Sea Lions By The Sea Shore (Newport, OR)

The sea lions were not here the last time we were in Newport.  The old docks had been torn down and new ones were built just for the sea lions.  We were told they would start showing up in September.  So, on our second day in Newport, we had to go down to the docks.  We heard them long before we got to the docks.

The new sea lion docks were packed full!  A few were swimming, but most were sleeping.  I have no idea how they could sleep through all that noise.

The fun part was watching one sea lion start a chain reaction.  Not happy with his fellow sleepers, one would get up and try to move into another's spot.  Which would cause that one to start barking and moving.  And that would get the next neighbor to complain and move...all the way down the line.

Sunshine on my face

A few of them just ignored everything going on around them.  This one was happy to have the sun warming its face.  Talk about a look of contentment.

The jetty was busy as well and a lot more active with the sea lions jumping into the water or climbing around on the rocks.

Oh man, I forgot my sunglasses

So good to have the sun out again!
Books!
   Between Heaven and Texas by Marie Bostwick  I just finished listening to Marie's latest book.  If you have been reading the Cobbled Court Quilts series, you already know Mary Dale.  With this story, we find out that Mary Dell has always listened to a different drummer with a very different taste in colors and clothes.  This is her story of growing up on a ranch in a small Texas town where everyone knows everybody's business.  I really enjoyed hearing about Mary Dell and her twin sister Lydia Dale growing up and following different paths.  Her relationship with her family as well as with her husband are well written.  I can't wait for Marie's next book to come out!

  Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley  This is the first book that I have read by Susanna Kearsley.  My SIL suggested I would like her books, so  I bought this book at a low price instead of ordering it through Audible and I could not put the darn thing down!  I blame Susanna's book for slowing down my progress on quilt projects.  

This story reminds me of the old Gothic romance novels I read as a teenager, but without all the dark brooding atmosphere.  She reminds me a lot of Mary Stewart or Phyllis A. Whitney with a heroine moving into an old mansion with mystery surrounding its history.  The characters are well defined.  I loved hearing about Scotland and the ways of the Scots.  The description of the area made me feel like I was there.

I did have a problem with the speech at times since Susanna likes to keep it very authentic.  She helped out the English-speaking readers with the main character being from London.  Verity Grey came to help on an archaeological dig with an old friend/co-worker.  She too has a problem with the language and actually buys a dictionary so she can look up words.  Quite often, someone would explain what they were saying which worked just as well.

There is a little bit of everything from a Gothic novel in this story.  There's the mystery, a psychic, a smuggler, an old mansion, a love interest or two, and a ghost.  Well written!  I have already started another one of Susanna's books.  Yep, looks like I won't be getting much done until I finish this book too.

Both books have no sex or swearing - just some light romance.  Okay, I better get moving.  I have a witch to finish and an order to mail...whoo-hoo!
Happy Quilting!

"The Pounding Waves....(Florence, OR)

....Are Calling Me Home" ~ Loreena McKennitt (The Old Ways)  

       I love listening to Loreena.  When she sings this song, I can see a woman with the wind in her hair while standing on a cliff watching the waves crash against the rocks below.

Seal Rock Beach

The coastal area really fires up the imagination with its beautiful rugged shores, wind-swept trees, and old lighthouses.  

Yaquina Head Lighthouse and Natural Area

Seal Rock Beach

All shrouded in constantly moving mists.  

Seal Rock Beach

It has such a romantic moody feel to it.  I can see how the scenic coastal areas are filled with stories of tragic loves lost, the excitement of spotting a ship’s sails on the horizon, and of hidden coves filled with treasures while mystical sea creatures swim just below the waves. 

This may not be home, but I have to admit it feels like home.  The pounding waves are calling both of us back.  We are sad to see our time here coming to an end.  We have two weeks left on the Oregon coast, but we have decided to return next summer. 

So, two more weeks are left to explore this area around Florence, OR.  Two more weeks of sea-filled landscape photos....and then we start heading south to Arizona....sigh....but, we will be back!

Hurry up dear!

Off to do some more exploring....Happy Trails!

A Whale of a Good Time (Newport, OR)

We move to Florence, OR on Thursday, 6 September.  I'm looking forward to seeing some more coastal area.  I need to do a Webshots album very soon with all the photos I have collected over the summer.

I feel like Newport actually has two downtown areas.  There is the Historic Nye Beach area with lots of access to the beach with shops, restaurants, hotels, and other services. 

Beautiful murals scattered throughout the downtown area

Then, there’s the Historic Newport Bayfront area with lots of fun attractions for the family along with shops, restaurants, the marina, and commercial fishing fleets.  You can buy fresh catch-of-the-day right off the boats.  I like both of them, but we have only visited the Bayfront area so far.  Here are some of the sights.....

Gotta scratch that itch..

Of course, my favorite part is watching the sea lions on the docks.  They were being quite loud the day we were there.  We could hear their barks echoing down the street.

Barking Sea Lions

Funny...no one argued with the big guy when he came out of the water and said this is my spot.

Lots of battle scars on this one

I was here first!  No, I was!

More sea lions on the jetty...

I wonder if they planned on the whale's mural to look like it was doing a trick...

A whale of a mural

A great view of McCullough's Yaquina Bay Bridge in the background from the marina

No marina is complete without a couple of sea birds.....

Immature Seagull

On The Cutting Board

I did not like the last photos of this Lotus quilt so I took it outside to try again.  The only problem is the dense shade of our site, but the colors look a lot better compared to the last ones taken under the LED lights.

I'm thinking of moving the flower petals in more.  They look a little scattered right now.

Instead of adding the floating petals across the top like in the Purple Lotus, I'm thinking that a 3 to 5 petals and leaves in the corner would look better.  I do plan to add the stem at the bottom like before and a couple of more leaves.

I'm almost done with the Gift Shop sign.  I'm quite happy with the results.  The open sign/tag is almost done.  I want to add some buttons to the top and I still have the fall leaf to add as well.

Happy Quilting!