Monday, March 11, 2013

Oregon Get-away: Letter to my sisters March 2013


OREGON GET-AWAY FOR SISTERS MARCH 2013

Dear Sisters,

We had a WONDERFUL, relaxed time at our little Oregon Get-Away this year, and I thought I'd re-cap it here--with my usual additional "add-ins"...   :)

On Monday morning, March 4th, we headed to the airport where we all checked in without incident.  (Well, Kathy and Jenni got held up for what seemed like an extra hour to them while waiting to go through Security so that the officials could straighten containers, but that didn't count as a "problem", really!) :)  The six of us traveling from SLC got seats on Southwest Airlines near each other, where we were able to talk with each other across the aisle--DeeAnn, Kathy, and Jenni in one seat, with Janell, Karen, and Darla in the other. 

We arrived in Portland about 10 minutes ahead of schedule and rented a 'cart' for lots of our luggage, then proceeded to the Enterprise Car Rental place where Darla and Kathy rented us a nice roomy Dodge Caravan minivan that we had reserved.  (It ended up costing quite a bit less than we originally thought it would, so that started us off good.)  Oh, and it was even RED--Darla's choice! 

Kamber was flying in from Boise to join us, and her plane came in an hour after ours, so we had a chance to go to a nearby shopping mall and get a few items that we were excited to get.  Kathy and Jenni and DeeAnn got some new luscious-scented Tangerine fragrance lotion and hand soap at Bath and Body Works--(which we were happy to try out for them and benefit from, once we got to our Lincoln City house.)   Darla got some cute things at Ross, and I, Karen, got myself a $74.00 swim suit at Ross's for only $23.00, and Janell found some cute clothes for herself at the Dress Barn.  OH, and Kathy and Jenni discovered some really nice skirts that they're thinking will work well for Julie's wedding!  So we used our time very well while waiting, plus Kamber called and let us know that her plane arrived early, too, so she was waiting for us outside the airport as we drove back over to pick her up.

Setting off for the Coast, we decided to look for someplace to eat and followed the GPS to a nice Olive Garden Restaurant, somewhat off the beaten path.  (It may not really have been out-of-the-way, but it sure SEEMED like it as we drove for 2 1/2 hours to get to our destination!) :)  The Olive Garden was a good choice for our lunch because it satisfied us all very well!  We sat across from some little "Red Hat Society" ladies, and then had a waitress take a picture of us just as we were leaving.

We really appreciated Darla driving us all the way there, and were happy that the rest of us didn't have to do the driving.  I LOVED the picturesque views as we drove--the rolling hills, the orchards and farms, the velvety-looking tree-trunks all covered in moss as we got closer to our destination, and the scenic tumultuous rushing streams and creeks we drove alongside.  


Upon arriving at our Shoreline Chateau beach house--which was VERY easy to find--we were all enchanted with the gorgeous view of the magnificent ocean just as we entered the house.  The windows were huge--all the way from the ceiling to the floor--and they provided many hours of ocean-watching for us during the days ahead.  I had examined the house "on-line" many times, so as I first entered it and looked around, I was a bit apprehensive--afraid that we weren't going to like it very well.  But after being there just a little while, I decided it was just as it looked on the internet, and it was just FINE.  I think we all really liked the house a lot. 

We had a nice, comfortable living room downstairs and even a quaint little living area UP stairs, complete with a microwave, fridge, sink, counters and cabinets.  On the main floor we had a very nice dining room--separate from the other rooms, as well as a convenient kitchen, bathroom and big bedroom, and a wonderful fireplace that looked inviting and kept us cozy.  Upstairs was a bathroom, a nice king bedroom, plus a queen bedroom just off a third bedroom that had three twin beds.  The arrangement worked out great for the group we had with us, and I personally really enjoyed my "room-with-a-view".  (That first night we were there, I got up at least half a dozen times just so I could look out the window and see that gorgeous ocean!)

When we first arrived on Monday evening around 4:30 or 5, we just relaxed and got settled in for an hour or so.  Some of our group eagerly scurried down to the beach because it felt good just to BE there--so close to the ocean with only 29 stairs to the sand. 

We decided on a place to eat that first evening and headed out to Mo's across town.  The atmosphere at Mo's isn't so marvelous, but the food is pretty good, and the VIEW is fantastic.  DeeAnn and I ordered homemade bread and we each received two GIANT thick slices of delicious homemade bread along with our clam chowder.  At the end of the meal, I shared a generous serving of blackberry cobbler topped with ice cream, and we all had a fun time being at Mo's.

We stopped at a grocery store on our way back to our home and loaded up on groceries.  I said to one of my sisters, "You know, we are likely going to spend about $75 on these groceries, so that will just make it about $10 each when we divide it up."  But we all chose important grocery stuff that we were going to want to use during the next several days, so our total bill came to OVER $150!!  It was a fun little shopping trip, but we were all so tired we felt like we were about to drop!  We bought popcorn, rootbeer, hot chocolate, crackers and cheese, lunchmeat and bread, milk and cereal, cookies and chips and all kinds of goodies!  We even bought a great big delicious German Chocolate Cake and GooGoo Cluster Icecream!!

Tuesday morning I was so excited to be there that I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and got dressed really quickly and put on my make-up and did my hair almost before anyone in the whole house got up.  I had looked out the window many times the night before, and I had watched a Helicopter go over the ocean several times.  The next morning I found that it was a Search and Rescue Helicopter, and it circled regularly while we were there.  The morning was nice and clear with a bank of clouds in the distance, and since I was all alone in the house, I took 43 pictures of the ocean and the inside of the house.  I then went into the kitchen and started breakfast but had to hold off on making it till everyone woke up.

Kamber woke up and got in the hot tub, so I took a couple pictures of her and stood out on the deck and talked with her for awhile.  That silly little thing got out of the hot-tub and ran down the steps to the beach in just her swimming suit and out to the ocean--where she got IN the icy water of the ocean, then ran back and got back in the hot tub!
That was too much excitement for me, so I went back inside and cooked some biscuits and gravy and Darla fixed some eggs and apples and orange juice.  Everyone came down and ate and we sat and talked afterward and had a very enjoyable 'first morning'.

The day turned into a drizzly rain, so we left around noon and took a fun long drive--first going to a nearby settlement called Neskowin where we got out and walked down to the beach.  Several of our group found a little cave carved into a big rock on an island, and after exploring the cave, we took off for Pacific City and Cape Kiwanda.  We took pictures of a great big Hay Stack Rock (and found that there is a Hay Stack Rock at Cannon Beach, also.)  We went into a little Thrift Store and found a few treasures, and stopped at a convenience store for a bathroom and goodies, then continued with our drive, enjoying the ocean and the sights as we drove.

We decided to try to eat our evening meals early rather than later so we would have more time left over in the evenings for playing games and watching movies, so we headed to Kyllo's about 4:30 or 5 and each of us had a delicious dinner there while observing the ocean out the huge windows.  I had fish and chips and clam chowder, with marionberry pie and icecream for dessert.  Everyone had a good time being there and enjoying each others' company, and we all really liked the food and ambience.    We had a waitress take some pictures of us, but the pictures turned out pretty dark and not too clear.

Even though it was still pretty early when we got back to the house, we all moved kinda slow like as if we were tired, but we were all enthusiastic to play a couple games and watch a movie.  So we played two games Janell had brought--one called "Spot It" and one called "Reverse Charades", and watched a Cary Grant/Irene Dunn movie before hitting the hot tub then heading to bed.  Jenni did not feel at all well this night, so she headed to bed early and got a good night's sleep and was able to get up and feel better the next morning.  Kamber and I didn't get to bed till after 1:00 because she sat and read to me a couple more chapters out of her "Rounds 1,2,&3" book--(which I very much enjoyed!)

Wednesday morning several of us got in the hot tub right off.  It was drizzling rain while we sat in the hot-tub, so even though I kept my hair in rollers, I had to use the blow-dryer on it when I got in the house.  Several of us sat and visited with each other as the morning went along and some went walking on the beach.  DeeAnn fixed us a lovely breakfast of waffles, bacon, fruit and juice and all kinds of good stuff.  Others may have helped her, but I'm not sure who, so I won't name names.  But I sure liked the way everyone pitched in and cleared off and cleaned up so quickly each day after breakfasts were over.

We used our mornings just for relaxing and 'doing our own thing', so we headed out about 12:30 for Newport.  As we were nearing the south end of Lincoln City, Darla said she wanted to go in a gun store for five minutes just to check on something, so Kathy went in with her and the rest of us sat in the car.  After about 20 minutes, they came back out of the store and we headed on to Newport.  (I just had to put that time-frame in because we all teased her about her "five minutes".)  :)

On the way to Newport, we stopped and spent a nice long time in Depot Bay where we walked down the sidewalks and checked out the little shops along the main street, shopping and buying souvenirs and fun gifts for ourselves and for each other.  We ate fries, nachos, hot dogs, and ice cream at a little shop we've been to before.  There's a sign on the outside of the shop that says, "Come in for Free Samples of our almost-famous Clam Chowder."  We all had free samples and thought it was pretty good, (but we tasted better while we were on the Coast...)

In Newport, the day was pretty cold and drizzly and windy so it wasn't very nice weather conducive to enjoying being out in it.  We did check out the sea lions on the wharf, though, and walked down the streets to the Leather Shop where some of us bought extra luggage, and to the Souvenir Stores and the candy stores, etc. and had a pretty nice time.  We ended up at Georgie's Restaurant about 5:30 or 6, and were seated by the window where we watched the ocean and enjoyed a wonderful dinner.  We started with appetizers, and I really liked the artichoke crab fondue with bread cubes, plus I had fish and chips again and delicious clam chowder and a fantastic marionberry pie alamode!  (The rest of you probably had really great stuff that you would like to have mentioned, but since I am the one writing this--I only tell about what I had!!  ...sorry!)  :)

Wow--I don't remember WHAT everyone did that night.  I know I got in the hot tub again, but it seems like we didn't actually do much together as a group that night.  Maybe we sat and talked, or something, but I think it was a bit late and no one played games or anything.  If any of you remember differently--be sure to let me know and I'll add that in here for future reference.  'k??  Oh--I just remembered one thing we DID do--we all sat around that beautiful big dining table in those heavy wrought-iron chairs eating luscious German chocolate cake and Goo Goo Cluster ice cream!!

We woke up Thursday to a beautiful, sunny day!!  I sat and watched the ocean for a nice long while, then got dressed for the day--putting on my make-up, combing my hair and finding the whole house still and quiet as a mouse.  All but Darla, that is.  I looked out the front door and could see Darla in the car about ready to drive away.  I frantically tried to open the door so I wouldn't get left behind, but I made it outside just as she was driving away and I thought maybe everyone had left me!  (I forgot that I had just seen Janell, DeeAnn, and Kamber sound asleep upstairs...)  Darla had just quickly driven to the store to get some pretty flowers to place in our vase and she wasn't gone for very long at all.  After bringing in the flowers and some items for smoothies, she went back to the store a few minutes later to get a gallon of milk and some hash-browns for breakfast.

Kathy and Jenni got up and went for a walk on the beach.  I think Janell and Darla did, too.  Kamber talked me into going on a nice long walk on the beach with her and we met Kathy and Jenni coming back from having walked to the little "mountain" that was over to the right of our beach, where they had explored the rocks for awhile.  It was such a nice beautiful sunny day, that people were removing their jackets and enjoying shirtsleeve weather!

After our walk, Kamber got in the hot tub and I think others joined her, but I went in and fixed some pancakes and hash-browns for our breakfast.  We sat and ate and talked for a nice long time and leisurely enjoyed our morning.  Our breakfast conversations were so varied and interesting that we didn't exactly like to get up and get moving.  While others were getting dressed and ready for the day, I went out in the front yard and called Dennis.  (Oh--there was one drawback to being in the house--our cell phones couldn't get good reception--so we all had to go outside to use our phones!)  Just as I called Dennis, he was going into the public library in Blackfoot, so he gave the phone to Janis, (who works at the library), so I could ask her about her daughter Hailey, who was in the hospital about to have a premature baby.  Janis told me that Hailey is just hanging on--hoping her little boy baby will hold on for awhile longer before getting born.

It was after 1:30 before we got away from our Shoreline Chateau.  I called the A-1 Beach Rental Agency and was granted permission for us to go down the 114 stairs to the beach and tide pools behind the Pirate's Look-out house where we've stayed in years past.  It was Low Tide so we were able to go way far out on the rocks to see the tide pools and observe little creatures in the water.  Kathy got a star-fish and held it up for picture-taking, then put it back where it came from.  Kamber helped me get out onto the rocks so I could be a part of the excitement, then she helped me back across the rocks when it was time to leave.  DeeAnn helped me a lot, too, and she even caught me just as I was ready to fall, so I certainly appreciated both of them working with me so well.  While we were all checking out the tide pools, Darla was back at the gun store, checking out guns for Larry.  (She took a little more than 5 minutes, so we were glad she had let us out at the tide pools...)  :)

Then we went to Tanger Outlet Mall where we each went our separate ways--shopping for whatever interested us.  The Van Heusen store had some great sales on womens' sweaters and things, so Darla and Kamber and I spent quite awhile there, trying things on and actually buying things.  Just as several were getting in the car to head to Walgreen's, I spied a $110 jacket that I hurried and bought at the Bass Store for Dennis for just $23.10!!  Wasn't that a great deal??!  We got a few tee shirts at Walgreens, then went back to the outlet mall and picked up the last of our group and headed to Depot Bay to eat at the Tidal Rave's Restaurant.

We had a wonderful seat at the Tidal Rave's--looking right out at the swirling waters of the ocean--with the cliff's over on our right--where the Inn at Arch Rock is perched.  We took several pictures of a gorgeous sunset out those huge windows and ordered our dinner just as the sun was going down.  Superior paid for our very expensive meal that night--for which we are all very grateful!!  I really loved my meal that night--but I would like to have had a bit MORE of it!  I ordered Mahi Mahi in curry sauce served over coconut rice with oriental vegetables.  And my dessert was just heavenly!!  Apple Nut Cake with Caramel Sauce rounded out my meal, and I just LOVED it!!  (I was perfectly fine without marionberry pie for once!) :)

We spent a long time dining and just enjoying ourselves, then arrived back at our home after 8:30.  For awhile we just lazed around, realizing that it was our very last night at our lovely beach-house, then decided to play a couple games.  We played "Spot It" and laughed a lot, then played "5 Straight"--even though we were really tired.  It got later and later, but Kam put on "Pride and Prejudice" and we sat and watched (or listened through dozing eyes), to the Proposal scene, then headed to bed or to various activities.  Kathy, DeeAnn, Darla and Kamber got in the hot tub around midnight and had fun talking and laughing and looking at the marvelous star-studded sky.  There were so many ships out on the water with their lights shining through the black night, that it looked almost like a little city out there on the ocean!   I went to my room and did most of my packing, and the others hit the sack.  I didn't get to bed till after 1:00 a.m. again, but I slept really well that night.

Friday morning Darla and others cleaned out the fridge and cupboards so we could leave, and everyone ate left-over items and fixed our own desired breakfast.  The day was sunny and bright and WARM--and it was the very best day since we had arrived!!  Too bad we had to leave!!

But leave we did.  We left the house about 11:30 and headed to Portland.  Along the way, we stopped at a little gas station and looked at a map and got directions for the airport.  Janell bought us some delectable little delicacies--lemon bars, tarts, and such, and they tided us over till we got close to the airport and stopped at a Sizzler for lunch.  Most of us ordered the Salad Bar for lunch, and we had a friendly little waitress named Kathy who took good care of us.

We dropped Kamber and Janell off at the airport a bit early.  Kamber had a plane out to Boise and it left a couple hours earlier than our plane to Salt Lake.  Janell caught a plane to California.  Her uncle had passed away on the very first day she arrived at the beach, so she flew into California for the Saturday funeral.  The other five of us went back over to the mall and let DeeAnn buy a new piece of luggage at Ross's so she could get all her carry-on's into a bag that could be checked.  We then went to the airport early and turned in our car and leisurely strolled through the Security line and felt glad that we had plenty of time to spare.  While we sat and waited for our plane, some of us enjoyed Baskin-Robbins ice cream cones.  I even got to have a Black Walnut ice cream, so I was in 7th heaven!! :)

Our trip back to Salt Lake went very smoothly and we all dozed or talked with each other or looked at magazines.  The airline hostess was kind enough to give us two   drinks each direction--on the way there and on the way back.  When we got to the airport, Jenni went on ahead of us to the carousel, and had pulled off all our luggage and had it waiting for us.  Our husbands all came really promptly and picked us up and even acted like they had MISSED us!!  :)

This concludes the write-up about our wonderful, fun, memorable trip to the Oregon Coast!!  I think we all really enjoyed ourselves and made great memories. I hope you all know that I appreciate so very much you putting up with me and with my peculiarities and unconventional behavior..  (I WAS going to say my idiosyncrasies, but I was afraid you wouldn't know what I was meaning....) :)  I know I say and do things "out of line" sometimes, but you are all really good to still like me ANYWAY, and to still help me with things and to still treat me good and friendly.  I love you all so very much and appreciate all you did to humor me and help me have a good time.  Thank you, thank you for being such wonderful friends of mine.  You are all just SO GOOD!!  I really enjoyed feeling of your sweet spirits!!

Lots of Love to you from your OLDEST Sister (and aunt and mother....),
Love, Karen