Perfection

Today was our last full day at the beach. We got up early and hit the sand for a long walk with the dogs, and then headed out for Cannon Beach Oregon, my favorite place in the world. Why is this my favorite place? Perfect rocks, spectacular views everywhere, a charming town, coastal vistas, and a great beach for walking on. It has sparkling sand, sprinkled with interesting rocks and shells, tidepools, and everwhere you look, it's gorgeous again.

Cannon Beach also boast's Coastal Yarns, a nice little shop downtown. What? Yarn talk? I know, I've been short of yarn talk lately. It's been too busy, we have visited some shops, and I'll list eventually what we purchased at each one and where. But really, I've been a little preoccupied with dogs, kids, and cramming as many things into a day as we could. But yes, there has been yarn. Anyway, Coastal Yarns is super cute, and it happens to carry a couple varieties of Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn. I love BMFA. Love love love love love love! Gorgeous! Some came home. Yay!

After the yarn, other shopping, and a long hike over the beach looking for shells, we returned home to our little cabin for a dinner of Nalley's Vegetarian chili (The BEST), doritos, cream cheese and M&Ms. I know the last 3 items sound weird, but my mom's friend Carol is here, and this is a longstanding tradition for them. Why? Try it sometime and see. Just don't add the M&Ms to the cream cheese, that is strictly for the Doritos.

I am now sitting here, watching the fishing boats out the window, little lights blinking in the distance while the fire crackles. It's another early morning tomorrow, and a sad one, saying goodbye to this place I love, and where I am most at home, armed with the knowledge in less than a week, I will be back in a place I despise.

But for now, here are some pictures. I hope when you look at them, you can hear the waves crashing.

Morning waves

The Cannon Beach post office

Mom and Carol

Sea star!

Better Days

As winter prepares to unleash it's icy blast and wrap it's cold hand around my soul, I am fighting back by reminding myself there are better places, and better days.

Snow viewed the correct way from my hometown

The place my soul is at peace

Where you can walk for miles

This is what heaven is like in my world

And where dreams take flight into reality

Where my dogs can play

explore

and be free

Where rainbows dwell in unexpected places

Magical mists roll in

To capture dreams

And make them come true

Where kids are kings of their castles

And all they survey

Where my heart longs to be

Sometimes others say it best

 
Sea-Fever

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).
(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.) 

Soul Of a Sailor by Kenny Chesney

He walked in with a salty sway
Lookin' like Blackbeard in his day
A brother in arms just like me
I was born a son of the sea
I can't be still, I can't be tied
The only time I feel alive is

When the wind fills my sail
Riding on a lifelong swell
Let my heart take me where it wants to go
That's the soul of a sailor, the soul of a sailor

He slid a stool and a beer to me
Said, you know, we're both a dying breed
Here's to love lost and newfound friends
And living out life in the boat we're in
I can't be still, I can't be tied
The only time I feel alive is

When the wind fills my sail
Riding on a lifelong swell
Let my heart take me where it wants to go
That's the soul of a sailor, the soul of a sailor

Let my heart take me where it wants to go
That's the soul of a sailor, the soul of a sailor