Beauty in our World

 

 

 

 

 

Just yesterday as I was driving in my neighborhood I was thinking of all the beautiful
pictures I see on pinterest, other blogs, and Facebook.
It struck me as I passed through the neighborhood that I am surrounded by beauty.
So I thought I would share a few pictures from my part of the world.
As I was driving and thinking I saw a bumper sticker that said eARTh
and I realized that our world is God's palette.
Sometimes people destroy it and injure it,
but when left to God's hand beauty can return.
The color is often green with splashes of the rainbow.
EartH is beautiful!
Let's treasure it, care for it, and treat it as a gift from God.

The Sky and The Beach

 

 

 

 

Driving to the beach just the other day, it was pouring what could be said as, raining cats and dogs.
My heart yearned to visit my favorite beach, but in the rain it wouldn't happen.
As we arrived the rain stopped and the sun came out to greet us.
Oh did my heart sing with JOY.
The word for this year is SHINE and indeed it did SHINE for us.
The sky turned blue with big clouds and the water just sparkled.
Oswald West is not seen from the highway, so if you don't know the beauty
that awaits it would be easily missed.
Just park your car at the highway parking lot and hike about a 1/2 mile to the beach.
The bottom photo is the glimpse of the beach from the trail,
the glimpse that says we are almost there or farewell dear beach.
I have shared my special sky and beach with you before,
but when so in love with this special place - I can't help sharing again and again.

So if you visit Oregon one day, I would say this special beach is a definite place to visit.

DOC, a Special restaurant

 

 

 

Often when walking in my neighborhood I have peered into the windows of DOC.
I have been fascinated by the canning jars filled with all sorts of goodies.
I reminded me of a quiet street in France,
a place to sit for the evening
sipping something wonderful in your cup and eating delicious fresh food.
As part of our anniversary celebration my husband took me here last weekend.
What a treat and one I will look forward to repeating for a special occasion.
We started with delicious bread and olives and ended with panna cotta
 with crumbles of chocolate coffee cookies.
Stepping in the door you walk through the kitchen to arrive at your table.
As we sat with anticipation, we could watch as our food was prepared.
The second picture was taken of the chefs from our table.
They serve locally grown food in creative ways,
to delight the eye as well as the palate.
If you live in the Portland area, this one is definitely worth a visit.

Do you love visiting somewhere new for you, a place that delights?
If so, where have you visited or where would you like to visit?

It is fun when you find someplace to delight and then get to partake.
It is like a dream come true.
May dreams come true in little ways and in big times too.

You can visit their website here.

Monday's Quotes

 

To see a world in a grain of sand
 and heaven in a wild flower
 Hold infinity in the palms of your hand
 and eternity in an hour.
 
~William Blake

Tea Time in Tillamook

Tillamook is a coastal town in Oregon, about 1 1/2 hour drive from Portland.
There is a tea room called La Tea Da, started by two friends.
Their husbands are dairy farmers and so cheese is often one of the features.
The tearoom is now for sale, sadly I must say.
So one last tea time was shared as part of our anniversary day.
In my cup is Yorkshire Gold, a very nice black tea.

Strawberry sorbet in very tiny cups.

Tea is served, one tier per person.

 

The savories are always my favorite and they didn't disappoint.
The puff pastry held a chicken caesar salad.
The twisted sticky bun held a sausage inside, one of my favorites.
Raisin bread with carrot salad, cucumber sandwich, and egg salad sandwich too.
The stacked sandwich was oh so yummy ham and cucumber.

There were also apricot and cheese scones with cream, lemon curd, and strawberry jam.

Brought home with us were the sweets for later.
A watermelon sliced cookie, lemon cake with coconut and cream,
chocolate caramel bar, and strawberry rhubarb cobbler.

It was a special day of tea and visiting the beach.
Next week I will share pictures of the beach and the amazing clouds and sky.
It was truly a magical day of celebration.

Black and White

Aspen's in Colorado, taken on our road trip last year.

I was inspired by an exhibit of Ansel Adams photography to play a bit with my photo.

Today is my husband and my 49th anniversary.

I really can't believe it has been that long.

Thinking of marriage or partnerships I find that life is not always Black and White.

There are often grey areas in between.

Learning to live with the differences is like living in the grey areas,

sometimes a bit fuzzy, not always fun, not always roses.

Sometimes the raindrops and clouds appear,

but we muddle through it somehow.

So today we celebrate living in the grey areas and muddling through.

Off for a day trip to our favorite beach.

I had better take a towel along to wipe off the raindrops from the bench

where we will be enjoying the view.

The Calla Lily

 

The Calla Lily

The flow and movement of this graceful flower does enchant.
The curves sway to the music and dance.
It shines in the sunlight capturing my attention.
The romance of it takes my breath away.
The bridal veil it reminds me.
While secrets it enfolds.
It is present in my garden.
It is carried down the garden path.
Purity surrounds and tickles my heart with JOY.
Walk with me and we will discover secrets yet untold.
Laugh with me in bold DELIGHT and our day will sing in pleasure.
How do I love this simple flower, this calla lily so true.
It is truly in just NOTICING God's design for me and you.

May you notice what you notice each and every day!