Rustle Wood - 45

Well, I turned 45 this past week, as mentioned in the previous post. For the past 5 or 6 years I have been going to Arch Cape and celebrating this event with friends of the same age. In the past, I would foot the bill for the Rustle Wood cabin, and friends provide no less than gourmet food and drink (I'm very fortunate to call some really good cooks, friends, by the way). It is a great set up for sure! This year, however, due to the life changing events I have set forth in my world - I couldn't afford to rent the cabin that I consider to be my yearly "reset". (sad face). But!! One of those great friends I mentioned above, Stefanie, made sure this year's reset would go as it should. She and her family rented the cabin, and I got to mooch off of them. I say "mooch" because they also provided the amazing meals as well. What a great birthday present!

Rustle Wood Cabin 2010

Lucy and I arrived Friday around 4pm. Lucy has been there twice now, and I think it's just as much her favorite place, as it is mine. As soon as we drove into the drive way, she started sniffing the air and got very excited.

"when you gonna open up the hatch?!"

I opened the back of the wagon and she jumped out and started running in circles. So, cute! We let ourselves in, got our stuff settled, then went to the beach. 

gorgeous sunset

We pretty much had the whole stretch of Arch Cape to ourselves. I've never let her off leash before - well, I did once, and she went chasing birds, out of my sight, for about half an hour. This scared the crap out of me - so, I haven't allowed her off the leash since - until, today. I have to say she did really well. Yes, she bolted after some seagulls, but didn't get too far away from me, and she came back when I called her. Good Girl!! I'm still hesitant to let her off leash when there are kids on the beach. They are her favorite things to chase, only second to birds. Since kids can't fly away out of reach, she was attached to me the rest the weekend. But, as a pair, we ran in the waves, and walked through the creek - so I don't think she was too disappointed.


Anyway, after our initial romp, we went back to the cabin and built a fire, set the table, and got ready for Dangermond and the Beckers to arrive. As I was looking around the cabin for candles, I came across these Harpers Magazines from the 1930's. Not many pictures inside, all articles. The only add was on the back cover, for Lucky Strike cigarets. 

So cool! Not the smoking part, but the being from the '30's part. I took a quick glance through, but didn't have time to really read anything before the rest of the folks got there. Steve, (Stef's S.O.) had prepared a wonderful "Fish Stew" (ask Stef about why this is in quotes - if you know her) I've ever had. Lucy and boys cuddled up on the swing and watched the fire, while the adults had a couple of glasses of wine and chatted for a little while. (No! Max and Ben you can't have a glass of wine. Not even if it's white.) It was a perfect end to the week. 


Lucy and I slept upstairs, left the window open to hear the waves crash. 

She needed to go outside around 5am and do her "bidness". I was a bit sleepy eyed and wishing she could hold it just a few hours more - but nope  - she really wanted to go then. We headed out to the frost bitten side yard, she sniffed around, as I took a quite glance up at the night sky. WOW! All the stars in the universe were out. The sky was incredibly clear, and I could make out even the smallest of galaxies. Super Cool!! Thanks for being so persistent Luce! I wouldn't have seen all those stars, if you hadn't lead me there.


Saturday morning breakfast, and a walk to the creek. The boys did some rock climbing, tide pooling, and cave spelunking - the rest of us watched in amazement that they did all that barefooted, pants rolled up to the knees, managing not to get soaking wet. Ben found a wooly monarch butterfly caterpillar. Lucy found a dead jelly fish. It was a good morning for us all.


After a trip into town for some fish and chips, Lucy and I headed back to the city. 

Max, Ben, and I - happy and full of fish and chips!

We were both a little depressed once we got home. We missed the ocean and our friends. 

Dangermond and the Beckers

But it was, as intended, my yearly reset - Thanks to good friends and the stars above.

Up the Hill

In a few minutes, about 45 of them, coincidentally, I will be 45 years old. (I'm watching the cursor blink), I don't know what to think about that just yet. 


This is a picture I took while hiking in Ireland. I don't know exactly where - but it seems to fit my feeling at the moment. 

not quite over the hill, but almost...

I hope it's as nice on the other side as it is over here.

Three Months Ago

Funny how it's been about three months since my last post. I guess my life does go in three month cycles. Weird. I haven't really felt like posting anything since I go back from Europe. I suppose it's taken me this long to get back "here". Here, Portland Oregon. My Portland is changing, and that is a great thing. 


I have a part-time job at Froelick Gallery, I'm going to Oregon State University to study horticulture, and I have a new (old) car. 

her name is Limoncello

I've also put my condo on the market in the hopes of finding a little bungalow with some dirt to play in. Those are the most apparent changes, I suppose. But, those things are a direct result of the last 6 months (3 months of traveling, 3 months of simmering upon my return). 


My travels changed me, changed my priorities. I think differently about my world, and most importantly, the people in it. I feel as if there is reconstruction going on, infiltrating my old processes of living and thinking. I'm excited to see where this newness takes me. I'm putting my trust in my heart, and hoping the universe sends along helpful signs to direct me. There will be challenges and fear - no doubt - I just hope I can resist going back to old, safe ways. Hopefully, (fingers crossed) the new path will be an amazing path full of exciting and meaningful stuff I have no idea about.

me and Lucy at the Oregon coast. the picture is blurry - you're not drunk.