(A momentary departure from Orcas Island life, continued from Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns V: Minori to Maiori…) Sixteen years ago, our newborn baby nursed every two hours on the dot – his internal clock, not mine. Days were full, and sometimes during one of those restful nursing times I would …
The dark skies and rain are already upon us. People turn inward – literally and figuratively – and it’s right around now that I start wanting to see behind closed doors. Creative juices are flowing. People are binding books, writing plays, inventing gadgets, arranging stained glass, painting masterpieces, felting creatures, …
There are so many aspects of life that we get to repeat seasonally – jumping in the lake in the heat of summer; baking pies in the cool of fall; cozying around warm fireplaces in the cold of winter; marveling at new seedlings in the cool, green spring. I love …
Everyone has a favorite treat. Mine is writing. Years ago, I realized I didn’t want to waste any treat-eating on desserts that aren’t really my thing. For me, nothing compares to cookie dough. So I might as well keep some at all times in the freezer. That way, while others …
Today was one of those crisp, clear, perfect days – the type of weather that you wish would hold for the next five months.
(A momentary departure from Orcas Island life, continued from Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns IV: Amalfi to Ravello…) I awakened early each morning while everyone else was still sleeping in order to plan the day’s or week’s transportation, book trains ahead of time, put QR codes into my Notes app, and …
The blackberry’s time has passed. Blackberries still hang heavily on bushes but they no longer fill our hands, our bowls, our mouths. It’s not because we’ve had our fill. It’s because we know the life cycle of the berry. When they first start bursting off bushes in late July, we …
This would be my new favorite place if it was within walking distance from my house.
(A momentary departure from Orcas Island life, continued from Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns III: Sorrento…) This is a day I had looked forward to for a long time. If you look up the Amalfi Coast on Google, it gives you thousands of stunning images. This is my favorite one, and …
Even the eggs on Orcas Island are beautiful. Too pretty to eat! (Though I will.) I think I need to get some library books on eggshell artmaking. Thank you, Stephanie, for this beautiful, consumable palette!
(A momentary departure from Orcas Island life, continued from Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns II: Rome Arrival…) At about this time – our first morning in Rome, headed for Sorrento – it dawned on me that I was in no pain. For two years, I’ve had zapping pain down the back …
We live here on beautiful Orcas Island where the air is perfect. Forested hills reflect off of the calm ocean, and not even the buzz of a mosquito disturbs the lovely peace and quiet. Birds sing outside, and apples, plums, and berries hang heavily off branches outside our windows. We …
I’m really impressed with Chris and Eliza Morris. They epitomize quiet strength and perseverance. I’ve observed them over the years and I find their silent resolve to be quite remarkable. At a time when businesses closed and renting space was a scary venture, the Morrises expanded their presence here on …
Meet The Kelp Kraken. It’s somewhere between 30 and 40 feet long, spanning what used to be a disconcerting cliff between the road and the ferry landing area. That’s why it’s there, to distract people’s minds from wanting to hover over the edge. If you live here, you know immediately …
Thank you, Orcas Island School District, for your free Wednesday COVID testing. Our kids have been tested three Wednesdays by you in the past month (two of which were in the past week), for a total of five tests surrounding our international travels, including a Walgreens before boarding a flight …
(A momentary departure from Orcas Island life, continued from Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns I: The Planning…) Dumbfounded that we actually made it on a plane to Europe in COVID times, headed for a vacation in Italy, it was good to have ten hours to let it all sink in before …
Back in the dark months of COVID when there was no vaccine and no end in sight to isolation and “sheltering in place,” we were bundling up in the winter air and watching European travel documentaries by Rick Steves and Stanley Tucci’s food travelogue called Searching for Italy. Our boys …
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