Sea Storm, Lighthouse, Pelicans and Hat Testers

Hello!  Goodness, in all the years of our coming down to the beach in the "shoulder" season, meaning April and October, this has been the stormiest, wettest and bumpiest time we've had.  And today the clouds are gone and it's sunny and gorgeous.  Yay!  This is a damp shot of our view a few days ago.

I had time to read a magazine that I subscribe to.. and brought with me.  This is an excellent issue that has a whole segment about how people are trying to save the oceans.  My biggest takeaway is:  DON'T TAKE PLASTIC BAGS FROM THE STORE!  USE RE-USABLE SHOPPING BAGS!  DON'T BUY BEAUTY PRODUCTS WITH LITTLE PLASTIC BEADS IN THEM!  RE-USE, RECYCLE & RE-PURPOSE!  Thank you.  :-)

I crocheted on the baby blanket, played Words With Friends and Scrabble online.. and here is a shot of one wet dog after a walk outside.  :-)

But each day we braved the rain and wind and headed out for a late lunch and some sight seeing.  We went to Georgie's Grill in Newport and I had their crab Louis and oh. my. goodness.  It was delicious.

I admired this garden in front of the restaurant.  

We then went to see the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, it was foggy offshore and I thought it might be a different image than a sunny one.

I zoomed in to see the sea birds on the big rocks by the lighthouse and saw a few Pelican among many Cormorants.

I adore this lighthouse.. they did a big paint restoration not long ago, I was chagrined to see that it needs another coat of white. I'm really not surprised as this poor thing gets the roughest weather.

The Fresnel lens in the top is still in use and I love seeing the light blinking.

Have you ever seen a lighthouse lens up close?

I zoomed in on a couple of comical Pelicans.  

Aren't they interesting birds?

On the way "home" to our caravan I swung off the Coast Highway 101 to visit the little park where we enjoy seeing the beautiful stone house I'm in love with.  I dream of living my golden years in this house.  :-)

The view from this house is of this bridge, a riotous cove of ocean waves and the big blue Pacific Ocean.  

As you can see from this tree in the little park where you can pull out to see this view.. it gets a bit of wind and sea breezes.  :-)

You can only see the raging waterfall on the left from the bridge and from the other side of the bridge, walking onto the span a bit, which I did.

The water is usually pure and clear but the storm and downpours have added a bit of soil to the falls.

Goodbye house.. if you were mine there would be smoke curling up from your stone chimney and golden lights in your windows and I would be out on the porch letting my lungs fill with the fresh air blowing in off the stormy seas.  Then I would go in by the fire and crochet a hat for my nephew.  

OK.. now I want to thank 4 of my blog friends for testing the hat pattern I wrote up!  You're all wonderful!  This first one is by my blog friend Betsy.  She is going to give this to a nice boy at their church.  She knits almost a hundred mittens each year to give to the children of a school near her where many children attend who are from less fortunate families.  She's a dear.  She actually added extra rows to the pattern to make it an adult size, in exactly the additions I was thinking of putting on my pattern.. thanks, Betsy!

Next up is a darling hat that Fiona made for her granddaughter.  She lives in England but spends a lot of time in the mountains of Southern Spain.  Thank you, Fiona!!  She is not a blogger but I'm happy that she reads my blog and comments often.

This hat was done by my blog friend Wendy who lives in Australia - she has a big family and several of the cutest grandchildren ever and she and her husband Paul are travelers extraordinaire!  I love how colorful this one is!

Last but not least is this cute colorful hat made by my blog friend Gracie for her adorable granddaughter.  One of the biggest reasons I love blogging is the friends I've made and am still making from around the world.  And sometimes you find a blogger who lives 20 minutes away from your house.  :-)  Gracie and I also swim together 3 times a week.. when one or the other of us are not off gallivanting around.  :-) Gracie actually found a part of my pattern that needed explained better so I appreciate that.  Thanks, Gracie!!

There is not a cloud in the sky, my sister Denise has come to visit.  She just checked in to her hotel in Taft and is heading our way.  After we chat for a while and enjoy the view we'll head off for lunch together.  Then we'll see what kind of adventure we can find.  I hope you have a great week ahead!!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)