Archive for the ‘Musings’ Category

Summer Update for Krueger

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

Yep, haven’t posted in a long time. We’ve had steady sales–a lot of second-home buyers and some military folks too stationed at nearby NAS Whidbey Island.

Summer has been great on Whidbey. It’s a lovely 65 degrees right now, sunny and all the mountains are out. Missed the farmer’s market–busy working on revisions–but enjoyed a nice walk today. Did you know the walking trails around town go all the way out along Parker Road? You can really go for a long walk in every direction.

Tonight’s the Pleine Air Gala Event. It’s been fun seeing all the painters around Ebey’s Landing with their easels.

Also, we had a great dinner last night at the new Front Street Grill on, you guessed it, Front Street. Right on the water, the beautiful craftsmanship will wow you (owner Dan Miranda is also a custom home builder). The food was awesome too. I had a filet mignon and it was no less than spectacular. Would it be so wrong to eat that every day? Women need iron, right? :)

Daffodils, orcas and gray whales

Monday, April 12th, 2010

For your viewing pleasure. Daffodils, cherry trees, crabapples, tulips, boy everything is blooming now. Is Spring the prettiest season? Not sure! But it kind of looks like it.

Daffodils from Skagit Valley

After school, we rushed to the wharf where two adult orcas and a baby orca were sighted earlier. “You just missed it!” Sounds like when you miss the surf break, except they say, “Dude, you just missed it. Epic!”

Yesterday, Local Grown on the pier also said gray whales were sighted. Sounds like a good time to daytrip to Coupeville and hang out in the coffee shop. Don’t forget a piece of pie, or some of the seasoned nuts and other local goodies William stocks. Next door, there’s great Asian food at Kim’s–we ate there on Saturday. I love the prawns with egg rolls and vermicelli–light, veggie-full and flavorful. And for you kite lovers or those needing souvenirs, head to the store next door. She’s got tons of kites, t-shirts, mugs and more.

Or sit at Mosquito Fleet Chili on Front Street. Head down the steps for a great meal! They won this year’s Mussel Chowder competition and my spouse gives it two thumbs up. I love their cornbread muffins. Yum!

Pumpkins and Grass-Fed Beef, Pigs and Free-Range Animals on Whidbey Island

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Don’t forget Sherman Farms off Highway 20, north of the pedestrian overpass, 46 S. Ebey Road, Coupeville. Look for the pumpkin signs. I believe they do trolley rides through the fields on weekends, 11-4. They also have a cool catapault where they let you launch Hubbard Squash and watch it splat. Speaking of which, you can always pick up delicious pre-cut squash at Prairie Center/Red Apple in Coupeville. Not sure of other groceries. It’s inexpensive, delicious and full of vitamins. I use their microwave directions, add a bit of butter and brown sugar, and YUM!

Also, stop by the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, 10-2, for Harvest Fest, the last market of the season and check out pumpkins, fall flowers, tomatoes and other bounty from the garden. Georgie from Willowood Farms will have her terrific farm-to-market cart full of local produce. Case Farms and Dugualla Bay in Oak Harbor also offer a pumpkin patch.

After the Market, head south to Greenbank Farm for the Oktoberfest on Saturday!

Speaking of buying local…did you know there are several options for locally grown grass-fed or free-range animals. Vegetarians stop reading! But for the rest of us who like hormone free, tastier and healthier food, here are a few options:

Sherman Farms is now selling grass-fed beef. Call them at 360-678-6344.

Jenne Farm will raise pigs or beef for you. I think poultry too, but I’m not 100% sure. 360-678-4433 or click on the link to get to their email link–sorry, couldn’t post it–and they’ll send you more information.

And 3 Sisters Beef sells beef, pork and free range eggs at the Farmer’s Markets, Prairie Center/Red Apple in Coupeville, Bell’s Farm off West Beach Road (eggs only, though they are grazing cattle there now), Saar’s Market in Oak Harbor, Payless Foods in Freeland and other places and by calling 360-675-2136.

And lastly, speaking of eating locally, did you know one of our Krueger Commons folks has caught TWENTY-THREE SALMON so far this year! From the beach! My poor other friend has only caught Sole from his boat. In fact, another fishing friend gave his wife a fresh salmon “so her husband would know what they look like.” They laughed, ate like kings and gave back some delicous homegrown corn from their garden–their salmon. Which actually, it kind of is as she used the Native American tradition of putting a dead salmon in the planting hole with each seed. She also used some kind of radioactive chicken poop because her garden this year was amazing. Hands down, she has a green thumb.

Enjoy the fall! We had another offer yesterday, so only four units left. Two corners and two interiors, all exceptional.

Wild blackberries, sunshine and ice cream

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

What a beautiful day on Whidbey. I went for a walk around town on the many trails and enjoyed picking wild blackberries along the way. Tomorrow, I’ll bring a tupperware. You can only hold so many in your hand without them spilling all over.

The kids enjoyed them when I picked them up from school, along with fresh blueberry muffins. Bonnie’s Blueberries, north of Oak Harbor near Dugualla Bay, has wonderful old bushes. Grab a bucket and it will be full in no time. We love to freeze her berries each year. Check the Saturday Farmer’s Market too. They were there last week, or you can find berries from Swansons in LaConner. I got a flat of late raspberries the other day that were out of this world. Made raspberry bars, yum!

Enjoyed the ice cream social Open House at Coupeville Elementary. Parents chatted and kids raced all over the playground. The classrooms looked great and both my kids were very proud during the tours they gave me.

I’ll try to get weekend stuff up soon. Don’t forget, you can check the Coupeville Examiner and the Whidbey News-Times online. Most of their papers are available in that format. I do know it’s Woolly Mammoth Day at the Island County Historical Museum in Coupeville. Every year my kids love this event, with crafts, stories, and more.

School year…

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

Well, school started last week. Sorry for no posting, but I was actually in the hospital for a few days. Not a great way to celebrate. But the staff at Whidbey General was very professional, and strangely all very attractive and healthy looking. It was fun listening to them chat with one another and sound like they enjoy their work environment.

We’ve had quite a few people opt into the Coupeville School District and for a few good reasons. I enjoy how everybody gets to know everybody else. How parents walk together on the trails around town before volunteering in the classroom or heading to work. How folks volunteer at the schools from parents, grandparents to those in the community. How our school bond is always approved. I even dig the teeny tiny football games (compared to where I grew up in Texas). But, some folks also pick our district because our schools scored well on state tests, kids routinely go to National History Day in DC and other reasons.

I like that it’s a bit slower, that kids seem to be kids for longer around here. I like that family takes center stage and every age is appreciated.

Coupeville and another small town in Idaho

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

We just returned from a week celebrating a friends 51st birthday denial. It was lots of fun and a very pretty town.

Having said that, winters there are 20 below in February and the guy at the sporting good store said you can’t see anything due to the fog effect. Wow, I’ll take Coupeville’s 50 degree winter instead.

And they didn’t have a bookstore. Kind of weird. About five sporting good stores, and some books at the drug store, but no dedicated bookstore. Our library has them beat too.

The mountain biking was advertised as being superb. Well, those folks haven’t been to Whidbey Island. They had one trail, yes, one at the local State Park. Then we tried another “great ride”–a gravel fire road uphill for thirteen miles. Yes, that’s climbing a mountain, but that’s not mountain biking in my book, at least not the kind I like. If you drove about 40 minutes, you could get to some better stuff, but 40 minutes…geez.

I’d rather bike from the parking lot at Krueger Commons and go mountain biking at Fort Ebey State Park. Single track. It’s like nirvana. The salal and ferns brush your arms as you weave in and out of the trees, up and down like a roller coaster.  Heck, you could drive twenty minutes to bike Deception Pass, or if you like 40 minute drives, enjoy the rocky, sloggy mess near Anacortes. All singletrack, all twisty and fun. Out of all those great biking venues, Fort Ebey is definitely tops.

I only did one road bike ride. It was nice and flat, which I appreciate since I’m out of shape, but the road had these crazy divots missing between sections. Spin, drop, clunk, spin, drop, clunk. Another option was zooming along the Highway out of town. Great bike lanes and folks around there are very bike friendly–giving you lots of room–thanks!–but it’s a busy, busy road. I’ll stick to winding on the quiet roads around Coupeville.

Speaking of which, lately I’ve seen a few road bikers on the stretch of Hwy 20 between Madrona/Libbey going into Coupeville. There is a paved bike/hike/walking lane on the right side of the road, or you could avoid this section which is trafficked (you can bike all from one end of Whidbey to the other and stay off Hwy 20), by going on picturesque Madrona. Yes, there is barely a shoulder and it’s shady. So, be aware as you enjoy the views of Penn Cove, or hop on the paved lane that begins a mile or so South of the Libbey Road intersection. Biking maps of Island County are available, listing hill directions, rest areas, and difficulty.

Berry picking

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Last week for picking berries at Bell’s Farm on West Beach Road. 9-4:30pm, Monday through Saturday. U-pick. $1.25/pound. You can also pick up strawberries from Bells at the 7-11 in Oak Harbor, Saturday at the Coupeville Farmer’s Market or pick up flats at Prairie Center/Red Apple in Coupeville and Payless Foods in Freeland.

Youderian Farm Raspberries. Yum! Picked up a bunch and they were so sweet. 18082 SR 20, Coupeville, right across from the Navy Outlying Field. $20 a flat if they pick them, $2/pound if you pick them. Call 678-5283 to order or for information. Open Monday through Saturday, 9-5.

Now, get busy! Freeze some, can some or eat some. Delicious.

National Park Service Free Guided Walks and Talks

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

Make a point to join one of the free programs offered by the National Park Service and Ebey’s National Historic Reserve Guided Walks & Talks.

Join the Trust Board and National Park Service this summer to experience the history, nature and beauty of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. Programs are free, fun for people of all ages, and informative to both locals and visitors

Historic Coupeville Guided Walk: Wednesdays & Fridays at 2 PM. Meet at the Island County Museum on Front Street, tours are one hour. The 2nd oldest town in Washington State, Coupeville is rich in history and stories. Learn to recognize signs of Coupeville’s past in the structures standing today.

Ebey’s Landing Bluff Guided Walk: Fridays at 4 PM & Saturdays at 10 AM. Meet at the prairie overlook off of Cemetery Road, tours are 1.5 hours, round trip. Experience the natural beauty of Ebey’s prairie with glorious views of the Puget Sound, Cascade Mountains and Olympic Mountains. Learn about the geologic events that occurred to make this natural prairie, human history that sustains it, as well as current agricultural uses.

Native Plant Workshops: Saturdays at 6 PM, Fort Ebey State Park Amphitheater. Learn what’s growing around us in Central Whidbey Island and how to use these plants in ways we never thought possible.

Contact: Emi Morgan, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve at (360) 678-6084

Weekend fun

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

What did I do over the holiday weekend with visiting company:

  1. Went for a hike from the cemetery parking area to Ebey’s Landing. Checked out the blockhouse, hiked along the ridge, then enjoyed the view from the top of the Landing. Hiked on down with the kiddos, saying hello to a fellow flying his model airplane then drove into Coupeville to enjoy another delicious lunch at Mosquito Fleet Chili on Front Street. Yum. My cousin explored the waterfront with the kids while I showed the condos. They stopped by the library to sign the kids up for the free summer reading program before walking up to meet me. Grilled and made s’mores.
  2. Went bike riding on the Kettles Trail from Fort Ebey State Park into Coupeville. Had a great lunch at Miriam’s Espresso. Rode the bikes on the highway overpass to Krueger Commons (waving at the cars on Hwy. 20) and met the newest homeowner at the condos. Biked home, jumped in the car and parked at the Keystone ferry landing. The weather was perfect for the crossing to Port Townsend. Did a bit of window shopping and enjoyed great sushi at Ichikawa.
  3. Went to the Farmer’s Market and picked up raspberries which we rapidly consumed. Should have bought a flat! The Youderians and the Mile Post 19 farms near OLF both have raspberries now. Said hello to friends and bought some freshly picked veggies. Enjoyed the fireworks display in Oak Harbor–although it seemed a bit late when they started. Whew!

Bugs, humidity and heat

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

All things we don’t suffer from in Coupeville.

I recently spent two weeks on vacation…the reason I didn’t post anything. I truly tried to relax, failed a bit, but overall made a point to reduce my workload.

Boy, it’s hot in Texas! The kids had fun swimming in the pool with Grandma, but unless you were in the water it was truly too much to stay outside. For kids, they’d love to swim all summer, but the rest of us probably don’t enjoy being trapped in the air conditioning.

What do they say? You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. Well, being away, I realized I like these things about life in Coupeville:

  1. No roaches. In fact, if you don’t feel like doing the dishes that night, no yucky bugs will show up. For the less domestically inclined among us, this is a real treat. Roaches are so gross.
  2. No mosquitoes. Unless you’re near a wetland area, Whidbey doesn’t have mosquitoes. Or at least, not where I live.
  3. No humidity. I love Texas, but I forgot how it feels like you’re being smothered by a wet washcloth.
  4. No air conditioning. Sure we have a few days where you’ll have the windows open at night and the fans running (like the past week), but generally, the weather in the summer is downright perfect on the island. I forgot how dry your nose and throat become with the A/C running all night.
  5. No red ants. Maybe they’re somewhere in the state, but not in Coupeville. Ever step in a red ant hill? Ouch!