Thankful

Twenty-nine years ago today I became a mother when my son flew home from Korea.  He was 9 months old, jet lagged with ear infections and trying to communicate his needs in a language I didn't understand.   

My first days as a mother were filled with tenderness, compassion, and fear.  Here I was trusted with the most precious gift of all, yet we were strangers but the day before.  No owner’s manual arrived with him, not even a bottle of formula or dry diaper.  We navigated this new world together hour by hour, feeling our way along.  Small steps, like the first time he smiled when he recognized my face or when I figured out he wanted to be carried in a sling on my back as he had in Korea and he snuggled in immediately.   We learned from each other.

This crisp fall day is an exact replica of the day he arrived right down to the few leaves still clinging to the trees in the sunshine.  I cuddled him close and we took a walk around the neighborhood, the smell of the turkey and pumpkin pies drifting out of kitchen windows. 

The memories wash over me. Once again I am a new mother who, although a little unsure of herself, is very sure her heart is bursting open with gratitude and love.

Grateful for Sunbeams

After a wild week of weather, we are graced with the sun.  Just as I turn my face to absorb the last rays of the fall sun, so do all of the plants and animals of the kingdom.

How sweet it is to be loved!

Food AND Shelter

A huge toadstool has taken up residence in the Alder grove here at Netarts.  It is the biggest one I have ever seen (the accompanying sand dollar is for scale),

This perfectly shaped mushroom conjures up visions of fairies (and, well...toads) taking cover underneath it's wide brim or making it their home during the pouring rain.  Large enough for an entire family, the possibilities are endless.

Upon closer inspection, I notice there are bite marks on the top probably made by a hungry woodland critter.  He may have stopped by for a snack and devoured his fill. Stuffed and moving slowly from his self-imposed "food coma," he considered taking the whole thing back to his nest for later.  He tugged and tugged but it wouldn't budge.

Alas, it was the waitress's day off and he couldn't even get a doggie bag.

Stained Glass Sunset

The fall sunset through the Alder trees overlooking Netarts Bay = Nature's Art

Free Smiles

Because you just can't resist this sunny face on a warm, fall afternoon.

You know you can't!

Early Bird Gets the Moon

The Harvest Moon was my gift from Mother Nature for getting up at sunrise this morning.  Grabbing my camera and running out into the dew covered grass, I captured the moment just before it dropped into a marine layer of clouds over the Pacific Ocean.

It is now my gift to each of you.

Incoming

Creeping fingers of fog come in from the sea...

Blaze of Glory

Leaves go out in a "blaze of glory" becoming even more lovely as they near the end.  A splendid triumph of life for all to see.

Shouldn't we humans take a lesson from their brilliance?  Aren't we more beautiful when filled with a lifetime of memories and wisdom?

Drip System

Fall raindrops drip delicately on the garden.

Last Light of a Fall Day

The colors of a fall sunset seem more poignant to me.  Do you feel it too?

Sometimes You're the Windshield, Sometimes You're the Bug!

Today, I offer no photos, because what I am about to describe isn't pretty.

My trip over the Coast Range last evening coincided with dusk and a large "Salmon Fly Hatch" along the Wilson River.  If you have never seen a salmon fly, think smallish version of a dragonfly but drunk...really, really drunk.  The most awkward pilots of all insects, they fly in huge dips, loops and waves without much forward progress at all.  If you were trying to get out of the way of an oncoming salmon fly it would be tough, because you just can't logically forecast where they are headed next.

They did, however, have pinpoint accuracy for my car window. The wipers swished and swashed my window clean all through the trip and still I ended up with a windshield full of bug juice when I got home.  I was outnumbered.  They must have had it in for me personally, because the passenger's side was nice and clean.

Perhaps they were after the fly-fisherman in the car behind me.

Won't You be My Neighbor?

That's the face I saw when opening the blinds today.  This little lady was all nestled in and her two fawns were romping around the yard eating the heads off of the dandelions (A win-win for this gardener).

She stayed for a few hours, wandering off at some point.  There were quite a few deer roaming around our neighborhood this afternoon.  I finally realized it is hunting season and they have come down from the mountains to avoid the camo-wearing, scope-carrying, manly men who are stalking them.

Not too much later, I was sitting quietly reading my book in the garden sun when the wrens arrived.  A whole band (at least 30) of the crazy guys perched on the fence and looked down at the empty bird bath and then back at me.  Repeatedly.  They made enough of a racket, that I was forced to close my book.  Knowing they had my full attention, they kept squawking and pointing to the birdbath with their little beaks.  Enough with the nagging already, I jumped up and filled the bowl.  The noise stopped and the splashing started.

Now, the sun is going down and the harvest moon is rising.  Bats are zooming around the corner of the house past the picture windows.  In case you couldn't tell, I love my neighbors!

Stained Glass Tree

I stood under the canopy of this old neighborhood tree and looked up through the stained glass mosaic of it's vibrant burgundy leaves.  It was an honor to do so.

The Heart of Fall

The late afternoon sunlight transformed these delicate  

Chinese Lanterns and they started to glow from within. 

Struck by their similarity to the human body, 

I sat quietly and watched for a heartbeat.   

Trick or Treat

It is either Satan rising from the underworld or 

Halloween Bob trying out his scariest look in the campfire smoke.

You decide!

I Am Seeing Red

 

 The colors of autumn dance in the wind.

Beware!

Yikes! Luckily, he is not as scary as he looks.

We have made it a tradition to be at the beach for Halloween. There are so many trick-or-treaters and scores of houses are vacant this time of year. It is very sad that so many of the older residents turn off their lights and bolt their doors instead of welcoming the little ones for good old-fashioned fun. All witches, pirates, princesses and sponge bobs welcome at our place--the more the merrier.

Note to self: Never grow old in spirit!

Happy Halloween!

Blowin' in the Wind

There was a furious storm several weekends ago that had my weather station reporting 67 mph wind gusts. The strange part about it was how warm it was at 63 degrees F. So we had the windows open listening to the rain and the wind in the trees. It was as if the whole house was breathing in and out with each strong gust taking on a life of it's own. It was quite fun, but then I love a good storm.

The next few days after the storm were warm and lovely. While our beach combing didn't turn up any floats or bottles with messages, the remnants were exquisite shimmering in the sun!

"After the storm the world is left in a brief moment of purity, stripped of all its airy evils, the air is fresh and sweet to the smell." Nicholas Belt

Road Side Attraction

Driving through Tillamook yesterday evening we came across a state trooper with his flashing lights on. We couldn't figure out who he pulled over until we looked past him to the field usually reserved for dairy cows.

There in the field was an entire herd of elk grazing away apparently unaware they were in cow territory and on private land. The elk were quite beautiful and many had impressive racks of antlers. I am not sure how they got past the fence or their plan to get out again--they didn't seem concerned and neither did the cows.

The trooper seemed to be the most concerned about keeping the local citizens from "tagging" the elk as it is hunting season.

Football and Drunken Sailors

What do these two things have in common you might ask? Neah-Kah-Nie High School--home of the Pirates--hosted a Friday night football game last week. We couldn't resist joining in and watching the home team.

The evening was warm as the players took the field. The pep band struck up a tune to cheer them on and the rally girls furiously shook their pom poms and danced...it was a familiar melody. Suddenly we realized the words to the song were..."What'll we do with the drunken sailor....what'll we do with the drunken sailor...early in the morning." We laughed until we cried but nobody else in the stands seemed to think it odd these young women were motivating their team with the drunken sailor song.

I guess when you are a Fighting Pirate, disposing of a Drunken Sailor is part of the game and well worth cheering about!