As we get ready for the project....

We've had some wonderful times in this place.

There were visits from Karen and Bruce, including their summer visit spent shoring up the deck and doing ongoing maintenance on the house. And refacing the garage door! Not to mention the crab sushi....Thank you Bruce! Karen and I picked so much crab that Amy was working hard to be sure we ate it before the freezer destroyed it!

Judy flew in and we had a great time! Gardens, Mariners games, good times with our daughters.

Mom and Dad, Allison, and Emily were here for Amy's graduation. Here Mom, Emy, and Allison are posing behind the giant poppies that grew in a crack in the driveway in front of our garage door!

Michael has visited a number of times over the years, helping out in many ways that included installing our 'Dish' on a frigid December day. He and Art sunk the far end of the pulley line eight years ago at a very low tide. It allows us to pull the boat to the shore to do our crabbing, then send it out into the bay to ride the waves. It is still in place.

Kate and Dave, James and Alex enjoyed good times at the beach. Crab rolls, relaxation, music, and bocce. David's vision for our future house set us on our course.

Many friends over the years enjoyed the Smelt Run, each February in LaConner with lunch at the house, followed by a nap!

Here are just a few pictures.

And the Smelt Run will continue!

Brendan celebrated his 29th birthday here in lovely weather...

And Victoria celebrated her 60th with good friends, roast suckling pig, a big bonfire, and a gorgeous November day.

And of course the dogs: Mickey, Jazz, and friends have enjoyed this place in more ways than we care to describe!

Jeff has established his work station at the dining room table, except when the weather is more inviting.

Over the past eleven years, this place has grown on us- we've come to love the calm and quiet and have engaged with the slower pace of life on the island. We've met a few new friends and look forward to meeting more as we move ourselves into a permanent living situation in the new home.

And speaking of new home, we'll have more pix and blogging upcoming as we begin to deconstruct the old home and build a new one. Our builder is setting up a camera on the garage. It will take pictures every few seconds, which should give us an interesting record of the work!

We'll miss the old place - but not, I suspect, for long - Jeff and I have always been pretty adaptable to our living situations and the new home will be beautiful.

Stay tuned.