April 5th, 2017
I had always been a bit sheepish about the bathroom in the cottage. It was small, dark. No counter space. Tiny fiberglass shower. Definitely less-nice than the rest of the cottage. So this winter I splurged and totally remodeled it. Now it seems much bigger and nicer. (if you want to enlarge one of the photos, just click on it.)
In addition to a new “Solatube” – skylight – the bathroom now miraculously features a spacious tile countertop, lovely custom vanity cabinet, bigger shower with tile to the ceiling, a glamorous heavy glass door, and a tile floor. And best of all, a charming tile accent strip that looks like beach pebbles!
There is also now a second wardrobe closet. I’m hoping to morph the cottage into longer stays, and the storage was inadequate before. Now, between the added closet, 2 new cabinet pieces in the living area, and a “Captain’s Bed” with 12 spacious drawers beneath – guests can comfortably stay longer than a month!
Something else new: solar panels on the roof. Hopefully, come sunnier weather, they will produce lots of clean energy to shrink my carbon footprint even more.
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February 3rd, 2016
Last summer a couple of artist/designer ladies who were staying here for a week-long trade show in downtown Seattle made a suggestion which I’ve finally completed. They said my bedroom decor was too feminine – that guys don’t like flowers! (the old duvet and wallpaper were very pretty flowers – I liked them.) And the flowers didn’t go with the living room which I’d recently redone with a nautical theme.
Jody and Mary swept me up in their excitement about seashells and sailboats – and here is the result. Pretty cool, eh? They came back recently and were delighted – said the bedroom feels much cozier now, with the darker wallpaper.
By the way, I spotted this eagle in my neighbor’s bare madrone tree the other day. She sat there the longest time! There’s a whole family nesting in one of my tall fir trees. Can you find her? sometimes I wish I had a better camera with a longer lens.
This was one of my old duvets – along with pictures of flowers, even, and flowered wallpaper! So glad I made the changes. Thank you, Mary and Jody!
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August 26th, 2015
I love it when my guests go up to The Mountain, or out to an island on one of our ferries. The Pacific Northwest is so blessed with natural beauty.
This summer has been spectacular, and I wanted to share a couple of glorious hikes I did. The first was on the northwest flank of The Mountain – Mt Rainier – to Spray Park.
It’s just a 2-hour drive to the trailhead at Mowich Lake – then about 4 miles of hiking along a pleasant forest trail. Even in this dry year, moisture weeps in shady spots.
Then you suddenly break out into the park. “Parks” on the mountain are wide-open spaces just below treeline where glaciers have recently retreated. There, the lupines, Indian paint brush, and several other wildflowers whose names I don’t know, greet you with their short-lived frivolity.
On another day, I went a bit farther, up north to Cascade Pass off Highway 20. These mountains are even more rugged – sharp peaks, steep slopes, glacial cirques everywhere.
A friend and I drove up to Marblemount on the Skagit River and stayed in a rustic cabin the night before, expecting a tough hike up to the pass. I’m sitting on the pass there, with Sahale Arm in the background.
But that part was actually pretty easy. If we’d gone up to Sahale Arm, that would have been really strenuous. As it was, we did the steep switchbacks at the beginning, but then at 3:00 we figured we should turn around so as not to get caught by the now-shorter August days.
Thanks for sharing these two wonderful mountain experiences with me.
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June 29th, 2015
This setting is so quiet and serene – and cool, due to the tall trees and the proximity to the water. There’s usually a little breeze off the Sound. My guests from Texas and Florida are amazed at how comfortable our summers are in the Northwest.
This is part of the view from the cottage’s private deck. Most of the water view is in the other direction. The house you see is where I live, about 40 feet away (the cottage is BEHIND the camera). The hot tub is nestled on the deck.
I’ve considered solar heating panels on my roof, but the trees shade the roof, so there’s not enough steady sunlight to make that practical. Instead, last year I changed the heating/cooling system in the cottage to a ductless heat pump system (with AC) and replaced the old hot tub with a new, more efficient one. My energy use is down 40%!!! And the eagle family who owns the nest high in that middle tree are still happy.
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May 28th, 2015
Maybe it’s because I was gone most of April. But I have NEVER seen such an outrageous spring as this year in the Northwest!
Few Western travelers have visited Bhutan or Myanmar (formerly Burma). I usually choose the road less traveled. In April, 2015, I was fortunate to visit both. My friend Karla took good care of the cottage guests while I was gone.
It was hard to winnow down my snapshots to this number. If you want to see the full-size, full-frame version, double click on a picture. I hope you enjoy them!
Both countries are devoutly Buddhist – they believe in reincarnation and human kindness. Bhutan has a proud and colorful history, full of legendary heroes flying in from Tibet on the backs of female tigers who later become their consorts. The government is a progressive, benevolent monarchy, respected by the people. They also respect religion, their unique history, their family, and the community. This first batch of photos is from Bhutan.
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When you arrive in Bhutan, you land in Paro, in the only valley that can accommodate international jets. That’s the terminal building – note the typical architectural details.
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Archery is Bhutan’s national sport. Note the national traditional dress.
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Ancient farming methods are still used in the mountains. Only 3% of the land of Bhutan is arable. Most of the farms are in the southern, less precipitous parts of the country, where there’s a longer growing season..
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Prayer flags overlooking Thimpu, the capital and largest city (pop. 105,000).
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Of course, the children are darling and very friendly.
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This kind of elaborate carving and painting is typical Bhutanese decoration, inside and out, in temples and in homes.
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The Punakha Dzong, an ancient temple and seat of local government
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We could almost see across the Punakha Valley into the Himalayas.
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Dorche La pass, about 12,000 feet
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It’s a common decoration on rural homes. It’s not a fertility symbol; it’s to ward off evil spirits.
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I love the whisical decorations on the ubiquitous Tata trucks that you see in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
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The first annual Flower and Garden Show in Paro. It commemorated the last king’s birthday – he’s 60. Note the formal dress.
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Families have shrines to Buddha and to the royal family – cherished photos of the current king and his father are displayed in the bedroom of a farming family in the mountains.
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Even little boys dress traditionally for the festival.
Myanmar has a sad history of invasion and occupation – most recently by their own military – but I’m impressed by the resilience and fortitude of the people there.
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The amazing, opulent Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the capitol of Myanmar. 10,000,000 people live in this city – formerly Rangoon.
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At a higher elevation lies the large, shallow Inle Lake. People boat to one end of it, to the market and the Shwe Indein pagoda, from all over the lake.
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The market at the end of Inle Lake
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A village on stilts on Inle Lake
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Up a lazy river from the lake Inle is “Indein Village,” hundreds of stupas and small temples dating from the 11th century, many covered with vegetation – reminded me of Angkor Wat.
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Overlooking the dry plain of old temples and stupas that is Bagan, Myanmar.
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Another group of ancient temples is on a dry plain called Bagan. This is one of the larger temples. It houses a golden Bhuddha.
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A village dedicated to making pots. The lady on the left pumps the wheel for the potter.
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At the Diamond Hotel at Ngapali Beach, where we spent the last 4 days.
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A lovely family who was staying there.
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A little hermit crab made these tracks.
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The sand is white and fine, and the water clean, warm and turquoise. A fairly pristine paradise!
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November 30th, 2014
In October, 2014, I replaced the ancient hot tub with an energy-efficient one.
Just right for a friendly couple, the new Birch Bay tub has the same spectacular view and the same privacy as the old one.
Cottage guests are the only people who use it.
Folks enjoy watching eagles cruise through the treetops and hummingbirds zip around within reach.
I keep the hot tub ready any time of year.
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September 15th, 2014
Cottage guests will now enjoy greater comfort, and I will enjoy using less energy, with the new Daikin multi-split ductless heat pump system I’ve just installed. The two “heads,” one in the living room and one in the bedroom, quietly produce either warmth or coolness, depending on which you need. Our Seattle summer has been gloriously warm, but the cottage stayed cool, thanks to the new system.
With autumn coming soon, I’m really looking forward to lower electric bills and a smaller energy footprint!
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January 29th, 2014
I just wanted to share the note my last guests left on the dining table. It really made my day.
Annie, thank you so much for providing this little slice of heaven! We thoroughly appreciated the lovely extras – from the flowers, to the fruit basket, to the well-stocked fridge and pantry. And don’t even get me started on that BED – amazing!! The hot tub was so relaxing, and the view outstanding.
You are a gracious hostess, thank you! Soundview will be our “Seattle Place” from here on.
Andrea and Chris, Vancouver, BC
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December 13th, 2013
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September 18th, 2013
The Chihuly Garden and Glass in the Seattle Center is a beautiful attraction for people visiting the city. These pictures do not do justice for all the wonderful pieces of glass artwork on display at the garden. There are small, intricate and detailed pieces of glass as well as large and almost overwhelming pieces.
It is a great activity for an afternoon, but if you are in Seattle for the day, the Seattle Center is full of other activities. The Chihuly Garden and Glass is located directly beneath the Space Needle, within walking distance of the EMP (Experience Music Project) building. The Pacific Science Center is also within the Seattle Center. However, if you only have time to visit one place, the garden is a beautiful experience and well worth the price of admission.
As you can see from the pictures, they have blended the glass work of Dale Chihuly with a lovely outdoor garden. A glasshouse also displays a large selection of Chihuly glass.
Another Chihuly exhibit is located in Tacoma, WA. However, it is nice to have one in Seattle as well. If you have not yet experienced Chihuly Garden and Glass, it is well worth your time.
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