Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
Today my husband and I stumbled upon a park that we probably have driven by at least 100 times! Jack Block Park in West Seattle on Harbor Avenue. It’s industrial meets Mother Nature with the shipping lanes and Elliott Bay. Lately a pack of Sea Lions have hanging around too. What a treat! We also ventured into Harbor Island…more posts will follow. Click here for more photos.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I were looking for a place to meet some old friends we haven’t seen in a while. We decided on The Verve in Columbia City. Even though their Chef was on vacation (I understand he’s pretty incredible) we enjoyed their "limited" menu and vast selection of wines. At Verve, you can buy your wine at their store, pay a corkage fee and have a knowledgeable friendly "wine geek" provide you with tons of background information about your beverage. (This is a huge savings compared to the typical restaurant mark-up on wine). The Waiter (Wine Steward?) made a suggested for us based on wanting a special and unusual wine to 
great our friends. His selection was a 2001 Les Eres from Spain which was fantastic. We loved the wine and the meat and cheese platter they assembled (sans Chef).
The atmosphere is very clean with light woods and paint…a little sterile for my taste (but hey, you should see my messy house–or not). This is a spot we plan on returning to and can’t wait to see what their Chef has to cook up.
One thing that kind of cracked me 
up (doesn’t take much after sharing a bottle of wine) is in the restroom (yes, bathroom humor) they have a sign on the toilet warning you not to drink the water (as if)! Armed with my Treo…I captured these poor quality photos and here they are…my Friday Funny.
Do check out The Verve and the many cool restaurants in Columbia City. It’s happening and off the beaten track and the parking is free.
The Verve is located at 3820 South Ferdinand Street, Suite 102, Seattle WA 98188. You can reach them via email or by calling 206-760-0977.
January’s issue of YOU Magazine is now available featuring 7 ways to make the New Year great including:
As if this wasn’t enough, this week’s Mortgage Market Guide Weekly is an absolute must read covering what’s going on in the mortgage industry and why if the Fed cuts rates, mortgage rates likely increase. This issue of MMG Weekly also addresses how to freeze your credit in the event of ID theft and what’s coming up on the economic calendar.
Mortgage Market Guide and YOU Magazine are just a few examples of the tools I invest in for my mortgage practice as my commitment to you. It’s very important to me that my clients fully understand mortgages: the largest financial obligation on the most significant investment they may have in their lifetime.
Well…it has to be the firework display at the Seattle Center. Who’d a thunk that in the land of techno giants, we would have a computer glitch halting the show for a couple re-boots!
To view un-edited the video, click here.
No word on which computer system caused the error. In the end, the fireworks had to be manually triggered by humans.
Happy 2008 Seattle!
Merry Christmas from Mortgage Porter, Rhonda Porter and Orson
This is from my youngest sister many years ago (she is now a Wholesale Rep for EverBank). This is just so cute, I had to share it with you! Merry Christmas.
Mortgage Master will be closing early today at 1:00 p.m. I’m taking the day off to finish making Pear Gingerbread Triffle for Christmas brunch at my other sister’s home and Roasted Asparagus with Pancetta and Goat Cheese for my inlaws tonight for Christmas eve.
I just received this email from Urban Sparks. If you’re a reader of this blog, you 
know JP Patches is my childhood hero. I was fortunate to have him surprise me on my birthday this year when he showed up at my home. Fundraising is still actively taking place for the statue to honor JP and Gertrude in Fremont. It was recently announced that JP is fighting blood cancer. He still managed to show up at the Seattle Aqaurium to the delight of locals and do a fundraiser a few weeks ago for Channel 9 (our public television station).
I have added a link on the left side of Mortgage Porter so you can easily donate any
amount you would like or purchase a Patches Paver. This link featuring this handsome clown will remain until we have enough funds raised to complete JP and Gertrude’s statue. Still looking for last minute Christmas Gifts? A Patches Paver is the perfect present for Patches Pals!
View photos from when the statue model was unveiled at Fremont earlier this year.
Hi Patches Pals,
Let’s boost JP’s and Gertrude’s spirits for the Holidays. They still boost spirits all year round and they’ve done it for 50 years! Think of the joy they’ve brought you.
Let’s give them a boost for the holidays; let’s finish the statue fundraising now, before the end of the year, so they can dance around it in early 2008.
J.P. and Gertrude still give to community by making increasingly-rare public appearances that touch kids of all ages. And they do it with clown makeup. As sweet as Gertrude is and as dedicated as she is to winning J.P.’s heart, she’s pretty tired of putting her face on and washing it off again before bedtime.
This year, J.P. and Gertrude have worked extra hard with a team of “youngsters” at NATAS-NW and Urban Sparks to support the gift of the statue to generations of grownup kids and to generations of kids that they hope will get to grow up after spending time at Children’s Hospital.
They know that they can live long beyond their mortal lives as role models of humor, kindness, and generosity and they know that the donations that the ICU2TV will collect for years to come will help Children’s Hospital serve kids who need more than a good laugh. So they’re ignoring their advanced ages and pushing on to support this effort – not for ego but for their love of kids.
Depending on whether you were 7 years old in 1958 or 1981, J.P. and Gertrude are 23 to 46 years older than you. Think about that for a moment. Let’s cut ‘em some slack….
Chris Wedes and Bob Newman and say “Thank you from all of the kids who teamed up to honor J.P. Patches and Gertrude. Together we made bronze. You can relax now and stand forever.”
…If we go beyond bronze and raise extra money, that extra money will go to J.P.’s favorite charity – Children’s Hospital. So we can’t go wrong. No need to pull your pie! Donate here
Please help push this fundraising effort over the top right now so we can finish the statue and give J.P. and Gertrude the recognition they so richly deserve. Then join them at the unveiling in 2008.
Thanks so much. Your Patches Pals at:
NATAS Northwest and Urban Sparks
P.S. Here is a recent article on J.P.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/338485_patches06.html
See the Mayor of the City Dump get honored by
Seattle’s Mayor and City Council:
(Fast forward to 10 minutes.)
http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2020745
This home is a treat to walk by just south of Alki’s sandy beach. The locals know this as "The Blue Glass House".
This time of year, blue Christmas lights adorn their decked out yard.
Rhonda Porter is a Licensed Mortgage Originator MLO121324 living in the greater Seattle area. Rhonda began her career in 1986 in the title and escrow industry and began her mortgage career in 2000. She enjoys helping people understand the mortgage process and started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2006. Read More…
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