Weekend Coffee Share....Come Sit with Me

It's another week of Weekend Coffee Share. I always love everyone's posts. Are you like me and try to visit everyone? It doesn't always happen but I try. I have loved getting to know different bloggers and I figure if they take the time to write a post, I'll find the time to visit, even if it's a week later. I truly enjoy what you all share and I often learn so much. 

Check out all the other posts on Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I'm off to go visit some now. #weekendcoffeeshare.

If we were having coffee we'd probably talk about:

The weather: We came home from a long weekend on Tuesday and while the weather at the beach was gorgeous (for the PNW...upper 60's, blue skies), Tuesday morning it was chilly there and very foggy. We came home (2 1/2 hours north) and it was 88 degrees. Wednesday it was in the low 60's and rainy...someone even said they saw a small tornado touch down on what we call the bottoms (farmland and along the river),  not common here, but also not unheard of. They are VERY small, but have caused damage. Then next few days are supposed to be back up in the 70's and dry. 

What we're thinking about: The last two days I've been thinking about those affected by the hurricane. So many didn't think it was going to hit their area and if I understand correctly, it changed course. I have family members in both Florida and the Carolinas. Some didn't get anything, others had heavy rain, downed trees, etc. Thankfully none were in a directly hit area, but my heart hurts for those who were hit. Just last week friends of ours were visiting family in Florida and went to Ana Maria Island. Life an be precarious. It's a reminder to hold tight to people and relationships over everything else. 

What we're thankful for: I'm thankful for the time we had with family and friends at the beach. These times are valuable. As parents get older, you treasure all the time you can have with them. I wish I had been able to spend more time with my dad. He was a stubborn man, and made it hard to get him to do anything. 

Around the house: We are prepping the area around part of our porch and making a retaining wall that will also double as planting boxes. I can't wait. We finally got new door knobs on most of our exterior doors. I need to toss my hanging baskets, and I'd like to get some mums for around the porch. I feel like I'm ready to be settled inside doing cozy things, work on puzzles, read, bake..just not feel the need to get outdoor chores done. 

For the love of food: Well, it's been a few weeks since I last posted. I won't bore you with everything, but we have had some great meals. On the 15th we drove to Hood River Oregon. It is a wonderful day trip for us and is a mecca for kite surfing and other water sports that require a "sail/kite" as it gets pretty windy..it's also known for good food and the Fruit Loop which is about a 35 mile loop that takes you to about as many farms/farm stands, wineries, etc. We spent the day sampling things, buying some fruit, walking through flower beds, and ended with ice cream from one of our favorite places The Old Red Trunk (I had an affogato) and then dinner down by the waterfront from a BBQ food truck I've been dying to try. It was worth it. Grasslands BBQ didn't disappoint and their story is pretty neat. We also tried apple cider donuts, which were warm, and which we scarfed down..haha. 

Affogato is a favorite of mine. While looking at the menu (thinking only ice cream), my hubby said "don't tell me you're getting affogato?" I said "wait, what? they have affogato"...haha...had he not said something, I wouldn't have seen it. So of course I got it. 

This was a pina colada non alcoholic slushy with a chili lime salt or something like that...it was so good and I really don't like pina colada anything.

Hubby and I shared this. WOW! Everything was spot on! Tex mex slaw, yummy mac and cheese, and the smoked meats, were super tender. 

Three of us from work got together at one gals house for dinner and visiting (we worked on a puzzle this time...last time we played games). We had baked potatoes with taco meat, broccoli, cheese, etc...sooo good. There's just something about a good backed potatoe! 

Then at the beach we had tacos, spaghetti, fondue, breakfasts were pancakes with either bacon or sausage. I also had a few really good pastries and a cookie from the local market/bakery type store. So good.

 Now we're back and this week has been chill. I did make a good crock pot chicken thigh recipe last night that was really good. Tuesday we got back and that morning on the way home we stopped at a farm stand that had the best Tex-mex hand pies and that filled me up so no dinner, and of course I forgot to take a picture. 

I also made some banana zucchini muffins which turned out really good. I printed a recipe for Sourdough Apple Fritter Bread which looked and sounded amazing.  

What we're reading or wanting to read: Nothing new on the reading list other than what I shared the last time I posted. Here's my link to my #WOYBS post where I shared more in detail what I've been reading. There are so many books I keep adding to my TBR...yikes. I've done good mostly checking books out at the library or getting free ebooks, but I've also picked up a few I've spotted at thrift stores. I just can't help it....haha. A friend and I have a "bookstore" date in a few weeks (was supposed to be this week but we had to reschedule)...we plan to hit a few new to us bookstores and do dinner. Can't wait. 

What we're listening to or watching: I finished the audiobook The Glass Castle and wow. I do think I want to watch the movie. I also just started listening to The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah. So far it's really good. I've watched a few episodes including the finale of Master Chef (the guy I though would win did). I watched Frozen 2 with my granddaughter while we were at the beach. I've listened to a few podcast episodes. 

Favorite quote: I heard a quote on an Instagram reel that I thought was really good. A man I follow, Carlos Whittaker, was on a book tour recently for his new book Reconnected....he was in a bookstore and an intoxicated man came in and interrupted the time...Carlos asked him to come forward, stepped aside, asked his name, etc...made him feel "Seen" instead of forcing him out because he was drunk and interrupting this book signing. He said that one of his IG followers said this, "most of Jesus' interactions with people were interruptions". I know we all have different beliefs on here, but my takeaway was that some of our greatest and even most important interactions with people may come through an interruption. Maybe it's an interruption in our carefully planned out schedule, maybe it's someone in need catching our attention..maybe it's one of our kids wanting to spend a bit of time with us but we want to go to bed. It just made me remember to not despise interruptions. Yes, there are times they're not appropriate, and I am guessing if this guy was acting violent etc, they would have taken other measures. But it just stood out to me. 

 

Favorite photo(s): 

This rock is called Proposal Rock. Legend has it that a sea captain proposed to his beloved here. While we were here we saw a wedding (or perhaps just wedding photos) plus a few photo shoots in front of the rock. At low tide, you can walk to it. To the right of the rock, there is actually a river that flows and meets up with the ocean, which is kind of neat. The deepest part for an adult my height (5'6 1/2) would probably be hip deep. I didn't test it, but saw others walking across it. We could view it from our house. 

Further down the coast on our way back from Depoe Bay. The Oregon coastline is just beautiful. 

Indy was excited to find a swing on the beach made from a piece of wood. 

Building sand castles. We had to keep moving back as the tide kept coming in. 

I wish I would have gotten a better picture of the views, but I really could look out these windows all day. 

Random or not so random things: Last weekend (Saturday through Tuesday) our family went to the beach. It was a beach we hadn't been to before. One of my husbands co-workers, mother in law owns a house there and so we stayed there. It sat on the beach and we had gorgeous views through the large windows. The kitchen looked out on the ocean and I thought "I'd never get tired of this view", and I'm not a sold out beach person, but this was just so pretty. We spent most time on the beach, also went a bit further to Depoe Bay and actually saw some whales spouting (first time I've ever seen this in all the years I've gone there). We played games, ate together and just enjoyed each others company.

Now back home it's back to work and life as usual. I did use some of the quiet morning times at the beach to catch up on blog comments. I seem to be struggling with that. I'm working at being okay with skipping posting to usual link parties if I'm feeling like there's a lot going on. But BOY F.O.M.O. is real. Or maybe it's F.O.B.F. (Fear of being forgotten)...though I don't have a huge following or a lot of commenters, I truly enjoy blogging and the interactions on here. 

I'm doing well on my latest puzzle, National Parks. I am also on a 31 day streak with Duolingo,  my longest ever, doing Italian and Spanish. I'm doing pretty good. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin