Whidbey Island
As luck would have it, I have a (married, very cool) couple of dear friends in my life who bought some land on Whidbey, a small Island in the Puget Sound. Whidbey, accessible only by ferry, is equal parts rough and charming, and it is a place of a handful of happy memories for me. It’s where I had my first straight-from-the-garden, homemade pesto experiences made with love by a couple of hippie friends in the 90s. It’s where I met an Italian mother/daughter pair in the corner of a cozy, crowded tapas restaurant on a rainy January night a couple years ago (I couldn’t help but turn around and join the Italian conversation happening right behind me). It’s where I stayed overnight by myself a few months ago, in a little shed on my friends’ land in the middle of the island, with not another soul around and only the trees and night sounds (and my thoughts) to keep me company.
A couple years ago, when I came out to Seattle to find some healing after a great personal loss, my friends invited me to their land so we could spend some time and I could see what they’ve been up to. In addition to building a two-story house and a workshop for their parents, they also have their own section of the land where they’re slowly constructing a series of small structures (cabins, outhouse, shower, 70s-style wooden barrel hot tub…). It is absolutely amazing what they’re creating there, in their little off-the-grid piece of paradise. After touring their land, they introduced me to Putney Woods Park. Located in the center of the island, it’s a deep, damp, mossy sprawl of land with winding trails; I became immediately enchanted. We took a little hike through there, and I’ve through about it countless times since then; it honestly was a great help as I made my way through grief. I loved my time on this land, and I couldn’t wait to return.
A few weeks ago, I took the ferry over with my little dog Ella, and drove to my friends’ land so we could hang with them and their lovely dog Hattie. We made our way to the forest, and took a nice leisurely stroll through the trails. Our pace was easy and relaxed in order to accommodate the older of the two dogs, and we rambled along our way, talking and stopping every once in a while to note on the surroundings. It was beautiful to spend time with these friends whom I love dearly, and being together in that setting made our time together even more special.
One of these weekend I want to return to photograph this forest properly. But for now, I’ll share this little collection I shot on my iPhone. Hopefully some of the magic comes through— it truly is a remarkable place, and unmistakably the product of the unique climate and landscape of the Pacific Northwest.