Maritime Heritage Park hosts a Fish Hatchery, an Amphitheater, Native Plant trail and Public display of local art. A great place to enjoy lunch or just a quiet moment after a visit to the area antique shops or Museum.

6-10pm daily

[srp_profile lat="" lng="" address="500 W. Holly" city="Bellingham" state="WA" zip_code="98225"]

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With only days until the New year, there is a lot of focus on goals for the coming year. Working on what next year will bring for me personally and professionally I have already begun my fitness portion waking up Monday to join a new program, with my husband.

It was shortly after the stair test from hell that I realized how much pacing yourself is important. Thank you Jared at Bellingham Xtreme fitness..

Tasting grape nuts the 2^nd time around isn’t quite as fun as the first time so I am going to share with you something about pacing yourself for the year.

In order to reach your goals you need breakdown the steps to get there, not go full tilt right off the bat. You will tend to burn out or get hurt in the process:)..

Once I slowed my pace and found a new rhythm did I find a way to make it to the end.

What is your big goal this year?

How can you break it down to small parts to accomplish it?

Breaking down what you need to accomplish daily to reach your goal, and keeping that steady pace to ensure you can accomplish small goals to stay positive. Before you know it, you have accomplished or surpassed the big one.

It is going to be uncomfortable at first, much like this week will be for me as I go up and down stairs.

always looking forward to helping you,

Katharine

Lakeway Mobile Estates boasts 218 units and an established community in which they have taken great pride in their homes and beyond. The asphalt roads are always well maintained, along with community clubhouse for gatherings. On site management to help you with all your needs. It is close to shopping and buslines, What a fantastic place to retire!

Nwmls #132567

I walked in and was surprised to find such a huge selection of flowers candles and gifts… and so much more! If you are looking for those little stuffed animals that interact on the computer called Webkinz they have them along with many other stuffed creatures.

webkinz and more!

Also what stood before me was a wonderfully decorated tree. Beautiful ornaments hanging there looking all sparkly and wonderful.

I wandered around the store to find just about everything imaginable.. Different  areas gave way to treasures everywhere. As I was taking another look around I  grabbed an Advent calendar for my girls.. Every year I  find one that opens a new window for each day until  Christmas with a little piece of chocolate hidden inside.  Even though they are older now, it is a tradition..My daughter came in to  see what was taking me so long and her eyes lit up. Along with this I discovered a special area dedicated to  my heritage and depending on which side you are on it is either all Swede or Norwegian.  There is a wonderful  selection of foods like lingonberry sauce, ginger snaps and pickled herring.

I was so excited to see all of this and more…a dog dish! Wuff Da. Priceless.

You would have to have  been raised around a bunch of Scandinavians to understand. Uff da!

Assorted Scandinavian Foods etc.

I also discovered that they are hosting a Scandinvian Open house this coming weekend on November 5^th 2009.

And good sources tell me that someone is making homemade Lefsa. Best around they say… I heard some other stories as well but they are best told in person.

So if your in Ferndale stop by for a little Scandinavian flair and take a look around. I am sure you will find something fantastic for someone on your list.

Katharine Carey

Tweet me!  @KatharineCarey

Holiday lights

Ferndale Chamber volunteers worked early to get Holiday street lights up and ready for the season.  Driving down main street Ferndale at different times of the year you will find the streets lined with either beautiful baskets from Van Wingerden Nursery in the Spring and Summer.  Flags lining the streets for Fourth of July and Veterans Day or Christmas Lights during the Holidays.

It is this community spirit that brings people to Ferndale.

Flag lined streets

The next big event is the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on November 4^th at 5pm.  I drove by the tree being uprighted on Saturday and look forward to see it glowing on Friday.

Perhaps it will inspire me to find the movie that always comes out of the cabinet at this time.. Christmas vacation:)

Hope to see you there!

Katharine Carey

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyB72M0ae4I[/youtube]

@KatharineCarey

So after a day of showing homes in Birch Bay recently I was able to visit the renovated CJ’s restaurant with my clients from across the Border. I have been working lately with many Canadian buyers who are looking in Birch Bay  and other areas around Whatcom county as well since their dollar is almost par.

Walking into the restaurant I was pleasantly surprised, from the view to the attentiveness of the Host.

My clients and I were seated at a window seat and we all noted the meals as we were walking by others on our way..  looking great so far.. I ordered a wrap that looked wonderful when it arrived. I discovered it had avocado, which is something I had overlooked, and was able to have a new one made promptly without question. I am not a picky eater by any means it is just something that doesn’t agree with me.  All in all a very wonderful meal.

Wanting to make sure that I didn’t have a unique experience I went on a day by myself after yet again showing property to clients from Vancouver BC.

This time I ordered the soup of the day and a salad and this is what I was presented with.:):)

I ordered the salad with Blue cheese dressing, well it not only came with blue cheese dressing on the side but massive amounts of crumbled blue cheese and baby bay shrimp!!! It was fantastic!!!

The soup of the day was a nice Broccoli cheese.. mmm

Warm rolls with the meal as well, sooo good.

The service was great, the food was great, the view is wonderful. But that’s not all,

After finishing I proceeded to take a look around, I heard another patron mention to their friend that there is a nice table by the fireplace… I had to check this out.

There is also a room that hosts Live Music every Friday and Saturday at 7pm!

Here are some more photos       

of the seating areas…and another bonus is you will find the bathrooms are clean! I found the bathroom a little on the cold side compared to the rest of the restaurant but nice. In addition the manager, Carol explained to me that the back room can be reserved for parties and groups. If you want the live music, it is 150.00 and no extra charge for the room.

Then there is the bar area, nice and large with two Flat Screen TV’s. I didn’t find out if they only played one channel or could have two separate. That is for those football fans on one side, and

Hockey fans on the other! Did I mention that I show a lot of homes to Canadians? Go Canucks Go!

Anyway, you will find the bar atmosphere welcoming as well,

As a summer weather bonus they have outdoor seating as well. Even on this fall day of my visit,people were still enjoying their meal outside.

I also found out that they have another location down the street that hosts a Boys and Beer night, a Wijning Women night and Saturday Sips. More on that when I am able to check that out!

So on your next visit to Birch Bay don’t forget to plan a wonderful meal into the day at the Beach House Restaurant!

Your agent,

Katharine Carey

I have personally stayed at the Hotels listed at one time or another and this is of course my opinion.

Please note many have spa’s. This is due to my body needing to recover every now and then..

I also want to be able to recommend properties suited to each clients individual needs. Here is the first hotel featured in a series of great accommodations in Bellingham and surrounding areas:

Chrysalis Inn and Spa

The Chrysalis is a fantastic property nested in the Historic area of Bellingham named Fairhaven. You will not be disappointed when you are gazing out the window of your room and watching the sunset on the bay. The rooms are decorated with newer features of slate, granite and glass. Jacuzzi tub to relax in and window seat to enjoy the view. Fireplace for the winter nights and just an overall feeling of total relaxation.

This is good because sometimes I have been with clients and shown a dozen homes and you just need a place to download all the real estate you just toured.

The restaurant and Wine bar Fino is wonderful and you will enjoy the complimentary breakfast. An assortment of bagels, muffins, eggs, granola, yogurt and the usual coffee tea and juice. Dinner is truly an experience as well as the sun sets upon the bay.

The spa is award winning and would be my favorite. The smell of the Essential Elements spa products help maintain a relaxing space and you feel so blissful every moment you spend whether it be a massage, facial or just a pedicure.

Just steps outside will find you walking on a fantasic pier that connects to Boulevard Park where you can enjoy a wonderful cup of coffee and perhaps a scone at Woods Coffee. Take a walk in the other direction and you will find yourself in the heart of Fairhaven. So much to do and see that is a whole other blog in itself.

The only disclosure that must be made is that you may hear the occasional train drifting by, I personally love the sound of a train.

If you are looking to spend time looking for real estate in Bellingham and would like stay overnight, give the Chrysalis a try. It will take the stress out of riding around Bellingham with a Realtor all day:)

A sweet and simple approach to real estate,

- Katharine Carey

Well, many of us here in Whatcom county find ourselves back here at some point in our lives. We move away, go to college or find our passion and then it happens.. We come back.

I have done this along with many people I know. With this process, the thought comes through your mind as to where your going to live in Bellingham. Do you choose the area where you went to high school? My answer…yes more often than not.

Living the dream myself where your children are gracing the hallways you once did. I have to say a miriad of emotions transpire. I will never forget the day I sat in the bleachers for my oldest daughters freshman orientation and everything hit me. The smell of the gym, the teachers who have remained(there are about 8 currently),the spirit fo the ASB president,and  the voice on the microphone, not Mr Goodman, but the message the same. Sehome tradition is alive.

Sitting there I started to recall the assemblies, the classes, teachers and little things like the Mariner Mile and Taylor Street stairs as part of your sports introduction. Turning to my freshman and thinking about all the things good and bad that she will experience was overwhelming and exciting.

It is now 4 years later and my freshman is now a senior ready to graduate. Senior culminating project completed, WASL passed and ready to move on the the next step. Looking back at her paticipation on the swim team, wearing the green and gold cheering for her final lap in the pool, her essays, artwork, drama practice,spanish classes and much more! Of course she choose her own way and with that, a cap and gown flowing and a final toss of the cap it’s over.

Some of her friends chose to paricipate in running start a program to recieve early college credits. There is a plus and minus for this I have observed. She wanted to experience high school, the good the bad and the challenging aspects. She said “you only get to experience high school once.” Many times she was sad that her friends missed out on little things and had a disconnect with activities. She was happy with the choice she made.

And so now the tradition continues with her little sister, Marching in the Ski 2 Sea Parade holding up the Sehome Banner as a newly chosen member of the Cheer Squad. With a smile from ear to ear and sporting the Green and Gold I want to say to both my girls I am so proud of all you have accomplished and all that you will be you are truly both amazing individuals.

                                                                             Ski to Sea Parade 2009

Go Sehome 110%

Katharine Carey

A sweet and simple approach to real estate

360-220-5915 or katharine@buyertours.com