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…
Do you need land to farm, have land and can host a farmer, or have experience and can mentor a beginner farmer? This is Chelsea Thorpe, the Farmer to Farmland Coordinator. I want you to get a closer look at the brochure she’s holding – it’s important. Please contact Chelsea …
Some of you already knew this months ago but it was news to me as of a few weeks ago… Local photographer and book author, the kind and humble Robert Dash, was featured in National Geographic‘s February issue. He had a table at the Winter Artisans Market at the Odd …
Emy and Lisa Carter have invited their musical friends to entertain us tonight at Orcas Island Community Church – everyone in the community is welcome and it is free (or by donation if you’d like). They put on a concert several months ago and it was fantastic! Don’t miss this …
I’ve been loving Jerremy Foss’s photographs lately. On his birthday walk the other morning, he captured one of the rare times that high tide overtakes the road along Crescent Beach, pushing all the driftwood across it. I didn’t get to see it, so I loved coming across his photos… Jerremy …
Hilarious bumper sticker that Ray’s Pharmacy just got in… I’m not a cusser but couldn’t resist!
What a wild week it was! No power Thursday from 4:ish PM to 2:ish AM, no power Saturday 8:ish AM to 3:ish PM, thick powdery snow, icy streets, people unable to leave their driveways, and 4-degree temperatures at times with wind chill. On Friday night, temperatures rose quickly and snow …
Sometime on Saturday from 12-6, stop by Rosario Resort to see their Festival of Trees (I happened to visit before the snow)…
If you’re in town running your last errands, I’ll be in Ray’s Pharmacy signing books all day if you need some last-minute gifts for Christmas.
Time now slows down… The islands are out… While your computer still has power (and if your WiFi lasts several more hours), you can go here to check on the power outage.
We thoroughly enjoyed the snow out there today, knowing it will be gone soon. Snow is predicted every hour tonight, and then higher temperatures and rain tomorrow will most likely wash it all away.
Several events have been added to this schedule since the last one I posted several weeks ago (though snow and low temperatures may cancel some of these)… Thurs, Dec 22 Orcas Island Elementary School Concert in the High School Gym, 6:30 PM Fri, Dec 23 Life on Orcas Island book …
Several weeks ago was the Solstice Mercantile at Orcas Winery (December 3rd). Here’s a glimpse…
I only saw the final 10 minutes of the 2-hour Children’s Holiday Market on December 11th at the library – one of my favorite events of the entire Christmas season, in which kids of all ages dream up hundreds of items to make and sell. It’s quite a thing to …
Did you see the KANU concert at Orcas Center before Thanksgiving? I didn’t plan to, but our neighbors called the morning after the first night and said they had been talking about the concert for TWO hours! Even though we were packing for a trip to Texas, I decided our …
What perfect, deep powder the night’s snowfall left for us this morning – terrible for snowballs, amazing for sledding! It’s always hard to come in from a winter wonderland here because you never know what the conditions will be like tomorrow – it could all be gone in a flash. …
I was just about to head to bed around 10:30 when it hit me – ‘What am I thinking? Tonight’s one of those rare, virgin-snow nights! I’ve gotta walk into town and see the white, solitary sights before they’ve changed by the morning!’ Here’s what town looked like… The only …
In case you missed the Holiday Market days at the Odd Fellows Hall last weekend, here’s a look… Great job to the San Juan Makers Guild and specifically Marcy, Tabitha, and Stephen for putting it on.
We’ve been visiting Santa in Deer Harbor every December since our kids were little. They were sick in bed this whole past week of school before their break, which was such a bummer for them. Sometimes that happens – the sickness persists when kids want to be at school, then …
I’ve always thought life here is like being in a little magical shake-up globe world. Especially on snow days like these (to you who live afar, snow isn’t an everyday thing for us)…
If you’re needing more Christmas gifts, I’ll be signing books at Ray’s Pharmacy from 10-6 today. Come on in and visit me!
The GiveOrcas Campaign is going strong right now, and will continue until December 15th. A link on the OICF site takes you to the information below. Wow, the generosity! Check out the 2020 statistics from this site:
Ray’s Pharmacy will be hosting four more author signings for Life on Orcas Island, the perfect Christmas gift for anyone who loves this place!… Tuesday, December 13, 1-3 PM Thursday, December 15, 1-3 PM Friday, December 16, 9:30-6 PM Friday, December 23, 9:30-6 PM Thanks so much to all the …
These adults and kids have been working really hard (and joyfully!) over the past several months to bring this concert to you! Click here to get tickets for Saturday at 7 PM or Sunday at 2 PM at Orcas Center. You will be treated to various music and musicians, so …
Food Bank Director Amanda Sparks is the 2022 GiveOrcas Flat Person, serving as the ambassador for the GiveOrcas Holiday Campaign. I just happened upon her at Orcas Center, as the Choral Society was rehearsing for their weekend concerts. She now joins the Flat Person Family – the people chosen from previous years… Flat …
There are a lot of fun Christmas activities happening this weekend! Saturday starts off with an awesome Winter Holiday Artisan Market from 10-3, then a Night Market from 5-8 (the Night Market time on the sign below is incorrect), both at the Odd Fellows Hall. We were just setting up …
The perfect gift for the person who loves Orcas Island and already has everything they want!
The gray blanket threatened to persist, but the sun broke through!
I LOVE seeing all the gingerbread contestants’ creations for our annual local contest, thanks to the Funhouse and Island Market! We have phenomenal culinary artists here! You’ll have to go in Island Market and see them if you haven’t yet. As you look at them, imagine how much effort EVERY …
This annual tradition continues, and if you haven’t heard about it, it is a fundraiser that turns out AMAZING results for local organizations, thanks to the INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY of this community. Here’s the lowdown from their website: Today is one of the game days mentioned above, so if you read …
Ah, choosing a tree. Everyone has an opinion. ‘Tis the season for joy and compromise 🙂 …
The cookies and crafts are all set up and ready for kids and families to come on in and have fun!…
Leading up to the Winter Holiday Artisan Markets happening at the Odd Fellows Hall the weekend of December 9-11th, there will be an auction of similar local goods and experiences here. The auction is hosted by the San Juan Islands Makers Guild, featuring 48 artists and artisans. All items are …
And the tree was lit… (Eastsound Village Green)
If you went out walking on Crescent Beach right now and looked at the surface of the water very carefully, you’d see the tops of dozens of seals’ heads. Look even more carefully and you’ll see that they are watching you. I talk to them – I’m trying to get …
Fri, Dec 2 Lum Farm Christmas Trees for sale & Farmstand w/ homemade ice cream, cheeses, gifts, etc., 11-5 Online Auction for Winter Holiday Artisan Market Goods from Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Islands Gangstagrass at Orcas Center, 7 PM Sat, Dec 3 American Legion Holiday Bazaar, 10-3 Lum Farm’s …
Life on Orcas Island books are starting to go fast now that the Christmas season is drawing near. If you would like to get some for relatives and friends, here’s where to go: Darvill’s (to the right of the cashier’s desk on a Local Authors table): Ray’s Pharmacy (on the …
Walking past the overlook of East Sound today, I passed a little vignette I had to capture. This is Kristy. She grew up on Beaver Island, the largest island in Lake Michigan. Kristy grew up taking the ferry to mainland Michigan, and she resonates with Orcas Island in more ways …
Vulnerability opens doors in people’s hearts. Raw, brave sharing is inspirational and powerful. It lifts, encourages, and builds all those who are on the receiving end, and the sender soon hears how supported and how very un-alone they actually are. It’s a win-win. (In contrast, remaining hush-hush about hardships, while …
Karl Krüger was a natural pick to highlight in Life on Orcas Island. He is our local stand-up-paddleboarding phenom (there are some others, too, all of whom I call “the windriders” when I catch sight of them downwinding East Sound on beyond-blustery days while I’m washing dishes in my kitchen). …
It’s only early November and it’s snowing and actually sticking. Sun is forecast for tomorrow, so it will be gone in a flash… 10 PM:
Some people have an enthusiasm for life no matter what. I can’t ever remember running into Ezekiel Barr without seeing a smile on his face. After he composed the following list, we had the most fascinating conversation about his life. Love for others is what guides him, and he aims to …
Oh, how fun and fleeting all of last weekend’s activities were! Enjoy… CAMP ORKILA’S HAUNTED HAYRIDE Do you know what happens when one or two hundred kids gather in a giant field, in the cold, buzzing with expectation, waiting sometimes an hour or two for their turn to do a …
If you haven’t met Nikki Ames or been in her clothing shop, Très Fabu, now’s your chance. After 24 years of being an island institution on the main drag in Eastsound, it’s all winding down – this is her shop’s final month. Make sure to go in – Nikki exudes …
This blog and the book that came from it exist because years ago, a friend gave me encouragement at a poignant time. I was standing in Sequel chatting with Michelle Gregg, and I mentioned that I was considering starting a blog about the island. She said, “Edee, if you start …
Wow – check out the work that’s gone into this! Go to Orcas Christian School for their annual clothing drive THIS WEEKEND! Lots and lots of FREE clothes!! Please share this with anyone you know who might benefit. Clothing, jackets, blankets, shoes, kids clothes – at the Orcas Christian School …
Every now and then, life takes us either to the mainland or Friday Harbor for various types of appointments. Today life took me to San Juan Island. A five-hour roundtrip for a 10-minute appointment is normal in these parts – an hour on the ferry, several hours waiting for the …
October has been full of all kinds of weather and beauty. See you this weekend at Camp Orkila’s Haunted Hayride Saturday night, their Fall Festival Sunday afternoon, and trick-or-treating on Monday in Eastsound!
Oh, how I love this event. It epitomizes Orcas Island – talent, courage, and supportiveness! IF YOU MISSED IT OR WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN WATCH THE WHOLE SHOW BY CLICKING HERE! Here are a few clips from the show (not full performances). I only have a handful, but I’ve …
Every person has a different natural bent. My natural state is happy contentment (unless someone else’s negative bent is put upon mine). Some have a natural state that rests in anxiety. Some are low and heavy. Some can’t sit still, and their comfortable place is an uncomfortable freneticism, perhaps even …
I’ve thought of joining the Choral Society for years but wasn’t ever sure if I wanted to leave the house in the evenings when our kids are home and we’re all eating dinner and hanging out. I decided to go for it this year, and even though I’m not a …
The smoke lessened and the coolness of late fall descended this morning. We turned on the heater last week for the first time, sought out our warm slipper boots, and the dampness filled my jeans this morning, hanging by the open bedroom window. I washed my shorts for what may …
Yesterday afternoon the smoke came rolling in. By the time school was over and games and practices were about to begin, the amount of particulates in the air was deemed too high. The visiting soccer team was sent all the way back home to the mainland, and local sports practices …
theOrcasonian.com has a new intern from Orcas Island High School! Read Ellie Wright’s first article on the site about the Orcas Community Resource Center by clicking here. Look for more to come by Ellie! Photos courtesy of OCRC and Ellie
To read 27 Things About Tony Ghazel, go to the article on theOrcasonian here.
I just read the following and I pulled it straight off the Orcas Recycling Services site in case you creative people out there are looking for a fall and winter project to dream up… Ready to take the Orcas Glass Challenge? What is it? An opportunity for artists, makers, innovators, up-cyclists …
You may pass Marjorie along the road every day. She walks into town by choice each morning, wearing the funnest colors, patterns, and shoes regardless of weather and rain. I love that about her! She doesn’t let the gray weather of winter dissuade her from some personality, individuality, and flair. …
I thought you might like a look at this significant land transformation. I can’t help but pass by it and marvel at the abundance happening inside. All Hands on Earth, a nonprofit begun by Alex Tamayo-Wolf, transformed the open field below at the front of Orcas Christian School into a …
I was in the right place at the right time with no camera. How fun it would have been to show Orcas Island High school’s Homecoming parade in Eastsound on Friday. Oh well. Thank you, Debbie Post, for this photo of Bill Perry, OIHS Class of 1962, here at Homecoming …
Recently I heard a few radio ads that said something like, “We know, it’s hard to eat right.” I remember hearing someone say years ago that she had no idea how to eat right. I had the same internal reaction to both: “Really??” Shelves are packed with books on how …
Happy 93rd year to my friend, painter and writer Frank Loudin – our own Norman Rockwell. I will publish each of his ten episodes as they correspond to the right time in each season about Orcas Island’s beloved coffee and goodies store, Teezer’s, which is now a place in our …
I love the Annual Orcas Island Farm Tour. Of the nine farms, we chose to visit three last Saturday. Here they are… Slanted Apple Farm Warm Valley Farm Lum Farm
Saturday was a beautiful day to celebrate the final Farmers’ Market of the summer…
Last Friday at Orcas Center was the opening party of Island Bounty, a local art, food, and agriculture show celebrating all things related to the land here in our island community. It also kicked off the Annual Orcas Island Farm Tour, which included the final Farmers’ Market of the summer …
Anyone still need your senior portraits taken? I’m offering 90 minutes for $175. You get all the photos. Here are some samples from the past two weeks. See my gallery here to peruse my photography over the past 20 years.
The Orcas Island Film Festival begins this Thursday and lasts through Monday, the 10th. I always forget to look ahead of time at the films on the OIFF schedule until a few days before it all begins, and sometimes the one or two I’m interested in are full by then. …
ORCAS CENTER TONIGHT (FRIDAY) Tonight Orcas Center and the San Juan Islands Agriculture Guild are launching the Annual Orcas Farm Tours with the Island Bounty opening party from 4-7 PM. It’s free for all ages to come and enjoy the art, food, and farms that make Orcas Island what it …
The runners will take off from the track at the public high school at 3:30 today! See you there! Thank goodness the ferries are running smoothly this week after last week’s postponement!
Now this is quintessential Orcas Island! Come on out everybody – let’s have fun dancing together!
Sign up: orcasparkandrec.org Questions: Tom Baldwin: tbaldwin@ucr.edu For more information, contact the Orcas Choral Society. Welcome to all students grades 6-12 from Orcas Middle School, Orcas High School, Orcas Christian School, Spring Street International School, Salmonberry, Homeschool, and OASIS.
Whale of a Show is going to happen again this year at Orcas Center! Woohoo!! I’m a diehard fan of this, and of the other island talent shows as well (for adults and seniors). I bought tickets for my family the minute I heard it was on! Kids ages 5-18 years old …
Several weeks ago I offered to you, the island community and people afar, a place on this blog for your essay called This I Believe. Here is the first one submitted. (If you are interested in writing an essay called This I Believe and then recording it, click here to …
Thanks so much if you were planning on coming! They hope it can happen next Wednesday…
Local biologist and author Thor Hanson’s latest book is called Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid. He often does speaking events, and I believe he’s in the middle of a Zoom talk right now for the Orcas Island Garden Club. Thor is quite the phenom, which is why I highlighted him …
Oh, how invigorating it was to show up at the track this afternoon and see parents, teachers, students, community members, concessions, hot dogs, normalcy, and excitement for the soccer and volleyball games! Life is returning in all its forms here! If you’re ready for more rooting, come to the track …
I’ve been wanting to post Olga Rising for months now, and my photos just don’t do it justice, so I’ll give you a basic look at it if you haven’t been there yet, and you’ll have to see the rest for yourself. This place used to be Vance’s jewelry shop. …
This Saturday all women are invited to Orcas Island Community Church for a simulcast event by speaker and author, Priscilla Shirer. You don’t have to be a church-goer to attend – all are welcome. It’s from 9-3 with a few breaks in between. If you’ve never been to one of …
Remember when there was no such thing as an answering machine? I remember the day my parents bought one. It was so exciting! We all took turns recording a message and laughing at our mess-ups. It was fun to come home every day and press the button on the machine …
If you are in need of portraits of your senior, I am offering 90 minutes of portrait photography for $175. You will receive a flash drive with all the photos on it within 2 days in order to use as you wish for prints, etc. (I don’t make prints.) Email …
I never saw this rendition of “Happy” from 2014 until someone passed it on to me – this is awesome!
Come on down and visit me at Darvill’s this morning from 10-12!
Meet Sharon Abreu and you’ll immediately feel how positive, talented, and humble she is. She is always upbeat, and when she feels there needs to be change in the world, she uses the performing arts to kindly, respectfully, and creatively confront environmental and political issues. I have observed her from …
How very Orcas that the reason I was running late getting to the Farmers’ Market yesterday was due to a lovely turkey visit on our property. Wild turkeys are in certain places on the island but haven’t come to hang out near our house, at least in the last decade, …
The festivities and fundraisers continue. Wish I could go but I’ll be at my Farmers’ Market table and then a Darvill’s book signing until 5 PM. Enjoy it for me!!! (It says 2002 below, but it’s tomorrow!)
You are invited to artist Stephanie Clair’s Open House Art Show tomorrow and Sunday from 12-5 PM at 885 Bartel Road. Follow the signs from Terrill Beach Road, and take a stroll down a tree-lined road to a little red farmhouse where you will find the Wandering Soul Art Gallery. …
After driving down the newly designed Prune Alley today, I noticed yellow signs declaring a big rug sale at the Odd Fellows Hall. I followed them. This is what I saw: There you will meet a kind man named Parviz who is selling off his beautiful rugs handmade in various …
Last night was the first night Prune Alley has been lit by its new lamps!
Tonight Prune Alley officially opened at 6 PM with lovely speeches, a non-motorized parade of people walking down the street for the first time, KIND bars and homemade cookies, and middle-of-the-street socializing. Speakers starting off the event included Councilperson Cindy Wolf, Project Manager Colin Huntemer, and Contractor Mike Carlson, and …
In case you missed this past Saturday’s show at the Village Green, the finale of the summer series, you’ve gotta watch some clips – the Rise Up singers and musicians are fantastic: It became quickly apparent that a young contingent of the crowd was quite well-versed in all of the …
Teachers, Students, Community Members, and People Afar, I invite you to write an essay called “This I Believe” for the public to read and hear, in a tradition that began as a radio program in the 1950s hosted by journalist Edward R. Murrow and has continued through the decades. Each …
Chris and Eliza Morris are the owners of Island Thyme and some of the most genuine, down-to-earth people you’ll ever meet. Many of us islanders have their locally grown and made products in our pockets, showers, and cabinets. While I’ve crossed paths with them umpteen times over the years in the …
Local musicians Emy & Lisa Carter and Steven Baker as well as other local singers and musicians performed in tonight’s Truth and Light Concert on the back lawn at Orcas Island Community Church. It was excellent! Check it out…
This looks like the kind of summer concert finale that we islanders should not miss! I’ve missed a few here and there over the summer that I heard were incredible. See you Saturday at 4:00 at the Village Green!
There you have it.
I just had to capture this moment from a few weeks ago – a fleeting moment rubbing literary shoulders with John Muir and Thoreau’s Walden during a book signing. Thank you, Darvill’s Bookstore, for the joy of having my book in your store!
Orcas Island teaches you new things every day. I’ve been selling my recent book, Life on Orcas Island, at the Saturday Farmers’ Market this summer, which means I have fours hours to soak up all the beauty and local wonder downtown each time I’m there. This past Saturday, I was …
Over a month ago, long-time islander Troy O’Neal suffered a stroke. He’s probably one of the strongest guys I know of. I don’t know him well at all, but I’ve seen him over the years at different events at Orcas Christian School. His family recently moved to North Carolina, and …
Meet Denny and Cindy Carter’s four children and there is no doubt that their parents have done more than a few things right in raising them. Matthew, Nathan, and twins Emy and Lisa are kind-hearted, intelligent, polite, respectful, and respectable young adults. They all know how to work hard, have …
In all these months of construction along Prune Alley Road, I think the hardest business hit may be Sequel. I’m not speaking on behalf of them, in fact I hope owner Keri Lago is okay with my saying so. I think it all the time. It hasn’t been easy to …
Wow, is there a lot of music happening these days! Check it out: Make sure to click here for the Chamber Music Festival’s schedule of events. The photo heading this post is of Time for Three with Sempre Sisters, playing Aug 5th at the Village Green.
We’ve heard people say for years that summer here – meaning consistent sunshine – can only be counted on starting somewhere around the 4th of July. This is one of those summers. The rains usually come again once blackberry season is winding down in late August or early September. I …
This is the second episode of my friend Frank Loudin’s Teezer’s Twists series. Teezer’s was Orcas Island’s beloved coffee and goodies store on North Beach Road (it was across the street from Mijitas), and is now a place in our memories and in island history. Frank and his wife Jannie …
I’m going to put a few spreads from my book, Life on Orcas Island, on this blog periodically so you get a feel for who and what is inside. This photo on the left is of Alyson Stephens, our beloved local physical therapist and Zumba instructor. Here she’s in the …
Didier Gincig is one of those people that you could meet once and never forget. He has an enthusiasm for life that is downright infectious, and he acknowledges each person he encounters with such presence, which implies to me that every moment, every person, and every interaction is important to …
How fun it’s been to do author signings now and then at Darvill’s Bookstore! Today is another signing from 3-5. See ya there!
What another beautiful day for Farmers’ Market! See you there from 10-2! Here’s a look at last week…
George Post will also be there to speak about the origins of The Exchange, and Peter Fisher will speak about Madrona Point, the Land Bank, and OPAL. Nancy Stillger and the Orcas Island Historical Museum will be launching the bison exhibit tonight. DJ Bodhicypha (Ian Welch) will be spinning music …
Jon Welch is someone I have come across for years in various capacities here on the island, first at TeeJay’s Tacos at the Odd Fellows Hall many years ago, and most recently at the ferry kiosk. He has always been kind-hearted, even-keel, and helpful. He even spoke up for me …
If you’d like to buy a copy of Life on Orcas Island, I’ll be at Farmers’ Market tomorrow from 10-2 and then I’ll be signing books at Darvill’s from 3-5. See you in town!
Happy 92nd Birthday to my friend Frank Loudin, a wonderful painter and writer – our own Norman Rockwell. In honor of him celebrating his first several days into his 93rd year, I am honored to publish the first of his ten episodes about Orcas Island’s beloved coffee and goodies store, …
Oh lovely summer here…
Tomorrow’s community-weaving evening is the second of three “Village on the Green” events from 6-9 PM. People will be gathering to share their island projects, especially those in which women are leading Orcas Island workshops, classes, organizations, and events. Bring your family and a picnic. There will be music by …
Susan Slapin lives life enamored with nature, birds singing all around, lilacs and forsythias brightening the air, vibrant choices of pastels to fit her mood, and her partner and her dog Matisse at her side. She kindly allowed me to be immersed in her life one beautiful day – a …
I so enjoyed being on Lift Your Spirits with Dena Marie and Gretchen Krampf (my second time). Thanks, you two, for inviting me on the show! Click here to listen to it.
All kids from kindergarten to 5th grade are welcome to Vacation Bible School at Orcas Island Community Church, which starts tomorrow and goes through Friday, from 12:45-3:15. Register ahead by emailing stephanie@orcaschurch.org or show up at the church at 12:30 tomorrow. It’s always a blast with games, music, funny skits, …
Our neighbor is an electrician here on the island and his work has taken him to many, if not most, islanders’ homes and businesses. The other day I asked him who he thinks of as a quintessential veteran on Orcas Island, my aim being a fitting subject to interview over …
Today was wonderful from start to finish – events and festivities from morning till night. It’s how every summer day on Orcas used to be before COVID. We’re finally getting back to normal! Here’s a look at the noon parade down the main drag in Eastsound (North Beach Road)… Today …
Life is like the old days again! This extended weekend is so invigorating because everything is back as it was before COVID, and we’ll get a taste of it all – 4th of July Parade, Farmers’ Market, Matthew the Magician show, Martin Lund’s One World 20th Anniversary Concert at the …
Life on Orcas Island will be available across from the Village Green on North Beach Road today from 11-5 PM (thanks to the kindness of our former neighbor who now lives there). Come on down! What a sparkling start to this 4th of July weekend – the sun is streaming …
How fun to see Life on Orcas Island in the window at Darvill’s Bookstore – an author’s dream! I’ll keep you posted, as there will be Saturday book signings this month!
This past weekend was stunning. The clouds finally parted all day, both days, signalling the true beginning of summer for us islanders. It couldn’t have been a more perfect time for the Orcas Island Garden Tour. The idea of driving on such beautiful days immediately took a backseat to the …
In March, I interviewed Kate Jewell about her upcoming trip to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland. She has returned, and I asked if she would write about her experiences in her own words: My reason for going to Poland was to work with Ukrainians displaced by Putin’s War. Upon my …
Come down to Darvill’s Bookstore this Saturday, June 25th, from 11:00-1:00 for a book signing of Life on Orcas Island. See ya there!
One of the little quaint things about island life is its sandwich-board announcements at the two ends of town (and elsewhere too). Cities have billboards; we have sandwich boards. 🙂
It has begun! Thanks to Orcas Center and all the sponsors who help make it happen, we have a full line-up for the Summer Concert Series at the Village Green. It began this past Saturday with The Good Lovelies. They’re the kind of women you just want to hang out …
Our washer recently did its final spin cycle and now sits idly by, awaiting the truck that will haul it away. That means I paid a visit to the laundromat at Country Corner. What a lovely experience! There’s just something fulfilling about getting four home-size loads of laundry done in …
Oh, how fun to see people out en masse again – laughing, singing, and dancing!!! Feast your eyes on the fun. Moments before the parade… The parade… The festivities went on until about 2:30, and then at 6:00 the Summer Concert Series began with The Good Lovelies!
Life on Orcas Island is soon coming to the shelves of Seaport Books in La Conner! Our store is lovingly housed in the historic Seaport Landing Building on the beautiful Swinomish Channel. In addition to new books for readers of all ages, we feature creative efforts by local artists. We’re …
I had a feeling Christopher Evans would have a fascinating story. I think of Christopher as a person who brings kindness, exuberance, and joy wherever he goes. From what I’ve known in passing over the last decade, Christopher lives life to the fullest, making the most of each and every …
One of the many activities during this extended Orcas Pride weekend was the Gay Field Day from 2-6 PM at the Village Green yesterday – an afternoon picnic in which all islanders and visitors were welcome to come down and enjoy music, dancing, games, and performances… I have to stop …
The Northwest just can’t help but rain – especially this year! That didn’t stop Orcas Islanders. Smiling faces, dancing bodies, and jolly Odd Fellows practiced and prepared for Saturday’s Solstice Parade last night at the first of three “Village on the Green” events… See you at the Solstice Parade, if …
Last week some wonderful moments of closure happened. How we all have been needing events again that mark important milestones, endings, and beginnings in life. I purposely left my camera at home for graduation at OCS. I wanted to soak in every last second honoring the five graduates. We have …
Mark your calendars for June 15, July 13, and July 27 – three fun Wednesdays at the Village Green from 6-9 PM that you won’t want to miss! Gretchen Krampf of IsleWork LLC coordinated these “creative-community-collaboratory” events focused on weaving our long-time and recently arrived islanders using the social arts …
The second and final performance of Oliver Twist at Orcas Christian School was this past Tuesday evening. The rain held off for the students to shine, and the five seniors who graduated on Friday evening put on a Senior Spotlight pre-show… (There was also a wonderful speech given by another …
This past month has been wonderful for the soul. Today I’ll let the videos below do the talking. You’ll get a taste of some beautiful hammered dulcimer music by Carolyn Cruso, welcoming a fresh, happy season at the Farmers’ Market. Next is a song that happened spontaneously during the Lummi …
Life on Orcas Island in Darvill’s Bookstore… Thank you Jenny!
Every day when I walk to school with our younger son, we pass the Tony & Jenna Hair Studio, the new Paul Mitchell salon on the main drag as you enter Eastsound from the west side. Tony and Jenna were invited to speak to our older son’s high school class …
Darvill’s Bookstore has a fresh supply of Life on Orcas Island books! Come on down to 296 Main Street in Eastsound.
Mark your calendars for June 5th, 6th, and 7th at 7:30 PM – Orcas Christian School’s production of Oliver Twist will happen in the outside amphitheater in front of the gym building, the same location as their Romeo and Juliet production last year. This year the play features not only …
Tonight sounded like a wonderful time at Camp Orkila together, but unfortunately the public is no longer welcome to attend the Lummi Canoe Journey’s celebrations this afternoon and evening. Several of the Orkila staff have tested positive for COVID, so everyone has decided to play it safe. We’ll still see …
The Lummi Gathering of the Eagles Canoe Journey began Sunday, as the canoeists paddled from Anacortes to Lopez Island. On Monday, they paddled from Lopez to San Juan Island. Today, they will paddle to Orcas Island, landing at Camp Orkila at 4 PM, where the public is welcome to come …
I recently returned from a two-day trip to Seattle as a chaperone with the Orcas Christian School seniors – all five of them – on their last hurrah before graduating, led by Pastor Grayson, the school’s chaplain and high school bible teacher. I thought you might like a little vicarious …
I’ve heard it takes about 30 days to establish a new habit, so I Googled it and the first line that came up said this: “It can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit and an average of 66 days for a new behavior …
Last night I took our older son and his friend to a concert in Everett by for King + Country, a Christian band led by two Australian brothers named Joel and Luke Smallbone. Luke explained during the concert that their father was a music promoter, and their parents and four …
I bet a lot of people on the island wonder what is legal when it comes to walking along a beach here on Orcas Island. I know that I’m always wondering what the correct thing to do is. During a joint book-signing event last Saturday at the Orcas Island Historical Museum, …
If you’d like a copy of Life on Orcas Island, it will be at Darvill’s Bookstore here in Eastsound from now on. If you are not on Orcas Island, you can call Darvill’s at (360) 376-2135 or order it online from them here. Read more about Darvill’s here. It’s a …
I had never heard of Susan Mustard until I went into Crow Valley Gallery a few weeks ago on a whim to look at all the art by different local artists. There is a beautiful variety in there, and the painting that immediately jumped off the canvas and captured me …
Come to the Orcas Island Historical Museum in Eastsound today, April 30, from 1:30 – 3:30 PM for a book signing and talk by five local authors: Boyd Pratt, Judi Watson, Edrie and Terri Vinson, and I will sign and talk about our books. Each of us will have a …
Have you seen the new Orcas Veterinary Service? It’s awesome! I was just there so our dog could have major dental work. (It’s at 9 Hope Lane up Mt Baker Road near Uzek’s automotive place.) I am amazed at what Dr. D. and her team were able to do for …
Carol Wright is someone I’ve met once in passing – I’ve known nothing about her until we began corresponding a few times across the digital aether over the past several days. Here and there in those messages, she referenced things that were a mix of fascinating, significant, and downright beyond …
Come on down to Clever Cow for some ice cream on this sunshine-y day! (Thursday to Sunday, 12-6 PM.)
I will be at Dan’s Wildlife Cycles bike shop tomorrow (Saturday) from 12-1 PM at the picnic table on the side, thanks to his generous offer again. If you’ve not yet had a chance to come down and get the Life on Orcas Island book with the locals’ coupon, this …
They are already on an island, where town is tiny and going somewhere else requires a full day, half a tank of $5-per-gallon gas, and a driver’s license. If they’ve lived here long enough, they’ve done the hikes and the beach walks. As we awaken to yet another rainy day …
Tomorrow and Friday (April 21st and 22nd), come down to Wildlife Cycles in Eastsound at 350 North Beach Road anytime between 12:00 and 1:00 PM in order to buy a copy of Life on Orcas Island. While I will have another release event on April 30th at the Orcas Island …
Orcas Island Community Church has a tradition of celebrating the dawning of Easter morning on the top of Mt Constitution. The sun rises behind Mt Baker, and it’s a rare sight to see if your house isn’t already facing that direction. This is what we saw this morning… The rest …
I don’t normally do reviews of things after I’ve experienced them, but I came home after seeing this percussion group at Orcas Center tonight – which ended with a standing ovation – with a bubbling-over of thoughts to express. I don’t remember ever observing “music” like this. Before I say …
This is last Saturday at Lum Farm at Coffelt Farm Preserve. I think lamb and goat petting is happening today too!
Activities are brewing again, as evidenced by the flyers hanging on the post office wall! Woohoo! (Plus a few random ones thrown in too.)
This month’s weather has been all over the place…
Orcas Island Community Church has something each day leading up to Easter. If you’ve never been to any of these, you are invited to any and all. And if you’ve never been up on Mount Constitution for the Easter Sunrise Service, it’s stunning to watch the sun rise over Mt …
Back in November, our son, Evan, had a notice in The Sounder offering tech help to anyone who needed it in order to raise money for a two-week mission trip to Belize with other high schoolers from Orcas Christian School: Thanks to many of you, Evan was able to raise …
Stop in Clever Cow for ice cream tomorrow from 12-6 PM and meet the new owners, Cindy, Frank, and Landry. April’s hard work made Clever Cow an ice cream shop known for consistency, simple beauty, and cleanliness – eye candy functioning like a well-oiled machine. She has passed the helm …
Meet Big Blue, the new glass crusher at Orcas Recycling Services named by fourth graders Audrey Hance and Lana Sasan after a name-voting contest at school. If you park behind The Exchange, you’ll see it a little off in the distance beyond the meadow. Having a glass crusher is a …
I love knowing the details of people’s experiences. They’re not only fascinating, they’re also immensely helpful if you’re in a similar situation. When self-publishing, there are a lot of details you can find if you dig, but there are some that are hard to find – seemingly nonexistent. Here is …
The process of writing and publishing a book requires a lot of uninterrupted time. I worked at home at my kitchen table for the first few months, our son’s $5 Alexa from the Exchange playing Lord Huron songs in the background while I sifted through thousands of photos, wrote endless …
Fun!!! You’ve probably seen all those babies every time you’ve passed Lum Farm lately, and they will be opening their gates for families to come tomorrow and next Saturday (Easter weekend) from 2-5 PM. There is no charge, but they would appreciate a donation of whatever feels comfortable for you. …
Three ways to get the Life on Orcas Island book: 1. Tonight – 6 PM at the Orcas Library! (locals price of $29.99 + tax) 2. Order online and it will be printed immediately and shipped directly to you (retail price): https://store.bookbaby.com/book/life-on-orcas-island 3: Pre-order on our local Darvill’s Bookstore website, …
Come to the book launch of Life on Orcas Island tomorrow, April 7th, at 6 PM at the Orcas Library! (I love small-town life – first-name basis on announcements!) If you’re out of town, it’s available for purchasing here (where you can look inside it too). Can’t wait to see …
You may have already met Michael at Key Bank and assumed his life was that of a banker. It wasn’t until I saw him working at Crow Valley Gallery and Island Thyme that I began to wonder if my assumptions were totally off. Did you know he’s a stained-glass artist? …
It’s not exactly warm and springy yet. We’ve had about four days of sunshine so far in the past month. I passed by these women and had to stop and capture them – they are hard core, meeting outside in the brisk wind to chat and laugh together! It turns …
Looking along Prune Alley every time I stop at Island Market makes me remember what it was like when my 16-year-old was a toddler. Some of his first words were “backhoe loader” and “dump truck,” and we used to seek out job sites for entertainment. I’d carry light chairs, and …
For many years I thought about the idea of publishing a book about Orcas Island. There were definite reasons that I chose not to for a long time. I’m a stay-at-home mom and I didn’t want to give up time from my little ones, knowing I’d never get it back. …
A few little sights around town today…
The other day the sun was shining down and I walked through town like a refreshed, electrified person. I walked in Crow Valley Gallery to say hello to Sonia, who works there and was so kind to my mom over the years when she lived here, and was struck by …
Orcas Christian School has an annual spring tradition called Author’s Tea. K-8 students prepare for it for several weeks, writing books of their own complete with graphs, photos, and illustrations in order to share their completed manuscripts with each other, parents, and community members on an appointed day of the …
Meet Life on Orcas Island, a visual time capsule of this place over the past decade, chronicling the uniqueness and beauty of who we are and where we live, and the endless community gatherings, workshops, festivities, and celebrations that characterize this island life. I will have a few book release …
This Thursday, March 31st, Kate Jewell will be headed to Oświęcim, Poland, for six weeks to help Ukrainian refugees and orphans with One Humanity Institute and Airline Ambassadors International. Kate was a flight attendant for 37 years, so traveling the world and living a life of adventure is normal for …
I just met a new friend at Tidepool Coffeehouse yesterday, and overheard owner Katie Gaible explaining the decadent cake whose slices were for sale to benefit the people of Ukraine. I don’t drink coffee, but noticed they carry bubble tea. They have two kinds – in the can and made …
Almost six years ago, I was looking at different pet adoption sites online for the perfect dog for our family. I grew up with animals and I wanted our 10-year-old son to have his own little companion to grow up with. It felt like the right age for him to …
As my son was leaving school this afternoon, he heard the sound of a plane going down the runway, then some strange sounds that followed. He zipped down the road on his electric skateboard to find that the Kenmore Air plane never made it in the air. Instead, it went …
When we moved to Orcas, we bought a house that was in excellent shape from a single woman who was very gentle on it. We, too, have been gentle on the house but the room our kids share, which was previously unused before we moved in, is partly subterranean and …
Orcas Island is the perfect place to live out your dreams. Why not open a store, right? This may be a little deflating, but let’s think about your dream business… Does it really fill a needed, year-round niche for enough people in this community? Some of those words are vitally …
A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony was held on Saturday by the Airhawks Flying Club at the Eastsound Airport for their new Gleim FAA-approved Flight Simulator. As students, educators, administrators, and teachers from Orcas High School and Orcas Christian School along with Orcas pilots and the Orcas Island Community Foundation watched, …
I’ve recently become acquainted with artist Frank Loudin through BJ Arnold’s friendship with him, and as always, it’s fascinating to learn about a new friend’s life experiences. I didn’t know a thing about him until I got one of my COVID vaccines at Orcas Center. For the 15-minute wait period …
David and his wife, Chris, are two people I often pass when out walking. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them, though, so it was a pleasure today when my husband and I ran into David in town. David is an avid sailor, and always has ocean adventures …
Twenty years ago to this day – March 16th – marks the first time Kelly Carpenter stepped foot on Orcas Island. She has never had to write the date down in order to remember it. Raised on a small farm in rural Minnesota, Kelly’s aspirations after graduating from college with …
Masks are coming off, the sun is beginning to come out more, the geese are honking, the birds are chirping, and while it’s still cold outside, the air carries a louder buzz than ever of spring’s renewal and joy in it. Warmth and hope are on the horizon in a …
If you haven’t already met her, Beverly Franklet is a stunning go-getter. Not in a hyper, can’t-sit-still kind of way but in a calm, adventurous, live-life-to-its-fullest sense. Do you remember several years ago when Michell Marshall decided to put up a white board at the back of The Office Cupboard …
Many months ago, we planned a February trip to Fiji, not knowing if it would all work out in COVID times, but spending endless hours on location planning and COVID testing research (they have stringent rules). After two years of isolation and pandemic weirdness, and knowing we (I, especially) might …
I love emotion. I love happy. I love love. When you’re in a community of Christians, you sometimes hear that someone “heard” God speak to them. You often hear people say they “love” the Lord. And it’s common for people to talk of their “relationship” with God. I’m here to …
We’ve come to the time of year when I start thinking, ‘What are we doing here?’ The place is a ghost town except for the market, and the lack of sun has become this palpable frustration that Vitamin D capsules just don’t fix, at least for me. Born in Texas, …
There was a tragic accident here a few weeks ago. I’ve been thinking about the person whose life completely changed after the moment of impact. Seeing as I’m not a family member, a close friend, a news reporter, or even an acquaintance, I don’t feel right about saying more about …
Even after living on Orcas Island for almost a decade, I’m still not accustomed to one very all-encompassing aspect of life here… Constant rain naturally drives people indoors. Especially kids. This isn’t coming from someone who is easily discouraged by dreary weather. I walk every day, rain or rain (shine’s …
It has been an unusually snowy and sunny few days here, the white blanket holding longer than usual in the tolerable dry briskness, as all of the moisture is frozen. We’ve had temperatures as low as -2 degrees due to windchill during the past week but last night we shot …
Here is a little montage of the scenes we’ve seen over the past few days…
I sit here writing on Christmas night in Lake Oswego, Oregon. We are visiting my husband’s family, enjoying love and laughter, and eating meal after beautifully crafted meal. After two all-too-quiet Christmases, the usual things that go along with gathering feel unspeakably special this year – being in someone else’s …
The upperclassmen at Orcas Christian School just produced a phenomenal audio rendition of A Christmas Carol, available for listening on YouTube here: Mr. Rivera’s done it again, tapping into the theatrical arts of his students, after last year’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, my son was the sound engineer, …
I’ve been talking a lot about the festivities each week, but it’s really important not to gloss over the hardships. Some people are lonely and isolated from loved ones. Some people are surrounded by the same loved ones and are lonely for everyone else they can’t visit. Some are having …
This is the title of a new book in Darvill’s Bookstore, with an article called “The Ferry to Orcas Island,” written by local author Ayn Gailey and photographed by non-local Anthony Blasko. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the article… Traveling to Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest …
What another lovely week it’s been in this Christmas season. Last Sunday, the library hosted the 8th Annual Children’s Christmas Market. This is one of the events that makes Orcas Island so special and unique. Any child can enter by paying $5 for a table, and the wares they make …
We are smack dab in the middle of one of the most eventful weekends in almost two years, y’all. Yesterday morning, Tide Pool Coffeehouse and the new Salish Sea Yarn Co. (previously Enzo’s) opened the floodgates for people to circulate meaningfully through the upper area of North Beach Road. Wow, …
Happy Thanksgiving weekend and Merry Christmas season! The rain has provided ample time to gather ‘round the glowing screen and ponder life as it used to be and where it’s headed. Always in search of fascinating documentaries, we watched the new Netflix series Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space about the four civilian …
This is their return to the island this morning after winning the state championship last night…
I was born in Texas, the fifth child 11 years after my closest sibling. They were all born about a year apart and when my Catholic mom was pregnant with the fourth, my grandfather said to her, “JoAnn, this is getting a little embarrassing.” She must have taken it to …
When I was 15, I lost my period for a year. It was great! No bothering with feminine products or the potential for embarrassing mishaps. Talking about personal stuff didn’t happen much in my mother-daughter relationship. It wasn’t until my mom remarked one day about how odd it was that …
Rain here is usually a constant, light pitter-patter. Even when it’s “pouring,” it’s nothing like the storms I experienced growing up in Texas. Over the last couple days, the rain was more than a pitter-patter and it just didn’t stop. If you were anything like us, you hunkered down and …
Take a look at the following festivities that we islanders have grown so accustomed to celebrating together throughout the year, every year… Seniors Have Talent show at the Senior Center (November) Hops on the Rock in Eastsound (November) Clay Cafe in the Public School art room (November) Community Thanksgiving Potluck at …
The hairpin left turn immediately after Doe Bay Resort!
Last Saturday afternoon, Camp Orkila kicked off the weekend festivities with its Annual Fall Festival: ziplining, donut-dangling, goat-petting, pumpkin-painting, hayriding, and other fun activities. Not only do they have their staff serve and entertain the whole town, they also generously feed us as well – for free! – sausages, homemade …
Sometimes I forget why I feel different these days. It’s not just the gray blanket across the sky, blocking the possibility of Vitamin D production. Then I remember. Ten years ago we moved here with young children. Life was bursting at the seams. Not only in the natural world but …
This is what happens when you’re visiting Orcas Island for a quick day trip and I happen upon you as the sun is coming out and illuminating the background scenery. Meet Jacque Breyer and Elise Meade, a traveling nurse and a physical therapist from Tennessee. It was chilly and overcast …
The following is my son’s article on the October 24th Sun Days column on The Orcasonian. Hello. My name is Levi and I am 11 years old. My mom let me write the column this week. I want to say something that I actually don’t think many adults will listen …
Two years ago, I was out running with my husband. We hadn’t exercised much at all together over the past 14 years, and I was elated to finally be doing it again, especially since that’s how we met and courted. Parenting had taken center stage over the years, and there …
Let’s get to the root of “island time.” I can speak on this topic because I am an expert. It’s not something I go around touting; rather, I’m a bit ashamed of it. We’re all supposed to be prompt individuals, mindful of basic courtesy, right? In my head, I’m punctual; …
I had no idea what I was walking into this morning. It was a National Geographic kind of experience. Our son’s class was going to Glenwood Springs salmon hatchery to watch a process that has been carried out by Long Live the Kings for decades. (Since 1986, LLTK has worked …
Speaking of presentations, performances, events, and activity bubbling up again in that direction (referencing the previous post), the Orcas Island Film Festival is coming! Here is the film schedule. Click here to read about each film. Sixteen films will be shown over five days at the Sea View Theatre here …
We used to live in a college town. That meant there were endless lectures and performances to attend all year round – dance companies from around the world, music groups from Montana to Mongolia, and talks on topics from astronomy to zoology. I had front-row seats for Stephen Hawking’s lecture; …
I love Joanie’s sculptures. (And this is what she oversees…)
Our younger son has two mice. They live in a plastic storage bin, sleeping in a little box during the day, and busybodying all night long. In the morning, their entire landscape is usually completely rearranged, and their leavings on the mouse wheel indicate ultramarathons they have run in the …
Love in front of Roots…
Just your ordinary, typical scenery here on the island.
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 …
Another giant cobbler in the works. I’ll miss this when pear season ends.
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 …
Too many to collect! If I eat any more cobbler I’ll be waddling!
Today was one of those crisp, clear, perfect days – the type of weather that you wish would hold for the next five months.
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.
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!
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 …
The lagoon…
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 …
Morning at Rosario…
Orcas Center did it again. Friday night was yet another wonderful evening of entertainment at the Village Green for the Summer Series Finale. I didn’t even realize it was going to happen until I saw the aerial rope & silk apparatus erected a few hours beforehand, with accompanying acrobats warming …
Enjoy them before they’re gone…
Three weeks ago, I ran down to Sequel for a quick look around. At the last minute, I realized I might need a few outfits that were lighter and thinner than anything I normally wear here on the island. I had in mind a post I might write upon returning …
This is a sweet little salamander the length of a child’s pinkie finger. My son “raised” it in a bucket from the larval stage, when it looked like a little opaque axolotl. His pond treasures gathered in June made for a fascinating glimpse into nature’s miraculous stages of life over …
This is one of the many trails leading into town. I love that walking into Eastsound means being on the stunning seashore or in a beautiful forest. I can’t believe how dense this little jaunt has become in the last year. Once bright with sunlight, it’s now thick, green, and …
Gotta love our seasonal fruit growing on the side of the road!
This just makes you feel good.
What a morning at Rosario…
Playing tourist for several hours and visiting another island is like an easy, lighthearted mini-vacation. It takes about 45 minutes (if you pick the right ferry) to get to San Juan Island. The town of Friday Harbor sits right where the ferry sets your feet on land. The days are …
Meet Brian and Jackie. The other day before heading up the Turtleback trail, they walked by my car and we started chatting. Look at his shirt. It says Bagan Temple Marathon Myanmar. Whoa whoa whoa. Wait a minute. A marathoner who has run in Myanmar (formerly Burma)? I had to …
I love seeing what’s going on behind closed doors here on the island – people working on their music, their business, their craft, their passion, their art, their acting, etc. Anytime I am allowed access into a new environment, I jump at it. After watching and writing about the live …
Blackberry season is upon us now! Hooray! If you’re visiting the island, be sure to ask if it’s okay to pick someone’s berries before going for it. Our neighbors kindly allow us to pick theirs.
Salvadorian street food in the Ray’s Pharmacy parking lot. Four beef tacos for $10. They also sell pupusas, burritos, quesdadillas, etc.
Tonight our church had a presentation and Q & A session about a film called Bono & Eugene Peterson: The Psalms. You probably know of Bono, lead singer of U2. If you’ve read The Message, a translation of the bible in contemporary language, then you know of its author, Eugene …
The post before this one, “Church in Person,” was a post I wrote last week. I postdated it to come out today, and haven’t thought about it since. One of my readers – C.O. – reminded me that it went live today, and I thank her for reaching out. The …
This is what communion has looked like for over a year – whatever we’ve had on hand in the kitchen. Juice and rice cakes. Water and donut pieces. Sparkling cider and crackers. No more! What a joy it is to walk into Orcas Island Community Church and see what has …
One of my favorite locals to “visit” on Facebook is Louise Tucker. What she posts is downright therapeutic. It’s calming. It’s innocent. It’s clean and pure. It’s peaceful. Louise notices all that’s right in front of her. She not only takes time to look, she quietly seeks out everyday miracles. …
What a feeling it is to have Orcas Island back to normal. Our inner tanks are filling with every unmasked face we see, every smile we reciprocate, and every gathering we attend! How appropriate it is that our local Brograss just put on a concert at the Village Green to …
Low tide around Indian Island is a phenomenal experience for nature lovers. It’s ever-important to treat all creatures gently out there, and docents look after the area to make sure locals and visitors are extremely conscientious. When the tide goes out, you only have a few hours to look around …
I love how life leads you to experiences you just can’t plan out, especially here on Orcas Island. That’s why I always leave ample room for spontaneous conversations and wonderful “happenings.” Meet my new friend, Anne Thomas – someone I’ve known about for years – and her lifelong friend, Joy. …
A big thank you to Lance and the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce for using some of my photos for the new visitor guide. It’s a great resource to have for information on hikes, restaurants, accommodations, etc. You can get one at 65 North Beach Road right in the heart …
Summer at the lake is the best. It’s free all-day fun, and there’s a perfect spot for everyone.
A young life was lost several days ago. Many of our teenagers worked alongside Issac at Rosario Resort and talked to him on one of his last nights. It is a heavy thing, and leaves a long-lasting impression – especially on young people unaccustomed to death – when someone is …
Elizabeth Schermerhorn came up with a great idea during the pandemic when we were all staying at home, and she’s still at it today. Every Wednesday night and Sunday night at 8 PM, she creates a “live” store in which she and local women model the clothing in her business …
This summer, Sail Orcas in West Sound is offering women’s sailing lessons each Monday night from 5:30-7:30 PM – a beautiful time in the afternoon to be out on the water learning some of the most important life skills you could have on an island! The classes are full for …
Well lookee here! The Orcas Island Golf Course now has an 18-hole mini-golf course. When you do it, you’ll see just how much imagination, creativity, and work went into dreaming it up and making it happen. Come along on a lovely evening… For more information, click here. Thank you, Shelly …
How excited I was when these two women passed me in town on their bicycles! You see people from all over the world here, but I’ve never run across an Amish visitor. I called to them to stop so I could say hello and introduce myself, as I’m always so …
This past Friday morning, Gretchen Krampf co-hosted a radio show – Lift Your Spirits! with Dena Marie on Alternative Talk 1150 KKNW – and invited me to be on and talk about this blog. Click here to listen. The segment I’m in starts at 20:10, and the following segment features …
Every summer around the 4th of July, Orcas Island Community Church puts on Vacation Bible School. It’s free or by donation and is open to any pre-K through 6th-grade child on the island – local or visitor. Keep it in mind next year in case you missed it this time …
In 30 minutes it begins! All kids are welcome, even if you just found out about it and your kids can’t make it today but can make it for the rest of the week. VBS is from 12:45-3:15 each day this week at Orcas Island Community Church. It’s free (or …
Fireworks were cancelled again this year, but thankfully another laser light show was planned at Mt Baker Farm. We didn’t hear about it last year until it was too late, so this year I didn’t want to miss out on the only community fesitvities for the big night. Oh my …
Last night we attended the very first unmasked indoor show on Orcas Island since March of last year. Matthew the Magician is one of our local phenoms, and his magic show is not to be missed. He is unbelievably impressive. We’ve been attending Matthew’s shows since he was 13 years …
Here on Orcas Island, we choose an honorary mayor each year by casting our monetary votes to see who gets the most. It’s a clever fundraiser that benefits Orcas Island Children’s House. This year’s candidates? A line-up of various dogs, a bunny, and a bearded dragon. Every year after the …
