About Seattle's Ballard

The winter trees let us see so much more than we can any other time of year. I prefer sunny summer days, but the winter can provide us with oportunites to see things that we would not normally even know were there any other time of year.Winter has its perks ... you just have to look for them, or through them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a lot to be thankful for this year! Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services had a had a successful year even with the challenges that were thrown this way! Seattle real estate in 2008 has been anything but easy - that is for sure, but I have been successful at helping my clients do what they wanted to do and I am thankful for it.

Rates have dropped seriously this week and I wanted to pass on that as of yesterday the 30 year fixed rate was around 5.43%!!!!! This is incredible and definitely worth being thankful for if you want to do a refinance or purchase real estate. Let me know if you need a lender to talk to - I am also in town if you decide you want to go peek at any property!

Thanks so much, Seattle, for making it a great year! Happy Thanksgiving!

Courtney Cooper, Designated Broker, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services, Seattle real estate

I take each one of my three daughters out once a year for a day by ourselves. No one else. Spoiling is involved, and one on one time is treasured. Every year we go somewhere, or do something new. This year Megan went to "The Melting Pot "a great fondue restaurant, Sarah went to an ceramic shop in Poulsbo "The dancing brush", and Alyssa and I headed to Seattle.

I lived in Ballard for a number of years, and my parents met there. My Dad literally married the girl next door. This made holidays really convenient. My brother and I got in the habit of finding out which Grandma was serving what for dinner, and making a selection like we were dining out.( we had been known to have them stagger dinner times when we could not choose who had the best menu) So off to Seattle we went.

I showed her the school I walked to every day,the bakery,my hang outs, Golden Gardens, the good the bad, and everything in between. We ate at the famous "Dick's" drive in. I had stories for every location. Then I asked if she wanted to see where my grandparents had lived. So off we went.

I pulled up to the house and saw the for sale sign. I pulled a flier and then called the Agent. It was vacant. So out came my key, and through the door we went! The house was empty,but so much the same. we went room by room and the stories flowed. I remember the first time grandma held you over there...

It was a great, and fulfilling day. I hope that she will have a chance to share memories like this with her kids.I have been very blessed to have such wonderful thoughts to smile about. As for the house if I could buy it I would. I certainly would not hesitate to share with someone just how good it has been to all of us, for all those years.

I love the concept. I also should apologize for teasing my fellow Active Rain bloggers that this would be a post with out words. Anyone who has taken the time to get to know me, would be laughing right now. I am anything but wordless.I do have some pictures to share with you from my recent visit to Golden Gardens in Ballard, Washington.I lived in Ballard while I was growing up, but now I live in beautiful Mason County with my husband, and three daughters. Mason County reminds me a lot of this wonderful little park. We also have the Grand Olympic Mountains resting above the deep waters of Puget sound. We have majestic Mount Rainier, Islands, and blue lakes to fish, swim and boat in. Mason Lake is my favorite to water-ski in. Alright enough about Mason County, Washington. I will share those pictures on my next wordless Wednesday. Today it is Golden Gardens!

I walked where we walked today. I held your great granddaughters hand.

She smiled, as I remembered holding yours on this very same land.

She laughed as we talked about you, and all the stories that you told.

I remember you as my grandfather, and how you seemed so old.

She remembers you as a hero, setting free the world.

I remember the ocean waves as they washed my tears away.

She knows that you gave her the life that she lives today.

She sees the valiant man in the pictures that she holds.

Young and strong,a mission of hope, and a heart of gold.

You were brave,and proud, and so very bold.

The pictures our Grandma would so tightly hold.

Back and forth, and forth and back- as time stood still for the world.

I was there when you left. I spared my child the pain.

I was there when you were not coming back again.

She is here, and she shares my joy, of all you were to me.

She is here to tell our family, of our proud, hard won history.

I remember you holding my small hand.

Talking and laughing as we walked in the deep, deep sand.

I remember Lawrence Welk, playing cards,learning Norse, and the path you paved.

I will miss you always, grateful that my child sees who you are, and all that you gave.

She sees the man I have now discovered, among the history.

and the man who would have sacrificed it all, to save his new found country.

You fought to save the world from such horrible atrocities.

With your compassion, and well lived life, you have also now saved me.

I love you more than words can tell.

Your Granddaughter.

Dinah Lee Espedal