The Bellingham Real Estate Blog » Who we are

Spring Blossom Sugar Cookies

Fawn — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:46:29 +0000

If your are looking for a fun Spring recipe that is easy to make in a hurry or with kids, these Spring Blossom Sugar Cookies are sure to fit your needs.

Ingredients

·2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
· 1 cup softened butter
· 1 1/2 cups white sugar
· 1 egg
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· A variety of colored sugars

Directions

Stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder, set aside. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Slowly blend dry ingredients.

Roll teaspoon sized balls of dough in colored sugar and place on cookie sheets. Using small scissors snip each ball in half. Snip each half into three petals being sure to not cut all the way through. Gently spread petals apart and lay flat.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

If you try the recipe be sure and let us know how they turned out and snap some pictures of your or your family baking, we would love to see!

For more information on Bellingham Real Estate or to search for homes in the Bellingham and Whatcom County area visit www.JohnsonTeamRealEstate.com, your one stop Bellingham real estate and community information resource!

The Holiday Season is here! It’s Wassail time!

Fawn — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:35:50 +0000

No matter what holiday you embrace and choose to celebrate there always is some sort of tradition that symbolizes the holiday season to you. For The Johnson Team the holiday tradition Lylene making her famous “wassail those that do not know what Wassail is it is a wonderful holiday drink that is a combination of fruit juices and spiced that will keep you home smelling like the holidays and provide a cup of cheer for all ages.

If you would like to try making Wassail for yourself or your next holiday party follow the recipe below:

1 can frozen apple juice concentrate
1/2 can orange/pineapple juice concentrate
3 1/2 cans water
3 cinnamon sticks
10-12 whole cloves
1 tsp ground nutmeg

Make in a pot on the stove, a crock pot or a coffee maker used soley for wassail. Enjoy!

Easy, Inexpensive Home Cleaning Tips Using Vinegar

Fawn — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:15:00 +0000

I am always looking for ways to make cleaning easier and more cost effective and one of my favorite tricks for making that happen is using vinegar. Cleaning with vinegar is great for killing germs, bacteria and mold, this is due to the high levels of acidity, it really is a great alternative to using harsh, powerful chemicals. Not to mention its good for the environment is very cost effective.

Here are some great cleaning tips that make use of undiluted white vinegar courtesy of householdcleaningtips.net

A cloth soaked in it is great for cleaning your counter tops, it will kill all the germs and bacteria too.
Do you have a smelly drain ? No problem mix one cup of baking soda with one cup of it, pour down the offending drain and leave for 10 minutes before washing away.
Mix 1 part water with 1 part white distilled vinegar and use this with a cloth to clean the shelves and the walls of your fridge.
Keep the inside of your dishwasher clean and sparkling by pouring a cup of it inside and running through a cycle. If you repeat this on a regular basis, the inside of your dishwasher will soon look like new again.
Do you get limescale building up inside your kettle ? Add a cup of it to the water in the kettle, bring to the boil, then leave overnight. In the morning rinse thoroughly with cold water.
Do your lunch boxes smell of last weeks lunch ? Soak a slice of bread in it and leave it in the lunch box overnight.
If you find that you have ants in the house in hot weather, they can be discouraged by spraying it, undiluted, around doorways, windows and anywhere else you spot them.
If you have every struggled to remove an adhesive label or price tag, then soak a cloth in white vinegar and cover the offending label. After being left overnight you will find the label just slides off.
If your tile grout is looking old and discolored, you can spray it, undiluted, on the grout, and after a few minutes, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub it clean.
Fed up of getting streaky limescale deposits on your shower doors or shower screen ? Spray with it, undiluted, before you take a shower, and say goodbye to streaky glass.

Giving Thanks!

Fawn — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:18:36 +0000

As 2009 rolls to a close, we would like to thank all of our amazing clients, fellow real estate agents and vendors for making this year so great. While we are thanking those who helped us have a successful year, we are receiving some thank you notes from our clients as well. Below are two client notes that I would like to share. The first is from some wonderful clients of Lylene Johnson.

“Thank you for all the wonderful work you did selling our house. It was just as you said, “If it’s priced right, it will sell fast,”

We thoroughly appreciated your professionalism, organization and promptness in everything you did as well as making it fun! Thanks also for the use of your truck, it’s such a great asset…

Nan & Tom

The following is a thank you received from the Whatcom Volunteer Center in regards to their use of The Johnson Team moving truck (which is available free to our clients and non profit organizations within Bellingham and Whatcom County).

“Thank you so much for the use of your truck last Friday! It was so nice to have, especially with all the heavy rain. One quick load kept the warm clothes dry and protected. We hauled 2,500 hats, scarves, blankets and gloves.”

Whatcom Volunteer Center

Thank you again to our clients and our local non profits for making 2009 such a special year!

Bellingham and Whatcom Count Off Leash Dog Parks

Fawn — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:09:27 +0000

Yukon and Denali

If you are anything like me your dog is a crucial member of your family. I have two dogs, Yukon 6 years and Denali 8 months. My dogs are great fun and a pleasure to take places, but I am always trying to find a new place to take that that is withing the county and city dog regulations.

Below is a list of off leash dog areas in Bellingham and around the county. Feel free to leave comments and add your favorite dog friendly retreat to the list!

Denali

Arroyo Park: All trails are dog off leash compliant

Bloedel Donovan Parl: From May 1st to Sept. 30 dogs are allowed off leash only from 6am to 10am. From Oct. 1 to April 30th dogs are allowed off leash all day.

Hovander Homestead Park & Tenant Lake: Dogs are allowed off leash in several areas for a detailed map visit the Park Dept. Website

Lake Padden Park: There is a fenced off leash area and a water exercise area near the softball field at the park. There are also designated off leash trails at the east of of Lake Padden Park.

Litte Squalicum Park: Dogs are allowed off leash on all trails, but must be on a leash on the beach.

Post Point Treatment Plant: Dogs are allowed off leash in the fields, on the trails and in the lagoon.

Sehome Hill Arboretum: Dogs must be on a leash on the main trails, but are allowed off leash on the secondary trails.

Sunset Pond: Dogs are allowed off leash on the trails and on the beach and in the water.

Whatcom Falls Park: The Waterline Trail (south of the creek) west of the water treatment plant to the Bayview Cemetery and the trail from the Waterline Trail South to Lakeway Drive.

Again, feel free to comment and leave your favorite place for puppy playtime!

The Johnson Team Receives 2009 Best of Bellingham Award

Rich — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:44:55 +0000

The Johnson Team Receives 2009 Best of Bellingham Award

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Johnson Team Receives 2009 Best of Bellingham Award

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 — Johnson Team has been selected for the 2009 Best of Bellingham Award in the Residential Real Estate Agent category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association

Your Could Save A Life- Become A Bone Marrow Donor

Fawn — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:59:28 +0000

Thousands of people around the world are in need of a bone marrow donations in order to beat their battle with bone marrow disorders. The most well known marrow disorder is Lukemia. Having my Grandfather pass away from lukemia before I was even born opened my eyes to the disease and the need for bone marrow donor in the community.

From June 8th-June 22nd you can join the National Bone Marrow Donor Program for FREE. Registry in the national bone marrow database usually costs around a $100 for the test kit and database input. The Be a Match Marrowthon is a great program and is hoping to recruit an additional 46,000 members to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program.

To sign up to be a bone marrow donor visit the National Bone Marrow Registry. After you sign up to be a donor you will be mailed a home testing kit to get your information in the database. The test is a easy to use cheek cell swab test which you will mail back to the registry for testing.

Below you will find some common myths and facts on bone marrow donation courtesy of the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Myths & Facts about Bone Marrow Donation

Learn the facts about bone marrow donation to help you make an informed decision about joining the Be The Match Registry^SM.

MYTH:Bone marrow donation is painful.

FACT: General or regional anesthesia is always used for this procedure. Donors feel no needle injections and no pain during the marrow donation process. Afterwards, most donors feel some pain in the lower back for a few days or longer.

MYTH: All bone marrow donations involve surgery.

FACT: There are two ways to donate. The majority of donations do not involve surgery. The patient’s doctor most commonly requests a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, which is non-surgical and outpatient. If the patient’s doctor requests marrow, marrow donation is a surgical procedure, usually outpatient.

MYTH: Pieces of bone are removed from the donor.

FACT: Pieces of bone are not removed from the donor.

In marrow donation, only the liquid marrow found inside the bones is collected. In a PBSC donation, cells are collected from the bloodstream in a process similar to donating plasma. For more details, see the steps of donation.

MYTH: Donating bone marrow is dangerous and weakens the donor.

FACT: Though no medical procedure is without risk, there are rarely any long-term effects from donating. Only five percent or less of a donor’s marrow is needed to save a life. After donation, the body replaces the donated marrow within four to six weeks.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which operates the Be The Match Registry^SM, screens all donors carefully before they donate to ensure they are healthy and the procedure is safe for them. We also educate donors, answer questions every step of the way, and follow up with donors after donation.

MYTH: Bone marrow donation involves a lengthy recovery process.

FACT: PBSC donors take the drug filgrastim for five days leading up to donation and may have symptoms such as headache, bone or muscle pain, nausea, insomnia or fatigue during this time. These symptoms nearly always disappear one or two days after donating, and the donor is back to normal.

Marrow donors can expect to feel fatigue, some soreness or pressure in their lower back and perhaps some discomfort walking. Marrow donors can expect to be back to work, school and other activities within one to seven days. The average time for all symptoms to disappear is 21 days.

MYTH: Donors have to pay for the donation procedure.

FACT: Donors never pay for donating and are never paid to donate. All medical costs are paid by the patient’s medical insurance or by the patient, sometimes with assistance from the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). The NMDP, which operates the Be The Match Registry, reimburses donors for travel costs, and may reimburse other costs on a case-by-case basis.

Please take time today to look over the website, you could save a life

www.marrow.org

Keep up with The Johnson Team on Twitter

Fawn — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:05:45 +0000

After hearing all the buzz or should I say “tweets” about twitter, we have officially signed up! www.twitter.com/johnsonteam. A lot goes on during the day in a real estate office and now you can keep up on the latest. We will be posting tweets about hot new listings that have come on the market, new financing and loan information, Bellingham real estate statistics and just tidbits of our everyday lives.

If you currently use twitter sign up to follow us and receive our latest tweets.! www.Twitter.com/johnsonteam

Mike Bredeson earns EcoBroker Designation

Fawn — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:05:19 +0000

Bellingham, Wash – Mike Bredeson, a real estate agent with The Johnson Team in Fairhaven, earned the EcoBroker Certified designation. Having completed a unique and informative training program on energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transitions, Bredeson now joins a handful of professionals nationwide committed to energy-efficient and sustainable homes.

Bredeson has been a realtor with The Johnson Team since 1996. With this new certification, Bredeson can now go beyond the typical duties of a buyer’s agent.

“Green living is very important to this community,” Bredeson says. “And, I look forward to matching environmentally-minded clients with eco-friendly homes.”

The Johnson Team at the Muljat Group South is a full-service real estate brokerage based in Fairhaven representing buyers and sellers. The Johnson Team is commited to incorporating environmentally responsible principles and practices into all aspects of their business.

For more information about The Johnson Team and the services they offer, visit their Web site, www.johnsonteamrealestate.com; contact their office by telephone at (360) 527-8766; or email at info@johnsonteamrealestate.com

Mike Takes 2nd Place!

Fawn — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:11:05 +0000

Mike competed last weekend in the 5th Annual 2008 Salmon Classic Invitational at Roche Harbor. Mike caught a 16lbs. 12 oz salmon to earn him second place in the event. The first place fish weighed 19 lbs, 14 oz.

Great Job to Mike and all those who participated!