LONG DAY OF WORK!

Today started out soooo cold and then by 11:30 it turned to snow and oh how beautiful....we had snow three weeks ago and then last week with all the rain and wind it was all but gone! So I was happy to see some more new white fluffy snow again.

Tomorrow night I'm having my former co-workers here for a Christmas get-together so we had to go grocery shopping first thing before I started cleaning.

While I was cleaning Doug, bless his heart - he always pitches in - he made the desserts! I had to stop what I was doing once in awhile to guide or 'stop him' now and then but it all turned out just great.

He made Mini Lemon Tarts, Chocolate Almond Torte and Pinia Colada Torte.....and they all looked very nice when he finished....OH, PLUS HE MADE A MEATLOAF for dinner tonight. Am I spoiled or what - but I gave him his choice....help clean or bake! lol

I finished my decorating yesterday but not happy with it and I don't know why - it just isn't making me feel comfy but it will have to do because doing it twice is more than enough!

I will take pictures of the group tomorrow night....there's only going to be 3 men here in the group of 15 - most of the women have been single or divorced for years.

Here are a few more pictures of my Christmas decorating. I have kept it very, very simple this year....after decorating for the show and then putting it all away I sort of lost my interest in getting the rest of the decorations out.

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Creole Spice Blend

Paprika is the base for this smoky Creole spice blend that's hot and very flavorful. Use it to spice up your meats and vegetables. For the best results, use a quality paprika. Many of the imported varieties have either a sweet or very spicy flavor, use a blend or go with the sweet. Better yet, this spring, try planting a variety of paprika peppers and dry them for your own ground paprika blend.

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HAPPY SUNDAY

Morning everyone....I'm going to do some or should I say the last of my Christmas decorating!
I have finally finished up all my website orders and can now concentrate on ME!
Oh, that sounds so selfish and self centered....hmmmmm Guess I had better say I can concentrate on the family and the holiday! There, that's better....lol

I have spent the very wee hours of the morning visiting all my friends blogs and posting comments. I am so sorry I have been so behind in posting here as well - but the business comes first especially at this time of year.

I'm so anxious to get rid of all the little dust bunnies or should I say 'fluffy snowballs' floating on my hardwood floors....and when I look up sometimes I think I see little floaties coming from the baskets on the beams! lol Should I just pretend it's fairy garland and leave it there????

There's boxes of decorations sitting in the basement just calling out my name to come and let it all out so it can enjoy the holidays as well....it wouldn't be very happy cooped up for another season without seeing the light of day!

So off I go into decorating wonderland today....hopefully if there's something to take pictures of I will do so...if not, you will know I made a mess of things!

Thanks to everyone who has come to my blog and left messages even thought there was nothing fun to read. You are all very dear and I am glad I have made so many new friends. There's so much to be happy and thankful for this season and throughout the year.

Bless you all.
Hugs, Karen

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December 12th, 2008 Storm Pics

We had a decent storm yesterday. Lots of wind & rain. No snow. No property damage that I've heard of. We lost power twice yesterday - both for about a two hours. No biggy. Here's some pictures I took of the ocean today (the day after)...

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Cityofoceanshores.com Newsletter ~ 11.2008

Wintertime Storm Watching
Vertical rain, 70 mph wind and 30-foot swells don't sound much like visitor attractions, but Washington coast storm watching is the thing to do out here on the beach during the winter months. Dozens of ferocious storms typically batter the coast between November and March. January and February traditionally deliver the most wicked weather. The wintertime storms in Ocean Shores are awesome to watch and experience. Watching Mother Nature do her thing is truly a spectacular site. If you can, make your way down to the North Jetty next time we get a good winter storm. The power and impact of the large waves crashing against the jetty wall and spaying inland is truly something exciting to see. This is really one of my favorite times of the year out here on the beach.

Remembering the '07 Storm
One year ago this month, Grays Harbor County and Ocean Shores were battered with a monster storm that over the course of two days, spread devastation that was unmatched since the Columbus Day Storm of 1962.
The storm started with a bang Sunday night during the first week of December last year when fierce winds kicked up. The winds blew from 40 mph to over 60 mph. Individual gusts hit 100 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The winds actually got stronger from Sunday to Monday before finally tapering off. Ocean Shores was without power for nearly five days. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but a few houses at the south end of town got a little wet.

During last December's storm, I received numerous emails from people who were concerned about the status of their houses here in Ocean Shores. My internet was up and I was able to update my websites and various blogs with storm updates and pictures. I was also able to check out their properties and let them know that their houses were fine. So you know, please feel free to contact me to check on your properties as well next time we have another big storm. It was no problem at all.

But, if you live here, there's a couple things to be aware of in case we lose the power for more than just a few hours:
1. If you're going to have a residence in Ocean Shores, you need a gas powered generator.
2. If you have a generator, make sure you have at least 10 gallons of gas at home. The gas stations here can't pump gas without power so you'll need to count on yourself.3. Qwest is my telephone and internet provider. Qwest didn't lose service at all during last years storm. If you have telephone or internet through the cable company, you'll have nothing because the local cable company goes down as the power goes down.
4. If you don't have satellite for your television, you won't be able to watch the news or whatever. If you have cable, you'll have nothing because the local cable company goes down as the power goes down. I have service with the Dish Network and we were able to watch television like all was well.

Real Estate Forecast
I'm usually not one for predictions, but I'm still confident in what I was telling people last winter and that is that it's going to take 18 months before this market turns positive again. A new president, the ending of a war, new optimism and more. This renewed sense of optimism will lead to hope which will lead to consumer spending. That must be a Yoda line or something. Once this happens, it's good times again. No one could've predicted the mess the country is in right now and of course the trickle down effect has taken it's toll on this market as well. That being said, the Ocean Shores real estate market will bounce back vigorously in June and not long after, home builders in Ocean Shores will be back to raising their prices and values will be on the rise once again. Now is the time to buy.~
Overall, prices seem to be hitting the bottom now with the exception of a few foreclosures here and there polluting our inventory of homes at the beach. If we haven't bottomed out yet, the moment is certainly getting closer.
Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are at 5 percent now, and last week there were suggestions that the federal government might try to drive them down to 4.5 percent, a truly incredible figure to be able to lock in for three decades. Low inventory, low prices and cheap money are all in play assuming you've got great credit, steady income and a down payment... just like the old days when those who could afford to buy a house did and those who couldn't, didn't... Anyway, when this crisis has ended and housing prices are up again, will you look in the mirror and realize that you missed out on this golden opportunity to get in cheap? Or, will you NOT be kicking yourself because you took advantage of what is likely to turn out to be the buying opportunity of a lifetime...

Upcoming Events
Clam Digging!
Time to go, another clam dig is on, set for this coming weekend.Four evening digs are scheduled at Copalis and Mocrocks Dec. 11-14. Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.

Dates, times and open beaches are:
Thursday, Dec. 11 (5:23 p.m. -1.1 ft.) Copalis, Mocrocks.
Friday, Dec. 12 (6:13 p.m. -1.5 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
Saturday, Dec. 13 (7:02 p.m. -1.6 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
Sunday, Dec. 14 (7:50 p.m. -1.4 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.

Further digs are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 8-11 and Feb. 6-8.A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination fishing license is 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 Wildlife Department website at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. Clam diggers are not required to display their licenses on outer clothing.
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.

North Beach Singers Christmas Cantata
December 12-13. The North Beach Singers present Yuletide favorites to bring in the holiday season. Admission is free.

Ocean Shores Antique & Collectible Show
Over 80 Booths of Antiques & Vintage CollectiblesFeb 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
The Aberdeen Daily World recently published an interesting story about the mayor of Ocean Shores titled "Ocean Shores mayor tops list of officials' pay." The article reports that "Ocean Shores Mayor Dean Bunkers is the highest paid elected official on the Twin Harbors, a Daily World analysis of government salaries shows. With an annual salary of $99,600, Bunkers makes more than twice what a state senator receives, nearly nine times what Aberdeen Mayor Bill Simpson makes and 80 times what Oakville Mayor Mitchell Smith takes in. In fact, The Daily World found he's the eleventh highest paid mayor in the state." Mayor Bunkers gets paid more for being mayor of Ocean Shores more than the mayors of Mount Vernon, Lynnwood, Tacoma, Marysville, Issaquah, Tukwila, Anacortes, Wenatchee and Bainbridge Island. Who said there was no high paying jobs in Grays Harbor County?

Happy Holidays!

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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I GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE!

We're knee deep in snow right now. It started to rain on Sunday and Monday and by Tuesday morning it turned to snow and snowed most of the day, sometimes light, lots of times hard. Doug shoveled 4 times in between our going shopping. I tell ya, I haven't really been out of the house much and so what do I do but pick a snow day but it was so much fun!

Right now he's out shoveling again from the snow late last night. Thank goodness he has a snow blower and used it a couple times yesterday. The picture he took at 5:30 this morning...pretty isn't it?

Well, I'm half packed up from the show. I left everything up mainly because I just didn't have time to organize it to put it all away.

Bought some gifts on-line yesterday. I got up at 5 because I woke up raring to go! LOL

So bought a set of Rachel Rae pans for our daughter in-law (ones she wanted) and a Craftsman triple tier tool box for our son (he wanted that as well) ... so they're finished! And FREE SHIPPING AT THAT!!!

Then while I was at it I decided to shop for our 15 year old granddaughter on-line with the huge list she sent us...so got her clothes she wanted at these certain shops! So basically she's finished! Just going to get her a couple little special things to add in.

Then while at Kohl’s yesterday they had a 2 day 50% sale on all toys so we bought little Aidan his gifts....not much you can get for a 6 month old that DOESN'T NEED FOR ANYTHING....but we did get him some wonderful learning toys by Fischer Price and a Baby Einstein book. Looking for a snowsuit now. Guess I'll have to go to an actual Children’s Store for that because you just can't find like a 12 or 18 month suit at Kohls or Walmart.

Oh, and while at Kohl's I have been looking at the Hoover Windtunnel vacuums (one's with the bag) and the one I wanted was on sale so we bought it.

Well, here's the thing...we have a Hoover Windtunnel BAGLESS....but I hate it! I think they are dirty!!!!! You have to pull the canister out and dump it and there's all that dust and dirt flying about! It’s not contained like with the bags...I don't see the super clean concept there...but anyway...I digressed, sorry.

We bought it - I put it together (had to attach the handle) and I tried it out!

WELL....I DIDN'T LIKE IT....it just didn't pick up the pile like the other one....so back it went. Well, here's the funny thing. I FORGOT TO PUT THE HANDLE BACK IN THE BOX...I found it last night on my dining room table mixed in with all my merchandise last night...LOL.

Guess I'll have to drop it off today! They're going to think they are working with a ding bat because when we returned the vacuum I didn't have my sales receipt - I had the one from our first visit there and presented it to her - she said it wasn't the correct one - no vacuum on it....arghhhhhh - I had forgotten we had just been there an hour before and made purchases and then decided to go back after the vacuum....anyway - she took care of it and I felt like a fool! NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE SAME WOMAN WHEN I TAKE THE HANDLE BACK....lol

Really - I'm not usually this incompetent! Do you think I'm overworked in the head right now!!!!

So when we took it back I bought a Hamilton Beach Brew Station with the no hands pour...you just put your cup under and push the lever with the cup and WALLA...coffee in the cup! Love it. Now mind you, I don't drink coffee! LOL Only now and then and that's not often! lol Anyway - got it, love it, making a pot as I type....lol

So that's myTuesday and Wednesday for ya! Going to work on the last of my orders so my customers will get them in time for Christmas!

Not a very interesting post I know but just wanted you all to know 'she still lives'....

See ya, have a great Wednesday!

Hugs to all,

Karen

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BEEN BUSY

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to come on and say hi to all and hope your week and weekend was wonderful and filled with lots of family gatherings and Christmas decorating and shopping.

I found Lolla this morning under our little tree! I couldn't find her when I came out to the family room and heard this real faint tinkle and looked and there she was....she finds the most weird places to sleep.

I have been out of the loop so to speak for a week now and miss all of you so much so had to get on and say HI!

I have nothing new to report except that business has been wonderful and for that I am grateful that I don't have the time right now to post fun things!

I'll be on now and then reading everyone's posts and commenting but there just isn't anything going on here!

See you a bit later,

Hugs to all,

Karen

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