Watching The Ocean

Chuck and I got away for a few days this passed week. We planned this in January and I'm so thankful we did. Born and raised in San Diego I love the ocean and certainly didn't appreciate it as much as I should have when I lived there. 

We live on the east side of Puget Sound, a waterway between Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula so we're five minutes from the water. But we're a three hour drive from the ocean.

We went to Ocean Shores and got there around 2:30 Monday afternoon. The weather was cold, rainy and windy. Oooh that wind was cold!

 

This was our view when we arrived. And it was like this for a couple days.

 

We went to the grocery store and bought stuff for breakfasts and dinners but we usually went out for lunch. We played games, read books, walked along the beach, we did whatever we wanted! By Wednesday afternoon the clouds began to part and the view was beautiful! There was so much wildlife there too. One night we drove around the peninsula at dusk and saw 24 deer in about 2 miles!

Little Sandpipers were all over the beach. It's a little hard to see them in the second photo but all those little spots are Sandpipers!

 

I walked along the beach every single day. And every day it was different! Shells and rocks, driftwood and shifting sand. Looking out the window one day, I saw a bald eagle! 

All bundled up and ready to go out!

There were two paths going from the back of the building by the pool, out to the beach.

Looking back, our room was on the top floor. I spent a lot of time out on that balcony!

 

In this picture you can see on the right side, the affect the wind had on the sand compared to the ocean washing up on it.

 

Then on Wednesday afternoon the sun came out!! Oh you guys, it was glorious!!

 

Walking back to the condo, I'm coming to the end of the path and run into this... they really were everywhere!

 

On Thursday, I pulled the chair up to the window and I sat there for three hours. I didn't stress about work. I didn't think about things going on in the world. I just watched the water. I watched the waves crash. I watched the tide come in. I just sat and watched the ocean.

 

And I thought about how blessed I am: I have a loving family; I've had amazing opportunities that many haven't had. This trip being one of them. The Lord has been so good to me and I'm humbled by the grace He pours out to me day after day. 

Have you had an opportunity recently to just 'watch the ocean'?

This And That

We had 9 straight days of rain and when the sun finally came out everybody went outside! I went out to the backyard to take some pictures and the sun went behind some black clouds (see it between the trees?) It was so nice to finally see some blue skies!

 

 

Our church held it's second Trunk and Treat on Saturday. We usually have a big Harvest Party inside with games, inflatables and food, but when covid hit we did a drive through Trunk and Treat last year and this year it was a walk through. They had a little clicker thing and counted 1300 people in about 3 hours! Chuck had the day off so he was able to come with us this year. It was so cold, only 45 degrees, I'm so glad we brought thermoses of tea and cider! I'm not usually one to dress up and do stuff like this but it really is fun. At least 3 parents told me their toddlers had just watched Winnie the Pooh for the first time! I love their smiles and amazement at seeing us, but I will say, everyone loves Piglet the best!

 

Diana and Peter arrived today! They've been driving across the country this week and finally pulled into our driveway around 4:30. We drove them out here the end of last month but they had to go back to New Jersey to sell Peter's house and tie up loose ends before coming out for good. Well, temporarily for good. They plan to move back there again in about 10 years. But for now, they are here! It's hard to describe the feeling when all your kids live nearby. I read once: 'Having kids is like having your heart go walking around outside your body.' But then having them move across the country?! Some days the feelings were indescribable.

Do your kids live nearby or far away?

Around The Yard

When we were in Denver, oh it must have been about 10 years ago now there were wild rabbits everywhere. I thought it was the most unusual thing to see these things just hanging around buildings, hoping down sidewalks... you didn't see that kind of thing here!  

A couple years ago when we got some snow I noticed these prints that looked like rabbits but "Couldn't be, we don't have them around here." Now, every spring they appear.

I pulled into the driveway the other day to see one eating some clover. He (she?) just sat there while I took some pictures, happily munching away. They sure are cute!

My roses are blooming. Along with the foxglove, and blackberry bushes! Can't wait to have blackberry cobbler this summer!

Do you have fruit that grows wild where you live?

Is there a favorite dish you like to have in the summer?

A Little of This and A Little of That

We got new window coverings installed last week. Oh my goodness they make such a huge difference in here! (I still have to remove the curtain rod hooks.)

 Beth had another visit with the endodontist.

They numbed the area, then cleaned out the teeth. They stopped for a minute and I really think she fell asleep! You guys, she was getting TWO root canals!! All of the sudden she relaxed and her breathing got loud... how does she do that?!

 I peeked into the nest yesterday and... it's happening!

 We had about 2 weeks of gorgeous sunshine recently. That is very rare in April around here.

Sharaya and I are going to Pennsylvania in a couple weeks. We're going to help Diana with wedding planning! Chuck's taking a couple days off work to stay here with Ally and Beth so it'll just be the three of us. We'll go dress shopping and get Rita's Ice-Custard and I think we'll get to see the venues... we've only got a few days but I'm really looking forward to hanging out with them!