Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… With the pressure and stress of opening up our destination vacation island only to then slow the opening back down, the arrival of visitors with and without masks, spiking COVID numbers across the nation, not to mention prolonged isolation,  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… It’s June and gardens on the island are burgeoning with new life. At the Mullis Center more than foliage and flowers has sprung up. Among the greenery on the east side of the building you will now find poems  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… It is summer in the San Juans and San Juan County has moved into Phase 2 of our state’s four-phased Safe Start Washington plan. What does this mean for island seniors as local businesses slowly begin to open up,  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Island Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… Its been a few months now of staying home and staying healthy, of wearing masks and gloves to the grocery store, of staying six feet apart from friends we’d really like to hug, of meetings on Zoom. How  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… With community lunches on hold due to COVID-19 it may seem like not much is happening these days at the Mullis Center. However, since the lockdown, the number of meals delivered to local seniors by our Meals on Wheels  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… On Monday the Mullis Center Book Club met for the first time using Zoom. This was also my first time using Zoom so I was happy to discover how easy it was. The Book Club is facilitated by San  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… How is everybody doing? As an introvert who already works at home having to stay home has not changed my lifestyle very much. Yet, it is different. I am aware now that I touch my face way too much  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… Things have moved so swiftly with the coronavirus it seems like we were just watching it on the news unfolding in China then suddenly it was close to home. Now our schools, the library, churches and offices are closed  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… One of my favorite quotes about sleep comes from former Secretary of State Colin Powell who said, “I’m sleeping like a baby… Every two hours I wake up screaming.” Hopefully your sleep is more restful!  As we get older  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… There will be no lunch served at the Mullis Center on Monday. Presidents Day is a federal holiday; banks and the post office are also closed. Before the Uniform Federal Holidays act of 1971 we observed Abraham Lincoln’s birthday  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… A Scotsman was eating his oats when an Englishman scoffed, “In England we feed oats to our horses.” “Aye,” said the Scot, “That is why England raises the best horses… and Scotland the best men.” So said my dad, Jim  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… We islanders enjoy what is normally a mild climate but every once in a while we get blasted with a winter storm. If you’ve lived here for a while you have stories to tell of power outages, frozen pipes,  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… Whether the New Year brings with it a desire to counter the indulgences of the holidays or an ongoing intention to retain and improve your health and well being, the Mullis Center’s regular classes; Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, both  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… As the year 2019 comes to an end we San Juan Islanders can count our blessings. We live on a beautiful island and we have a senior center with much to offer.  This year the Mullis Center has seen  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the SJ Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… There is a certain amount of hustle and bustle that inevitably accompanies the holiday season. Here are just a few ideas that may help limit the stresses and increase the joys of celebrating the holidays: Give the gift of shared  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… Get your holiday season shopping off to a festive start at the Mullis Center’s Holiday Craft Fair. The Fair happens the weekend before Thanksgiving, this year on Friday, November 22, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm and on Saturday, November  Continue Reading

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 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 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

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

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… Even while we cherish our late summer days there is a twist to the seasons this time of year.  Kids head back to school and while I’ve been out of school for a long time I still feel the  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… It is August on San Juan Island. The roads are dusty and the traffic is wild. This time of year dodging mopeds and navigating around long lines of bicycling tourists can fray an islander’s nerves. If you are tempted  Continue Reading