Camano Island

We were going to name Camano Island the "Best Discovery of 2008" but we then realized that lots of other people have found how awesome that island is. JR spawned an always-spontaneous whale watching kayak trip on a dreary Saturday that turned into a great tarp-camping night and beautiful sunny paddle in the morning with porpoises, seals, sun stars - but alas, no gray whales. It did spawn a committment to go back to San Juan Island for the orcas this June for Dad's Day! Some pics of the cabin are from a new park down the way, Cama Beach, a restored 1930s retreat that's very cool. 6 person bungalows for $100/nite anyone?

Chicken update

The ladies (we still think they're all hens) have just spent their first night in the outdoor coop, still unfinished but with a great little sheltered room and their heat lamp to keep them cozy. They love playing in the run in the sunshine, eating and sleeping in dirt clods with Sam the chicken-herding dog close by. Caanan helped me clip their wings for the first time today - Dawn was ready to escape! Logan and Daniel Jr., sons of our neighbor friends, came over the other day to hold them. We love Backyard Urban Farm life! More pictures when the coop is finished.

Chicks are about 5-6 weeks old now. Maybe they'll lay eggs for my birthday! We're already planning a First Egg Bash.

Springtime in Bellingham

The daffodils, tulips and hyacinths are all out at the same time this year - its been sunny but chilly!
"The girls" (chickens) are getting their feathers and becoming pullets, developing lots of personality. This weekend is coop-building weekend!
In order of appearance: Dawn King, Diane (close) and Dinner, Dizzle.

The ceremonial changing of the childhood bedroom to stylish guest room!

Chicken pics

In order of appearance:

Group Portrait in the brooder (they were a little freaked out)

Brooder set up

Checking out a worm (they didn't know what to do!) on their first outdoor outing

Sam LOVES the girls - he couldn't tear himself away for two hours!!

Dawn King (namesake due to the 'do), Diane and Dizzle

Johnson Chicks!!

We are proud to announce the addition of four new members to this Johnson Family: Diane, Dizzle, Dinner, and Dawn King, our new baby chickens!! They are gorgeous girls that will grow up to be the best egg- and compost-making machines for the garden. Xan started off a worried mother, waking up at 2am to check their temperature, but they have now adjusted nicely and are becoming brave, feathered women. They grow up so fast! By JRs birthday (may 16th) they should be ready for the outdoor coop (building in progress). Check out our new blog, Bham Chooks (chooks are what the Aussies call chickens) at http://www.bhamchooks.blogspot.com/ where Xan is joining the community of backyard chicken mamas!

To identify: The blonde is a Polish, Dawn King, the stripey one is a Silver-laced Wyandotte, Diane, the black one with a white spot on her head is a Plymouth Barred Rock, Dinner, or Din-Din (JRs naming, a thrown bone in favor of not naming them Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch and Dinner), and the grey small one with funny feathers is a Frizzle Bantam, Dizzle, who will grow up to be best buds with Sam. I will try to post the video of their first meeting - Sam is so in love with the girls!

We got the House!

As of Saturday 12/15, Elsa accepted our offer and now we're journeying down the road of home ownership! We are very excited and relieved. JR had Caanan help him dress up our house like a present - he says "Do not open until Xmas" but I said I'd be cold on the front porch!

Halloween Castaways

This motley group of island survivors: Stephanie , Travis, Lindsay, Chris Young (with Ann, photographer and princess up from San Jose), Brodie (in from KC pre cruise!), J.R. and Xan. Guess who's who and who won the costume contest at work.

Erin, Sarah, Xan at bachelorette party

Erin's Bachelorette Party in Seattle - I think this was at the War Room, a classic Seattle bump-n-grind type of joint. Classic Sarah and Xan pose. Soon after this pic was taken, the lovely bachelorette ralphed in her shot glass necklace. What a night.

Reliving the Good Old Days

A rainy Sunday has motivated us to spend the day hunkered down in the office, filing and updating our blog - finally!
It's been a jam-packed summer so far, packed mostly with school but peppered with lots of good times. JR and I are enrolled in the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program at good ol' Western Wa - its a summer intensive program, to be followed up with a summer student teaching in Morleia, MX next year! The endsorsement, as and add to our teaching certificates (mine in early '09) will help us both in a competitive market up here (Skagit and Whatcom counties) that have large migrant populations and new grants for bilingual classrooms. Bilingual classrooms are hot button ed topic right now, along w/English Only movement....anyway the program is intense but good, especially the interaction with study abroad and Korea University students who want to learn "American culture".
July's weekends have joyfully been packed with celebration for a family wedding of sorts, Erin Kirkegaard and Adam Karpenske! July 7 we hosted an engagmenet party BBQ for them, complete with a Bellingham photo scavenger hunt which included a 'defunct Bham business, a dog taking a poo, a dancing hippie, a local artist with art, born and raised "hamster", etc. Tons o fun, pictures coming soon. Last weekend and this were the bachelor/bacholorette parties, with the girls totally winning - Lisa rented a Party Bus. Nuff said.
JR's waiting to hear back about an alternative High School position (Explorations Academy), and I'm settling in to my new PT position as the Development Dir at KUGS radio, local college station run by students, with 8 paid positions. I form the laison between local businesses who underwrite the station - rolling around dowtown meeting with local biz owners gathering gift ceritificates, then sending them to listeners, on air giveaways and DJ appreciation. Its a blast working with great "kids" (19-22) again and being hip to the square.
General invitation: If you're not already planning on it, come to BUMBERSHOOT this year! And if you're out of town-ish, come stay with us! Its a great rendezvous, that grassy knoll (which is totally gone, with the flag pavilion. Gone are the days of the $5 Bumbershoot experience!).
Ok, back to nursing my sore feet from the War Room last night and recycling pounds of papers from old mail and files... signing out from Bellingham, the city of subdued excitement.

3 Inch Max at the Rogue Hero 2

3 Inch Max at the Rogue Hero

JR out to prove that kids still mosh













Warming Up















Manhattan Jessica warming up













Manhattan/KC Sam warming up

Mussel Fest

The boys preparing for battle.
Travis, J.R., Seth
Mussel Festival Eating Contest,
Coupeville WA
March 3, 2007











The Mad Crab with Scott, Michelle x 2, Camden the Chameleon, Hans & Holly and Davin and Ellen, Xan and J.R.!













One of Cam's new thread by designer boutique Iron Ons a la Xan.
(It says "Future Gear Geek")
















Proud Auntie Xannie and Hungry Mommie Michelle




























Under Deception Pass Bridge
















Travis, Seth and JR on the Bridge above Deception Pass














Perfect NW Landscape. There were even kayakers floating through the Pass.















Lindsay, Travis and Seth on the beach eating their chow-derrr!

Our very first Blog Baby

JR and I are proud to announce the birth of our new blog, "The Adventures of Swiss Family Johnson" at www.bhamjohnsons.blogspot.com. We figure our blog-use lately has been mostly for baby pictures and family goings-ons, so we should give birth to a Blog Baby and post pictures, messages, and general goings-ons! An AITF blog for our corner of the country - and beyond!
So, as the Hawaiian Express blows through our town, we sit at our desk and invite you to blog with us. (Can you count how many times I said blog?)