Carmel Beach and Mission

 

Carmel beckoned Lys and me to her beaches yesterday afternoon.  We took a nice walk along the path overlooking the ocean, where the smell of salt air and rhythm of the ocean waves greeted us in full spring glory.

The waters were filled with surfers, the sand dotted with kite flyers, dog walkers, and picnics.  Looking north, Pebble Beach jutted out into the bay....

 

 

We loved the cypress trees providing peek-a-boo views...

glimpses of wildflowers....

and were especially excited to spot a hummingbird enjoying these beautiful purple blossoms, just three feet away from us...

 Can you see the hummer right in the middle of the photo below?

Across the road were houses with magnificent ocean views.  This house caught our eye, capturing the fairy tale cottage feel, typical of Hugh Comstock's architecture from the 1920's.  You see these lovely storybook homes and shops sprinkled throughout Carmel.

Finishing our walk, we started home and as we came upon the Carmel Mission, decided to stop for an impromptu walk through the mission.  The mission was built in the 1770's.  Gracing the grounds are pretty gardens and nooks and crannies with statues of Father Junipero Serra, the head of the mission in the 1770's.

 

Friends of our's were married in this old, historic church several years ago....

 I remembered the bride walking down this aisle....

Continuing the tour through the old mission rooms, we found the bedrooms and salon, 

with the Spanish architecture touches.

 

 Outside again, the courtyard provided a better view of the bell tower.

 

 

And then it was time to head home at last.  Have you re-discovered treasures in your own backyard lately?

Georgia O'Keeffe Exhibit

Lys's birthday was earlier this month so I spent the weekend in San Francisco to celebrate.  We had a wonderful time!  We started with lunch Saturday at a Burmese Restaurant.  It was nothing special on the outside, but the 30 minute wait was an indication of how tasty the food would be inside. From there we went to Golden Gate Park to the de Young Museum to see the Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit.  

O'Keeffe is one of Lys's favorite artists and we all embraced her work, from large blooms to haunting trees...

Throughout the exhibit there were quotes painted on the walls and in small displays, many by her husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz.  One of my favorite quotes of his is:

"The great geniuses are those who have kept their childlike spirit 

and have added to it breadth of vision and experience.” – Alfred Stieglitz 

Learning about Stieglitz' work piqued my interest in learning more about his work as well.  

It had rained off and on that week, providing a tremendous relief for the California drought, though the warm, dry weather since proved it to only be a drop in the bucket.  The skies were already clearing when we emerged from the museum.  

We made our way across town toward Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Square for hot fudge sundaes.

The greatest part of the day was reveling in the growth and beauty of my daughters.  Celebrating a birthday makes a parent naturally reflect on all the years since the child came into the world, all the smiles and fun times, all the tough times and disappointments, the trial and error times, the jump for joy successes, the disagreements and the embraces, and most of all the love.  It's all about love!  I'm so proud of the woman my daughter Lys has become.  Happy Birthday, my dear!