Orcas Island

We left Friday Harbor on the 8:30 am ferry to Orcas Island. Breakfast was yogurt and cereal we brought with us.   

Waiting for the ferry at Friday Harbor 

Boarding

Arriving Orcas Island 

Hellebore 

Jacob's Ladder

Love-in-a-mist

Ornamental onion

Bulb opening

Giant logs in this log cabin

Alexander Jackson homestead cabin. This cabin features half-dovetail and other mixed joinery techniques in its corners. The walls are hewn flat on the inside, and half-round on the outside. 

Built around 1870, it was originally located close to what is now the Judd Cove Preserve.

There was a line out the door at this bakery so we decided it called for a stop.

Orange morning roll

Bear claw

Watching them work in the kitchen 

One of the owners had gone into the kitchen to cut a date walnut loaf cake. When he tried to put the slices on a plate it all started falling apart. He finally gave up and put a pile of broken up cake on a piece of parchment and brought it over to give to us and another couple sitting next to us. He said they sat the cake on top of the oven to warm it up and then it was too tender to cut so back in the fridge it went. It was mmm mmm good!

Just driving around the island

Mt Constitution observation tower, designed by architect Ellsworth Storey and constructed by the CCC using local sandstone. It's inspired by medieval watchtowers from the Caucasus Mountains. 

The tower is a five-story stone structure with thick walls, slit windows, and heavy wooden doors. It also has an observation deck with a 360-degree view. 

It has served as a fire lookout, an observation tower during World War II, and even housed a television station for a period. 

We drove to the top of Mount Constitution to access the tower. Inside, historical displays tell the story of the tower and the park's history. The tower provides stunning views and was a highlight of our visit to Orcas Island. 

Reading all about it. 

Looking down from the tower

Entrance to the tower

Green pine cones 

 A pond filled with lily pads on the other side of this sweeping tree

From the lower lookout

A short walk down to the falls

This hollowed out, mossy tree stump made the perfect chair.

Coastal redwood looks like it’s reaching right up into heaven. 

Cascade Falls

Watch your step! This trail is rooty. 

Our next stop was Orcas Island Pottery. 

The pottery is nestled in a beautiful garden setting with a treehouse, fountains, and a view of the water. 

The excellent craftsmanship and artistry of the pottery pieces was obvious and there was a large selection of pottery, including functional items like mugs and teapots, as well as decorative pieces and garden art. 

The setting and display of the pottery contribute to a unique and enchanting experience;  "magical" or "fairytale-like".

Gorgeous peonies

Checking the price (yikes) and setting it down carefully

Candle larkspur

Different color of larkspur

Water view 

Pottery birdhouses 

There are 8 potters that use the studio here and 10 others who contribute their pottery but work from home. 

I included the two photos of purple pottery for you Jo Anne, knowing how much you love purple. 🤣 Or maybe for you Kody since you really DO like purple. 

Cute little gas pump

Little mallard out on the pond of green looking a little lost

Episcopal church in Eastsound

Smoketree 

We took a moment to linger at the inviting White Horse Pub, hoping to indulge in a delightful dinner. Though we had to bide our time for a coveted table by the window, the breathtaking view certainly compensated for the brief wait.

Cathie and I eagerly decided upon the comforting shepherd's pie,

while Connie chose the classic fish and chips. Each dish was a culinary delight, bursting with flavor and thoroughly enjoyable.

This amazing bouquet of roses is all on one stem, no arranging required.

Heath pearlwort

One last stop to soak our feet in the cool water of East Sound. 

The view from my soaking spot.

As I sat there, enveloped in profound stillness, the world around me faded. It was a moment to pause and absorb the extraordinary complexity of God’s handiwork, a time for reflection that felt both sacred and enriching.

The day, bathed in golden hues, could not conclude without a stop at Clever Cow Creamery, a sanctuary for sweet cravings.

There, I relished the refreshing coconut sorbet, a creamy dairy-free option perched on a gluten-free cone. The rich blackberry lavender beckoned Cathie with its floral notes, while the bold griffin’s ginger added a spirited kick for Connie—each scoop a celebration of flavor..

Now we wait for the ferry back to Anacortes before the drive to Marysville. 

Departing Orcas Island

Since I gave you a progression of the sunrise yesterday, I will end today with a progression of the sunset. 

The past two days unfolded like a breathtaking tapestry, woven with enchanting sights and experiences that left us in awe of nature's exquisite beauty. Every moment was a feast for the senses, brimming with memories that words could scarcely capture.

My thought for today:

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Romans 1:20 ESV

Throughout human history mankind has gone to nature to get a deeper sense of the divine. I believe that when we open our ears to hear what God is declaring to us through that which he’s made, we’ll find a wonderful avenue to stay in communication with our heavenly Father.

Nature has an ability to bring me peace in a way nothing else does. Sure I get annoyed by bugs or tired from hiking. But seeing the beauty, creativity, and complexity of what God has made has had a profound effect on my spiritual life. Have you ever just spent some time in God’s creation? Maybe it was hiking, lying on the beach, swimming in an ocean or a lake, fishing, gazing over the Grand Canyon, driving through the mountains, watching a thunderstorm or just playing in the rain. I suspect that when you reflect on that time and what you felt, you might discover that God’s presence was felt in subtle but profound ways. 

The more I’ve come to know God the more there has grown in me an adoration and appreciation for his creation. Romans 1:20 says that nature is meant to declare to us the “invisible attributes” of God. And Scripture is clear that God is at work in his creation—maintaining and facilitating all that happens in the world. Psalm 147:8-9, 15-18 tells us:

He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry… He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

You see, while God does an incredible job taking care of a world wrought with the effects of sin, he promises to take care of us even more. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:26-30, to look upon creation and listen as it declares to us the nature of God. In fact, he commands us to do so. We can look at the grass of the field and know of God’s unwavering faithfulness for us. We can look at the birds and never wonder if we will get our next meal. Nature declares to us that God has and will provide for us all of our days. Nature tells us not to worry because God is both powerful and near. Nature tells us that God is creative, practical, brilliant, loving, and full of mystery and wonder. Nature tells us that God speaks.

May the beauty and mystery of all of God’s creation fill us with a deeper longing to know our heavenly Father. May we listen to God today and allow our hearts to be stirred as we discover his unwavering desire to speak to us through his creation.