This past weekend, Bill & I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. We've actually been together 24 (dated 2 years prior to getting married) and have enjoyed every year together. Our biggest test to our marriage, 1st kids, then job loss last year. Thankfully, I can say, we've overcome those and put our trust in the Lord and have moved forward. Being married to your best friend is certainly a plus when trials enter in!!
As a surprise, I booked a room at Anchor Pier Lodge in Newport. Sean and Tracey had originally found this place for us last year, and we decided to go back. We love the room, the bay, and the sea lions. The only drawback is the street parking. The hospitality and the cleanliness are incredible!
I blew the surprise the night before we left, simply, because it's hard to lie--and even though it's for a surprise gift, lying is not something that meshes well, and therefore, I screwed up, hours before the planned surprise! It all worked well though, as Bill suggested I leave with him early in the morning, and head to school with him, bum around while he had class,and then us leave from school, and head over from Salem, cruising down the coast...stopping at one of our favorite places for lunch. So, it was, I went to school, dropped him off, and headed off to have the suburban detailed. It was well worth the $27.00---it was washed, cleaned inside & out, rims done, the whole nine yards...while I sat in the sun and enjoyed my coffee!!
Charlie came to hang with Ryan, and Kristin spent the weekend with Grandma Alice. Both kids had a blast--Charlie & Ryan went to see Robin Hood, and Kristin just loves her "girl time" with Grandma. It so happened that Kristin & Grandma had their plans set before we had ours!! Convenient!!
I picked up Bill at noon, and we headed to the coast...stopping for lunch, and hitting the outlets on our way to Newport. We arrived in Newport about 5, checked in, and unloaded the car. Being we were right in old town....the car did not move all weekend!! We walked everywhere....it was awesome.
We had a great nap, and then headed to dinner around 8pm, and decided to try the Rogue Ales Public House on Bay street just down from where we were staying. I was a bit hesitant, as it was full of fisherman when we arrived, but we were not disappointed with the food or the service. Both were incredible. I had some fresh brewed Root Beer that was incredible...even more so with a splash of Hazelnut rum in it (the waiters idea, I would have NEVER put those two together)...but it was wonderful. Rueben (our waiter, not our food!) was great, and made our visit there so enjoyable, that we headed back on Saturday to try some other good foods. By the time we perused the menu, we decided two trips was not enough....what a variety of different foods they have....Blue cheese on a hot dog with grilled onions...YUMMY!! Pork sliders is our next venture!
We spent Saturday being lazy, bumming around Newport Old Towne, and watching the fishing traffic. I had no idea what a busy port this was. The weather was perfect, and we spent some time on the deck, enjoying the sun and the sea lions. While the journal in the room indicated that the noise from them bothered some, it never really bothered us.
Sunday, we headed home, wishing our time could be extended, but enjoyed the time we were blessed with. My best friend, two and a half days to ourselves, what more could a girl ask for??!!
Chelsea is our oldest dog now. She came to us after Kahlua died, and what we hoped would be a good companion for Bailey. What we have learned, is that Chelsea is a loner, a farm dog, and has the instinct to protect. She is 1/2 shepherd and 1/2 Maremma. Maremma's are bred to be watchdogs on farms, mainly to be with the sheep. We knew she had an instinct to protect, as we've watched that in her barking and her possessive nature about her property line! Over the years we've watched her keep an eye on the kids...always near where they were when the were little....and still watchful when Kristin is outside alone. What we didn't realize, was the nature she really has to heard, to keep her charges safe. Kristin was outside today working with me in the yard, and she had her chicks out there pecking around in the grass. We weren't paying close attention, since they hadn't moved much from the area she put them in, but they started heading toward the driveway. To us it was no big deal, but to Chelsea, she rounded those chicks up, and headed them back to the grass in no time! It was very cool to watch.
Not only did she lay out there with the the entire time, but after she hearded them back to the grass, she stayed close, making sure they didn't get that far from her again.
This is a side we've not seen of Chelsea. However, it was great to see her gentle nature, and even "mothering" side when a chick ended up under the steps. Chelsea was right to her side, and waited with the chick until Kristin got there and got it out of the tall, tangly grass. Way to go Chelsea..you've earned another day or two of keep. Well done!
What a beautiful day it was....
We headed to church, and enjoyed a great service with Rod & Lissa....then a good lunch at KFC, which allowed us to visit awhile before going home. Brandon is getting so big!
We arrived home, and it was so nice, and Kristin's chicks are getting so big, that we told her they needed out of the cage for awhile. So, she let them out in the front. They had a great time picking around in the grass. They didn't stray too far from her though. She has become their mother hen! We keep trying to convince her to give them to a family that has a group of chicks, but she is pretty adamant on wanting to try to do this....now she has to convince Daddy...Mom is a sucker for pets of any kind!
We took our usual Sunday afternoon nap...a quick one mind you, and then we piled in the car, and headed off for a ride together. We hit an old logging road outside of Sweet Home,and took it all the way to Cascadia....a few side trips between here & there mind you. We saw Foster Lake & Sweet Home from heights we've never seen before (Aunt Cec would have loved it!), Green Peter Dam from 2500 ft...and some great views. It was an amazing drive, and God's beauty was all around us.
Foster Lake and Sweet Home
The house from down in town....with a close zoom, then cropped..a bit grainy, but pretty good for probably over a mile away!
Green Peter Lake & Cascade Mountain Range
We ended up out by Cascadia park, so we took Bill to see the Wolves out there. I counted 30 in one pen, and there were many, many more out there. I'm not sure if it's a rescue, or what the deal is. Most of them were beautiful white wolves. Bill tried to get someone's attention to talk to someone, but you don't dare open a gate where there are 30 white wolves waiting to greet you! No one ever came to the gate...one of those unspoken blessings from God, I'm sure. We have only been down to 2 dogs for two weeks....surely it's not time for another!
Afterward, we headed to Skyline for dinner, and then home to get ready for Home School group tomorrow....a great day, and a fine ending to the weekend!
As a surprise, I booked a room at Anchor Pier Lodge in Newport. Sean and Tracey had originally found this place for us last year, and we decided to go back. We love the room, the bay, and the sea lions. The only drawback is the street parking. The hospitality and the cleanliness are incredible!
