"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Gray Sea on the Oregon Coast

To celebrate my friend, Teresa Kasner's husband, Dayle's birthday, they drove to the Oregon Coast to spend a week in their caravan and explore the area around Depoe Bay, Oregon, where they parked their caravan.  Knowing this, I gave myself permission to Google search for a motel room I could stay in one night and enjoy the area for the better part of two days.  I hoped to meet Dayle and Teresa there and go out for a meal with them if they were available.  To my delight, they were willing and able to spend even more time with me, and introduced me to parts of the coast I had not yet explored.

My motel room in the Seagull Beach Front Motel faced the beach along the Pacific Ocean in Lincoln City, Oregon, and I loved being so close to the ocean even though it was stormy. I enjoyed reading about how icons are painted from the book, The Mystical Language of Icons, by Solrunn Nes I had brought with me, and I did a little quick pencil sketch of the view from the deck of my room of the stormy gray sea, and I drank heartening hot tea!












 When it was dark, I had the fun of stretching out in a recliner in front of a flatscreen fireplace heater which really did produce heat and did not require any tending or cleaning up; and I could still hear the steady crashing of the cold surf outside which made me glad to be cozy and warm inside...even if warmed by an electronic fire!
After checking out of the motel the next day I headed south and had the pleasure of visiting Teresa and Dayle and their adorable Buddy Dog in their cozy RV.  Below is a photo of the ocean as we were driving out of the park. Stormy, and magnificent!
 Then I followed Teresa and Dayle to a wonderful restaurant by the ocean and after that Teresa hopped into my car and guided me to explore Newport's Yaquina Bay.  She showed me so many beautiful sights and coached me how to get some good photos, too.


 Teresa expertly took this photo of the Coast Guard Station and then had me stop at just the right spot to get a photo of this magnificent bridge.  Isn't it amazing?
 On Monday we met at Mo's Restaurant in Taft, Oregon where I took a photo of their menu, not knowing that on Tuesday Teresa would show me the Mo's restaurant in Newport and across the street from it the original Mo's Restaurant where they would open the garage door to serve their famous sea food.



 Teresa also took this photo of the harbor seals who gave us a rousing Orking concert and pleasantly reminded me of the harbor seals I got to enjoy for seven years when I lived by the Pacific Ocean in Crescent City, California.

It was too rainy to enjoy sitting on these benches, but thanks to Teresa's and Dayle's guidance I know I want to go back and spend more time there!
I started knitting another bunny with alpaca fiber while I was at the beach and last night I FaceTimed with my son and grandsons, Kenny and Aron and showed them the bunny production progress :)

For the last few days I have been fighting with Blogger trying to get it to let me share these photos with you.  I still have not figured out what I did that made it cooperate, but I hope you enjoy the results of my fight and that you are having a happy weekend!

Have you been fighting to share anything lately?

Gracie xx


19 comments:

  1. Amazing photos Gracie! I admire how you both have so much energy and you are always going and traveling ... It's just amazing. I cannot wait to retire and be able to travel like you do. Love the bunnies they are just adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A wonderful post the photographs were stunning, I loved the ones of the sea. Thank you so much for sharing and persevering so that you could share. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so happy that you had such a great time with Teresa and Dayle, such a lovely treat! The places you visited look wonderful, and your photos are great.

    Hope you are continuing to make progress with the bunny!

    Have a lovely weekend, Helenxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful phots's Gracie, how I'd love to stay at that hotel by the beach such a wonderful location.
    Clare xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful photos Gracie. I loved your photos and Teresa's. That bridge is WONDERFUL and I so happy you had a great time.
    Jacquie x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Those are great photos because even thought the weather is wet they still have great depth. Looks like a lovely little motel by the beach. How relaxing. Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Betsy I am so glad you got to go and visit with Teresa and Dayle and also have a bit of special time to yourself. The pictures are so beautiful. A stormy sea and a fire to sit by sounds perfect to me, even if the fire was on a flat screen.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely photos Gracie. I'd also read about your trip on Teresa's blog. So lovely that you were able to meet up with them. It sounds as though you all had a wonderful time. I've been sharing - time with my family so precious. Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Gray Sea! I super enjoyed seeing your trip from your eyes.. we really enjoyed visiting with you and showing you new adventures. Someday you'll have to stay there longer and explore even more. It's a great area. Even though we were there for 6 nights, there is always more to see and do. See you in the pool on Monday! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. The photos are great! You are making good progress with the bunny. :) Oh I really love that hotel. Such a cozy room. If I ever make it out that way, I will make a point to stay there. Glad you all had a lot of fun together. It's always nice to hang out with friends. ((hugs)) blessings to you always. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gracie I loved this post. Everything about it. Those are pictures of some of my favorite places on the coast but I've never been to that particular hotel. Maybe we should check it out. The bunny production loons like it's going well for you and how fun to share it with the boys via FaceTime. I am so very thankful for Facetime. I've talked to Alex in Japan twice this week since we arrived in D.C., all courtesy of Facetime.
    Have a lovely week my friend.
    Blessings always,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gracie, I enjoyed this post so much! What fantastic photos! What a jewel of a place you found too. Right on the ocean like that! And what fun, to get to spend a couple of days with Dayle and Teresa as your tour guides. Teresa is such a knowledgeable historian! I love the bunny!!!!
    XO Kris

    ReplyDelete
  13. beautiful photos....those colors along the coast are MY colors...so subdued and earthy. I love the inspiration!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh, how wonderful! Such beautiful pictures! Thank you so much for sharing your trip, Gracie! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. So glad to hear you had a lovely trip to the coast and met up with Teresa and Dayle! What wonderful photos! So much to see and enjoy there, and good friends to visit with too......sounds so good!
    Happy November, Gracie!
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
  16. That place just looks so peaceful and serene. Great place to reflect. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gorgeous photos Gracie. Looks like such a wonderful area to visit. Your motel room is so lovely and right there on the water. Awesome! Always sweeter to share time with friends. I haven't had a problem with blogger. Of course, haven't been blogging much either. :) Have a wonderful week. Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Gracie, You had a wonderful time by the sea. Although it was stormy your wonderful images capture the atmosphere and light so well. Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Newport is a lovely place to visit. We were there in early Oct. Glad you had a good time with Teresa and Dayle. It's always more fun with friends. I love your wool yarn bits. Fun! I need to get knitting soon. I have so much to do right now but want to make husband a pr of slippers/sox for his bday in Dec. Take care!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting me today! I welcome your comments!