You’ll notice some structures overgrown with ivy or eroding on the lapping shore near town. They are lime kilns. Our boys have had a sudden interest in them, so we’ve visited the three we know of a few times now. They reek of mystery and intrigue, but their past is …
My parents dragged me to the symphony every few months when I was growing up. I was bored out of my mind every second of it. The only thing that saved me was the thought of getting bubble gum ice cream at Swensen’s on the way home. I’d sit in …
The other day on the way to school at noon (I homeschool our younger one in the mornings), we noticed that the tide was at an extreme low. That means a trail called a tombolo emerges from the water that leads from the beach to a little island right off …
A-newting we have gone, A-newting we have gone Heigh-ho, the derry-o, A-newting we have gone.* Newts are abounding in ponds around our island this time of year. It’s a child’s fantasyland. And an adult’s! *The ASPCA and The American Humane Society declare that no newts were harmed in the following …
All kinds of opportunities come our way, living out here on these islands. We and a bunch of other families from Orcas Island signed up to board and ride a tall ship off Whidbey Island the other day. The enthusiastic, kid-friendly, knowledgeable crew showed us skills, explained navigation tools, taught …
