Seashore Sunday

Let's travel out west again, this time to my favorite Lighthouse so far.

North Head Lighthouse, in Ilwaco, Washington was my 1st Lighthouse!

I fell in love with lighthouses on my first visit here, in 1999. The construction of this maritime marvel was built in 1896, and was lit for the first time in 1898.

There are only 69 steps to reach the top of the tower, but unfortunately, the tower was closed to tours earlier this year. It was only $1 per person! I had to go up every time we went! I have some incredible views from the top of this lighthouse, but also unfortunately, can't locate them at this time. I was so sad when I heard you couldn't go inside anymore.... but you can still rent the lightkeepers cottage for an overnight stay!

 This is the view looking over the edge of the cliff. The waves crash, surge, and spray up over these rocks making an incredible scene below. Don't bend over too far!

On the other side, this is what you see! Cape Disappointment is just around those trees, and I have a perfect shot of it....in my huge waterproof picture box....

The lighthouse sits 130 feet above the Pacific Ocean below.

This is one of the windiest places in the United States, with winds clocked up to 150 mph! They say maybe it was the howling winds that drove one keepers wife "over the edge". She committed suicide in 1923...by jumping from the cliffs, to the rocky and cold Pacific below.

Since Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is only 2 miles away, North Head needed a distinctive light to tell the two apart. The North Head light is a steady white light, and Cape Disappointment is a red and white flashing light. 

All along the Pacific you will find fishing ports.

This is the Ilwaco marina.

We also passed by several packing houses, and I would have loved to have gotten into these oyster shell piles!

Just a couple of bucket fulls would make me as happy as a clam! Oh, the things I could make with these! I do have a few that we found on the beach. Some are in my wreath, some around my pond, and a couple on the fish net. My favorite ways to eat oysters are steamed, Rockefeller, and of course...RAW!

A trip to a lighthouse just wouldn't be the same without some good local seafood!

Have a Stupendous Seashore Sunday!
May your shores never be too distant...

Love,
Del

Seashell Saturday

Happy Seashell Saturday!

As you read this, I am at my favorite place on Earth, with my favorite person on Earth....
My very best friend, my husband.

We are the perfect mercouple, sea people destined to live life on land. When we get to our favorite place, it's magical... a breath of fresh sea air... like we've come HOME.

On our 10th anniversary, we were at Virginia Beach, sitting with the surf running up over our tails legs, digging down in the sand beside us with our fingers. At the same time, we exclaimed, "I found a shell!"

His shell is the larger, gnarly shell on the left, and mine is the smaller, almost dainty shell on the right. After displaying these shells on a shelf for nearly 30 years, they now have a permanent home in a shadow box.

Along with other special occasion shells that have found a place of honor on our bedroom wall. I made these last year...or the year before.

We have been together, finding shells, and exploring beaches for 30 years.

We have been to some incredible beaches...but aren't they ALL incredible?!

These "in the ferns and tress" pictures don't look very beachy, but surprisingly, we are only about 100 yards from the lighthouse above, looking over the Pacific Ocean.

I have been so very fortunate to spend my life with a partner who loves spending time at the ocean as much as I do.

Today isn't actually our anniversary.... we got married on June 6th.

So, while you are reading this, we are doing some shelling, and relaxing at our favorite place on Earth.

I'll be back next week with some new pictures, and some new shells, and maybe some new tales....
of our adventure at our favorite place...the beach.

Have a Super Shelling Saturday!

Love,
Del