Brief but great...

visit with Rhonda, Kerry & Finn.

Coffee Break

Brad at Useless Bay Coffee House.

Beautiful NW Rain

Rhonda, Kerry and Finn have moved back to the NW -- Portland, OR. Here Finn enjoys puddles and fall leaves.

Saratoga Memories

Fran's Office
















Ed's Office
















One of the garden's gathering spots
















The Floozy strutting her stuff.

Soup Box Derby '07

Langley has had a Soup Box Derby for years. It began 30 years or so ago, sponsored by the Soup Kitchen. Then for a number of years it wasn't allowed for liability reasons, etc., and now, for the past few years its back. A fun town event!


Gary Piper and his outhouse entry. When he rolls down the hill the outhouse swerves back and forth looking like it will dump Gary at any moment.











Some fancy derby entries and costumes











The finish line, with one crash this year when braking caused a swerve and wreck












Ed in his chubby checker jacket. Brad says when Ed gets his winter weight gain the jacket will be the indicator.

Saratoga Woods Preserve

A few years ago these power women worked to save 118 acres of land by fighting off developers (twice), stopping logging, and then raising $750,000 in six months to purchase the land. It is now a wonderful Island County park! This photo was taken as a tribute to Phil Pearl who negotiated the deal with the sellers and the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. Phil is leaving Whidbey to accept a position as Deputy Director of the Grand Canyon Trust in Arizona.

Klepper Vacation July 2007

Brad and Erin travel to Tofino, Vancouver Island, B.C. to kayak and sail on the waters off the island -- both inland and open sea.