Here’s a little round-up of three very different opportunities taking place this weekend, right here on the Olympic Peninsula.

First of all, the Viking Jazz Festival in Poulsbo is offering an evening concert on Friday, February 1st, featuring some of the best Jr. and Sr. High School Jazz Bands in the state. Contact David Dunbar (360-598-8704) for more information.

Secondly, the local Master Gardeners group is teaching a workshop on vineyard pruning at the Mason County Fairgrounds Master Gardener’s demonstration garden on Sunday, February 3rd, from 10 am to 12 noon. Come and learn how to grow your own grapes, and take home some cuttings for your own garden!

Finally, all Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club members are invited to a Super Bowl party on Sunday, February 3rd at the old clubhouse. (This is the last scheduled event at the clubhouse before demolition begins.) It’s a potluck, so bring your favorite appetizers and beverages to share, and be there before the 2:30 p.m. kickoff.

Are you a jazz lover, a gardening enthusiast, or a football fan (or maybe all three?) There’s a little something here for everyone. Leave a comment, and let us know which of these activities you’ll attend!

Last Sunday, the Alderbrook community celebrated the beginning of a new era with a final breakfast in the old clubhouse. Lots of people turned out to enjoy great food, and share their excitement about the new clubhouse, as well as their cherished memories of the old clubhouse. Construction will start on the new clubhouse in March, and is scheduled to be completed in early December.

The highlight of the morning, however, was celebrating the 96th birthday of the oldest member of the Alderbrook community. Claire has lived at Alderbrook for 40 years and remains active in the community, participating in several bridge groups and attending all community social events. And boy, did she have some memories to share! Her earliest memories of the clubhouse include an old stone fireplace that everyone used to gather around; unfortunately, it was torn down many years ago during a remodel of the clubhouse. She also remembers the hot dogs that the golf pro and his wife used to prepare for the members. (I think the clubhouse cuisine has improved somewhat since then!)

Join with me in wishing Claire (shown in the picture above with her son, Wally, and her daughter, Judi) a belated happy birthday, with best wishes for a healthy and active 96th year!

All of western Washington has been enjoying beautiful, sunny days this week. Contrary to what many believe, it really doesn’t rain all the time here. And when the sun is out, it’s just gorgeous! Snowcapped mountains outlined against a blue sky, sparkling blue water at the base, vibrant evergreens on the hills … I think there may be no prettier place to live on earth.

Of course, it’s still January, so even though it’s sunny it’s also very cold out (mostly 20’s and 30’s). But that’s easily remedied with a few extra layers of clothes and a hat and gloves, and well worth it. (And still relatively balmy, compared to the northeast part of the country!)

If you happen to be someone who associates the Pacific Northwest with ridiculous amounts of rain, you may be thinking that this week is an aberration, but I can assure you that after living in western Washington for 20+ years, we often have a week or two at the end of January that is sunny, cold, and stunningly beautiful. It’s all part of the appeal of living in this part of the world.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, why not leave a comment and share your favorite aspect of life here?

Some exciting developments are on the horizon for the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club, and there are two meetings happening in the next week where members can learn more. (Non-members can also get a peek at the future by visiting the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club web site.)

First, there will be a dinner meeting at the clubhouse on Wednesday, January 23rd. The Board and General Manager will give their monthly reports to the members, and there will also be a Q&A discussion about the new clubhouse, including logistics/timeline for the demolition and building process. Dinner costs $5, and Chef Morgan will be preparing cheese steak sandwiches, french fries, onion rings, salad and dessert.

Then on Sunday, January 27th, the community will say goodbye to the old clubhouse with a special breakfast from 9 – 11 a.m. This is the last meal that will be prepared in the old clubhouse kitchen, and Chef Morgan is going all out, preparing eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, pastries, fresh orange slices, juice and coffee. There’s nothing like going out in style. (The clubhouse, that is … not Chef Morgan!)

If you’re a member of the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club, you won’t want to miss these events! Leave a comment below sharing your favorite memories of the old clubhouse (or what you’re looking forward to in the new clubhouse).

A recent study by Dr. John Miller of Central Connecticut State University rated Seattle as the second “most literate” city in the United States, based on indicators like number of bookstores, newspaper circulation, library resources, and a few others.

Here on the Olympic Peninsula, we don’t have any cities big enough to be evaluated (the study only considered cities with a population over 250,000) but I think we could probably give Seattle a run for its money. And right now, the Timberland Regional Library system is making it easy by offering its 11th Annual Adult Winter Reading Program.

The theme for this year’s program is “Expand Your Universe” and the library wants readers to try fiction or non-fiction they haven’t read before. You have from January 2nd until March 31st to read five or more books, fill out a simple form and turn it into the library. There will be a drawing to award the prizes (and these are some great prizes!)

You can get more information on this program by visiting any Timberland Regional Library branch, or the Timberland Regional Library Web site. It sounds like a great way to make progress towards creating a well-read life (and maybe win a prize as well)!

So, what books do you plan to read? Do you have any good book recommendations for me? Leave a comment and share your favorite titles!

One great benefit of living in Washington is a good base of snow in local mountains (well, most years, anyways). So far this year, things look promising for a spectacular 2008 ski season, and we’ve got a great way to get you from north Mason County to Stevens Pass in the Cascades: the North Mason Ski Bus!

The Ski Bus leaves Belfair (just a few minutes drive from Alderbrook Properties) each Saturday morning at 6 am, arriving back in Belfair around 7:30 pm that same day. Riders age 10 and up are welcome to ride for $45 per trip (or you can get a special deal: 3 trips for $125). The bus will make a run each Saturday through February 23rd. And don’t think you’ll be riding in an uncomfortable school bus … this 47-passenger bus offers DVD entertainment screens and an onboard restroom.

Stevens Pass offers great opportunities for snowshoeing, snowboarding, and downhill and cross-country skiing for all skill levels. Because of its location on the crest of the Cascade Range, Stevens Pass enjoys cool air from the eastern slopes which helps keep the snow dry (and great for skiing!) on its 37 major runs.

If you’re interested in taking the North Mason Ski Bus, contact coordinators Pam Merrill (360-277-0919) or Cami Geyer (360-275-0852) for more information.

And if you’ve ever enjoyed a ride on the North Mason Ski Bus, or a run down one of Stevens Pass slopes, leave a comment below and share your experience!

This time of year always makes me feel like pampering myself just a little. I don’t know if it’s because I’m still recuperating from cleaning up after all the Christmas activities and gifts, or because life just seems to quiet down in January for a spell, but I’m ready to do something special for myself to help celebrate the beginning of a new year. A trip to a spa might be just the ticket!

One of the best things about living on the south end of Hood Canal is the Alderbrook Resort and Spa. Located just down the hill from Alderbrook Properties, this beautiful facility offers a wide variety of massages (including a Healing Hot Stone Massage … that sounds really nice during the colder winter months!) as well as various body treatments (an algae wrap … hmmm … I’m not so sure about that one), the obligatory manicure/pedicure, and different facials (including one for gentlemen). And if you’re short on time, you can even get an express facial in just 30 minutes!

You’ll need to call first to make a reservation, but same-day reservations are fine, providing there’s room on the schedule.

I think I’m leaning toward the Healing Hot Stone Massage … what about you? Reflexology, perhaps? That algae wrap, maybe? Check out all the services offered at the Alderbrook Spa  and leave a comment telling us the one you’d most like to try!

Our last post talked about some great indoor activities for the winter months, and using the colder weather and darker days to spur us on to cozier, quieter pursuits. But if you think Washingtonians stay inside all winter, you’d better think again!

Washington residents enjoy the out-of-doors in all seasons. In fact, when it snows in the lowlands of western Washington, you may even see cross-country skiers gliding past your front windows. I know a man who once skied down the very steep counterbalance of Queen Anne hill in Seattle (on Nordic skis, no less) and lived to tell about it! (Kids, don’t try this at home. Adults, well … you can do what you want, but we don’t recommend this to you, either!)

Most Washington residents do their skiing in the mountains, however. One of the huge benefits of living in western Washington is our ready access to both the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. We’re surrounded by mountains. And of course, wherever you find mountains with snow on them, you’ll also find skiing (both alpine and Nordic) and a host of other outdoor winter adventures just waiting to happen (snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sledding are just a few that come to mind).

Here on the Olympic peninsula, the closest ski lifts are located at Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains. If you’re in the mood to travel a few short hours, you can also find good skiing in the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle. In either case, you’ll need to call ahead to make sure the roads are passable.

Check out this map of skiing and other winter recreation opportunities at TravelWashington.com, and let the fun begin!

It’s winter in the Pacific Northwest, and we’re in a post-holidays lull here on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s time to settle in for a cozy spell, and enjoy the winter season. In fact, one of the benefits of living in an area which experiences the different seasons is the variety it adds to life. Sure, some people prefer to live where it’s always sunny and 72 degrees outside, but after a while I think I’d be bored. I like the changing of the seasons, the differing weather patterns, and the opportunity to indulge in seasonal activities.

Winter in western Washington is the perfect time to brew a cup of tea (or coffee … this is the land of Starbucks, after all) and cozy up to the fire with a good book to read, or movie to watch. It’s the time to learn to knit, or quilt, or to plan your spring garden. It’s also a great time to play some board games with your family, put together a puzzle, take some great photographs, or write that great American novel that’s been kicking around in your head.

As the English poet, William Cowper, once wrote:

O Winter! ruler of the inverted year …
I crown thee king of intimate delights,
Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness,
And all the comforts that the lowly roof
Of undisturb’d Retirement, and the hours
Of long uninterrupted evening, know.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Many people refuse to make resolutions because they don’t want to fail at them. They avoid the whole depressing “I-haven’t-followed-through-on-my-resolutions” episode that occurs around January 21st for many people.

On the other hand, people who set goals generally get more done than people who don’t. And what are resolutions if not goals we strive to meet? The problem starts when we set unrealistic goals for ourselves (like losing 30 pounds in two weeks), or we make too many resolutions and lose focus. So keeping all that in mind, here are some ideas for realistic yet satisfying resolutions to make for 2008.

• Do you have a home decorating or garden project idea you’d like to tackle this year?
• Do you have a financial goal you’d like to meet, like paying off a credit card, or purchasing a new home? (We’ve got some nice ones here at Alderbrook Properties!)
• Do you have personal improvement in mind, like reading more, learning to play a musical instrument, exercising more, or improving your golf game? (You can always practice here at the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club.)
• Do you want to pamper yourself a little? (We’ve got the Alderbrook Resort & Spa just down the street …)

The important thing about resolutions is to select them carefully and define them well, so you know when you’ve succeeded. And remember not to make too many; three small, well-defined resolutions are probably enough for most people, and may be too many for some of us. (grin)

So now that we’ve rung in 2008, it’s time to decide: will you make any resolutions this year? If you do, leave a comment and let us know what they are!