Wrapping Up Fall

Although it wasn't official until last week, winter has been here for awhile now.  Freezing temps, bare trees and dark days long ago replaced the colorful leaves and sunshine I loved and appreciated so much in fall.  
Some of my favorite moments from the last bit of fall...

A trip to the coast

Thanksgiving in Eugene 
(first time at home for the holiday since 2009!)

And Thanksgiving round two in Portland

Date nights

Celebrating small moments and big milestones with our closest friends

Welcoming new family

A new season has begun and soon we'll start a new year.  We have lots to hope for and work for in 2014, and lots and lots to be thankful for too.

Weekend in Bandon

Sometimes I forgot how lucky we are to be Oregonians.  

Some of the country's prettiest beaches and mountains are just a short drive away.  

Back in November Ryan and I ventured to Bandon, a small beach town on the southern coast of the state.  

It wasn't a short drive, but it was a beautiful one.

 

 

Pretty scenery, walks through Old Town, a Game Park with baby cats, some of my favorite seafood, the best candy store I've found to date, and cozy beachside fires.  

You're not too shabby, Bandon.

Happy, Thankful

1. You are alive.
2. You are able to see the sunrise and the sunset.
3. You are able to hear birds sing and waves crash.
4. You can walk outside and feel the breeze through your hair and the sun’s warmth on your skin.
5. You have tasted the sweetness of chocolate cake.
6. You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.
7. You awoke this morning with a roof over your head.
8. You had a choice of what clothes to wear.
9. You haven’t feared for your life today.
10. You have overcome some considerable obstacles, and you have learned and survived.
11. You often worry about what you’re going to do with your life – your career, your family, the next step, etc. – which means you have ambition, passion, drive, and the freedom to make your own decisions.
12. You live in a country that protects your basic human rights and civil liberties.
13. You are reasonably strong and healthy – if you got sick today, you could recover.
14. You have a friend or relative who misses you and looks forward to your next visit.
15. You have someone with whom to reminisce about ‘the good old days.’
16. You have access to clean drinking water.
17. You have access to medical care.
18. You have access to the Internet.
19. You can read.

Life is pretty good.

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Weekend Road Trip

I love three day weekends.  

Over the summer I had Mondays off every week.  While that was pretty great, there's something about those long weekends that only come around sporadically that makes a person appreciate them even more. 

On a recent three day weekend in October, Ryan and I took a mini road trip from Portland to Seattle and back down to the Oregon coast.      

What?  You don't fish while waiting for the ferry?