Little Whale Cove
Depoe Bay, Oregon
August, 2025
It's been really hot in the valley (Salem, Portland, etc.), and when that occurs we get a lot of fog (or marine layer) on the coast. It may look chilly, but it's very humid, so 60 degrees here feels warmer than it sounds.
August has slipped away without much in the way of notable activities on my calendar. We had dinner out a couple of times with friends, and had some neighbors in for an enjoyable dinner on another night. We finally bought a new mattress (Saavta), which seems to have helped alleviate our morning aches & pains. I taught a group of my mom's friends how to play Mah Jong (Chinese version), so they're having fun with that. I'm still addicted to the American version of the game, playing mostly online here, but would love to find a couple of other people to join me and my friend, Anne, for face-to-face games. Meanwhile, Rod & I are getting ready for a road trip down to Northern California (Sonoma County) for my aunt's memorial picnic. We'll camp along the way with Bodega Bay as our destination for a few nights. The forecast looks pretty nice with temps a little warmer than here, but not super hot, which is a relief.
My reading was pretty good this month, but there weren't any outstanding books to add to my keeper shelves. I usually wait until after Labor Day to wrap up my Summer Reading challenge, and with the holiday falling on the first day of September, I'm losing a week or so of reading time. I didn't do as well as in previous years, but I'll save those details for a separate post.
Books Read (click on the title for my review):
The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard (3.5/5)
My Lover's Lover by Maggie O'Farrell (4/5)
Under the Influence by Joyce Maynard (3.5/5)
Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change by Maggie Smith (4/5)
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver (4/5) - re-read
Movies & TV Series:
Person of Interest (Season One) - This first season has A LOT of episodes! We're enjoying it, but after 23 episodes, I think we'll take a break and watch something else. Thanks for the recommendation, Tina!
The Handmaid's Tale (Season 3 ) - I'm still enjoying this series, and I'm considering a re-read of the book, which I read in 2002.
Local Oceans With My Mah Jong Pals:
Happy reading to you as well! Yeah, the Person of Interest series has so many episodes and we stopped and took a break too. Then we watched about 10 episodes of season 2 and have stopped. LOVED Shrinking. Just started Slow Horses. Abandoned one called The Foundation as it was super confusing to us.
ReplyDeleteYou did well reading this month, lots of good reviews. Hope your trip to California is a good one. Looking forward to your posts.
Thanks, Tina! I'm hoping I have some 5-star reads in September. I'm really enjoying Person of Interest, but there are SO many episodes! Glad they wrap up thing up at the end of each installment. I can't wait for another season of Shrinking. Harrison Ford is so good in the show.
DeleteI’m sorry your reading this month had no keepers. Enjoy your upcoming trip!
ReplyDeleteDeb, we're heading out in a few hours! I'm looking forward to getting back out on the road. Our last trip in June seems like it was so long ago!
DeleteAugust kind of slipped away here, too. No major activities, but some good times with friends and family. I enjoyed Flight Behavior several years ago and also rated it 4 stars, but it's probably not one I will reread. Safe travels to California and I hope September brings you many 5-star reads!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, I guess it's good to have a relatively quiet month in the mix. Good times with friends, time to read, and time to play Mah Jong are things I enjoy. So happy to not be tied to a work schedule and able to do what I want when I want. We're on the road now and enjoying our first stop in Bandon, Oregon.
DeleteI've heard Majong is fun to play, but I don't know anyone here who plays so I haven't picked it up.
ReplyDeleteTime in Bodega Bay sounds really great and I hope meeting up with family for your aunt's memorial goes well. It's so important to be with others in a time like this.
Helen, it's a great game and the American version is much more complicated than the Chinese version. My friend and I love the mental challenge!
DeleteBodega Bay should be lovely this time of year. It's not supposed to be hot, which is good. Currently relaxing for a few days in Bandon, Oregon. The drive so far has been lovely.
Happy Labor Day weekend! You say August wasn't filled with activities, but get-togethers with friends and neighbors sounds lovely. I love the image of Little Whale Cove, but you're right, it looks like sweater weather. Enjoy your trip to northern CA. I have a brother in Sonoma who I love to visit--such a wonderful little town.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jane! August was a good month. It was relaxing and just the way retired life should be. It's almost always sweater weather in LWC... when it's not raining! We haven't been to Sonoma, but enjoy the surrounding areas. My aunt & uncle lived in Santa Rosa (and Sebastapol), and we've been up to Healdsburg and such.
DeleteThat is a very atmospheric picture. I love the sun but I've discovered that I do have my limits. We've only had a few cloudy days and a couple of showery days since we arrived in Colorado on Memorial Day weekend. We didn't realize this part of the state is a high desert! I can't believe that I'm begging for a break from the sun!
ReplyDeleteShows with a lot of episodes are nice if you really love the show but sometimes it feels like you aren't getting anywhere with them. We've been on season 2 of both Elementary and The X-Files for what feels like FOREVER because they each have 20+ episodes per season and they're shows that we just dip into when we don't want to watch one of our regular shows.
Have a good trip!
Jen, we're now in Northern California and it's quite warm and sunny. We may have to run RV A/C tonight! We head to the coast (Bodega Bay) tomorrow for four nights, so maybe it will be cooler over there.
DeleteI've never seen either Elementary or The X-Files. Probably won't with all those episodes. Did you ever watch Fringe? It's good, but I never finished.
Bodega Bay is a good destination. Hope the memorial is a nice tribute to her. I played a version of Mah Jong as a teen but I might need to find out how to play again. It's been a long time! Maybe I should try the online version -- do they have directions? It's getting to be fall here ... the leaves are starting to turn, argh. Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteSusan, we've camped near Bodega Bay in the past, but it's been many years. Hoping the sun comes out when we arrive later today.
DeleteI don't know which version of Mah Jong you played as a teen (there's the American and the Chinese versions). If it was the American, check out some Youtube videos by Michele Frizzell (#MAHJLIFE). She's really good with her instructions. Then, hop over to the MahJongg4Fun app and take some of the tutorials and play some games with the bots. Lots of fun!
thanks for the info. these instructions should help me.
DeleteHope you guys are having fun on your travels! Noticed you said above that you are in Bandon for a few days - I love Bandon! We recently returned from our vacation to Yellowstone Park. It was just beautiful and quite amazing. I'll be posting some pictures and also getting back to blogging soon. Take care, friend!!
ReplyDeleteKay, we're having a good time! Down in Bodega Bay now, which is know for it's location of the movie The Birds. I know you guys love Bandon. I would have liked to hike those trails again! Can't wait to hear about your time in Yellowstone. We enjoyed on brief time there on our way to the Tetons last year. Take care!
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