Issaquah Undressed

Is This The Smallest Puzzle In The World?

Kathleen Cragun — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:00:13 +0000

I went to the Holiday Gift and Craft Bazaar at Blakely Hall in Issaquah Highlands. I was amazed at the puzzles made by Cliff Nelson. This is the back. The front is a real postage stamp from somewhere in the world. Cliff cuts these puzzles all by hand, no drawn lines, no jig, no computer help. I ask him why he wasn’t a brain surgeon and he said he can’t stand blood!

These are just some of the stamps (Puzzled Postage, he calls them) he has in his available collection and it is growing. On his website he calls his business “A Hobbie Run Amuk!”

He also has Pentominos. (Shown below) There are over 2000 ways to put them back in the box! They are not your boring variety, but nice looking enough to set on a table as a conversation piece. Cliff also creates puzzles for kids, again they are not ordinary. These would make a wonderful unique gift, but I would have a hard time parting with any I purchased.

Artist Cliff Nelson, Purple Beech Crafts, is in many area craft shows, for a list and a lot more information go to his website www.puzzledpostage.com. If you have questions, his email is purplbeech@aol.com. To see IH Bazaar post click here.

Issaquah Open Houses Information, Mapped

Larry Cragun — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:46:22 +0000

Green Halloween at IH

Originally uploaded by kathleenleavitt

Don’t be afraid to look. Issaquah Open Houses are listed on this map. The map is updated from this mornings MLS information posted by the listing agents.

The Harvest is Over but Not the Harvest Dance

Kathleen Cragun — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:03:57 +0000

This fall has been one of the nicest, most beautiful that I can remember. Looking out my window now it is hard to let go of. Capture that same warm, fuzzy feeling by sharing your harvest while helping those with a slim harvest or no harvest.

The harvest is done, but not the Harvest Dance. This is a benefit for the Issaquah Food Bank. This will be a fun night with Live music by the Astro Cats & Magnolia Road AND you could be one of the neighbors helping neighbors. Tickets are available at The Issaquah Press, $10 in advance, $15 at the door….425-894-4410……LIVE AUCTION!

There is sample food from Issaquah Restaurants! YUM! Wine, Beer and Soda. DANCING!

It will be at the Pickering Barn Nov 21 (Friday) 6:30 - 11:00pm.

http://www.issaquahfoodbank.com/HarvestDance.pdf for more info.

The Harvest Dance, Take a Chance.

Real Estate Statistics For Issaquah And Open House Map

Larry Cragun — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:22:09 +0000

Sponsored by Bentley House Undressed

and the $300,000 +- Value Leader: Tanglewood in Klahanie.

This is the second Saturday and homes not in the MLS are open - Second Saturday Issaquah Highlands Tour Of Homes

The map of open houses is updated and quite handy. Well over 1000 folks have logged into our map. There are quite a few homes open this weekend, condos too. Some of the homes for sale and open this weekend are new listings and some show serious price reductions. Click here for the map.

Also, the October real estate statistics are available. The entire MLS shows that there is a 10.6 month inventory of condominiums listed for sale in King County. That shows it is still a serious buyers market.Interestingly, Issaquah is bucking the trend with a 5.7 months inventory of condos. See the chart below, and note this is fluctuating. One reason for this is the number of condos listed dropped by 45 and the sales increased from 28 to 38. The number of condos listed is the lowest number in the last 15 months.

Don’t get too excited: It was the opposite statistic for homes for sale and sold in Issaquah. Inventory was up to a 13.2 supply compared with a county wide statistic of 9.7 months.

Shanghai Garden, Restaurant in Issaquah

Kathleen Cragun — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:39:40 +0000

My sister-in-law was in town to visit her daughter. She called and invited me to lunch. It was going to be at Shanghai Garden. That sounded fun to me. I don’t usually choose to eat Chinese food but when I do I do enjoy it. The place is sparkling clean and service was very fast. At other Chinese restaurants all the dishes seem to taste alike but this was not the case here. Even though the menu has many choices, we weren’t very adventurous, next visit perhaps. We all ordered different things and shared, which is typical. We tried Szechuan Beef in Hot Garlic Sauce, General Tso’s Chicken and Snow Peas with Chicken and of course Hot and Sour Soup. The snow peas were very fresh and cooked just right, not limp and overcooked and not too crispy. I will go back.

The chef and cooks came out to dine right next to us. That indicates to me they are very confident in their craft!

If you take the kids and they don’t like Chinese food, they can be entertained by watching the fish tanks.

Shanghai Garden has several dining areas and can handle a lot of patrons. Closed Monday. They have lunch specials 11:00am - 2:30pm, week days. They are located at 80 Front Street North in Issaquah, WA 98027

Issaquah Schools Have Great Sports Teams

Larry Cragun — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:45:38 +0000

High School Baseball

Originally uploaded by harddeuce

Baseball, Lacrosse, track, Soccer, Basketball - you name it - boys or girls sports - Issaquah Schools are winners. Be you spectator or student you will find fun, enthusiasm, and excellence. If you have a photo or a story about Issaquah sports just email larrykcragun (at)yahoo.com

The RSS Technology That Makes Blogs So Powerful Is Truly Fabulous.

Larry Cragun — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:02:35 +0000

Note: For a Built Green Condominium Development that is more lifestyle and amenities than you can imagine: Click here.

Blog technology is Amazing. It sends out an alert about the things we write about. Instead of you going to the site, it can come to you. It can come from an alert or through a feed reader. The Pacific Science Center was alerted to this article by Kathleen. We noticed their link to our blog in our administration panel.

Do you take advantage of RSS feeds, feed readers, or the power of Google and other Search engines discovering your company? Do you have a blog that is consumer oriented? Do you need blog coaching, that is what is keeping you away? We have over 40 blogs and bloggers in our network. Email larrykcragun(at)yahoo.com if you are curious.

Larrykcragun@yahoo.com or phone 206.618.3724

Thanks Pacific Science Center for this quote on your blog.

Issaquah Blogger Likes The Slough!

If you missed last weekend’s grand opening of the new Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, then be sure to check out this →blog posting from Kathleen Cragun of Issaquah. She posted many great images from the event and talks about the purpose of the new center. Thanks Kathleen. Very nice! We encourage you to come see it for yourself. For teachers or home school groups wishing to learn more, please contact our Registration Office at (206)443-2925 or email →mercer_slough@pacsci.org.

Have You Ever Been to Amante?

Kathleen Cragun — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:27:01 +0000

This is the restaurant we told you about in December of last year. It is in a very inconspicuous place and we wondered who, if anybody had been there. We received comments on our article about how good it was, so we finally got around to trying it ourselves. Glad we did. We went on Friday night with some family folks. They were very busy, so we know somebody other than ourselves knew they were here. We tried the Pizza, two different kinds, and some Pasta. Others decided the choices and we would have been a little more adventurous but it is hard to argue with a cute 4 year old! The pizza crust was delicious and even the plain cheese pizza was good.

The Putanessca, black olives, artichoke hearts, cheese tortellini, mushrooms, capers, parmesan cheese & pesto topped with feta cheese & marinara sauce, was our pasta of choice and we found it big enough for two, a good thing in this economy and if you are watching your waist line. Along with pasta they have salads, calzones, grinders, hot subs, even some low carb choices and of course desserts. 525 NW Locust St., Issaquah, WA 98027 425-313-9600 FREE DELIVERY www.AmantePizzaAndPasta.com They also have online ordering. Open 7 days a week 11:00 am - 11:00 pm.

Want a Green Halloween? - See Issaquah Highlands Undressed Blog

Kathleen Cragun — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:29:49 +0000

Click to see fun already done in Issaquah Highlands: http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/10/27/a-green-halloween-in-ih/

7 Homes 2 Condominiums and 4 Condo Projects Open In Issaquah This Weekend

Larry Cragun — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:06:47 +0000

I would say the open house volume is low. Why? Simple. Agents feel it is a waste of time as not many of you are looking now. Why? You say. Here are the mapped locations of those agents who placed their homes as open in the MLS. By The way - it is a great way to enjoy the fall weather and do a little dreaming. Click here or the photo to go to the map.