Events – Page 3 – Drawing on Words

April Ocean

April 25, 2017April 24, 2017bobbibowwoman5 Comments

I got such a feeling of “home” when we check into our room at the Sandcastle in Lincoln City, Oregon. The curtains are pulled back and I am once again in love with the ocean.

Friday was all sunshine and white wispy clouds. The ocean was jewel colored and slow moving. We got to town early and visited family having a reunion on the north side of town, high on a hill with a breathtaking view. We got a tour of the house, chatted a while, and then hugs all ’round before heading to the next adventure.

On PBS, we learned of a art community nearby. It was a lovely day for a drive, so we took off outside Otis and wound our way to the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. This lovely plot of land has a cluster of studios where people come to do workshops or residencies in a variety of mediums. Robert and I enjoyed walking the grounds and chatting with a couple of the folks there.

Returning to the ocean we enjoyed the afternoon watching beachcombers and kite fliers, more than last month. As the sun started setting, I marveled at how often the sky changed and how the ocean responded in its reflection.

Saturday and Sunday showed us a different side to the coast. The rains came and the wind blew so hard mist rose from the whitecaps. As much as the I love the ocean, this month I paid attention to the sky. To say the coast was cloudy or gray would be oversimplification.

There were 100 shades of gray, clouds moving fast and slow. Instead of deep blue, the ocean was the same gray as the sky. Were it not for the sandy beach, I would swear I was watching an old black and white movie. Stripped of color, the sky and ocean came alive with movement.

Our April visit was the same and different as the visits before. The ocean, rain or shine, is ever faithful as a charger for my spiritual battery. On the way out of town the traffic was noticeably heavier. Ah….so this is what April traffic looks like in Lincoln City. The quiet season is over. Now the town begins to come alive.

Worth every minute.

P.S. I was comforted to spot “our” seal again this month.

February Ocean

February 28, 2017February 27, 2017bobbibowwoman3 Comments

monet

Our February adventure at the coast was different in a number of ways.

First, we decided to stay over a Sunday and Monday night instead of a weekend, which changed the ebb and flow of tourists. On the drive out, most were “going home” driving in the opposite direction.

Secondly, while we are used to rain, we did not expect horizontal rain which turned our windows into camera filters. I call this rain filter, “Monet” because it reminds me of paintings by Claude Monet. The splashing against the windows was soothing and I think gave the ocean a dreamy effect. Once the horizontal rain stopped, we had very clean windows.

Lastly, our usual eating spots were closed, so we explored different places. While I like to hold up in the hotel (we paid for it, I want to BE in it) we took some trips to walk around the local mall and also eat at a famous landmark, Mo’s.

moes

The food was good and the place uncrowded. On Monday morning we ate at restaurant that had recently changed hands. It was decked out with surf boards and nets…entitled “Macadangdang’s Reefside Bar and Grill.” What a name! We asked about the history of the word “macadangdang” but the new owners just shrugged and said, “It’s what the last owner called it.”

The service was friendly and the food hearty. But that word – still a mystery. A bit of advice: If you look up the word in the Urban dictionary, you may choose not to eat there. I assure you, the food is fine. The owners are about the get a smoker in and the menu will change to include BBQ. *happy dance*

While some things were different, there were many things the same. Two little girls squealing as they chased the waves and were chased back. Loads of soaring seagulls and floating black birds. “Our” seal even made a showing. We were worried we’d miss it.

Wednesday morning we arose at low tide to see all the branches, seaweed, and logs that the surf had left on the sand during the storm.

As we got ready to leave, I was reminded of my dad, who loved the ocean as I do. He would say, “I wonder how long it would take for me to get tired of this view.”

I wonder that, too, dad. I wonder that, too.

Valentine Lock

February 21, 2017February 17, 2017bobbibowwoman2 Comments

I surprised my sweetie with a little lock for Valentine’s day. From time to time, we enjoy a cheesy Hallmark romance. This month we watched “Love Locks” that noted a bridge in Paris where lovers would write their names on a lock, attach it to the bridge, then together toss the key.

So on Valentine’s day we watched the movie and at the end, I handed over the lock. I love being goofy with my sweetie.

lock

Milestones

February 8, 2017February 7, 2017bobbibowwoman5 Comments

I credit my mother for my love of birthdays. She tried to make each of us feel extra special.

On “our day,” we were able to set the menu for dinner. For modern families with microwave this and instant that, many families eat what they want daily. Not us. This family of seven had dinner together daily and what was served was eaten. So to pick the menu was a big deal!

I always picked fried shrimp and a can of black olives (I didn’t care what other green or starch was on the table). Instead of cake for dessert, I chose mom’s exceptional pecan pie. I can still picture her standing over a small pan filled with oil, deep fry cooking battered shrimp that came frozen. She would cook the shrimp in little batches and we would eat, swoon, and ask for more.

My two older sisters were born on the same day, exactly one year apart. (Take that, history books.) I’m sure they were not thrilled about sharing their special day. Still mom tried to make it special for each of them. I only remember that on that day, there were two cakes or pies….whatever the birthday girls desired.

When the candles were lit, the singing began. We sang the traditional birthday song, but in four part harmony. There was nothing quite like it (Von Trapp family, move over).

Mom and dad were a good team, but the kitchen was mom’s domain. She made preparing meals a gift, and taught me to love birthdays.

January Ocean

January 25, 2017January 24, 2017bobbibowwoman5 Comments

sunsetjan

Our visit to the coast in January was clearly separated into two parts: the traveling and the ocean.

We started our trip over the pass, basking in the glories of giant evergreens heavy with snow.

snowtrees

I would be lying if I said we didn’t break into a Christmas song or two along the way. The roads were clear and the traffic light. The trees, however, were putting on a winter show we don’t often experience.

coastjan

The second part of our trip began as we sat before our glass windows and soaked up the view. Once at the ocean, the temperature was less snow-like, although it was “frigid” for the coast (the locals told us).

There were three surfers beyond the waves, not wanting to tear themselves away from their fun at sunset. A seal, much closer to shore kept an eye on these three. I wonder if it was thinking, “Food, foe, or friend?” It was a most curious seal and stayed out as long as the surfers.

Saturday was the real show. Ten surfers marched out to sea, at different spots along sand, to surf, sit, and play in the waves. I wondered if it was a convention of sorts. That seal showed up again, swimming back and forth, its little head peaking out to watch the surfers with me. After a couple of hours, the surfers further out were greeted by a pod of seven seals, swimming, dipping, jumping, and rolling around some of the surfers. What a joy to watch!

Robert went out for a long walk, and sure enough…that curious seal popped up to check him out. Made me wonder if we go to the coast to look at sea life and they come to watch US?

Sunday morning was clear. Long shadows stretch out at low tide. Breathtaking.

What a joy, this “year at the coast” one weekend a month. Goodbye January ocean. See you next month.

A year at the coast (not really)

November 30, 2016November 29, 2016bobbibowwoman13 Comments

Dreams and goals are a funny lot. They change or intensify as other things either move out of the way, take their place, or come true.

I once had a dream to live on the coast. I didn’t have to live there forever….just one year. I wanted to see all the seasons, storms and all. My life changed and without regret, I put that dream in my back pocket.

It’s years later, and I dusted off that dream and looked at it in a different way. What if hubs and I stayed 3 days and 2 nights at the coast each month for an entire year. That would do it!

Last month was our Ocean family reunion Fox Fun

November, hubs and I stayed at a favorite spot in Lincoln City “The Sandcastle.” The weather was nippy, indeed, but I saw several rainbows over the ocean. What a hopeful image. We also watched a seal travel north to south, popping its head up every once in a while. Our eyes were glued to the waves when one or the other of us would call out….”there it is”……….. “there it is”…….. “there it is.”

We took some time out of our ocean watching to pop in and out of the quirky little shops downtown. Unhurried, we were able to chat with some of the store owners. Being November, downtown looked like a ghost town. But hubs and I were content. Some of that had to do with his favorite pizza place, Tie-Dye Pizza, being open.

In the middle of the night I crept to the curtains and peeked out. The tide was out and above, clouds had parted enough for me to gaze at the stars. On our last morning we saw patches of glorious blue sky. While this picture does not show it, what looks like a speck in the center of the photo is really a half moon.

On our way home we saw that someone with time and a sense of humor had grown a smiley face on the side of a hill. From our view it looked a little like “The Grinch that Stole Christmas” but I am sure the intent was a smiley face.