HolidaysHome cleaning tipsHome repairOrcas IslandSan Juan Island December 20, 2018

Are you ready?

With the holidays fast approaching, you may be expecting guests in your home perhaps just for a meal or a party or – maybe for a lengthy stay.  We all know our homes are never cleaner than when we are expecting guests, but you might want to consider taking it to the next level, preparing your home to avoid any annoying disturbances.

 

Let’s start with the refrigerator.  Even if your thermostat is set to under 40°, it may not be cold enough to keep the contents safely chilled if your condenser coils are dirty.  Located at the back or bottom of the appliance, unplug the refrigerator and clean the coils with a coil brush (available at hardware stores).

 

You also might want to prevent clogs by cleaning the P trap under the kitchen sink.  Place a bucket under the trap, unscrew the nuts at both ends to remove it, and dump out the contents.  Wash out the trap in another sink, then reattach it.

 

While you are at it, you might want to clean the grinder in the garbage disposal.  Dump two cups of ice and one cup of coarse salt down the drain, fill the sink halfway with cold water, and run the disposal until the water is gone.  If there is an odor, throw in some lemon peels to freshen it up.

 

Okay, now for the oven.  Get rid of excess grease by mixing water with baking soda to create a paste.  Spread it on interior oven surfaces, let it sit overnight, then wipe it clean.  This is less toxic than commercial cleaners and as for self-cleaning ovens, you really shouldn’t use the self-cleaning cycle right before doing a lot of cooking.

 

Are you ready now?

Orcas IslandRoche HarborSailingSan Juan Island November 18, 2018

Round the County Race

Round the County

Round the County Race from the air.

As we ease into November, October and the true Winter months descend, many opt to tackle indoor project with a cozy fire in the fireplace or gear up for some serious skiing in the snow-covered  mountains.  This is definitely not the case for many Pacific Northwest sailors who have rallied to the islands for over thirty years to participate in one last weekend of racing.  Round the County race has established itself as the most successful races in the area.  Hosted by the Orcas Island Yacht Club and Friday Harbor Sailing Club, the event invites racers to the islands the second weekend of November for a two-day race around the islands.

 

November can bring some pretty steady winds, the scenery is amazing, and the Saturday evening festivities at Roche Harbor are not to be missed.  Indeed, this race has become one of the most popular events in the Pacific Northwest.  With limited moorage at Roche Harbor Marina, the number of entries is limited to the first 100 registered boats.  This is not typical and makes the Round the County race special to be sure.

 

The course essentially goes around San Juan County alternating direction from year to year – even-numbered years the course is clockwise and odd-numbered years are counter-clockwise.  The start is always in Rosario Strait at Lydia Shoal.

 

It is really spectacular to follow the Round the County race from shore and especially this year as they head north Saturday with Lopez and San Juan Island to starboard.  Many on Lopez are known to watch as well as on San Juan staring at Cattle Point and up the West Side.  Some opt to take their boat out to follow the race and some even fly over!

 

Obviously there are no guarantees about the weather, but definitely worth bundling up to watch.  Don’t forget your binoculars – or, your camera!