Too Many to Count & Not Often Enough...

 Yesterday was a beach day!

I posted a picture on Facebook and my brother asked me, 

"How many times have you photographed that rock?"

I replied, "Too Many to Count 

& 

Not Often Enough... I love this place."

I do love Pacific City, 

Cape Kiwanda 

and Pelican Pub & Brewery.

My brother's question got me to thinking about just how many pictures I have from Pacific City.  

I honestly can say there are too many to count.

Some are just of the scenery, 

some are of family and friends, 

and 

some are of the refreshing beverages available at the pub,

and yes,

some are pictures of feet.

I have a tendency to take feet photos more often than I should.

I've been known to take pictures of my feet while enjoying a delicious craft beer.

I know it is a strange thing to photograph, but it isn't about my feet, and it isn't about the beer.

Its my way of saying, I am right here, right now.

It is my way of reminding myself to live in the present moment.

Not just get 'through' the present moment, 

but to live in it, 

good or bad,

happy or sad.

You see...

I believe in soaking it all up.  

I've never been very good at sidestepping problems, 

sweeping things under the rug, 

or going around troubles.

My feet are important because they are my every day reminder to stay grounded. 

Be firm in my stance.  

 

To stand tall in times of turmoil.

My grandpa Barkman taught me that.

But my feet and the feet photos I have taken and collected from family and friends will have to be the topic of a future blog.

 

this blog is supposed to be about the big rock at Pacific City.

You see, 

the pictures I take of the big rock also is my way of capturing the present moment.

Cloudy or Sunny,

Sunrise or Sunset,

High Tide or Low Tide,

Full Moon or New Moon

Alone or with family or friends.

 Pacific City is where I generally head when I need to just 'BE'.

Below are more pictures of the 'big rock' 

and will always be reminders for me of times when I was there, not 'do-ing' anything,

just 'be-ing' present.

Do you have a place you are drawn to when you just need to be?

I hope so....

Steppin' out with DWNTWN
DWNTWNimages.me

There will be days like this! More Senior pictures.

Yesterday... the mountains,

Today the kids and I

ventured into the city.

At first we encountered cloudy skies and light rain,
But by mid afternoon we had some blue skies and sunshine.

I thought the Grotto might be a good outing.

The kids had never been there,

Its Lent,

and it might provide a good backdrop for a few more pictures.

I'll admit there was a bit of grumbling from some of them.

I mean seriously...

What mom takes their teenage children to a Grotto/Shrine for a fun time on their Spring Break?

They trudged along
(mostly without complaint)
and in the end actually enjoyed themselves.

We didn't stay too long,
(that probably helped lessen the complaints)
we stayed just long enough to get an overall feel for the place.
I wanted them to experience a bit of the serenity,

say a few prayers,

and give me some time to take a few pictures.



All in all...
a good day.

My momma told me there would be days like this!


What's more appropriate than a little Van Morrison?

When its not always raining there'll be days like this
When there's no one complaining there'll be days like this
When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this

When you don't need to worry there'll be days like this
When no ones in a hurry there'll be days like this
When you don't get betrayed by that old judas kiss
Oh my mama told me there'll be days like this

When you don't need an answer there'll be days like this
When you don't meet a chancer there'll be days like this
When all the parts of the puzzle start to look like they f it
Then I must remember there'll be days like this

When everyone is up front and they're not playing tricks
When you don't have no freeloaders out to get their kicks
When its nobody's business the way that you wanna live
I just have to remember there'll be days like this

When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there'll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this

Oh my mama told me
there'll be days like this

Tomorrow ...   The Beach! 

Steppin' out with DWNTWN
DWNTWNimages.me

Have you ever seen the rain on a sunny day?

Today is the 1st day of spring break for the girls.
Today, the Mountains,
Tomorrow, the City,
Wednesday, the beach,
And who knows where we will end up on Thursday and Friday.

We are trying to do Spring Break on a budget.
It keeps life interesting.

Today, Jacquie and Laura bailed on me, but Caroline didn't.
We went up to Silver Falls State Park  (one of my favorite OR spots.)

I took my camera to take some more 'senior picture' photos.
We took some in the Fall mostly to make the year book deadline,
https://www.me.com/gallery/#100370
but Caroline and I both wanted to take more.

Today wasn't a great day weather-wise, but I gave it my best 'shot'.
(No pun intended.)

Here are a few of my favorites prior to photoshopping...

I haven't compared them to my favorites from last Fall yet.
That will come at the end of the week when we are done taking pictures in the City and at the Beach.
It is awesome that we live within an hours drive of all 3... mountains, city, beach!

I got home in time to throw on a pot of my dad's famous chili.
!  :-)  !

As I was cooking I listened to Pandora and Credence Clearwater Revival's
Have you Ever Seen the Rain?...
that is all the keeps running through my mind now.

My answer is "YES!"

It rained and even hailed a little bit as I was trying to photograph Caroline today.
Tomorrow I hope for a sunny day with NO rain.

I hope Wednesday will be ...
Sittin' by the dock of the bay...

You Gotta Love Spring Break!








Steppin' out with DWNTWN
DWNTWNimages.me