The New Inhabitants! Yearly visitors! The day!

It is that time again, the little black sugar ants come marching in! Although cute and tiny, they are not a welcome guest. This is their yearly visit and they like to stay. With organic growing methods, well water and living on an island....pesticides? That would be a resounding NO! My husband tried the ant traps and light counter sprays to no avail despite my objection. Then I found the magic of plain ordinary and very cheap white vinegar! Yes, it worked beautifully! They are gone and they don't die, they just go away.... One day you see them, a light vinegar spray on counters, seams and corners, then they are gone!

With the Fall approaching and the spectrum of vibrant colors all around.....come the dampness of the Pacific Northwest! Our wood burning stove does a nice job of warming the air and drying out the moisture. For those huge picture windows, single paned, the last to be replaced, they get small amounts of mold on the window sills! It is simply a fact that the wood framed windows with all the wood in our home gets this, unavoidable or not? That would be yes! Cheap white vinegar sprayed on the windows and frames not only removes this light mold beautifully but prevents the recurrence! The glass really sparkles afterward!

For the spiders that come visiting, we simply grab a broom. After they are swept up, we shake it outside. The mosquitoes are here for such a short time, midsummer, it is of no real consequence. We do burn citronella and that Avon Skin So Soft is an excellent treatment for your skin to prevent the bites!


Canning the applesauce, pears, marinara and doing up preserves is coming to an end. The fragrant blackberries have found their way into my freezer and the jars that adorn my pantry shelves. Was summer really that short this year? Where did the time go???

Oh the day has opened up to display shining water, a warm inviting temperature from open sunshine, time to finish up some gardening! Taking a moment to look out over the sweeping water views to see the boats sailing by from above. It could be our last great day before it cools down. Time to embrace and enjoy!

Island Living!

When you arrive on the island, the boat ride alone has you exhilarated! You approach the small private marina, docking can be tricky if the waves are kicking. The dockmaster greets you as you disembark. You walk up the dock and find the old car or golf cart, perhaps you continue walking "home." The beaches extend the perimeter of the island, on a low tide easily walked around. At this time it is not a low enough tide. On the unpaved roads you move along, views at every turn. The houses, cabins and modest sheds are often concealed in the trees and bushes. They range from breathtaking works of art to country style homes to log cabins. A lone quality golf course adorns the center of the island. A fishing pond, is found on main through way road just up the steep hill at the marina. A simple tennis and basket ball court is just past. As you wind around these roads, you may see the owls, a swooping eagle suddenly floating on the winds above. Bunnies run into the road, causing concerned smiles. At the top of the island, you look down below to see sweeping water views, Mt. Baker, Saratoga passage, Camano Island Head and Langely. The Grey Whales have stayed so their breaching and the showing of the tails are magnificent from this angle above! There are the seafood feasts, family and friends. The gathering of the island sounds. Just when you hold your breath at the beauty of it all, the sun begins to set and the show begins! It goes on for immeasurable time, ending in a streaked darkened sky still stained with color. The moon and stars light up and the night sky pulls you in.