We're heading out early tomorrow morning for Manzanita, OR. Just a weekend away before Spring term starts at school, and back to work-work-work. We're trying our second rental experience via air B-n-B...a house that sleeps up to eight, just blocks from the ocean and walking distance to the main street of this small coastal town. Looking forward to fresh air, leaving a window open to catch the sound of the ocean, the quiet and slower pace of a small town, morning coffee and pastries at the local bakery, watching some old movies together, beach combing, and clam chowder. Oh, and, yes, we'll be poking our noses into all the little antique, thrift and junk joints along the way...

See you when we return...happy weekend!

North Coast Sunday

Many people take a full week (or two) vacation once per year. We schedule our time off so we can have multiple 3-day weekends, and frequent day trips.



Escaping the city for an afternoon at the Oregon Coast is always a good choice.



There's a fantastic fresh, local, organic cafe in Canon Beach that serves up comfort food done right. We adore their pulled pork po'boy and homemade slaw. Cozy booths fashioned from upcycled shabby chic 1930s bed frames, and a playlist of Motown and classic Jazz standards doesn't hurt either.



Canon Beach is truly a town for tourists. Plenty of boutiques, galleries and cafes. Two old-time candy/ice cream parlors and a packed-out family-run grocery store (read: not a chain) are also good features.





We often drive a bit south and end up on the beaches of Arcadia and Hug Point. Less people, more intriguing rocks and tide pools full of sea critters.





There's a few neat inlets and sea caves to explore; carved by the ocean over thousands of years.



One day we won't return to the city. "Going home" will mean to our beach home, and we look forward and build our plans for that goal with every visit to the place that rests our souls.

Relax

Hangin' out in Garibaldi, OR this weekend and soaking up some relaxation. Sunshine, blue skies, acres of evergreens and, of course, the ocean. Hunting vintage for the shop. Hooked up with our friends that we haven't seen for months--mere coincidence that they are just 8 miles up the road this same weekend? I think not. Fish-and-chips are always best at the beach, aren't they?

Hope your Sunday is terrific, too!

Lost Things

We all experience loss and disappointment in our lives. This week Chris and I dropped another one of these into our box of things-that-are-best-forgotten. No worries--it was a hope, and ultimately just a thing without a soul, and, truly, a soul is the most important thing not to lose along this road of life as we journey.

This lovely lady is Alison Sudol aka A Fine Frenzy, and I just discovered her this morning. She stars in a charming stop-motion short film, LOST THINGS, which I wanted to share with you here but my column width prevents you from enjoying it to its best advantage. Please take a look on the YouTube page of gallentandkeen - all of their work is creative and view-worthy!

Image via.