It was wild getting to Seattle. I flew out after work about 6pm and got there around 10pm. By the time I got my brother, the rental car and on the road it was close to 11. We drove north about half an hour and crossed by ferry to a little island called Whidbey. It was incredible. I was so tired and it was raining, but I could see all the trees and was anticipating seeing it in the morning. We got there about 1:30am, got unloaded and then CRASHED! HA! But the villa was so beautiful. It was a Tuscan Villa and Darla did such a good job on all the decor and landscaping.

The next morning we had a light breakfast and visited with Darla (the owner) about things to do. We ended up driving to this really awesome little vineyard called Greenbank Farm. We wine tasted about 10 - 15 different wines. LOL! I had a nice little buzz going from that ;) They have a berry that only grows up there called a Loganberry. It is a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry. So they make wine out of it, pie, and jam...all kinds of things. There was a little cafe next door and we had some of the local flavor with loganberry pie and huckleberry pie. YUMMIE!! Then we drove up north to this really incredible place called Deception Pass Bridge. On the way, I saw this little sign for a lavender farm. I told my brother that we just had to go and check it out. I'm so glad we did! From the moment you opened your car door you were enveloped in lavender scent. It was so beautiful. The lady who owned the farm of course had a little shop there and she had dried flowers everywhere, lavender bath products, essential oils, and culinary lavender...just all kinds of things. We walked around and took some photos. I even got to eat lavender ice cream! It was so tasty. I brought back a jar of blueberry lavender jam. Needless to say, I spent a ton of money there ;)

We went to the Deception Bridge and walked around the park there and took more photos. It was a bit chilly that day. We had to snuggle up just a little bit, but then the sun came out later in the day and it was PERFECT!! We drove around mostly and took in the local scenery. We had dinner at the Mad Crab on the bay eating fresh seafood. We didn't stay out to late that night and went back to the B&B and got to bed pretty early.

The next morning we had a feast of a breakfast that Darla made. Oh it was so good! It was some type of egg soufflé and chocolate chip coffee cake. Oh it was incredible! Then we set off for this little town called Port Townsend. We had to catch a ferry across to it. It was completely un-touristy! It was my favorite place and full of pagan and faery stuff everywhere!!! I loved it!! I bought so much stuff. I bought Candles, earrings, hats. They had all kinds of pagan shirts that had the wheel of the year and other funny sayings. I was totally shocked but in hog heaven of course!!! We had lunch at this little hole in the wall place upstairs called Sirens. It was the neatest place I've ever eaten. It was right on the water and it was this old fashioned bar, playing fun upbeat bluegrass kind of music by a band called Railroad Earth. We drank local beers and of course ate more seafood. It's just so fresh there!

After that we headed back to Whidbey Island probably around 6pm.  Would you believe that everything was closed?!? Small town life ya know! So we decided to go over to a casino and kill some time and get dinner. That turned into quite the adventure as we had to cross yet another ferry and when we got there it was this little bitty rinky dink place. So we found another place on the GPS that said Golden Nugget. Now where I come from, the Golden Nugget is HUGE and has all kinds of stuff. Granted I don't really gamble, but I go and watch or spend maybe $20. So we followed directions to Golden Nugget and got there. OMG it was like a chicken shack. LOLOL! It was hysterical. It was the smallest casino in the state they said. HAHAHAHA! Oh well! We stayed and my brother lost a good $300 there. ROFL!

The next day was one that is forever burned in my memory. We went to the Pikes Place Farmers Market. It was phenomenal. We parked near the flower stands and when we opened the doors, the breeze from the ocean carried a little salt in the air and then mixed with all the fresh flowers. I could have died and gone to heaven right then and there. It was unbelievable the smell. The sound of the market itself was incredible. People buzzing around, venders yelling out the products they had, musicians picking out their tunes, the sun shining down in perfect 75 degree weather. It just doesn't get any better than that. You could find the best, biggest, freshest produce I've ever seen. I ate an "Oh My God" peach..and that is what it was called and I swear that is exactly what I said when I bit into it. It was like pure candy. Juice just exploded out. I could eat there every day of my life. They had bee keepers there with all the different honeys, hat makers, clothes makers, jewelry makers...just anything and everything. It was WONDERFUL! I didn't have near enough time. 

I want to go back so bad already. It did rain a bit every day, being Seattle and all. But when the sun came out it was magickal. I don't know if I could handle the winter months there, if it's cloudy and rainy all the time. But the summery sun when I was there was to die for!!

 There is something to be said about embracing a free spirit! To be different is to be beautiful in a world of cookie cutter people. Bringing forth your true essence is living your life to the fullest potential and gathering a lifetime of wonderful memories. Feel the warmth of the sun on your face and feel it filling your heart as well. Listen to music that moves you to draw out that inner child who wishes to laugh until the belly aches! Look upon the world with curious eyes and an open mind to learn new things. Don't be afraid to shine a light in the dark corners of your soul, you may find something extremely valuable that deserves to be in the spotlight. Never be afraid of who you are! Be uniquely beautiful!

 To comprehend who I am, I must explain my trait

Open your mind, open your heart and listen to my fate

The symbol drawn upon my wrist is more than just a sign

It is something I believe in, something that is mine

The symbol of the goddess may have no meaning for you

But I can't deny my heart to be anything less than true

Those who do not understand, persecute those like me

Who feel the elements of nature, the spirit in the tree

This ancient path I walk has a bloody history

But the craft that calls my name, to most is mystery

Witchcraft, Pagan, Eclectic may be strange or scary to you

But look beyond the box you may learn something new

This poem is by Woodland and is one of my all time favorites!

Faery Mist
In the shade where the maidens wade,
The dew sleeps on the petals,
With an acorn cap and the scent of sap,
A lonely pixie meddles,
The mushroom springs from a mossy bed,
Of fragrant moonlight dreaming,
And from the fire in the head,
Enchanted rivers streaming,
Through the mist on the waters of dreaming,
Oh drink now from the river of sight,
Where the unseen world is wildly weaving,
In the melancholy wood of night...
The silky luminescent wings,
Of midnights' moonbeam riddles,
Sung upon the silver strings,
Of starlit forest fiddles,
The spiral of the branches reach,
The pattern of all life,
Written in the melody,
Upon a faery fife,
Through the mist on the waters of dreaming,
Oh drink now from the river of sight,
Where the unseen world is wildly weaving,
In the melancholy wood of night...
The ivy crowns and lichen gowns,
Of dryads' woven dances,
Perched upon a toadstool throne,
A midnight faery glances,
Under the hill in the wild night,
The one the pixies kissed,
Hidden from all doubtful sight,
The treasures of the mist,
Through the mist on the waters of dreaming,
Oh drink now from the river of sight,
Where the unseen world is wildly weaving,
In the melancholy wood of night...