Thursday, August 9, 2012
Andy's birthday
Andy had a busy 31st birthday. We painted the first coat in our master bedroom...it was really HOT with no AC and windows open for ventilation. Then we got ready to head into town for an early dinner and a movie. He got to have a sampler of Belgian style beers which he really enjoyed even though he didn't finish all 6 of the samples; he would have been spitting drunk if he had... I thought it was great that he even got carded...what a way to celebrate 10 years of legal drinking... Yummy dinner and a free dessert of a chocolate brownie with ice cream. Then, we got to see the new Batman movie which he has been dying to see since it came out. We just hadn't had time to go to the movies until the vacation, but I talked him into holding off a week so that it could be part of his birthday.
Babymoon
I apologize in advance for the arrangement of the pictures. I thought that I had them done nicely, but blogger messes them up between the typing of the post and the publishing of them. I would go put together something nicer for all of you, but I have way too many dishes left to wash now that the kitchen renovation is complete!
We've heard or read many recommendations to enjoy the last little bit of time before we have a baby. We knew that we couldn't stay at home or we'd end up doing stuff. Since Andy has been doing lots of work at the house and lots of extra days at work, we wanted to have a relaxing time together so we decided that rather than doing several small laid back weekends, we would do one big trip. We decided on Carmel, CA based on what we had heard about it and my sister's recommendation (she lived there for a while). We ended up going to a vacation rental rather than a hotel for 5 nights (Saturday - Thursday).
Andy & I decided/remembered that we hate the first day of a trip. We inevitably bicker and snap as we try to gather and load everything without leaving the house in a state of disaster while sticking to our schedule. This trip started no differently...bicker, snap, schedule blown to smithereens... But we finally made it out of the house, had a late lunch in Cambria (near the Hearst Castle), drove the highway along the coastline, drove through Big Sur in the dark and fog, and finally made it to our rental to unpack and head to bed.
We had a fabulous plan for Sunday brunch that also went down the drain. Andy discovered that although he packed the suitcases and loaded the car, his jeans and long sleeve shirts didn't make it to Carmel with us. They were left hanging in the closet at home. You might think that wouldn't be a problem in the summer, but it never got above 70 degrees while we were there. So, Andy was really annoyed that he only had one pair of shorts and workout shorts and pants. He needed a run to work out some of that frustration. After he bundled up in multiple layers, I made sure that he had his phone and the GPS for the run. If only those measures had been enough.... He ran along the highway until "pulled" over by the highway patrol because you aren't allowed to run there. He was directed to the trails that he could run on. These twisty trails kept going and going and.... After two or two and a half hours, I tried to call him, but his phone went straight to voice mail. Since this has happened before, I decided that I wouldn't worry until the run had lasted three hours. Apparently, Andy had tried to find a pay phone but was unsuccessful. Thankfully, he did find another highway patrolman (who'd heard about him from his partner who "pulled" Andy over at the beginning of the run) who let him use his cell phone to call me. He finally made his way home after a little over three hours. This was his one and only run.
On Monday morning, Andy found a Ross store so that he could buy a pair of blue jeans.
Otherwise, we tried to do a little bit of walking around town and eating. A few days we even got to enjoy some entertainment (Bach Festival concert, play). We had a lovely few days! Thankfully, the skies were bright and clear on our drive back home Thursday.
our rental in the fog
We've heard or read many recommendations to enjoy the last little bit of time before we have a baby. We knew that we couldn't stay at home or we'd end up doing stuff. Since Andy has been doing lots of work at the house and lots of extra days at work, we wanted to have a relaxing time together so we decided that rather than doing several small laid back weekends, we would do one big trip. We decided on Carmel, CA based on what we had heard about it and my sister's recommendation (she lived there for a while). We ended up going to a vacation rental rather than a hotel for 5 nights (Saturday - Thursday).
Andy & I decided/remembered that we hate the first day of a trip. We inevitably bicker and snap as we try to gather and load everything without leaving the house in a state of disaster while sticking to our schedule. This trip started no differently...bicker, snap, schedule blown to smithereens... But we finally made it out of the house, had a late lunch in Cambria (near the Hearst Castle), drove the highway along the coastline, drove through Big Sur in the dark and fog, and finally made it to our rental to unpack and head to bed.
We had a fabulous plan for Sunday brunch that also went down the drain. Andy discovered that although he packed the suitcases and loaded the car, his jeans and long sleeve shirts didn't make it to Carmel with us. They were left hanging in the closet at home. You might think that wouldn't be a problem in the summer, but it never got above 70 degrees while we were there. So, Andy was really annoyed that he only had one pair of shorts and workout shorts and pants. He needed a run to work out some of that frustration. After he bundled up in multiple layers, I made sure that he had his phone and the GPS for the run. If only those measures had been enough.... He ran along the highway until "pulled" over by the highway patrol because you aren't allowed to run there. He was directed to the trails that he could run on. These twisty trails kept going and going and.... After two or two and a half hours, I tried to call him, but his phone went straight to voice mail. Since this has happened before, I decided that I wouldn't worry until the run had lasted three hours. Apparently, Andy had tried to find a pay phone but was unsuccessful. Thankfully, he did find another highway patrolman (who'd heard about him from his partner who "pulled" Andy over at the beginning of the run) who let him use his cell phone to call me. He finally made his way home after a little over three hours. This was his one and only run.
On Monday morning, Andy found a Ross store so that he could buy a pair of blue jeans.
Otherwise, we tried to do a little bit of walking around town and eating. A few days we even got to enjoy some entertainment (Bach Festival concert, play). We had a lovely few days! Thankfully, the skies were bright and clear on our drive back home Thursday.
our rental in the fog
the view out our windows when it was clear
(although it looked much better in person that the camera shows)
beautiful beaches and scenery all around
tons of wildlife
a loner
the beautiful Cypress trees
the famous lone Cypress tree along 17 mile drive
us out on the town
deer on the Pebble Beach Golf Course
Yard work
That title isn't fair when your "yard" is 3.5 acres. Andy had to meet certain guidelines laid out by the fire department since we live in a high fire risk area. I guess that nothing had been done on the property for a few years, because Andy worked hit butt off and still isn't finished. Among the regulations are grass/weeds under 3 inches for 200 feet from the house, getting rid of dead trees and bushes, and trimming up trees so that he can walk under them. The tree trimming meant that he had to get a new toy, a chainsaw. He got to work on that so that we would be ready to take all of the trimmings to the free chipping day provided in the area. Here is what we took to be chipped.
Unfortunately, this is what is left with no more free chipping days. I think he's going to rent a chipper for a day to get rid or all of this and mulch around the trees. At least in the future, the growth shouldn't be this out of control each year, and we have lots of firewood and fire starter for the winter.
Unfortunately, this is what is left with no more free chipping days. I think he's going to rent a chipper for a day to get rid or all of this and mulch around the trees. At least in the future, the growth shouldn't be this out of control each year, and we have lots of firewood and fire starter for the winter.
There are also piles of firewood and fire starter in the barn that Andy cut up and kept rather than chip everything. So, we should be set for fires in the fireplace this winter!
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