St. Peter’s Day

Ever since I learned there is a St. Peter’s fish I have tried to get ahold of some or prepare another white fish for St. Peter’s Day. It is often hot this time of year and fish doesn’t require that much time in the oven so it seems like a good plan. With the quarantine this year we have been totally cooped up and feeling a bit stir crazy. One of Deuce’s Bffs has a family beach house and they were able to shelter in place there for a few months. They are back in town now and I casually mentioned that if they ever have any midweek cancellations that we would live to rent it. I went a couple years ago with my grade school girlfriends and have been wanting to take Mr. W there. Lucky for us they did have a cancellation so we were able to spend 4 nights here.

I had already picked out my recipes for St. Peter’s Day so I decided that we could just prepare it at the coast instead, fresh fish is always appropriate when you are so close to the ocean. The pickings were a little slim in Manzanita as well as a couple other fish markets in nearby towns so we substituted halibut instead. We made this fish and I found this tahini sauce to accompany it. It was my first time making the sauce and it was SO good! Little Miss helped to make the sauce.

We also made an orzo salad to go with the fish and fresh fruit since we knew the kids wouldn’t eat the 

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We also bought a marionberry pie from the local bakery.



In nearby Arch Cape there is the St. Peter the Fisherman parish. T-Bone and I have been there before for Mass on another vacation. I did not get the kids up early enough to go to daily Mass, but we did drive by and enjoyed the artwork outside.

There is so much wildlife to enjoy at our friends’ house. We’ve been seeing tons of humming birds, some bunnies and chipmunks, and today I went to sit in a quiet corner to take a zoom call and discovered a pair of deer right outside!

When the Ocean calls, I listen

I enjoy the rain. And even if July I don't mind it that much, especially considering the terrible heat waves that a lot of the country is going through right now. But, it has been unseasonally rainy this week, even for Portland. i was thinking about how just two weekends ago we were at the coast. It was a beautiful day: sunny and warm, but windy.
I shouldn't mention one of my favorite spots, for fear it becomes too popular, but I really like Hug Point. It has enough points to protect you from the wind, it isn't a super long walk to the beach (although it is steep), and there is a waterfall! And caves! It is very family friendly.
It was sort of a last minute plan to go down. I had an urge to go during the week and mentioned it to Mr. W. Then Friday night we went out to dinner at the Blue Monk. Mr. W is a bit of a regular there so our waiter asked us if we had weekend plans. I mentioned heading to the coast and the waiter said that when the ocean calls you have to go. Aha! See Mr. W that is what I have been telling you, the ocean is calling me!
So I loaded up the car the next morning with everything we would need and we drove out to the beach.
Checking out the surf like his grandfather before himHappiness is running barefoot in the sand

February at Cannon Beach

Last month we went to the coast to celebrate my father's birthday. I posted about my house epiphany but not much else about the trip. We had terrific weather for February at the Oregon coast. When my dad turned 50 my mom threw a surprise party at the beach and flew me in from New York. After that it just became an annual thing which we have continued since he passed away. Since he wasn't religious he wanted his ashes spread at the beach so if the weather is cooperative we make the journey to the spot where he remains.
My Little Helper loves going to the beach. He lines up all the chairs in his room to create a garbage truck, has us get in the back of it or throws every.single.toy in his room into the big chair, and drives us down to the beach to have a picnic. I love his imagination! It was surprising then that after driving down to the beach and waking up in the beach house he didn't want to get dressed to go out onto the beach. "I don't want to go to the beach! I don't want to have fun!" he exclaimed. I have learned that 3 year olds are very fickle. But eventually we got him dressed and bundled up and out on the sand, which he of course loved. I wanted to take some nice family photos of my growing family since it was so sunny and nice. My problem is that even if I have everyone standing where I want them, zoom and set up the camera how I want it, and ask the photo taker to stand here, I never end up with the photos that I imagined in my head. This happened last year in Japan and San Gimignano; here part of my problem was you should never turn your back on the sea.
We had a nice, laid back weekend. Since we were there with my mom and sister, Mr. W and I even had a chance to go out for a walk on our own. We made a little trip into Cannon Beach and I was able to squeeze in an antique store on Hemlock St. One of the tables had some religious items on it and I found these holy candles which I knew had to come home with me. I haven't celebrated St. Jude's feast day yet so now I have some homework to do. After I unpacked the box of candles at home My Little Helper wanted to hold it and against my better judgment I let him. He promptly dropped the box on the floor and broke one of the candles. Sigh! I am constantly reminded of the Jeff Foxworthy routine and his line, "We just can't have nice things!"