It was our 9 year wedding anniversary on Tuesday but with a full work week and three kids, we didn’t find the time to celebrate properly. We didn’t even exchange cards.

I had my sister come over for a sleepover Friday night, [...]]]>

Our favorite place to visit when it’s just the two of us is Mary Hill Museum. We can take our time, slowly meander from Exhibit to Exhibit, actually “reading” each and every plaque.
No pulling children down from rafters and off of 17th Century Relics.

TIMES UP!! Thanks so much to everyone for entering! Winners will be announced Sunday morning. evening.

It is so hard to believe that I have been selling on etsy for a year!And on the other hand, it’s equally hard to believe it’s ONLY been a year.

I have met so many cool people on etsy, developed [...]]]>

TIMES UP!! Thanks so much to everyone for entering! Winners will be announced Sunday morning. evening.

It is so hard to believe that I have been selling on etsy for a year!
And on the other hand, it’s equally hard to believe it’s ONLY been a year.

I want to celebrate the best way I know how……with a giveaway, of course!

And it followed us all the way to the coast.There were a few breaks in the weather though….

so we at least, managed to get out and walk on the beach once [...]]]>

Leaving town, it looked as if we may be leaving gray skies behind and looking to blue skies ahead.

But this is what met us in Portland.

And it followed us all the way to the coast.
There were a few breaks in the weather though….

so we at least, managed to get out and walk on the beach once or twice without getting completely drenched!

Our trip up to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, was a different story, on the other hand.

What? No one’s told you! The “wet dog” look is in, now.
Still, the trip up Yaquina Bay was worth the impromptu shower.

The view from the top was AMAZING!

I even brought along my old Kodak Duaflex to capture some pictures on our trip.

There’s plenty more where those came from but far too many to show you.
I guess I went a little nuts! Just ask Jason. He’s the one that had to suffer every time I pulled his sleeve, stopped short and yelled, “Ooh, ooh! Wait. I gotta get this with the viewfinder.”

Our condo at the beach was absolutely breathtaking! We felt like kids in a candy store!

Photo courtesy of Bella Beach Management.
Photo courtesy of Bella Beach Management.
Photo courtesy of Bella Beach Management.

The stay was extremely comfortable and we had no complaints about the place.

That being said…….

Our first night was a bit of a hiccup.
We bought a bottle of wine, some chocolates and settled our selves into the huge jetted jacuzzi tub in the master suite.

Suddenly, we heard every smoke alarm in the three level home wailing in our ears.
We both lept from the tub like our backsides were on fire.
I ran through the house, smartly clad in nothing but my “birth day” suit, sniffing the air for signs of smoke.

I sheepishly crept quickly down the stairs to find water pouring from the ceiling of the dining room. Which just happened to be situated directly over a smoke alarm.

We called the management, only to get an answering service. We left two messages, which went unanswered, of course, since it was 9:30 on a Sunday night.

We wandered around the home looking for anything that could boost us up to the 12 foot ceilings to possibly remove the battery or shake some water out.
ANYTHING REALLY! Anything to stop the high pitched squealing of the alarms.

Soon, we heard a doorbell. Oh good! Finally, we are rescued! That, or the alarms are linked to the local Fire Department. And the men in red are about to get a nice show!

It was just the nice neighbor ladies across the street from us. Checking to make sure we were’nt getting barbecued in our sleep.
In fact one of them laughed and said she was outside lighting her cigarette when she heard the alarms go off and she started to worry that the development had special state-of-the-art outdoor smoke alarms.

We appreciated the ladies’ concern but unfortunately, they were also just renting the place they were in, so they had no suggestions of what we could do.

Almost 20 minutes later, our ears were beginning to bleed and I decided I would drag a small sitting chair from the living room over to the wall next to where the leaking smoke alarm was. I scaled it carefully and awkwardly, steadying myself on Jason’s back, ‘er,…. face. It took several minutes but I finally got a hold of the alarm and ripped it from the ceiling in an enormous fit of rage.

Talk about a perfectly wonderful evening completely spoiled!

We sat on the couch for a little while whining and pouting, just blowing off some steam really.
And by the next morning, we had gotten over ourselves.

The home was newly constructed and we were only the second ones to have rented it.
This was just an unexpected fluke in the Jacuzzi Pump. Never happened before.

We used the tub again the next night, only we left the pump OFF! No more Naked Bath time Shenanigan’s for us, thank you!

And no, I have no pictures!
You cheeky things, you.

We still had fun and we definitely want to go back. Only, maybe we’ll bring our bathing suits next time. And an umbrella!

And I brought you back some taffy, as promised….

I am exhausted , so I will fill you all in on our trip later.There is just far too much [...]]]>

Well,….. for the weekend.

I will be soaking up the sea air and gorging myself on all of the seafood I can possibly cram into my face.I’ll be sure to bring you all back some Taffy!

Hope you all have an equally [...]]]>

Whenever the road is too long….Too narrow….Too cramped….

The air too thin….The sea too deep….The wind too fierce….

Whatever the storm, whatever the weather, you make me feel like I can [...]]]>
Whenever I am wary, whenever I am in doubt….
Whenever the stakes are high….
The odds are against me….

Whenever the road is too long….
Too narrow….
Too cramped….

The air too thin….
The sea too deep….
The wind too fierce….

Whatever the storm, whatever the weather, you make me feel like I can do anything.

Then, I met you.

The first time we spoke, I can’t even recall what we said but I remember the laughter.I remember not being able to wipe my smile from my [...]]]>
My sister and my very best friend are the only people I knew of that could make me laugh until I thought I would pee my pants.

Then, I met you.

The first time we spoke, I can’t even recall what we said but I remember the laughter.
I remember not being able to wipe my smile from my face.

You still have that control over me.

Whenever you are near me, in presence or in thought, there is a smile on my face and laughter in my heart.

For as long as we’ve been together, he has woken early each morning and made me coffee.Uncoaxed by yours truly.

At first, when we were dating, I thought it was just his cute little way of making his [...]]]>

For as long as we’ve been together, he has woken early each morning and made me coffee.
Uncoaxed by yours truly.

At first, when we were dating, I thought it was just his cute little way of making his sale.
We worked together in the same building and he would bring me my favorite coffee each morning.

“Yes, I am the most considerate guy you have ever met (aside from your father), I can make you laugh uncontrollably, I have that adorable little dimple on my left cheek when I smile at you AND I will bring you coffee each and every morning…..if you will have me.”

“I’m going once. Going twice.”

SOLD!

Yes. I bought it. I bought the whole package. And it wasn’t just his way of making his sale.
No false advertising, no tricky gimmicks. Just the plain and simple, honest to goodness truth.

Each passing year, I’ve coyly waited for it to wear off. Maybe if I really make him mad, he’ll slip up and be imperfect just once.

Oh sure, there’s the usual “toilet seat shenanigans” and his personal #1 top single hit, “Log Sawing Lullaby” he showcases each and every night.

But every relationship has these little hiccups. And we won’t even delve into my bad habits. Not here.

No, I have it pretty good. And unfortunately, I tend to take it for granted.
That is just one of my many flaws.

So, this is for you, babe.

This Saturday, we leave town, just you and I to celebrate these 8 wonderful years together. And for those five days leading up to our departure, I will be sharing with everyone ALL that I am thankful for, in you.

Undoubtedly, I will leave something out but for the most part, I think you will know and fully understand just how grateful I am to have found you.
And to have never lost you.

I love you.