Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Wednesday Gratitude #7 at Heart and Home

It's that time again! Wednesday Gratitude is the time to share whatever makes you happy and makes your heart sing! Thanks for joining, please remember to link back to Heart and Home in your post, and leave me a comment! I'll be by for a visit asap, I love reading about all of your favorite things!
                          

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” -Margaret Cousins


My husband and I spent last weekend celebrating our 22nd anniversary. We left early in the morning with vague plans to "head north".  It was pouring rain, but we didn't let the weather dampen our spirits. We drove and drove for hours, through some truly magnificent country side. The hills were lush and green from all the rain, the trees bursting with spring blossoms.  We passed cows, horses, sheep, and baby lambs dotting the landscape, and row upon row of pruned grape vines. We headed for the coast, and arrived just as the rain began to subside.



 I am so thankful for the time we spent together, exploring a beautiful area that we weren't very familiar with. I am so happy to have had three full days alone with my husband! We rarely have that much time alone together anymore. We have a fairly busy life, so three days, with no responsibilities and no solid plans, were a real blessing! We took advantage of every second.

After a fairly long drive, we wound up in Mendocino. I fell in love it with that place! I can imagine living a very fullfilling life there, immersed in the artist's community that thrives in that area.

Mendocino and the surrounding communities are somewhat remote, surrounded by green rolling hills, forests, and bordered by the Pacific ocean.  The cliffs and pounding surf are impressive and dramatic! But one of the beaches in the area really made my heart pound faster! To get there we first had to take a walk down this path:


The fields surrounding us were windswept and showing the first colorful signs of spring.


At first glance, the beach looks like it is covered in black rocky sand. But, a closer look reveals the most wonderful surprise!



SEA GLASS!! Everywhere I looked, seaglass!  Do you know how happy that made me?!!  I couldn't believe my luck. I had heard about this beach, but didn't realize we would be staying nearby, and that I would be able to spend as much time as I wanted there.



I had such a lovely time, poking around the stones, picking out my favorite colors, and collecting just the right pieces for my collection. I hunted for hours, down in the sand on my knees. I was one very happy girl!


I tried to be selective, and to leave a little glass behind for the other seaglass lovers! I only took what my pockets could carry. I didn't want to be greedy!


We also spent some time exploring the tide pools, which were swarming with marine life.


Later that night, I felt very content. I had spent a wonderful day in the fresh air, surrounded by nature.
And I had found two pieces of RED glass, a few more pieces of dark blue, and a lot of aquamarine, my sea glass treasures washed smooth by the ocean. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect way to spend an afternoon! I am very thankful for the simple joy I felt hunting for sea glass along the Mendocino coast. 




And, I am very thankful for 22 years spent with RW.

Thanks for stopping by! I love it when you visit, and especially love it when you leave a comment! Come back again, soon! I hope you'll join Heart and Home next week, for Wednesday Gratitude #8!

Until next time
XO
Heidi

I'm also linking to Outdoor Wednesday, at A Southern Daydreamer. Thank you, Susan!


22 comments:

vignette design said...

All this time, I figured you actually lived in Mendocino! Glad you had a fabulous anniversary weekend with hubby. The beach looks amazing with sea glass. I've never seen that before.
I joined your party today!

The Sewing and Knitting Loft said...

A belated Happy Anniversary to you. I just loved your post about going to the beach, and I felt your excitement at finding the glass. It is beautiful. I could picture myself there, doing what you did. Thanks for sharing.
Barb

Julie said...

Hi Heidi, What a wonderful post...Happy anniversary....What a lucky girl all that sea glass...I have never found one little piece on the beach
xoxo
Julie

Kat said...

Oh, this sounds like the perfect trip. Such beautiful scenery. And all that sea glass! I've yet to find one little smidgeon on any beach I've visited. Guess I've been hitting the wrong beaches! Kathy

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I am so glad you enjoyed your trip and time with your husband. I can't believe all that glass like that. Looks like people would be gathering it to sell. Happy Anniversary!!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

A belated Happy Anniversary!! Thanks for taking us along on your trip. I would have had a ball picking out pieces of sea glass.
Hope you are having a great week.

Gypsy Heart said...

A belated Happy Anniversary! I'm so glad you were able to take this trip and have such a great time. All the pics are just gorgeous! The seaglass reminds me of Amy, a dear friend that just recently passed away. She LOVED seaglass and combing the beaches for it.

I've missed your posts and YOU! Hopefully, will be back around very soon.

xoxo
Pat

Jemsmom said...

Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful trip. That seaglass is amazing and those views are to die for! So glad you had a lovely time! I am going to try to link up! We will see how it goes!!

Unknown said...

Happy belated Anniversary Heidi! It looks like you had a beautiful time....the photos are lovely. I'm so jealous--I collect sea glass too! I can't believe you found that much! Wow!
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Amy. My prayers are with you.
Mary

Light and Voices said...

Happy Anniversary! It looks like you had fun! Simple things like finding shiny glass at the beach is my kind of fun. I really enjoyed your beach cyber tour.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Joyce M

Ann said...

Wow! I have never seen so much sea glass. What a wonderful find and sounds like a great anniversary. I too will be celebrating my 22nd wedding anniversary next month. :)

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Happy Anniversary, Heidi, thanks for stopping by! I loved your well thought out post on dressing. Great ideas & observations.

HOw much fun to pick up sea glass! I love seashells, but have never run across sea glass like that. I would love that too!

Denise Marie said...

Heidi, what a lovely day you had with hubby. It could not have been better!! I love your pictures and would have spent hours on my knees too, girlie. What a gorgeous stretch of beach glass and rocks.

Come and add your name to my give-away list.

Debbiedoos said...

Happy Anniversary! It looked like such a special place and wonderful time. I love all the glass!~ Just beautiful...

Ms. Bake-it said...

Hello Heidi,

A belated Happy Anniversary to you and RW! Thank you for taking us along on your trip to Mendocino. I have never seen so much sea glass on one beach and would have had a great time picking out pieces of sea glass to add to my collection.

~ Tracy

Regina said...

Wonderful and gorgeous scenes!
We have a lot be thankful.
Happy outdoor.

Denise said...

Happy Anniversary, and thanks for sharing such beautiful pictures, I've never seen sea glass before, that is just gorgeous :)

The Single Nester said...

I never, ever find sea glass at my beach! I am jealous!

Traci said...

Those pictures are absolutely GORGEOUS!! The ocean looks so serene.

♥ Kathy said...

Beautiful pictures! I hope you had a great anniversary and St. Patrick's Day and Outdoor Wednesday :)

Anonymous said...

A very Happy Anniversary! What a lovely blog post with beautiful pictures. And all that sea glass!!!
Many thanks for sharing.

Danielle Renee'
www.jewelrybydaniellerenee.com
Sea Glass Artisan

Kelee Katillac said...

Fantastic post Heidi! Happy Anniversary!

You were given stones and colored glass as a gift....I have never seen such beautiful glass and in such quantity! Truly an auspicious sign from the heavens! Your trip sounds very romantic and love your sand-dwn sentiments...

Blessings, Friend....

love, kelee