Weekend Joy

Though there are so many chores and projects to do around the house, sometimes you need to get away and take a break. That's what we did this weekend. As soon as I got off work Friday, we tossed our overnight bags in the car and headed for the beach.  Without the RV.  Something different and fun.

In Lincoln City, we found ourselves a nicer hotel than we had intended. ("We're al booked up except for one last room - it's a suite with a jacuzzi…ground floor, ocean view, beach access…I'll give you a great deal on it…") Ok, you talked us into it, we'll take it.

So we unpacked and headed to a nearby ocean view restaurant so that we could watch the sunset while we had dinner. We were one table removed from the window, so we couldn't help but notice the people at the neighboring table when we gazed out at the view. This couple was absolutely glued to their cell phones. They ate with their right hand while they scrolled their phones with their left, eyes downcast. This was a mature 40 something couple, not youngsters. We looked around at all the other people on their cell phones, and were astounded that people go out to dinner in a great restaurant with an amazing view, presumably with people they care about, but so much of their attention is centered on their phones. We carefully kept ours put away and felt ever so self-righteous.

The cell phone couple finished their dinner and left, and the next couple who took the table were much more focused on each other.  (Really, we had to look their way to see the sunset over the ocean.) He was tenderly kissing her hand, feeding her bites of this and that, untucking the hair that she had put behind her ears and carefully arranging it (Will said "After 30 years, you'd probably be slapping my hand if I tried that!")…at one point lover boy pointed at her, looked out at the room and announced loudly, "I love this woman!" (I said to Will, "Can you imagine doing that?) He smiled and nodded and then confessed, "Sorry, I can't really hear you." Ha ha. They tried to take a selfie with the setting sun behind them, and a nice older man (who was paying attention instead of being on his phone) jumped up and offered to help. He had trouble balancing them and the sun, and nice older lady who also did not have a phone in sight got up and gave him some photo pointers. Oh my goodness. Maybe cell phones aren't so bad after all - so nice to see people being so friendly and working together.

The next morning donned bright and beautiful. We took the path to the beach and enjoyed a gorgeous morning walk.

We saved our cellphone use for the privacy of our room like all old fashioned decent people do. Yes, there was a little time for Solitaire.

I love driving Hwy 101 between Lincoln City and Newport on a sunny day. Although I got in trouble when Will pointed out an interesting sight that I missed because I was looking at my phone. Hey, I have a grandson and children and sisters and brothers and friends, and it's just rude to ignore their messages. But every time my phone beeped after that I waited till we were at a non-scenic place and asked permission to look at it. Such a good submissive wife.  Ok, almost every time.

We found a parking spot at Depoe Bay and walked across the bridge of the world's smallest harbor. I am always cute and fun to be with, by the way.

 Well, most of the time.

 So many beautiful things to see.

 A sunny bench to sit and take in the view is always nice. But a cup of fancy coffee would make it even better.

 There are two young ladies down there. They got way too close to the drop off, getting thrills out of getting sprayed with the crashing waves. I feared I might be taking a last picture before they got swept over the edge. All it takes is one really big wave, people!

 I can watch the ever-changing surf right here for a long time. Go ahead, scroll through the boring scenery pics real quick.

 Yay, we found some coffee and another place to sit and stare for awhile.

 A wooden boat show was going on, and one of us really loves wooden boats.

 He got to talk to some wooden boat builders.
 Hey, he could build one this size and throw it in the back of his pickup!

 There was a boat building station for kids, and a lot of creative things were happening there. Pirate ships, war ships, sail boats, …all kinds of boats and kids seeming to have a lot of fun. There is probably some toy boat building in our grandson's future.

 Oh my goodness, now this boat would be a great size to build also. It would fit on the cargo rack in the back of the RV. Where can we get those plans? You can start on it when our kitchen is done. Oh wait there's some yard projects to do also. Oh, it is so fun to dream.

Lunch was at the Otter Rock Mo's, where I got my favorite cioppino.  Clams, shrimp, white fish, mushrooms in a Italian tomato broth.  Oh I love that stuff. Oh my goodness, I just found the recipe here.

Then Will started making noises about going to Englund Marine. I've been to Englund Marine before.  (And I am spelling it correctly, by the way.) It has all the most wonderful fishing gear known to man, including fascinating items with names like hoochies, wiggle warts and kwikfish. Will always hints that I could use some really good rain gear, and I always remind him that since I do not ever spend any time whatsoever freezing in a boat when it is raining, I have no need for the best quality rain gear known to man such as he has invested his life savings in.  I have been known to cause Will some annoyance at this store when, bored out of my mind, I follow closely behind him and wait patiently right next to him while he peruses fishing tackle and reels and rope and rain gear and all kinds of unknown stuff. So I thought I would do him a huge favor and casually mentioned that perhaps he should drop me off at a beach and I could go for a run while he shops to his hearts content. My feelings were not hurt when he did not try to coax me into joining him. He drove me down to Nye Beach and I waved bye-bye.

It had grown quite windy on the beach. I don't particularly like running into the wind. I noticed some steps up to some condos and decided that might be more fun. Woo hoo.

 A little farther down was another set of stairs.

 Up and down.

 Careful, careful.

No more stairs, but here's a path to climb.

The trip back with the wind behind me was much better!

Reunited and with our life savings still intact, we went down to the marina in Newport. Will wanted to check the dumpster at the fish cleaning station to see what the fishing was like. Seriously. I admit I was somewhat incredulous. When we got there, a man and boy were looking in the dumpster. "See," says Will, "I am not unique." Sure enough, after peeking into the dumpster, he reported that they were catching rock fish, decent sized. But not very many of them.  I declined his invitation to look in the dumpster and see for myself.

Oh, yes, we do such exciting and romantic things on our weekend getaway, if you hadn't noticed!

Well, it was about time to head home, but we first stopped by a candy shop and got ourselves a little chocolate, including some chocolate covered coffee beans. Then a trip to Dutch Bros for our first ever Kickers, (his hot, mine blended). We were feeling no pain as we left Newport.

As we approached Corvallis, Will pointed out a house and said in a tone of utmost respect, "A real repairman lives there. Retired Corvallis PD."  I pondered that before asking, "Why do you say he's a real repairman?" "Because he repairs reels." He then went on to tell me more about him, including, "He's a real fisherman." And I just had to say, "A reel fisherman?" Oh, the witty repartee just never ends.

We got home around 6 p.m. and we had so much energy! We worked outside until dark, Will washing outside windows and my car windows, me weeding and grooming roses. Late afternoon coffee and chocolate really perks up old folks like us!

I got a phone call while weeding, learning that my sister Hope had been in a car accident. Car was totaled but she walked away, though she was heading for the ER to get checked out. I visited her Sunday and was amazed at how great she looked, and she was amazed at how good she felt. She had a few minor abrasions on her face from the airbag and some stiffness and soreness, but only by the grace of God do you walk away from something like that in such good shape!

Sunday was another great day, church in the morning, a quick visit to Hope, then all my kids and their better halfs for dinner, which was super easy - pizza on the Traeger. And oysters on the grill, which thrills some of the family. Steph and Anisa work together and they had decided it would be a good idea for Doug and Anisa to join us, which meant that Duane and Rachel came by also. A gorgeous warm sunny day, and our first family dinner on the patio for the year.

Kam gets a little bit of attention occasionally. He's taking a few steps now and then when he feels like it.

The girls had some Jamberry nail fun. Christina is now a consultant. http://christinawagner.jamberrynails.net/shop So many cute nail colors and patterns!

Such a great weekend. So thankful for the beauty of our surroundings, for my long-suffering husband, for my boys and the wonderful girls they've brought into our family and of course the adorable baby Kam, for my brothers and sisters and for God's grace and mercy in blessing us with health and safety.