Easter Egg Hunts in Kitsap County

Easter arrives this weekend.  Here is a list by region of free local Easter egg hunts.  Happy Easter to all!

BREMERTON

Annual Elks Easter Egg Hunt - Sunday at 1:30 pm
The Elks Club - 4131 Pine Rd NE

Open for the age groups of 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, and 8-10 years. Sheriff Boyer will start the hunt at 1:30 pm. We suggest you arrive early. There will be an opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny as the 6000 eggs that he has hidden are hunted.

POULSBO

City of Poulsbo Easter Candy Hunt - Saturday at 1 pm

Raab Park - 18349 Caldart Avenue NE

Join the fun at Poulsbo's Raab Park 

Easter Egg Hunt - Saturday at 10 am
Olympic Evangelical Free Church - 14861 Silverdale Way
For children under 12 years old.  Everyone welcome.

Community Easter Egg Hunt - Saturday at 11 am
2365 Rude Road
There will be eggs, candy, and free drawings for Easter baskets.  For ages toddlers to 6th grade.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

Flashlight Egg Hunt - Friday at 9 pm
Bainbridge Island Teen Center - 9332 Northeast High School Road
Teenagers ages 13 - 18 can grab a flashlight and a container and search for eggs to redeemed for prizes.  


Geo Egg Hunt - Saturday at 9 am
Geo-aching coordinates will be posted at 9 am on the Park District website at www.biparks.org

PORT ORCHARD

Manchester Annual Bunny Hop - Saturday at 12 pm
Manchester Library - 8067 E Main Street
Meet the Easter Bunny, hunt for eggs, play games and make crafts.  Participate in the spring spirit by decorating pots and planting a flower.

Children's Easter Egg Hunt - Saturday at 11 am
South Kitsap Regional Park - Jackson Street Entrance
Egg hunting open to children 10 and under with responsible adult.

GIG HARBOR

Spring Egg Hunt - Saturday at 12 pm
Sehmel Homestead Park - 10123 78th Street NE
Bring the kids for a guaranteed chance to find eggs and receive prizes.

A Garden Sanctuary on Bainbridge Island: Bloedel Reserve

The weather may be frightful this time of year, but unless you want to be overcome with cabin fever, it's time to embrace the chilly weather and get out of the house for awhile.

This last weekend I pushed myself out the front door and took a drive to Bainbridge Island.  Visiting the Bloedel Reserve on the island had been something I'd meant to do for a long time.  Luckily the weather cooperated with us for the most part and we were able to explore the whole 150 acres without being rained on.

There is something for everyone at the reserve.  Everything from manicured gardens to lush evergreen forests can be found within it's boundaries.  Even in the winter beauty abounds around each corner.  It would be a great place to practice photography or get inspired about your own garden space.  Through December the visitor center is hosting a miniature village and model railroad exhibit which is great for children.

Ready for Kitsap County Fair 2010?

The Kitsap County Fair and Stampede will be starting this Wednesday, August 25th, and run through Sunday the 29th.

Country music fans will be in for a treat on Thursday when country star Luke Bryan performs.  There will also be  comedy and hypnotist shows performing through out the five days.  And don't forget to check the various rodeo events.  Bull riding is very fun to watch!

I love going to the events as well as enjoying fair food.  Elephant ears here I come!

Something Sweet in North Kitsap

Even though I have lived in Kitsap County for years, I haven't spent a lot of time exploring Poulsbo. Now that I live up there, I frequently visit the quaint downtown and am making my way through all the restaurants.

A recent stop brought me into Mora Iced Creamery. I'm the first to admit I'm not an ice cream connoisseur, but their ice creaming was amazing. They had 48 flavors ranging from the typical chocolate to spicy chai to goat cheese with fig!

All of their products are made with care and great ingredients on Bainbridge Island.

They have 3 locations: Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, and Kingston. I think I'll make it my goal to visit each one.

Looking for Healthy Food in Bremerton?

Well, it looks like I'll keep playing on the healthy eating theme this week.

Early this week, I was walking down 4th street in Bremerton. I walked past a store front advertising organic, fresh, and local produce. I just had to stop in and take a look.

Freshlocal has locally sourced vegetables, grains, honey (and much more!) as well as orangic pre-packaged foods. They also had freshly prepared sandwiches, soups and other kinds of goodies for lunch.

Definitely a good place to stop at if you taking a stroll in downtown Bremerton. I'll probably be heading down there to try their lunch specials soon!

Support Your Local Farms in Kitsap County

Growing a bountiful garden has always been one of my dreams. There is nothing tastier or more soul-satisfying than enjoying home grown tomatoes, beans, or zucchini after tending them all summer.

Sadly, I live in a shady area with poor soil. The only thing that grows well is the moss taking over my lawn. If the poor soil or lack of sunlight doesn't get to my plants, the deer will. I have given up on trying to grow anything edible until I move to a better location.

In the mean time, I like to visit the farmers market for local produce. This year I purchased a "subscription" to a local farm. I pay in full ahead of time and once I week I pick up my share of vegetables from the farm. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to the first pickup on June 1st.

If you'd like more information about this program visit Abundantly Green's website. Eating local is good for you, the environment and your community.

What I Love About Kitsap: The Closeness to Nature

The central location of Kitsap County makes it incredibly attractive to many people. It's only a ferry ride away from a large city and is also the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula and all of its wonders.

Rather than heading West to the Olympics Mountains, we headed Southeast to visit Mt. Rainer a few weekends ago. I have only been there during the summer so this winter visit was a whole new experience for me.

We were able to snowshoe for miles on seldom traveled trails. Nothing to hear but the the snow crunching under our feet and the wind gently blowing through the snow laden trees.

Here are some great pictures I took:

Mt. Rainer hiding under a cloud cap.

This was the typical trail condition we were on. Not for the faint of heart.

Reflection Lake. In the summer this lake produces the wonderful image of Mt. Rainer reflecting from it. Winter hides all its beauty.

A Gray Jay checking us out. They're the alpine version of crows.

The Nisqually Glacier slowly moving down the side of the mountain.

What We Love About Kitsap: Part I

My new goal for this blog is to write once a week about something in Kitsap County that makes our community special and unique. Kitsap is a very diverse area and there are many things (some not as well known as others) that makes this a great place to live and work.

My first installment of this series is a place very near and dear to my heart, Central Market. Looking for an obscure food item or the best bulk candy selection in the county, Central Market is the place to go.

They literally have anything and everything you could ever want when it comes to food. The section I have come to love and appreciate is ethnic foods. I have always been fascinated by the Asian culture and have immensely enjoyed trying the various foods and sauces available. Right now I am addicted to this sweet chili sauce suggested to us by an employee. It is great on everything from tofu to french fries!

Their pre-made and deli foods are also awesome. Too tired to cook dinner? Pick up a wholesome meal at the deli. They also have the most delicious tortillas that are made right in front of you.