A Spooky October Night in Camas Washington - Caught on Video. Every now and then, things seem to align perfectly for a Spooky October night. Recently, we had such an night in Camas, Washington - and I caught it on video. What are the conditons required for this strange turn of events? First the Harvest moon takes on an eerie glow, the familiar becomes the unusual, and the stage is set for the unexpected.  Hope you enjoyed a Spooky October Night in Camas, Washington. Have a marvelous October full of magic - and expect the unexpected. Looking for the perfect spot for moon gazing?  Let's explore your options in Camas, Washougal and Fishers Landing. 10/10/2011

Camas Boo Bash and Plenty of House Buying Treats Fall is a beautiful time of the year in Camas, Washington. Cold temperatures from theColumbia River Gorge set the stage for the jewel tones of autumn’s artful display. Signs of the harvest are everywhere with welcoming displays of fall flowers and bins filled with locally grown pumpkins. You can feel a crisp and definitive change in the air. Our quaint downtown has tree and flower lined streets, unique and friendly shops and plenty of delicious little eateries. It’s easy to fall in love with the charm of small town shopping. Don’t forget to bring the entire family to downtown Camas on Wednesday, October 26th for the annual Boo Bash. Local businesses pass out treats to all children in costumes.Did you know that Camas is an easy 20 minute d... 10/10/2011

Super EcoBroker - No, I won’t be sporting a Green Cape - but it’s an interesting idea. I’ve got some down time, waiting on a new listing, waiting on a pending short sale, and easily managing 3 other active listings.  Therefore, what am I doing? Other than the usual marketing - I’m using the extra time to kick it up a notch. As a Realtor with the NAR’s Green Designation, I’m committed to the ongoing educational requirements necessary if I’m to be a knowledgeable Green resource in my community.  That’s my number one goal. I’m not going to sport a Green Cape and zoom around Camas championing the benefits of Green building and lifestyles. (Although, that’s an interesting idea) However, I am committed to the cause - it’s a passion of mine. Building Green and choosing to live a green lifestyl... 10/07/2011

There’s No Place like Home in Camas Washington! We just got home form a whirlwind trip to the East Coast. My husband’s family lives in Maryland and we all gathered for a lovely wedding in Annapolis. It was my first time seeing the Chesapeake Bay, which, by the way is fabulous. We ate blue crabs, dined out, danced at a yacht club, and enjoyed the teasing interactions between the siblings of a large family. It was an entertaining and fun experience for this West Coast native. However, as much fun as it was, I’m so grateful to be home. I’ve been wearing my blue jeans and comfy boots since I got back, my dress up clothes and heels are back in the closet where they belong (at least for a while). I’ve missed the familiar. The comfortable and casual lifestyle in Camas suits me. There’s little ... 10/05/2011

 Zumba Anyone? Camas Community Center. Are you ready to ditch the workout and join the party called Zumba?   I’ve been told by a fellow Realtor (Richard Yates) that I should consider Zumba as an alternative to running. Apparently, since I’ve recently fallen, (Oops, I did it again), actually twice this summer, (Help me I think I'm Falling), he thinks it might be a safer alternative. However, I think that if you have problems keeping upright while putting one foot in front of the other, imagine how dangerous it could be by adding more complicated motions to the process? No thank you, I think I’ll leave the Zumba to another fellow Realtor.  Apparently, Melinda Peterson loves to Zumba - all the time! Fall and winter months make it more difficult to get motivated for outdoor exercise. Perhap... 09/26/2011

A Camas Film Festival Fit for Foodies Foodies and the Camas Farmers Market are the focus of a Film Festival beginning this weekend at the Liberty Theatre. A portion of the proceeds from the four films, all food related, will be donated to the Camas Farmer's Market. The Camas Market took a hit this year because of the slower economy and a colder than normal summer. The owner of the newly refurbished Liberty Theatre organized the festival to focus on the local food scene and help the Farmer's Market. A producer of one of the movies says "Farmer's Markets are the gateway drug to the local food scene." Therefore, the pairing of food related films, foodies and a Farmer's Market makes perfect sense. The films feature subjects ranging from small farmers battles against large government bureauc... 09/24/2011

Camas Library Sleepover - Plenty of Bedtime Stories Once upon a time, children in the Kingdom known as Camas, were invited to bring their pajamas and a sleeping bag for a night of fun - including plenty of bedtime stories.  K through 6th grade youngsters were enchanted with idea of spending the night at the Camas Library Sleepover. Parents were also quite happy, as they were mandated to accompany their children for the overnight adventure. The Library also promised a pizza feast, worthy of Kings and Queens, beginning at 7 PM. After supper, the children (and their parents) were encouraged to play games, watch movies, make crafts, and of course, listen to plenty of bedtime stories. Hear ye, hear ye, the organizers proclaimed - gather ye all for a free night of family fun on Friday, Septem... 09/21/2011

Downtown Camas merchants have a little something extra going on this month - ”Gorge-ous Artwork.” It's part of a much bigger celebration. Gorge 25 is a regional initiative to spark art, cultural and recreational events throughout the Columbia River Gorge. Downtown Camas merchants are hosting an art display that showcases the beauty and mystery of the gorge. Many shops feature pieces created by local artists designed to celebrate the magnificence of the Columbia River Gorge. Fall 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the National Scenic Act designation for the Columbia River Gorge. The Act provided the legislation needed to preserve the 292,000 acre scenic wonder. The Columbia River Gorge offers endlessly spectacular views, miles of recreation, and some of the best hiking trails in the coun... 09/18/2011

Oops, I did it again. This morning while running along Heritage Trail in Camas, I tripped and fell - for the second time this summer. Last time, I was too embarrassed to ask (or yell) for help. However, this time felt a little more serious. Therefore, I yelled for help, but the people ahead on the trail were wearing headphones and failed to hear me. (Note to self, don't have headphones so loud that you miss hearing a cry for help.) Meantime, my dog Mac, who loves water, escaped while I was assessing "owies" and ran for the lake. Since, Georgia Pacific is draining the lake this week, the banks are three feet deep in mud. Mac didn't seem to miss the water and jumped happily through the sticky muck with his leash dragging behind. Naturally, he ignored my commands to "come," and continued h... 09/13/2011

 Camas, Washington Market Report - Summer 2011 - Staying the Course The home sales breeze has been blowing steady this summer in the Camas, Washington housing market. June 1 through August 31st, 2011 looks surprising similiar to last summer, inspite of all the doom and gloom you might hear on the evening news. In 2010, during the same time period, there were 235 active listings, 88 pendings and 115 sold properties. The median sales price last summer was $313,500, and we're down slightly this year at  $310,000.    Bottom line - There's a steady wind in our sails sales. The market is staying the course and there are great values, great interest rates and great reasons to call Camas home. If you're in the market for a home in Camas, Washington - let's explore your options.   46 Short Sale ... 09/07/2011

Pulling the plug on Lacamas Lake - 2011 Annual Clean-Up Our dog McKinley’s favorite swimming hole is going to be closed soon.  Lacamas Lake gets a lot use throughout the year from boaters, fishermen and stick-fetchers. Therefore, each year, it requires a little clean-up and maintenance.  The Annual Clean-up allows those of us who love the lake, a chance to help keep it looking beautiful. Georgia Pacific will pull the plug (lower the water level) on Lacamas Lake on September 17th, giving volunteers easier access to the lake. Volunteers meet at the Heritage Trail boat launch parking lot, on Lake Road, Saturday at 9AM. Sponsors provide gloves, trash bags, area maps, water, coffee, and even food. However, don’t forget to bring along your waterproof boots. Sponsors also award prizes, just in... 09/02/2011

Kindergarten in Alaska - Double Dog Dare  - "A Christmas Story" story.   School begins next week in Camas, Washington. It's such a bittersweet time for many parents as they send their "babies" off to school for the first time. Fortunately, our climate is much friendlier to our Camas kindergartners, than the one where I first went to school. Imagine my mother sending her "baby" off to school in Fairbanks, Alaska. Winters in Fairbanks are very dark and very cold. For nearly three months out of the year, there are about five (5) hours of daylight. Add to that delightful scenario, temperatures that often drop in excess of 40 below, and you've got an unforgiving environment.   Therefore, what I remember about Kindergarten, is dressing up in layers and layers and layers of clothing. Yep, much... 08/30/2011

Warm Wild Blackberries - There's a Hole in the Bucket. Wild blackberries are a menace in our yards, but a sweet treat when they’re found growing in a nearby meadow. This weekend, in our Camas neighborhood, my husband and I discovered a large patch of vines filled with warm, wild blackberries. We also discovered, the hard way, that there are a few things to watch out for when you pick wild blackberries. First of all, make sure you’re wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts.  Those vines are covered with razor sharp thorns - we have the scratches to prove it. Ouch. You should also be on the look out for yellow jackets.  Unfortunately, reaching into a bramble of vines, I accidentally brushed up against one.  Apparently, he didn’t appreciate the interruption and let me know with a quick s... 08/29/2011

  Lacamas Creek’s turning red again. If you live along the Lacamas Creek watershed, don’t be alarmed if you see currents of fluorescent red plumes flowing through the creek tomorrow evening. For the second time this summer, researchers are using the dye to see where the water travels, and how long it lingers in direct sunlight. Don’t worry, the dye is harmless to humans, pets and wildlife and normally dissipates within a mile of its starting point. Releases are generally done in the evening when fewer people are using the trail systems located around Lacamas Creek and its tributaries. Researchers use a fluorometer to measure the dyes concentration in the water and then feed the data into a computer model.  The goal of the project is to learn how to improve Lacamas Creek’s overall water ... 08/29/2011

Are you looking for a new pad home in Camas, Washington? This neighborhood specialist can certainly understand why. Camas is the perfect place to call home with its small town charm, and big attraction to international companies. Located along the banks of the Columbia River, Camas offers its more than 19,000 residents a wide variety of neighborhoods, top-rated schools, many parks and trails, and a commitment to preserving the quality of life while promoting diverse economic growth. It's easy to live a healthy lifestyle, and have a healthy outlook on life, when you call Camas home. Exercising's a natural given the backdrop of mountains, tall trees and sparkling waterways. Plus, we're just a short drive from the coast, the desert or skiing. Speaking of short drives, we're minutes to the ... 08/28/2011

Join Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the Toy Story gang (remember no toy gets left behind) this Friday for Movies in the Park! at Crown Park in Camas. If you haven’t seen Toy Story 3, you’re in for a sweet and emotional experience. The entire family will love this one - but, if you’re like me, expect some wet eyes as you remember (or consider) the day your own child left for college. Toy Story 3 is the final feature in the Movies in the Park! series at Crown Park in Camas. As usual, the fun gets underway about an hour early with a pre-movie scavenger hunt at 7 PM.  The movie is free, but you’re encouraged to bring a new toy to donate to the Toy Drive - in exchange you’ll get a chance to win a raffle. Worried about dinner?  No problem, bring a blanket and a picnic basket to enjoy w... 08/23/2011

The weekend's here and it's time for grilling and chilling in Camas, Washington. Our back porch grill gets used on a daily basis, and today will be no exception. In spite of this year's unusually cool summer, there's plenty of fresh, local produce to choose from at our stores and farmer's markets. One of our favorite summertime meals is grilled vegetables with heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, and walla walla sweet onions.  This easy-to-prepare veggie dish can star as the entree, or performs well as a seasonal compliment to any meal. (We also served grilled salmon.) Speaking of seasonal compliments. My Active Rain friend, Brian Sirota tells me blackberries or raspberries soaked in Frangelico and topped with fresh whipped cream makes an elegant and easy summer dessert. Doesn't that sound like... 08/20/2011

    Want to make this year’s start to another school year less traumatic and dramatic? Get organized!  A little planning now will make the transition from summer, to “back to school”,  quite a bit easier. Planning a central “Back to School” - Camas School Calendar can make everybody’s life run more smoothly. It also can take a lot of the stress and worry out of keeping track of all those after school events, activities and practices. Not to mention, teacher in-service and holiday schedules. Make sure you choose a calendar with large areas or squares which will allow you to enter the information legibly.  Consider color coding for different family members to make it easier to follow. Post the calendar in a family central spot, like the kitchen. 
To help you get started here’s the basic C... 08/14/2011

Camas WA Real Estate - Another Fine Performance for Home Sales in July. Camas Home Sales have continued to turn in a strong Summer performance with a high level of Pending and Closed transactions posted at the end of the month; with a 2% decrease in the Active inventory level.  Camas has also shown an across-the-board decrease in the Distressed Property category.Earlier this month we've logged into the Camas MLS to identify what direction the real estate market is heading. Here are the key statistics we have to report: From this quick look at the home sales action we see 2% fewer Active listings, with relatively strong numbers for Pending and Closed Sales. Additionally, we see the distressed property category moving down to 26.0% of the existing inventory (26.3% the prior month). The t... 08/12/2011

  Back to School in Camas Washington - Your School Supply List Do you remember Pee Chee folders? Pee Chee folders, pale yellow, unmarked and crisp as we'd head back to school, soon turned tattered and worn, like a pair of well-loved jeans. The outside covers were eventually tattooed in ink with various names and thoughts. "I love Jeff,' or "Jeff is a creep," as the crushes would come and go. You can still buy Pee Chee folders at amazon.com, but they look slightly different - more colors - and cost a bit more than when I went to school. What I remember most about heading back to school, is that bittersweet feeling of summer's end, and the excitement of seeing old friends and meeting new teachers. I also remember a trip to the store, school supply list in hand, and the pleasure of having ... 08/11/2011