Barn Lighting

We have electricity!

We Have Electricity!

After 5 years of owning the property we decided it was time to hook up electric power to the property and lay/bury the electric line, water line, and phone line from the access road to the house site. Having a contractor do it would have been easy. Hire one and pay the money. Nope, we decided to do as much as we can ourselves and with the help of our friends. Although it was quite an undertaking, the satisfaction that we did the majority of it ourselves was quite a reward.

Well Water

Water. A basic requirement of life. That was the next big project - getting our well in. We actually took the advise of a co-worker and “witched for water” - NEVER believing that it’s real, being the biologists we are. But it WORKED! It was amazing. ???????

Anyway...we drilled for water and had two HUGE well-drilling rigs try the driveway out for the first time - talk about nerve-wracking! But it all held together, no problem! And we hit water earlier than expected and at a GREAT rate!

Tent

Our second home after driveway was built

The Driveway Project

Getting to our house from one end of the property to another required that we build our driveway. We enlisted the help of our wonderful friend and neighbor (who used to do this for a living) to build our driveway. We cleared all of the vegetation ourselves - Don ran chainsaw and Deb was the “swamper.” We designed the driveway to have lots of curves and highlight the old stumps (with springboards) on the property. We’ve planted flowers and flowering trees along the driveway edge as surprises along your journey to our home.

Weeding

We have developed a deep level of hate of Himalayan Blackberries...

Orchard Aerial Photo

our orchard

Blossom

It’s apple blossom time!

The Orchard

Washington is a great fruit producing state; therefore, the thought of having our own orchard was exciting! The orchard was one of the first items we tackled. We now maintain it through a term Deb likes to call “weed scaping” - knocking back the “weeds” (actually native vegetation) to showcase our fruit trees and flower beds.

Dream Cafe Friends

Candlelight dinner in the Dream Cafe (our barn)

The Dream Cafe

The Barn

After 3 years of living in a backpack tent we decided to build a barn. We invited our friends up for an old fashioned barn raising and here are the results!

The Sunset

a sunset we will never forget

Don On Ladder

Don’s favorite spot . . looking at the view!

The Slot

Cinco de Mayo Sunset in the “slot”

Sunset Views

One of the key reasons we bought this property

Sunsets - Bringing An End To The Day...

A view of the ocean was a high priority characteristic we agreed that a property must have. What we did not realize is the number of incredible sunsets that set over the San Juan islands...

Our New Neighbors - Our New Friends

From the moment we began considering buying the property we were welcomed by our new neighbors who have rapidly become our new friends. They all are much more than neighbors. Each of them have made very special efforts to make us welcome in the “hood” and have shown unparalleled hospitality, generosity, and kindness. We were instantly offered a place to stay for the night, a shower, use of water.....

Barry And Kathy

Barry and Kathy came out to Colorado to visit Don about 20 years ago! This time they see the Northwest - and love the scenery and the seafood!

Maureen And Dan

Deb’s long time friend Maureen and her friend, Dan, decided to come out to see what Debbie was up to in the Northwest - another kayak trip breaks the ice.

Steve And Patty

Steve and Patty relax on the Deception Pass bridge - then they climbed Rainbow Ridge in the snow! We have pics of that too! Don has known Steve for over 40 years.

Matt And Rachel

Time to relax. After helping us work on the property, Matt and Rachel relax paddling the “sea snake” on Samish Bay with Mt. Baker in the background.

Lisa And Dick

Taking a break on Samish Island - a day on the water in the kayaks is one of our favorite things to do with friends.

Dick Making Sure The Barn Is Level

Always there to make sure we are on the straight and level, Dick has been a dear friend for over 28 years.

Sandra And Fred

Breakfast in the Barn is always enjoyable, especially for family from Florida!

K2

Kurt and Kathleen take a lunch break on Guemes Island

Friends

What would we do without our friends? Like our family, we love when they come up to the property. We can’t count the number of times our friends have come up to visit, relax, or WORK. Yes, our friends have spent endless hours helping us WORK when they come to the property.... Geez - and we are not talking easy work either.

Weeding, trail building, wheel barrowing, helping build the barn, hauling water/hoses, etc. And all the time with a smile! How good is that?

We have made some lame efforts to show our deep felt appreciation. But, we continue to offer a kayak trip, a hike, a walk, a sunset, home- made dinner to encourage a return trip..... What it comes down to is just being with our friends. Doesn’t matter what we do. Its just so easy to just have fun.

Nancy And Bill Come To Bowville

Deb’s parents check out the view of the property from a nearby State Park

Margaret And Barney Visit The Barn

Don’s mom and dad check out the barn for the first time. They loved it!

Family

The arrival of our family members to our property is, and was, one of our very favorite times. We are always so excited to have a visit. It seems like we prepare for their arrival for months - and we love doing it. It is always so special when they see something for the first time. We have to admit, when they have seen the barn for the first time, the look on their faces is something we will never forget. Same for their kind comments - it all means so much.

A Day On The Water....

A big reason why we moved to Bow. We can drive to a spot to unload the kayaks in 15 minutes, and paddle right here in another 45 minutes.

Our Honeymoon

Where else would we go for our Honeymoon? The property of course - couldn’t afford anything else anyway....:)

Deb In Rain

Don’s favorite shot that illustrates what it was like to make our dream real

BMW & Tent

how it used to be

The Property

In the winter of 2002 we decided it was time to buy some property near the Puget Sound. We had discussed where we would like to retire and the Puget Sound area kept coming up as a top 5 place. We found 5 acres that seemed to be just what we were looking for.... forested, island views, relative solitude, capable of having a garden and an orchard, relatively quiet, and simply a place we felt good in and could call home. After many many trips up from Portland to look for land, we finally found a very good candidate. In May, 2002 we signed the papers and made what is turning out to be a life-long commitment.