Oregon Coast Travels

After spending a bit of time on the road we have finally landed in a place where I can stop and review these first days of our journey.  It has been a bit of an adventure for sure and we have had to keep our sense of humor and perspective a number of times.

An unexpected snow storm delayed our departure date but we finally made it out after the ice melted off the roads on the following day.

In our efforts to avoid the icy road conditions in the mountains we elected to take the coastal route down the Oregon Coast and were making good time until we blew a tire on the fifth wheel just 10 minutes from our destination for the night.  It's a little scary changing a tire on the side of a busy winding road just as it's starting to get dark but the Lord protected us and we were soon on our way again.   Our second day we ended up getting caught in a huge wind and rain storm in Newport, Oregon where we had to hunker down for a couple of days.

Even though it was windy, rainy and cold, that didn't stop us from getting out, in spite of the rain to wander a little bit along the old waterfront in the Newport Harbor and enjoy a nice warm bowl of clam chowder and some fresh fish and chips.

It didn't stop the seagulls either.

Finally, the winds died down, the sun came out and we could be on our way again.

A view of the Newport Bridge in the early morning after the storm taken from our camp site.

Those of you who have traveled the highway along the Oregon Coast know how magnificent the scenery is.  Around every corner is a spectacular view of waves crashing to the shore and splashing up against gigantic rocks jutting up from the water. The clouds and storm would blow in and out making the afternoon look like night was drawing in, and then the sun would come back out and sparkle on the water. 

Our fourth night out we landed in the little seaport of Brookings, Oregon, the last town before crossing into California.  We found a cute little RV park in the harbor right across the street from the beach where ...

  I finally got my first walk along the seashore.

 We could see where the sea had thrown up bits and pieces of wood  and debris and left it all along the water's edge including this little bit of burl wood which I picked up and almost brought home with me before resisting the urge and leaving it where it lay for the next treasure hunter. 

   

   Much of this wood looked raw and new, freshly washed up from the storm.  But with time the winds and the sands will polish it into the smooth and whitened patina of aged driftwood much like this little piece.

T

There is still so much more to share, especially about the sea, but I must leave you for now.  We are still experiencing some large winter storms but we are nestled safely with dear friends who are are keeping us busy and helping us to stay cosy and warm.  I pray that each of you are safely nestled in the place that you are as well. 

Retirement projects

For the past few days I have been feeling like I have accomplished very little since retiring.  It just seems like there is so much to be done.  Then I took the time to look on the calendar and realized that I have only been retired for three and a half weeks and as I have looked through some of my pictures I can see that I have accomplished more than I thought.  Here are a few of the things I have been doing.  

~~~

Our church has been in the middle of some remodeling.  Some walls were taken down and offices moved around.  This spring as the church's librarian, I was asked if I would consider moving our library from its present location to another space as part of that remodeling process.   This was our original library.

Several years ago this room had been pretty much a classroom with a few bookshelves in it.  I painted the walls, pulled together all the bookcases and unused furniture from around the church  and turned it into a organized working library where people could come and quietly read or meditate. It has become a much used spot in the church. Now the room was needed for an office.

So I was given the challenge of turning this somewhat boring meeting room into a combination library/meeting space.

 The first thing my hubby and I did was give the walls a fresh coat of light gray paint to go with the new carpet that was laid.  I spent the first week after school got out, purging old books moving bookcases in, and placing all the books we were keeping back on the shelves.  It was quite a job and took many hours of work but I think it turned out rather well.

Wall to Wall Books with space for growth

There is still a meeting space

 

A children's Corner

A place to sit quietly and read

All that is needed is a few more silk plants and some pictures on the wall and it will be finished.

~~

My second week of retirement we had to have someone come out to take down some trees.

See how massive the tree was compared to the house and flag pole.  Even in this picture is was starting to turn.

From the first day we moved into our house 30 years ago this tree has been part of the landscape. Towering 65 feet, green and lush, it was its own ecosystem, home to birds and squirrels.  We even saw a raccoon or two hanging around in its branches from time to time.  Suddenly for no reason that we have been able to figure out it began to die.  By this summer it had become so brown and dry that we feared the possibility of it going up like a giant torch on the 4th of July. For our safety and the safety of our neighbors it had to be removed.

It was so sad to watch such a wonderful tree come down, but as you can see, there was no green left.

Removing the branches

Taking the tree down in sections

Making sure it falls the right direction.

Right where it's supposed to land.

Plenty of firewood for years to come.

I am going to miss that big old tree but I am hoping it will be a good change, allowing the plants and trees around it light and space to grow and spread.  Time will tell.

There is another smaller project I have been working on as well.
My daughter decided she wanted to learn how to knit an afghan from this ball of giant yarn.  It's been a few years since I have knit anything and I wasn't all that great at it even then.  I had to take a quick refresher course on YouTube before I could tackle it.  I have never used such big needles or yarn before but together we are figuring it out.  I think my daughter is going to enjoy snuggling into it when winter returns.

 In between these projects, there have been some doctor appointments, yard work and even a couple of days visiting with family in Oregon. I guess I really have been busier than I thought.
Please feel free to leave a comment.  I always love hearing from everyone.

Retirement

Not all changes are bad, but as I mentioned in my previous post, they can be unsettling, even when we have chosen them ourselves.  After much back and forth my husband and I both came to the conclusion that it was time for me to hang up my hat and retire at the end of this school year.  It was not an easy decision as I was not only blessed to be able to stay home with my children for 17 years. but I was able to follow that with 20 years of doing a job that I truly loved. I helped to open this school 17 years ago and have been there ever since.

Every fall I pulled into this parking lot, excited for a new year to start.  That excitement would continue through the seasons all the way to the end of each school year.

School Parking lot in the fall.

The flowering cherry trees in the spring in front of the school.

Early summer on the playground the last weeks of school.. 

Last week of school.

This was my little teaching area where I helped immigrant children learn to read, write and speak English.  Over the years I met children from Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, China, West Africa and the Philippines, just to name a few.  It was always so rewarding to watch them grow in confidence and reach the point where they didn't need me anymore.  I helped with special needs children as well.

Our school mascot was a hornet.  On the last day of school we had a going away party with a cake and I was given this lovely sterling silver necklace especially designed with the honeycomb and a little bee.  I am so glad to know that I will always be "a part of the hive."    This was a heart wrenching change but I am hoping it is not "adieu" but rather "au revoir" as I am planning to come back and do some volunteering and possibly substituting as well in the future.  

 

 And so as I said in my Thank You, I will wear this with gratitude and joy because of what it represents, that I was part of a remarkable team of dedicated and talented people whom I admired and respected and who taught me everything I know about teaching. 

Standing next to my Principal in the green shirt.

For those of you who are wondering what we are going to do next, we are sticking around home for the summer as we have a number of health related things to take care of in the next few weeks. Besides this is the best time to be in the Northwest as the weather is perfect.  We may take a few days in the fall.  Then we will be home through the holidays and to be here for the birth of our first grandchild.  Yes, we have another big change coming as we are going to be grandparents this winter.

I am excited to see what the future brings but I will never forget the wonderful experiences or the people who have gone before.