Island Adventures

Thanks so much for all the sweet comments and trip well-wishes on my last post! We did indeed have a great time and as I predicted the most fun was had during the three gorgeous days spent on the wee island off the coast of WA with Milla and Charlie.

They were such wonderful and generous hosts and it was so cool to get to experience their beautiful island community from a local perspective. Now for some pictures!

This is pretty indicative of who was most often the center of attention. The fact that she really seemed to "find her voice" on this trip and blossom into quite the lil' chatterbox (throwing out cute Cloverisms nonstop) was indeed highly entertaining.

Clover took a liking to Milla right off the bat and was none too shy about giving demands: “Meewa wanna sit wif me,” “Meewa wanna build blocks wif me,” and in this instance “Meewa wanna make a tunnel,” just to name a few. No question marks at the ends of those phrases, btw… they were most definitely stated as fact.

I think the liking was mutual though because Milla was so sweet with her and though it’s true building a tunnel out of smooth, oddly shaped beach stones is pretty much physically impossible, for Clover she gave it her best try!

On our first day, an afternoon of eating yummy salads at a local restaurant, visiting the farmers’ market, and hanging out on the porch of the local coffee house in the village was followed by Milla and Charlie leading us on a gorgeous drive out to a favorite beach of theirs. It was in a beautiful cove looking out at the islands’ largest mountain. A lovely beer sippin’ stone skippin’ Clover watchin' time was had by all!

On the way we stopped at none other than the Magical Dump! Where I found, among other bits, a cool 70’s denim wrap skirt to add to my Fall wardrobe as well as the prized plastic pig that Milla is holding above and that Clover adored and carried around with her and every so often would tell me: “Mine pig tum frum’a dump, momma.” So cute…

Speaking of pigs, after leaving the beach we stopped off at their friends' organic farm stand for dinner supplies. We pulled up to find a pack of the most adorable baby piggies frolicking in the field!

Milla's lovely garden and studio.

Wouldn’t you know it, in customary synchronous fashion, we surprised one another with vintage 70’s prairie dresses! The Gunne Sax style dress she gave me came from Violet Folklore and after drooling over so many of their amazing dress finds, it’s so great to finally own such a beautiful one :D I picked up Milla’s in Portland on our drive up at an amazing place that Anja recommended called House of Vintage.

Lucas took the above shot as Milla showed us around the small county park where she lives… yes lives! Charlie works for the park and they actually get to live there… in a super sweet little cabin with an awesome garden and chickens and a front porch with a view of the sea, not to mention the forest as their backyard… sigh.

After some beach time at the park, chatting over Pabsts and chips-n-salsa, Milla, in true hippie fashion, filled up a couple of her awesome woven baskets with picnic supplies (salad, hummus, crackers, cheeses…) and off we went on our next adventure.

Not before making another stop at the Magical Dump though! This time finds included a vintage denim bag lined with fun fabric and quilting. It'll accompany my wrap skirt to perfection and even Lucas didn’t leave the dump empty handed as I found him an awesome vintage western-style button-up shirt, plaid with pearly snaps.

On another part of the island, a beautiful forested hike took us out to a picturesque bluff overlooking the ocean and several big seal-covered rocks.


The sun dropped giving the water a silvery sheen as we picnicked, listened to the seals bark, and watched sailboats glide by in the distance. Oh geez… how poetic was that? Hahaa, but it’s true, it was quite beautiful!

Mama showin’ off her new dress before heading back to the park for farm-fresh burgers grilled over the open campfire followed by Charlie’s homemade blackberry pie, still warm from the oven, with ice cream on top, yum!!!

Day three brought us out to yet another picturesque location as Milla showed us around the farm where she used to live. Forested dirt roads wound through the property, leading to awesome hippie houses nestled in the trees…

Friendly farm animals…

… and scenic hilltop views of the surrounding fields and farmland. I’d say idyllic about sums it up!

Milla looking adorable and sporting the lil' 70's Holly Hobby print dress I gave her, another House of Vintage find.

Trying to get an outfit shot at dusk before completely losing the light.

Hangin’ out with Milla and Charlie was totally fun, they’re both awesome, and they made us feel so welcomed. Meeting Milla kinda felt more like seeing an old friend after not having seen them in a long time rather than meeting someone for the very first time, which was really cool, yet not entirely unexpected… and oh gosh, would you believe she’s even cuter in person?… I kid you not!

Thanks for everything you guys, hope you can make it down to California for a visit!

Also thanks to Milla for insisting that we pose for this family portrait as it’s the only photo of the three of us from our trip and I like it a lot : )

See more pics from our visit at her blog too, she got some good ones!