From Our Home to Yours

Tis the season to receive delightful Christmas letters from friends far and wide.  Letters that eloquently describe their lives filled with fantastic vacations, children becoming doctors and new homes in gated communities.  In the spirit of the “holiday letter,” we offer our own newsy communiqué…

We hope this letter finds you as happy and healthy as we are, grateful for so much as we enjoy the beauty of the season.   Living the dream and wanting some help around the house, this year we were fortunate enough to secure the services of a personal monkey butler named, Mr. Jeeves. 

While it took us a while to understand each other, things have worked out swimmingly.  This summer, Mr. Jeeves was quite a help around the yard too.  On warm summer days when Bob was busy clearing brush and cutting back blackberry bushes, Mr. Jeeves jockeyed on the front of the riding lawnmower, drinking PBR with his little aviator hat flapping in the breeze.

Mr. Jeeves’ domestic skills have improved dramatically.  He learned how to set a beautiful table, pour the wine, and serve each course from left to right.  Although he is terribly shy and won’t actually perform any of those duties when we have guests, retreating to the comfort of his bunk and cable shows when they arrive.  Who doesn’t want to binge on Sister Wives from time to time?

This fall was a busy one with back-to-back events in Las Vegas.   Imagine my surprise when I checked into the fancy casino hotel, opened my suitcase and out popped a stowaway, Mr. Jeeves!  Dressed in an outfit that would have made Liberace jealous, he bolted for the door saying something about showgirls.   A few days later, I was getting dressed for work as the sun was rising when I heard a knock at the door.  Mr. Jeeves was back looking exhausted and a bit under the weather.  He ambled in, pulled the blackout shades closed, put on his satin sleep mask and climbed into bed. 

He was still there when I returned 14 hours later although the room service trays led me to believe he had been awake at some point.  The little scalawag had run up quite a bill, but nothing compared to the mini-bar charges I saw upon checkout.  Anyway, we will write that off to a well-deserved vacation for our favorite personal monkey butler.

Back in Netarts, Mr. Jeeves has been on his best behavior, now that Tillamook County has arranged to drop the charges for an earlier misunderstanding with several tourists.  He has agreed to sign on for another year and we are thrilled. 

From Our Home to Yours, Here’s to an Exciting 2016! 

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!

"Keep Netarts Weird"

Today, I am passing along this article written by a Netart native which talks about locals, tourists and travelers.  I share it with you so you understand when I post these silly blogs describing life on the Oregon Coast, I am not making it up...

http://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/riprap-and-riffraff-and-other-common-tales-from-the-coast-tourists-versus-travelers/

Somehow the Coast's wild, untouched beauty makes up for the crazy human antics that cause me to shake my head in wonder.

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

I Do Not Have Crabs

This crab claw was festively decorated with lace-like barnacles festooning its otherwise scary pincher...

Note: Webster's Dictionary does not recognize the word "pincher" but growing up around crawfish and crabs, I can tell you they are exactly that, PINCHERS.

Another note: Now, I am told by the dictionary that the plural of crab in this instance should be "crab."  Apparently, one is not supposed to say, "I have crabs" or "Do you have crabs?" as it is an entirely different conversation for a different post. Good to know.

Anyway, all I was really just trying to show you something cool I found and ended up getting an English lesson.

So enjoy the fancy claw and don't tell anyone you have crabs.