After the Farmer’s Market in Eastsound we returned to our hotel to unpack and take a moment to check it out. Nice sized rooms, good fluffy beds and our own very private front porch with a view of the beautiful grounds! This yellow cottage held a total of 4 rooms, our two downstairs rooms and two more upstairs.

I could get used to this view and I love the walking path that runs along the cliff by the fence…

When we checked in Luke from the Inn told us of a couple of cool things happening on the island including an organ concert played on one of the world’s largest organs in the very old and antique filled Rosario Resort and Spa.

This was all in the little town of Olga, you guessed it, a stone’s throw away. We headed off to that and did enjoy the “concert” (I especially liked the old french silent films they showed as a backdrop) but the mansion was somehow a bit underwhelming and I”m not sure how you feel about organ music but not really in my top ten… anyhow, luckily we left in time for the next “event” Luke had told us about.

Organ-ic?

Back to the hotel. When I was growing up Bald Eagles were on the verge of extinction. Fortunately that is no longer the case however seeing one is still pretty spectacular. And especially seeing 3 of them (2 locals and an “interloper”) swoop down to catch the fish remains that the chef had left Luke from that night’s dinner preparation.

Ornithology anyone? At first the fish scraps only attracted the gulls and the Turkey Hawks. But the Eagles don’t take long to wise up to Luke’s ways! And BTW, Bald Eagles are not actually bald. The name derives from the older meaning of the word, “white headed”.

Incoming…!!!!

Ok, so this is not National Geographic worthy but remember, this was taken with my iPhone! I love the yellow beak! He sure is the real thing!

I had no idea how much of “thirst” you could whip up by bird watching – somebody gimme a drink! Since we had missed happy hour we were ready to move right into dinner and a nice bottle (or two) of local Washington wine!

April and May were a whirlwind of activity culminating in spending Memorial Day weekend with our most fabulous friends Ryan and Elizabeth on Orcas Island. Orcas is right across the water from Lummi – almost like it’s big brother – similar personality, a bit more sophisticated and much bigger (in fact, the largest of the San Juan’s)!

So where to begin? Arriving Friday night from Los Angeles we picked Ryan and Elizabeth up at SeaTac and whisked them off to South Lake Union for dinner at one of Tom Douglas’s restaurants Serious Pie. Some of you may remember this is where we spent John’s birthday and not only is it a great place to take a vegetarian (Ryan) but it’s just plain delicious and real food!!! Everyone (well, except Ryan) was jealous of my fennel sausage pizza – I told you guys it was the BEST!
The next morning we were up with the chickens – we had a ferry to catch! Our hotel had warned us of long Memorial Day weekend lines and with the minimal ferry schedule we did not want to miss the 10:30 depature. If we did, the next boat out wouldn’t get us to Orcas until 4pm. Better make that an extra shot in my latte thank you!
The ferry for Orcas departs out of Anacortes. This is about an 1.5 hour drive from Seattle. To take your car on is not cheap – for 4 of us total cost with dar $80 but at least this is round trip.

Some of us called the deck of the ferry refreshing, others thought it was just plain chilly! As you can see, the sun was also still waking up….

Violin Virtuoso – a bit like out of a Fellini film as this woman serenaded us on deck to the rolling tides and screeching seagulls……

Shortly after landing (a beautiful 5 minutes drive?) we pulled up to our hotel. I have to say we really lucked out with our choice of the Inn at Ship Bay. It has a comparatively pretty webiste but even that didn’t do it justice! A small hotel on beautiful grounds a small orchard of (fruit trees, big herb & vegetable garden) with an amazing restaurant perched on the cliff overlooking the ocean. Gorgeous!

Who has time to unpack? We were starving so we headed immediately into the little village of Eastsound (about 2 minute drive from out hotel and later Elizabeth and I would eventually easily walk it).

Saturday is Farmer’s Market day but first things first – a yummy lunch at Enzo’s Gallery Cafe. Now, without grumbling stomachs, we could explore the market and some of the local shops.

Love the hand chalked sign and slogan of Maple Rock Farms – Know your farmer. Know your food.There are lots of farms on Orcas including Black Dog below which we hope to explore on the next trip!

Eastsound has lots of beautiful small town charm!

We wandered into the home section of Tres Fabu (a local clothing and accessory boutique) and could have easily come out with a handful of stuff…the island version of Anthropologie! Inside-

And out…

New use for an old chair – love it!

I’m always searching for my favorite card store and I can now easily say it is Darvill’s Bookstore on Eastsound. Yes, they have great books in this small but charming store but their card selection is fantastic and I found myself snapping up cards left and right – love having a stash of great cards ready to go and none of that last minute panic trying to find the perfect card.

Marc and I had had ice cream from this “truck” the last time we were on the island and I’ll seriously never forget how fresh and delicious the berry flavor I had was.

Darn it why did I have to be too full from just eating lunch???…oh well, another reason to return to Orcas!!! Or maybe we’ll see it again tomorrow?
Time to move on to the next part of day 1 on Orcas. To be continued!

There are millions of tulips blooming around Queen Anne. Make that a gazillion if you include the ones growing along the sides of my house!

A couple of these blooms are the result of bulbs I actually stuck in the ground last Autumn (a “gift” left hanging on the front door from some Realty company) and all mingling amongst these pretty little blue flowers that might even be weeds? And much to my delight, finally finally finally evidence that the Iris are about to bloom. Not quite ready but soon soon soon! Irises are one of my favorite flowers. I love them when they grow in clumps and especially when they are growing wild. One of my few regrets in life is driving in Tuscany (with Susan?) past an old stone wall littered with irises. Why oh why did I not stop to take pictures? It was perfectly romantic and beautiful!

Update: Sometimes I’ll write a post and then “stuff” happens and it doesn’t get posted in time. This is the case with this! The tulips are longgone and many of the irises in Queen Anne are now in full bloom. Mine are just starting and I promise pictures soon! So much to learn about gardening in the Northwest!

Remember those eggs I was telling you we picked up at Full Bloom Farm? Well, the next morning Jim whipped them up along with some thick cut bacon and yummy bread. We were fortified for day 2 of Lummi – at least until lunch time that is!

We took a nice walk after breakfast and was joined the whole way by neighbor dog Sparky.

Jim’s dog Sage seemed to enjoy his canine company and neither one of them could have cared less when we visited their definite non-canine competition. I named the red headed one Rhianna and the other especially peculiar Dr. Seuss looking creature simply Lorenzo Llamas. Nice haircut dudes! (or dudettes?)

Afterwards we headed over to the Willows Inn where Jim introduced us to serious farm to table chef Blaine Wetzel. People seriously come from all over the states to eat Blaine’s food as he cooked under Rene Redzepi of Noma in Copenhagen, one of the most famous restaurnts in the world. When we peaked into the kitchen Blaine was preparing fresh bread for the nights dinner. Jim told us he spends all day working on the one 8 course meal. Wow, I want that!

I needed a beer after meeting Blaine so Gavin bought a pitcher and we headed over to the hotel’s Bocce ball court. Marc and I played Bocce like crazy in Tuscany and are always happy to see a proper court. Jim was good at the game and Gavin had some amazing beginners luck, or maybe he really is a sporty guy afterall??? Not!!!

The fun didn’t stop here as Jim asked if we wanted to see the farm where most of the food was grown for the restaurant. Again, was I dreaming? We jumped in the car and 2 minutes later were at Nettles Farm.


The farm is beautiful and has lodging on it too. But as this has been a particularly cold and wet spriing the garden was not particularly bursting that is until we got inside the greenhouse!

Wow, there will be plenty of awesome produce on the tables at Willows in that is for sure! There must have been hundred of tomato plants still waiting to be planted! Lovely peas and zucchini, edible flowers, I hope I get to partake in some of this harvest!

The girl who was busy planting looked right out of a Ralph Lauren shoot – sickening!!!!

Where does time go? Looked like it was time to leave Lummi but boy was parting sweet sorrow!
We hope to see Jim and Jen soon and can’ t wait to check in on the progress of their beautiful beach cottage.
We’re also keeping tabs on the crazy Victorian renovation that sits right next to their house! (no, this house is not orange, it is just under construction and Miss Cozy has no idea what that stuff is called!)

The only thing that would have made this weekend a little more perfect would have been about 3 more days. Well, maybe next time. Until then, see you Lummi Island!

Wow, where to begin! We spent this past weekend at friends Jim and Jen’s house on Lummi Island (one of the smallest islands in Washington’s San Juan Island’s). They bought a little house which they are in the process of renovating to perfection. Gavin, Marc and I drove our food and wine packed car onto the ferry on Saturday morning and no less than 6 minutes later were driving round the island. To make a long and lovely story short, here are some impressions. Jim and Jen, thanks again for being such perfects hosts – we had an amazing time!
Below, the gate across the street from their house which leads right to the beach

Our perfect adventure started out with lunch at Tweets in a little town called Bow which is basically a one horse town but maybe from a dream of mine because it had 3 art galleries, a couple of bakeries, a gourmet store (or two?) a “curiosity” shop and an antique shop. What more could you ask for?

It seems we did wait a little bit for our food at Tweets but when it came it made the wait worth while. Marc, Gavin and I all had the vegetable gratin with a simple but delicate cheese sauce. Plus a really good hot cup of tea (and it was a bit chilly so that was perfect). And, rustic as it was, they even had a gorgeous chandelier!

After debarking the ferry we took a short ride around the entire island – I was surprised at how small and totally cozy the island really is! The island has a general store, 2 restaurants, a library, you get the idea! Look – even Jim and Jen’s mailbox is cool!

We immediately checked out the beach right across the street from the house and doggy Sage woulda liked to play fetch well, forever but we had to pick up some wine at the one wine store on the island before it closed! We also managed to and swing by the Full Bloom farm to buy some fresh eggs for the following morning. You gotta love the Honor System!!!

Jim had bought a freshly caught Lingcod for dinner and wanted to experiment with “freshly foraged” nettles which just happened to grow on the beach path. Off we went to pick some and I quickly learned my lesson why they are actually called “stinging nettles” – those little suckers will get you if you don’t watch out. Jen brought a pair of gardeing gloves and we managed to pluck a whole bowl with not too much drama and no 911!

Jim ended up making a Nettle pesto which with it’s earthy spinachy taste was a perfect accompaniment to the fish. We all helped do whatever needed doing for the preparation of dinner. I shucked the fava beans and had fun rummaging through all their great dishes to help set the table!

Needless to say, may bottles of wine were consumed that night and we threw many logs on the fire. Because that’s just what you do on Lummi Island. Tomorrow would undoubtedly be another cozy day and I couldn’t wait!

We had the most delightful thing happen this past Saturday. The doorbell rang around 10am which usually means a solicitor of sorts (not a good thing..) but this time I was greeted by a really cute blonde woman holding a pink bakery box. Special delivery for Marc’s birthday – a box full of yummy fresh pastries! What? Wow!! Who gets pastries delivered? How luxurious! and who could be responsible for the delicacy delivery?

I immediately knew who the fabulous culprit was – Marc’s sister Corinne. Who, by the way, lives in Zurich, Switzerland! A little Google research and a couple of phone calls (I make it sound so easy?) and she convinced Nielsen’s Pastries to hand deliver the most wonderful pastries to her birthday brother on last Saturday morning! A great idea that I highly recommend if you want to do something unique and mouthwatering!

For that person who has everything OR for people who just love scrumptious stuff from bakeries (that’s us!)

They say little girls love pink and Chloe would be no exception! The cherry blossom trees outside our house are now starting to loose their petals creating what I think looks like a flurry of soft, pink snow. I’m not sure what Chloe thinks it looks like but whatever it is, she finds it fascinating!

Usually she loves to get a running start (more like a bat out of hell!) but this day with “mom” watching she is more contemplative…

A quick scratch to ponder the question should I stay or should I go? Yup, up she goes!

She didn’t stay up long, she never does. As a silly little girl, she’s just on to her next adventure whatever that may be and with Chloe you just never know what that may be!