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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AND I DID....

Saturday we had the most fun brunch at Doug’s cousins house. One of our cousins is here from Florida so we all got together and had Omelets In A Bag…now I know this sounds yukky but it is delicious.



You take your eggs/milk and either mix in a bowl or mix enough for the group and pour into a baggie, put in any kind of ingredients that you would have in an omelet (except for the cheese), seal bag, place in pot of boiling water for 13-15 minutes. Open the bag and put omelet on plate and then add your cheese on top if desired.



These are just delicious and come out all rolled like an omelet!



Then Sunday Doug and I spent the day putting away all the Christmas decorations and re-arranging all the containers in the storage area and getting the house back together - I can’t believe how big the house looks without all those trees and STUFF sitting around! LOL



Today we had to head out early for Madison for the Market Square Wholesale Cash & Carry show - we found lots of wonderful goodies for Easter and some for our shop. I hope to get some pictures taken of the products so I can get them on my website soon. So that’s my weekend and no pictures to show for it! Sorry. I know we all love pictures don’t we! LoL



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I just won The Lemonade Award from Sharon of PrimThyme.



The Lemonade Award is for blogs that show great attitude and gratitude.Upon receiving The Lemonade Award, you also pass it on to other bloggers who you think show great attitude and gratitude.



I would love to do this however everyone I have contact with through the blogs deserves this award.



I learn so much and see so much from each and everyone of you so this award goes to each of you….I don’t take awards for my blog - I haven’t done this from the beginning…it’s not because I don’t appreciate it - it’s just that I don’t know how to choose.

Hugs,

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WANDERING KITTY

Has anything from the past come to meet you???

Well, it happened to me this past summer so I thought you might like to hear the story and hopefully I can keep it short because I try very hard not to be wordy….but if you really knew me…well, lets just say I’ll try.

I received an e-mail from a girl asking if I’m the same KAREN MARTINSEN who made a ceramic kitty sitting in a baby shoe….well, I didn’t think I would ever have made something like that.

Back in 1974 I was in a ceramics class and made lots of decorative things but they were mostly Colonial items - not cutsy.

I told our boys about it and they said they remembered something like that but were not sure.
I e-mailed her back and told her what I thought and asked if she had pictures…she did….she sent them.

WOW….there was the kitty! AND my signature on the bottom! I don’t sign things in that penmanship anymore but that was mine back then.

She proceeded to tell me she collects anything CATS/KITTY and at a FLEA MARKET IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS she found this kitty and decided to seek out the maker. Can you believe it??? And we live in Wisconsin.

I made this thing in 1974, that was 34 years ago and as any cat IT CERTAINLY DID HAVE 9 LIVES!!!

I just wish I knew the journey this kitty had in those 34 years - how it survived not being broken or cracked/chipped….did it get purchased at one of my rummage sales and sold over and over till it reached Texas? I will never know but I do know my kitty survives….not sure how many more of its 9 lives it has left but I’m certain it will stay where it’s at till time runs out.

Hope you enjoyed my tales of my kitty

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well, like most everyone of you are doing I'm wishing you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR - May it be the best one ever.

I know the economy is taking a dive right now...so they say....don't see it when I'm out and about - people are still shopping....but that said, I think I will start thinking differently how I live.

I have taken for granted the electricity, water, food - it's just THERE....but not really. We have to work for it to be able to have it and I for one squander more than I should.

I don't do New Years Resolutions but I will try from here on to watch how I spend my money - not be frugal but just look more closely at prices and do some comparison shopping which I never usually do...if I want it I buy it. And also, not keep the water runnning unnecessarily JUST BECAUSE when I'm at the sink - and turn lights out when I'm not needing them. I find myself lazy in this respect and I will do my best to THINK from here on. It just might be fun!

Well we're in a deep freeze here yesterday and today and we have to get out and head to Janesville to a lunch with my brother/wife and then we're all going to visit an aunt/uncle.
Hopefully we'll be home this evening early and have our traditional New Year's Eve dinner of Steaks, Crab Legs.

Last night we headed to Janesville to have dinner at a great steak place with cousins visiting from Pennsylvania and by the time we left the wind was blowing hard, snowing and drifting. We have an hours drive through country, not interstate and let me tell you there were many white outs. We were very happy to hit our driveway!

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve and New Year's Day everyone.
Hugs, Karen

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THE AFTERMATH

What a wonderful Christmas day we had - we had to wait for Darren and MaryAnn to get here a bit late so we all just sat around snacking and playing games which was really a fun time.

By the time they got here the little ones were beside themselves with eagerness to open their gifts - but I sure give them lots of credit for not begging!

After opening gifts and stockings we had a wonderful dinner of baked ham, mashed potatoes, corn, salad, jello and lots of desserts. A typical Christmas dinner in our house.

After dinner Jesse got his Guitar Hero hooked up and that was a fun time for everyone - I'm always so amazed at how teenagers can immediately hook something up and go at it! Camera card was full by this time so no pictures of that fun moment.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Aidan arriving!

Aidan being held by Uncle Dan

Aidan's daddy is in the left corner in the tan sweater

Jesse

Alexandra, Joseph, Emily and Jamie (in chair)

Game time...

Darren, MaryAnn and Aidan

Jamie and Heather

Brett and Doug

Karen

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CHRISTMAS MORNING

Merry Christmas morning whoever ventures over to BLOG LAND today!

I woke very early after a solid nights sleep (went to bed at 9:30!)

Got up and made our traditional sweet rolls - Cinnamon rolls and Orange rolls - from the Pillsbury can of course! lol It has been something we have done since the kids were real little as part of our morning around the tree....eating sweet rolls, drinking milk and juice and hoping not to tip the glasses over as we're scattering boxes and papers in 10 differnt directions!

Here's a couple pictures of the mess of gifts that need to be arranged around the tree!

And here they are all under the tree

And this morning, even though we weren't around the tree with the kids, we had to have our sweet rolls with our coffee and milk.

Now the table is set, the kitties are fed, the ham is in the oven, the meatballs are simmering and the rest of the morning is ours and we still need to hang the 'oh so filled stockings'....then wait for the family to arrive around 1 or so.

They are all bringing some kind of appetizer for the afternoon along with our meatballs, chips/dip, cheese assortment so there should be quite an array of goodies.

Have A Wonderful Christmas Day To All My Friends!
Karen

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