This performance in mid-December was quite a thing for our little island! I can’t imagine directing such a large cast of characters and dreaming up what each and every one of them would do. I love that it involved all island people, and considering that, it was quite a testament …
I’m catching up on December…these are some of the gingerbread houses that were displayed at Island Market. I love this tradition!
Starting in 10 minutes! I’m sitting in the theatre right now, excited because I have never seen it on the big screen. Come on in and get cozy with all of us!…
In case you missed it, the island came out in droves for the first winter solstice luminary parade in Eastsound, which happened at 4 PM on December 21st. If it was this well-attended the first time, I can only imagine how grand it will be next year. Check it out… …
If you didn’t make it to the luminary workshop at Orcas Center on December 9th led by Brook Meinhardt, here are some shots of it. I was so happy to see it so well attended by lots of people of all interests and ages. Remember to mark your calendar for …
December 17, 5 PM at Emmanuel Episcopal: Festival of Lessons and Carols (yesterday) December 21, 4 PM in Eastsound: Winter Solstice Luminary Parade – Bring your craftsy candles, lanterns, and lights December 23, 2 PM at the Community Church: Radiance Choral Concert December 23, 7 PM at The Grange: Annual …
In case you missed the market on Friday evening and the daytime markets on Saturday and Sunday, weekend before last, here’s a little photo tour…
Gigi Carter and Sersie Blue are visiting multiple places this weekend with their new book, Daniel Fast: Why You Should Only Do It Once. Here’s their schedule: Click here to read an article from my column last year about Mindy Nuñez’s life-changing story involving Gigi and Sersie’s interactive Daniel Fast …
Frank Loudin and I will have a book signing at Darvill’s tomorrow (Saturday) from 10-12 with Christmas Yarns and Life on Orcas Island. Come and get yer Christmas gifts! See ya soon…
I’m sure most of us in the Northwest know that The Boys in the Boat is coming out Christmas day. I’m also sure many of us have read the book since the events happened almost in our own backyard. My mom and I both read the book years ago, and …
If you are needing gifts for a lot of people and want to get your Christmas shopping done in one fell swoop, come down to the Island Artisans Winter Night Market tonight (December 8th) from 4-8 PM at the Odd Fellows Hall. I will have individual books on hand and …
The annual exhibit showing the students’ art is always phenomenal. While I enjoyed most subjects in high school, art was my favorite – the most memorable one. Getting larger chunks of time to create and enter a state of flow while at school is a big deal. It’s really important. …
Come into town for some warm, cozy, fun Christmas shopping – a whole weekend of it!… Some scenes from last year… For more information, click here.
Our little winter wonderland (minus the snow so far)…
Click here for tickets…
Glimpses from the final 20 minutes of this 2-day event… I couldn’t get over how real Annie Burke’s petals looked. She said she used to sculpt flowers out of sugar in her previous line of work, so it was a natural progression into clay. I dug a little deeper and …
This has been a tradition for our family for years. I made it to the tail end of it this time around, having pulled myself away from the Moran swag-making event in order to attend the last minutes of the Holiday Tea. I heard it was wonderful, as always. This …
This annual event at the library is always a sight to see! If you didn’t make it this year, or if you’ve never been, make sure to put it on your calendar next December.
I had no idea this free event was happening in past years, and it turns out this past Saturday was its 5th year. There were so many festivities this past weekend, I had to decide whether to hit them all for a short time each or pick a few. In …
Here we go with a new weekend of festivities! A free luminary making workshop will be hosted at the Orcas Center in the Madrona Room this Saturday, December 9th from 12-4 by local artist and A*OK art teacher, Brook Meinhardt. Participants will walk away with a luminary ready for the …
If you happened to miss The Olga Symphony’s performance at the end of November, you can watch it online! Here it is. Enjoy!
SATURDAY 10-3 Moran Swag- & Wreath-making Event 10-3 American Legion Bazaar 11-3 Historical Museum Open House & Crafts 11-3 Warm Valley Winter Faire 11-5 Lum Farm Christmas Trees & Wooly Pop-up Event 11:30-12:30 Turtleback Brass Carols in Eastsound 12-3 Library Tea 12-5 Solstice Mercantile 7 Handel’s Messiah at Orcas Center …
This island is always ready for a good time!
How fun to be a fly on the wall and capture the dress rehearsal moments as the Choral Society prepared for their concerts tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday! Flat Berto was even there! Concerts: Friday, December 1st at 7pmSaturday, December 2nd at 7pmSunday, December 3rd at 2pm – Sing-a-long! Adult Pricing: …
See you in a few minutes!…
This is a must if you need a tree!
May your cup runneth over tomorrow…
Come and sing along with the Quintet as they play Christmas carols at the intersection of Main St and North Beach Rd!
How many events can we have on one day? Island life is anything but dull!
Make sure to stop by this annual event!
Tomorrow is quite a full day of events! Stop into the Historical Museum from 11-3…
I hope a lot of you bid November adieu last night by typing away at the library during the second NaNoWriMo event from 6-10 PM. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. I wasn’t able to make it, but boy do I love get-togethers like that where everyone is quietly …
You can’t miss this island tradition put on by Friends of the Orcas Island Library (FOIL) – bring your family and friends to enjoy… Scenes from past teas…
This is a reminder to myself (in months to come) that the permacloud has not yet settled over the land. November was stunning, sunny, and clear for the most part, day and night. Some days were some of the nicest of the year, in my opinion.
This is something I wrote a week ago, before happening upon Red Paint. Interesting how things come in our lives when we are thinking in similar veins… The world tells me to envy her The world tells her to pity me I live on dirt She lives on tile and …
Sasha taqʷšəblu (tock-sha-blue) LaPointe, I have walked around with you for hours this morning, eating with you, sitting with you, and carrying your book Red Paint through the forest, by the water, and along grassy trails. How captivating a story is when it takes place in areas right around us, …
This island tradition begins with a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and some cookies and warm drinks. Here are some scenes from past years…
The Orcas Choral Society will perform Handel’s Messiah at Orcas Center: Friday, December 1st at 7pmSaturday, December 2nd at 7pmSunday, December 3rd at 2pm – Sing-a-long!Adult Pricing: $59, $29, $15Youth (Ages 12-18): $5Under 12: Free! Click here to buy tickets. A look at last year…
This weekend is the 2nd Annual Warm Valley Winter Faire! From Friday, December 1st to Sunday, December 3rd from 11 AM – 3 PM, both sides of Warm Valley will celebrate and host a shared event. Our Second Annual Winter Faire is a pop-up market event that we co-host with …
Have a look (not all artists are shown)…
Have you ever wondered what Friends of the Orcas Island Library, or FOIL, is? Here are some questions I asked, which they answered during one of their meetings. Who makes up FOIL and what does FOIL do? Friends of the Orcas Island Library is a group of community members who …
Soon you will see the results of this annual contest displayed at Island Market. Bonnie (our Grand Prize winner the past three contests) ~ we all look forward to seeing what you come up with again this year! Creations from previous years…
This is another one of my favorite events on Orcas. Don’t miss it!!! It’s this Sunday, December 3rd, from 12-2 PM at the library. All the items for sale are handmade by the kids and will be priced from a quarter to no more than $10. Entry is free and …
Life on Orcas Island books tend to go fast during the Christmas season. I just got a shipment of books in and will be at the Fall Farmers’ Market at the Odd Fellows Hall today (the final farmers’ market of the season) from 10 AM to 2 PM so come …
Come into town today for discounts and raffle tickets to win a $1,000 gift card from Island Market… Click here to go to the Chamber of Commerce’s site about this.
What a beautiful day it was…
Tired of cooking? Stop where you are and bring a favorite dish to share at the Odd Fellows Thanksgiving this evening. Lonely? Bring something simple that you have on hand and be with others tonight. Squabbling with visiting relatives? Set your differences aside and bring everyone you know to join …
If you haven’t gone to Sequel, you need to know about it. It’s our used clothing store, and I rely on them every time we need something in a pinch. Whether due to boys outgrowing clothes, holidays that require costumes, or everyday kinds of things, Sequel pops in my mind …
If you haven’t done it in the past, it is great. To me, it encapsulates what Thanksgiving should feel like, especially if you don’t have family in town.
Here is the new book of Frank’s stories, Christmas Yarns. It arrived on the island yesterday and is in Darvill’s.
Orcas is in its full splendor lately, from weather to back-to-back events. The difference here on the island, compared to mainland living, is that when you go out and about, you will know everyone or at least recognize each other’s faces wherever you go. It’s so fulfilling. And since we …
Here are a few little visual snippets… I don’t know much about Dolly, but she seems pretty fascinating in many aspects. If you are a fan and don’t have her new album yet, here are the songs and the people she sings with. It’s amazing how many musicians and singers …
Remember to come on down to Orcas Center this afternoon for a fun time with Frank Loudin, as he shares some humorous stories from his life, Actors Studio style with interviewer Cathy Ferran. (It’s free!) While you enjoy some refreshments after the show, Jenny from Darvill’s will be there to …
Come to Orcas Center tomorrow, everyone! It is free and should be a bundle of laughs!
Whether you’re cooking or creating or just hanging out… We have been staying up much later than anticipated many nights lately watching bests of America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent. If you need constant doses of awe and inspiration, plus even a good cry now and then, just watch …
If you own or know the owner of this place, our town desperately needs a youth center after school and on the weekends. I think this would be a PRIME location for one – right in town, near everything, near food, etc. What do you think? It’s been sitting empty …
Next spring just won’t be the same…
DANCING ~ SINGING ~ FASHION SHOW ~ TRIVIA ~ FOOD ~ MOVIE STREAMING! Dress for it or be a fly on the wall, but either way, come on down! Why is Dolly being celebrated? Because she’s doing great things, gifting any child up to 5 years old with books for …
I walk by this big orca every day, and I just stopped to read the signs attached to it the other day: Despite efforts and plans to return Tokitae to her family in home waters, she died of renal failure in Miami on August 18th. This is probably old news …
Do you live your life based on what you think you should be doing? I don’t necessarily mean career-wise, even though that applies too. I mean how you choose to live your hours and minutes. Do you make your little moment-to-moment choices based on what you feel drawn to do …
Here’s a new installment of community event announcements I happened to pass yesterday. I just love how many things are going on again these days!
There aren’t a whole lot of things to do at night in Eastsound unless Orcas Center is open or you’re going to a restaurant or bar. Things typically close down pretty early and town is quiet. But Saturday night (Nov 4th), the library had a NaNoWriMo event for National Novel …
What a fascinating and enjoyable time we islanders had at Tony and Jenna’s house last night. I was so impressed by the ofrendas (altars with decorations and offerings) people made to honor their deceased loved ones. Wow!! So many people participated in doing this – it was beautiful. If you …
The entire island is invited to celebrate Día de los Muertos on November 5th from 4-10 PM at Tony and Jenna’s house at 550 Rosario Road. Tony and Jenna are the hairstylists across from Eastsound Beach – I have an earlier post about them here. Jenna says: Join us in …
This annual talent show is one of those events you CAN’T miss. It’s an island favorite. Come out and support the courageous kids who give it their all singing, dancing, and performing. It’s Saturday night at 6:30 PM and Sunday afternoon at 1 PM at Orcas Center. Get your tickets …
This Friday: This Saturday: The library says: This unforgettable night of creativity will take place on November 4th, from 6 pm until midnight, offering aspiring and seasoned writers the chance to ignite their imaginations and pen their masterpieces. Open to writers 13 to 113, the event will provide an engaging …
I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already right around the corner! May your late fall be wonderful.
What a turnout and probably the best Halloween weather ever here! The costumes were fantastic, and there may have been as many adults dressed up as there were kids!…
Perhaps most of us – on the island or not – wonder how it will all come about once our child is a high school junior – where will life take them once college applications are looming? You can’t really plan it ahead of time, or at least that isn’t …
This is last Thursday. What stunning fall weather on a morning walk (my first full-length, quick-pace walk since tearing a knee ligament five weeks ago – hooray!!), and the sun continues to poke through the late-October clouds today. Gotta take that in with 14 days of rain coming! Enjoy Halloween …
Sometimes a walk on the beach is quite a sight. This was Wednesday evening last week…
There are a lot of fun activities coming up next weekend, but sometimes there isn’t much to do on a Friday or Saturday evening here, especially for tweens and teenagers (and adults like me who like to have all kinds of good, clean fun!). I am so thankful for Sea …
The Odd Fellows are selling $5 tickets to win firewood, or three tickets for $10, as they do every year around this time. Ticket sales go toward end-of-the-schoolyear senior scholarships. They are outside of Island Market right now…
On that physical therapy note, we often do things for ourselves when we need to, but avoid everyday healing like the bliss of a phenomenal massage. If you haven’t had a massage from Sarah Hane, you’re missing out. She is a natural. Aside from being good at what she does, …
How quickly can you identify the locations of the following? Some are easy, some are a little tougher…
Island living ingrains in us an enduring patience at every turn, whether we’re rolling with cancelled ferries, scheduling doctor appointments on the mainland, or yearning for sunlight amid months of rain. That patience can gradually morph into a lapse in being proactive if we’re not careful. If you are injured, …
In case you didn’t get to see the art hanging in Orcas Center from September 1st until yesterday (October 18th), here is a bit of what you missed. The space will now give way to the new exhibit called Made from Nature, featuring art by woodworkers, sculptors, basket weavers, potters, …
The other day Valeri was outside Forest Ceramic Co. in a photogenic moment as I was walking by. I asked if I could take his picture, and now today I have spent the past two hours looking at Instagram photos of his artistry. Can you tell we have now crossed …
Just happened upon these painters in Orcas Center, enjoying camaraderie while being fully immersed in their individual creative juices. I think I’d love this…
Saturday night was the final Orcas Island Film Festival party at the Odd Fellows Hall – a Bollywood Disco Dance! It was a blast and there was a great turnout. DJ Prashant, from Portland, entertained us with music and two dancers who taught us Bollywood moves every few songs throughout …
You never know when the gray will set in for 6 months, so you have to enjoy every bit of beaming sun that fall gives. Northwest winter permagray has made me a little loco when it comes to appreciating the light…
Yesterday I saw Goodbye Julia at Sea View Theatre, a film set in Sudan about two women who become friends after a tragedy that would have made them enemies if they had known the truth about what happened. Sudanese actor Ger Duany was there for a question and answer session …
How fun will this be?! Dangit that I tore a knee ligament, but I want to see ALL OF YOU out there dancing it up!! I will have to hold myself back with a lot of willpower or dance in a semi-stationary kind of way! Please dress in your best …
No, it’s not some weird transparent cloud desperate to darken our skies again. It’s a solar eclipse! Annularity just occurred a bit ago, the state when the moon is right in the middle of the sun, creating a ring of fire. We on Orcas didn’t experience annularity, though. We were …
Show up for a fun evening of musical entertainment by various musicians banding together tonight at Orcas Island Community Church. Everyone is welcome!
I took time away from this blog during most of August and September. We originally planned to move to California for a year, then had a lot of questions answered within mere weeks of being there (more on that later). After returning to Orcas Island, we drove our older son …
Walking by these folks, I just had to stop and ask if I could take a photo… Happy Birthday, you two on the right!
Let me know if you’d like me to add anything!
Yesterday it began – 40 films spread over 5 days! Here are the films: Don’t miss the evening parties too, open to the public for $10 a pop or free to passholders! The Opening Night Red Carpet Soiree was last night (Wed) from 5-7 PM, where guests got the chance …
I recently had a realization… It dawned on me a few weeks after I wrote the previous post that there are only two main whale watching companies on Orcas Island. To have written about only one of two feels extremely lopsided! Please know that while I haven’t taken a day …
We have lived on Orcas Island for 11 years now, and in all this time I’d never seen orcas. It’s a pretty rare occurence to see them while on the ferry. You usually have to go out intentionally with a company who knows where to look. Over the years I’ve …
Wow, what days these are. Bright, clear, crisp in the morning, and warm through the day…
Fall is upon us as the new seniors begin their year by painting the barn…
Come on into Eastsound for your last chance to buy $25 tickets from the Historical Museum to win a Nissan Leaf before the 2 PM drawing! You need not be present to win. (State rules prevent online sales.) The Leaf is a gently used electric car with leather seats and …
Here’s a sneak peek in case you haven’t seen it yet… See ya there!
WHOA! I showed up hoping to buy a ticket around 6:30 thinking I might be the only one there that early and there was one of the biggest lines I’ve seen at the Sea View – and most of the folks had already bought their tickets online. They were there …
A week or so ago, someone asked me if I was planning to go to the Barbie movie. There’s a lot of mainstream media I don’t keep up with much, so my first reaction was, “Ha! I don’t think so!” Then I stopped and thought for a minute. “Actually, I …
The weekend fun has begun! See you at some of these…
If you’re wondering why I have Frank Loudin and his book plastered everywhere here and elsewhere, it’s because in February he asked me to help him publish a book of his short stories. Voila! Here it is! Come to his library talk on Aug 2nd at 5 PM! He’s a …
This one’s for you, Frank!…
Come along for the ride…
A few weekends ago was Olga Daze, which I hadn’t experienced for about 10 years. If you missed it, come along for a little visual tour… That’s this year. Come back next mid-July!…
Wow – what a downpour this afternoon! A real, unexpected soaker rather than the pitter-patter typical of this place. Waking up to a rainy day isn’t the norm during the summertime here, so for most people (especially those who grew up in the Northwest) it is a welcome break from …
If you don’t know Frank Loudin, you’re missing out. He may have just turned 93 (on July 6), but his youthfulness precedes him. Not only is he lighthearted, funny, and highly skilled as an artist, he is now the published author of a book of short stories written over the …
THE PARADE ON SATURDAY THE 1st THE BEAUTIFUL DAY IT WAS ON THE 1st MATERIAL WIT’S PERMANENT JEWELRY SOIREE ON THE 1st CARL BUTTKE’S ART SHOW OPENING AT CROW VALLEY GALLERY ON THE 1st OUTDOOR CHURCH ON SUNDAY THE 2nd THE SUMMER CONCERT AT THE VILLAGE GREEN ON THE 2nd …
While this movie has nothing to do with 4th of July, it is about the freedom of innocent lives – child trafficking. Make a mental note that it is showing at Sea View Theatre TONIGHT THE 3RD, not tomorrow the 4th. The rest of the country will be showing it …
I submitted about 30+ canvas prints to the FACES art show at Orcas Center and after they chose what would fit for their sizing needs, I have 19 left that I will be selling at a table in town during the 4th of July festivities. If you are interested in …
The Orcas Food Project has 12 neighborhood coordinators. Would you like to help make it 24? It’s easy, fun, and worthwhile. The Orcas Food Project (OFP) collects foods for the Orcas Island Food Bank – foods that add zest to life but are generally unavailable from the primary agencies that …
The sun even came out for it! It’s not easy to go home to quietness after all of that activity, but the town clears and suddenly no one’s around. Time to walk home…
Graduation is a big deal anywhere. Especially here. This small community holds and cares for our children all through the years, and graduation is one of those necessary closures and commencements we all need in order to process the changing seasons of our lives. Here’s a smattering of photos from …
Bonzi is a band of students from Orcas Island High School. I’m looking forward to seeing them! June 21 at 7 PM for $10. Come out and support the local teenagers on our island, plus other performers!
I love all of the 4th of July events here, so mark your calendars ahead of time ~ this year is going to be FUN! And it looks like the fireworks will be back if enough people contribute to it (go here to contribute or scan the QR code below). …
Enjoy this short video my son filmed with his drone and edited for a school project:
This is a GREAT show! What artists we have on Orcas, as always! Here’s a sneak peek…
Summer is here and many kids have applied and been accepted to the Orcas Youth Conservation Corps, which begins June 20th and lasts until August 19th. Due to health issues, one of the Orcas Island leaders had to bow out and the folks at YCC are quickly looking for a …
Last time they took over was maybe eight or so years ago. They’re back. The ground is alive and squiggling and the streets are tattooed with thousands of imprints due to cars rolling over them. From what I hear, growers with big gardens are losing their plants by the day…
We’ve been having some of the most stunning weather you can ever have on Orcas Island, uninterrupted by permagray now for weeks! I’m absolutely milking it! We’ve also had some extreme low tides, exposing the tombolo out to Indian Island…
I can’t believe our child is one of them. Unreal. OCS graduation is this Friday the 9th. OIHS graduation is Saturday the 17th. Walk through the little green lot between the streets in town to see the signs of the OIHS seniors.
This has become an annual event here on the island, and it’s this Friday and Saturday. The schedules below are straight off the Lit Fest website – go there for more information. Buy tickets here. Featured guests are author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx, author, writer, producer, and podcast host …
There’s always fun stuff going on at the library… Writing, sketching, designing, exploring the night sky, enjoying music, and connecting with “the other side.” Quite an array!
The 26th Annual Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival is coming and ticket sales begin June 14th. Go to oicmf.org/purchase-tickets or orcascenter.org for tickets. Click here to go to the OICMF website to download the season brochure below:
Mark your calendars for July 1st from 4-7, and keep your eyes out for more details…
You’ve gotta go check it out – it’s beautiful! This is how it used to be when my husband and I visited here the first time 17 years ago when I was pregnant with our first child (he graduates from high school next week!). I’ll never forget…as tourists we walked …
Here’s the scoop from the Children’s House website… Vote on the Children’s House site here. The current mayor is a pomeranian named Sweet Girl Love: Past mayors have been Ricky the bearded dragon, Tinker the rabbit, Granny the orca whale, April the cow, and dogs Marley, Noni, Hudson, Lewis, Jack, …
Come see Stephanie Clair’s beautiful paintings…
Our younger son dug up these things near a friend’s house and they are fascinating. I welcome any thoughts on what you think some of them are (and if you think they are toxic or poisonous!). The round yellowish thing looks like it was once a cloth-like material in a …
Here’s a sneak peek of the cast getting ready for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The final show is today (Sunday the 28th) at 2 PM at Orcas Center. Don’t miss it! See you at the last show…
See you there!
We’re still getting February-like days in between, but on these sunny May days, it is STUNNING. Here’s a look at the month, on days when the clouds broke and the sun poured down…
Here is a sneak peek, thanks to Jerremy Foss and his photos… Get your tickets for Thursday at 7 PM, Friday at 7 PM, or Sunday at 2 PM here and read more about it in the Islands Sounder here.
If you like The Chosen, the character who plays Jesus is in this movie – Jonathan Roumie. See ya at Sea View Theatre!
Come on down to the Village Green from 10-2!
The SeaDoc Society is bringing back the popular Ocean Night series at the Sea View Theatre! The debut event on May 18th at 7 PM will feature the new film Right Over the Edge: Search for the North Pacific Right Whale. Admission is free. Right Over the Edge was created …
Orcas Center and the Rock on the Rock Choir present on Center Stage: “What Dreams May Come” three weekends from May 4th to May 20th, Thursday-Saturday at 7 PM. These community performances are always FANTASTIC! You’ll also get the chance to see the public school’s art show when you walk …
Mark your calendars! Orcas Christian School is at it again. This time, their spring drama performance is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (dramatized by Joseph Robinette, from the story by C.S. Lewis). Students, teachers, and staff are busy organizing, marketing, memorizing lines, designing costumes and sets, and practicing. It’s going …
The first time I saw Maddie Olson was at Orcas Center. It was midwinter of 2019, when we all needed to be transported to an idyllic Greek island for some fun. She was playing Ali in Mamma Mia!, and I could tell she loved life. Everyone in that play was loving life! …
Chances are, if you have land, a garden, or some functional or structural element on your property, you have crossed paths with Ron Griffin. You have surely crossed paths with someone in his family. Ron is on the go but always has time for a big smile and a wave …
If you don’t know Frank Loudin, you need to. Frank is like our own local Norman Rockwell. If you do know Frank, you most likely know that his paintings range in subject matter from various aircraft zooming through the sky with swirling jet trails and locomotives chugging through white wintery …
The first night is this Tuesday, May 2nd, and there will be pizza and soda to celebrate its inception! All ages welcome.
Until 2 PM…
There are SO MANY ACTIVITIES – these shown above are the general times and places, so make sure to click here to see all the details.
Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture is going into full swing now that it’s springtime. According to its website, “since 2014, the OCPA team has been working to deepen community connections, grow nutrient-dense produce, and contribute to island resiliency through shared knowledge and shared work. OCPA offers a means to organize our …
Warm Valley Farm has plans for a new Wednesday afternoon farmers’ market from 3-7 PM from May 10th through October 4th. “Our intent is to complement the Eastsound Market and give other local food producers, growers, and makers another place to share their wares. If you know anyone who would …
I happened upon all these events lately on corkboards, etc., and thought I’d share them with you… Community celebration of Sergeant Herb Crowe’s retirement Friday, March 31, from 12-5 at the Eastsound Fire Station on Mt Baker Road
I met Jacob Wright a few years ago, and within moments I learned that he is an intelligent, enthusiastic, well-spoken young man who loves learning about, thinking about, and hunting down trains. His knowledge about them is mind-bending, and I asked him if he would be the subject of today’s column. …
It’s the little things that add sparkle to your day when you have a 30-minute appointment that takes you off the island for 8 hours…
We had the most incredible sunny Saturday since last summer. The sunshine has been breaking through for several hours at a time leading up to then, and Saturday brought all-day blue sky, warmth, and even a little pink on the cheeks. I was out the entire day, basking in it, …
We need to think long and hard as a community about providing the youth of this island with a place to have innocent fun together. I can’t tell you how many times my husband and I have talked about living elsewhere purely for the sake of our kids having things to …
Winter is an internal time here on the island. Not as many people are out and about, and it’s a reminder of how many residents are inside their homes working on all kinds of projects – quilts, plays, poetry, culinary recipes, college scholarship applications, advanced degrees, nonprofits, you name it. It won’t …
We are all familiar with the name Eric Peter, as well as his face on signs in windows and along the road when he was running for San Juan County Sheriff. Upon winning the election he said, “When I decided to take on this campaign, I promised myself that I …
Today began this way… And ended this way… Video by my husband
Like being in our own little winter-scene snowglobe… So quiet and beautiful. How interesting to live in a place where the weather changes hourly.
I have known only bits and pieces about Jay Sack over the years – I know he loves basketball and coaches it, I know he and his wife Julia work hard and provide a good life for their children, I know he values politeness and respect, and I know he …
Thank you so much, Island Market!!
Dave Blisard is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. He’s genuine. He’s hardworking. He’s approachable. He’s humble. He sees the best in people and, it seems to me, he brings out the best in people. Dave strikes me as a good listener, but I bet he’s someone who has …
You may know Ken and Laurel Wrye as acquaintances or neighbors, but did you know that they worked in Afghanistan for five years from 1966-1968 and 1971-1974? Their first daughter was born there. They were teachers and then Ken became the director of Ahlman Academy, a K-8 school started in …
I will always think of fancy-looking, amazing-tasting peas when I think of Marcia Spees. Her garden was one of many on the garden tour years ago, and I’ll never forget that she let our boys pick her peas to their hearts’ content because they were drawn to her fantastic legumes. …
Several months ago, I had the most fascinating conversation with Clark Cundy. I learned just the tip of the iceberg about what it was like to grow up here, and especially what it was like to grow up inside The Orcas Hotel. I asked Clark if he would recount some of …
Sometimes you meet someone intriguing and immediately think, Wow, I’ve got to know more about how this person thinks. That was my immediate impression upon meeting Mr. Z several months ago. It had nothing to do with what he said; it was more about his nonverbals. He was understated, subtle …
I always wondered if I’d get the call. I always felt that statistically, the odds were high. My husband bikes these roads every single day, and it’s something I usually have to put out of my head, given that there are few shoulders, winding roads, and long, steep hills. Friday …
Many of you know this guy… He swims, runs, and bikes every day on the island. I think everyone has seen him at one time or another. Some of you see him three or four times a day, 10 or 20 miles from the first place you passed him! Mike …
Come on down and get some goodies! It’s a fundraiser for the 5th & 6th grade class at OCS to go to the Pacific Science Center.
The other day, our fridge and shelves were close to barren aside from condiments. I decided it was time. Without consulting ferry reservations, I drove straight to Costco, then drove straight home. With blinders on, I avoided all other possible stops. I didn’t want to go anywhere or buy anything …
The last night of 2022, lit by moonlight…
