The expression on Bracken’s face here pretty much sums up our day yesterday. We had the most magical beach day!
Lately my soul has been yearning for the ocean. When I mentioned that to Jeff, he felt the same way and on Saturday he had a strong feeling that we should go to the beach the next day. He said “Let’s go to the ocean tomorrow, I have a feeling it’s going to be incredible there.” My eyes lit up and I replied with a hearty “YES!”
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So yesterday we packed some food and hopped in the truck. In Florence, we saw a thermometer that said the temperature was in the seventies! I looked at Jeff and said “Can that be true?!” We talked about which beach we wanted to go to and decided to go to the same one we went to on our beach day last January (when we had Bracken bundled up in a wool blanket and he was still small enough to fit into that little blue elf hat I had knitted him.)
When we got there the weather was absolutely divine. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect beach day and we were so glad that we followed Jeff’s feeling.
There were people picnicking, people fishing and people walking their dogs.
We were greeted by flowers blooming. I could have squealed with delight! The sight of flowers… in January… felt almost surreal.
We gathered a few materials (stones and drift wood) for an art project (that I will be writing about soon.)
We had fun searching for just the right size stones we were wanting.
We breathed in the fresh air. We stood in awe of the view.
We explored.
Then we found a welcoming place to sit awhile.
We basked in the sun. We soaked up the warmth.
We watched and observed the life happening around us.
Bracken played.
‘Dad your leg’s in my way!’
We realized we didn’t need all those layers we had bundled up in.
We took lots of pictures.
When we headed home, our hearts were content and our spirits were renewed. We hadn’t driven all that far from our home (the ocean is only about 20 minutes away from where we live), yet we felt we had just been on a relaxing vacation to a warm, tropical getaway.
Ahhh {deep sigh} that was just what we needed.
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What has your Spirit been yearning for lately?
Have you been following it’s calling?
a little crafty nest says
This is like a visit to my past, many of my pasts. I have lived in the Gulf Islands of Canada, I have ridden my bike from Canada to L.A., I have toured music festivals right through your neck of the woods. And the smell…ah, the smell of the ocean is unlike any other. It awakens my core! I live in the interior of British Columbia now, in the mountains, but I can easily conjure up the smells of the ocean, and your photos help with that. Your family is beautiful ~ happy creating!
xo Jules
house full of jays says
My soul feels refreshed looking at these wonderful photos. My spirit always yearns for the ocean. Sadly we live much further away. We do hope and believe that one day we’ll move that way. In the meantime, thanks for sharing this peek. xoR
leaves and blossoms says
Oh I miss the beach…We used to live fairly close to the sea, but now we are inland and I do so miss the familiarity and ever changing atmosphere of the beach.
It used to be such a great escape to walk for miles down a deserted beach with my then tiny baby boy..those were good times!
I still yearn for the sea, but will have to wait a while until Ed sticks the windscreen back in! It was leaking (these jobs always sound so quick and easy on paper don’t they?).
April says
Oh so wonderful! I love the coast 🙂
Trish says
Looks divine….wow what a wonderful day you had. The photos certainly tell the story…lots of love.xxx
GreenMama says
What beautiful pictures and what a luck to live near the ocean.
All the best to you and your sweet family in 2012!
Bee Girl says
It looks like a truly magical day. Thank you for sharing pieces of it 🙂
Lindsey @ The Herbangardener says
Oh what a day – it made me so happy to see that you’ve been to the beach and back. What a spirit-renewer!
I loved the photos, and recognized the beach from your photos there last year 🙂 Look how much Bracken has grown!!!
Can’t wait to see what you create with stones and driftwood!
I just love the beach, and finding treasures there. I’ve always said, If you want to torture me, take me to the beach and tell me I can’t pick anything up!
Grateful that you got to have this mini-vacation. Good for you for doing that for your spirit.
Love to you!!
Lindsey
Aunt Isla says
It is hard for me to get to the oceans edge anymore, so I thank you Taryn, Jeff and little Bracken for letting me enjoy your day right here in my living room.
Love from Aunt Isla
darkstarfarm says
…and then you took pictures of an amazing switchplate cover 😉
Thanks for the comment today…I feel tickled that you’re excited for us….I get that feeling for other fellow bloggers too. I’m excited to see the art project in store for you guys!
~Linzie
earthenmagic says
…greetings dear gentle one! ~ journeying into your world is sheer delight! ~ thankyoU for sharing your blessings!…