Birthday and the Beach

Hello.. thanks for visiting us.. in our caravan at the coast!  We celebrated Dayle's birthday on Saturday.  Our DIL Kristi made him a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!  She got this fun "candle" thing for the top which was fun as after you lit the candles, it opened up while twirling around and played the music to Happy Birthday!  We were all standing around in awe!  LOL!  

This is the candle "before".  Kristi was worried as the cake slid around a bit, but we assured her that it would taste wonderful.. and to me.. a homemade cake is WAY better than store-bought.

The "candle" up close.. :-)

Caleb made a card for Grandpa of the cake with the yellow candle on top -- then he added that it was from Hayden, too.  How cute is that?

Then we sang Happy Birthday and had cake and ice cream.  Grandpa and his boys.

We were invited to visit my nephew's home here at the coast in Newport to help celebrate their one year old daughter's 1st birthday.  So, I made a little hat using my blog friend Meredith's pattern that she used for her Little Buddy's hat.  Little Zuzu looked so cute in the hat!  I offered to make one for her 4 year old sister Ella, who told me her favorite color is PURPLE.  So, we'll be looking for some yarn today.  :-)

I was watering plants right before we pulled out yesterday to drive the 2 and a half hours to get to our favorite oceanside camping spot, and I noticed that there were 3 hibiscus flowers in bloom!  It's been very happy since I repotted it.

So, we drove over hill and dale and through the forests and got here in the mid-afternoon.  I was quite pleased at seeing some blue sky!  While Dayle was hooking everything up, I took Buddy for a walk and snapped a few images.  I loved how this looks rather stormy and the sun sparkling on the water.

To the sea... I love it so.

Interestingly, I was in the same spot taking this photo, but turned to the right, and there was blue in the sky. :-)

I spied a few Salal flowers in bloom.. the berries were valued by the local Salish Indian people, they would mash them and dry the mash to eat during the long winters.

I then saw this pretty little flower but could not find the name of it after googling for a while.  Do you know the name?  (ETA - It's called "Escallonia"!)

I love the waves of the ocean.  I can hear it roaring now.

Pretty evening shot.. 

I noticed down South of here a "blow hole" effect of the waves, so I zoomed in.

Can you believe that we awoke to blue skies and sun?  

Beach walking.

Ocean waves.

I just got a call from my blog friend Gracie, she has driven down to visit, so we're off to meet her for lunch at Mo's Chowder House in Taft.  She has rented a hotel room for the night, so we'll get to spend some time with her.  Fun!  I hope your week ahead brings you joy.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)