Milky Way Farm Guest House

I've written about Milky Way Farm Guest House before (check it out), so this is just an update.

I was driving up to Point No Point and couldn't resist stopping to take this photo. It shows the wonderful, serene location of Milky Way Farm surrounded by pastures, gardens and an orchard.

The Guest House now has a new website: http://www.milkywayfarmguesthouse.com/, check it out and if you are considering reservations for yourself or visiting friends or family, now is the time to make them. Kitsap is filling up for summer!

Point No Point Lighthouse Keeper's House - NEW Vacation Rental soon to open

Sneak peak at the new vacation rental at Point No Point.

There is a lot going on at Point No Point right now.

First, the United States Lighthouse Society has relocated their national headquarters from San Francisco to one half of the lighthouse keeper's house. Their offices, research facilities and many lighthouse artifacts will all be located right here on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Second, the Lighthouse Society will run a vacation rental, the Point No Point Lighthouse Keeper's House, in the other half of the duplex. This will be a fully furnished vacation rental with two bedrooms, living, dining, kitchen and small study, not to mention amazing views of Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Whidbey Island, Seattle, Mount Baker, marine traffic, wildlife and more. They will have their own website up soon but in the meantime there is some information on the VisitKitsap.com site: http://visitkitsap.com/includes/popups/member_details.asp?ID=1095.

They have not set their rates yet, but they are taking some advance reservations if you want to book beyond Memorial Day. 415.362.7255 (forwards to Point No Point).

Finally, with the Lighthouse Society next door the Friends of Point No Point will be enhancing the experience of visiting the Point No Point Lighthouse. It will be considered a museum and will soon be on the VisitKitsap.com and MuseumsKitsap.com websites.

With the Lighthouse Society here you might want to help support them. I just joined yesterday and there are a variety of levels of support. Check it out, join and let them know we are happy they have moved to Kitsap!

Why does the Washington State Ferry System have a summer surcharge?

Every year I get the notice below:

ALL ROUTES:
On Thursday, May 1st, peak season officially begins with an additional surcharge applied to vehicle/driver fares for non-frequent users. The following link has more detailed information. Please select route and date on or after May 1, 2008

This alert was sent on 4/29/2008 at 1:12PM.
Our Web Site is at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
You can change your account, anytime, at: https://secure1.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/account
Please send any comments or suggestions you may have to WSFAlert@wsdot.wa.gov

Every year it drives me crazy and I respond with my suggestions.

Why can't we just have the summer rate be the "regular" rate and then have a "winter" or "Off-Season" rate that is lower? Wouldn't you rather have a discount during the winter than being told you're paying a surcharge in the summer? I'm sure tourists would.

Same money, just sounds a lot better. And when rates do go up, why does it have to be at the same time as the summer surcharge? (I know, no increase this year, but . . .).

Wouldn't it go over better if, when rate increases are added, that they be added when the rates drop?

Perhaps they would then be accused of trying to fool us, but I still like the idea of an "off season" discount in the slower winter months. Or, why change rates at all, set a rate that is appropriate and charge the same rate all year 'round. Only make changes when the fares go up. Seems that could save some money along the way.

Port Orchard Seagull Calling Festival

Just too cute! Don't miss it!

Misty morning over Indianola

Misty morning on Port Madison.
Jim got me up early to check out the view this morning. The low clouds were rolling over Indianola showing more or less trees as they moved along. The pier stood out sharply on the water.

So beautiful, so peaceful. What a great way to start the day!

Country Nursery & Gardens

I've seen the signs on the highway, I stopped by once a long time ago, but my memory of Country Nursery & Gardens was vague and not very exciting.

This time of year it is not unusual for me to stop by two or three nurseries on a weekend. I have my favorites for different things, but this one wasn't even on my list.

Yesterday, my mother mentioned that she wanted to go to Country Nursery and I offered to drive.
This isn't the easiest nursery to find, but if you take the Chico exit off HWY 3 and follow the signs, you'll find it easily enough.

I was very pleasantly surprised, especially with the gift shop that actually had some unique items. It's packed with all sorts of candles, signs, art, and fun things all semi garden or home related.

The covered nursery area also has quite a few retail items and is very pleasant, even in the rain.

This isn't the biggest nursery in the area but it has nice variety, very friendly staff and it worth checking out for any gardeners.

Farmstock Concerts

Promoting Awareness of Historic Farmland on Bainbridge Island

Saturday, August 2, 2008
Dan Tyminski Band
Dan has played with Alison Krauss for 13 years and helped define the Union Station sound. He is the famed George Clooney vocal in O Brother Where Art Thou.
Also appearing on Saturday:
Cat Loves Crow & Peter Spencer and Friends

Sunday, August 3, 2008
Hadley Caliman Quartet
The legendary Hadley Caliman, senior member of Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, has recorded his first CD in 30 years. He has played and recorded with Carlos Santana, and he is nicknamed Little Dex after Dexter Gordon
Pearl Django
Gypsy-Jazz, voted best Jazz Band in Seattle, 2003
Ranger and the Re-Arrangers
21 year old Ranger Sciacca, virtuoso violinist and his band play Gypsy Jazz. Bainbridge Favorites!

Tickets for Farmstock Concerts on Sale Now www.ArtExpoBI.com

This event is produced by Winslow Contemporary Arts & co-sponsored by Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce. Supporting sponsors include Return to Creativity, Oil and Water Art Supplies, Bay Hay and Feed, Best Western Inns, Goller Grade and Gravel, Glass Onion CD & Tapeworks, www.BainbridgeNeighbors.com.


For more information, contact Elizabeth Gadbois, event coordinator
P: (206) 842-3700
C: (206) 819-3618
Email: egadsphoto@aol.com

Signs of Spring

Beyond the warmer weather there are signs of Spring everywhere.

Every year I watch a field I pass daily to get a first glimpse of the new calves. One year we stopped and watched as one was delivered.

With the cool weather the new little babies have stayed close to their moms but yesterday they were sprawled on the grass enjoying the warmth of the sun.

Another sure sign of Spring is the progression of flowers blooming; snowdrops in January, crocus in February, daffodils in March and now the tulips in April.

Bethany and Kevin - Swing!

This is just for fun, but many of you will recognize these two!

Don't send a lame eCard.
Try JibJab Sendables!

Agate Pass Cafe Opening April 23rd

See comment below - they are open today!

UPDATE: Agate Pass Cafe could open as soon as today - Wednesday if they pass their fire inspection.

Note on their website: "We are expecting to open on the evening of April 23rd for dinner.We will be serving our brunch menu beginning that weekend. Ourlunch will debut shortly thereafter."

Brunch? Lunch? This keeps getting better!

Long ago it was the Princess Angeline Restaurant. Then a series of other formats. I want this newest reincarnation to be a great restaurant.

We stopped by the Agate Pass Cafe tonight and the sign says they will open April 25th - that's this Friday.

I've been watching their progress and tonight we stopped long enough to check out the menu on the window.

A fairly simple menu with starters, salads and entres. Looks fairly northwest, casual elegant and hopefully wonderful. Oh, and a great wine list!

Every time a restaurant opens in Suquamish I hope that it is going to be a place where we can become regulars. I have been dissapointed many times but occasionally we do find a match.

We love Bella Luna for an occassional pizza, breakfast, latte or to meet friends and for an occassional business meeting.

A second restaurant in town where we could stop in on a regular basis would be a welcome addition.

Not sure yet if we'll be there Friday, but we'll stop in sometime soon and I will certainly report on our experience.

Azaleas in bloom

Just great color. Despite the weather, Spring is here and here is proof!

Weird weather is great for photos

Amazing weather creates some great photo opportunities. Rain, snow, sleet, sun . . . this has been a weird and wonderful week. Tonight the clouds, water and lighting combined to make a fun photo shoot.

Olympia Farmers Market

I had a meeting in Olympia on Friday on a project involving a Dive Map, web page and video for the ferries. It's a good project and I'll post information as it develops.

After the meeting, about lunch time, I walked across the street to the Olympia Farmers Market to look for photo opportunities and something to eat.

I found both. The market has both permanent and transcient booths. Almost all of the market is under a permanent wood structure offering vendors and visitors a dry experience and with heaters, a warm experience as well.

There is an outdoor stage, cash machine, entertainers and a wide variety of wares.


I would love to see such a structure at some of our markets which are totally exposed and always at the mercy of the weather.

Kitsap takes great pride in their farmers markets and I think there is good variety here, but for locals and tourists alike, we could do so much better and the structure could be used throughout the year for other purposes.

Open space is a problem, but perhaps Port Gamble could build a permanent structure for a farmers market, antique market and other gatherings year 'round.

Farmers Markets - check out their website. Clean, attractive and truly useful.

Spring Migration at Point No Point

Long time readers know that my husband prefers I not promote Point No Point since it is his favorite place for a daily walk with Abby.

However, I am helping a writer with Travel & Leisure Magazine on an article about shell collecting and I pointed her to Point No Point and offered to send some shells for the photos in the article.

I gathered up many of what I needed at home but since I don't bother picking up clam shells I needed to run out to the beach this morning to pick up a few to send along with my more precious specimens.

It didn't look like a great day but once on the beach the sun was warm and casting great shadows on the lighthouse and the beach was lined with migrating waterfowl. I was torn between looking for the shells I needed, photographing the lighthouse and photographing the birds.

The Poulsbo Rock

Have you climbed the Poulsbo rock?

I remember my son trying when he was little and we would give him a push up and help him think he was climbing it alone.

When he was in his teens and would return to Poulsbo he practically leaped to the top.

It is always fun to watch the kids climbing, and trying to climb the rock and there are always lots of takers on a nice day.

What a great activity, what a wonder someone hasn't decided it is unsafe.

The Poulsbo rock must be part of childhood memories for thousands of kids at this point and I hope it remains as it is for thousands more to enjoy.

Colin McDonald: Ketchikan to Suquamish by Kayak - his story after some reflection

Last Fall I blogged about my nephew Colin's (and friends) kayak trip down the Inside Passage by kayak.

Here are links to the whole story on the Seattle PI website.

Colin has now moved to Texas as a reporter for the San Antonio Express News and recently wrote an article about his trip.

Having lived through the journey via phone calls, his parents reports, photos and stories once he was home, it was very interesting to read his account following a period of reflection.

If you have ever planned a challenging trip or are planning one, take a minute to read this one. It is a trip he will always remember, but I hesitate to call it a "trip of a lifetime" as I know Colin has many more "adventures" a head of him. Colin's story . . .

Is there a bad day to visit the Bloedel Reserve?

I suppose if it were pouring down rain and freezing cold but . . . even then there would wonders to discover.

These two pictures were after a heavy rain and it was chilly but the early Spring colors and the reflections in the pond made it magical.

We saw racoons, deer, Canada Geese and the "famous" Bloedel eagles along with robins and other smaller birds.

I wish I could visit more often, but never miss a chance when it comes my way - any time of year!

The Bloedel Reserve website

Beach Party - Northwest Family Style

What an amazing Northwest evening.

Granddaughter Natasha is visiting for the weekend and my Neighbor Stephanie has family visiting.

We combined resources and had a beach party with hot dogs, s'mores, wine for the adults and kayaking for anyone who wanted to go.

How cool to walk down the beach and meet at water's edge to enjoy a beautiful evening. Mount Rainier was out, the water was glassy calm, herons were fishing and everyone just relaxed and rejoyced in the lifestyle we are so fotunate to enjoy.

Note there are no pictures here of the adults.