Cozy Corner Books and Coffee in Ferndale

Chris, the owner of Cozy Corner Books and Coffee

Last week I stopped in at Cozy Corner Books and Coffee in Ferndale.  The owner, Chris, has consolidated his two stores into one at the Ferndale location.

I love this used bookstore, so I'm very glad to still have one nearby! Cozy Corner has a great collection to browse, reasonable prices, and a "cozy" atmosphere to read and enjoy coffee.  They even give you credits on books you return for discounts on new purchases.
 

My sister MaryLee cozying up with a books

You can tell Chris takes great pride in his store and provides his customers with a high quality experience. On this trip my sister MaryLee came along with me. She's an avid reader as well.

As usual, I checked out the local books section. I love it, they consider Canada local. There were several Canadian titles, but I chose My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir. It's a classic originally published in 1911.

Books are well organized by topic and attractively displayed.

Then I found two books by Canadian Author Margaret Atwood. Alias Grace (1996) a historical fiction about convicted murderess Grace Marks, and The Robber Bride (1993) is set in Toronto about three woman friends and a common nemesis. All three promise to be great reads.

On a shelf near the window you'll find books from Wayne's Coastal BC Stories series.  Maybe one will still be there when you arrive. But never fear, there's lots of wonderful books to choose from.

You will find Cozy Corner Books at 5722 2nd Avenue in Ferndale, Washington. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00. You can also reach them by phone at (360) 380-1642 or on Facebook by clicking here.

If you're a book lover, you've got to visit the Cozy Corner. -- Margy

The Eclipse Bookstore in Old Fairhaven

On a recent trip to to the States, I headed to Historic Fairhaven just south of downtown Bellingham.

There are lots of great restaurants, shops, bookstores, and in the summer months the farmer's market.

My destination this time was the Eclipse Bookstore at 1104 11th Street (360-647-8165). It's one of my favourite used bookstores in the whole wide world!


The Eclipse Bookstore has an amazing amount and variety of books covering the two floors of the establishment. Because it's a used bookstore, the prices are very reasonable.

It takes tiptoes to see the volumes on the top shelves, but the easiest way to get to the bottom of things is to pull up a piece of carpet and settle yourself down on the floor.



David, the proprietor, has arranged the books neatly on shelves by topic. Just ask and he will lead you to the section you desire. As you can see, there are so many books, some are in stacks next to the shelves patiently waiting their turn to get a coveted spot (if someone doesn't buy them first).

You can't see all that the Eclipse Bookstore has to offer in one visit. Visit often and take your time to really enjoy the experience.

I headed over to one of my regular spots, Canadian books. And I got a huge surprise.

Up the Strait by Wayne J. Lutz at the Eclipse Bookstore.

There in one of the stacks I found Wayne's book Up the Strait. I'm not sure how it made its way to this store (if only books could talk).

Up the Strait is a great book for boating enthusiasts. Here's some information if you'd like to take a look for yourself.

Up the Strait

Coastal BC Stories

It's cruising time again. Jump in the boat and head up the Strait of Georgia with us to magnificent anchorages and exciting adventures. Drop your hook in world famous Desolation Sound, discover hidden coves, and meet some of the locals. Read Up the Strait by Wayne Lutz and then join us for the cruise of a lifetime. You may never want to leave.

A Day in Historic Fairhaven

One of my favourite places in Bellingham is Historic Fairhaven. In 1889, the railroad was coming, and Fairhaven grew rapidly, hoping to become the west coast terminus. The railroad connection never worked out, so the new town turned to the sea and fishing for its economic base. In its heyday, Fairhaven was a bustling town of hotels, shops, saloons and brothels. Today, the brothels are gone, but the rich heritage of hotels, shops, restaurants and nightlife remains. And Fairhaven has achieved its original goal of becoming a tranportation center with its Alaska Ferry, Amtrak and bus terminal.

I have some favourite stops when I go to Fairhaven. One is the Eclipse Bookstore at 1104 11th Street. The Eclipse Bookstore is amazing with its vast variety of books covering the two floors of the establishment.

Another great bookstore is Village Books at 1200 11th Street. They have mostly new books, but you will also find good used books among the collection.

Picking a spot to eat is hard. Avenue Bread at 1135 11th Street is across the street and within easy walking distance. In addition to their wonderful fresh breads (I chose the sourdough with rosemary - YUM), they have a small cafe.

Skylark's Hidden Cafe at 1308 11th Street was my choice. I just love the interior with a classic bar. They have great food and happy hour specials from 3-6 pm and 10 pm through closing on Sunday through Thursday. Get the grilled cheese sandwich. It's the best I've ever eaten!

Going to Fairhaven in the off season means it's quite and quaint. In the summer, it's a bustling tourist destination. Either way, it's my favourite spot in town. -- Margy

"Are We Walking to Alaska?" by JoAnn Dunlap Bayne

Last month I shared a story about a used bookstore in Bellingham, Washington, called the Cozy Corner Books and Coffee.

While I was there, I found a book by one of my Bellingham blogging friends, JoAnn Dunlap Bayne.

She writes two blogs, one called Are We Walking to Alaska? promoting her book. The other is called Scene Through My Eyes about more general topics of interest.

Are We Walking to Alaska? is JoAnn's memoir that follows her early years from living in California through the family's move to far off Alaska.

Sitka marina with fishing boats during our 1994 visit.

JoAnn was six when the family moved to follow her father's dream to become a fisherman near Sitka. In the beginning, they lived far from town and off the grid.

Life was hard for everyone, but JoAnn never complained.  JoAnn and her older brother Jimmy and younger brother Jeff learned to play together, support each other and enjoy their new homes. They made up games and had lots of chores.

Landing our airplane 997 at Sitka Airport.

Schooling was done through correspondence until they later moved to town.

JoAnn was a quiet and respectful girl. Her parents were loving but strict. I got the impression one of the hardest things was not being allowed to read at home except for school books.

In town, JoAnn enjoyed exploring and learning about all the things an eight year old hadn't yet experienced.

Sitka National Historical Park and totem poles in 1994.

Of course, going to school was exciting with lots of new friends. Shops and stores were wonderful places to explore and ask questions.  The library was amazing with lots of books to read (except not to take home), and a favourite was the museum with diplays and friendly curators. JoAnn and her friends liked the Sitka National Historical Park with it's diplay of native Tlinglit totem poles.


I don't want to give away too much of the story. Are We Walking to Alaska? is a wonderful memoir and a family treasure. I wish I had something like this for my family's history. I especially enjoyed reading the "About the Author" messages written by her three children. You can purchase the book on Amazon in both print and e-book formats.  Or you can stop by Cozy Corner Books and Coffee and see if you can find a copy of your own. -- Margy

Overnighter to Euguene, Oregon

Steelhead Brewery and Pub on 5th Street in the Market District.

Wayne and I traveled from Corvallis to Eugene, Oregon for the second half of our USC Women's Basketball sports-cation.  We come here for lots of USC sporting events at the University of Oregon.

We checked in at the downtown Eugene Hilton. We like to stay here because it's within walking distance to both football and basketball.

It was Super Bowl Sunday so we settled in to watch. We're Seahawks fans, so the results weren't the best, but the game was exciting. We planned ahead and fixed dinner in our room using our mobile meal kit and a spaghetti dinner I prepared at home.


Last year we discovered a great breakfast spot, The Original Pancake House, and had to return.

Wayne and I shared their signature Apple Pancake. Don't let the name fool you. It's a plate sized air filled pancake with sautéed apples and cinnamon sugar baked until it caramelizes. You have to wait a long time for it to cook, but the wait is well worth it! Yum!

Willamette River from the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail.

To work off our breakfast, we walked along the Willamette River on the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail. Last year it was at flood stage, over-running its banks. Today it was high and fast, but well under control. The river runs right through town, an easy walk from almost any location.

The River Trail follows along on both sides, so you can use the dedicated foot bridges and make it a two mile or so loop. Parts are paved to share with bikes, and parts are dirt along the north shore.

J. Michaels Bookstore at 160 E. Broadway.

After our walk was finished, Wayne went back to the room and I reversed course to go downtown to a bookstore we passed earlier. J. Michaels Books has a well organized and extensive collection of used and new books.

I'm always on the lookout for a good read and found Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell about mid-1900s life in a remote cabin on the west coast of Scotland.

Finally to the USC Women's Basketball portion of our trip. They played in the Matthew Knight Arena. It's amazing with a unique floor representing a forest of fir trees and a giant green "O" in the middle for the Oregon Ducks. The Women of Troy fought a hard battle, but again did not win. Either way, we enjoy this town.

Little Big Burger on Orchard next to the OU campus.

What is a vacation without lots of good food. We probably should have opted for a light dinner, but NOT. We headed over to Little Big Burger. The buns are smaller, but the burger is thick and juicy, and the truffle fries are amazing, especially with the gourmet Camden's catsup with a kick.

If that wasn't enough, after walking back to the Hilton, we stopped downstairs for dessert. Now we'll have to go out walking again tomorrow and work it all off. -- Margy