The Amazing Stuff

In Oregon, there lies something rather haunting: a natural look into the ancient past and possibly the future. In Neskowin, a small coastal town, an old forest was once buried beneath hundreds of years worth of sands. After being unearthed in 1998 due to a storm that eroded much of the beach away, these ancient tree stumps have become a permanent fixture on the coast.

The stumps of this ghost forest found under Neskowin Beach are estimated to be nearly 2,000 years old.

They were unearthed after a storm in 1998, which eroded much of coastline.

It is believed that the forest was buried between the years 1680 and 1720 by a massive tsunami that enveloped the trees.

Other evidence points to an earthquake that may have hit Oregon around the same time that would have caused massive landmass changes.

No matter how it happened, it stands as a reminder that Mother Nature is nothing to mess with.

(via Amusing Planet)

What a beautiful and haunting reminder of the destructive (and redemptive) forces of nature.

Every family has a “black sheep” who doesn’t quite fit in. For Kay Rene Reed Qualls and DeeAnn Angell Schafer, they both grew up with the nagging feeling they weren’t like the rest of their brothers and sisters. And that’s because they weren’t.

Both were born at the Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner, OR, on May 3, 1953. While their moms were still recovering from the heavy sedation used in birthing back then, a nurse took the infants to give them their baths. When the girls were returned, however, the mothers noticed something off…but they were brushed aside as still not having their faculties fully recovered.

As years went by, it became clear that Kay Rene and DeeAnn didn’t really look anything like their other siblings. Jokes about “the milkman” were made and any suspicions remained unanswered. Finally, after over 50 years, the truth was finally revealed:

Watch the video to hear more of their incredible story:

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(via San Francisco Globe)

It’s heartwarming to see the “swisters” embrace their unique new family and become stronger, despite the strange situation. Every family has it’s own little weird quirk, after all!

Cassidy Williams had her wedding all planned out. It was to be a relatively small ceremony on the beach in Manzanita, Oregon, which is a coastal town with breathtaking views of the Pacific. Her and her fiance’s dog — a precious golden retriever named Dood — would stay behind in their home state of Utah, where the three of them would celebrate later.

This is the lovely Cassidy Williams with her fiancé, Mattijs.

And this is Dood.

But all of their plans changed when veterinarians told Williams that, even though he was only five years old, Dood was not long for this world. He had terminal cancer on his skull, and his life would soon be over.

With that heartbreaking news, Williams changed her wedding plans completely. Instead of leaving him behind, Dood was driven to Utah by Williams’ father so that the dog could be part of the ceremony. Williams wanted him to be able to swim in the ocean for the first — and last — time.

Not only was Dood present at the wedding, but he also served as ring bearer.

And because his time was so short, wedding photographer Natalya Jenney was instructed to pay special attention to him on the big day.

How dapper is he?

On the day of the wedding, Dood was in great spirits, hanging out with the guests and being the life of the party. He also got to experience the beach, and enjoyed frolicking in the waves.

Jenney described him as “energetic, loving, and simply happy-looking. He was running around, giving kisses to everyone, and just enjoying the amount of people all together ready to give him a petting.”

Dood really enjoyed the ocean, and Williams says her wedding went perfectly.

He clearly knows how handsome he is.

(via The Dodo, WTVR)

Dood’s life may be cut short by cancer, but his memory will live in everyone’s hearts, including Jenney’s. “Dood brought a great energy to the wedding,” she said. “He filled that space with love and comfort.”

You can see more of Jenney’s photography on her website and Instagram.