Well, we have made it this far, so the light at the end of the tunnel is up ahead there somewhere! Some fantastic local restaurants are closing their doors, some for the season and some forever, as the economy takes its toll in the local market.
Thai Sisters, we bid you a fond farewell and hope you know that any time you want to cook for us, we will come, dollars in hand, to eat that fine food you have been serving us. Erb’s–we are sorry to see you go, and wonder about all the empty space in the Orcas Athletic Center. Here’s expecting a renewed business imminently!
I also saw a going out of business sale at The Clothes Horse–the one across the courtyard from Homegrown. Through the window, it looked as though there was still a good selection of beautiful fashions available at severely discounted prices. Stop in and take a peek a possibly perfect present possibilities perchance!
We had a remarkable dinner with eighty of our closest friends at the Orcas Island Community Church. All the old favorites and some definite contenders for newbies. The “Turkey El Salvador” was amazing! The Food Bank distributed 115 turkeys this year, so we celebrated in style with a lot of families! Thank you all for your support–we couldn’t do it at the Food Bank without the strong support we get from the Orcas Island Community. You Rock!
As we head into the doldrums of winter, and contrasting brightness of Christmas lights (seen today Black Friday: Perry from Napa installing the lights on the tree in downtown Eastsound.) give some thought to the Giving Tree at Island Market, where you can spread some Christmas cheer to local children in challenging circumstances. Thank you for caring!
Blessings to you and a Happy Thanksgiving holiday!
Wow. It is like you blink and you miss huge chunks of the summer. We were so busy, traveling hither and yon-enjoyed CREATIONFEST 2009 at the Gorge–wandered through Seattle a number of times and enjoyed the 4th of July parade on Orcas before heading off to friends’ new house in West Seattle, where we observed a continuous explosion of fire works from Point Defiance to Port Townsend. It was like music on staff paper, although the “notes” looked more like, well, fire works! than the usual oval. Exploding notes playing out on the skyline. On the way, when we were crossing the Ship Canal Bridge, it seemed as though one would be able to cross Lake Union by stepping from boat to boat. WaMu wasn’t playing fireworks this year, so Lake Union was the game in town. It was quite a sight.
We had a nice respite in Oregon at a wonderful state campground which shall remain nameless as that was one of the conditions under which we were invited to visit. Amazing beach, great brew pub just down the way, also on the beach and a fine place to celebrate a friend’s pass into her 6th decade. A fine time among old friends (no pun intended). The most amazing thing about that beach in Oregon was the clothing. Here is was, a beautiful, sunny summer day at the height of summer in the Pacific Northwest, a crowded beach filled with vacationers, and every one of them was fully dressed. Must have been the wind.
On Orcas, we bid goodbye to some friends for the last time. Cancer and the like contributed to the loss. How wonderful to remember them as they were, to rejoice in the love we shared, and to wish them well on their transition. : ) Selah. On this side of the grass, we au revoir’d more than a few friends and relatives this summer, some of whom were in the neighborhood for the first time.
A favorite was the phone call from a friend whose path initially crossed mine two decades ago in New Orleans. How sweet to get her call and invitation for dinner, and how fun to watch the gap of years fall with each smile and laugh. It had been two decades since we had the pleasure of our mutual company, and at least one since we had spoken. Love endures, and it was a great reminder.
On the home front, this has been as difficult and as rewarding a year as there ever was. God is good and life continues!
How nice the weather has been. The ferries I’ve been on have been the ones I was aiming for and the summer is about to kick in. Things are still tight, but good things are up ahead. The kids have jobs and business seems to be picking up a little.
The other day I had the privilege of watching a seemingly unchaperoned spotted fawn run the length of my father’s hedge and back again several times. Leaping about this way and that, the baby bobbed and swayed in exuberance to the joyful song of life.
This morning, when I opened my curtains, I was treated to an encounter with a pair of little ones and a number of parents and yearlings hanging about, having a light snack on the lawn.
I am glad to be alive today.
Spring is really coming. I saw the Bilbo’s crew getting the Taqueria ready and I knew that the season is finally changing. The sun has been peeking through more often and there is an hour or two in the afternoon where the temperature is actually balmy. Summer must be just around the corner!
I heard some exciting things this weekend. The Idleman’s had a baby– 10lbs 14oz. Almost a toddler already and i can’t wait to get my hands on him! Also ventured into the Ecotopian for the first time and found my good friend Kenny Sides had taken over operations so I enjoyed his good fortune, good wine, great company and outstanding food. We had the ahi and fried brie and enjoyed it so much we had to order a second round! Worth the trip, hands down. I say go there, but suggest you make reservations, because when the word gets around, it is going to be hard to get a table.
Also heard that some of Orcas’ finest won the Battle of the Bands in Seattle. Peter Vinson, Ian Sides and company–WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!
Things are looking up, now that taxes or at least extensions are out of the way. It is going to be a great week : )
It takes an amazing amount of paper (dollars and letter-sized) to make the tax code go–declaring, defining, reporting and the black hole called record keeping. I would hate to even speculate how many trees gallantly give their lives for this process.
Technological inroads (i.e. digital) notwithstanding, and no matter what they say, original documents are still the greatest protection against audit-induced financial pain. Which brings us back to the amazing amount of paper : )
For more information about your taxes, and automatic extensions, CLICK HERE to visit IRS.gov
Traffic on Orcas seems to be on an up-swing–certainly more so than the temperature, although the sun is making appearances more frequently with each passing week. Visitors are a good thing. I heard that Rosario is opening next month–but I don’t know much more than that. Camp Orkila is waking up again, a sure sign of spring and I’m guessing they still have staffing slots to fill if you’re up for the challenge.
Happy Spring! Even on April 15th, it’s hard not to be in a good mood when the sun is finally shining and the flowers are smiling back.
I’m thinking that there are many among us who could go for a big do-over about now. Remember how the producers and directors of the show “Dallas” tried to regain lost ground by reversing bad story line choices like the death of Bobby Ewing by consigning at least one full season to the “bad dream” pile.
The second Bob Newhart Series about the B&B in the strange little New England town put the same “it was all a dream” tactic to work nicely at the end of that series, when Bob “woke up” back where he belonged, beside Emily (Susan Pleshette), his wife from the first series.
Lots of other parallels (characters?) and similarities probably exist between that strange little New England town and Orcas Island, but as I have no immediate plans to relocate, it is best to leave it at that. Selah.
With escalating national debt, decreasing liquidity of equity and dissolving credit availability, I am guessing that some of us would like a do-over for where we chose to put our faith–can I get an amen?
In the “other news” department, the Orcas Island Food Bank will begin food distribution services in donated space at the Orcas Island Community Church next week (Tuesday, April 7)–
Wow. It is amazing how time flies even when you aren’t having fun. So many great things going on. . .Jordan Griffin came home–visited school–VERY ENCOURAGING! Babies have been born or are imminent (baby showers are great fun) and meanwhile all the regular stuff has to been seen to. Add a week of vacation and a dash of drama, and you have a pretty good list of excuses for why there is such duration between this post and the last.
That’s not to say that we have had an easy time of it still, what with dangerous curves and difficult challenges still surrounding us. Unemployment is scary and prevalent locally–we miss Rosario! But, to round out the platitudes–if push comes to shove, things are not as bad as they could be, and in many instances they are looking better than they have been for some time.
Bottom line: still on the edge but hopeful–what about you?
Melted that snow right away, eh?! I heard the terminology was changing from “global warming” to– “climate change” so that proponents accomodate the prolonged cold weather of the 2009 winter season. Flexibility is the name of the game if you want to keep those earmarks coming. Pulled pork compliments of the PTB.
What a day on Orcas. Climate change definitley applied if we were comparing the morning with the afternoon. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that local school children were behind the weather–using it to score a nice half-day’s vacation.
Don’t forget to stop by Orcas Christian School Tuesday, 3-10-09, for a wonderful dinner hosted by the students and faculty and prepared by our favorite Bilbos kitchen artist Heather Thomas. After trying a multitude of southwest venues to find a chile relleno that measures up to the ones that were served at Christmas time by Heather, I can wholeheartedly nominate Heather as the “Mistress of the Chile” because although the southwest samples were delicious, there were none so delicious as those that she makes. I don’t know whether they are on the menu for tomorrow, but I know she is serving up a Mexican feast, and I have never been disappointed by anything she has prepared.
Dinner starts at 5PM. Don’t miss it!
Pretty nice here in Phoenix! Scouting the players for fantasy baseball–the Orcas Killer Whales are going to have a heck of a season. Ken Griffey, Jr. made an early spring appearance in a Mariners vs. the Australian national team in and exhibition game warm up just prior to The Aussies engagement in the WBC (World Baseball Classic). Jr. drew a walk and scored, and smacked a line drive caught right at the 410 yard marker in deep center field.
Adrien Beltre hit a double and a home run for the MY OH MY’s. Ever the good US hosts, the Mariners graciously let the Aussies win 11-9. It’s always nice to watch the prospects, and AA Mariner Mike Wilson did not disappoint. 2 solid line drives and a towering home-run raise the expectation that this is his season to make the Show. Looking like a great possiblity for free agent pick-up for the Orcas Killer Whales.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Next week is that last of the Community Dinners at OCS–and Heather from Bilbo’s is cooking, making it a “can’t miss” calendar appointment. Dinner is free, served from 5-8, and some of the cutest kids on the island will be on hand to facilitate your dining experience. Be there, be fed!
Well, it beats snow for road conditions, but the rain sure is marking a cadence on the roof this morning. Very exciting news this week–Jordan Griffin is due home tomorrow. If you don’t remember, this remarkable young man broke his neck snowboarding at the golf course in mid-December. For a glimpse at the journey he has been on to get to this homecoming moment, click here .
From his mother’s blog “. . .As of this writing, Jordan is making spectacular progress…he is moving his left pinky finger Voluntarily!! This is a HUGE step for him and shows there is some nerve progress in his hand!
He is also reported to the therapists and me that he can feel firm touch on his left toes, back of his left calf and the inside of his left knee….another major milestone! Still nomovement below his upper chest area…but I believe in miracles, patience, hard work and determination!!”
Nice to have some good news : ) –remember that fare sale for Southwest Airlines? I am off to see what stuff the Mariner’s got this year. I’ll be letting you know : )
