We are in the middle of the "dog days" of summer here in Oregon. It's hot. We escape to the ocean during days where we are almost too hot for us. I grew up in the south, so heat is not an issue for me, but some days, even though it's hot, I'd rather be splashing in the ocean water instead. Unfortunately, with the heat, we are making national news again with a large wildfire, unfortunately. The smoke hasn't been too bad here, which is weird to say that, because to a lot of people it would be bad. Given that we've seen worse, it's not that bad. Our eyes are burning a bit, but it's tolerable. The largest wildfire burning here is the Bootleg Fire and as of right now it's burned over 400,000 acres. It's a ways away from us, but it doesn't make it any less upsetting. The amount of wildfires that have happened here in the last three years is alarming. Although, we are in the Willamette Valley and are not used to wildfires being so close to us, it's a bit unsettling to wonder what's happening to this beautiful state. Hopefully, fire crews and fighters can get ahead of these this year and the Bootleg Fire will the worst we see of 2021. Fingers crossed. Here are five things this week.
1. This Moment.
Skylar and I spent a few hours in Lincoln City, Oregon, this week picking up beach trash and other items that could end up in the ocean, or cause injuries. We ended up picking up about two pounds of trash with most of it being items that could be recycled. It's amazing to me how caress people are with, not only the earth, but even of other people. Don't be that person, be mindful of everything, including yourself.
2. This Wax.
Being in a cold water area of the world, and the chilly parts of the Pacific Ocean, we have to go with cold water wax for our surfboards. We particularly live the Sticky Bumps brand and this blueberry scent is heavenly. It's almost so delicious smelling you want to lick the bar. Putting it on our boards is a treat, for sure.
3. This Shadow.
The morning sun comes through the windows in such a way that makes me forget sometimes that I live in a city. I love how it hits this wall where our floor clock stands.
4. This Launch.
Just like with the launch of Richard Branson, we watched Jeff Bezos take flight into space this week, too. He took off from the ground with his Blue Origin program and New Shepard rocket and he had a successful flight, as well. It is incredible that they allowed the general public, like us, to view their progress into space travel. I love that we can be part of some great history being made.
The "dog days" of summer are in connection to the constellations in the sky. On July 20, 2021, the star Sirius, the dog star, lines up with the sun. The days between July 3 to August 11 are considered the "dog days" as the sun and one of the other brightest stars are in the sky at the same location. Romans thought the star next to the sun meant it was going to be hotter temperatures, but it's the Earth's tilt that brings on the hotter days in the Northern Hemisphere during the "dog days."
Did you catch Antares in the sky this week (19), or the Full Thunder Moon (23)?
Positive affirmations this week:
You have more control over things you allow to affect you. More control than you might realize. Here is a quick checklist of things you literally can control. Try to pick one and work on it in the coming week. Once you have one down, move to the next one. We are looking for progress here not perfection. Remember that! You can do this!
We got to fit in another surf trip this past weekend. We were able to determine that the foam board we have isn't quite big enough for Jeff, but Skylar and I rocked it. I enjoy the thrill of waiting for a wave to come in and just going for it. It's funny, as many times as I've been in the ocean, I still get startled the first time the water gets in my mouth. It's like I forget how salty it is each time we go, but once it happens I immediately remember. I don't think a lot of people realize how salty the ocean water is. I'm sure it tastes differently in different bodies of water, but the Pacific is like the worst cold broth you've ever tasted. ☺
Our surf boots are awesome. They look odd, but we find this design allows for better grip of the board. You can grab a pair here.
My contacts love the saltwater and so does my skin.
We love our Wave Storm foam sticks. They are great for beginners and help you learn the basics of surfing. They are affordable and come with everything you need to get started with surfing, even if you've never been before. You can snag a board here and here.
Life at a "Swell's" pace is a lifestyle and travel blog chronicling the life and travels while living in Oregon's beautiful Willamette Valley. It is mostly written by Shelly HW. Click the image to learn more»
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