San Juan Island. Roche Harbor and South Beach

A day spent in Roche Harbor, wandering through the quaint streets sipping on iced coffees, stopping for lunch at your typical seaside restaurant and photographing flowers in the formal gardens. We swam at the pond and enjoyed the company of good friends. I even found time on this day to bake a shortcake with a balsamic berry compote. I found time and was not surrounded by a thread of stress.

And then we packed up and headed out to South Beach. If I could name one moment of our vacation as "my favorite" it would be this moment. This unique moment that I will never forget. This moment that I shared with my family. Dinner on the beach with such good food, good friends and good music.

I cannot find the words to explain what this moment, this day and this vacation has taught me. If I could pull one word out of my mind it would be simplicity. This cherished time away has taught me to simplify my life. Step away from the distractions and focus on what really matters.

“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.” John Maeda



















































Dinner on South Beach

I held my glass of Rosé so tightly fingers touched
hands slightly cool from brisk ocean air.
The empty beach stretched, vast and wide
pebbles rolled with subtle movement
waves danced in and out.

Endless piles of driftwood
lay tossed about like a fallen house,
deserted
remnants built up over time.

In the air I could smell the smoky flavor,
large oysters roasting
crackling in their shells.
Our open fire tucked behind rocks, wood
sheltered us from evening.

Huddled together
Guitars strumming.

Night sky stretched over South Beach
reaching the Straight of Juan de Fuca
the foot of the Olympic Mountains
and to the northwest, Vancouver Island.

Waves danced into salty air
sailing over our heads

Something lingered in me that night
something landed in my soul
something changed me

during dinner on South Beach.