Drift Creek Trail and Falls

This is the trail that Cal and I took Doobie and Kirbee for a hike. Yes, in Oregon they let you take your dogs on the trails. It is amazing to have them go with us and see, hear and smell what we do. It was three miles (round trip) of switchbacks and roots to step over and birds singing. It was quiet, peaceful and soul reviving. There of course is a Creek that you somewhat follow as you follow the path down mostly gentle slopes. The scenery is dense and smells of earth and water and fresh rain. It was still muddy in some places (doesn't surprise me!) as the rain hasn't stopped. I don't think we would have this much green if it did. It was a warm day for Oregon (mid 60s) but still chilly with the tall trees covering us and dappling the trail with bits of sunshine. It was enough.

 As you can see there is a bridge to cross to get to really see the falls. It is a small suspension bridge. It moves and sways as you cross and bounces as you walk. It is a deep enough slash in the earth that you would be dead or not want to be alive if you fell off it. Cal is afraid of heights but he made it across by just going for it. The dogs barely noticed. I on the other hand, well I was a bit intrepid, but wanted to get a better shot of the falls.

I found myself watching the sway of it and getting into it as I crossed it and then it was over! Funny how even as your heart is racing and your body is saying this isn't a good idea, you can put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Just like in life.

Here are the boys before we crossed the bridge. They were as always curious and ready. Cal of course sporting his Doobie Brothers T shirt.

 

  This was the pay off. My picture cannot give you the spectacular sight of it. The sound of it and the sun glinting off of the water falling and crashing down on the rocks below. The smell of the fresh scents and the force of nature that pulls you to stand in awe of this nautal beauty. It was worth it to enjoy the walk and see this. I don't have the dimensions of it or the gallons of water that goes over it in the peak season. I guess I could find out, but I just was caught by the fact that within a half hour of my house this is there every day.   I don't compare it to anywhere else, or wonder if there is a begger or better place, I just love the fact that it is here. I am just a happy camper to find that there are so many places here to see like this one. In the coming months now that there wll be some dry days we will be taking some of these day hikes and I will be showing you what we are finding.

Live Large !  Coy

Art and where you can find it

In Newport which is about 26 miles south of where I live there is a small district by the beach that Cal and I found by accident called Nye beach. In front of one of the buildings by the beah is this statue made of old junk parts and bits of glass. I have visted this piece many times and have caught the sun striking the head to make it glow and the rest although it has turned rusty from all the rain and salt air it is stunning to see. It has a name something like the Ambassador I think and it does it's job well. With it's arms spread in welcome to all who come to visit.
It always reminds me that art can be anywhere. I see it everywhere here in Oregon. I see it from the people who take driftwood and make baskets to the one who draw huge pictures in the sand that only last until high tide or a windy day. The ones you see like this and the photographers everywhere. It doesn't matter though if your art is displayed for the public or you put it on the fridge or you have it in your backyard. It reflects your inner beauty and makes you happy to look at it.
Not all art I see I would put in my house but I can appreciate it. Cal often asks me when I am admiring a piece of artwork, "Where would you put that?" or "That wouldn't fit in with what we have."  It doesn't have to, but I can still like it and enjoy looking at it. I can still open my senses up and take in someone elses creativity and applaud them for taking the time and energy to do it and putting it out in the universe. I don't like all forms of art and music but I don't like all kinds of food either. But for that moment in time I can try it on, see how it makes me feel and in my mind's eye take it for a test drive. That's what is so good about it. My friend Nancy likes modern art. It's not my favorite, but when we went to the Musem of Modern Art in San Franciso, in the 4 or 5 floors of paintings and sculptures I found several pieces that I enjoyed very much. And the experience was great to see something that was out of my usual scope of art. I saw it through her eyes in some ways.  Now I look at it from a different perspective. I love the art she has in her home becuase she has shown me how to appreciate the more modern side of my creativity. I evolved because of her. Amazing how art will do that to us!
Art and music to me are what brings joy to the world. Some people say that we don't need to teach children these things. I look around at the disconnected generation that we have now, and say oh yes we do. We need to teach them how to do one thing at a time. How to appreciate all things of beauty in art and music and math and science. They need to be well rounded people, not just techies.
So, if you have children or grandchildren, take them to a gallery or to a museum along with taking them to Disneyland. Make sure that they are getting both sides of the coin. Even if they grow up to be a world class scientist, make sure that they have happy memories of seeing VanGogh or Ansel Adams or a piece of modern art. Show them the world is bigger and brighter and let them choose what they like. Children love to go to those places and ask all kinds of questions that you probably won't be able to answer but go anyway you may learn something too. And the next time you see something in a window, don't just walk by, stop and take in someone elses creativity. Take a moment to send up a silent thank you to those that take the time and the labor of love to make something beautiful. We all have creativity in some way, we just need to let it come out. Uh-huh, even you! I used to say I didn't have it, but it takes courage, and experimenting, and trial and error sometimes to find where it is. But we all have it. We just need to go find it. I did and I don't let anyone tell me I can't do it now.
So, go enjoy some art and find a little creativity in yourself today!

Spring is here!!!

Ok so now I have added a picture of D Beach which is close to where I live for all of you to see. I now will be adding pictures to the blog of our area so you can all see where we are and what is happening. Spring is here and this young girls heart turns to travel. Our first trip is going to be to Silver Creek Falls State Park. It is about three hours from here but i am looking forward to taking the dogs and going on some walks. We will go soon. I am just waiting to make sure we have aweek without rain (OH sure!!!) But they tell me it does happen sometimes here.
I am still trying to find a new job. Old one sucks but I am taking a new approach and am going to stop being so cautious and overly professional and just be me (UH-OH!) So, I am going to start living authentically and be true to myself.
Then I am going to embrace Oregon, and try to see as much of it as I can while it is warm (?) and see if I survive it for the summer. Then I will be making decisions on what I will be doing for the next half of my life. 60 will be a real turning point. This middle age thing is a real page turner I tell you! But I need to get more exercise and I need to see new sights although the changing ocean and the flux of the tides is really fascinating to me.
I will download pictures of Siletz Bay that I pass each day to and from work at high and low tide so you can see what I mean. It makes me stop a lot just to watch the play of water. We women are so tied to the tides that it is amazing that we don't live in the ocean! Think about it, most of you love baths, the ancient's relate the moon as a woman, our female cycle is usually 28 days like the moon, which in turn creates the tides that contols the largest bodies of water on the earth. Mother Earth I might add. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Well, it is quite a coincidence don't you think? Or am I going off the deep end?
Well maybe so, but it is a trip I have survived many times and come out wiser. So, I will celebrate the small triumphs today. This is a small look at where I am. Cold and beautiful. Flowers are blooming and I am itching to get moving and find new places to explore.
I am back.