By Tracey Stover Bear with me as I weave an inspiring tale about the miracle of water that you are. As we explore how extraordinary our bodies are, we can then access these amazing vehicles, and engage with all we are inspired to do. Oxygen plays an essential role, ranging from supporting the body’s metabolic processes,…
Farm Animals Need Food, Too – Part One
Eighteen years ago, my family moved to the island. Our beloved family dog, Tiny, spent one night on our amazingly dark and quiet property. The next day, I walked to town, carrying my sweet, seven-pound companion in a soft, cushioned bag, met the staff of Fair Isle Vet, and called my dad on the phone,…
Early Wage Slaves – Part Two
Last month’s issue of The Loop described Sean’s early experiences at earning money as a youngster by rubbing finish onto Skippercraft boats. Even though Sean is a few years older than I, our early experiences had a certain parallel. We had some good laughs together as we compared our young entry into the world of…
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles
I’d like to start off with a story of my grandfather’s visitors, Charles and Anne Lindbergh. My grandfather owned the bank of Nome, Alaska. When the Lindberghs stayed to visit, they did not stay at a hotel. They stayed at my grandparent’s home. I, like my grandfather, have a practical-joke sense of humor, and my…
Are You an Artist?
“Are you an ARTIST, or just a hobbyist?” That question always makes me feel like dirt. What do I have to do to be a “real artist?” Spend 40 hours a week in my studio? Produce 50 new paintings a year? Make my living with my creations? I assume the asker means, do I make…
Eva’s Lebanese Hummus Recipe
Ingredients 1 ½ cups roasted butternut squash (half of a 2.5 lb. butternut squash) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas (one 15-oz can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained) 2 tbsp tahini 1 garlic clove, peeled 1 lemon, juiced 2 tbsp water ½ tsp sea salt with black nigella seeds ¼ tsp smoked paprika …
A Field of Plastic
Photos accompanying this article are by Julian Dahl. Used with permission. It’s the beginning of February, and winter storms have passed, blowing a tarp into one of our pastures. I jump the fence to retrieve it. As I walk across the field, with small green sprouts of fresh grass coming up, I notice a color…
The Best 3-Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookie Ever!
About a decade ago, I was blessed with the friendship of a wonderful Island family. Among the many amazing ways we enriched one another’s lives, we enjoyed cooking together. Today, I share one of the best chocolate cookie recipes I’ve ever encountered, and yes, it has only three ingredients. Imagine a gooey yet crunchy, sweet…
What Brought You to the Island?
My wife Karen and I wanted to start a hobby farm. We both grew up in West Seattle and were high school sweethearts. Both of our parent’s homes had views of Vashon Island. Our friends Mark and Joyce Vornbrock had recently purchased 10 acres on Vashon Island. Mark suggested we look at land on the…