A Bath, We Almost Have A Bath!

Some would say that indoor plumbing is the hallmark of modern civilization. I'd further that by saying indoor bathing is even better. So after six months without a bath or shower, by the end of next week, we'll be soaking elegantly in our newly completed bathroom. Floor to ceiling tiles, new vanity and sink, and most importantly, a 32x60-inch tub to soak our worries away. And, if you prop the bathroom door open just so, you'll even get a view of the ocean. Sounds like bliss.

Photos to come....

Oh the agony: Acacia and finish choices

In past posts you've heard mention of the new flooring going in at the Beija Flor cabin. We selected a sustainable hardwood called Acacia wood for many reasons. 1) it's sustainable, because that's how we roll; 2) It's a hardwood so it should last, like, forever; 3) it's absolutely gorgeous, lot's of rich grainy character.

It's on point number 3 that gave us such agony. You see, our little cabin has beautiful knotty cedar on the walls and its vaulted ceiling. And, when you introduce a new wood, all of a sudden your eye says, "wow, that's a lot of wood." Well after much research, asking the opinions of too many people, we were close to covering this gorgeous wood with a single, flat white color. And, thanks to the wood finishers, we did NOT make this fatal mistake. Instead we chose a non-toxic, wax finish that both preservers/protects the wood and helps balance the woody look in the cabin.

The floors are curing as I type and will have fresh new photos to add after the weekend.

New Flooring for the Beija Flor

After an exhaustive search, we have landed on installing some new Acacia wood flooring. We're told it is very durable and better still, it's sustainably harvested. To get the ball rolling, we'll be clearing out all of the contents and will be storing it nearby with a neighbor (it's very good to have good neighbors!!). Once it's cleared out, the demo of the current flooring can begin and then the Acacia goes in.

The goal is to have it all complete in time for Mother's Day weekend. This is a critical deadline as we'll using the cabin to host my mother- and father-in-law for their first visit to the cabin.

I Can See Clearly Now The Grime is Gone

The Beija Flor is blessed with floor to ceiling windows offering views of the Pacific. Yes, they're awesome to gaze out while the sun sets or while watching a good storm role in off the ocean. But who knew what a little glass cleaner, newspaper and squeegee could do for the place. With a little elbow grease thrown in for good measure our cabin is now sparkling like a jewel.

And, as you can see from the photos, we were given a couple of gorgeous sunsets to enjoy this weekend.

The Beija Flor cabin will soon be ready to welcome it's first renters. If they're anything like us, it won't be the last time they visit. Cove Beach leaves you with a longing to return again and again.

Check Out the New Sliding Door

Well it seems that the hours of HGTV watching and endless fantasizing while thumbing the pages of Dwell, Oregon Home, etc. have paid off. My honey's vision for a simple update to the cabin paid off big time.

In my humble opinion, it adds a contemporary touch while maintaining the integrity of the original design. Plus, functionally, it adds privacy for those who are vacationing with another couple.

We're going to test-drive it this weekend. Look for full reports after the weekend.

Happy New Year from the Beija Flor!

The winds are howling, but we're snug and warm by the wood stove after a long, albeit wet, hike to a hidden cove within Oswald West State Park. A pot of my love's potato soup, along with some crusty bread we picked up at Mother Nature's Natural Foods a few minutes down the road in Manzanita, chase away the memory of the chill. The glass of red wine doesn't hurt either.

We turned the iPod to Ray LaMontagne, and let his plaintive tunes marry with the sound of the rain coming down on the roof and muffled ocean's roar. A perfect symphony for the soul.

How does the Cove Beach do this to me every time? So protective. So nurturing.