June is a mixture of weather!

As you know, we live on the Oregon Coast.  We never know what the weather will be!  Poor forecasters, they don’t know either -  because no one lives West of us and the whales are NOT talking!

I love it here (almost always) because it’s always 50 degrees sometime during the day.  BUT this week was a killer.  Forgive me, Nebraska friends - but it was 85 here this week - and we thought we were going to die!  

We were walking along the jetty in the port - and we’re well acquainted with weather in the port.  Usually the temp is modified by a cool breeze off the ocean.  Wasn’t happening that day!!  We turned around at the half-way mark and went home to sit by a fan!!  Not used to desert temp breezes!

So, today … I woke up early, temperature 58 - and headed to Harris Beach for a cool walk.  There was definitely a bonus - the breeze was cool again.  Hallelujah!  We live across 101 to a walk-in entrance to HB.  But I’m a big chicken about walking across 101 traffic.  DH has to hold my hand!!  But 7:30 am on a Sunday - not a car in sight!!  

I was on my way - a neighbor told me there was a path to the beach, not in really good condition, but …. I found the entrance and the beginning of the path.  It wasn’t a ‘park path’ - more ‘adjacent to the park path’.  

And I wouldn’t say it was in any condition for a 73 yr old walker!!  BUT the sun was sneaking in behind me and I didn’t want to turn around.  The grass and weeds were grabbing my shoes and jeans - I had to keep my eye on the path.  It went along a stream, lots of  foxglove patches; blackberry vines and swarms of insects!!  Trees were down, grass was waist high … an adventure for sure!

My exit path to the beach - finally!

The beach all to myself!!  Well worth the struggle!  It you enlarge the photo and look at the hill between the two main rocks - you can see Rainbow Rock Condos - Building E. And good old 214 apartment!!  We still miss the view from E214.

The Quilt show was on Memorial Day weekend.  It was a beautiful show, I entered 6 projects.  And you know I never ‘plan’ on winning a ribbon.  But as DH says, ‘I’m sure more cheerful if I do.’  I won second place for my “Oh Baby!” Crib quilt.  Sent DH a text telling him it was safe to come home!!

 

We had our Quilt of Valor presentation on Sunday afternoon.  Presented 14 veterans with a quilt.  Always moving and fun to be part of.  It always takes a while to recoup from the show.  But it gives me time to figure out what I want to enter next year.  And once I think of sometime - well, I have to find the UFO and figure out how to get it ready in time for next year’s show!!!  

Did I mention May is a very busy month???

 But I didn't think I'd wait this long!!  Sorry.

Mother's Day Weekend, I sent DH down to Eureka to play golf!  I had some serious quilting to do to finish some projects for the Quilt Show and the Country Store.  And he brought back on Mother's Day our favorite pizza from Ferndale!!  Win! Win!

Mother's Day was a nice day and I headed for Lone Ranch Beach - wonderful low tide AND someone made a labyrinth on the beach!!  I've walked labryinths before and have seen them on the beach.  But this was the first time I walked a beach labyrinth.  It was lovely.  I was going to post online to tell everyone to get out there.  But by the time I walked it and headed up to the car.  The wind was erasing it.  But here are some pictures.  Wonderful, isn't it!?

I wish I knew who made it - it was wonderful, but the 'signature', was one of the first things to blow away!

The Brookings outdoor pool has opened and I'm aiming to go to aerobics 4 out of the 6 classes.  So far, so good!!  I went 5 times the first week, 3 times the week we went to Portland - so it's averaged out this far!

DH had a bowling tournament in Portland area.  And we hadn't been up to see the gang since fall!!!  So we warned them we were coming and off we went.  Our first stop was University of Oregon where PK is a freshman.  We got there just in time to take a quick tour and have pizza for lunch together.  We warned her she would have to guide us back to our car - we had no idea where we were on the map!  They were setting up for an event and there was a very calm Llama - picture opp!

Then on to Portland.  M was playing Ultimate Frisbie - a combo of soccer; football and frisbees.  Fun to watch even in the freezing drizzle!

Our Maid of Honor from 53 years ago(!) lives in Portland area and we quickly made a Friday Lunch date to meet at our favorite restaurant - Oswego Grill.  We had a great time catching up.  And cussing and discussing politics and grandkids!

Saturday started the Bowling Tournament and I stayed home with DD.  Their house is on the market so there was lots to do, then leave with Groot (dog) and go to the office, Target, Quilt Store, and lunch from Panera Bread!  Lots of catching up and figuring out stuff!  Pizza for dinner that night.

West Linn Prom was Saturday night.  M (HS junior)  and his 12 man posse got dressed up and went to dinner at Olive Garden then back home.  DD told him he would be going to the prom next year!!  I managed to get a selfie with him on his way out.

                                 

Sunday was second day of bowling tournament and I went to watch.  It was a little hard to get packed and out of the house at 6:30 AM.  But we did it without waking anyone up!!  And when bowling was over for our team, we skedaddled out the door and down I-5.  Stopping for Arby's for lunch.  Home before dark and all is well!

Tomorrow is the big start!  Although I made 4 dozen Oatmeal, cranberry, white chocolate cookies that we split between the Quilt Show Cookie table (we're know for the good cookies for a $1 a bag!) and the poker game Rick is going to.  

We turn in quilts tomorrow afternoon and at 4 pm we start working on the show space and hanging the quilts.  We tried to dig up more help - neighbors, TaiChi group ... After the show is hung, we have a free pizza party with quilters bring salads / desserts.  THAT got their attention, we'll see if they show up!!

Then we'll be working the show - everyone asks us what's all in the Azalea Festival - don't ask us!  We never get out of the elementary school where the Quilt Show is.  It's a lot of 'little town' fun!  I'll report next week! 

May the Fourth Be With You!! Raise your hand if you love Star Wars!

May the Fourth Be With You!!

Raise your hand if you love Star Wars!

 Both my hands are raised - I'm a fan!!

Don't you Love this free graphic!!

Today you get a preview of my quilts entered in the Azalea Festival Quilt Show.  Coming up quickly!  Memorial Day weekend is E-A-R-L-Y this year.  The show is May 23 and 24.

LO (Lake Oswego) Runner

18 x 50

Years ago I saw this table runner in downtown Lake Oswego.  It wasn't for sale, but they were nice enough to let me take a picture.  Then the hard part began - figuring out the dimensions and making instructions.  But years later - Ta-Da!!  And it looks great on my green table!

Oh, Baby!!

39 x 46

I could not resist this baby panel.  So bright and fun.  Then GW, a good quilting friend, gave me some bright orphan blocks to use.  They electrified the quilt as a border.  Sweet Dreams!!  

Poppies on the Coast - April Challenge

15 x 19

I grew up in Nebraska.  When we retired to Oregon, we drove over a hill and acres of poppies were blooming!  It looked radio-active!!  Wowzer!  We love living on the coast, houses built up in the Hills, wildlife strolling around and the sound of the Ocean always our backdrop.

Quilt of Valor

70 x 90

We love supporting our Veterans and wrapping them in their quilt.  Patti and I met a veteran while at Gold Beach retreat.  He saved my toast from the toaster!!  He was wearing a military cap.  We got to talking. "Would you like a Quilt of Valor?"  We came home and got to work.  We made a quilt for him.  Our first time working with a panel - mixed feelings!!  This quilt will be presented at the ceremony during the Quilt Show.

If you are in our area; our Quilts of Valor Presentation will take place on Sunday, May 24.  Elementary School on Easy Street!  2 pm.  Please join us!!

ModSquad Improv

27 x 34

In 2021 our ModSquad group played with "Improv" for months.  Then it went into time out for years.  When I showed the group the top, they asked what I was going to do with it, I answered, "Don't know - maybe a dog blanket?"  Well, the group had strong opinions ... and it was NOT going to be a dog blanket.  I do love it - but All that work, and I'm still working on getting that lower left corner to quit sneaking in.

Graduation Celebration (final name to be thought up!)

68 x 90

My eyes and hands are racing to see which one will keep me from quilting first.  I have 5 Grandkids, one in college, the youngest in 3rd grade.  Our oldest granddaughter graduated last year and got her quilt.  From now on, I'm making two graduation quilts a year to stockpile.  Everyone will get one, even if I can't actually quilt by the time they graduate.  This design is inspired by StashLab booklet.

So - your preview is over ... and I'm mostly ready for the show (early!)  And our Brookings Outdoor Pool opens tomorrow!!  Can't wait!  Water aerobics start at 8:15!!  Be there or be square!

ARRGH! I wrote a blog addition yesterday – and it’s gone!! ARRGH!

Let’s see if I can remember what I posted. (73 years old – it’s not guaranteed!)

Well, we’re in the busy months – Memorial Day is early this year … So our show is earlier. I’m entering 6 projects: A QOV that will hang and then be presented to a Veteran we met in February in Gold Beach. My second GK graduation quilt. A baby quilt. A table runner.

Patti and I chaired the guild’s “April Challenge”. The theme was “Life on the Coast”. You could talk about your life; the wildlife; the activities around us. I pictured “rush hour traffic” caused by Elk on the highway!! But no one took me up on that!

We had 12 entries and they were all very well thought out! Impressive! And of course, all of them will be in the show. Here’s a preview:

 

I’ve been walking Sportshaven Beach and the loop into the commercial harbor a few times a week. Earlier this year I posted the Sea Lions down there. But walking today, I realized I haven’t highlighted Sportshaven. There is a sculpture at the entrance to parking for the beach.

And my favorite part of a small town – Harbor provides a bin of sand toys at each beach ramp. I’m not sure who is more excited – the kids or the parents of the kids!!

Here’s a picture: from the left – ocean, beach, ramp, driftwood, sidewalk, doggie bag station, bin of sand toys and parking lot!

Today DH and I walked into Harris Beach.  One of our favorite beaches for years.  BUT they decided to charge $10 for cars parking.  We live across 101 about a 1/2 mile from the main entrance.  Luckily our street joins the way to walk in from another (secret) entrance!

I hate trying to cross 101 - people be crazy!  So I only go with DH - who holds my hand and tells me when to run!!!  We walked thru the park to our favorite bench overlooking the ocean.  We sat for a while thinking of memories of Harris Beach days.

The Weather has been trading back and forth between Late Spring and Wowzer Winter!!

 We've gone from no rain to a Lot (but still not enough).  I've been finishing details on the 6 items I'm entering in the Memorial Day Weekend Quilt show.  It's part of the Azalea Festival here in Brookings.  

Everyone else always asks what's all going on at the festival - well, we have no idea - we're always at the quilt show!!  But one year I was in the pre-parade!!  Yep, the floats were lining up and I turned the corner and there I was - in their pre-parade!  I waved  a Queenly wave and moved out as fast as I could!!  Gotta love small towns!

As they say:  No one has to use their turn signals - everyone knows where you're going!!

I'm also busy adding some more years of memories to my Quilt Journal.  I'm working with 2020 and boy-o-boy, what a mess!  A lot was being worked on in 2020; but my records are a little scrambled ... not really sure the dates are when they were finished - but I'm pretty sure the same 'quilt' wasn't finished in two different years.  

One of the major problems goes back to 'learning curve' on the new laptop.  Moving picture files seems to want to strip the photo from the info - like date!!  And I didn't discover that until I'd moved a few years over to the new.  It's driving me crazy-er.

Those of you who have Netflix - 'The Last Word' movie with Shirley McClaine is on.  Made in 2017, you may have seen it.  But, it's worth watching it again - the music is fabulous!  Just what we need !!

Sorry no pictures this time ... I'll double up next time!!  If I can find some on the new computer!!!

It’s a beautiful morning on the beach!

 The tide was -.1 and the weather is calm at 54 degrees, the skies are blue with  patchy clouds.  We even saw a group of 9 pelicans fly by.  I’m happy to say, the star fish are coming back; there were even loads of sea anoemes!  Welcome back, Spring!

AND the creek was low enough to get across to walk the ‘other’ side!  It’s been since last summer /fall that we were able to cross.  We walked and inspected for over an hour - the perfect morning.

Here’s what we found!

Starfish!

Sea Anoemes!

After crossing the creek, our favorite look-out had 40 more feet of beach!!

Doesn't it look like a castle?

Rick inspecting new areas to explore

Someone drew this guy with a stick on the beach!  Make me smile

My favorite part of the beach - we can find lots of heart rocks there!

What an awesome morning to explore!!

Happy Easter to all.

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!!