I do believe the state of Oregon is really a slice of heaven hidden in plain view. Forgetting about our financial struggles out here, it really is heavenly. The more we explore our surroundings here, the more I fall in love.
Kevin's job required him to spend the weekend at the coast so the girls, dogs and I tagged along. We couldn't wait to get out to ocean and just take it all in. I used to love the look of the beaches in California with all of the cliffs and rocks and oh my, that cold water! I missed it while we were living near Virginia beach. The beaches were very different there - oh so humid and hot! (I did love the Outerbanks, though)
I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the coast to find that the Oregon beaches were very similar to the Cali beaches that I missed, but even more beautiful and of course, even colder. Ironically, my mother was driving home to New York from Florida that same weekend. When she passed through Virginia, she called us to say that it was 91 degrees there. I couldn't have been more happy to be at our cold beach at that moment.
The area we were at was a bit 'touristy' but you would have never known it if you were with us. The girls just wanted to spend the entire time exploring the cliffs, sand dunes, etc, so we never went near the crowds and shops. I feel so blessed to have such nature girls. It truly is magical to see their faces light up over a broken shell in the sand. They really do get more excited over nature finds than any thing money could buy.
I loved watching them investigate every inch of their surroundings
Here's a few glimpses at our weekend:
Beach walking
Sand play (K tucked her dress into her pants so it wouldn't get wet, smart, but it cracked us up!)
Happy dog off lead...
unfortunately, we can't let our husky do the same
Isn't this gorgeous?!
Amazing tree trunk
One of K's many nature finds
'Treasure hunting' Goodness, I love how the girls view nature finds!
My little stinker refused to smile even though she was very happy, would have been a great shot...
I had to throw this one in, too. We spotted this Pee-wee Herman mobile parked by an antique shop we stopped at on the way home
33 comments:
Sounds like somebody will be taking a lot more outings to the coast, eh? Looks dreamy. I love weat coast beaches as well. They seem so much cleaner and more pure than out here (certainly than the Chesapeake!) Everytime I see your dogs, I get all gooey, remind so much of my sweet departed mutt who was part shepherd. They are just gorgeous!
what a lovely weekend! Perfect for Mother's day!
What beautiful pictures you take. I am looking forward to our own beach adventures this summer. While living in Germany we were only able to visit the beach once. But here in Turkey we live only an hour away from a beach.
Yes indeed Nicole...a slice of heaven.
What a great time and such pretty scenery. Thanks for letting us see your surroundings.
It does look very beautiful there. Having grown up on the coast of SC, I'll take my warm beaches and warm water though. ;) We are lovers of the outerbanks as well. In fact, we'll be there in 5 weeks!
Your girls are adorable as always. I hope you had a happy Mother's Day!
oh so beautiful!
What a great weekend!
I am originally from Portland, ME so cold beautiful beaches like that I find to be in my blood. But since relocating to Florida (I grew up in Vegas though)our beaches are SO different. Hot sand, so hot you have to run to the water, warm water, blinding sun. Such a different experience from your beach. I think I would rather take your beach. The hot sand and blinding sun doesn't do it for me.
I love the pictures of your dogs. We are teaching Stingy to go off lead. She listens very well when it's just us, but add other dogs in and we aren't sure. I can't wait to take her to the dog beach to swim
Beautiful pictures, beautiful girls, beautiful day
i officially hate you..haha! i miss those beaches soooooooooo much! i love austin, but it's not the same as the pnw coastline. we were just talking about how sometimes we feel like maybe we should have stayed. i fantasize about going back someday. michelle keeps finding houses for us to buy..haha! i have a feeling we'll end up back where we belong...;)
love you girl..no real hate here, just avid jealousy! LOL
xoxoxo
So beautiful! I love the Northwest. Vancouver is my absolute favorite place on earth! I can see how easy it is for you to love your new home so much. I live in Florida and being in Vancouver was like being on another planet. Everything is so wonderfully different!
Well, Nicole. That's the exact reason why the cost of living is so high there (here!). Who wouldn't want to live in paradise? :)
I so understand what you mean, Nicole. We used to live for a year close to the beach on the most southern tip from Texas and that beach was only enjoyable for a few weeks in the February.
We have been to Oregon on vacation twice and my husband went to university in Ashland. We love Oregon dearly..esp. the ocean and the forest and the fact everything is so green (given I am originally from Germany, I just love my green).
We now just moved to Cali, about an hour from San Fran and when we go to the beach, I am so in love and awe each and every time! This planet is sooo beautiful! We just went last week to the Redwood Forest Coast and we could not believe how we completely felt like we were in Oregon. It looks just like it! I have a bunch of pictures on my blog about it, if you are interested :o)
Our ultimate goal is still having one day a little farm in Oregon, just like the one we spent our vacations there at. If you ever wanna get away for a couple of days, I HIGHLY recommend that farm stay...it is a paradise!!! You guys would love it! Their site is www.leapinglambfarm.com
Wow, now I've written half a book *lol*
Have a wonderful week, Nicole!
Angela from Simple Dreams
my time in oregon was brief (6 months) but i traveled and explored the area as much as i could. it truly is magical!
i was just reminiscing the other day about driving to the coast and getting farm fresh cherries along the way. mmmmm....
vancouver island is one of my most fave places ever! you should venture up there sometime. you have so much to explore all around you! how exhilarating!
I'm so jealous!! I live in that area where we had 91 degrees that Sat. and I'd love to be at this beautiful beach. I've never been that far west...
I guess it's about time.
Art smart ;p
Gorgeous photos Nicole! Makes me want to be there :)
I truly think the coast of N. California up through Oregon, Washington and Canada are some of the most beautiful scenery in all the world! So much incredible energy, jaw-dropping views. Food for the soul!
My gosh, I love Oregon. I visited the coast for the first time last year and fell completely in love. These pictures make me fall in love all over again. Someday I would like to live there, but alas, all my family is here and I don't feel the need to escape them just yet :)
Also, your dogs make me pine for a pup of my own. Someday, someday.
Wow! How beautiful! It sounds like you all enjoyed yourselves plenty! I have never been to the west coast, but it is one of my goals. It is just beautiful.
Quick question- where are the girls' sun hats from? I cannot for the life of me find any that give enough coverage!
You do live in a beautiful place! I love this little glimpse into your weekend.
Love the Oregon coast...it is a treasure indeed!
Looks like lots of fun!
Hi Nicole. I've been reading your blog for a while now, and now I just have to say hello. We moved to Virginia from Portland, Oregon about five years ago, and I still miss those beaches. Our daughter Ella loved those beaches...and most of our beach photos involve coats and hats. Now we live in the Blue Ridge Mountains far from the sea.
I'm enjoying your writing, your knitting, and the life you are creating for your girls.
I love Oregon, too! Your pictures are gorgeous, I especially like the one of the girls in front of the tree trunk.
pretty husky!
I absolutely Love the winter hats your girls are wearing, do you sell them or could you direct me to a tutorial or any tips on how to make one?
It looks just beautiful! I've never visited the Pacific NW of the U.S., but it sure looks lovely.
How absolutely beautiful! I haven't been to Oregon since I was a teenager, but the beauty of it really stuck in my memory.
And wow at the size of that tree trunk! I thought it was smallish, but then how huge it looks with your kids right next to it. Cool! :-)
Hello,
I love how a visit to the ocean can refresh the spirit.It is the place I run to when I need to take a break from the city.
A really cool place in Oregon is the "Hobbit Trails", It is about 11 miles north of Florence, there is a pull off on the side of the road where you can acess the hiking trails. You can also follow a trail from Carl G.Washborne State park. Any way there are these really amamzing shrubs that form little tunnels from the the cliffs down to the beach that you can hike to. One of the best places in Oregon In my opinion! And also an amazing natural playground for kiddos!Enjoy!
Thanks for taking me along -- my girls are also fascinated with nature - I think it is because they have Mama's like us! They feel our contentment to be there with them.
I love those hats -- did you make them?
Namaste, Nicole
Oh those stinker huskies, if they just didn't run where the wind blows then they could be off the leash! Denali is the same way, I hear it's a husky trait.
What a beautiful day, oh, how I want to go to Oregon now!
lisa
it's such a really good feeling to love where you live, isn't it? and to appreciate it.
Absolutely beautiful! (Although I would have to argue about the OR coasts being more beautiful than the Northern CA coasts!)
Nicola
the beach is so special to me....loved the photos. We live on the East coast.
Thank you everyone, isn't it beautiful?! I feel so fortunate to be living here.
Ramos family - thank you so much for that farm info! My husband called them right away and we are hoping to maybe go this summer. Woo hoo!!!!
The girls sunhats were gifts from my MIL. She bought them at the Hanna Andersson outlet ($4 each!!). C is in a size small and K a size medium. HTH!
The girls winter hats are their 'gnome hats' I knit them last year. The pattern is the Lyala hoodie pattern on Etsy. HTH!
Thank you again, everyone, I loved reading about your beaches andplaces you know of here... and yes Nicola - I can see your arguement for the NoCal beaches :)
so beautiful!
I grew up in Half Moon Bay, California, and our beaches were just like those along the Oregon coast. I love the look and feel of a chilly beach, and how fun it is when the sun does peek through. Looks like a lot of fun you all had (sorry for having to catch-up on all the blog reading at once, my finger is finally allowing me to type)
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