A Visit to an Island

What island did you think? Hawaii, maybe!

But no! Last week I visited Whidbey Island with my "live-in gardener", a part of Washington State.

Primarily the stay took place in the south of the island, in and around Langley, WA.

 To get there we caught the ferry in Port Townsend.

Do you see the island in the distance?

  We were staying in a sweet AirBnB cottage with a garden

and trees all around.

One morning I actually got up just after 6AM, wrapped in a cozy blanket,

and sat out on the deck watching quietly for deer, birds, maybe an owl, or a coyote.

Not one was seen and I was disappointed,

but how I loved seeing the sun come up between the trees.

The quiet of the early morning was so amazing.

We were only there two nights, a very mini-vacation.

 We explored and found this beach full of driftwood.

It was a perfect sunshiny (blue sky) day.

The perfect kind of day to be out walking on the beach.

 We stopped for lunch at the Flower House Cafe.

Not very often do I recommend a restaurant here, but I must say

everything on the menu sounded delicious.

I brought the menu home, so I can try to replicate some of the combinations

of food. Even their scones were amazing the next morning.

My sandwich was on toasted sourdough bread with

roasted chicken, pickled currants, red onion and celery salad with

walnuts, apples and greens. It was all very fresh too.

My "live-in gardener" had smoked salmon, whipped goat cheese, pickled shallots,

basil oil and micro herbs on grilled whole grain baguette.

Thought you would like to know the ingredients to inspire a new sandwich too.

 And since it was the Flower House Cafe it was located at

a flower nursery, www.bayviewfarmandgarden.com.

 We loved strolling through the nursery and found several plants we were tempted to bring home.

I wrote down the names of the ones we loved and will look locally for them.

Isn't this arch gorgeous?

I guess it has clusters of yellow flowers that hang inside earlier in the season.

 Apples from the nursery tree were rolling on the ground

and ready to be picked.

 Later we strolled through the town of Langley and watched the sun set over the water.

 The chocolate rooster statue stood outside of the chocolate shop.

 Of course I had to have my picture taken to prove

I really am a butterfly or an angel.

 Then all to quickly it was time to fly away

or maybe we hopped another ferry and headed to Seattle for some tea.

Isn't the clouds and sunrise lovely from the ferry?

It was a very little respite, but much enjoyed.