Our biggest sign of spring: Gray whales are back | Field Notes | Seattle Times

It's time to start visiting the State Parks on Whidbey & Camano Islands, the whales are back!

Our biggest sign of spring: Gray whales are back | Field Notes | Seattle Times: What’s bigger than a swallow — and brings just as good news? Gray whales, Washington’s biggest sign of spring.

The resident gray whales are back in� Whidbey and Camano Island waters once again.

The Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network received its first report of a North Puget Sound Gray Whale on Feb. 4, and in the past few weeks have received reports identifying several North Puget Sound grays returning to feed in Saratoga Passage, from Polnell Pt. to Port Susan and Possession Sound.

The Rhododendron Cafe in the Skagit Valley is one of our favorite places to stop and eat after a great sidecar ride down the Scenic Chuckanut Drive from Historic Fairhaven!

Open  Lunch and Dinner : Wednesday—Sunday (11:30 am —  9 pm)
 Open at 9 am Saturday and Sunday for Breakfast
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays 

 Ethnic Odyssey 2013 ~ our 30th Year!

Explore the World with us as we feature a different cuisine each month !
February:  Cooking around the Mediterranean
   Featuring Greece, North Africa, and more!
March:  American Regional Cooking
   A tour of some of our own Cooking styles !
April:  Spain and Portugal
   Regional Cooking throughout the Iberian Peninsula
May:  Lands of Spice
   From South of the Border to India & Asia,
June:  French and European Cooking
   Culinary tour of Western & Northern Europe
July:  Island Cooking
   Caribbean, South Pacific, Hawaii, and More
August:  Skagit Harvest  &  Northwest Cooking
   Featuring the Bounty of Skagit & the Northwest
September:  Middle East and Africa
   Exotic flavors from Persia to South Africa
October:  Foods of Fall & Best of the Rhody

Location
The Rhododendron Cafe is located on the famous Chuckanut
Drive as it drops into the beautiful Skagit Valley.
Specifically, we are at the intersection of Chuckanut Drive
and Bow Hill Road - across from the Bow, Washington Post
Office.
5521 Chuckanut Drive
Bow, Washington 98232

Directions
From Bellingham and Points North - For a drive on a National
Scenic Byway, travel south on Chuckanut Drive(Beware that
Chuckanut Drive was built to the narrower standards of the
1920's and twists and turns along the cliff as it follows
the shore - caution is urged.) For a quicker trip, take I-5
South to Bow Hill Road, turning right as you exit. We are on
your right when you reach the first stop sign.(1+ miles)

From Mount Vernon and Points South - Exit at Chuckanut Drive
(North end of Burlington), continue through the roundabout
until you are headed over the bridge over I-5.

Reservations Policy
We only accept reservations for parties of 5 or more. On
major holidays(Valentine's Day(anyone?),Mother's Day,
Father's Day, Easter, etc), we accept reservations for all
parties.
To make a reservation, call the cafe at (360) 766-6667
Call during business hours(shown above.) We are unable
to accept reservations via email or our web site.

Vegetarian/Vegan
We typically have at least one vegetarian entree on our
Blackboard Specials each week. However,  make your server
aware of your dietary restrictions and they will be happy to
recommend dishes that will fit your needs.

NWMLS Discover:Sales are Increasing-News/Events - NWREporter

NWMLS Discover: News/Events - NWREporter: Northwest MLS members reported 5,548 pending sales during January in the four-county region (King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap). That total surpassed the previous high for the month of January, which was logged in 2005 when members reported 5,426 pending sales.

Even though buyers are flocking to newly listed homes, sellers must be smart about pricing, emphasized George Moorhead, branch manager at Bentley Properties. “In my area, a home that comes on the market that is well priced for the area, style and condition is usually under contract within a few days,” Moorhead said, but he also noted homes that have been on the market for more than 20 days are subject to price reductions.

Cottages, Waterfront, Views in Anacortes under Construction! Who’s Building It?

It's another quality home project by award winning, local builder Cottage Werks.

Every Cottage Werks home is unique.  Every design is original.  Every home is built with well thought out green building principles taking advantage of high quality, sustainable and non-toxic materials for better home durability, smart environmental considerations and personal health.

Here are some of the beautiful Cottage Werks homes in the Puget Sound Region.

 Unique lots and settings are the types of spaces Cottage Werks loves to build these beautiful homes!

 

Cottage Werks specializes in the responsible development of homes that have little impact on their natural surroundings.  Placement of the home on the home site, the materials used, concerns about air-quality and rainwater run-off, as well as selection of energy saving features are all taken into account.

There are currently 3 view properties in works and permit stages in Anacortes, Bay View and Lake McMurray in Skagit County.  If you’d like to see them or find out more about Cottage Werks plans,  feel free to give me a call I’d love to Brag about Chris Chase and the amazing homes Built by Cottage Werks, It’s not like your neighbor’s house.

If you'd like more information or a preview of a Cottage Werks Home under construction, please contact: Joel Semanko at 360-941-1164 or joelsemanko@gmail.com

Curious what is being built on Thompson Beach Road in Anacortes?

It's another quality home project by award winning, local builder Cottage Werks.

Say Goodbye to the Original 1954 House

Every Cottage Werks home is unique.  Every design is original.  Every home is built with well thought out green building principles taking advantage of high quality, sustainable and non-toxic materials for better home durability, smart environmental considerations and personal health.

This wonderful new home at 8432 Thompson Beach Rd, Anacortes, WA 98221will have beautiful views looking out at beautiful Similk Bay, Snee Oosh and southward capturing the beautiful skyline over Camano Island and Port Susan.  Magnificent summer sunsets can be seen over Whidbey Island too!

We’ll be taking a journey with Local Builder, (Mukilteo born & raised) Chris Chase through this current project starting with the Purchase of the property.

You’ll see the original home built in 1954 was torn down in October 2012.  By the way, that was fun to watch!  (See Photos)

Reach Over that Roof

Look at the Whole Roof Lifting Up

Say Good Bye to the Roof and Main House

Gone in Less than an Hour!

There are currently 3 view properties in works and permit stages in Anacortes, Bay View and Lake McMurray in Skagit County.  

Stay tuned to see the Progress of this beautiful Cottage Werks home.  See a glimpse of the quality and uniqueness of a Cottage Werks home by click the video link below.  This is a spectacular home we recently listed and sold for Cottage Werks in July 2012.

Check out one of Many Cottage Werks Homes, this one is a Waterview Home in Mukilteo Wa.

Mukilteo Blvd Home by Cottage Werks

If you’d like to see them or find out more about Cottage Werks plans,  feel free to give me a call  at 360-941-1164 or email me at joelsemanko@gmail.com I’d love to Brag about Chris Chase and the amazing homes Built by Cottage Werks, It’s not like your neighbor’s house.

Watch for my next posting to show you the new site and what's being built.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Resolution: If you’re going to buy real estate, do it now!

The Interest Rates have never been lower!  There's lots of great homes for sale now in the entire Puget Sound Region

We're wishing you all a happy and prosperous new year in 2013.

We look forward to helping you Sell your house or Buy a home!