Back from the Beach

We had a relaxing and fun week at the beach. It's just as well I wasn't planning to blog from there because we had no cell signal at our campsite. It was surprising since we were only about 100 yards (as the bird flies) from the main highway. Even on the highway, cell service was a little sketchy. So, all of that aside, I have so much to tell you! I believe I'll break it into three separate posts, just to keep the number of pictures down to a dull roar.

Before I go on, though, rumors abound about how to continue following via email when Feedburner goes away. So here's the deal: Julie at Me & My Quilts has written a nice little tutorial about how to follow by email using Bloglovin'. Of course, you can always receive the digest from Bloglovin' and I've received notifications that some of you have signed up that way. If you still like receiving it in your inbox, however, you can sign up at the top of my left sidebar where I've added the "follow by email" widget. Julie's tutorial (I've linked to it back there) will tell you what will happen next. 

Okay, so on with the prattle and pictures. We arrived at Beverly Beach State Park just a little after 3:00 p.m. on Monday. 

My friend Lenelda and her family were staying just down the road about five miles. It was a rare gift of good weather all week in April on the Oregon coast. Not a drop of rain fell, and that's highly unusual for this time of year. It was cloudy the first day, however. This was the view from the house our friends were renting for the week. Incredible. I was shooting through their living room window, which explains the reflections in the image below.

Way off in the distance, you can see the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, and you know I love a good lighthouse. This one is operational, and we could see the light flash on and off at regular intervals.

Here, I've zoomed in so you can see it a little better.

Of course, Mike wasted no time getting out with his drone and filming the area.

The rest of our group was interested in this whole operation. As we sat talking about it, the drone flew into view. You can see it just above and to the right of the lighthouse in the image below.

Here's what the drone saw. Watch carefully, and you'll see the lighthouse flickering on and off in the distance. If you can't see the video, then click right here.

We thought there might be a nice sunset, given the cloudy sky, but it never got any more interesting than this little sliver of light shining on the ocean.

The next morning, Mike and I got out for a walk around the campground. We were surrounded by Sitka Spruce. Looking up, we saw this:

At our feet, we saw this:

And I love the Sitka Spruce. They are distinctive for their bark that reminds me of roofing shingles. (Roofing shingles are on my mind right now.)

Only some of the loops of the campground were open to campers, but it was still possible to walk through the rest of the area. 

We saw a surprising number of these skunk cabbages.

There were lots of wildflowers in bloom. These little ones are about the size of a nickel.

I couldn't decide if this one was ready to open or finished opening, but we saw a big crop of them as well.

We see these little yellow guys down in the woods at our house.

These calla lilies seemed a little out of place. They were just across from the ranger station, and so we figure someone planted them there.

Pretty, huh?

We were nearing the ocean when we saw these little yellow guys. It was breezy, and so I'm surprised I was actually able to get them in focus.

We saw quite a few trees like these. This is what happens when a tree springs to life from a "nurse log." 

You can read more about how this works at that link I've given you, but in a nutshell, a nurse log is a fallen tree which, as it decays, provides a home for new life. When the tree decays away completely, the roots of any large trees that got their start there will look like this. It is one of the hallmarks of an old growth forest.

And lemme just say I was glad I wasn't riding my bike when we saw this guy.

So, one of the real joys of this particular park is its easy beach access. We walked under the main highway (US 101) to reach the sand and ocean.

Before we go, however, I must tell you of the many ways you could die out here today.

Watch your step please.

You could end up in the drink if you're not careful.

If the worst should happen, just call the Coast Guard, and let them know we're at Area 54.

Looking across the beach, we found a colony of seagulls.

Looking to the north, we saw this:

It was a little chilly, and so we didn't spend a lot of time there. When we got back to the RV, Mike got Smitty out for a walk. He was very brave and got off the RV step for a few minutes.

As always, Child of Houdini, watched from her catio. No walking outside for this little demon spirit.

It was a short walk, and then Smitty was 'zhausted. He took a nap on his window perch.

Sadie was 'zhausted just from watching, but she decided to nap on her quilt.

Each day from the back window of the RV, I watched this chipmunk come down the tree at around 10:00 a.m. He paused on a branch to groom himself (or herself...hard to say), and then went off foraging. At the end of the day, s/he climbed back up in the tree for the night. Sorry this isn't a better picture. I was taking it from inside the RV, and zoomed in close.

We took a walk back to the beach to watch for the sunset. 

The setting sun passed through three layers of clouds, and with each passage, we saw just a sliver.

With no cell signal and no satellite television, there was lots of time for slow stitching. The first morning, I finished this section of the bottle of Greta Gulch's Magnificent Stitching Elixer.

From there, I finished the rest of the bottle.

And then I moved my hoop to the left, where I finished up the rest of the Hissing Cat Bat Wings label.

And then moved my hoop up to work on the rest of the box.

So next, I've moved my hoop to the right from there, and that's where I'll start this morning.

There's lots more to tell you about our trip. Tomorrow I'll tell you about the hike we took out to Drift Creek Falls. We visited a quilt shop in Newport, Oregon, and I'll tell you about that in a separate post as well.

I'll finish up here today with a few of the blooming things we found when we arrived home yesterday afternoon. A few more red tulips:

The clematis planted last year is getting buds. It's doing really well, having survived the winter ice storm. It's good to see.

The Andromeda is putting on its best show of the year right now. 

And the Bleeding Heart is blooming. It was another I worried might have succumbed to the ice, but there it is...blooming away.

Two of the five peonies have buds on them now.

I've yet to find any buds on the poppies, which is kind of disappointing. I haven't given up on them yet. But the plum tree is in full bloom now. The fruit trees have bloomed at just the right time. We're hoping for lots of cherries and plums this year.

Today we're making a quick trip to the grocery store...just to get enough food to get us through the weekend. There's housework to do too. Tomorrow we'll be getting our second vaccine (HOORAY!!!), and so there's plenty to keep us busy here at the Three Cats Ranch. 

And that's all I have for you today. I've missed you guys! What's going on where you are?