Haystack Rock.
The beach houses of Cannon Beach.
My cousin had planned for us a night away from Portland to drive to Cannon Beach. I have been to a couple other towns in that area, but I don't recall being at this particular one. Having so much fun, laughing and car dancing on the way over, we were greeted with beautiful sunshine and awe at the luck of such awesome weather. Granted, it did only last about an hour, but hey! Can't win it all! Being too early to check in to the resort we started to journey towards the town area and find a place for lunch. Such cute stores and businesses there!
Wandering up and down streets after a yummy lunch, camera in hand, the middle part of the day being the best so far. Heading back to the hotel to check-in, a small detour to head to the beach to gaze across the ocean and feel the sea-spray slap your face.
Dressed up and feeling all girlie, and evening of something new awaited us. A cooking class/dinner combo with amazing food and wine. Trying things new for the taste buds. Some scrump-deli-umpcious, some... not. But hey! Anything once right?
And dessert... nothing more really to say about that, except maybe YUM.
Tummy's full and heads swimming with good wine, the hotel suite was beckoning us with soon to be sleep. The best part? Falling asleep to the waves crashing on the beach.
But before that, to take a few moments to myself, I ventured out side. Late in the evening I wandered down the sandy path to try to see the moonless night ocean. Standing with the wind, sand, and sea spraying me down, my hair tossing in circles, the darkness of night gave me those few moments to let my mind find that calm, quiet place it so rarely has.
After exhaustion from stores and changing rooms, wearing one of those new outfits to drive through downtown Portland and head to a different location for a hip pizza joint. I love the entrance from the freeway tunnel to downtown. It just pops up, boom.
Half way there... being stopped at a bridge to let a boat through. How exciting!!! I have always wanted to be stopped like this. Alas, though, we were a few cars too many behind to get much of a view.
On to new types of pizza and conversations with strangers. More laughter and stories of funny daily lives. A two hour dinner with memories to last a lifetime.
And tomorrow... the beach.
After unloading suitcases and bags at my cousins wonderful, beautiful new house we both needed a bit of a pick-me-up. Luckily the weather was quite perfect for a walk to a shopping center close the the house. And even better the walk was with such a picturesque street!
Enjoying the walk and the scenery, the buzz and energy of a bigger city, the best though, was just sitting down with a nice hot latte and chatting away an hour with one of my most favorite people.
Later that day, back at the house, I ventured outside to my cousins vast back yard. Ahhh... what a place!! Grape vines, mixed types of trees, flowers galore. And of course with the Portland weather, droplets of rain to be found on everything.
So off I went, searching for a scarf to give away. My Mother (who helps with the RMEF) thought it would be cool to have a scarf and bracelet combo as the prize this year. Well, huh. I have never thought of matching a scarf to a bracelet! But... I did!!! I knew I would have to make a new bracelet sometime before I left for my trip. I had the scarf in mind that I wanted to use, but wasn't sure if I had anything that would compliment it. After spending quite some time fiddling with different combinations, the above picture is what I came up with. But of course, I liked it so much I had to keep it for myself (yes, this HAS happened plenty of times before). Well, I knew this bracelet would be perfect with the scarf and luckily I had enough beads in a oval shape to make another one. I don't do two of a kinds. I'm unique, what can I say??
Oh! They look so good together too! I know it is harder to tell in a photo, but they really do!
My greedy little hands are excited with all the possibilities that these instruments can come up with.... Mwuahahahaha.
Finally finding my cutters/benders to whip out three new bracelets. One for the shop, and two for fairs. And falling in love with this new one listed in my shop. Sparkle.
And lastly... getting rid of ugly, clown, crap hair. Finding myself, for one day, beautiful. I'm gonna call this new hair my Kardashian do.
The spring and summer seasons bring to mind, besides blossoming trees and bumble bees, fruit that is ripe for the eating. One of my most favorite times last summer before we moved would be when Fritz and I would walk over to the local grocery store that was just across the street from us. They had the best selection of fresh fruit so at least once a week we would seek out anything looking really yummy.
Side note... The pictures were taken at a Giant Eagle store where the produce selection was in a bigger area than my house! They even had room for an old time tractor to be decorated with fresh flowers to buy.
I got to ride my first horsey! Well, it actually took me a couple of tries as the first few times it was too scary and I cried (but just a little bit!).
I had a really great time playing with my baby cousin. In fact, I even said my very first official sentence involving him! Grammy and Grandpy told me to say Hi, Baby J......, so I walked over to him and I did! Too bad Mommy was in the shower. She said to me that until I say it again, she won't believe me. Oh well.
A very awesome fried zucchini appetizer that we shared. Never had zucchini made this way but of course anything fried is going to be good.
My chicken parmigiana that was so big it was not to be finished. In fact, except for the dessert we were able to make a meal out of all of the leftovers for five people later that night!
