I just received this beautiful print from Camp Smartypant's owner and artist, Rachel Beyer. It now frames the area where we sell Rachel's cards. How can you not 'Be Happy' when you see this amazing array of bold colors and patterns! Camp Smartypants has a whole line of products at Etsy online. Check out the website for more info...campsmartypants.etsy.com

I love Craigslist! I needed a small closet upstairs with shelves to hold cleaning supplies, extra glasses, towels, etc. It couldn't be too wide or guests would not be able to manuever their luggage around it. And look what we found in Portland! It totally looks like it came with this 101 year old house and the price was unbelievable. For 5 years, we hauled up cleaning supplies or made a zillion trips up and down the stairs for one extra glass or one extra towel. This saves so much time and so many trips! Brilliant move...absolutely brilliant!

Every time I drive into Eastsound Village, I experience our local hardware store. In fact, you drive right through piles of lumber and small machinery. Visitors to the island are not sure how to interpret ths sign:

Yes, there are 2 old gas pumps and sometimes a cash discount. You will also see some handmade signs for popcorn...last chance for lumber...slow for congestion. Really? LA is congested, Seattle is congested...but Orcas Island??

There is a promotion here on the San Juan Islands each year in October called, "Savor the San Juans". At the Blue Heron B&B, we will be having chess tournaments on the weekends in October. If you stay here, your entry fee is waived and you get a 10% discount on the rooms. Here are 3 of the sets that will be used in the Savor Competition Chess Tournament at the Blue Heron.

There is great excitement when a little killer whale is born in the San Juan Islands! The naturalists are astounding the way they can identify these whales and even name the parents.This was just too cute not to share (from Tom Averna with Deer Harbor Charters)...

Here's the "official" photo from the Center for Whale Research of little J-49, born yesterday around noon on the west side of San Juan Island. The mom is J-37, Hy'sqha.

The saying that "it's the small things that can make us happy" is very true in the case of my new reading glasses. I tried keeping my 20+ years' frames together with duck tape. However, they slid down my nose, hung crooked on my face, and generally made my favorite thing in the world to do...reading...a bit of a challenge.

Not having any vision insurance was the primary reason for the delay. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I got a 25% discount for using cash (credit card actually) and the optometrist did one $90 test for free. Then I scurried over to Costco for new frames and lenses and wa-la! My world is once again expanded by the written word on the page of a good book!

Despite the predicted heat today (I know, 80 degrees is considerd cool in a lot of areas!), the morning here at the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast was filled with baking for the day. First, we started with homemade baked granola as the first course for breakfast followed by Eggs Florentine and Blueberry Banana bread. The Orange Pecan muffins are prepared in advance for another breakfast and the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies are for later in the day. It did occur to me that sometimes I feel like the witch in Hansel and Gretel fattening up our poor unsuspecting guests for who knows what!