• 3,952 Sq. Ft. Craftsman Home With Vaulted & Beamed Ceilings
• 4 Bedrooms, Over-sized Loft, 4.5 Bathrooms & 3-Car Garage
• Gourmet Kitchen, Double Ovens, Double Disposals, Over-sized Granite Island
• Beautiful Granite, Slate, Cherry Hardwoods & Tile Surfaces Throughout
• Pastoral Views From Every Over-sized Wood Sashed Window
• Situated on 10 Pole-Fenced Acres with views of Mt. St. Helens
• 2-Wells, Heat Pump, 25kw Generator & Propane
• 4 Pastures, Covered Outdoor Arena, 5-7 Stall Barn with Individual Turnouts
• Edge of Vancouver, 20 miles from Downtown Portland
• Seller’s Request–Showings by Appointment Only–Address to Remain Unpublished
• RMLS #10053669 & NWMLS #TBD
• New in 2005, One Owner & Turn-Key Ready
• Offered at $1,200,000

Click here for YouTube Video From Secure Gate to Home. (Mute the Volume)                          Beautiful Craftsman Home & Equestrian Facilities Close-in Vancouver 

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America turns 234 years old on Sunday July 4th, 2010! Are there any special ways that you and your family celebrate our nation (still a spring chick compared to the rest of the world) and our freedom?   I usually keep my personal thoughts out…and I will give pause to say we are blessed beyond measure. What an incredibly poignant time to not just reflect on all our freedoms, but to figure out and choose how we can impact those around us in need. Maybe it’s giving of precious time to invest in a younger person in your life, maybe it’s extending your comfort zone and heading to Haiti to work in an orphanage for a couple of weeks. We are blessed to be a blessing.

Okay–onto the blog post…Whether it’s attending the Blues Festival on the waterfront, braving the crowds at Fort Vancouver, tying up early on July 4th with other boats along our own WillametteRiver…..or reconnecting with your inner cowboy/cowgirl at the St. Paul Rodeo….we’ve got some great ways to have fun this weekend! Here are my top 2 favorites along with some additional options for you to peruse! Have a safe Holiday weekend!

ST. PAUL RODEO July 1-4th

“Put on Your Big Boy Pants…This Ain’t For Babies” is the theme for this years 75th Annual Rodeo in St. Paul Oregon! Meander in around 6:45pm, park amongst the haystacks and enjoy a wonderful, patriotic (seriously–no one does patriotism like rodeo’s–it’s one of the number one reasons why I go…..that and the cowboys of course!) bone crunching, bronco riding evening complete with fireworks at the end. My tip to you–be sure you sit anywhere EXCEPT facing west…the sunset will be in your face for 3 hours and will hinder your ability to see well. I’m hoping to go Friday night–let me know if you’ll be there!

WATERFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL  July 2-5th

Looks like the suggested donation (and they’d appreciate more too) is $10 and 2 cans of food with 100% of the donations at the gate benefiting the Oregon Food Bank and their unending efforts to end hunger in our communities. This is a great use of big business–Safeway & the sponsors help foot the bill so our contributions make an impact…and we get great music! Waterfront, reading a great book on a blanket, beautiful day…If I get a day off–I’m heading here on Monday! By the way, they still need volunteers—click here for more info.

FIREWORKS AROUND TOWN:

• OAKS AMUSEMENT PARK: SE Spokane St. 9:55pm. The park is open all day! $5/adults, $2/under 15
• BLUE LAKE PARK: NE 223rd Avenue & Marine Drive. Fireworks at dusk..park is open all day. $10/vehicle
• VANCOUVER NATIONAL HISTORIC RESERVE: 612 E Reserve St., Vancouver. Park opens at 8am, Fireworks at 10:05pm, $7/adult, $5/in advance online

David & Barb Wilson created Irish Brothers Coffee & Roasters because they love coffee. 

I mean really.

Love.

Coffee.

So much so that a few years ago, they decided to create their own drive through coffee shop–easy for David since he also owns DLWilson Construction.  However when they were tasting roasters for their drive-thru they found their options lacking. Lacking flavor.

So what does a person do when they own a retail coffee spot and aren’t enamored with the options which to serve? Why research of course–and lots of it. As David & Barb dug deeply, they realized that they wanted to make their own roast, their own blends and create their own recipe.  As David says, “a coffee roaster is only as good as their recipe”. So they found Bruno (I’ve met him before at another roasters—think tall, great accent, deep voice), found the best beans, a deep-red Dietricht roaster and David & Barb were suddenly on their way!

These espresso connoisseurs (with the help of Master Roaster Amy Davis) are bent on investing in the highest quality beans and never, no never, dilute them or stretch a batch by adding lesser caliber beans.  With their attention on small batch artisan roasts, this local coffee company is starting to make a name for themselves!

They take great pride in roasting each 5lb batch the old fashioned way–gas-fired, indirect heat, with ceramic cones so the beans roast and cycle in the drum. This creates an even keeled roast and of course, they never create more than they need.  But don’t be fooled, in case you didn’t know…all it takes is one quaker (quakers are bad bitter beans–usually light in color…just one in a batch can ruin the whole thing), which is why every batch is checked and rechecked. Can you see the quaker in the last picture below?

With their eye on highest quality, Irish Brothers Roasters are establishing themselves as a local, small batch roaster with great flavor. They are shipping their fresh & perfectly cured batches all over the United States and are a favorite at Quailhurst Vineyards Estate. 

• It’s easy to pick up a latte, espresso or a pound of their beans–just stop by the drive-thru on 3007 NE 181st Avenue!
• Find them on Facebook soon!!