In reading the last two posts, you might think that we only saw gardens and museums on our recent trip to Vancouver Island. But you would be incorrect – and you should know us better than that! Although we spend four months in one place while we are working, we can still sight see at …
By Karen
Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria
On our second day on Vancouver Island, we decided to visit the Royal British Columbia Museum. The Royal British Columbia Museum is the only natural history museum in the province. It is a huge, three-story building with outlying gardens and an IMAX theater. The museum anchors the Cultural Precinct in Victoria and is located between …
Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
On our last three-day “weekend,” Tom and I with our friends Val and Johnny, headed west on the ferry for Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Vancouver Island is the largest island off the west coast of North America. It is about the size of West Virginia. We decided to check it out and explore the southernmost …
Taking Sermons Personally
During my life as a pastor, I preached over 1,500 different sermons. I preached on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and special holidays. I preached at weddings and funerals and even in a few hospital rooms. Each time I preached, I expected that whoever was in the congregation was listening and taking sermons personally. I try …
Fridays Crabhouse in Friday Harbor
We arrived in Friday Harbor on a Friday. On Saturday we met our friends, Val and Johnny, in town for supper. None of us had ever had a meal before in Friday Harbor and we didn’t know any of the restaurants. We walked around and checked out a few menus. We noticed all the restaurants …
American Camp, San Juan Island NHP
San Juan Island National Historical Park has two areas: American Camp on the southeast end of the island and English Camp on the Northwest end of the island. Tom and I work at English Camp so you will hear a lot more about it in the coming weeks. But I thought I would spend a …
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Tom and I got a San Juan Island Library Card! This may not seem like a big deal to those of you who live in one place all the time but it is pretty exciting to us. After we started going to the Columbus Metropolitan Library last fall, I realized how much I missed going …
Jackson Beach, San Juan Island
Jackson Beach is one of those beaches that the locals don’t like to put on the map. It is a long, sandy curve of beach without the steep climb down that characterize many of the beaches here. Most of the beaches are also rocky instead of sandy. Jackson Beach will never be mistaken for a …
Jonah and the Whale of a Tale
This morning at Friday Harbor Presbyterian we had a substitute preacher. Dr. Joe Bettridge is on vacation and the Director of Youth Ministry, Sylvia Sullard, filled in. She talked about the whale of a tale that you find in the book of Jonah. Sylvia gave a disclaimer at the beginning of the sermon that she …
Unexpected Visitors to the Visitors Center
The very first day we worked, we had some unexpected visitors in the Visitors Center. English Camp, where Tom and I work, is a historic 1868 building. The only electricity is for the gift shop (cash register and two display lights). There is no heat or air-conditioning or running water. We have a fireplace and …