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| My oldest son and his family skiing in the Poconos Mountains in PA in February |
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| My youngest son in NJ showing me some of his snow |
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| Leaving Portland, Oregon headed for a beach retreat |
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| Do you see the crow for sale? |
My sons on the East Coast of the USA have had a fair amount of snow this year, and actually enjoyed it...sometimes :) But it seems that most of the folks I know who have been snowbound this winter are ready to retreat from Winter and leap into Spring!
With two new friends I was able to enjoy a weekend at Twin Rocks Friends Camp, in Rockaway Beach, OR. A group of women from our church met to fellowship with God and one another and look at what season of life we are in and consider what transformations are happening in and around us.
On the way to and from the retreat my new friends and I managed to make a few rest stops at several yarn shops and thrift stores and a popular cheese factory :) Friday when we arrived it was unexpectedly sunny! Saturday the rain poured down and I spent the afternoon drying out at the coffee shop, reading, and sketching, and frogging several rows of a dishcloth I had brought along to knit. Sunday it was a little misty but warm enough to forget about wearing my raincoat. Woohoo!!! And besides enjoying seeing and smelling the beautiful sea, this weekend, I saw daffodils and other flowers blooming.....OUTSIDE! Progress!
Have you been retreating from anything lately?
Some lovely Spring weather here at last, have managed to hang laundry out on the line!!
ReplyDeleteThe vintage store looked fantastic, would love to have a good rummage through those shelves! Hopefully we can retreat from the terribly wet weather we have had this winter in the UK.
Helenxx
It must have been wonderful having some time by the sea, despite the weather not being at it's best. You had some good rest stops too! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteYou have an air of spring excitement in your post today, it is a nice feeling to watch the seasons change. I have never done that, been on retreat but I think it would probably do me some good to have a think about what I am doing, where I am and what others are experiencing around me. Jo xxx
ReplyDeleteGracie, it was wonderful to finally see pictures of your boys! I know you must miss them. Your retreat sounds absolutely lovely. I especially like the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Dennis and I always make a stop there when we're at the coast. You'll have to let me know where the yarn shops are. I'm always looking for one of those.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Hello Gracie. We have had some lovely warm Spring weather. Various flowers are blooming . We spent the weekend in Yorkshire with our sons, one of our D.'s I.L. and our grandchildren. We were celebrating our eldest son's birthday. It was a bittersweet time really. Our D.I.L. Sarah was not there as she is spending as much time as she can with her parents , supporting her Mum as her father is not expected to live much longer. I would like to be able to retreat from the sadness but know I must be there for my family. Hugs Anne x
ReplyDeletePS I quite forgot to say what a lovely post and wonderful photographs. Anne x
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a wonderful weekend away.
ReplyDeleteLovely Gracie ♥ I am headed to new zealand, we are still having hot weather here so looking forward
ReplyDeleteto some cooler weather in nz ☺
Sounds like a wonderful retreat Grace, and so lovely to see your pics too, thank you. I did spot that beautiful black shiny crow for sale, and imagine those lovely vintage linens for only $1 each - what treasures, and did you buy any?
ReplyDeleteRetreating from anything???? Sometimes I think it would be nice to retreat from life in general just so I can catch up on it - if that makes sense! I suppose that's just another way of saying what the lovely Jo has just voiced! Wishing you happy days with hugs, Joy xo
Hello Gracie, What a super wonderful way to spent time with your friends and in such a very lovely place like the Oregon Coast. I have been to this area several times and I always love listening to the sounds of nature By The Sea. Hugs to you. Judy
ReplyDeleteHi Gracie.. it was a good swim with you today! It looks like you had a super duper time at the coast.. I want to check out the beach that you went to. Great photos, my friend! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeletePS. I loved seeing photos of your sons!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a nice thing to do, Gracie. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. It looks like you're on the cusp of change there! Spring is definitely on its way.
ReplyDeleteHello Gracie lovely to see your pictures of your beach trip, what a nice way to spend some time! Great pictures of your sons too! So glad you are enjoying some milder weather......it is spring over here and the sun is shining today. Btw, thank you for your sweet comment.....Charlie would love your frog ponds (and so would I !)
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy week.
Helen xox
Looks like a wonderful place to escape to Gracie
ReplyDeleteClare x
Hi Gracie, thanks for sharing this with us! The snow pictures made me feel a tad chilly, especially as Spring seems to have sprung here ... what a great trip you had, as you know I love thrift shopping and being by the sea, so perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping over to see me yesterday and for your kind comments ... it's always lovely to see you!
Love Claire xxx
Hello Gracie. I am so glad you had such a wonderful trip. Retreat and treats what more could you ask for. Thank you for sharing these special times and your thoughts. X
ReplyDeleteHi Gracie - your trip looked wonderful, and I loved your photo's of the thrift store...I love a good rummage! I hope that spring has well and truly sprung...we are currently having some lovely weather in the UK, I just hope it lasts a bit longer!
ReplyDeleteOh my word, Rockaway Beach looks stunning! Even in the rain it's full of natural beauty. It sounds like you've been busy doing some enjoyable and rewarding things. Here, we are retreating from a very wet winter and enjoying some days of blue sky and sunshine. It's still chilly, but it's so good to feel the sun at last. x
ReplyDeleteI always love a yarn shop but the vintage linens at $1 each! Wow!
ReplyDelete