That means it’s time to clean up the yard.

Whether you are selling your home or not, with the nicer days ahead take the time to clean up what Winter has left behind. Look at your front yard from the eye of a new buyer walking up to your door; does your yard say there’s a lot of work to do here?

Placing potted seasonal plants at your front entrance gives a great first impression.

Maybe have a seasonal wreath or dried grasses in the off-season. Make sure entry windows are sparkling clean and your is porch swept… read full article

When thinking back over some of our most memorable meals, we all recall certain dishes that were so gratifying, so fragrant and pleasing, that their recollection sends us right back to that place in time. For me, the traditional soup pot simmering on the stove stirs up childhood memories of a simpler time.

Soup is, by its very nature, eccentric: no two are ever alike. Light and pretty, silky and creamy, subtle or stalwart, hot or cold, thick or thin – soup embraces variety. But, when I think of soup, it is thick, warming, and consoling – a… read full article

One of my current home sales is in the Cape San Juan community on San Juan Island. When my husband first introduced me to the island, this was one of my favorite areas of the island. It’s been awhile since I’ve spent much time at the south end, but I remember the draw. The Cape San Juan community is at the southern tip of San Juan Island and looks over Cattle Pass to Lopez Island and you look out to the Strait of Juan de Fuca making it a beautiful drive.

The community itself is unique in that… read full article

Part 2

A Realtor’s Dilemma

Who lives on Shaw Island?  Some very private people who wish to maintain their privacy.  Who buys property on Shaw Island?  Usually people with friends or family  on Shaw Island.  Where do they go if they want to market their property?  Obviously, since they do not have  a real estate office on Shaw they go to a Realtor from another island.  And that would be me.

How do you find Buyers for Shaw Island? The answer must be:  very discretely.  There is a kiosk across from the one general store on Shaw where… read full article

In simple terms, GREEN refers to lessening the environmental impact from society.

While awareness is growing many are not sure exactly what they can do to contribute to the movement and begin to lessen their carbon footprint. As human beings our ecological footprint is large, as North Americans, it is even larger. Here are a few websites that you can use to calculate your own personal carbon footprint: www.earthlab.com, www.conservation.org, www.carbonfund.org.

If you are curious, check it out.

Here are a few Milestones of the Green Movement. In 1957 a geologist working for the Shell Oil Company… read full article

When we look back at the places where we have lived during our life, we remember some with nostalgia and love, while others we remember as places connected to unhappiness and pain. We often assume the ups and downs of life are associated with the place where certain events in our life occurred. Many simply leave it at that, never considering that perhaps the house itself may have contributed to their feelings of discontentment or well-being. Houses are essentially alive.

Begin to think of your home as a living, breathing entity requiring a loving, reciprocal relationship. Our homes… read full article

Part 1

With so much attention put on the waters that surround San Juan Island, many visitors (and locals too!) forget to look inward for stunning things to do on the island. There are so many incredibly beautiful places to hike and trails to explore on San Juan Island that you could spend each weekend on a different trail and not repeat your adventure for months.

May I suggest a starting point?  Mt. Young!  This mountain is a continuation of a trail that starts at British Camp on the northwestern side of San Juan Island not far from… read full article