About the Author
Peggy Sue McRae

Local artist Peggy Sue McRae has lived on San Juan Island most of her life. She is a painter who has worked in a variety of mediums including, oil and watercolor painting, stone carving, printmaking and collage. In 1999 she earned her master’s degree in Fine Arts from Washington State University. She was awarded a residency with the Morris Graves Foundation in 2004 and was accepted into Women Painters of Washington in 2007. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Pacific Northwest and in China. She is the author of the art blog Blackfish Art.

Recent Posts by Peggy Sue

Local Authors To Have Booth At Island Artisans Holiday Marketplace

November 13, 2019 at 6:01 am

Authors of the San Juan Islands, a community of local published writers, will staff a booth at the Island Artisans Holiday Marketplace this year. AOSJI, a non­‐profit organization, was formed in 2018 to help promote local authors and educate new writers in pursuit of better craft and business practices.  On the first Saturday of each  Continue Reading

San Juan Island’s Rock Solid Awarded Top Honor At Prevention Summit

November 12, 2019 at 6:15 am

Rock Solid wins top award… The San Juan Island Prevention Coalition is proud to announce our youth prevention team, Rock Solid, was awarded top honor at this year’s WA. State Prevention Summit in Yakima! Rock Solid has successfully returned each year since 2011 to complete a meaningful prevention project in our community after attending the  Continue Reading

PADS for Parkinson’s Receives $25,000 in Match Fund Challenge

November 12, 2019 at 6:10 am

Great news from PADS… PADs for Parkinson’s of San Juan Island would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the exciting opportunity to receive up to $25,000 in matching funds. This generous match fund has been presented by an anonymous benefactor and will apply to any donation received this giving season. Your support is needed  Continue Reading

Island Senior: Cooking With Kate, The Mullis Center’s New Cook

November 1, 2019 at 5:49 am

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… The Mullis Center has a new lead cook. I was delighted to learn the new cook is my friend Kate Stone.  Kate recently returned to San Juan Island after moving with her family to New Zealand for a 5-year  Continue Reading

Island Senior: Mindfulness and a Healthy Brain

October 17, 2019 at 6:24 am

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… The practice of mindfulness is an important tool to have in your mental toolbox especially when life gets stressful. I’ve learned different mindfulness techniques or meditation practices over the years mostly within the context of a yoga class or  Continue Reading

Island Senior: “Grandma’s Garden” Remembering Belle Mullis

September 30, 2019 at 8:13 am

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… Recently my sister Betty unearthed a piece of applique needlework that I made in the 80s called “Grandma’s Garden”. It was my fanciful depiction of our grandmother Belle Mullis working in her garden. As kids growing up in the  Continue Reading

Town Seeks Submissions For Poetry Garden

September 17, 2019 at 8:25 am

We are re-posting this notice with a correction to the submission address. All submissions should be sent to P.O. Box 219… Friday Harbor will soon be the home of four poetry gardens. The Town of Friday Harbor and the Friday Harbor Arts Commission are establishing the new poetry gardens as a way of bringing poetry—a way  Continue Reading

Island Senior: Shopping With “Soroptibucks”

September 16, 2019 at 5:48 am

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… Eating fresh wholesome food is one of the cornerstones of maintaining good health. As anyone who shops for food knows, this can get expensive. Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor has generated greater access to good food by partnering with San  Continue Reading

Carol Whalen Beats Meningitis. Thank You, Community!

September 9, 2019 at 5:30 am

We hear some good news from Bristol & Desi Whalen… Hello everyone, This is the post our family has prayed we’d be able to write since Tuesday, July 9, 2019 — an unbelievable 62 days ago. Our beautiful Rockstar Mom BEAT MENINGITIS AND IS COMING HOME!!! We are bringing her unparalleled smile and gorgeous spirit  Continue Reading

Island Rec Offers First Aid and CPR Class

September 9, 2019 at 5:00 am

Upon successful completion of this class you will walk away with life-saving skills and a First Aid certification from the American Heart Association that is valid for two years! This is an ideal class for parents, babysitters, volunteer coaches and recreation leaders ages 15 and up. First Aid will take place on Wednesday, September 25 from  Continue Reading