The Odyssey

23 April 2003

San Juan Islands

"It's just around this cusp."

"You said that about the last two," I shouted into the wind.

"What?"

"Never mind!"

"It's hidden amidst the rocks.  We won't see it until we're upon it," he said before we embarked on what seemed like an impossible expedition down the rocky shoreline.  Earlier this morning we sailed North from Whidbey Island in Puget Sound until we reached the Southern coast of the San Juan Islands.  As a child, it was here that he remembers witnessing several hundred migrating Orca with his parents, or so he thinks.  No one can agree on the exact location of the occurrence.  His mom claims it was North of the island, and his dad insists it was West.  And, each time the story is retold, the Orca pods double in size and the boat dwindles.  Thus, it has become a family fairytale of sorts that I have never entirely believed.  To add mystery to the legend, there was also mention of a small cabin nestled among the stoney shoreline that "makes Falling Water look amateur" (again with the exaggerations!).

Months had been spent planning the trip and it was this weekend that he was intent on making me a believer.  I first started feeling sorry for him when, after several hours of sailing, there were no Orca sightings.  Likewise, we scaled the coastal cliffs for the last half of the day without spotting a single manmade structure.  "Maybe it really is on the Northern coast," I said to ease the blow.  With the sun setting in front of us he said, "No. It's here somewhere.  I know it is."  

1. Olson Kundig Architects

1. Peter Marino

2. Rutland Crystal Column by Vaughn Designs 

1. Pewter Mounted Ceramic Jardiniere by Orivit c.1902

2. Thom Filicia

1. Gant

1. Hickman Design Associates

2. Intermezzo Blue Double Old Fashioned by Orrefors

1. Seedling Dinnerware by West Elm

2. Sea Urchin Napkins by Seaside Inspired

1. Beth Webb Interiors

1. Carl Suede Brown Slippers by Frette

2. Shawn Henderson Interior Design

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Ski Lodge Mod

While most of the country is enjoying an unusually warm winter, we at Bubble & Squeak are yearning for the dreadful blizzard-like conditions that keep us draped in fur and curled up next to a roaring fire waiting for the spring thaw.  After all, just before winter’s solstice, we spent the weekend chopping and stacking our fire wood in preparation for that old man’s frigid grip (Yes, we own an axe!  And yes, we chopped our own wood!).  So, while we’ve been praying for the snow to fly, our good friend Patrick J. Hamilton has answered our plea by sharing with us his über mod cabin deep within the alpines.  In true Bubble & Squeak fashion, Patrick has also written an amazing story to accompany his vision.  So grab a glass of whisky, take a seat on your bear skin rug, and let Patrick's dream warm your soul.  

1.  Partick J. Hamilton

2.  An Austrian Alpine Cabin

1957. Or 1978. Or 2011.

Somewhere in the woods

Outside, snow. Smooth, even, pale blue where it hides from the full moon, the pines and birches painting stripes and bars across the powder. Only a pair of ski trails cuts through the shadows. Inside, the slow crackle of fire whispers a deep response to the laughing clink of ice in low glasses of amber. Around us, wood grain and slow curves. The firelight dances across the room, jumping through the quiet darkness from stainless steel to satiny varnish across slabs of wood to his eyes. He runs his hand through the deep fur below us. “Skål,” he says, toasting nothing. And everything. Our glasses touch.

In the night air, a scatter of embers rises with the fire’s smoke, crisscrossing with shooting stars and the first flakes of a storm that will tuck us in tonight and cover the trails that lead here. Tonight, tomorrow, just us. There will be time to break into headquarters later in the week, between storms and blizzards, when the snow will once again erase all our secrets.

1.  Blue Monday, Antarctica, 2007, by David Burdeny

2.  A Glass and Steel Cabin in Winter Park, Colorado

3.  Ultima Thule Bowl Designed in 1968 by Tapio Wirkkala for iittala

 1.  Contemporary Cabin in Aspen by Atelier AM

2.  Volcano Coffee Table, Chista

1.  Marble Candleholders, Design Within Reach

2.  Line Wine Bar, Design Within Reach

3.  YAMAZAKI Whisky, 18 Year Aged Single Malt Whisky

1.  Nicky Dobree

2.  Neal Coffee Table with White Marble Top

1.  Le Lodge Park Hotel, Megève, France

2.  Egg Chair designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, Design Within Reach

1.  Intarsia Shawl Sweater, RLX by Ralph Lauren

2.  Vintage Skis

1.  Aeris Stainless Steel Fireplace

2.  Nicky Dobree

3.  Birch Logs

1.  Long Horn Lamp, Shades of Light

2.  Nicky Dobree

3.  Mongolian Lamb Pillow Covers, West Elm

In between chopping wood and cups of hot cocoa, we hope that you find time to check out and subscribe to Patrick's blog, Ask Patrick.  Patrick is also a frequent style contributor on Apartment Therapy where his skillfully curated house tours are becoming something of a phenomenon.  In addition to being an interiors blogger, writer, and interviewer, Patrick is an accomplished designer in his own right. He is the winner of the ApartmentTherapy.com first annual "Smallest Coolest Apartment Contest," and winner of the Bloomingdale's "Big Window Challenge". Patrick's interiors have also appeared everywhere from the cover of Florida Home & Garden to the pages of Ladies Home Journal.    

  
Patrick, a very special thank you from Jim and Erik!  When we finally wake from our whisky slumber, we hope the snows have not melted, so that we may spend more time in your winter dream.  Thank you for the memories!

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Making Lemonade

Hello Readers!  So, we're sure you've noticed that we've been M.I.A. for some time.  Our internet has been down at home for over three weeks and we're going bananas!!!  We were only able to publish this post because we spent the 4th of July weekend with family and they were nice enough to share their Wi-Fi.  When life gives us lemons, however, we make lemonade. Or rather, we post about lemons.  Either way, we've been inspired by one of our favorite summer colors, YELLOW!  Until we're back up and running at home, we hope you'll enjoy a glass of our lemonade.   

1.  Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine

2.  Sellwood rain slicker, J. Crew

3.  Vintage Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barney's New York

4.  Elwynn Bench, Currey & Co.

1.  Eric Cohler

2.  zigzag rug, West Elm

1.  American Reflector and Lighting Co. pendant, c. 1920, Remains Lighting

2.  Nancy Boszhardt, Inc.

3.  Lime block printed tea towels, Etsy.com

1.  Suzanne Kasler

2.  Francis Elkins Daybed, c. 1930

3.  Hickoree's Hard Goods special edition bag

1.  19th century French Majolica lemon charger

2.  McKinnon and Harris

1.  Mexican hand-hammered and abalone parrot pitcher, c. 1960

2.  Picnic blanket, Twine Fabric

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