Or, “What To Do With Smoothie Remnants?” By John Valencia We call this my “Smoothie Sludge Bread!” The hiccup is that it requires the pulp leftover from my daily juices. But I guess if people do some juicing, then they’d have it on hand. And the backstory is really just that: I had this leftover…
Children, December 2025, Fiction
The Story of Tomtomtidimiddletom (part 4)
By Andy Valencia The next morning, the car went out on another trip, but Tom didn’t even pay attention. He could feel his body trying to push out a second flower, and he held it back even as his one flower gathered pollen and started trying to grab all his juices to form so many…
December 2025, Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles – December
By Daniel Hooker I went to psychic the other day, and knocked on her door. She said, “Who’s there?” I guessed she wasn’t a full psychic, only a medium, so I left. ~ From Steven at the Library. Q: What is a librarian’s favorite type of mushroom? A: Shhhh, talkies. ~ From Monet at Thriftway….
December 2025, Poetry
Poems From “Grief Age Love”
The following poems are included in a new anthology of poems written by over 30 Vashon poets, and edited by Jeanie Okimoto of Endicott and Hugh Books. Editor’s note: We meant to include the following poem by Lynn Carrigan in our November issue, and feel it is just as rich in December! Enjoy. Mid-November In…
December 2025, Poetry
Forest of My Heart
A winter prayer and proclamation By Jane Valencia Lantern in the darkwoodShine on the wolves!Rouse them from the long spell andthe slumber of the snows. Your campfire burnsin every one of my cells.Wake us, O Lord, into holiness. In the briar’s nestthe dragon yieldsand the elves put down their bowsSurrender, my heart,Surrender again! We assume…
Island Voices, November 2025
Deep Space Rendezvous
By Mike Curtin I’m not an expert on any of this, but 3I/Atlas is the object that’s captured my attention lately. It’s the third interstellar object known to enter our solar system (thus the “3”). The “Atlas” part refers to the telescope that first spotted it. This is an unusual comet. It’s green, for one…
Island Resilience, November 2025
The Mississippi Reading Miracle, and What Washington Can Learn
By Mary McFarlin The United States and Washington State are facing a literacy crisis. In 2024 in the U.S., based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 30% of fourth graders and 29% of eighth graders scored as proficient in reading. While our averages in Washington are somewhat higher than nationally, we still have a long…
Announcements, Island Businesses, November 2025
A New Taxi-Type Service on Vashon
Do you need a lift? There’s a new option for those living on Vashon. A decade-plus employee of Washington State has recently left his job and moved onto Vashon to help his ailing mother. Meet Jonathan, who’s decided to also start a business providing taxi-type services to Islanders. The cost? On-Island trips are between $15…