Our Gift Bag

Originally uploaded by orcangie
Today’s the last day to take advantage of our free shipping for gifts to arrive by Christmas. Of course we always offer free shipping for purchases of $100 or more, but if you want it to get there before Santa, today’s your last chance.

We are open through the holidays and will be happy to get any last minute gifts shipped out immediately with what we have left in stock. Today has been a bustle of shipping activity and we’re only hoping to have enough for any last minute shoppers.

Thanks to all who visited us this summer and then reordered Christmas gifts by phone. The online store will be up any day. We know you put in an extra effort and really appreciate it.

Hope you’re enjoying the holiday bustle as much as we are!!!

Orcas Mommies Nite

Originally uploaded by orcangie

“Kindly find your way to the back of your closet for your cocktail dress, break out that hairdryer and bleach your mustache! It’s on!!!” Thus read the invitation.

In a small town, like Orcas Island, where there is very little shopping and even fewer people you’d really want to impress with your clothes, it’s hard to even find the opportunity to get dressed up and take a night on the town.

Thus 11 mom’s decided to find that 1990’s dress, dust it off and take some time out just for themselves. Given there aren’t too many choices for entertainment, we were able to finish off the night at the local watering hole, complete with Santa’s painted on the windows and a passable juke box. There wasn’t any dancing, but we did get treated to the bartender screaming obscenities at a fairly decent looking patron, one could only guess was a former “gentlemen friend”. Plus she gave us two baskets of fries as a sort of apology. Mmm!

I’ve been to posher holiday parties, but none more entertaining!

lavender bath gift basket Originally uploaded by orcangie

We needed a few gifts for people who have been very special to us this year so our first step was to whip up a few of these Lavender Bath Gift Baskets.

Makenna, who’s off at college right now, spent her summer cheffing up some of the best breakfast’s on earth for our guests. She also came up with this group of gifts and it’s been one of our best selling gift baskets.

Featuring our hand-crafted Soothing Lavender Dead Sea Salt Soak, a travel size Relaxing Lavender Goat’s Milk Lotion, a travel size Reviving Lavender Mint Goat’s Milk Lotion, a lavender sachet and two hand-size loofahs, this stellar gift basket has been bringing smiles to lots of faces.

Although our online store isn’t quite ready to go, you can always give us a call to get this thoughtful gift for someone who’s been helpful to you all year round.

That’s right.  It’s not too late to place your order and get it shipped to you for free!

All orders place by December 18th can still arrive in time for the holidays through our FedEx Home Delivery shipment program.  All orders are sent in three business days.  Even though our online store isn’t quite ready, you can still call us at 888-422-2825 and place an order over the phone.

Just today a recent guest ordered 12 travel size bottles of our creamy, all natural Relaxing Lavender Goat’s Milk Lotion.  This incredible 86% organic lotion is sure to make everyone happy to reach into their stockings this season.   Another holiday favorite has been our spice tins featuring Lavender Sugar, Herbes de Provence and Culinary Lavender.  These 6 oz. tins feature clear lids and saucy descriptions for $4.95 each.

If you’re concerned about getting your order shipped in time, give us a call and we’ll make sure you receive the service you deserve this holiday season!

One of the big reasons guests stay with us is to live vicariously through our escapist attitude.  Many of you want to know how we managed to chuck our big city life and attitudes and down-size to a pastoral paradise.  Well folks — it ain’t always easy, but here’s a slice of island life to give you a feel for the community spirit of the roughly 4,500 residents that live here year round.

This weekend kicked off with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting on the Village Green Friday night.  If you come to Orcas in the summer, you’ll notice this tree as the one standing at the entrance to the farmer’s market.  We don’t need to worry about getting a new tree and adding branches to it (did I say Westlake Center debaucle?) We just keep using the same one that’s been growing there for decades.  It’s just a simple string of colored lights on the tree.  The Orcas Community Band wasn’t altogether that loud, but given it was 34 degrees who could blame them?  The innkeepers treated the community to cookies and hot cider while Santa handed out candy canes and listened to Christmas Wish Lists.

It was a bit too chilly to hang around all night singing carols, so we headed home to our white farmhouse to enjoy the rest of the night with friends and family.

Happy Holidays from our little community to yours!

My best friend Annie and I were mulling (pun intended) putting together a holiday party. Every year I make a plan to have no party as there are a million reasons why it’s just too challenging to entertain during the holidays. However, if you get infected with the Holiday Spirit, it’s really difficult to hold yourself back. If you have the half-baked inclination to host a festive event this year, here’s a few tips at keeping it simple, joyful and fun.

1. Plan a Party with a Friend
There’s so many things to figure out for a holiday party that are trickier than any other time of the year; date, invitees, food, drink, etc. Invite a friend to share in coming up with all the ideas. Annie is one of the most diplomatic people on Orcas Island (most days). Not only do we get to brainstorm on the event together we also get to help each other out with the expense of hosting a party.

2. Send out a Feeler via E-mail to a Few Key People
Have you ever planned a party and then were disappointed when someone key couldn’t make it? We were able to find out within a day what dates (and we don’t mean from the fruitcake) would and wouldn’t work for the friends we felt would be indispensable for the festive event by sending a quick e-mail note to five or so of our favorite folks.

3. Consider a Brunch
There are so many things competing with each other this time of year. It’s impossible to find out when everyone’s office parties, holiday concerts and many, many sides of families are getting together. We were thinking Sunday Brunch and here’s why: Most events are at night, so your event will be a little different, your guests won’t have to drive home in the dark with all those others who may have had a little too much cheer, brunch food is so darn easy to make.

Even if your baking abilities are limited to locating the oven and the doohickey that makes it hotter on the side, you should be able to make these with no problems.

Buck Bay Farm Holiday Scones
or Orange, Cranberry, Walnut & Lavender Scones

1 Package Buck Bay Farm Lavender Scone Mix
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecans
3/4 cup orange juice
1 egg white
a little bit of flour & sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Pour the scone mix package in a large mixing bowl and add the cranberries and walnuts. Mix in the orange juice. Dough will be a little sticky. Place dough on a floured surface (the counter is just fine) and knead 7 - 8 times. Divide the dough into three pieces and pat each into a circular dome. Cut each circle into four equal pieces and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Brush an egg white on top of all the scones and then sprinkle a bit of sugar on each. Bake 10-12 minutes or until the scones are starting to turn a golden brown color.

You’ll get a dozen beautiful, holiday inspired scones and more time to enjoy your guests!

Happy Holidays