Anatomy of a Fireplace (or two).

For the last three years we have been building

a little sanctuary on a remote island in Washington's 

San Juan Island chain, on one of the outermost

of the "out islands" before Canadian waters.

It's a 2700 square-foot home, but because

of the vast 24-foot ceiling and bigger-than-life

windows, it feels much larger.  In deciding to 

place a fireplace smack in the middle of that 24-foot 

vastness, it was a puzzle how to do that without it

looking ridiculously obnoxious.

Luckily, I have a very talented friend.

Establishing the base, fireboxes and foundation.

Sneak-peek at the chandelier that will eventually go up.

Choosing colors from sample boards for 

the plaster treatment the chimney will get.

Stone, hearth, and lintel in place.

The living room side

The dining room side.

In comes my friend, ready to work her magic.

Artist Donna von Holdt and her assistant (husband)

Mark Waring build scaffolding and begin filling cracks.

Long first day.

Mark begins applying the burlap that will cover the entire chimney.

Donna is fast on Mark's heels applying her

ingenious plaster mix over the burlap.  

Color check with the stone.

Plaster on, dry, sand, repeat.

Plaster all on.

Then the tedious job of applying the wax.

And buffing the wax.

Standing back to admire.

The last patch of wax goes on.

Detail.  

Metal sample that will adorn the mantle,

picking up the deeper hues of the wax. 

Day Seven, completion.

Bringing in nature...

...Madrona branch, Wild Currant and Ocean Spray.

Well-deserved meal off the land:

Dungeness crab, morel toasts, greens.

After Donna and Mark packed up and left,

the carpenters came back and finished the mantle,

made from Douglas fir from the property.

 The living room side.

The dining room side with wood stove.

Metal artist Tom Brumm adds metal

detailing on the mantle, and behind wood stove.

 Tom Brumm builds a stunningly beautiful screen.

It does get chilly in the islands when outside,

so up goes an outside fireplace.

Incredible piece of Montana Stone (found in Montana) for the hearth. 

Hearth cut and placed just so.

The mantle is a piece of driftwood found on our beach...

 ...complete with bolts, iron bits, and beach pebbles.

This side looks like a whale to me.

It is fulfilling and deeply satisfying to create 

beautiful things out of the land we inhabit, 

especially when those things are made with

 the skills and love of artists and craftsmen.

Architectural designs by Jeff Hope, Hopehaus Design.

Construction by Tom Nolan, Island Shelter Co.

Plaster treatment by Donna von Holdt, artist.

Metal work by Thomas Brumm, Blue Rock Studios.

Pura Vida

There comes a moment in life when you wake up and

say to yourself, "I think it's time I learned how to surf."

I told my family that on my 50th birthday I wanted to

stand on a surfboard and feel what it's like to ride a wave.

If there was eye rolling, I pretended not to see it.  Instead,

I booked us into a week-long surf school in Costa Rica. 

And lo and behold, last week when the milestone day arrived, 

I DID ride a wave! (Albeit a little one). 

Kalon Escuela de Surf, here we come.

Flew into San Jose, Costa Rica....

...and were picked up by the school's taxi driver Guiligan (yes,

pronounced like the Stranded Isle one).

Loudly posted on the passenger side dash,

six hours later we weren't feeling so tranquilo.

But, since we couldn't do anything about the holiday

traffic (read: deadlock), we readily agreed to go the 

long way over the volcanic mountain pass to Dominical.

San Jose.

 Entering the foothills.

Few rest stops along the way.

90F in San Jose, to 48F at the top of the pass.

In the clouds most of the way, but when it cleared it was spectacular.

After 5 hours, we needed a little break,

so Guiligan stopped at a buddy's shack,

where we had the most delicious tamales ever.

The view that awaited us at our home for a week was breathtaking.

Kalon has a very large house that sleeps ten people.  The other

seven who would be joining us for a week arrived in trickles, just

in time for the first of our communal meals on the veranda.

Day 1, Playa Hermosa for pre-surf exercises. 

Everyone, on your boards!

We learned the white waves first.

However, our fellow surfer from Spain, Dimas, was 

slightly more advanced than the rest of us.

Playa Hermosa....where the jungle meets the ocean.

Surf guru Roberto, setting up training boards in the sand.

There was much of this.

We look on in awe, a little intimidated by the chaos of the waves.

Just reward for a physical day.

The breakfast room at the mansion.

Hang and wait for the afternoon surf.

Joyous afternoon rain shower.

We progress,

and take in the views,

and turn to simpler activities.

Ceviche and Pipas Frias (chilled coconut milk) offered on the beach

Mind your trash.

They grow some big spiders in Costa Rica.

Evenings on the veranda...pure bliss.

The food fresh, healthy, creative.  

Owners Kjeld and Silene.

Kjeld 

We progress and join Fatima on the green waves.

My first green wave.

Turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Until you are humbled by the young 'uns.

Roberto.

Esteban & Roberto pack us up for the day.

Much-needed massages.

Boards put away, the instructors go play.

Finally caught a pic of the elusive Toucan.

And the gecko that camped out in our bedroom all week.

The essentials.

Guiligan packs us in for the 3-hour drive to the airport.

Parting shots along the Pan-American Highway.

Luna.  Kalon Surf dog.

Kalon Surf School is located in the remote, beautiful and 

non-touristy Dominical, Costa Rica.  

www.kalonsurf.com

Pura Vida!