Sandstone Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

I spotted this wonderful sandstone heart right away.   Last winter's storms loosened a great deal of the cliffs here and this crumble of sandstone is what is left.

This is the cliff itself.  It is much higher and grand than I could capture with my camera.  

This is the beach where the Dory boats slide home.  Pacific City is one of the loveliest places on the Oregon Coast.  The cliffs are on the other side of this bluff.  To get to the cliffs, one must climb a truly imposing sand dune.  People actually surf down the face of the dune on sand boards.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Sandy Cliffs and Teacup Rock - Skywatch Friday

On our 27th Anniversary over a year ago, we visited one of our favorite places in the world--Pacific City on the Oregon Coast.  It is an incredibly beautiful place where the Dory boats blast toward shore, slip sliding onto the beaches.  Surfers gracefully dance along on the curl of emerald waves.  Steep cliffs stalk the edge of the cove--vanishing into a huge sand dune.  People fly down the side of that gigantic dune on sand boards.  Brave souls.  One can look out at Teacup Rock.  I have caught some wonderful photos of that huge rock reflected in retreating ocean waves.  It is magical.

My husband and I love to hike up to the top of these sand cliffs.  As you can see they are beautiful, yet dangerous, so you have to be very careful to stay away from the edges.   The sand cliffs can crumble away at a moment's notice.  I like the smooth look of those cliffs.  Recently we watched two grey whales frolicking in the sudsy waves at the base of them.

Pacific City, with its eclectic shops, unusual restaurants, spectacular Teacup Rock, gorgeous beaches, wonderful sunsets, fabulous cliffs, amazing surfing and dory boats, is a perfectly wonderful place to visit!

Have a lovely week, everyone!

For more amazing photos of skies around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Phoenix

Two years ago, on our 25th anniversary, my husband and I spent the weekend at Pacific City along the Oregon Coast. We climbed a huge sand dune, to sit on the edge of a cliff where we were treated to this unexpectedly beautiful sunset.

It was so lovely we did not want to leave. As the sun crept toward the sea the air grew so chilly, I was shivering in my thin wrap. But suddenly, a bubble of warm air, scented with the fragrant aroma of cedar whisked itself around us. And it stayed. It was the most astounding thing. I think it might have been a puff of warm air from the bonfires people had built on the beach below. It was a truly magical evening.

This is an untouched photo of what we saw.

If you look closely, you can see the legendary Phoenix winging her way across the skies.