Yesterday and today, with temperatures reaching into the 90s around here, we have enjoyed swimming to cool down in both the lakes and the saltwater.  Late yesteday afternoon, I drove my 2 sons to Stretch Island to beach comb and swim and noticed hundreds of seals on the north side chasing anchovies.  With the spectacular Olympic Mountains, Mt. Rainier, and surrrounded by water, this area is the best in the world!  We watched an eagle dive down to the water to catch a fish as we swam.  We have great deals on this kind of property. 06/03/2009

  1.The first bird domesticated by man was the goose. 2.There are more chickens in the world than people.                                           3.Chickens absorb vitamin-D through their combs from sunshine. 4.The average hen will lay 227 eggs a year 5.Roosters can't crow if they can't fully extend their necks. 6.A group of geese on the ground is gaggle, a group of geese in the air is skein. 7.A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why. 8.Chickens that lay brown eggs have red ear lobes. There is a genetic link between the two. 9.Nine yolks have been found in one chicken egg. 10.A chicken has been documented as having survived 18 months...headless! What weird facts do you know? 03/05/2009

It was one of those days that you have to carry your camera with you everywhere you go. I could not stop taking pictures today.The waters were still and the views incredible. This is a view from the Treasure Island bridge looking over to the Stretch Island Bridge. Years ago the twin Islands were called Reach and Stretch.This was long before the bridges- when the school children took boats to school. It was said it took a "Reach" and a "Stretch." Since then Reach Island is now referred to as Treasure Island. The name is appropriate, and if you viewed the picture from my last post you can see why. 02/04/2009

Ever wonder why so many people flock to Mason County, Washington. I bet he does too, although I think he likes the handouts. The freedom and nature here are remarkable. We are minutes away from sailing, boating, fishing, clamming, hiking, biking, and enjoying the local wildlife.It is the one stop spot for getting away from it all yet only 30 to 40 minutes away by car or ferry to getting back to it all. 01/14/2009

I was sitting here in the office this morning, commiserating with another agent in my office, Peter Cahan, about the nasty weather we are having today. Wind, rain and just down right cold when he said to me, "You know what I did this morning?" And so he told me this story which reminded me of why I love living and working where I do..... It was about 6 AM this morning, Peter was at home working away on his computer when his wife yells to him "Peter!Come here  and bring the binoculars!" Peter and his wife live on the waterfront on Stretch Island - a beautiful island in Grapeview, WA in the waters of Puget Sound  (see Localism for more stories and info on Stretch Island). He focuses the binoculars on where his wife is pointing out on the water at a sailboat that she believes is adrift. He... 11/20/2008

The following narrative is my second of three Blogs about rural Stretch Island in South Puget Sound for the Mason County Localism Promotion that our local Realtors have embraced.  In Mason County, AR members within the real estate community, are telling their stories about life in our small corner the Country through Localism. Those of us who are actively contributing are encouraging the community to Check It OUT! We are beggining to see positive results. I hope you enjoy my version of the St. Charles Winery Story. At the end of Prohibition in 1933, Seattle Realtor Charles Somers and his son C.W. Somers started Washington State's First State Bonded Winery. The winery was named St Charles Winery because Charles was a traditional name in the Somers Family.   By 1937 there were Forty-two b... 11/17/2008

"Island Belle"is a light-bodied hybrid grape (vitis labrusca), also known as Campbell's Early. The Grape made its debut around 1890 on Stretch Island located in Grapeview, Washington along the shore line of South Puget Sound. The "Island Belle" is a concord type vine that was cross breed with native American vines from New York. After a lot of experimenting, the "Island Belle" became well suited to the vineyards on Stretch Island. The new Hybrid soon became the most widely planted variety in the Puget Sound area. The "Island Belle" grape got its name from a descendant of the Eckert Family. The tale I heard was that an exceptionally lovely young Lottie Eckert attended a dance on the Island and was considered the "Belle of the Ball". Shortly after the dance the family went to the Pacific ... 11/14/2008