Breathing Space: Whidbey Island


If you follow my blog you'll have read many weeks ago that I skipped out an having an opening at Havana Gallery and opted for a 4 day weekend away with my family on Whidbey Island. Yup, time for some breathing space and re-connecting with nature - and my family! Here are some photos my Dad took during the weekend away. (thanks Dad!)

My little monkey girl hanging around!

4 days of stellar sun drenched crisp winter weather. could not have asked for more.

Looking towards the Olympic Peninsula.



Mt. Baker in full view. Looks like a big ice cream cone!

Bald Eagle.


View as we walked down the beach. Never gets old.






Ruthie inside the fort we made. Super cool fort! Oh yeah!


Mum and I attempting to sleep in while Ruthie was telling us it's playtime. (That's when we went out and made the fort)



Our "blackberry summer"on Whidbey Island, WA


We spent a lot of time this summer at our family cabin on Whidbey Island, WA, USA and I've had a lot of requests from my friends in Santa Barbara, CA to see pictures. And, by the way, we have officially named this summer "Blackberry Summer" because I think Ruthie pretty much lived on fresh vine ripe juicy blackberries when we were down there. Best blackberries in the world growing right on the beach, sweet, plump and right at your finger tips. Couldn't get much better than that for fresh eating. On the three hour drive home back to Vancouver Ruthie (age 6) would look out of the window and spot blackberry bushes and say "blackberry, blackberry...." So here we go, black berry summer, enjoy...

The cabin my parents build around 1978. Decor to match. :) My friend Lyza scoped it out live on skype and has decided it'll be the perfect retreat to do some art and hang out in PJs with a small group of women artist friends. We'll see...
Made lots of treats this summer..big batches of oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies.



Mid-tide, my favourite walk. Up where you can see the trees meet the water is where I saw several deer a few weeks back. Beautiful.
Nothing like throwing rocks in the water.
My Dad, who took all the photos here except this one, with Ruthie. I'm inside this amazing fort that someone built up the beach from us. Really cool. It was so big, you could camp in it. Ruthie and I had pretend tea parties there.


Don't touch the ground, it's hot lava. Gotta stay on the rocks.


Morning journal writing on the picnic table...smell that sweet ocean air. Lots of light. Peace.


When we first arrived at Whidbey after driving up from Santa Barbara. Grandma Margaret was there with balloons and groceries and big hugs for Ruthie!
Mum and I doing a clay face masc. Benstonite clay mixed with a bit of apple cider vinegar, makes a nice paste. Put it on, let it dry, sucks out toxins and is fun to do!
digging for sea creatures!



Painting rocks.
( I was inside hand painting little gift cards)