A Whale of a Tale

 San Juan Island, San Juan Island Parks, San Juan Islands, Whale Watching  6 Responses »
Aug 092012
 

Today we are on the West Side of San Juan Island specifically at Lime Kiln State Park.   Comprised of 36 acres, Lime Kiln is considered one of the best places in the world to view whales from land.  I will tell you that it is spectacularly beautiful here.  Sweeping views of Haro Strait with the whale’s swimming gracefully through the waters will definitely take your breath away if not put a tear or two of emotional happiness in your eyes.

The lighthouse and park are both run on a voluntary basis thanks to the “Friends of Lime Kiln Society.”  Thanks to the society, the park and light house have remained in excellent condition.  It’s a wonderful thing don’t you think to see people volunteering their time, for free, to help preserve history?

When you come to Lime Kiln you can spend an entire day here.  Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on one of many picnic benches scattered throughout the park and don’t forget your camera and binoculars.  It’s a beautiful place that you will remember forever.


~ a yogurt cake to end our beautiful day spent at Lime Kiln


~ Lime Kiln Lighthouse

Here is an INCREDIBLE video I found on YouTube that I would like to share with you.  YouTube user has taken over 20 years of footage from Lime Kiln State Park and has created this incredible video.  You may want to have a tissue ready – very emotional and beautiful!


View Larger Map

If you are interested in the whale population and would like to learn more, these are fabulous resources:

http://www.orcaconservancy.org
http://www.whaleresearch.com/orca_ID.html

Yogurt Cake

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Yogurt Cake

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a bundt pan
Step 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
Step 3
In a separate bowl, mix together yogurt, sugar, eggs, oil and lemon zest
Step 4
Whisk flour mixture into yogurt mixture just until blended
Step 5
Pour the batter into the buttered bundt pan and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until your cake is golden brown on top.
Step 6
Let your cake cool if you can wait and garnish with berries or in my case I used fresh currants. Dust with powdered sugar

 

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Sweet Beginnings on San Juan Island

 San Juan Island, San Juan Island Beaches, San Juan Islands  5 Responses »
Aug 082012
 

We have arrived on San Juan Island and I would like to thank you for coming along with us as we begin our second journey in the San Juan archipelagos.   To be able to share with you the adventures, beauty and everything else that this island has to offer makes me very happy (and excited!).

But first thing is first.  A special visit to our favorite beach.  SOUTH BEACH.

“I don’t remember coming here mommy…”

“Oh but we did come here and sooo many times,” I told B as we walked along the beach.

I was glad to have him back here to begin the memories again because this was such a special beach to us. Many memories here.

Years ago we began coming here to the beauty you see before your eyes. Perhaps you remember when we visited in the off season and I made an easy seafood dinner? That was a beautiful day for sure!

Today a celebration of s’mores was in order. It felt good to be back.


~ a very different kind of s’more (assembly instructions below)

If you have not had the opportunity to read my piece on the Huffington Post about Orcas Island you can do so here.  It was a labor of love writing about Orcas.  All of these islands are the same but yet all have very different “flavors.”  I feel so very lucky (and honored) to be able to write about them for the whole world to read and discover.

A Special Kind of S’more

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A Special Kind of S’more

Ingredients

  • Nabisco Chocolate Wafers (instead of the chocolate bar)
  • Biscoff Spread (instead of the graham cracker. If you are unsure of what Biscoff Spread is, google it but be warned, it is amazing!)
  • Jumbo Marshmallows (cut in half, length wise)
  • Currants

Directions

Step 1
Spread the chocolate wafers with the Biscoff
Step 2
Toast your marshmallows and place on top of one of the wafer with the Biscoff spread
Step 3
Sprinkle some tart currants on top and seal this heavenly deal with another chocolate wafer