Category: Oregon coast

A Lovely Day Trip

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It had been so long since we had headed out to visit the ocean. I love living an hour away, but time seemed to just pass so quickly it had been months since the last trip. Although it was raining, it was still perfect in every way….isn’t the seaside always perfect?!  The doggies just love running free on the beach!

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While strolling along, I picked up some stones that have that smooth just right feeling for holding in your hand.  I will add them to my Altar of Sacred Things.

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All too soon the rain began to pour and we had to make a dash for the car.  I am not good at running in deep sand and ended up soaked to the skin!  A nice hot Chai Tea for the trip home helped take away the chill.

Home and a bit of play with the oils. A few months back I ordered roller bottles with gemstone rollers.  I also ordered the oil recipes and stickers for chakra oils. I decided there was no time like the present to mix them up.  I am in love with these!  They also smell heavenly!  I need to make another set as I have stickers enough and just need to purchase a few more of the gemstone roller bottles.

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After the beach day, I had caught a chill so took a stay abed day at home.  By early evening I was feeling a bit better so decided to process a box of tomatoes that I had been given.  Spaghetti sauce it was. It will simmer overnight (I will transfer it to the crock pot) and be ready tomorrow.  Much will go into the freezer.  It has been so long since I have done any big batch cooking, it was quite enjoyable.  And the house smells lovely!

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The other day I was out scouting around at yard sales and thrift shops and I came across this beauty for $5.  It was just too much of a steal to pass up…right?!  The top needs refinishing and I cannot decide if I want to paint it or refinish it.  I love the claw feet with the gold covers.  It is Duncan Phyfe style and made by the Coombe Furniture Company of Ontario, Canada.  Known for quality furniture, the company made the furnishing for the Canadian Government House in England, the MPPs chairs in Parliament, and the Queen’s suite when she visited Charlottetown.  It closed doors in 1972.  Such a lovely bit of history!!

Sadly what has been missing from my blog and that I have just been in a slump over is my knitting.  I have made a few dish cloths and started on a tea cozy with some lovely yarn I found at a charity shop in Ireland, but my knitting mojo is just gone.  I’m not stressing as I know it will return in due time.  But I have so many many things I need to get completed!  I have found that my hobbies do wax and wane.  I will go through periods where I sew and do needle crafting non stop, then just feel a slump.  Working takes such a large amount of one’s day and energy that is does impact my crafting time….sigh…

Yesterday I got happy, happy news!  I received an offer for an exciting job a week ago.  This field I am in is beyond and Oregon, due to lack of enough regulatory oversight and most all companies being for profit, is down right awful.  Seriously, I would not put my own parents into an assisted living in the state of Oregon and I am an administrator!  Anyway, it is still in my own field but working for a non-profit and helping to facilitate a remodel and the addition of a MC.  I start in October as I gave the customary months notice yesterday….and as I prayed…my current company is just paying me out!  That leaves me almost four weeks of glorious wonderful time off to just be!  I do have a heavy school schedule so that will keep me busy, but oh happy, happy day!

And speaking of school work….off  I must to work on just that!

Happy, happy day,

Patricia

Closing Out The Year

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This has been a difficult holiday season with losing my Cinny.  I was still mourning my Holly. Yet I know that as long as I give my heart to boxers, that time will always be too short.  Boxers have a shorter life span than many other breeds; nine years is a good lifespan. But I would never ever give up the love that this breed so freely gives.  I will always be a boxer girl.  It has been tough on Bruno and I have been in touch with NW Boxer Rescue to find him a new companion and another sweet love for us.  I love this rescue group! I was sorely tempted when Kim let me know they had some puppies; after several days of waivering I knew that at this time I could not really meet a puppy’s needs.  So I am still waiting for the right fur baby for our home. I leave it in the hands of the rescue group to find the best fit for Bruno, Jimmy, and me.  

Before losing Cinny we kept busy preparing for Christmas. In November I took five days off work.  It was glorious!  I kept so busy and accomplished so much!   Jimmy had a few days off and we concentrated on finishing the last of our shopping. We did a part of our shopping at Portland’s Saturday Market. Every time we head into the city we try to find new places to explore.  It is such an amazing city. 

I also decorated the house, knitted, sewed, and played in the kitchen.

Infinity scarves are really fun, fast, and easy. I have made an additional two since these pictures were taken. With the hubs working swing shifts, my evenings consist of curling up with my sweet boxer babies, turning on my favorite Brit TV shows (a second watching of Foyles War is my current choice), and knitting away. I also pulled out one of those weaving contraptions I found this summer at yard sales. I was hooked, it is totally mindless yet turns out a great looking scarf.  All of these projects are from the bits and bobs of yarn I collected secondhand for pennies. 

You all know how much I love Pinterest. When I saw these chocolate spoons I just had to make some. I wanted a little flavor so used a chocolate orange and combined it with a Hershey bar. I found the spoons at Goodwill and Walmart. 

Got out for near daily walks. Always new places to explore at Minto-Brown Island.

One one of my last days off we headed to the beach. I am so grateful that we did.  Cinny was more active than usual as she ran and played. We never would have expected that within 72 hours a brain tumor would take her from us. Look at that happy face!

I received this in the mail from my sweet daughter after losing my Cinny.

How special is that!!  RIP my sweet Frassy and Munster. 

Here is another sweet gift I received in the mail. Every year for the past 7 or so, a dear friend Louella sends me a home made ornament. I treasure every one.  Louella also includes a goodie for the fur babies to. She has two handsome fur boy’s who like to be included in the giving. 

Aren’t those just too cute!! 

Inadvertently several years ago I started finding a focus word for each year. 2012 was balance as I learned to balance work/health/life. 2013 was adventure as I got married, left one job, moved states and started a new job. 2014 really did not have a word as it has been loss and imbalance again.  In perusing Pinterest I happened upon Susannah Conway susannahconway.com and her wonderful workshops.  I immediately signed up for this one

There is a facebook page where participants can share ideas and work together.  I love it!  

Her next workshop is

I am considering this one as well.  I am pretty confident I have my word and will sharing it after the first of the year.  

Here’s wishing you and yours a wonderful and blessed Christmas and New Year!

Patricia

 

 

Family, Fun, and Movie Making

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The past two weeks have been super busy. Lots of day trips, family coming to stay, and organizing and having a yard sale.  And also, sadly, my Doodle had to return home to prepare for back to school!  I sure miss the heck out of her!!!  House is way too quiet and poor ole Bruno is lost without her to curl up in bed with every morning. 

Since it was the last few weeks with Doodle we jam packed lots of fun in.  

We spent one day making a movie. I cannot believe her patience with this process.  We were 4 hours in the woods with thunder and lightening all around as she calmly took shot after shot to produce her newest stop motion.

It is amazing how stop motion movies are made. The time and patience that go into the making is amazing. Doodle is currently working on a series and has produced two episodes. You can watch them here 

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Of course we had several more trips to the beach.  Usually we never venture further south than Newport, but we wanted to see some new sights and check out Sea Lion Caves.  I had not been there since I was a child and Jimmy and Doodle had never been there.  It was more commercialized than I remember, of course, but very well done with lots to grab your interest and a killer gift shop!  

We discovered an amazing beach on the way home!

Bruno and Cinny just love the beach!  Cinny acts like a puppy once she hits that sand.  The sheer joy that they exhibit spills over onto all of us!!  

We stopped at the cutest little cafe for lunch. They had the most awesome Japanese tea pots all over.  But what made them so sweet was inside each one was a note. What fun to open the pot and discover this note:

I was blessed to be there with two people I love dearly!!  Since Doodle had an upcoming birthday we ordered her a large piece of chocolate cake.

Check out all those umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. The owner makes them. 

At work we had an event to celebrate the dog days of summer. Doodle dressed Bruno up in Harley wear and dressed to match him. She won third place ribbon, losing out to two pocket dogs dressed in dresses.  Bruno would not hold still for a photo. 

It was a great event with dog rescue groups, a local vet, our humane society, and some therapy dogs. The residents loved it and that is what mattered!

All too soon Erica, my sister Anna, my momma, niece, nephew, and grandson showed up to take Doodle home. But they were able to stay a few nights and we squeezed in shopping, yard sales, and a trip to the beach. My momma loves the ocean and was out in that water with her walker!

While Doodle was here at every yard sale she was looking for things for her sibs. She had nice gifts for all of them all wrapped and ready to give. I am so proud of how giving she is!  When her brother, my sweet Jayse, came down with Erica to pick her up she was so excited for him to open his gift.  Jayse loved the building set and his cousin and him got busy building. They were so creative!!!

 A great time was had by all!  We stayed up late, ate too much junk, and talked a storm. When time to head home the car was so loaded there was little room for passengers!  As when those we love leave, the house was too quiet and lonely.  But they will be back soon and next week Chrissy is arriving with more grands!  Cannot wait!!

Living the dream,

Patricia