Janine Ekberg has loved Christmas since she was a child. She and her brothers would go into the woods and chop down a tree. For as long as she can remember, decorating the family tree was her job. After she married her husband, Chuck, her trees had themes — when the children came along, their […]
tradition
Posted inGardeners Corner
Celebrate a Wedding Anniversary with a Themed Indoor Plant
Anniversaries are important, and you can celebrate each wedding anniversary in a memorable and meaningful way by finding that “perfect” gift. The tradition of giving gifts for a wedding anniversary extends back to medieval times. During the time of the Holy Roman Empire, a man would crown his wife with a silver wreath on the […]
Posted inPeople & Places
A Visit with Santa
Yes, there is a Santa Claus. He lives on the Key Peninsula when he is not at the North Pole tending his reindeer or supervising the elves in the toy shop. His “Ho! Ho! Ho!” is most convincing, and he has a bag of magic tricks that confound even the most skeptic onlooker. This Santa […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Music To The Ears — The Piano Man
To the discriminating musician, the sound of a well-tuned piano is, well, music to the ears. And behind every well-tuned piano is a gifted tuner who uses part art and part skill to understand the instrument’s idiosyncrasies and make it sound its best. In Kitsap and Mason counties, that behind-the-scenes virtuoso is often Erren Barnhard, […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Gig Harbor’s Net Sheds Harken Back to Yesteryear
Shortly after the first commercial fishermen began settling in Gig Harbor, net sheds started dotting the waterfront. These wood structures, built on pilings, were simple but their long, rectangular shape made them distinct. For the fishermen, the net sheds provided a convenient way for loading and unloading the heavy nets from their boats so they […]
Posted inFeatured, Food & Entertainment, People & Places
Luthier’s Ukuleles Built with Tradition
Although Zac Steimle is not a professional musician, he’s been intrigued by the dynamics between an instrument and its player. That natural curiosity, along with a deep appreciation for the art of making string instruments, led him on a journey to start his own business — Oceana Ukuleles. From his workshop in Port Orchard, Steimle […]