Christmas at Heceta Head Lighthouse

Ruben being silly at "Rue's" dress. The name of the ghost at the inn keepers house.

Tonight we visited the Heceta Head B&B for their annual Christmas open house. The house was decorated and the kids were served cookies and hot chocolate. The weather was outrageous! What a storm, a few times on our way we thought maybe we should turn back.We didn't though and it turned out to be quite an adventure. We got excited about decorating and came home to decorate our house too.

A walk on the Siltcoos River at Tyee

Pancho is always up for a walk in the woods.

All cozy in wool and down.

A striking patch of new ferns, so green and beautiful.

The rock wall at Tyee.

a mushroom among the ferns

The tide was high and moving swift.
 

I took a little time for a solo walk in the woods. It is always a delight to get this time and to look at all of the beautiful fauna. Today the kids just wanted to stay home, which is a good place to be. Tres and I both wanted a little outside time in nature. We took turns, he went to the beach and surfed
(2x today) and I went for a walkon the bank of the Siltcoos River. 

Ugly Christmas Party

Sarah's second annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party was over the weekend. We had a great time, photo booth, giant jenga, ping pong, good food and merry drinks. Super fun and a whole lot of good laughs.

A break in the day

A view from the trail.



in the calm

I make time for this in my week. It is as important to me as my morning coffee. Some visits are for less than an hour and others longer than that. Not matter how long I leave feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready for the rest of my week.

Angels

My mom looking lovely and working on an Angel.

A mini wreath I had made.

Just a few of the many Angels that were made.

I love the crowd at Angels. Some have come for at least 20 years in a row! Others their first time. It is a treat to have so much fun and creativity flowing with all of this natural material to make such beautiful Angles, swags, and wreaths.

We had our annual Angel making gathering. A great success, adults, children, men and women all joined in making these beautiful creations. this was my 18th year making Angels. I cam home with several Angels for the tree, the walls and decorating for the holiday.  Some traditions I just love, and this is certainly one of them.

making chap stick

An afternoon of gathering with friends and making chap stick turned out to be as much fun as I thought it would. We had a potluck dinner and  margarita's. I was inspired to have a get together with a chance to make something that each of us helped create and took something away.  This turned out to be a really fun way to spend a Saturday night. Lovely balms and chap sticks were made for each of us by all of us.

Siltcoos Beach Clean up with Siuslaw Chapter Surfrider Foundation

A found treasure among the micro plastics

It is a place we are all thankful for

cleaning our beach is a labor we will do.

I'm not sure how many years we have been doing the Siltcoos Beach clean up on Thanksgiving weekend. We lucked out with some fabulous weather and eager helpers in cleaning. Ruben rolled a whole tire from the beach up the trail to the car to our collection. Wow! Spencer picked up a whole bag of trash on his own! Hard workers these two! Good work boys!!

Ruben turns nine

 Aunt Mary made the cake and Dayla decorated the cake. Ruben requested a bowling date with friends and a trip to the ice cream shop. We did both and then met at the Duman's for candles and cake. It was a great day and of course all through the day we were reminded of the day Ruben was born. We told him how his birth was another special event that made mine and Tres' love for each other grow. It is a special day, the day your are born, I love to remember all of the events that lead up to the birth and after.  It is a joy and  pleasure to love this boy. 

We have a new family member. A bearded dragon has been on Ruben's mind for two years now. So here she is, her name to picked yet, but has been called all sorts of things. Very sweet little lizard and Ruben is in love.

~this moment~

 

~this moment~

. . . . . . . . . .

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Today I join Amanda Soule and many others for "this moment"

Baker Beach

Baker Beach is like the wilderness. It was my first time being there in years.

beaver chewed log, found on the beach.

a dead grey whale beached, looked like a juvenile.

sea palm, likes to be where the water crashes the hardest on the exposed reef.

hot chocklate back at the car after a long and cold hike. Yet an exciting adventure.

Despite the sadness we felt at seeing this dead mammal on the beach, we were also thrilled to see such a creature up so close. The baleen, vents in expanding throat, large barnicles, and huge pectoral fins. It was as impressive as I would have imagined it being. I'm not sure why it died. These things happen, I like to think naturally. It was an adventure.

a break for yoga

Spencer takes a break on the floor with me for a few yoga poses. It seems to come naturally to children, this kind of movement and pause. Inspiring to have him join me.

Just before dark

As much as all of us love being on two wheels and being in the water, these are two things Pancho does not like. Wouldn't it be so fun if Pancho would pull us on the skate board?! Lucky for us Pancho will indulge a little ride, but not for long. He doesnt' like it, but he loves Ruben...so a short ride he will do. I guess Pancho is still in training, because he continues to be tested or "trained" in short spurts by two very encouraging boys.

 I do love these short walks before dinner with little light out and bundled up, the cool air and cozy scarf it  feels good.