Well to tell the truth there are a number of stories surrounding the choice
of the name Foc'sl Cottage for our new home. Someone once told me that your house is automatically
worth more if it has a name...and frankly there is enough "snob appeal" to please me...Ha! Seriously though,
the name came from my days as an enlisted man in the Canadian Navy. Long ago, in Nelson's day and before, enlisted men
were housed or berthed in the "forecastle" or forward part of their ships - up at the pointy end. The word "forecastle"
was shortened by useage to Foc'sl - pronounced 'fok-sil' - and since those days enlisted men are said "to be from the foc'sl".
The Navy gave me almost every thing I own, in one way or another, so I decided to dedicate our new house to the
memories of my career in Canada's Navy. To say that I am very proud to have been a member of that fine force would be
a huge understatement.
The badge forFoc'sl Cottage was created by our friend Jim Tasker and was given as a gift as we prepared to
leave Portland, Oregon to begin our lives as San Juan Islanders. It is made from cedar planking that was etched by
sand-blasting the pattern into the wood. It is a great addition to the place and is mounted in a prominent location - Thanks Jim!
