A Perfect Day in a Perfect Place

We did it! We made it to the coast today and it was the most perfect day. And tonight we’re both exhausted. So tonight’s mostly photos.

We left my house around 10:30. That put in Cannon Beach, Oregon, around 12:15. The first thing we did was stop at the public restrooms, because, well…

Then we stopped at Center Diamond quilt store where we were warmly welcomed by Julie and her crew. I always stop at this shop when I spend a day at the coast. They’ve always had a really wonderful selection of batiks.

And over the last few years they’ve been growing their selection of both Kaffe Fassett Fabrics…

… and Australian Aboriginal fabrics.

Plus, they have a ton of other fabric too! It’s a great little shop and if you’re ever on the northern Oregon coast you should definitely stop in.

I did buy some Aboriginal fabrics that are new and not in my stash, plus a few gray batiks and one piece of pickleball fabric. And… one really gorgeous green batik.

I used to buy a lot of batiks but haven’t purchased many since the pandemic started. This green piece just spoke to me!

Then it was time to hit the beach!

Julie had mentioned on a previous visit that her neighborhood is a great place to park and access the southern part of the beach. So I asked her about it today and she gave me great directions that put us almost right on the beach. This was great today because we arrived just a little after high tide and my regular beach is not a good place to be at high tide.

So we got the boys and ourselves onto the beach and it felt so good… for all of us!

The weather was absolutely perfect. It can always be cold and blustery on the Oregon coast, but it was almost shirt sleeve weather today and the sun was so gorgeous after all the rain and clouds we’ve had.

In the center of that photo is Haystack Rock. It’s pretty iconic and you’ve probably seen images of it many times.

My boys were so happy to be on the beach. If I walk a mile, I’m sure they must run six or seven miles!

They’re great because they go into the water but they’re pretty smart about it. They never go in too deep. I don’t have to worry about them riding the currents to Hawaii!

OMG! They love the beach so much!!!

After about an hour on the beach we headed back to the car and made our way south to wheeler, Oregon.

On the way we parked by the beach in Manzanita to eat the lunch brought along. Nothing like lunch in the car with a view!

There used to be a lovely little fabric store in Wheeler but it closed a few years ago. The staff at Center Diamond recommended a little art/gift shop there so we decided to take the 15 mile drive to check it out. It was a nice side trip. And on the way back we stopped in Nehalem and bought some ice cream, then headed back to Manzanita to eat it at the same spot.

Then we were headed back north to my old faithful Arcadia Beach, just south of Cannon Beach. We hit the beach around 4:00.

Here’s way too many photos of that 1.5 hours on the beach…

Bender is an expert poser. He would sit on that rock all day long and let me take his photo.

Rico is not as happy to have his photo taken. In fact, it’s difficult to get a photo of him on the beach where he isn’t looking away from he camera wanting to run! I was a little surprised I was able to get this one!

And this one.

The sunlight on the water was magical!

Here’s my friend Linda in the only photo of her she will allow me to post here.

Waiting for me to tell them to run.

Becoming an expert level poser in his own right.

We lingered in the parking lot and watched the sun set.

Then the 1.5 hour drive home in the dark through the coast mountain range. We’re exhausted and so happy we had such a perfect day!

Tomorrow we’ll head down to Molalla for Rico’s sheep herding lesson. Then home to finish my Flower Baskets quilt and make a backing for Linda’s Aboriginal quilt. We’re meeting my long arm quilter on Sunday! I might also try to get the backing for my Aboriginal Libby quilt done and drop it off as well.

58 Replies to “A Perfect Day in a Perfect Place”

  1. Thank you for all the photos of your perfect day. It was a pleasure to see your coast as I live on the east coast. So different. I loved it. And a smile for Linda’s portrait.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. love the pictures of the boys on the mossy rock! Looks so beautiful, both beaches. Sounds like just the fun break y’all needed, I’m so jealous 😻. The green batik is so awesome 👏

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Wowza! Thank you for sharing those fabulous pictures of the beach and the beach boys! OMG, Rico and Bender are so happy 🥰.

    Beautiful aboriginal fabric and green batik too.

    Cheering for Rico – he will be awesome at his herding lesson ♥️

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Love the photos. Some day I am going to make it to Oregon! I had a Australian Shepard and he was so smart, so I love seeing the pictures of you dogs. Love Kaffee too. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Awww Anne…what great photos of the boys and the beaches! That Oregon coast is truly spectacular, been there a few times over the years, most recently with my surf-chick daughter. I will put that fabric store on my list for next visit!!

    Liked by 2 people

  6. At first I was envious that I didn’t get to be at your absolutely fantastic day. But then I decided to stare at your pics so hard that they were burned into my brain. And now they have become memories of my own! My brain will never know the difference

    (Not meant in a creepy way)

    Glad you had such a perfect day!

    Liked by 2 people

  7. You are so lucky with your quilt stores and the range they carry……lovely purchases.
    Enjoyed reading about your day and your collie fur balls! Strangely your weather seems to almost mirror ours on the east coast of Suffolk in the U.K. and we did the same today and yesterday with our latest collie, an 8 month blue merle.
    [image0.jpeg]
    We call him a ‘Friday afternoon job’……..koala ears, mouse face etc……meet Merlin.
    Thankyou for cheerful blog.
    Best Wishes
    Lesley x

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I do have access to some really nice quilt stores, but have watched too many close in the years that I’ve been in Portland. it makes me very sad.

      I think you’re right that our weather is very similar.

      sorry, but I can’t receive comments through responses to my emails. Your text comes through as a comment on my blog and no attachments come through.

      Anne

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  8. Wow, that was a fantastic day on the coast! We have not visited Arcadia Beach. It’s so beautiful I feel remorseful. Will definitely add to our list for future day trips. Thanks!

    Liked by 2 people

  9. I love the Oregon Coast! Thank you for the pictures that bring back many great memories. I’ve never stopped at Arcadia Beach but it’s now on my list for my next visit to the area. I usually stop at Ecola State Park for a photo of Haystack Rock from the north but now I have so many photos they all look the same. Time to visit new places!

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    1. I love Ecola State Park, but it’s not a great place for the dogs. The dogs are really our first determinant of a good beach. So I like a beach where we can have most of it to ourselves… where my dogs can run free and not bother too many people.

      Anne

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  10. Oh my goodness …. it’s so beautiful over there.. I wish I could experience that scenery😊☺️😉🙃🇩🇰♥️🇩🇰👍🏼👍🏼

    Many love from Denmark🇩🇰🇩🇰👍🏼👍🏼🥰🥰

    Hug Karin

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