Monday, March 29, 2010

Coffelt's Farm on Orcas Island - For Fresh Eggs and More!


We are egg snobs. In fact we are food snobs. Maybe I should say we are slow food advocates. Now that sounds better. When it comes to eggs,  I only want fresh locally produced eggs from contented hens who get to run around and scratch for bugs and have a 'real life'.  So, when I want eggs I go to Coffelt's farm. Since we eat a lot of eggs.. that's pretty much every 10 days or so.
I love going there, just as an excuse to drive down their lane and see what is new. Like I LOVE these Jersey cows.. I think they are so beautiful. Some day I will paint cows again..

                       Or the lambs that are less than a week old?

                         Happy mamas in new spring grass..
Now how many places are there where the sheep graze among the flowers? What a life these gals have. The daffodils are in full bloom here, and the tulips are starting to bloom as well. Looking for your new home on Orcas? Go here: www.orcasdreams.com

Coffelts Farm has a Farm Stand,  you go in through this gate and get to check out more of Sidney's flowers.. and there you will find the eggs!  Farm fresh eggs..and meat in the freezer,  fresh milk sometimes, plant starts, wool from their sheep. Yep, it's the real deal here on Orcas Island.  My friend and client Lucy was at the Coffelt's one day when I was there writing an article for a food magazine. Lucy, a screen writer in L.A.  and her husband bought a waterfront home to on the West Side of Orcas from us a few years back.  Here is the link to her story: A Ram's Life

                                  Inside the gate leading to the goodies.. 

Sometimes I feel a bit sad, for by next fall I won't have my weekly excuse to go for eggs, as we will be collecting them on our own farm. Ken's got a brooder in my horse trailer and is raising Black Java Chickens.. If you want to know more about them you'll have to check out his Black Java Chicken blog!
                                               Aren't they homely??

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Cottage for Sale or Rent....


Have you ever been to Coupeville? It is on Whidbey Island and it is one of the oldest towns in Washington. Many of the homes are on the Historic Register and the downtown is along the waters of Penn Cove looking across to the mainland. There antique shops and speciality stores, restaurants featuring seafood from the local waters and art galleries are to be found. It's a great place for a lazy stroll along the water and don't miss the huge ice cream cones sold at Iskreme at the north end of town for $2!


Well, we have  a little home there. It was built in 1910. Last spring and summer we worked on it for months redoing the gardens, putting up a picket fence, tearing out the old carpet and sanding and refinishing the 100 year old fir floors. We also had the entire interior scrubbed and painted. Ken installed new energy efficient baseboard heating, and new  cabinets in the kitchen. This may be the house your Grandmother had! It is surrounded by mature gardens with hundreds of bulbs, twenty foot high deep purple lilacs, a prolific old pear tree and a graceful curly willow. This two bedroom home has an ample living room with big windows and high ceilings, a panneled and wall papered dining room, an old fashioned kitchen and laundry area.

We just listed it for sale for $199,000. It is not currently rented, but we rent it for $850 per  month.  Ken is scraping and painting the exterior of the house now. We plan to paint it shades of green.

Somebody is going to get a really sweet deal! From the house it's a few minute walk to the waterfront, and one block to the bus station. In town living! Near the County offices, which make for quiet neighbors.

Give us a call if you think this may be of interest for an Island get away, a retirement home, or investment property. Drop us a line kate@orcasdreams.com. or check our site for other properties: www.orcasdreams.com If you are a first time home buyer don't miss the $8000 tax credit! 360-376-4642

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Visiting Orcas Island?

If you are planning a visit to Orcas Island, don't miss the flowers blooming in the Skagit. If you are traveling from Seattle coming North on Interstate 5, take the Conway Exit towards LaConner so that you can see the Daffodils in bloom. These photos were taken on Sunday by Ken who was down in Conway picking up hay from another Realtor. I was at home teaching horsemanship, so I did not get to see these lovely flowers which were just starting to bloom last Wednesday when I was off Island.

While the Skagit is known for it's Tulips and the Tulip Festival which is held in April, not everyone knows that it is also famous for other bulbs.  From LaConner you can again travel north towards Annacortes and pick up Rout 20 to the San Juan Island Ferries.
 
While traveling also watch for the thousands of Snow Geese and Swans that over winter in the Skagit in the fields and deltas. 
 
Today my friend Bonnie sent me pictures of the snow in Asheville, and I sent her pictures of the snow geese and flowers blooming in the Skagit. 
 
Hey, if the cold and snow has got you down, why not check out my website OrcasDreams
and see if there is a home here for you!  Or better yet, shoot me an email
Gotta go and plant my peas..