Ticket to Write

I've been back this week at Colonyhouse, 

the Oregon Writers Colony Retreat in Rockaway Beach where I go a couple of times a year.

Here Life takes a back seat and writing, center stage. 

Last year, my writing partner sent some of my Colonyhouse photos to the OWC board 

who decided to use one for their website. 

Instead of payment, I opted for a few free writer's weeks 

in exchange for the use of the photo below.

And we've been typing away this week 

with a few breaks for beach and lake walks.

A couple of blocks away, I found the perfect bench for resting, 

meditating on the tides and general all 'round enjoyment. 

And no visit to Colonyhouse would be complete 

without a trip into nearby Manzanita

(where I like to spend the afternoon writing at the

window counter of the Manzanita News and Espresso Cafe).

The storefront got a new face lift

(and mural--though I miss the bright red benches)

My mother loved Manzanita's beach and long stretch of quaintness.

I think it reminded her of Pt. Reyes in California

as it does me. 

An afternoon topped off

by a gorgeous drive back to the cabin.

A few wild elk along the bay.

One last evening before rushing back home,

to its cares and worries

that have nothing to do with my characters

and everything to do with Life. 

Writing Re-Treat

This would probably be the best Trick-or-Treat costume for me this past week.

I left on Halloween for Colonyhouse, the Oregon Writers Colony

Writing Retreat in Rockaway Beach (a 3~1/2 hour drive for me)

and, for the most part, have been sucker-cupped to my computer this week

with a few breaks for showering, eating and visiting with my writing companions.

If I had visual artist/graphic capabilities,

I would insert pen, notebook and computer

to the above photo.

It's my third visit to Colonyhouse (for photos and more info, click here) and I've booked myself a few more weeks next year, the luxury of uninterrupted writing time being hard to come by in the real world.

Right now I dedicate one day a week to writing

~and whatever other little tidbits of time I can sneak in~

but hope one day in the future to be able to set aside 2 or 3 days.

The once-a-month writer's week at Colonyhouse is normally one full work-week (technically Mon-Fri.) but one of my writing companions had 2 extra days coming so ours has been a FULL week. Such a gift! (And thank you again!)

Our week started off stormy, with the first night's winds whipped so high

I was afraid the roof might venture away looking for a new home or an even better view.

But after that, things calmed and we were blessed with a little sun

and a relatively serene week.

My room upstairs looks out onto a windswept tree

but yields a little view of the ocean to the right

and Lake Lytle to the left.

The storm wreaked havoc with some of the local wildlife

and birds became a theme during our week.

My writing partner (we normally meet on Mondays to spend a full day writing)

ended up performing two bird rescues the day after the storm

and while delivering them to the local wildlife rehabilitation center

got a call about a third (which, luckily, someone else was able to bring in).

I've been rereading Jonathan Livingston Seagull and, while here, dreamed of a spiritual bird sanctuary/zen-like retreat which I later realized was only a few blocks from the (real-life) place I go in my mind for meditational/guided imagery sessions.

Not certain about the meaning of the all the bird symbolism this past week (there were even more references to birds) but I know it will all be revealed. The fun is in the magical path (the journey/process) leading to the answers (the destination).

The Stormy Weather Arts Festival is on this weekend in Cannon Beach (and as I sit writing in a little cafe in Manzanita, the weather is cooperating to resemble its name). I took a few hours in my last couple of days to venture into Manzanita and Wheeler for some book browsing, antiquing and chai sipping.

The Cloud & Leaf Bookstore came highly recommended by my writing partner

and right next door is the Bread and Ocean Bakery/Bistro which makes a sticky bun seasoned with cardamom (!) and their own homemade chai,

serves dinner in the evenings...

and also sells a coffee brand I hadn't seen before. Sleepy Monk Coffee (locally roasted in Cannon Beach), organic and fair-trade. Loved the logo and coffee roast names.

There isn't much that's not charming in Manzanita...

and I'm looking forward to my next writing re-treat

for days of intensive writing,

symbolic insights

and breaks spent exploring on the Northern Oregon Coast.

(All photographs copyright Kirsten Steen)

The Coast House~

For my birthday this year (some while ago),

we spent a quiet weekend at the coast,

specifically at the Coast House compliments of friends

who generously offered us a gift certificate in return for using our place abroad.

Just north of Florence on the Oregon Coast and hidden from the old highway
among the cliffs sits an elegantly rustic but updated abode with a self-composting toilet (much less scary than it sounds), loft bedrooms and a wooded or ocean view from every window.




From the parking space behind a large wooden fence covered with hanging moss, one winds along a hobbit trail through the woods and over stream...



...to the little cottage...

...where one is welcomed...

...by tulip and wine bouquets...

The loft bedrooms are a climb (one more than the other) but offer views looking out from the living room windows...

...the loft window...

...and the skylight literally just over bed and head...

With views stretching out over the tops of the cliffs...

...and the stunning, pounding surf of the ravine just below...

...we settled in for a quiet weekend of reading and snacking...

...Hiking...

...and pampering.

Or so we thought! The weather started out beautiful, just a little wind, then a few raindrops.

We pulled on our fleeces and ate cheese in pieces...

Even bared everything for a turn in the old outdoor shower.

But sometime into the second day, a storm moved in, shaking the little house and pounding the surf with such force, I wondered if we would fly away. I even determined to take another outdoor shower in the wind and rain, rustling up my sense of adventure, certain it would be delightful if I just gave it a chance. Guess what!? I don't recommend it!

But I do recommend the Coast House. Click here for more photos and rates.

All in all, it was a perfect weekend, the weather even clearing up enough at one point to do some hiking and walks on the beach. And the stormy periods gave me cause to do a little antiquing in Florence which I might not have done with good weather.

Between the Herbs de Provence-covered pork roast and the cake and ice cream (I never miss it on my birthday), the books and the evenings spent watching old movies and Molly online in the Live Owl Box, awaiting her newest baby, we thoroughly enjoyed this Cottage of the Cliffs.