A place to stay on Vashon

Last summer, before we were islanders we stayed at a VRBO (vacation rental by owner) house Here is the link. I figured based on my super limited experience I would offer a shout out for a reccomendation...

Doesn't she look happy here!

I have recommended it to a couple of people looking to stay on Vashon.  Though it isn't marketed to people with kids it was very kid friendly for us (4 kids and 4 adults). Close to the beach but no kids were wondering there accidentally, it was a little walk.  Also with a giant yard you can see almost all of from the deck, a great big deck.  On the other hand it would be a great place to stay with other adults.

So if your are looking for a good place to stay I recommend it.  Follow the link above...read other reviews.
Just sayin'

How to talk about Island life?

We are in the midwest for a couple of days.

We've been visiting with family, hanging out, enjoying the sun, and letting cousins play.

Sounding pretentious or "better than" is not a midwestern thing.  The culture in small town Mid-America is to pretend that we are all the same even though we are all keeping tabs of other people.  

So how then do you explain that you live on an Island? It sounds pretentious.
Or how do you explain that it isn't as exotic as it sounds, but you are happy and you know it's cool.
How do you swoon over a place that you love if such swooniness might seem "better than."

The fact of the matter is that we are proud of where we live and the decisions we have made to get there. On the other hand, we are well aware of the losses that we encounter living so far from family and in such an expensive part of the country.

But alas, we navigate the realities of Island life, even off island.

Vashon Stylin' -The Unmanicured

Mowing is overrated I think.

And so do a lot of people on this Island.

I am sure there are people scattered about who are pulling out dandelions as the pop up; no doubt there are others who don't let their grass get longer than 3 inches.

But, for the most part people let their lawns and the woods around their houses have an unkempt sort of feel.

I rather like it.

What about you? Do you like the kempt overgrown sort of yard?

Where do you keep your ferry schedules?

Seating on the Klahowya 

We've got them in our purses.
Dangling from car visors.
Hanging out in glove compartments.

They are stuck to our fridge with magnets.
Lounging around the doorways of local businesses.
Folded and unfolded in the spare change basket.

All of us Washintonians who commute and travel by Washington State Ferries are bound by our Ferry Schedules.

We start to memorize departure times only for them to shift by 10 minutes with the season change.
We know what time we want our guests flights to land at SeaTac so we will have enough time to pick them up and still make the ferry home before midnight...

The funny thing is that Sean and I used to have the most tense mornings. We almost always got in the car and were frustrated or fiesty with one another.  "You are the reason we are running late!" we each though to ourselves.

But now that we cannot be late, not even by a minute we don't fight over departing.  The boats, and having someone else decide when we leave have relieved us of the need to blame each other.   That's one I didn't see coming!

Oh...looking for a copy of the ferry schedules. There ya go.

Vashon Style

Nothing Says Pacific Northwest like Birkenstocks.
Nothing says Vashon Island like KVI in the warm sunshine.

Fair Isle Vets...

Our poor Maggie-dog got hit by a car.
Yes, she was chasing deer.

I let her out and she took off.
I couldn't chase her, suprising the infant and toddler left me unable to do so.
So I just let her, assuming she would return.

She got as far as a neighbor when I saw her limping.
I carried her home.
She wasn't bloody but just not moving hardly at all.

The next day they took her to the vet.
And, they were so so good to us.
No shaming, trying the cheapest simplest thing first.
Good caring for Maggie and then being so kind when I kept having to haul the kids and the dog into the office.

Maggie is not totally better.
And, she is currently at the spa (Nana and Pop's house).
But I feel really good about the care these folks provided.

Vashon Laundromat

In spite of my total charm of this island, I have found the underbelly.

The laundromat.
Half the machines broken.
The change machine broken.

The whole thing is bad...and I'm not talking Island rustic charm just a crappy place to (kinda) do your laundry.

And the bars on the windows. Seriously! Seriously?