Photos from Summer 2009

Quick slideshow of Westwoods

Photos from Summer 2008

Joshua getting full attention from the girls

Seems like he's a hit!

Nana's Physical Therapy

In case you can't tell, they are playing Wii Tennis. I'd say her recovery is progressing nicely, wouldn't you?

New Addition to the Westmont family!

Joshua Scott Westmont

Old Patriarch

Karen's Birthday is May 3rd

This photo was taken during our trip last year.

Grandpa's Paintings

It's funny, even after all these years I still think about Grandpa. He just had a tremendously positive influence upon my life, and I also have small reminders of him around...like his paintings. These two paintings are hung in our garage -- hardly a distinguished location, but one that I end up seeing every day as I get into and out of my car.

Link to Jessica's Soccer Team

You can check out a web site dedicated to Jessica's AYSO soccer team by clicking here. Jessica's team is coached by a rookie, Coach Westmont. I am having a complete blast with it.

Latest Pics (Courtesy Karen Westmont)

The Big Finish

Here is a photo of David and his co-pilot David Van Houten after finishing the Transpac -- they look pretty happy to be back on dry land (although it doesn't look too 'dry' at the moment ;-)

Transpac Update

Getting close to the finish! (Click on the image to enlarge it)

Transpac Update

Dave is about halfway to Hawaii now as part of the Transpac yacht race. His boat, Serena, can be found on the nearby chart.

More details can be found at the official Transpac web site.

I bet the sight of land will be a pretty welcome sight by the time they're done!

Welcome to Westwoods! (Updated 7-4-05)

Westwoods is the name adopted by O.B. 'Westy' Westmont for the property he purchased in 1962. The Westwoods property includes over 35 acres with 800 feet of waterfront including approximately 175 feet of private beach. Westwoods is located one half mile north of the end of the Cormorant Bay Road.

For visitors, $250 per week will be payable in advance to co-owner Roger W. Westmont, 131 Bonita Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611-3901. This charge will cover electricity, truck usage, cleaning, laundry and garbage expenses for your visit.

The complete Westwoods Book should be read by all family members. It is located in the living room of the main house.

Arrangements for the timing of your visit should be made with Roger W. Westmont, 510-658-0369.

The Westwoods Manager is Don Irwin, P. 0. Box 291, Deer Harbor, WA 98243, 360-376-2856. Don will help to open and close the house. Our Renter, Stacy McCray, POB 355, Eastsound, WA 98245, 360-376-2843, may possibly help with transportation. Telephone her ahead of your time at Westwoods if you think you need help with transportation when you arrive. Whenever Stacy is able to leave or pick up the truck at airport or ferry, visitor will pay a fee of $10.00 each way for that service.

Taxi service is available on Orcas, 360—376-8294 or 800-942-1926. Reservations need to be made in advance of arrival or leaving

One complete set of keys is in the desk. An emergency back—up set is under the house back porch. There should also be two sets of truck keys with post office box key, #101 Deer Harbor.

The westernmost green buildings comprise the compound for family use. This is now known as 1533A Cormorant Bay Road. (The rental buildings were painted matching green in 1999, to restore the original color. That house is 1533B Cormorant Bay Road.

The Annex includes a small shop at the west end. In the shop are chain saws, small outboard motor, life vests, weedwacker, and miscellaneous hand and garden tools.

The Center section contains a crib, outdoor furniture and a propane grill. (Please use only on cement.) We also store the new 8 ft ladder there.

The Pantry contains a garden cart, washing machine materials, vacuum, and crock pot, as well as many unidentifiable items that nobody seems willing to part with.

The Main house:
Heat: Electrical heaters are controlled by a thermostat near the organ. Trash burner in kitchen and living room fireplace are for wood heat. (Stop using one day before leaving. Dampers for both. Keep screen closed at all times.)

The bedroom closet contains sheets, towels, extra pillows, toilet paper, ironing board and iron.

Kitchen: The long door beside the stove should always remain locked. (Back up water heater; mice,) The primary water heater is located under the back porch.

Telephone: Seriously, please use a credit card for other than local calls. The telephone has an answering machine which operates when the electricity is on.

Important: The master electrical circuit breaker box is in the kitchen. (If you need to turn the electricity on, the two switches to the water heater must remain of f unti1Z’ water fills the heater completely.)

The 1993 Ford Ranger truck has optional 4 wheel drive. The instruction manual should be consulted about anything you need to know, and may be used as a flotation device in case of a water landing.

PLEASE USE THE TRUCK COVER EVERY DAY TO PROTECT THE FINISH FROM PITCH AND FUR NEEDLES. Upon leaving, the truck should be left in the garage. Please leave the gas tank near full.

Washer and dryer are located in the east room of the rental house green annex. Schedule use with renter, if possible.

Garbage cans (2) are located behind the main house green annex. The cleaning person will dispose of garbage.

Clean up and Closing

It is assumed that the house will be left in orderly fashion. Prior to your departure, place used sheets in bathroom hamper. Leave used towels on racks.

Please restock wood box on back porch for trash burners.

Thanks for keeping Westwoods in shape for all to use. We hope your visit will be a pleasurable one.

Updated Schedule (as of June 8th)

New dates! Steve and Ben will be going July 10-15, not July 13-22.
Unchanged:
July 23rd - 30th: Robert, Sam, Christina and Elizabeth
August 7th-20th: Roger & Lois

2005 Schedule as of mid-April

July 13th-22nd: Steve and Ben (revised from August 21st-31st previously)
July 23rd - 30th: Robert, Sam and possibly Christina and Elizabeth
August 7th-20th: Roger & Lois

Scenic landscape courtesy OBW

2005 Schedule as of early April

July 23rd - 30th: Robert, Sam and possibly Christina and Elizabeth
August 7th-20th: Roger & Lois
August 21st-31st: Steve and Ben

(Despite the date of this post, this is no joke!)

Details about Elizabeth...

For the history books (in which this blog will undoubtedly figure prominently), I thought it would be fun to quote Robert’s e-mail directly:

On Friday, March 19^th 2005, Elizabeth James Westmont was born at Virginia Beach General Hospital in Virginia Beach. Mom and daughter are great and should be released tomorrow. Christina was heading to class around 5:30 PM when things didn't feel right - it was the right decision. Elizabeth wasted no time once she decided to depart the warm, comfortable environment of the last 10 months. She entered the world an hour and 45 minutes after we arrived at the hospital - 10:38 PM, March 17, 2005. Of course this was St Patrick's Day and I'm sure we'll be hearing about that for decades to come.

Elizabeth weights 8 lbs, 7 ounces and is 21" long. I've uploaded several pictures to http://ncdesigns.net/westmont/elizabeth.htm, however most are not optimized meaning "large file size" at the moment. There shouldn't be a problem for those with broadband, but dial-up connections will take awhile until I can clean things up.

Marjorie

OBW

Welcome to Westwoods!

Westwoods is the name adopted by O.B. 'Westy' Westmont for the property he purchased in 1962. The Westwoods property includes over 35 acres with 800 feet of waterfront including approximately 175 feet of private beach. Westwoods is located one half mile north of the end of the Cormorant Bay Road.

For visitors, $150 per week will be payable in advance to co-owner Roger W. Westmont, 131 Bonita Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611-3901. This charge will cover electricity, truck usage, cleaning, laundry and garbage expenses for your visit.

The complete Westwoods Book should be read by all family members. It is located in the living room of the main house.

Arrangements for the timing of your visit should be made with Roger W. Westmont, 510-658-0369.

The Westwoods Manager is Brian Wright, P. 0. Box 1848, Eastsound, WA 98245, 360-376-5894. Brian will help to open and close the house. Our Renter, Stacy McCray, POB 355, Eastsound, WA 98245, 360-376-2843, may possibly help with transportation. Telephone her ahead of your time at Westwoods if you think you need help with transportation when you arrive. Whenever the Renter is able to leave or pick up the truck at airport or ferry, visitor will pay a fee of $10.00 each way for that service.

Taxi service is available on Orcas, 360—376-8294 or 800-942-1926. Reservations need to be made in advance of arrival or leaving

One complete set of keys is in the desk. An emergency back—up set is under the house back porch. There should also be two sets of truck keys with post office box key, #101 Deer Harbor.

The westernmost green buildings comprise the compound for family use. This is now known as 1533A Cormorant Bay Road. (The rental buildings were painted matching green in 1999, to restore the original color. That house is 1533B Cormorant Bay Road.

The Annex includes a small shop at the west end. In the shop are chain saws, small outboard motor, life vests, weedwacker, and miscellaneous hand and garden tools. The Center section contains outdoor furniture and a propane grill. (Please use only on cement.) We also store the new 8 ft ladder there.

The Pantry contains a garden cart, washing machine materials, vacuum, and crock pot, as well as many unidentifiable items that nobody seems willing to part with.

The Main house:
Heat: Electrical heaters are controlled by a thermostat near the organ. Trash burner in kitchen and living room fireplace are for wood heat. (Stop using one day before leaving. Dampers for both. Keep screen closed at all times.)

The bedroom closet contains sheets, towels, extra pillows, toilet paper, ironing board and iron.

Kitchen: The long door beside the stove should always remain locked. (Back up water heater; mice,) The primary water heater is located under the back porch.

Telephone: Seriously, please use a credit card for other than local calls. The telephone has an answering machine which operates when the electricity is on.

Important: The master electrical circuit breaker box is in the kitchen. (If you need to turn the electricity on, the two switches to the water heater must remain of f unti1Z’ water fills the heater completely.)

The 1993 Ford Ranger truck has optional 4 wheel drive. The instruction manual should be consulted about anything you need to know, and may be used as a flotation device in case of a water landing.

PLEASE USE THE TRUCK COVER EVERY DAY TO PROTECT THE FINISH FROM PITCH AND FUR NEEDLES. Upon leaving, the truck should be left in the garage. Please leave the gas tank near full.

Washer and dryer are located in the east room of the rental house green annex. Schedule use with renter, if possible.

Garbage cans (2) are located behind the main house green annex. Please arrange with Manager so that he can take whatever to the recycle center

Clean up and Closing

It is assumed that the house will be left in orderly fashion. That means you, dammit!

Westwoods Projects

If you are just looking for something to do around the buildings and/or property, then may we suggest:

1. The weed-wacker in the shop can be used to cut the grass west of the house. If the wacker is not working, try the sickle. (sharpen)

2. Rake Leaves (fire hazard) from around buildings and dump over the cliff. Careful!

3. Pick up downed brush (fire hazard) and put on burn piles scattered In the woods.

4. Wash house windows if needed.

5. Clean all gutters.

6. Split wood for kitchen wood stove. Length should not be more than 12 inches.

7. Clear trails to both ends of beach. Put brush in burn piles.

8. Vacuum drapes and upholstered furniture. (Maid probably wont do this.)

9. Upholstered cushions can always use a good beating on the deck.

18. Rugs and all floors can be waxed and buffed.

11. Pick up all garbage and plastics on the beach including fish line, straws, six-pack plastics, coffee cups, etc.

12. Pick up fishing debris from fishing rock point.

13. Wash off house siding of spider nests and so on.

THANKS MUCH

Some Choice Photos

Click here to see some cool old photos on Yahoo!

Updated 2005 Schedule

July 23rd - 30th: Robert, Sam and possibly Christina and the new baby (due mid-March!)
August 7th-20th: Roger & Lois

Taylor's Favorite Vacation Spot Is...

Last Sunday night, Taylor and I went to a Father/Daughter dance sponsored by the Brownies (which is really a clever capitalist conspiracy designed to sell Girl Scout cookies). Just to prove to all of us what inadequate fathers we are, some of the hosting moms decided to have a little pop quiz asking about 10 of our daughters' favorite likes and dislikes, such as 'favorite movies', or 'favorite foods' -- you get the idea.

One of the questions was ‘what is your favorite vacation spot?’ To refresh your memory, we had a pretty big travel year in 2004, including trips to Europe, Disneyland, San Diego, Tahoe, as well as Orcas Island. Over the years, we have also been to Hawaii a few times…so I guessed Hawaii, with Tahoe as my second guess.

Well, that was one of six questions I answered incorrectly – Taylor’s choice was Orcas! Now, naturally you saw that coming because this is a blog about Westwoods, but it made me think about when I was growing up and how Orcas was also my favorite vacation spot. Something about hunting for crabs under the rocks, skipping stones across the water, the freshness of the air, the way that all of the plates have decades of organic matter caked onto them…it is hard to capture everything that is special about the place.

Anyway, I have recently discovered blogging, and I thought it made sense to float this Westwoods blog as a virtual meeting place for the OBW diaspora. Share your stories, your thoughts, your bank account PIN numbers – whatever. Let’s see what happens….

Your move.

2005 Schedule

At this point in time, the only 'reserved' times at Westwoods are:

August 7th-20th -- Roger & Lois