Our Lenten Retreat

Don and I had a chance to take off to the beach for four nights while daughter, D, stayed with Mom. Actually, she offered to give us a date night, which we daydreamed about stretching into a weekend, and then suddenly goaded into a week-long escape when we saw low rates and a window of opportunity. So we served pancakes, ham & eggs at the church Shrove Tuesday dinner and then took off without looking back on Ash Wednesday morning.

We took plenty to amuse ourselves, figuring that the weather would be too cold to go out much. Our room promised a view overlooking the ocean so we could watch the waves, storms, and seagulls and hear the roar of the ocean as Don read and worked crosswords and I knitted, scrapbooked, and read Harry Potter for the third time. This picture, however, gives witness to the fact that we made it onto the beach after all. Wednesday night we arrived amid a storm that blew us around and randomly dumped a truckload of hail on our heads as we pulled in, but the following day was beautiful. I cannot seem to resist the sand and water. It lures me like a hummingbird to a blossom. I also admit to being unable to resist picking up shells and rocks and treasuring them as if they were diamonds. Yes, bare feet and wet pants are a credible sign that I left the beach a happy person. Below are some of my other accomplishments.

Here is some of the booty we brought home. There are oil paints are from Art Media in Portland and other goodies from the Outlet Mall in Lincoln City.

This little Main Street store is the only place where we buy taffy because they make it fresh weekly. Several times we've been there on the day when the taffy was being pulled by the machines.

Thank you, D, for the much needed respite in one of our favorite places! This sunset's for you.

Winter Getaway

Here are some images of the coast between Newport and Lincoln City, including Boiler Bay and Yaquina Bay. Most of the pictures, however, were taken on our favorite strip of beach in Lincoln City. (Note: If the video takes too long to load, click the title, Winter Getaway, to link to a different slide show.)