A snapshot of summer 2020 when we were staining cedar for the house, preparing to publish a book, and spending a lot of time on the Salish Sea.
Category Archive: Orcas Island
Solo Stove for Backyard Fires
Since then, the Solo Stove has become one of my favorite products because it makes backyard fires easy, safe, and clean. I often tell people that itโs an awesome piece of engineering, for what is essentially a fire pit.
The Search for Smart House Siding
If you picture a Japanese village in your mind, you’re likely to imagine buildings with a dark brown or black appearance, with a lot of character. This appearance, comes, in part, from an ancient Japanese method of charring wood to make it more resilient. The final product is called “yakisugi” or “shou sugi ban”. The Japanese found that charring the wood gave a unique character made it last longer.
Hummingbird
Female Rufous Hummingbird (I Think) Since moving to Orcas, hummingbirds have become part of everyday life. Our neighbors all have flowers and feeders, so they buzz around like they own the place. I've never seen them so curious. They will come right up to your face...
Powering a Smart Home with Batteries
When we started planning our house on Orcas Island, people often asked about our plans for a generator assuming we’d need one. For a while, we had the same assumption.
The House Project: Flattop on Orcas Island
In the spring of 2017, Sachi and I became consumed with an idea. On a camping trip to Orcas Island, which is off the NW coast of Washington State, we started to ask serious questions about the future. While drinking wine from a box by a campfire, we first started to...
A Walk on Orcas Island ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ถ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฒ
From the moment the word โwalkโ is mentioned, both dogs scurry about as whines become barks. For this reason, we have come to spell the word and ask one another if itโs time for a โw-a-l-kโ.
City Life Versus Island Life ๐โป๏ธ
Moving from Seattle to an island was a shock for a lot of reasons. One of the most interesting was learning to be more self-sufficient than we ever have.
The Pandemic’s Impact on Home Construction and Book Publishing ๐๐
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we had to reevaluate two of the biggest projects of our lives. This is how it felt at the time.
WHOOOOSH and the Whales ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐
A walk to our construction site ends in seeing orca whales in the water in front of the house.
A Dispatch from the Covid Quarantine ๐ฆ
In the spring of 2020, we were quarantined because of Covid-19. This was our experience early in the pandemic.
In an Instant, She Was Gone ๐ฒ๐ฆฎ๐ฒ
On a windy afternoon, our dog disappeared into the woods hunting for deer. This is what happened and how it felt.
Ready for Rain Year in Review ๐
Ready for Rain at one year. A review of the events in 2019, as shared in the newsletter.
A Return to Herb’s ๐ข๐๐ข
Sometimes the reality of living on an island taking ferries becomes very real. This is one of those times.
The House Project in Pictures ๐ท
A look at a home construction project on Orcas Island, WA as the framing is being built.
Crabbing in the Salish Sea ๐ฆ
One of our favorite hobbies since moving to Orcas Island is crabbing for Dungeness Crabs in the summer. This is how it works for us.
The History of Concrete and Our House Foundation ๐ก
As the foundation was poured on the new house, I learned about concrete in construction and the history of lime production in the San Juan Islands.
Getting the House Out of the Ground ๐ท๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ท๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ก
The first big phase of the house building project was the foundation and starting then, the house took on a realistic form and shape.
Your Questions About The House Project, Answered โฌ๏ธ
A few notes on the house project and our plans, as is was coming together in 2019.
Everything is Temporary in the Guesthouse ๐ก
Moving to a small guesthouse took some getting-used-to. But over time it became home and we learned a number of ways to adjust.