When I went to the Lavender Festival last weekend at Pelindaba Lavender Farm, it was a bit transcendent – clear skies, a slight breeze wafting the lavender smell over from the farm, with marimba music playing and food & crafts all around. The best part for me was hearing a little kid tell his mother,  Continue Reading

Just heard Maggie Brown passed away after a long illness… condolences to Brian during this tough time…

When it’s sunny & bright & the music makes you want to dance, it’s always good to check in with the new moms on the island – the kids always look happy & the moms proud of their little islanders.

One of the coolest parts of the Arts Fair last weekend was Chalk It Up! put on by Island Rec. Over 80 kids painted the sidewalks around the Courthouse, leaving a colorful splash on a sunny day.

My friend Megan dropped me a note about this, this weekend – if you haven’t seen a Natural Horsemanship demonstration, you’ve missed out – it’s a wonderful show of the connection between rider & horse. Every year I’ve seen it at the Fair, it’s incredible & inspiring – make time for it. Here’s more from  Continue Reading

Every Wednesday night at 6:30pm…the music is good. Island Rec’s Sally Thomsen tells me the band this week at Music on the Lawn is pretty awesome, so already I was gonna go, but there’s another good reason: The Soroptimist Club’s Kiss for the Cure Contest, as people vote by donating a dollar a vote towards  Continue Reading

There are a few things around San Juan Island you should never miss, and one of them is this weekend. The twelfth annual Encampment is set to begin Friday, and this year’s event includes the visit of a special lady. Here’s more from the Park Service’s writeup (and click here for pictures from the last  Continue Reading

It’s Southern, so you know it’s gonna be fun….here’s more from Jan Bollwinkel-Smith from the Community Theatre (click here for our previous writeup): You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll start saying “y’all” after seeing Robert Harling’s STEEL MAGNOLIAS. The play opens Thursday at 8:00 p.m. on the Whittier stage and features a special opening night  Continue Reading

I got a chance to swing by the book-signing that Griffin Bay Books put on for Karen Burns’ Working Girl book (its full title: The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use), and ended up buying the book & reading it. She has great fun discussing how to make a  Continue Reading

Tracy Roberson just dropped me a note to share with you: Nancy Adkins, 74, passed away at her home in Anacortes Wednesday, July 15, 2009.  She was surrounded by her loving family.  A full obituary will be published at a later date.  Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral chapel and Crematory, Anacortes and  Continue Reading

Hey, I know these are tough times, but if you HAVE to go to a fundraiser this summer, consider the Animal Shelter’s Wags to Riches deal this weekend. It includes an auction, canine entertainment (dogs that fly!), a dinner that can’t be beat, and getting to hang around with folks you know. Can’t beat it.  Continue Reading

His book is out! Here’s more about Shu’s book, which you can get at Griffin Bay Bookstore: A charming and original fable written in rhyming couplets, “to bee or not to bee” is the story of a young butterfly that doesn’t see his life’s true purpose, until he tries to be something he is not  Continue Reading

Famous people sometimes come to the island – to buy real estate, to get away from the crazy crowds, or sometimes, just to eat. I heard that Seattle Mariners pitcher Garrett Olsen dropped by Haley’s during the All-Star break (he’s pitching tomorrow night, against Detroit). The waitresses reported to me that he’s “cute.” And Kathleen  Continue Reading

You’ve been looking at Tim Dustrude’s photos all year, as he takes a photo a day for 365 days…here’s his photo blog with a new and different photo every day. He’s answered that challenge, and now he’s ready to answer yours – here’s his new  website (click here) as he offers a full range of  Continue Reading

You’ve been looking at Tim Dustrude’s photos all year, as he takes a photo a day for 365 days…here’s his photo blog with a new and different photo every day. He’s answered that challenge, and now he’s ready to answer yours – here’s his new  website (click here) as he offers a full range of  Continue Reading

You’ll be guided by cutlass-point back to Castaway Dave’s in the back of Jeri’s Mall (between the jewelry store & The Hot Shop) by Aaron D’Errico, Jack Sparrow, or a guy who looks a little like both of ’em. Connie Shaw takes the photos, and they always come out looking good – check her out!  Continue Reading