Alderbrook Escape
Three Things I Learned Amidst the Extreme Greenness of Hood Canal
Once upon a recent long‑weekend sojourn to the Olympic Peninsula—surrounded by the lush, almost fluorescent greens of Hood Canal—I found myself returning to simple joys with good friends. Between massage, art collaboration, memorable meals, and long stretches of quiet reflection, I kept repeating a mantra in my mind: life is good. Here’s what I noted.
1. Collaboration Is Soul‑Touching
Together, three friends and I worked on a collaborative painting of an imaginary octopus during our stay at Alderbrook. I started by prepping the canvas, segmenting the board into four artist sections marked with our initials.
The octopus had history.
During a visit to Alderbrook in 2025, my friend Jenni picked up an octopus sweater from Union City Market. “Alderbrook octopus!” I shout every single time I see her wearing it in public. That sweater became the seed for this piece.
I sketched the Alderbrook octopus at the center of the board, surrounding it with bubbles to give each quadrant texture and room to play. While enjoying charcuterie bites back in my lodge room, we passed the painting around, each adding color and character to our assigned sections.
I filled in the “AD” segments and started my top row with the Alderbrook Resort as seen from the water—dock included. When it was finished, we left the painting as a gift to our hosts at Alderbrook, who are wonderful, generous people—and past clients of mine.
The creativity didn’t stop there.
We also collaborated on terrariums, gifted by my friend Kristin. Each day we collected moss, lichen, oyster shells, barnacle‑covered rocks, sticks, and ferns—materials gathered from woodland to waterfront. Alderbrook provides plenty.
Key learning: Make art. Make music. Make something with friends. Creating together grows roots.
2. Life Really Can Feel This Good
Massage. Culinary experiences. Friendship. Creativity. Exploration. Self‑discovery.
I realized that life really can feel this good—and that kind of goodness doesn’t just happen. You have to seek it out, show up for it, and claim it. Treat yourself. Vacation outside your comfort zone. Go with friends.
A 60‑minute massage with CBD oil, aromatherapy, and complimentary hot stones? WOW.
Culinary experiences that had me asking—mid‑chew—“How do they do this potato?!” WOW.
Friendships built through mountain highs and real‑life lows? WOW.
Creativity in motion that sparks contagious art‑making? WOW.
Exploring oyster shells underfoot and lichen dangling like feathery scarves from trees? WOW.
Self‑discovery that only happens when you finally allow yourself to do nothing? WOW.
It’s the feeling when the massage therapist is doing something miraculous on your right leg—and you know she’s heading for the left next. It’s the jolt of inspiration you get watching an artist friend put paint to canvas.
3. Fresh Perspective Is Power
Leaving paradise to seek paradise sounds like too much work. But it turns out that breaking out of your bubble has real rewards.
After two days of hiking Alderbrook trails and making octopus art on property, we decided to leave paradise to seek more paradise—just to prove it true. Shifting your viewpoint opens new possibilities, reveals hidden opportunities, and surfaces solutions you couldn’t see before.
In short: change places to get perspective.
Mulled Wine & Grilled Oysters Slaps
Feels real nice Salt, smoke & spice
Yum yes—hot wine, cold air
Table heater, blanket needer, hat hair
Spice in the glass, smoke on the shell
Gettin’ found on the Sound
Hama Hama holdin’ it down
Oyster Saloon crab‑cakin’
Cider wine, warm‑belly‑makin’
I got car‑sick as hell on the windy fjord‑side drive from Alderbrook to Lilliwaup, Washington. When we arrived, I was righteously unwell. I spent about forty minutes recovering in the car, sipping fresh saltwater air and admiring the oyster‑shell mountain range lining the water at Hama Hama Oyster Saloon.
The overhead heaters in the A‑frame huts are where it’s at. I never knew I loved mulled wine, but now I do. Hot wine, cold air, grilled oysters—yes. All yes.
This trip braided together so many things that bring me joy: nature, art, friendship, and self‑care. I left feeling inspired—and reminded of what actually matters.
Find joy. Seek it out. Cherish it.
I also made a 2:30‑minute video from this trip—watch and soak up the green.
Photo credits: Jenni, Gerry, Kristin
💛🫶