is definitely the top draw in Ocean Shores, but there's much more to this beach town beyond its smooth shoreline and crashing surf. Ocean Shores boasts 23 miles of interconnected freshwater canals and lakes. Duck Lake is the big lake in Ocean Shores and is stocked and considered one of the best year-round fishing lakes in Western Washington. The lake is power-boat accessible and is excellent for many different boating experiences.

On April 24th, the fishing season begins and Duck Lake is a place that a lot of anglers frequent. The lake is home to a variety of fish including largemouth & smallmouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, rainbow trout, grass carp and other types of slimy fish. If for some reason you happen to catch a grass carp, put it back. Those guys eat the weeds (well, they're supposed too)...
There are two public parks on Duck Lake, each with its own public boat launch (launching your boat is free whether you live here or not):

Chinook Park is located on Duck Lake Drive about two and a half miles south of the airport. The park is 3.2 acres in size with a boat launch, ADA accessible fishing dock, large playfield, picnic tables, playground equipment, water fountain, portable restroom and a public parking area.
North Bay Park is located on Albatross and Chance a la Mer Avenue by the airport. The park is 7.1 acres big with a boat launch, fishing dock, baseball diamond with backstop/soccer field, tennis court, basketball goals, playground equipment, picnic shelter with fireplace and picnic tables, ADA restroom facility, plenty of parking space and excellent views of the Olympics and Grays Harbor across the nearby airport.

Ocean Shores Real Estate Update
Home and lot sales jumped in Ocean Shores during the month of March! The looming Federal Tax Credit deadline coming up has surely motivated some buyers to get off the fence. One of the telling signs with this month's sales figures is that for all three categories (homes, land & condos), sales transactions are pretty much flat (or increasing as lot sales did) compared to the same time period in 2009. This most definitely signals that the real estate market has finally bottomed out in first quarter 2010.

March Home Sales
Home sales jumped again at the beach as 17 Homes sold in March compared to only 9 in February. Average selling price was $147,100 - down from February's average price of $204,100. The cheapest was a bank-owned fixer that sold for only $30,000 while the most expensive was an oversized ocean view home that sold for $300,000. Average time on the market was 278 days. There are currently 36 homes that are pending right now - up from 34 last month at this time. Inventory is still increasing as there are 223 homes on the market now compared to 218 last month.

March Vacant Lot Sales
Lot sales in March more than doubled February's numbers as 18 Lots closed in March (up from 8 Lots in February) for an average sales price of $30,436. Average time on the market was only 446 days - down from last month's time on the market of 539 days. Eight lots are currently pending. There are 536 lots available on the market right now compared to 509 last month. Average price: $73,051. The cheapest one is now only $7,800, but bring some dump trucks with sand.... lots of sand...

March Condo Sales
Only 1 Condo closed in March for $62,000. Condo sales are very slow. Two condos in town are still pending while 98 condos are still active listings.

Quarterly Comparisons
* 30 Homes sold in the first quarter of 2010 for an average sales price of $159,867.
* 31 Homes sold in the first quarter of 2009 for an average sales price of $179,355.

* 35 Lots sold in the first quarter of 2010 for an average sales price of $25,484.
* 22 Lots sold in the first quarter of 2009 for an average sales price of $37,198.

* 4 Condos sold in the first quarter of 2010 for an average sales price of $96,225.
* 5 Condos sold in the first quarter of 2009 for an average sales price of $110,050.

Coastal Community Home Sales Comparisons
The real estate market in Ocean Shores continues to dominate the other areas on Washington's coast in regards to number of homes sold, etc. I would sure hate to be selling real estate in Westport...
* Ocean Shores sold 30 Homes in the first quarter of 2010 for an average sales price of $159,867.
* Westport sold 5 Homes in the first quarter of 2010 for an average sales price of $73,900.
* Seabrook/Pacific Beach/Moclips sold 2 Homes in the first quarter of 2010 for an average sales price of $375,000.
* Long Beach sold 12 Homes in the first quarter of 2010 for an average sales price of $168,862.

Ocean Shores Real Estate Brokerage Rankings
It's becoming quite clear to most real estate sellers & buyers in Ocean Shores that if you're serious about buying or selling real estate at the beach, you'll want to work with the office that delivers the best results. The following list is the top ten real estate brokerages and their percentage of real estate volume sold in Ocean Shores for the first quarter of 2010:

1. Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties - 40.08%
2. Windermere RE Grays Harbor - 15.31%
3. John L. Scott Ocean Shores - 8.61%
4. Premier Realty Ocean Shores - 4.67%
The three other real estate brokerage in Ocean Shores didn't make it into the top ten, so I'll just stop at number four....

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 www.cityofoceanshores.com. Thanks! All statistics are supplied from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Upcoming Events
Olympus Rally
April 24-25, 2010
Many of the top rally drivers in the nation will be on hand when the Olympus Rally returns to Grays Harbor on April 24-25. The third event in the Rally America series will be based, for the first time, in the Ocean Shores area. The Ocean Shores Convention Center will be the event’s headquarters. Racing enthusiasts can meet the drivers in a pair of public events, scheduled for 8 a.m. April 24 and 7 a.m. April 25 at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/04/07/sports/doc4bbcbb6c1d64c535534372.txt

Razor Clam Dig Coming Up!
April 30-May 2, 2010
The Washington State Fish & Wildlife Department has tentatively scheduled a dig for the following dates and beaches. A final decision on the dig will be based on the results of tests for toxins to determine if the clams are safe to eat.
Friday, April 30, 8:32 a.m., -1.5: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks
Saturday May 1, 9:15 a.m., -1.0 : Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks and Kalaloch
Sunday, May 2, 9:58 a.m., -0.7: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks and Kalaloch
A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2009 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination fishing license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions.
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, Oyehut, Ocean City and Copalis areas.
· Mocrocks Beach, which extends from the Copalis River to the so

uthern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
· Kalaloch Beach, which extends from the South Beach Campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park.
For more info, click http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/season.htm.

Grays Harbor County Expo
May 27-31, 2010
Third annual expo featuring Oceans of Fine Arts, Arts & Crafts Show, Cruisin the Shores RV Show, Chainsaw Carving, Hotrod & Classic Car Show & a HOME SHOW! Something for everyone! Free & easy parking - Memorial Day Weekend - see you there! http://www.graysharborexpo.com/

Kite Challenge
June 5-6, 2010
Sponsored by "Team Cutting Edge Kites" - 2005 & 2006 World Champions. Free kite flying lessons, stunt competitions, fun flies, displays and more. Come to the beach and watch the sky come to life with hundreds of colorful kites!

Flag Day Parade & Dance
June 12, 2010
A chance to show your patriotic spirit. The parade features more than 75 entries and a Grand Marshall. End the day with dancing and raffle drawings. One of the only Flag Day parades in Western Washington.

Jeff Daniel
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
Cell Phone: 360.581.9020
749 Point Brown Ave NW
PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
360.289.3111 (fax)

10 Ways to Make Your Home Worth More

Great article!

http://www.frontdoor.com/Sell/10-Ways-to-Make-Your-Home-Worth-More/30/p1/?nl=FD_v122_top10-1

Jeff Daniel
Associate BrokerColdwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties
Cell Phone: 360.581.9020
749 Point Brown Ave NW
PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
360.289.3111 (fax)

5 More Herb Recommendations for Your Garden This Year

I have a few more suggestions for your herb patch this season. Some of them are a little unexpected, but they're part of what makes herb gardening such a special gardening pursuit. Most of these offerings are pretty easy to grow once you get them started, but the first three: stevia, ginger and tea camellia aren't frost tolerant. You can over-winter them indoors, or in the case of stevia, over

Where’s Lola?

I thought this being a Rainy Sunday I would lift my spirits
and look at pictures today and a thought came to me…Lola makes me giggle. She’s my ‘friend’ and gets into the most silly spots and over the last few years I snapped pictures when
I could before she would move when she saw me making
a moving …not because she was scared I’d chase her out,
but she would move thinking I was going to go
someplace else and wanted to be with me!
Her little brain must have been thinking
“where you going now, where you going now!”

Nothing brain worthy…just an escape from the day…Enjoy

Packing suitcases for a trip….

Getting wreath ready to hang

Stack of pillows I had just made, see her little tail
sticking out over the sheep!

Trying to set up for Home Show….

And her favorite place at Christmas was inside the
fence…I had cotton stuffed around the tree
HOPE YOU ENJOYED!

I see my following is at 443….when I reach 500 I am going to have a wonderful Give A-way!

Karen

Herbs Can Save You Money in the Kitchen

Herbs can save you money in the kitchen. They'll help you eat healthier too. A few simple tricks can make keeping an herb garden a boon for your family and your pocketbook. An average American family spends about 10% of its annual income on food. Saving even a little of those thousands of dollars can pay for your garden and then some.There's one thing to keep in mind before you begin. Working

Thoughts on a Sunday Garden

If you garden, or just like garden plants, Sundays have a particular appeal. After the paper, church, the cartoons, or your favorite hangover treatment, the greenery starts to beckon you outdoors. It's a special, dreamy time that's part chores and part fantasy.Here's stretches your garden, full of seedlings, weeds and encroaching bugs you have to deal with, and in your mind exists your fully

A Rainy Saturday

I had to share with you what my Lola has been doing…she loves to touch everything I touch or if I set something down she has to get on it….now she has claimed the new Geraniums as hers…she has been napping in the middle of them since I set them there till I figure out where they are going – I didn’t get to her fast enough while she was napping…I think she’s angry at me for the flash on the camera…it woke her up….

It’s pouring out today so a good day for sewing
but so far it has been A LAZY DAY!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Oh by the way….those flip flops went back!!!
I tried them on in the house Thursday to see how they would feel and would you believe they actually cut me between my toes! Ouch!!!
Back they went. I don’t think it’s the shoes – it’s my feet…they were not made for Flip Flops.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Primitive Place Magazine Cover Arrives!

One of the newest magazines to come into the Primitive world is going to be out in August and the first cover was just unveiled last night...it's awesome.

To order yours now click here

And in honor of this APP is having a wonderful
Give A-Way
Here’s what you will receive

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Enjoy your weekend!
Karen

Geraniums – real or faux

I went shopping today at JoAnn’s for some much needed DMC
and while I was there I saw they had their wonderful Geraniums on sale – I have only bought mine from there over the past years…they are the best and look so real. Had many compliments on them as well so I had to get some new ones because some of mine are many years old and looking a bit faded although they really are nice yet…oh, who
am I kidding…I WANTED SOME NEW ONES!

Don’t they look wonderful? I got 2 large potted and 4 clusters which are actually the same as in the potted ones but I guess I paid for the pots.
The potted ones were $19.00 at 40% off so basically I got two
for almost the price of one.
The clusters were $4.99 at 50% off so I got 4 for the price of two!

I also bought a much needed summer flip flop – most of them hurt my
feet and i don’t like how they clomp when you walk but I found these wonderful Skechers Tone Ups and are they comfortable and
it certainly won’t hurt me to have LOTS of help to Tone Up!

This week was a busy one with working in the yard – the weeds
were looking prettier than the plantings – maybe because there
were so many and speaking of that…..
I DO NOT HAVE ANY ‘CONEFLOWERS’ ANYMORE!!!
My husband got so busy pulling weeds that he just kept going along the picket fence and just kept pulling. I looked over and the whole area
was bare and I about screamed! Well – I did YELL….what the
heck are you doing and a few more words….

Maybe I should have gone a little easier…lol, poor guy couldn’t tell the difference between the new growth of the Coneflower from the weeds. I’ll have to give him that…they really did look the same. You really had to look closely. So now it’s to the garden center for new ones.

Here is the last batch left….I kept him away from these…just one lonely little bunch left (this picture is from last year)
….sorry little bunch huh?

My granddaughter Emily sent me some pictures she took on
Easter Saturday of me and little Aidan…he’s just such a
sweetheart and sooooo good.
He’ll be 2 June 20th….growing so fast.

That’s all I have for you today – maybe next week I’ll have some Spring decorating to show you – until then enjoy life and each other.
Karen

Save Money in the Laundry with Herbs and Household Solutions

It's time for another herb focused money saving tip.

A few years ago my family started getting soap related rashes, so I began cutting back on the amount of laundry soap I use per load. This turned out to be an economical move that doesn't have a down side. I tried the same strategy across a number of laundry brands and finally settled on a routine in which I use about a third of the

Herb Potting Tips

Before you get your herbs up and going this spring, you may want to do some pot maintenance and get your supplies together. I like keeping herbs in pots as well as in their own dedicated patch (and almost anywhere else I can find). One advantage of pots is that I can bring them back indoors in fall. This works great for the aloe vera, ginger plant, rosemary, lemon eucalyptus, scented geraniums

LARSON JUHL. Introduction and ART GIVEAWAY!

Larson Juhl, has long distinguished itself, in the framing industry through fine craftsmanship and personal service.
As a design-driven company, Larson Juhl, in the words of CEO Steve McKenzie, "Is committed to the success of the industry through new designs. We listen to what the consumer wants. We attend art shows and major exhibitions around the world and we investigate color trends and home trends."
(5th: Think I would like to work for them!)

I was truly honored to share in the opportunity of meeting Steve McKenzie via an event co-hosted with Eddie Ross last January. Steve was extremely generous, and a gracious and approachable host who possesses a contagious passion for his company. I had to know more.............so am sharing our interview, an exciting new division of their company and a wonderful giveaway.

5th; Your thoughts on custom framing in today's interiors?

SMK; "Decorating with custom frames challenges the senses, engages the spirit and transforms a room while influencing how a piece of art is perceived."

5th; What design elements would you recommend we keep in mind?

SMK; 1) Frame what you love. It may be a street painting from a special trip to Paris
2) Be aware of space and appropriate size
3) Understand your personal tastes so that you can express you style to the framer

5th: What trends are you following and foreseeing?

SMK:
-An extreme awareness of environmental responsibility. Larson Juhl has a parallel commitment to sustainability, utilizing managed forest lumber for all our products.

-A renewed appreciation for what nature provides. With such hi-tech and sleek modern lives, natural wood is comforting.
-Propensity of color. Brights are used more in monochromatic rooms adding a punch that creates energy.
-Contemporary and Modernism continues to grow with clean and simple lines.

5th; I found your website to be very consumer friendly. Loved that the frames are separated into collections as shown above.

Into the 'Style Notebooks' as shown with the Johnathon Adler collection

And as in the example above, you provide 'Framing Recipes' and in this case pocket watches.

This "recipe"

-Outer frame: 'Sevilla'
-Inner frame: 'Ambrosia'
-Top Mat: 'Buckskin Leather
-Bottom Mat: 'Bart'
-Fillet: 'Sevilla'

SMK: "Many individuals do not fully understand their taste which transcends framing, this is to create a dialogue and prompt you in seeking your basic style. To ease the fear of making a mistake and to take your ideas to the framer who can ultimately navigate your decisions.

5th: Steve, let's talk about our mutual love; framing objects. What ideas can you share with us?

SMK: "Anything can be framed and acquired objects can be arranged as the ultimate personal collection. Consider for instance a Grandmother's christening gown. It is so personal and aesthetically beautiful that it becomes a work of art adding a touch of humanity into a space."

I am crazy in love with how Brooke from Velvet and Linen thought to frame vintage bathing suits.

My dear friend Betsy framed her son's first "big boy" jeans which she hung in her laundry room.

An old German fishmongers chart currently for sale in the shop

17th century French candy molds I had framed

5th: Personally I am excited about your latest division, Artaissance, your pioneering art publishing division that addresses what is inside the frame.

SMK: Artaissance or 'Art that Fits' represents the work of emerging and well-known artists. Our interactive online library has over 3,300 images representing the work of more than 140 artists, and is continually updated on a monthly basis. All of the images are exclusive to the collection be it watercolors, photography, collage and mixed media."

Remember this everyone? Eddie Ross' winning window for Bloomingdales. And the centerpiece was the framed art from Artaissance.

Cirsk #1

What is choice about this division is the ability to customize the art for your space. You can choose the size and substrate be it paper or canvas. Eddie had the edges "deckled" then floated the piece for added depth.

So here is the generous giveaway;
-Go to the Larson Juhl website
-Scroll down the left and choose 'Artaissance' and scan the selections
-Email me with your choice of artwork, substrate and size. Hurry!
Winner will be chosen randomly. Here are some of my favorites;

Jenny Nelson

Felipe Santama

Amy Butler

Photography by Thea Schrack

Thomas Paul

Miguel Dominguez

David Dauncey

HAVE FUN! I certainly did and found myself awash in possibilities.

A special thank you to Steve McKenzie for this generous opportunity for the readers of '5th and State'

Debra