The Perfect Storm

Last weekend there was a storm in Cannon Beach Oregon - it was the perfect storm for the Stormy Weather Arts Festival . This festival is held each year in Cannon Beach during the storm season. Most of the galleries in town have featured artists and many have receptions. People come from all over to look at art, drink wine, and enjoy the perfect storm. This year I was lucky enough to be the Interim Innkeeper at the Cannon Beach Hotel during the Stormy Weather Arts Festival.

The Cannon Beach Hotel also had a featured artist - Jean-Marie Chapman. Jean-Marie has been coming to "our" hotel for 10 years during the Stormy Weather Arts Festival. She paints mostly oil portraits [here she is working on a portrait of hotel owner Claudia Toutain-Dorbec]. She also does some lovely seascapes. In both genres, she really manages to capture the essence of her subject. It's wonderful to have her as the "house artist"each year.

Of course just like the galleries, we hosted a reception for our featured artist. Guess who got to be the hostess?? Yea, I know- dirty rotten job but someone's got to do it, right?

 So, remember if you are ever in Cannon Beach during a storm, it might be the perfect storm for the Stormy Weather Arts Festival. Come and see me at the Cannon Beach Hotel. I'll pour you a glass of champagne.

Coastin'

  The Oregon Coast has to be one of our favorite spots to work. It's so beautiful and when we are not on the job, there are so many fun things to do. Kirk loves to go mountain biking and has some secret spots around Cannon Beach that I have never tried - too tough! He always comes back dirty!

Walking on the beach is much more my speed. Cannon Beach itself is about 5 miles long and all of it is just lovely so, when I get any free time I love to just stroll....

Of course sometimes it is so windy that you really can't get anywhere! This day however was just stunning - brave little kids out in shorts - and I was carrying my parka. Gotta love it!

      

Haystack rock [the biggest sea-stack in front of Cannon Beach]  is a Natural Tide Treasure and sometimes you can see lots of these fat, colorful guys. You have to go at low tide and peak under all the rocks to see where they hide . Fun!

Of course I do love to go "COASTIN'" with Kirk when I can... now this is my kind of biking... a paved path that runs by the ocean and through the forest at Fort Stevens State Park. It's so beautiful there and of course there is a pic-nic in my bike basket! Boy do we know how to live??

                                                     Where is your favorite bike-path??