Ocean Beaches January 2011

When the weather forecast said 60 degrees on the Oregon Coast Ron & I picked the two best days and made our hotel reservations on the South Beach of Newport, Oregon – close to the long wharf where Ron hoped to find some Dungeness Crab.

Click on this picture to see a very patient Dad returning with a run-away 2 year old boy.  Much to my amusement he finally had to tie him to the dock to finish baiting his nets and getting his fishing pole ready!  I don't think he enjoyed my delight - but I remember the situation well, Joshua!  Enlarge next picture to see his short rope!  It's a good Daddy protecting his child.

It was a grand get-away as you can see from a few photos. We were able to take a break from winter here in Oregon while the rest of the Country was up to their ears in snow. What a place we live!

We noticed the work NOAA is doing in the Newport Bay.  They have dredged a lot of sand to allow for the big ships they will be bringing into their new facility.  It looks like they are making roads to the top of the sand hill in order to load it up and haul it out.  At the Hatfield Marine Center we were told that the locals hope they get rid of it before the winds start blowing.  You see the new building at the right side of the picture.

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090804_newport.html

On the way to Newport we stopped in Depot Bay to arrange reservations for a family gathering to take place in October of this year to celebrate my 70th birthday, joining with our daughter Vicki who will be celebrating 50, and or course Jesse who is too young to mention!

We are delighted we were able to secure a 15% discount for all family members reserving rooms for the event as well. When our children were young parents in their early 20's we used to spend Thanksgivings at this beach resort with the first of our grandchildren present. What good memories we have.

                                                       1988 Thanksgiving - Alyssa Grandpa and Diana

This trip we stayed at the La Quinta Inn on Newport South Beach. The hotel has an indoor pool and hot tub so I enjoyed swimming while Ron cast crab nets – ah to no avail. The catch was too small by a quarter inch or so and we went home empty handed – but so filled up with the beauty of our earth.

Hope you are all well and having join in the moment!
Love

Ron and Betty

2011

One year to the dreaded – or anticipated 2012 changes to the 5th dimension and the Golden Age – or not. It sounds like fun. I am having fun all the time anyway. I am happy in the now – now – moment and that is the only place I can live.

I have had a few unpleasant moments to move through this year – because I scheduled them right in a row beginning in January. The medical tests are all done and I am in good health. The bad tooth with no bone support left is out and the "flipper" is in.

Goodbye Beautiful!!

The temporary appliance is difficult to talk with – difficult to eat with – which leads me to hope that I will become skinny and Ron can stop complaining about never getting a word in edgeways! Probably won't happen though! What the heck – I am happy. My Son wants to call me "flipper" and has been informed he may be flipped back if he does.

I'm looking forward to the next week or so when I will be all well and ready to go back to my water aerobics. My daughter is going to join me. What fun.

I have been telephoning "old" friends this week and am happy to report they are all doing well. The woman who introduced Ron & I and hired me in my Salem Dental job is now 80 and young at heart as ever. No matter how long between conversations – as soon as we talk it's like we have never been apart. What a grand experience to have Auntie Jan in my life. Dr. David – a long time dentist friend is also near 80. He lost his wife last fall and misses her so much. And he is fine – a really fine man and friend. My best sister is in the same age group and feeling wonderful. I love her so much. My brother is 10 years ahead of me so we will both celebrate milestone birthdays this year. He sounds great and I am going to try to find a way to get somebody to drive him and his wife to Oregon so we can get together again this year.

We had fun on Christmas Day – with our celebrations all over – we spent a quiet day with Eli and took a drive to the Basket Slew where we saw deer, 2 bald eagles, 1 great Egret, thousands of ducks, geese, coots, and mergansers. We often take a trip there and find it to be just as new and renewing every time.

Next week the weather forecast says it will be nice – like 60 degrees on the Oregon Coast. We are planning to play hooky again and Ron will go crabbing in Newport. I will join him part of the time and perhaps we'll stay overnight if all goes well.

I like to update the blog from time to time so you can check in. I know most of you are too busy for such stuff – what with Face book to keep up with and all. My blog is mostly for me – to keep testing my ability to write and create a picture with words. Many of you know I am in the process of writing my second book "The House". I can't finish it too soon because I would be too embarrassed to release it while I'm alive. But I am considering telling some of those "stories" that one remembers most clearly as we become older. I won't have pictures – but maybe I can convey a picture with words – and that will please me. If you have time to read it and enjoy the story – that will please me too. Stay tuned for my grand "Spelunking" (cave exploration story), My adventures with an Indian Shaman, A trip to the nudist event, and others.

Love to all, and thanks for checking in.