geri's Blog

Taken in the ice storm ~ January/2012

WOW - what a difference a week can make.  Last Friday we had just been through a snow storm and then an ice storm.  We lost about 8 trees that came down in the heavy ice and then spent several days without power. 

This week, we've had sun, wind and rain... but no snow, no ice and most importantly no power outages :)

I've been through a number of weather related storms in my life, and this last week rates near the top.  All the ice was beautiful, and I did get some amazing pictures that I hope to post soon, but all the crackling and falling of trees was a bit unnerving.  We had one come down towards the house, but the branches got wedge in on several different roofs and it kept it from doing any real damage to the house.  We had two come down on my husbands truck, but the ladder rack took the brunt of it and the truck amazingly enough is OK. 

I feel very fortunate how well we fared.  If any of you are from around here I hope you did OK too.

Enjoy this weeks selection of quotes and I'll see y'all next Friday.

...geri

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Happy Friday!

Wow, what a week we've had here at my house.  From beautiful snow - as you can see in this picture - to an amazing ice storm.  I'm getting some good pictures, but it is a mess in my yard!  I've lost track of how many trees are down and we are gonna have to throw one big clean up party!  We'll ask all our friends to bring their chain saws and we'll provide the pizza and beer when we are done.  :)  :)  :)

Enjoy this weeks selection of quotes and I'll see you next Friday...    Weather permitting and I have power - we just got ours back on after several days, that is why this is so late. 

...geri

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They predicted up to a foot of snow...  Then by midnight they were revising that saying that the south sound would be hit the hardest but not the 12 inches originally predicted, and that places like Everett to the north might only pick up an inch or two. 

Well... I'm in the "south" sound and we are getting our fair share.  I don't know that we will make 12 inches, but we have a good 1/2 foot or more and it is still coming down.  And when I just checked the radar, it doesn't look like it will be ending any time soon.

I am happy to report that I made it safe and sound to my office this morning.  The trip was a bit treacherous, that last step almost tripped me up!  Luckily I caught myself, saved the coffee and made it on into my office just fine.  Whew!  It was a close call. 

I am heading out to my deck, with my coffee, to hang by the fireplace and watch it snow.  It is beautiful out there!  And yes, don't worry, I'll take my camera and share some photos over the next few days.

So what will things be like in 24 - 48 hours?  If the weather men and ladies get it right, it will be a winter wonderland!  The forecasters are saying that the snow falling now will continue on and off today and then some time over night the real storm hits.  Yep the snow we had on Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday, and today are just the warm up, the calm before the storm... or so they are saying.

We have enough snow at my house this morning to have knocked out my satellite dish - I guess I'll be taking a broom to that in a bit.  And if all goes as planned it probably won't be the last time I have to do it before the storm is over.

Predictions are saying that we could get up to a foot of snow in the next day or two.  Now for many parts of the country that might not seem like a big deal, but for us here in the lowlands of the Pacific Northwest... well that is just about unheard of. 

Predictions are that we will break some records with this next storm.  Here are the 10 snowiest days reported at Sea-Tac Airport:

Rank          Inches          Date

1                  20.0            1/13/1950

2                  14.9            1/27/1969

3                  10.0            1/26/1950

4                    9.3            12/31/1968

5                    8.9            12/23/1965

6                    8.8            12/26/1974

7                    7.9             1/25/1972

8                    7.8             11/21/1985

9                    7.6             11/27/1985

10                  7.0              1/29/1969

So by tomorrow, I might be doing this...

(This was from the winter of 2008/2009 and it was not from one snowfall.)

Yesterday I was delivering flyers to my listings and it was soooo beautiful out. The sky late yesterday afternoon was stunning and the mountain was out in all its glory. WOW so pretty for a January day.

Enjoy this weeks selection of quotes and I'll see you next Friday.

...geri

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We had a great holiday... I baked copious amounts of cookies, we consumed copious amounts of said cookies, yummy foods, & good drinks, we bought, wrapped and opened copious amount presents and then we sat on the couch and watched copious amounts of football. Ahhhh yes, it was a wonderful holiday season!!!!!!!!!

I hope that your holiday season was all that you wanted it to be.

Enjoy this weeks selection of quotes and here is to many more Weekly Words of Wisdom on 2012.

     SR 520 Tolling

Tolling on the 520 bridge began on December 29th.  Tolling on the SR 520 Bridge will help to pay for the new bridge, scheduled to open in 2014.  The new Bridge is designed to withstand major earthquakes and windstorms, providing increased safety.  When complete, it will include six lanes with two general purpose lanes and one carpool/transit lane in each direction.  The new SR 520 Bridge will have HOV lanes that will make bus trips more frequent and reliable.  It will also accommodate light rail in the future, have a pedestrian and bike path and shoulder lanes to keep traffic flowing in the event of a vehicle breakdown.

Tolling is being done electronically - electronic readers and cameras charge tolls at normal highway speeds without disrupting traffic.  Tolls are collected in both directions and rates vary depending on the time of day and the current toll rate is displayed on an electronic sign.

The easiest way to pay your toll is with the Good to Go pass.  These can be purchased at Fred Meyer, Safeway, Costco or QFC.  Drivers who prefer not to have a Pass can set up a Pay by Plate account by simply registering their license plate number.  When crossing the bridge a photo will be taken of your vehicle's license plate and tolls will be deducted from a prepaid Good to Go! account.  However, there is a $ .25 fee per toll transaction for this payment method.   

For more information visit the Washington State Department of Transportaion's website or check out the article "Top 10 Questions about 520 Tolling."

Here is a quick look at what it going on in the real estate market in our area, zip code 98042...

There are currently 206 homes for sale with prices ranging from $64,500 to $1,475,000.

• 1 and 2-bedrooms homes for sale: 10
• 3 bedroom homes for sale: 107
• 4 bedroom homes for sale: 71
• 5+ bedroom homes for sale: 18

There were 27 homes that sold in December, 2011.  22 were re-sale homes and 5 were new construction.

A further breakout shows what type of homes sold..,.

• New Construction: 19%
• Bank Owned: 33%
• Short Sales: 11%
• Regular Re-sales: 37%

The average sale price was: $224,565

Low sales price was: $81,000

High sales price was: $380,000

*These are sales listed in the MLS only, it does not reflect any private sales.