Favorite Beaches in "Our Neighborhood"

 I know I share many many pictures of our favorite beaches on the Oregon Coast.  It's an addiction!!  Both walking the beaches and posting pictures.

I'm working on living healthier - and I've started walking MORE.  I have a Fitness app on my iphone.  Not too excited about it!  I don't have my phone with me 24-7.  And especially not in the pool during water aerobics.  And sometimes when I 'walk the hill' in our neighborhood - I forget to bring the darn phone!  So I don't have any idea how far I'm walking, etc.  But I can feel the difference.

I walk our 'hill' - our house is about in the middle of it!  I walk up to the top circle and down to the bottom of the sidewalk close to Hwy 101.  Usually twice each time I go out.

I walk Lone Ranch Beach.  I know you recognize those 2 sea stacks out in the ocean.

I walk a mile (just guessing) route around the Library neighborhood.  It's nice and flat!!

I walk the Commercial Port, walking the 'U' twice, especially if the Sea Lions are there!  See last post!!

Yesterday I had a hair appt in town.  So after that I walked the closest beach:  Chetco Point.  It's been years since I walked it.  And not much looked familiar!  But all of it looked gorgeous.

Taken from the top of the Point

Always fun to try to place which buildings you're looking at!

After you hike to the top of the Point, you HAVE to go down to the beach.

There's even a picnic area on the first overlook as you enter the park.  Before you even have to walk up hills!!

Then - the day was so-o gorgeous, I parked my car at Patti's; used the new walkers' signal across Hwy 101.  And walked the path to Harris Beach Park.  The news said that Whale Watching Week was starting, I wanted to see if anyone was there yet!  (They weren't)  Maybe this weekend?

This was taken on the path below Hwy 101 connecting the Walkers' Light to Harris Beach Park.  There is something magical about walking / biking paths - a new view, less danger from cars beside you, and even the sound is muted!  

But I haven't only been walking - I've FINALLY updated the gallery wall in our 'Great Room'.  This is the 30s quilt that my church made and raffled to pay off the mortgage on the church!  Boy, those were the days!  Everyone had to pay .25 to have their name on it.  My Grandma on my mom's side just signed her married name on a border.  Mrs. W. H. Grant.  But my dad's Grandma bought a whole fan!!  They were well off!!!  My Grandma on Dad's side won the quilt back in the 1960's and eventually gave it to me.

My DH loves the colors, so when I let him decide which quilt should be up this spring - he picked this one (over the Nautical theme!)  It's an odd size and when I hang it vertically there are rows of fans behind the cubbies.  So - I cut a 'sleeve' off an old sheet.  The length of the quilt is 104"!!  And hanging it horizontally still cut off a border and 1/2 a row of fans.  But I like it this way - don't have to find anything that has to kind-of match.  Although, I wish the cable connections don't have to be RIGHT THERE!!  But that's the best for reception!!  

They're back and so are we!!

 I walked the Port yesterday and guess what!  The Sea Lions are back at the Port!  Although it seems they have found at least one way to conquer the 'wavy men'.  There were no Sea Lions on the Coast Guard pier, but a couple of dozen on the closest pier.  I know they are a menace in the Port  But I just can't help cheering up when I see/hear them.  The 23 second video with the sounds won't load :(  But, trust me it was the Hallelujah Chorus back in action!!

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We were able to get away to Palm Springs this year.  The drive down was 2 days of rain - not fun.  We stopped in Tracy to visit my Birth Sister. It's always good to see her and catch up.  A phone call isn't as effective as a hug and a good conversation with eyes on.  Add a dinner out together and life is good.

Once we got to Palm Springs, the rain stopped, and an immediate Sherman's Deli stop relaxed us into vacation mode. Something about pastrami on rye and people watching ... starts us out right.

At 73 we don't eat as much as we used to.  I used to think my parents sharing a meal was ridiculous. Sorry, Mom, I get it now.  If we didn't share a dish, we brought home the left-overs and had it for our next meal.  And we had marvelous meals at our favorite restaurants.  Italian!  Mexican!  Jewish Deli!  

We had just one dessert the whole week!  Carrot Cake to go at Sherman's.  It lasted us 2 days.  Of course, there was a few times that we didn't want to go out, but no leftovers.  Panera Bread was just down the road from us.  Let me tell you Ladies, they have stepped up their game!!  They were always good, but the cookies and deserts were the main attraction.  

WELL, I fell in love with Harvest Chicken Salad (at least a 1/2 cup of seeds in it with poppy seed dressing) and Autumn Squash Soup.  Every time (3) we went, I got the same thing!!  Ok, I tend to eat my favorites at restaurants; and not 'explore' the rest of the menu.  We really don't eat out as much as we used to.  But, of course, this was special - we do not live within hours of a Panera!  Why chance a less stellar meal!!  Try it - you'll like it!!!

We stayed at our usual resort Westin Mission Villas and it was great! As usual.  We did live a little far from the pool.  And it was slightly uphill all the way to get to it.  I think it was at least a 6 block walk (9 large condo buildings) ... everyday and twice one day - back for the hot tub.  

There are ducks everywhere on the premises.  Signs begging you not to feed them.  This year we had them in the pool area.  Usually they just tuck their head and sleep on the deck.  BUT one day I was coming in to exercise and there they were, in my teacher voice I said,  "Ducks, no pooping in the water!" I didn't notice the group of 20-somethings on a condo balconey overlooking the pool.  Until I heard the giggles!  I bowed and waved and then got to working out.  Next time we went to enjoy the sun ... ducks under our chairs!  They make the funniest ticking noise in their throats!!  And no - we never fed them, can't say that for all the children there!

I admit I haven't been in the Crescent City pool since the beginning of December when I got sick.  Our Brookings pool is scheduled to open in April - I'm still cranky about my CC carpool switching to tai-chi days.  (The nerve!)  But I did water aerobics 7 out of 8 days - puffing up the hill to get to it ...  and guess what - I'm zooming up our neighborhood hill on our daily walks!  So, yes, a Unicorn Vacation.  Came home down a pound and can power up the hill on my walks!!

The Palm Springs area had a strange wind. First time for us during a visit.  It gusts down the mountains 40+ mph; then it's still or just a slight breeze for - maybe 30 - 60 minutes - and then here it comes again!!  I asked residents what they call it??  And they told me 'WIND' with a 'poor lady' look.  

There are lots of outdoor malls and at one we saw a door marked "High Wind Shelter".  And boy, did the wind 'trim' the palm trees!!  Leaves and pieces of bark everywhere; on the sidewalks, in the streets, some even blown into piles!!!

We watched the Palm Spring Local News every night.  I loved the weather man.  (He's gay of course!)   Pablo Alsina, good forecasts with a sense of humor.  My favorite night was before the 'warmer temps coming' in the weather.  "Get out your Madonna albums, we're going to the 80s!"  Made me giggle.  I still smile just thinking about it.

We also watched the last week of the Olympics.  I love the Olympics - the back stories, the excitement, so I was glad we got to watch the highlights every night - after dinner out!

We walked at SunnyLand - an historic home with gardens of cacti.  Next trip I think I'd like to join one of the tours - they were all sold out when we were there.  But we got to walk the gardens behind the Visitor's center.  There was a maze; and 5 gardens in that area.  Our favorites were the variety of cactus planted together.  I'll have to read up about it before our next trip.

Easing back in to our normal schedules.  Getting all caught up with what happened while we were gone.  Going to the grocery store everyday ... from not doing a complete look-see to see what we need!  We managed to walk the beach to ease back into our life!