Recent Visit to Port Gamble, WA

April 14, 2010KitsapArtful Ewe, Community Hall, espresso, fire station, Hood Canal, milkshakes, National Historic Landmark, Old Market Building, Olympic Outdoor Center, Port Gamble, Port Gamble General Store, Port Gamble Wa, Post Office, yarn shopnow

On a wonderful sunny Sunday we visited Port Gamble, WA., a 120 acre National Historic Landmark located on the shores on Hood Canal. A visit to this little town is always pleasant, rain or shine. We started out at the Port Gamble General Store, which is under new management. Actually our goal was the store as we had heard they have awesome hand dipped milkshakes, and I am testimony to the fact that they do! They are large so you might consider sharing one. They also have a good selection of top notch ice creams so we did a little sampling of the spumoni and it was superb. I noticed they have espresso drinks and a restaurant in the back. I did not go there but next visit will check it out. It is good to see the store up and flourishing again.

Across the street from the General Store is Olympic Outdoor Center located in the old fire station. I used to visit the Artful Ewe yarn shop in the old station and loved the building. The yarn shop has moved down the street into the Old Market Building. Olympic Outdoor Center moved from Poulsbo Wa sometime last fall I believe. That is just one of several changes I noticed around the town. Actually there are lots of changes, new businesses arriving, several moving, and a couple leaving.

Next we meandered over to the community hall and post office. I don’t exactly know why but I am always seized by an urge to go inside this building, but we couldn’t because it was Sunday. I think it has alot to do with the wonderful wooden floors and the incredible old feeling. Having said that ALL of the buildings in Port Gamble are old, but for me this one has a great feeling to it. On my next visit to Port Gamble the building might be open and I can take some photos from inside.

Stay tuned as we make our way on down the street. I highly recommend a visit to this charming quaint little town that functions at a much slower pace than the rest of the world.

New Bakery in Kingston WA

March 16, 2010Kingston, Kitsapbakery, baking company, Borrowed Kitchen Bakery, coffee, Cookies, Cup & Muffin, granola, kingston, Kingston Edmonds ferry, Kingston ferry, Kingston WA, Mirracole Morsels, Old Kingston Hotel, Pastries, Port of Kingstonnow

Kingston has a new bakery in town! Just what we have wanted for so long. It is located in the Old Kingston Hotel at First and Washington.

This new bakery is a combination of bakers and businesses under one roof from what I gathered on my visit.

Mirracole Morsels is a family owned baking company, serving the local community with natural morsels of goodness. I spoke with Nicole Matheson while I was there and she is the provider of the wonderful cookies (we shared a raisin oatmeal because of the extra large size) and their famous granola. Lacey Menne of Borrowed Kitchen Bakery is the baker of the breads. We purchased a tomato baguette which we took home and made a super sandwich out of brie cheese and tomatoes.

The view from the deck of the bakery is fantastic, overlooking the Kingston-Edmonds ferry and the Port of Kingston. This will be a wonderful place for breakfast, lunch, or snack times in the summer. I can’t wait to sit out on the deck or in the garden and enjoy their great pastries with a cup of coffee, which by the way comes from Cup & Muffin just down the street.

A Visit To Valley Nursery Poulsbo Wa

November 13, 2009Kitsap, PoulsboBlueberry Bush, Flowers, Garden Decor, Garden Troll, Greenhouse, Horticulturist, Northwest Plants, Nursery, Pest Control, Plant Care, Plant Disease, Plant Pest Control, plants, Poulsbo, Poulsbo Wa, Soil Preparation, Valley Nurserynow

A visit to Valley Nursery on a rainy day with latte in hand is a good way to spend a rainy afternoon. I love being greeted by the giant garden troll. Wish he lived in my yard! Since this nursery is large (6 acres) I try to have a good amount of time but even a small visit is a refreshing break from the rainy weather.

I enjoy looking at their ever changing displays and find inspiration for my own seasonal decorating. But this day I was on a mission. I needed to find some help with a diseased rhodie. They have horticulturists on staff daily and they can answer any questions I have regarding my plants. They are knowledgeable regarding care, pest control, and soil preparation. I have discovered that my plants purchased from Valley Nursery almost always do quite well, probably because they stock varieties specific to our northwest environment and growing conditions. I did have one blueberry bush that didn’t survive and they replaced it. I can’t say if that always happens but they certainly seem to stand behind their plants.

Valley Nursery has wonderful garden decor for sale. The biggest hurdle is to limit my choices because of space in my garden.

Then a walk through the greenhouses is always inspiring. I have to admit I am almost out of control here in the spring and find myself with one of those big carts full of beautiful starts.

Since the fall rainy days are so dreary, it is fun to see color and to take some plants home to cheer up my entry. Have to say I do a lot of fall planting also to have some early blooms in the spring. Inside their garden store they have gifts for all my gardener friends so it is nice to get a little Christmas shopping out of the way. In the past I have made some gorgeous (if I do say so) wreaths using their wreath machine. I hope it is available this year as I am looking forward to using some of the evergreens I have saved. Happy Gardening!!

Sluys Bakery in Poulsbo WA

October 28, 2009Kitsap, PoulsboCakes, Cookies, Downtown Poulsbo WA, Fruitcakes, Lefse, Nordic Bakery, Nordic sweets, Pastries, Poulsbo, Poulsbo Bread, Poulsbo Wa, Seasonal Desserts, Sluys Bakerynow

Sluys Bakery in historic downtown Poulsbo WA and the home of the famous Poulsbo bread.

The window display is absolutely enticing and will draw you right in their front door, unless of course you do not indulge in sugar. I allow myself a little treat occasionally so right through that door for me. “Look at the size of those goodies” I am saying to myself!

The door knob, being a metal pretzel, is completely appropriate.

Once inside the selection is overwhelming. The pastries are large, oozing with frosting and fillings, and decadent. I selected one of my favorites, a bear claw as big as my hand. I also purchased a cherry danish and some jalapeno crackers to take home. I had to resist taking home cookies, cakes, and more pastries. Of course, being reminscent of a slightly rustic European bakery, they also serve lefse and other Nordic sweets. During the holidays they always have seasonal desserts such as pies and fruitcakes. To top it all off the service is excellent. If you should have to wait, just spend your time eyeing the scrumptious spread before you. Try to decide exactly what you want before you get up there and ask for one of everything. If you are from out of town and unable to come back, I suggest you load up, otherwise you will definitely wish you had later.

Village Green Community Park in Kingston WA

October 17, 2009Kingston, KitsapCamperdown Scotch Elm Tree, Courts, kingston, Kingston Garden Club, Kingston Tennis Courts, Kingston WA, Navy Housing Site, Park, Play Ground, skateboard park, Tennis, Tennis Courts, Village Green Community Park, Village Green Foundation, Walkingnow

The new Village Green Community Park in Kingston WA is truly a work in progress. It is a wonderful space to play with the children or dogs, or just to do a little sunbathing or walking and looking at what used to be an old Kingston farm.

The park is located on what was a reclaimed waste water treatment site and Navy housing site. Future plans include ball fields, walking paths, and a new community center housing a library, senior center, and meeting rooms.

This is the rare 100 year old Camperdown Scotch Elm Tree that was part of the old farm. Since the tree cannot self reproduce it needs to be protected. It was adopted by the Kingston Garden Club, and hopefully will have a new sign soon to help assure it continues to thrive.

Right next door to the new and developing park are the Kingston Tennis Courts. They are busy courts and in good weather almost always have a game being played on them at any time of day.

Right around the corner is the skateboard park, and that is definitely busy all the time.

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