BY PATRICIA DUFF, July 1, 2013

So much to do, so little time.

I traveled north and south this weekend, trying to keep up with all the activities, performances and events that seem to go on non-stop during the Whidbey Island summers. There’s so much to do here and my publisher once wisely suggested that I’ll just have to come to terms with not being able to cover all of it. I wish my team and I could cover all of it, because there’s so much worth doing, seeing, hearing, tasting, drinking and contemplating when one travels on Whidbey. (See my attempt to list some of it here.)

Here’s a little of what I did get to do and be sure to click back to Whidbey Life Magazine often to keep track of what to do this summer on the island.

I went over to the Coupeville Performing Arts Center at the high school to see the Penn Cove Players in a radio-theater variety show. The performers were directed by Elizabeth Herbert, who will be teaching classes this summer at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. The Players presented “Our Miss Brooks,” “The McCoys: The Hatfields Have a Yard Sale” and “Adventures of The Lone Ranger.” It was an entirely enjoyable evening, including delightful pre-show music from the duo “SWAY,” singing a variety of songs that made you feel like you were in a Hollywood supper club in the 1930s.  See the Penn Cove Productions member page here.

Actors wait onstage at the Postcards from Whidbey Island Radio-Theatre Variety Show. (Patricia Duff photos)

Jamie Cook, Lars Larsen and Ken Stephens in “The Lone Ranger.”

It was hot, hot, hot on Sunday at South Whidbey Tilth where I rolled in to hear some tunes at the South Whidbey Acoustic Music Festival (SWAM). Despite the heat, I spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the sun (and the sprinkler), while listening to Karin Blaine rockin’ her guitar and delivering her special brand of clever, funny, political satire.

Karin Blaiine plays the South Whidbey Acoustic Music Fest at Tilth. (Emory Lingard photo)

I also was lucky to hear guitarist singer Trevor Reichman, who came up from his off-the-grid adobe dwelling in the Texan desert to give us a variety of fun tunes, including my favorite that takes the voice of the giant from “Jack and the Beanstalk” with a chorus of “fi-fie-fo-fum.”

Texan Trevor Reichman plays SWAM at Tilth. (Emory Lindgard photo)

I was sorry I missed Livy and Gaby Barlow on their violins.

Livy and Gaby Barlow perform a violin duet at SWAM. (Emory Lindgard photo)

Another treat was Steve Showell, Joanne Rouse, Mel Watson and Blaine England striking it up with a little “Oh When the Saints Come Marching In.”  I missed the rest, but what I heard … loved it.

Here’s festival organizer Russell Clepper with Reichman and his Muse and Eye singing partner, Sarah Dial Primrose.

Russell Clepper, Trevor Reichman, Sarah Dial Primrose brave the heat at SWAM. (Photo courtesy of Primrose)

I headed down to Bayview Corner to catch Janie and Joe rockin’ the deck at Blooms Winery and its tasting room’s Sunday afternoon concert series. A crowd was loving the trip down hippie, rock ‘n roll lane that Janie and Joe were treating them to, including great renditions of Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby Magee” and “Mercedes Benz.” Find Janie and Joe on our music member page here.

The rock band, Janie and Joe, play the Sunday afternoon series at Blooms Winery in Bayview.

Janie Cribbs, the “Janie” of the duo, is also a fine artist and her “Owl Project” show is currently showing at Blooms Winery Tasting Room in the Cash Store at Bayview Corner, (where they make a lovely, refreshing Viognier, by the way.) Here’s a sample of Cribbs’ current work:

Owls on wood by Janie Cribbs at Blooms Winery Tasting Room in Bayview Cashstore.

Like I said, there’s lots to see, hear, taste and do. Lots of cool, talented people to check out. I’ll try and keep up. Check Whidbey Life Magazine daily for updates to the calendar.

From the heart,

Patricia Duff