018 Finally, The Coast.

October 17, 2008 – Friday

Florence, OR

This last week has been a slow one; I am just recovering from a cold.  It’s been nice, having some time to relax and recuperate in a beautiful spot without many responsibilities to worry about while being sick.  Mainly my days have been filled with having coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, then doing some painting in the evening and occasionally at other times during the day.  My dad has been helping with the chores around the ranch, my brother left last Monday but he was quite a ranch hand as well.  It was really fun having him out here, even though it was really cold a lot of the time.  We did get in a few rides, but at some point I had enough of my fingers falling off and I skipped out on a couple.  When my brother got back from one of them, he said that his glasses had salt tears frozen to them from his eyes watering and getting onto them.  Yes, it was cold.  Yesterday when it was finally warmer and we were heading to visit Grandpa & Mary again, I stopped to buy new gloves for cold weather.  I’m excited to wear them, they look spectacular!

Speaking of my bike, a few days ago, my Uncle asked me if I had a name for my bike.  I don’t, so I told him that.  He and my Dad had a lot of fun trying to come up with something clever, offering me suggestions all the time.  My Uncle thinks I should just call it “Bitch”.  My Dad, however, came up with “Independence.”  I suggested that I combine the two and call it “Independent Bitch.”  What do you think?  Actually, the latest that Uncle Lyle came up with was iBitch.  I kinda like that one, too.  It’s entertaining, and nice to know where some of my behaviors, actions and thoughts come from.  I’m definitely my Father’s daughter.

By the way, the snow did go away; it didn’t stick around for too long, but I didn’t care at all for it while it was here.  The mountains really look beautiful layered in fresh snow, but it’s not enough for me to want to be too close to it.  While I’ve been staying at the ranch, it has been wonderful to have some time to paint.  I made a larger version of a concept that I worked on at my time in the yurt and finished the other one that I started there which I don’t care for much.  However, I painted one more that I actually do like quite a bit.  I may post it here, as well as its inspiration so people understand a bit more.

There are some kittens at the ranch that are growing up quickly; they’re leaving their basket just barely at this point.  Well, I’ve made friends with them and I just know that one of them wants to come with me and be my car cat.  He/she is adorable, black with bright blue eyes that look directly into mine.  He/she usually comes to greet me when I come to visit, scampering up to say hi.  I adore it.

This weekend I found a mushroom festival in Yachats, on the coast.  I was determined to attend some of it, and was trying to get well all week so that I was ready for the jaunt over to the coast.  By the time today arrived, my Aunt Patty, Uncle Lyle, Mom & Dad decided that they wanted to come with as well.  Originally, or at one point anyway, my parents had decided they were going to go back to MN today but my Mom really decided that she wanted to see the coast before leaving.  So, we packed everything up and headed out this morning.  My Mom, Dad, Uncle & Aunt took the motorhome, trailering my Dad’s scooter and my Uncle’s Harley Sportster.  I, of course, have my car with my bike trailered as well.  I packed everything up before we left in case I didn’t return.

What an incredible drive.  It was nice having a reminder of why I fell in love with Oregon years ago.  It’s gorgeous here and it feels like home.  I may possibly consider living here, away from things, people, life.  My Uncle Lyle knows this land pretty well, the people in it and the places also.  While we were driving through some small sort of village place my Uncle pulled over ahead of me, and I followed of course.  He told me that the restaurant right next to us, now closed, used to be one of the best places to stop for pie & burgers.  I blurted out, “I want it” and he said, “well, let’s put together a business plan…”  So, we’ll see.  I wouldn’t mind running that for a few months out of the year and closing down when it got cold again, actually setting up shop for a long period of time in one place…  Quite the concept for me!  I have already designed a bit of it in my head, and right now it’s called Reese’s Treehouse Café.  I’m sure that will change as the concept grows.

Eventually we made it to the coast, just in time to unpack our bikes and go for a short ride.  It’s nice to be next to the ocean again; I think I prefer the Pacific to the Atlantic but either is better than neither.  When I first laid eyes on it this time, I said, “I can’t live in Minnesota.”  Everyone laughed, but they know how serious I really am.

Tonight is nice and laid back; sounds of the ocean from only a quarter of a mile away, a movie in the RV with my Dad & Uncle while my Mom & Aunt went somewhere to play bingo.  I think I’ll try to get sleepy, maybe have another beer, then get to bed so that I can fully enjoy my day here tomorrow.  

Thanks for coming with me!