According to my photos app, I took over 6,400 photos and videos in 2024, or an average of 17 per day. This is not an outlier. The camera on my phone is one of my most-used tools and ends up capturing a visual diary. To wrap up 2024, I’m sharing a photo and a short story for each month of the year.
January 2024 – Solstice Wall Work
Leading up to Christmas of 2023, I started posting videos about the Solstice Wall project. To my surprise, the videos got traction and by January, the project had gone viral. I’ll always remember how fun it was to work on the Solstice Wall and feel like others were interested and talking about it. This kind of thing satisfies a deep part of me that I don’t fully understand.
February 2024 – Solar
Since moving into Flattop, we have tried to become more self-sufficient and invest in making the home experience as efficient as possible. Orcas Island gets windstorms that occasionally knock out power, which we soon discovered knocked out the pumps that move water and waste. After a year-long waitlist, we installed solar panels on our roof and a battery in our garage that comes on the instant the power goes out. This should offset about 90% of our total power bill.
March 2024 – Chainsaw
As any Ready for Rain reader knows, I love building fires. In the past, we purchased wood by the cord and had it delivered. The next step is processing wood ourselves, and in March, we got the necessary equipment in place. Along with a chainsaw, I got chaps that cover your legs and prevent injuries. Hopefully, we can now support our wood needs from trees on our property or from the trees of friends.
April 2024 – Driveway Beds
When you drive up to our house, it looks very black, and I wanted to break it up with some natural elements. So, I built new raised beds by the driveway using leftover materials from the Flattop build. Because the beds are so prominent, it took a while to plan. I wanted them to match the house and feel like they fit. This spring will be a time to bring them to life.
May 2024 – Aurora
Before May, I had never seen the Northern Lights. I didn’t expect to see them in our region, but news headlines said it was possible. As we camped with friends, I expected a miniature, far-away version. Once night fell on the first night, a friend pointed up the sky and said, “WHOA!” We all jumped from the campfire and went to an open area to see the aurora borealis covering most of the sky. Brilliant greens and purples moved in waves. I couldn’t believe it was so big and everywhere at once, like a light show inside a dome. 500 years ago, I would assume the world was ending, or some celestial message was being sent.
June 2024 – Solstice Wall
After years of planning and months of work, the summer solstice of 2024 finally arrived. As the sun set, I could see the Solstice Wall in all its glory. Thankfully, it was a sunny day, and my timelapse setup worked. The project was finally completed and passed the “Did it match the solstice shadow?” test.
July 2024 – Boat Steering
The longer I live by the ocean, the more I learn about boats and how to fix them. Boats seem to suffer from entropy more than other objects. They are constantly degrading in one way or another and I want to get better at fixing what I can. Our 15′ boat, Short Story, has always had sticky steering, especially in the winter. As the Spring of 2024 approached, I was trying to unstick the steering and broke the assembly, putting the boat out of commission. I started taking it apart and before I knew it, I understood how it all fit together. I took out the entire steering system, ordered parts, and replaced it. Short Story was back in action. This project is honestly one of my top accomplishments in 2024.
August 2024 – Maybe
Our dog Maybe passed away in August. She was such a sweet, people-pleasing companion. We all miss her.
September 2024 – Squash
As with any garden, learning what will grow can take years. Just because peppers did well one year does not mean they “work”. Each year is a wildcard, I’m learning. This year we didn’t get the kind of warmth you need for things like peppers, but it was a good year for squash. Even on our small scale, I love the late summer harvest.
October 2024 – Mushrooms
Like many people, I was scared of eating wild mushrooms. They’re not easy to identify and can kill you. For unknown reasons, 2024 was a bumper year for fungi on Orcas Island. They were everywhere you looked. A new neighbor, who is an expert forager, took us foraging within walking distance from our house. I couldn’t believe the bounty. We came home with more lobster mushrooms and chanterelles than we could eat. The lesson from her: focus on 2-3 mushrooms you like and can identify easily. Ignore everything else.
November 2024 – Bingo
As the tourist season winds down, people on Orcas breathe a little easier. There are no crowds, and some things close for the winter. Thankfully, local business owners are starting to create fun locals-focused events. One is a night of Bingo at Cafe Aurora, which is owned by our friends Amy and Andrew. Andrew runs the game and the prizes, which are never to be underestimated. In November, I won a single game and came home with a gallon of pepperoncini, five pounds of Lawry’s Seasoning, and a bucket of coconut oil. Amazing!
December 2024 – Barn Bazaare
By the time December arrives, it’s easy to be an indoorsman. The weather is often bad and activities are put on a shelf. One of the things I look forward to is holiday festivities, which are a time to meet up with friends. This year offered something new: a holiday bazaar in a huge barn. It was called Flocking Swans and I hope it returns next year.
Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2025!
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