Lincoln City Sunset

I captured this photo while walking with my Darling Friend Lynn, in Lincoln City, Oregon.  One can often see such amazing, stunning vistas here. 

The ocean is never the same--it can be beautiful, stunning--and sometimes frightening.  The changing moods of the ocean seem to reflect life itself.

I am so grateful for this beautiful place.

Waves in Boiler Bay

I decided to post this picture of waves in in Boiler Bay, because of International Mermaid Day.  I am sure, if one looked closely enough--a mermaid could be seen in this splash of the sea.

Boiler Bay is located just North of Depoe Bay--a beautiful little town along the Central Oregon Coast.  It is named after what remains of one of the most spectacular shipwrecks in American history. The J. Marhoffer was a 175-foot, 600-ton steam schooner built at John Lindstrom’s shipyard in Aberdeen, in Washington's Grays Harbor, in 1907. On May 18, 1910, she was still practically brand-new and was coming back to her home port in Portland from a run to San Francisco when an assistant engineer accidentally over-pressurized it.

By the time ship's Captain Gustave Peterson asked someone to open the valves and flood the engine room, the heat of the fire had made the valve handles too hot to touch, and the fire had spread. Since the engineer could not get into the engine room to shut the power off, the ship was still steaming along at a steady nine knots and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Three miles off shore Captain Peterson got gave the order to abandon ship. Though there were no casualties from the J. Marhoffer, a cook from a boat assisting the survivors, drowned. 

As for the J. Marhoffer, now thoroughly and spectacularly on fire, she was heading straight for the rocky shoreline.  She hit with an enormous crash and explosion. 

The stranded vessel keeled over and burned fiercely for a time; then she was ripped apart by a massive steam explosion that threw chunks of wood and iron in all directions. Fortunately, none of the spectators were hit, although today there’s still a piece of iron pipe sticking out of the bluff above that probably came from the wreck.

Today, the ship’s boiler can still be seen from the highway at low tide--I have seen this for myself at low tide.  You can hike a rough trail leading down from Highway 101 just north of the entrance to Boiler Bay State Park when the tide is extremely low.  It is because of this rusty remnant the little bay, formerly known as Briggs Landing, is now called Boiler Bay.

Have a lovely day.

NOTE:  Sweet Wendy--if you get this--the link you sent won't allow me to comment because it says my account on bethniquette@gmail.com doesn't have permission for access.  I'd sure love to see your lovely valentine! 

Ocean Song

When we visited the beach for a week this past January, we were in for a treat.  It was shirtsleeve weather--sunny with temperatures in the mid-60's.  I sat for hours on the beach watching the waves of the Pacific Ocean, listening to their song.

I have only captured its beauty in part here--the waves were magnificently huge offshore, rushing upon the beach to splash in a playful fury at my feet.

I can imagine all kinds of things in this beautiful wave...what do you see?  I love the idea that the ocean claps its hands in glee.  If you watch and listen closely, you can see the dance and hear their songs of joy as they sing to their Creator. 

Psalm 98:8, 9  Let the waves clap their hands in glee and the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the world with perfect justice.

Exquisite Sunset

I was visiting my best buddy's new home in Lincoln City a little over a month ago.  There was an incredibly low tide that evening, so we walked for hours along the beach--picked up wonderful agates and shells--and then came the sunset.  As you can see, it was incredibly beautiful.

Here the sun's rays were captured in a molten glow along the edges of the sea.

Such beauty.  When I see a scene like this, I am SO grateful to the creativity of our Creator.

Have a lovely week dear friends.  

Waning Super Moon

I have been experimenting with the settings on my camera and for the first time was able to capture the moon in detail.  It hung low in the late afternoon sky, a sea blue all around.  You can see sunlight highlighting the craters.  I love space.  The whole idea of planets and moons hanging effortlessly in a vacuum of nothing fills me with awe. 

That we have a moon which guards our planet boggles my mind. Without the moon, tides would become nearly non-existent and sea levels would rise.  The ocean's currents are the way the it oxygenates itself, sea life would starve for air without the moon's influence.  Currents such as the Gulf Stream bring life-giving warmth and nutrients all across the world.  The moon also affects vital currents which circulate cold nutrient-filled water around the Atlantic and into the Indian Ocean.

Without the moon, our earth would become a gigantic snowball.  The "pole" of Earth's magnetism would change--people living in the mid-latitudes would see the Aurora Borealis.  The steadiness of the Earth's rotation would be effected.  The moon actually keeps the earth from wobbling, rocking and rolling.

The perfect balance created by the moon's presence seems miraculous to me.  The moon is an important part of our survival here on earth.  I am grateful to our Creator for setting it into place.  

Heart in the Sand -Guest Heart Thursday

Where the sea had carved a cleft in the cliff, the rocks spilled forth.  And there, sitting sweetly in the sand, was a rock heart.  Ah, just perfect for Guest Heart Thursday!
 
For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Heart of Rust -Guest Heart Thursday

To celebrate our 31st anniversary, we spent time in Oregon's spectacular Pacific City--a lovely jewel of a city snuggled into a perfect little bay area where the dory boats slide up the beach in the late afternoon.

The cliffs here are of a rusty orange with flecks of sparkles.  I found this heart just lying on the bare rock next to where the surf pounds its heart against the cliffs.

Above you can see the amazing orange color of these gorgeous sand cliffs.  For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Opal Sands, Golden Sun -Skywatch Friday

Sunsets along the Oregon beaches can be spectacular.  This picture was taken in January.  I loved the almost translucent, opal look of the sands, and the way the sun threw pink highlights into the waves.

The loveliness of the sun and the rays cast over the sea to land in a puddle on the beach, inexplicably touches my soul. 

Have a lovely weekend.

If you love clouds as much as I do--join SkyWatch Friday to see all the amazing things to be found by looking up.  Have a lovely day and Happy SkyWatch Friday!

Oregon Sunset

We were so grateful for the sunshine at the beach last week.  Our second evening, my husband and I went for a walk at sunset.  I was amazed at the pinkness of the light dappling the tall gangled cedar trees.

The sunlight shone in pastel loveliness over the waves to peak through the wind-blown branches.

The waves were spectacular as they pounded the sands.

I marveled at the pink color of the ocean spray, as the waves tumbled toward shore.

 But most of all, I was thankful to be walking there hand in hand with my Beloved.

What an unexpectedly beautiful day.

Sea Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

I posted this long ago--we were at Fort Stevens in Washington state.  This was taken inside on of the bunkers, looking out at the sea. 

We have had some bad news.  My husband has been diagnosed with cancer.  He has an appointment next week with the doctor to discover what our options are.  We are trusting God.  Our future in in His hands.

In the meantime, our hearts to yours.  Sometimes it is dark and hard times that our hearts shine the brightest.

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

Hearts at Sea - Guest Heart Thursday

My darling Sissy loves the sea and hearts.  While we were at the ocean this past week, I looked for hearts.  Here you see one in the sudsy waters.

Sitting high atop a sand cliff, I caught another in the clapping hands of the waves.

But the most amazing heart appeared our last evening there, when I asked the Lord for a special heart for my Sissy--one that would say "I love you."   As I watched the colorful shifting vista, a spectacular heart suddenly bloomed above the wings of a butterfly.

An incredibly beautiful heart for my lovely, talented amazing sister Clytie!  I love you, Sissy!

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

Wild Weather - Guest Heart Thursday

We are driving over the mountains to spend a few days at the Coast. Snow levels have lifted.  Mumsie and I stop to walk in the snow.  It is melting into the thick mosses covering the long tall trees like fat green coats...

An uneasy calm fills the air.  They think a storm might be coming--but for some reason they do not know for sure.

A lost bit of blue skies before the purple cloud of storms.

The sea begins to thrash and crash--great billows of water froth with white foam as though a giant egg beater whips the surface of the sea.

The weather guys are right--a storm has embraced the Oregon coast with Hurricane force winds.  We light candles and listen to the storm scream around the sea cliffs to beat upon the protecting walls and double paned windows of our hotel room.

The waves turn green and black.  Day turns into night.

The high winds did not abate for two days and two nights.  The last day our electricity finally gave out.  We sought a way back home over the mountains.

All routes along the Oregon Coast, clear to the California border were closed because of flooding, slippery snow conditions and falling trees.  Only one thin road winding through the mountains was open.  We drove along the Coast to Tillamook to find our way home.

You are probably wondering where the heart I found might be--look through the windshield at the tree.  

A perfect heart.  It wasn't surprising to find a heart in the middle of our great adventure!  That is the way of hearts. 

As we traveled through the mountains we saw gushing streams and great fields of softly melting snow.

After arriving home safely, with a good night's sleep under our belts, we awoke to a world flooded with high waters.  Here you see a view of our park from the town waterfront.

There is something deceptively calm and lovely about the curve of  high water in the park amphitheater.  The floods had already covered three levels.

The dock and playground appeared to be lost in the middle of the Willamette River.

A close up of the playground where my darling niece and I often play.

The dock floats by itself in the middle of the seething currents.

As of this afternoon, it is flooding everywhere around us.  Thankfully, if history repeats itself, the flood waters will not reach to our home.  100 years ago, a flood swept the original town of Independence away.  It missed our house then--by one block.

We've had nearly 10 inches of rain this month--most of it in the past week or so.  We know so many folks who have been flooded out of their homes.  Our hearts and prayers go out to them.

Good night and God bless everyone.

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.

The Sea Captain

For years my husband told Sea Captain stories to our children.  The Sea Captain and his little friends had all kinds of adventures.

Only once did we think we might have caught a glimpse of the Sea Captain.  He came visiting one evening.  But we were not there.  The Sea Captain left a big pot of fragrant hot chowder on the stove along with some crunchy brown garlic bread.  His note said he was sorry he'd missed us, but had been called back to his boat because of an emergency.   (wink, wink, wink)

I've always had a picture in my mind of what the Sea Captain might look like.

Last weekend my husband and I traveled to the Oregon Coast.  We had a lovely adventure, including staying with Captain Grady and his lady Sandy.  You've probably already guessed, but Captain Grady is exactly as I have always imagined the Sea Captain might look.

The Captain and his deck hands fish for crab off the Oregon Coast.  We actually had the privilege of hopping aboard his boat, the Aquarius.  Learning how a real Captain and crew ply their trade was fascinating.

As are all Sea Captains, he is a wonderful storyteller. His stories about close encounters with modern pirates curl one's toes with fear!  There is an atmosphere, a mystique about the sea and those who seek her treasures.  It is a whole different world with its own wonderful rhythm.

What a charming couple are the Captain and his Lady.  I know we will be back for a hearty hug and a warm hello.

Beach Doodle Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

 Sissy and I were so blessed to spend time together by the sea.  Here the snow covers the sand down to the waterline.  In the distance is Tea Cup Rock--probably because of the tiny handle on the right hand side!  I love the teal color of the waves and the way the clouds waft an upside down heart overhead.

 Of course on our walks along the sands--we found many hearts--this heart rock was one of my favorites.

There's a couple of hearts in this one, too--it is sea weed with snow drifting against its sides.  Clytie and I call this a Beach Doodle Heart!  What a marvelous time we had by the sea, where the snow fell and the sun shone against the ceaseless song of the waves.


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