seaside retreat

a few days before easter we took another trip to the coast, & this time stayed for three nights. josh had been wanting to take a writer's retreat, & our friend andee recommended a cabin in seaside where she stays called "birdie's cottage". ("birdie" was my nickname for heron when i was pregnant with her). kay, who owns birdie's, owns the neighboring house, too, "gracie's cottage". she is wanting to build an art studio in the back yard the two houses share in hopes of renting out the houses + studio as an art retreat. the two houses are furnished with the cutest, kitschiest collections. vintage collectibles & memorabilia from the bygone seaside days.

josh's parents joined us from seattle, as well as his sister teal. marti was glad to join josh on his writing retreat, as she is currently editing a laboratory manual she wrote/published. teal accompanied us as nanny, mostly to heron as shepherd is still so attached to his mama, his food source!

: birdie's cottage :

: gracie's cottage :

: shepherd + the souvenir wall plaque collection :

: the kids loved hanging out with their aunt tealie :

: mike + the snow globe collection :

: catching up with josh at the end of the day :

: mitchy, shepherd, & the trophy collection :

(secret: to get me to "look natural" in photos, josh usually has me repeat something ridiculous, perhaps even crass. this time it was something like "titty time!")

: coffee time at gracie's :

: the salt + pepper shaker collection :

: ooh, that handsome boy :

: heron helping aunt teal prepare dinner :

: an afternoon at cannon beach :

josh finished three songs on the retreat. we all enjoyed the change of pace & scenery, & look forward to taking creative retreats more often--perhaps quarterly?

p.s. more photos here.