Lizzie Lawson

With 17 rooms, suites and cottages in historic wooden buildings, we have to pick and choose which accommodations will get a “face lift” each winter. This year it’s our rugged little Log Cabin. By the time we’re finished, it will be wearing a new roof, walls, shower, wainscoting, paint, and a new name, Lizzie’s Cottage.

Lizzie Lawson with Her Dog Sanko. Photo Courtesy of San Juan Historical Museum

Lizzie Lawson was a pioneering farm woman on the island, and though this of course is not her original cottage, it was built in the same era. Born August 1, 1879, Lizzie was the second youngest in a large family who farmed the land on False Bay Road near Eagle Point. If you tour the island and see that distinctive barn, you’re viewing the handiwork of Lizzie’s father, Peter, who was told “that barn will never stand” when he built it in 1876. It appears Lizzie inherited her father’s smart, stubborn, and independent traits, as well as land, because though she never married, she had an aptitude for farming and continued to manage the farm operation on the family land after her father passed away and her brothers moved to establish other homesteads on the island.

The main products on Lizzie’s farm were hay, potatoes and sheep, which were sheared for off-island wool buyers or sold to buyers who came to the island to buy lambs “on the hoof” to take to the mainland for processing. In addition, the lower portion of the farm, at a small bay just north of Eagle Point, was rented out as Fish Camps, creating virtual tent cities where fishermen and their families lived in the summer months to take advantage of the bounteous catch.

Haying on the Lawson Farm - That's Lizzie in the Center with the Large Hat. Photo Courtesy of San Juan Historical Museum

Neat and tidy – both in personal appearance and the way she kept her home – she always wore a dress and apron, even when working the fields. It was common for neighbors to see her up on a ladder washing windows and painting her house well into her eighties. Lizzie was a fun-living, independent spirit who was known as a good cook and enjoyed entertaining, but she especially loved going to the County Fair each year. She usually would bring three or four sheep to show, transporting them in her car, a Liberty convertible! Can’t you just image that sight?

Etta Lightheart (Egeland) and Her Aunt, Lizzie Lawson, Doing Laundry. Photo Courtesy of San Juan Historical Museum

Lizzie’s family was one of the few with a brand new contraption – a Brownie camera – and they apparently loved to take pictures. The San Juan Historical Museum is fortunate to have over 4,000 images in their collection of families and island life, many of them captured by the Lawsons with their Brownie. Through those images, we see Lizzie as a beautiful young woman – tall, slender, and proud; we see her hard at work – strong and commanding; and we see her as a happy, aging aunt with her niece, Etta Egeland, the woman who became an island legend and founded the San Juan Historical Museum. In her later years, Lizzie moved to Argyle Street, just a few blocks up from the Inns, and finally passed away at the age of 88 in February of 1968.

For a simple, strong life, we dedicate our sturdy little centenarian cabin to Lizzie.

Our thanks to Kevin Loftus, Director of the San Juan Historical Museum for his contributions to this article.

Lizzie on the Right at Age 17. Photo Courtesy of San Juan Historical Museum

Lizzie on the Far Right In Her Later Years. Photo Courtesy of San Juan Historical Museum.

Island Authors Works Make Thoughtful Gifts

Readers and island lovers might enjoy a gift that brings both together – a book from a San Juan Island author.

Innkeeper Plays with Abbey Road

Eleanor Rigby has special significance for Sally Browne.  The classic Beatles tune features a cello solo, and our summer-time innkeeper, Sally, was thrilled to play the solo in her first appearance with a rock/pop band last Saturday evening at the San Juan Community Theatre.

The Band was Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band.  For their repeat appearance in Friday Harbor, they employed six islanders to sit in with them on stage.  Their drummer was flanked by locals playing sax, trumpet and flute, and on the opposite side, what the band director dubbed “the lonely heart strings” – two violins and Sally’s cello.

With barely more than an hour’s rehearsal, the ensemble plunged into the familiar tunes of that famous album, while audience members, dressed in tie-dyed ‘60’s garb and groovy glasses, jumped out of their seats and boogied all night.

Sally quips she’s been playing cello “since it was bigger than me,” which puts it about 4^th grade.  Her professional music career spans decades of performing chamber music and in string quartets in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as teaching private music instruction. Since moving on island, she founded the local Performing Arts Society and has been teaching cello to private students as a sideline.

But even with written charts, going from the intimate environment of chamber music to the electronic blast of pop was quite an adjustment for Sally.  It was disconcerting for her not to be able to hear the other musicians – and even herself, since she discovered after-the-fact that her monitor was not properly adjusted.  She noted the band members were very gracious and patient, and enjoyed the evening immensely, but “chamber music is my heart and soul.”

We hope we have the opportunity to hear Sally perform her to heart’s content soon.

Keep Up the Great Island Cleanup

Now that we’re all spending more time outdoors with this glorious weather, let’s remember to keep up the momentum of the Great Island Clean-up. If you see litter along the road, it only takes a moment to pick it up. Pack your picnic meal in reusable containers. Bring your reusable shopping bags. Once you put your mind to it, you’ll find it’s easy to reduce, reuse, and recycle. And while we’re on the “R” words, let’s add “Respect” and a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T for our environment, our fellow islanders, and our visitors.

Feather Top Mattress Wins Favor at Friday Harbor Inn

Thank you for the follow up!  We loved our stay in the Friday Harbor Suite!  The only downside is that we had only planned to be there one night!  We know for the future and next time will plan to stay a bit longer!  What a lovely place!  We felt very at home and a little spoiled – as one should while on vacation! J   Thank you for a great experience!

Out of curiosity, how much do you ask for the feather top mattresses?  We would need a queen size.  That made your bed the best one we slept in on our entire week long trip!

Deana D.

Boise, ID

Fresh From the Comb Honey on San Juan Island

No doubt you’ve heard that saying, “Make hay while the sun shines.”  Here on San Juan Isl

and we can add “Make HONEY while the sun shines.”  The marine climate here is just cool enough to keep the flower nectar from flowing easily, so poor little honey bees have a very short window in which to gather their nourishment.  Particularly with a summer like we’ve had this season – sun one day, rain the next – it’s especially important for bee keepers to monitor their stash.

Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to spend an afternoon with local bee keeper Brian Enders.  Brian’s been working with the little critters for about four years now, having been talked into the hobby by his bee-keeping brothers and father – a family tradition you might say.  He started with three hives, then added a fourth, but the hive died just a couple months ago; the worker bees rejected the queen (“off with her he

ad!!!”) and flew away.  There went THAT investment!!  Thirty-five thousand bees, gone with the wind!

Females Versus Males

But he’s still at it, or rather, the rest of his bees are.  It takes just three weeks from the time the egg is laid to the time it’s hatched, and after that, there’s no rest for the wicked – or the workers.  They’re all female of course, and like most women they’re busy all the time (is that sexist or WHAT?!).  For the first three weeks of their life, they stay in the lower “brood” levels of the hive, tending to the newly laid eggs, making sure the embryos are getting protein;  waiting on Miss Queen Bee; cleaning house; m

aking wax; a woman’s work is nev

er done.  Then the last three weeks of their life are spent roaming around the neighborhood in search of nectar to bring back to the hive.

And “what of the males?” you ask.  Well here’s an interesting tidbit: the queen can select whether each egg is fertilized or not.  The fertilized eggs become females, and the unfertilized eggs turn into males.  But get this: it’s the hive members who tell the queen whether to fertilize the eggs or not!  “No, we only need a few males to get the job done.”  And their job?  Their job – their ONE and ONLY job – is to mate with the queen,

because the more times the queen mates, the more she’s accepted into the hive.  Then they die!  They’re literally kicked out of the hive in the Fall.  Umph, umph, umph – now that’s some kinda tough life!

Here’s another interesting tidbit: when a female bee stings someone or something,

she dies, but she also releases a pheromone that attracts other bees to come help her. Meaning, if you get stung, look out brudda, cause doz girls gonna stick togetha and whomp you!!

Experience Beyond the Science

But enough of all this science stuff.  The real reason for this post is to tell you what it was like.  First off, let me say, I’m allergic to insect bites and stings, so signing up for honey extraction duty was a tad un-nerving.  Fortunately, Brian’s wife Joanne is a nurse, and stood by to assist, assuring me an Epi Pen was handy if needed.  She suited me up in her white bee-keepers uniform, making sure not the tiniest bit of flesh was exposed.  With the clumsy garb, I wondered if this was a bit like astronauts feel, but realized they’re probably not sweating profusely like Brian and I were in the warm San Juan sun.  Heart pounding, stomach in a k

not, we calumped over to the hives with the smoker, a small tin can contraption that looks similar to a lantern but with charcoal burning in the bottom and a bellows on the side.  Brian showed me how to squeeze the bellows, aiming the spout into holes in the hive.  He explained that the smoke is like anesthesia to the bees,

subduing them, but not harming them.  We waited a moment for the smoke to take effect, then Brian lifted the lid off the top level of the first hive. SUBDUE MY YOU KNOW WHAT!!!

Stephanie's Ready to Smoke Out Some Bees

Those bees were swarming all OVER us!  The air was thick with them!  And the SOUND – that angry buzzing sound so close!  Lordy, lordy, the hair on my arms and head and neck stood up straight!  Shivers went down my spine.  I was creeped out BIG TIME!  But the amazing thing was the scent.  I could catch whiffs of the honey, just by standing next to the open hive.  Brian suggested I put my face right down over the racks and take a deep whiff.  I thought he was joking!  “Go ahead, put your face right down on it.”  My mind was screaming “Are you nuts?!?!”  No doubt he could sense my reluctance, and graciously demonstrated how to do it.  Finally I drew up my courage and stuck my be-netted face right over the top of the hive – briefly.  Enough to pick up a warm, yeasty, sweet smell, like nothing I’ve gleaned before.

Inside the Hive

Scent lesson over, we proceeded to unload trays from the hive.  Each hive has a series of wooden trays, approximately 8-inches high and 24-inches long, which hang from the sides of the box.  The trays Brian uses have a plastic comb-looking sheet in the center, to which the bees add wax, building the

comb up all the way to the edges of the frame.  As they deposit the honey into the comb and fill the cells, they cap off the individual cells with non-breathable wax (breathable wax is used to cap off the cells with the embryos) to protect the moisture content and preserve the honey.  When the tray is full, it’s time to extract the honey.  On San Juan Island, this only happens two or three times a summer; for the cooler months, the bees need the honey to live on.

Here’s another creepy part: when Brian would lift a tray out, the stubborn little bees would cling to it; the trays were almost solid bees, bustling and quivering in a frenzy.  He had to shake them off, and you could hear their little bodies hitting the trays below – OOOH, it gave me the heebies AND the jeebies!!!  T

hen he had to brush off any remaining bees, and I carried the tray to a crate far enough away from the hives so the bees would be too busy to follow.  We followed this same process for all three hives, filling four large storage crates, then were ready to extract.

Extrating the Honey

Joanne Scrapes Wax Off the Comb

The process of removing the honey from the combs was simple: lightly scrape the caps off the combs (the glistening honey oozing out of the cells was simply beautiful), place the trays in the centrifuge (three at a time) and turn the handle on top of the centrifuge to get the trays spinning.  It was like spinning sugar for cotton candy, with honey whipping to the sides of the great steel drum; it was a great workout for the biceps too.  It was interesting to see the variation of color in the combs, and amazing to feel the difference in the weight of the trays from before and after spinning.  From the moment of the first twirl, the heavenly aroma of honey permeated the room.  At the bottom of the centrifuge, beautiful, golden slush dripped slowly into a bucket fitted with netting inside, which acted as a filter.  Once the bucket was full, it was simply a matter of pouring the honey into bottles or jars.  It was a clear, sunny yellow color, distinctive in flavor as it was quite different from the darker, more intense flavored he’d brought in earlier.  It was positively addicting!  In fact, Brian’s July harvest won Best of Class at the San Juan County Fair!

Brian’s honey is one of the reasons our house-made granola tastes so luscious – his little ladies just do a damn fine job!  It’s too bad he only has enough to supply Harrison House Suites, Tucker House, Coho Restaurant, and a few more lucky buyers.  But you can enjoy it in our granola; simply click here for ordering info.

To  read news on our restaurant, sister inn and around the island, check out cohorestaurant.com,
www.tuckerhouse.com, and www.experiencesanjuanisland.com.  Or follow us on the Tucker House Facebook page, the Harrison House Suites Facebook page, and the CohoRestaurant Facebook page.  You can also see more photos on Stephanie’s Facebook page.

Hand-Crafted Furniture at Friday Harbor Inns

If you have a have a chance to start really poking around this island and learning more about the residents, you’ll be struck by the creative aura that pervades.  True, some might view these artistic people as a bit quirky, but the things they create are amazing.  Just being around so many lateral thinkers makes you want to let loose and try things yourself.

When you see someone who has found their niche, found their medium, it’s just so enjoyable to view their work.  But being a small community, there are only so many buyers.  Last month one of the local artisans, Dan Miller, was driving around town, just trying to show off his work, looking for buyers.   His pick-up truck was loaded with his work – chairs, benches, birdhouses, tables.  He happened to stop by the inns, where innkeeper Erin Dannelly spotted him.  She was enthralled with his furniture – ended up buying a cozy bench of recycled woods, seven beautiful hand-crafted Western Red Cedar chairs, and placed an order for more!

Dan Miller Handcrafts Wood Furniture

Dan’s a man of few words when it comes to his work, perhaps preferring to let the pieces speak for themselves.  “It’s hard to find the right wood; then you have to make it into something people want.”  An island carpenter by trade since 1972, Dan likes to “mess with antiques” and make furniture.  Sometimes it’s a hobby, sometimes it’s a sole source of income, all depends on how well things are going on the island.  He always has a booth displaying his furniture at the San Juan County Fair in August and usually makes 15 to 20 large pieces a year – a corner cupboard, a dining set, whatever the available wood dictates.   “It’s the same basic principles; furniture is all put together the same way, except the materials are different.  I just start building and see how it turns out.”  Most of his pieces are one-of-a-kind, simply because of the availability of materials.

You wouldn’t think so, but finding appropriate woods is a problem.  The nice stuff is still very expensive, though occasionally he scores at a lumber yard or estate sale. The old weathered woods from buildings that have been torn down offer interesting possibilities for unique pieces, but then again, you have to be able to find it, along with other elements he uses in his craft.  He’s used old copper sheets for table tops, discarded doorknobs for perches on his birdhouses, painted panels for benches.  He loves to build artistic garden sheds out of recycled materials.  Can’t you just picture it?  You’ll have to, because so far Dan hasn’t taken any photos of his handiwork.

If you’d like to talk with Dan about crafting a special souvenir of the island, you can reach him at (360) 378-2046.

You can now follow Harrison House Suites on Facebook or see our other blogs for Tucker House, Coho Restaurant, and Experience San Juan Island

Bicycle Adventures on San Juan Island

World-renowned cycling operators annually sponsor cycling adventures around the islands.  In fact, “Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2010” ranked the San Juan Islands on its list of “World’s Top 10 Cycling Routes” and both Harrison House Suites and Tucker House Inn play host to these energetic gatherings.  But you don’t have to join a cycling group to enjoy the island on two wheels.  One of the perks of staying at inns is the complimentary use of our bicycles.

As with all equipment, routine maintenance is a must, and our bicycles were recently overhauled by a local repairman, Micail Denker.  With checking brake pads, oiling or replacing chains and gear shifts, inspection of tires of the entire fleet, it was an all-day job.  Some of the bikes were taken back to his shop on Lopez for additional work, and while picking them up, innkeepers Erin and Kelly, scored on the purchase of a few more really nice bikes for the stable.  So they’re ready and waiting for guests to use.

Micail Denker Checks Works on the Bicycle Fleet

Our bikes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you’ll want to check them out early.  Among the popular cycling routes near the inns are the nine-mile ride out on Roche Harbor Road; the seven-mile run on Cattle Point Road to South Beach is do-able for most novice cyclists; and for those with families, try the half-mile Airport Trail, between Skagit Valley College and Shelter Road.  For the more experienced cyclists, a ride around lovely Turn Point / Pear Point Roads loop and out to Jackson Beach, a local hang-out, rewards you with beautiful water views and scenic private properties.  Of course, the serious cyclists will want to explore the island, either on one of the two loops and circumnavigating the island, about 35 miles.

One difficulty with riding the island is the lack of shoulders on most of the roads.  Local drivers familiar with the roads are generally respectful of cyclists, but it is imperative that cyclists obey all traffic laws and take utmost precaution when riding, particularly during summer months when there are so many visitors to the island; they may be paying more attention to the scenery than to the road.  Use bike turnouts; pull off the road when you can safely do so to allow cars to pass; do not stop and rest on the road pavement, especially if you can’t be seen from both sides of oncoming traffic; ride defensively, anticipating problem curves and difficulties with passing cars; wear colorful clothing; use hand signals and follow all traffic laws; and absolutely wear a helmet.

Mountain bikers love the Roche Harbor Trails, over six miles of mowed trails through meadows and woodlands.  Roche Harbor Highlands and Mitchell Hill DNR, though situated in pristine, dense forests, are a rabbit’s warren of unmarked trails that may be best to ride with experienced cyclists familiar with the locales.

You can find great information on road and trail cycling routes at http://sanjuanislandtrails.org/biking/bicycle-routes/.  No doubt after your bike ride, you’ll have worked up an appetite; check out http://cohorestaurant.com/dining/ for samples of the daily-changing menus.  For news on what’s happening at our sister inn and around the island, go to http://www.tuckerhouse.com/blog/ and http://www.experiencesanjuanisland.com/blog/.

San Juan Island Living

Visitors come to San Juan Island for its overwhelming beauty and often wonder what it’s like to actually live here.  You can get a hint of what the community is like when driving along the roads exiting the town of Friday Harbor and out to other parts of the island.

Watch for yellow signs with a green triangle and red thumb along the side of the road.  This designates a RIDESHARE stop, similar to a bus stop, where pedestrians and drivers can connect.  People on foot needing a ride can be easily seen, drivers who want to help their neighbors and the environment can pull over safely.  Both passenger and driver support more sustainable living and build connections with islanders.

Where else but a small island like this can you get away with hitchhiking now-a-days?  Of course, everyone participating needs to use reasonable judgement, and you can always choose not to offer or accept a ride, but in the years I’ve lived here, I’ve never heard of any problems with this program.  I’ve picked up kids, adults, adults with big dogs, and in turn have been picked up myself.  It’s a wonderful way to meet other islanders and it just feels good to know I’m doing just a little bit to help cut down on emissions by not bringing my own car and doubling up with someone else.  After all, it’s all these little things we do that add up to the big differences in life.

Rideshare - Island Style

San Juan Island Lodging, Washington – Harrison House Suites

Vacation Destinations San Juan Island Washington

Here are a few pictures sent today from our whale watching buddies, Bill and Colleen, at San Juan Safaris. Dave and I are pictured visiting with their llamas…the dark brown one in the background is Montana. We so enjoy the rare occasion when we can drive out to the ‘country’ of the Island to hang out at their farm.

There are rare occasions when we get the pleasure of reciprocating the hospitality with Bill and Colleen and hosting them in our Garden Cafe at the Harrison House Suites in the booming metropolis of Friday Harbor – a township of only 2,000 residents and about 500 homes.

Lodging and Dining-Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA. Harrison House Suites and Tucker House Inn
Coho Restau

San Juan Islands WA; Friday Harbor Lodging

Shaylynn’s take on Life on the island

As a new resident to San Juan, I thought that anyone looking to visit or move to the island would like a little insight. I just recently moved into my apartment and am waiting for my little island car to get back from the shop, so for now I am staying at the inn. Island life is definitely something that I am getting used to; taking the ferry to go off island is an all day adventure so you shouldn’t rush the trip. However there is a debate now on how the ferry system will work as funding may change. Friday Harbor is a small community but if your car breaks down (like mine did about a week ago) you won’t be sitting on the side of the road long at all before someone asks if you would like a lift into town. People here are genuine and welcoming. Although winter can be cold and rainy at times, I used to live in New England and winters here are nothing compared to winter in Connecticut. The island is a great place to meet new people while enjoying the gorgeous scenery that the island has to offer. Sunsets here are absolutely wonderful and the stars at night light up the sky. In the summer I love going down by the ferry at night to see all the boats lit up while watching the ferry roll in and out. Also Lime Kiln State Park and South Beach are amazing places to visit for a walk, seeing wildlife, sunset watching, or just a nice place to have a picnic. A camera should be brought at all times as there are so many beautiful things to see and you never know when a whale or harbor seal will appear. All in all, relaxing and having fun on a beautiful island couldn’t get much better.

San Juan Island is still the place to be!

Friday Harbor Bed & Breakfast – Life on an Island – a Happy Ending

As we were preparing for a houseful of guests on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving weekend, we had a family emergency with our yellow lab, Mollie. Mollie got terribly sick and began failing quickly. Our local vet who has taken care of all of our animals since we moved here 3 years felt helpless with the diagnostic tools available to him. He was concerned about her well being throughout the night. Our only choices were to drive her off on the next ferry or fly her off. Dave, couldn’t fathom the idea of flying a very sick dog with an IV in her arm to Bellingham on the eve of Thanksgiving. For the first time in our 3 years of living on San Juan Island, we felt isolated. We quickly packed a few things for Dave since he was probably spending the night with Mollie on the mainland. After a few days in the animal hospital – we had a diagnosis – gastritis. Mollie came home on Sunday with her perky personality. She was in the check-in office on Monday greeting guests and helping everyone feel welcome. We were really thankful for our local vet and the staff at the animal hospital for taking time away from their holiday to make our Thanksgiving holiday whole.