After quite a few cocktails, and the unbridled excitement for the crabs we discovered we could hunt with kitchen tongs, I suddenly looked around and saw mostly water.

There we were in Useless Bay, just us, and our tugboat. The shore had somehow escaped our grasp, the tide was coming in and it felt like the current was carrying us out to the Chanel to barter with the barges.
“Ummmm, Saeng, we are pretty far out now..”
“Huh.” He picked up the oars and started paddling, with a bit more gusto than before. He has a way of keeping way too calm when he knows shits for real. I have a way of hyperventilating, or giggling.

I wouldn’t quantify myself as a great swimmer, I mean, really not good.
So he’s rowing pretty quick, I’m looking around, debating how far my doggie paddle could get me... when I see this shiny head bob out a few feet behind us. And then again. whiskers! It has whiskers and it’s big!
“Shit, there’s a seal, like right there!”
“Oh he’s okay”, and Saeng paddles a little faster.
I’m sizing it up as it keeps up with our pace, but as I eye the shoreline, it kinda feels like a standstill.

All of a sudden this boat heads toward us, the guy pulls up next to us,
“Hey you guys alright?”
“Yea we’re great, just heading in.”-Saenger says confidently.
I resist the urge to jump face first into this guys motorized life vessel. But I’m newly engaged, like two weeks, and totally enamored with Captain Oars next to me. So we keep paddling.

Maybe a half hour passes.
Seal’s still chillin.

Here comes the guy in the boat again!! Oh thank god. He knows that I think I’m going to die.

“Hey you guys still okay? Tides coming in quick.” he says

He must have noticed we literally have not moved in the fervent and exhausting, one hour paddle sesh.

“You know,” he says “it’s only 2-3 feet deep, if you guys want to walk back to shore.”

I think I sighed so loud, I could have blown us back to land. Of course, there was still the seal. So I maintained eye contact with him, I think he got intimidated eventually, so he wandered off, naturally, as killer seals do. Saenger pulled us in, while I sat on my toes, not dipping into that seal infested water! We shared the excitement of it all with the family as we boiled our crabs for dinner. Those are the stories I live for, the kind I stumble into with glee and a shred of terror.

That was 4 years ago.

“Whidbey Island Circa 2014”

Coming back to Whidbey is like going back in time. A place where you connect, to nature, to each other and to the energies in the universe that are far beyond our control....like the tide and the moon.

There’s a transparency in Whidbey that illuminates all the ways modern life feels alienated. Transparency in the ability to hunt and gather your own foods, even as a visitor.

Picking wild blackberries on the shore of Useless Bay. Whidbey, WA

Visiting farmers markets you meet the people that nourish you.

Finding a local deli/pantry, that houses friendly faces and voices. Don't even get me started on their fresh mozzarella and procuitto sandwiches to make you salivate all the way to your beach picnic.

Organic cream from the local farm that you can stop in and visit at anytime. This particular farm even had a cooler of fresh veggies, a table of fruit and was all run by the little box on the barn that said "PAY HERE." We are so far from knowing where our food comes from. That this kind of honesty is rare and revitalizing. It was the epitome of an honor system.

Whidbey has the most vibrant snapdragons, zinnias, daisies, sweet peas, and wildflowers glittering in the salty air. Even their weeds smell good...and is legal on nearly every street corner, if you're picking up what I'm putting down. Pick the weeds and the flowers lol.

Also, there’s the transparency in staying with family, in sharing space, tasks, bathtubs and morning coffee. There are bedtime protests, games, wine and delicious meals... there’s a better knowing for each other in the adventure and in the monotonous moments. Like my mother in law said on the last day,
“You know, we really are missing out. There’s challenges to the dynamics but there’s an ease in families being together like this.”

I got a few extra days with just my mother in law and sis in law. I had a night where I totally hit my toddler wall, like I HAD to run away and hide. Sometimes it's vulnerable to share those kind of feelings. But sometimes your mouth doesn't give you a choice and the words just fall out as you run out the back door. I felt like a mom failure. But they were both there for me- I got an hour or so by myself. In my meltdown, I felt a little more like family. Like I could be myself and just nuzzle in, tears and all. How else can you really get cozy without letting people into the vulnerable spaces? Like watching the two of them and the mother-daughter bond they have. That irreplaceable, and inseparable feeling of trust and unconditional love.

We got to Whidbey by taking the Mukilteo Ferry from Seattle. On the dock (and on the ferry) lives a place called Ivars.... your first taste of island chowder, or fish and chip delight.

Ivars home of clam chowder and fish and chips

As you drive off the ferry onto Whidbey Island, the cool pacific breeze sweeps into the windows and carries you thru the evergreen roads and rolling hills.
This time we stayed in the tiny town of Coupeville, on Oak Harbor Bay. My sister in law, Kaley had her incredible curry in the works, (try it here) with fresh bounty from the Bayview Farmers Market.

Meanwhile, Dodi, who’s infinitely wonderful at intriguing a child’s mind with play, has collected toys from the local thrift stores. No matter where you’re traveling, that’s a little shred of gold for traveling with a toddler.

Atlas dashes from tea party station, to barn and animals, until he zeros in on the steel dozer....

...much like Saenger has zeroed in on his crab catching contraption.

So, after the hot dog bait is secured (turns out crabs like chicken)we all head down the stairs to cheer him out to sea, in his tug boat, this time no paddles, so I’m forced to sit it out, (something about my swimming skill and being press). Saenger has his crab catching tale posted in the Hunt+Gather Section of my blog. I couldn't stop laughing!

So he sets off into Penn Cove, home of the infamous Penn Cove Mussel and Shellfish Farm. As you walk along the beach outside our Airbnb brilliant shades of violet mussel shells crunched beneath your feet (See my empathy post....violet totally surrounded me lol). If you've never had a chance to google how mussels are harvested, take a second and get some awesome images!

Once again, the food in Whidbey goes full circle, and you get to eat the mussels they harvest outside your window everyday.

Mussel pot from Anthes Ferments- Langley, WA

My sister in law brought us to Anthes Ferments, a family owned jewel. Specializing in fermented food and beverages, they blow your tastebuds minds, if tastebuds have minds. Their mission is to promote gut health, through fermentation of locally sourced vegetables from the surrounding farms.

I'm sure you've heard, Gut health is making itself known for mental health as well. It's quite complicated, but the overall micro biome in your gut has an effect on both your mental and physical health. There are some scientists that do a much better job explaining it. Fermentation (pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.) has been around for thousands of years. Fermentation of food creates healthy bacteria that increases digestion and thus relaxes the natural processes in the body. This has the effect of relieving the body's stress response, and therefore mental health improves. The Standard American Diet (SAD) has little, to no fermented foods incorporated, and a growing rate of mental illness.

The mind- body connection fascinates me and has so many different modalities to choose from. If you know me, you know yoga is my chosen medicine. Yoga has helped me heal from the most challenging times in my life, and relieves anxiety for me on a daily basis. I feel most centered when I get a chance to incorporate it into my daily routine. I spent many mornings on Whidbey waking up early, and finding a spot on the beach or the deck, overlooking the water, breathing and connecting to my mind, to my body; to my daughter, and her body. Processing the fears I currently have.

I could totally nerd out on that topic and Whidbey for a few more hours, but instead I'll leave you with a treat for peach season. Possibly the best thing I've ever demolished.

Summers on Whidbey Island and Harvesting Seasonal Food