Thursday, July 30, 2009

Heat Wave in Sequim

Has Sequim ever seen such hot temperatures like the 92 F the other day? I seriously doubt it. That's definitely the highest summer temperatures we have experienced since we moved her in January 2006. It does not seem like this heat wave will stop today. Writing this post at 11am, actually temperatures are not too bad: 23C or 74F.

I also checked my Wunderground Sequim weather forecast logo on our Sequim Town Blog and found out that this is totally off, just as our Acuweather forecast in the Peninsula Daily News is. Best you give us a call as our friends did who just moved from Hawaii to Portland OR where they encountered 104 F yesterday.

Let's get things straight. This is the Pacific Northwest which probably never had a heat wave like that in the past. I was so surprised to hear on our Seattle Kiro News last night that most Seattle houses don't have AC. Well, why should they. They never needed it in the past. Temperatures in Seattle were soaring yesterday and are expected to reach 100F today. Movie theaters are having great business because they are air conditioned. Any place which has AC gets some extra business these hot summer days in the the Pacific Northwest.

When we designed our new house in Sequim, we were wondering whether to save the $8000 on a fancy heat pump for an area which is known for its mild winters and cool summers. OK for resale value we decided to get the heat pump, which can also function as AC unit for your entire house. Can you imagine how happy we are that we had done that.

Organic raspberries from our own bushes at our Sequim house
People in Sequim and Seattle are trying to keep their houses cold with portable AC units. Naturally, these are sold out everywhere. Our friend's heat pump in Sun Meadows just failed the other day. Keoki tried to make it work again but no such luck. She had to call the heat pump company and is now lined up with 72 customers all waiting for repair of their heat pumps. There is a 2-day waiting time.

In any case, Sequim summer 2009 is definitely different, compared to its past history, with high temperatures beyond the 80F mark. Everybody is used to high temperatures in TX, AZ and HI but in Sequim?!

We expect Sequim temperatures to come down again to our regular summer temperatures between 70 - 80 F on this upcoming weekend. We will keep you updated on Sequim summer. Stay cool this summer wherever you live!
p.s.
Our next post will be about U-pick berries in Sequim. Are there any organically grown berries available? That will be the question.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Hummingbirds in Sequim

Dear Sequim Town blog visitors,
Believe me this year's Lavender Festival in Sequim was a huge success. It was our third Sequim Lavender Festival ever since we moved here but this one went through the roof. One could hardly make his way through the street fair and the buses to the Sequim Lavender Farms had even people waiting in line for the next bus, at least when we went by the bus stop.

I was also under impression that the number of business booths had increased whether it was lavender products - the seducing smell was everywhere - or hats, jewelery, signs, leather bags, t-shirts, you name it, you could find it at our street fair in Fir St.

Now, let's jump to our today's post topic. When we moved to Sequim from Hawaii in 2006, we knew all about Sequim weather, annual precipitation, number of people living here, house prices and such. However, we did not know that Sequim is an oasis of hummingbirds. Actually, we did not know much about humming birds because those fun little creatures are not around in Hawaii. Read what Wikipedia has to say about hummingbirds.

Sequim Hummingbird at hummingbird feeder on our balcony
Finally, when spring 2009 came to Sequim, we decided to set up a hummingbird feeder on our kitchen balcony where our little dining table is located for taking our meals. After we had watched how all our friends and neighbors enjoyed many visits by their little hummingbird, we wanted to have our own hummingbirds too, and believe us so we do. The following hummingbird video will show.



After having set up the hummingbird feeder on the balcony and adding some sugar water 1/4 cup on 2 cups of water, we had to wait a few days till the birdies showed up. What still amazes me is that the hummingbirds would still try our feeder with all the other hummingbird feeders out there by our Sequim neighbors.

Now, we love our little hummingbird friends on their daily visits and miss them when they don't show up. Anyways, watch Keoki's hummingbird video. He took it with our new digital camera - amazing what those modern cameras can do theses days - and we uploaded it to youtube. Enjoy our Sequim hummingbird video!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Sequim 13th Lavender Festival biggest Sequim Event of the Year

The 13th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival is looking round the corner. We already see more visitors in little Sequim town. The big lavender festival event days will be this weekend Friday 16 - Sunday 19 at 10am - 6pm. Last year the lavender was not yet in full bloom for the Festival after a colder and wetter spring season but believe us this year, all the Sequim lavender fields are blooming and sending out this intoxicating and seducing smell of lavender.

Keoki starting his tour of Lavender Festival street fair
We have friends from Hawaii visiting and will be happy to share all the great things in Sequim to do during the Lavender Festival. Sequim visitors and residents alike can buy tickets for the farm tours at $15 a person, children under 12 are free. This lavender ticket allows you to tour all the 7 Sequim Lavender farms like famous Lost Mountain Lavender Farm, Purple Haze, Jardin du Soleil Lavender and more. You may watch and listen to growers share their techniques about growing, drying and using lavender. You can use the tour bus on all three days for free.

Purple the color of the Lavender Festival
In addition to visiting the lavender farms and buying lots of freshly cut lavender and lavender products there, the lavender street fair will offer 150 crafts and lavender booths, food, music and shopping in downtown Sequim. We had such a great time last year and will definitely return.

One of my favorite Lavender fair stands. If you love fancy hats, you will find one there.
I never added my photos from the last year's Lavender street fair. Here are Sequim photos to give you a taste of what you may expect at the Sequim street fair. Enjoy Sequim, the Lavender festival, the very friendly Sequim people and our Sequim street fair photos.

Here is some special information for dog owners:

Sequim's famous and unique 'dog sitting' program for the Sequim Lavender Festival operated by Gentle Paws, provides safe comfort for your dog while you enjoy the street fair and the lavender farms. Sorry dogs cannot be allowed on the farms. You will find the location downtown Sequim where the tour buses to the Lavender Farms take off.

Sequim Lavender Festival Related Articles

Sequim Lavender Festival Video
Visit Sequim Lavender Festival 2008
Sequim Lavender Festival

Keoki visiting Sequim Lavender Street Fair
Music at Sequim Street Fair
So much to see and buy at Sequim Lavender Festival Street Fair

Monday, July 06, 2009

Sequim 1991 RV Motorhome Class C 19' For Sale

1991 Coachman self contained RV Motorhome 19ft for Sale Motorhome Class C in excellent condition Asking price $8,900

SOLD within 4 Days!
Class C RV Motorhome photo outside
We bought this nice looking motorhome van in 2006 from the original owner who always kept it in the garage. The motor home is in good, clean, attractive condition, inside and outside. When we built our house here in Sequim in 2007, we included a motorhome garage for best storage. However, with our house building + moving in project taking up most of our recent time, we hardly used the motorhome since we bought it in 2009.

Motorhome couch which extends to bed
Class C Motorhome features:

- 1 ton Chevrolet 5.7L - 350 CID
- 50,000 Original miles
- New computer, New Tires
- Automatic, cruise control, Interior Convenience Group
- NEW batteries: 1 automotive + 1 deep cell 12 Volt
- Dometic refrigerator with new cooling unit 2003
- Refrigerator runs on gas, electric or 12 Volt
- Atwood 6 Gal gas water heater, electric ignition, new 2003
- Wedgewood 2 burner propane stove
- Samsung Microwave
- JVC Cassette player w/rear speakers
- Coleman Rooftop air conditioner
- Suburban furnace
- 12 volt Vacuum
- Sofa bed w/memory foam + overhead bed
- rear toilet + shower/tub
- plenty of cabinet space
- 10' Awning
- 4 stabilizing jacks

Motorhome kitchen w/microwave + refrigerator
Motorhome view of front
This Class C Coachman Motorhome 1991 runs great. It can be easily driven. Motorhome gets 15mpg on Hwy. The motorhome van is great for short term vacation trips or guys driving to a job site away from home.

If you are interested in this Class C motorhome for sale at asking price of $8,900 and live in the Sequim, Olympic Peninsula or Seattle area, give us a call for a viewing appointment of our Coachman motorhome 360-504-1157.