Bremerton : Silverdale : Port Orchard : Poulsbo

This coming weekend is the 2nd Annual Bremerton Boat Show down at the new Bremerton Marina.  If you haven't been down to the new Bremerton Marina this would be a great weekend to check it out.  I love going down to the marina and just hanging out.

JANUARY 22ND - 24TH

AT THE "NEW" BREMERTON MARINA

 FRIDAY Noon to 4pm     SATURDAY 10am to 4pm     SUNDAY 10am to 4pm

You can ride the ferry and walk off and you will be right at the show or you could drive downtown where there is plenty of parking right at the marina.  You could also cruise on over and enjoy one of 50 guest morrage slips available.

If you have never visited the new Bremerton Marina - take a look at the video.  There is so much to do down on the Bremerton waterfront these days!

From terrorist blockade to PSNS Memorial Plaza.

After the September 11 attacks security for military installations around the country implemented new security measures, and bases in Kitsap County followed suit.  The Navy proceeded to purchase land in downtown Bremerton adjacent to the Bremerton Puget Sound Naval Shipyard entrance for a security buffer.  Instead of looking at some jersey barriers along the sidewalk the City of Bremerton had a vision that would lead to the creation of PSNS Memorial Plaza. 

The now complete park prevents vehicles from driving into the shipyard fence and its gorgeous with lots of plantings, fountains, cut and polished boulders, a ship's bow and a history lesson! 

The bow is from the Guided Missile Cruiser USS South Carolina. 

The park is a history lesson of the shipyard.  There are three sections, women workers of WWI near Burwell Street, in the middle World War II history and at the bottom the area honoring today's shipyard workers. 

On Sunday I went down with my video camera to capture this unique and gorgeous Bremerton feature.  I had been down a few weeks ago but hadn't carried my camera.  Sunday was a gorgeous day and I really enjoyed my time there.  While video taping a Navy Veteran stopped me to ask some questions. Lots of Navy Veterans visit Bremerton and the shipyard probably because they served here at one time in their career.

One of the reasons I relocated to Bremerton WA was because of the history and early century architecture.  I love older homes.  Maybe it is because of one home I remember as a child that was in Puyallup. A true craftsman with a huge front porch and built in buffets, along with a really unique floor plan that included a kitchen breakfast nook and closets so large we made them into playhouses. 

Anyway, the home we purchased here was built in 1941, it isn't a craftsman but a Cape Cod Bungalow. It has a steep roof with side gables, a small roof overhang and is 1 1/2 stories on a daylight basement.  I have wide clapboard type T&G siding on the front and raked shingles on the other 3 sides.  The appearance is symmetrical with the door in the center.  A Cape Cod Bungalow is different than a Cape Cod Craftsman because of no dormers.  I have all oak flooring on the main level which is about 1/2 inch think and gorgeous!  I also just found several bundles of unused oak flooring in the attic.  Enough to install it in the 3/4 bath in the basement!

The home had been occupied by the same person since 1946 and to my amazement hadn't had any remodeling done!  Sometimes over the years older homes have had so many owners and so many DIY projects that they are just ruined! Mine was just left original until the owner had to be removed and some relatives decided to "flip it".

I was living in California and my husband was in Iraq when we bought the home.  I had only been to the property once for about 15 minutes.  I saw what I saw.  Of course I had an inspection done and of course there are times that an inspector just can't possibly find it all. That is our story - he didn't find it all. But I have.

I have found that the fireplace was ruined by a wood stove insert. I just ordered a new insert to be installed along with a new liner and chimney chase.

I have found that some of the sill plate and rim joist had dry rot because of water damage probably by a gutter issue.  We had a contractor out last week to fix those problems without having to jack the house up!

I have found that there was really no insulation in the attic.  Back in the day they would put insulation in the floor joists and use the attic as additional whatever space.  Our attic was converted to two large rooms and a sitting area.  I turned one into a huge walk-in closet and one into the master bedroom.  Those areas were insulated around them but the area above the main living area didn't have any insulation.

This past week I layed the insulation on one side and will video it when I am totally complete. Installing insulation in an attic is really easy. I have done it all myself - the entrance to the area is only 15" wide so it had to be me - haha!

Here is my video - have fun watching, my husband thinks I am crazy.

If you want to purchase a Craftsman or a Cape Cod in Bremerton you want to make sure you are working with an agent that knows about the product.  I have fireplace inpectors, contractors and yardbirds (lumber yard associates) that are a part of my team.  There is more than a home inpsection that needs to take place when purchasing these homes.

This is an investment but it also is our home.

Labor Day weekend  | 20th Annual Blackberry Festival

Sept 5-Sept 7, 2009

 Hours: Saturday, Sept. 5th- 10 AM to 8 PM,

Sunday, Sept. 6th- 10 AM to 7 PM

Monday, Sept. 7th- 10 AM to 5 PM

You want to know where the action will be this weekend in Bremerton? DOWNTOWN – HARBORSIDE! This is the weekend for the 20^th Annual Blackberry Festival held down on the Bremerton Boardwalk.

There will be over 100 booths with everything from arts & crafts to you guessed it "FOOD"! You know what kind of food I am talking about! Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken burgers, BBQ ribs, chicken and beef brisket, corn on the cob and oh man dare I say more!?

You will also find tons of amazing ethnic foods like teriyaki, shrimp on a stick, spring rolls, gyros, crepes and tacos! Don't forget the Blackberry delights!! Blackberry slugs, scones, pie and that amazing Blackberry shortcake!! After all it is the Blackberry Festival.

I don't know why I love it so – I sure hate those pesky bushes creeping up in my flower beds!! But on this weekend they are my friend!!