by charlie

Charlie here! I've taken over the computer while Mama is napping so that I can tell you all about my most recent adventure.

Yesterday was the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in downtown Carmel. Originally I don't think I was supposed to be going with Mama and Papa but Mama found this while she was grocery shopping yesterday

Of course she had to have it - it's beautiful and pink and perfect. And just like that she decided that I had to come along to the tree lighting. I couldn't have planned it better myself.

I'm totally adorable, right? We had a looooong walk from the car to Ocean Avenue (that's main street in normal towns) but I didn't mind. I love to walk no matter where we're going. I love adventure.

There were a lot of people there, I mean, like, a LOT, but I was a good girl and waited patiently for the Christmas tree to light up.

But seriously, is it ever going to light up?

Wowee! That was worth waiting for!

After enjoying the tree lights we headed off for the best part of the evening - dinner! Carmel is so pretty at night with all the decorations.

This is doggie heaven...ok, it's really Nielsen's Market and I didn't actually get to go inside (stupid rules) but I downloaded these pictures off Mama's phone to share with you. I would loooooove to get inside those cases!

Nielsen's has a beautiful patio outside that does allow dogs (finally, something for me!) and the weather was perfect for us to sit outside and enjoy burgers.

Mama and Papa say this is the best value in Carmel. I don't know what that means. I do know that it's pretty delicious...and they don't share nearly enough with me.

Hello, starving dog down here!

I do love adventure but it poops me out. Good night everybody!

carmel

I'm so grateful for this area where we live. I've loved Carmel ever since my first visit in 1994 and it's been wonderful to have the opportunity to live here since 1998. No matter where we end up next year, living here has been a dream come true.

I love it so much that it was the only place I wanted to spend my birthday morning. Mr. T was working all day so I took myself off to my beloved Carmel for a solo breakfast trip, which is kind of perfect for an introvert like me. I was exhausted from having to be social at work all week (along with trying to learn a whole bunch of stuff that just isn't clicking yet in my brain) so a quiet morning in my favorite place was exactly what I wanted.

I love Carmel on weekday mornings before the tourists have taken over. This is the headquarters of the Carmel Heritage Society, which was my workplace for about a decade. Isn't it charming?

I think that's one of the things I love most about Carmel, all the charming buildings and unique architecture. Many of the most charming buildings were built in the 1920s which has become my favorite decade to research. Hopefully one day I can do something with all that research but whether that happens or not, I've spent many happy hours immersing myself in the '20s. The building above was the first Tudor/fairytale commercial building in Carmel and was used as a weavers studio and ticket window for the theater that used to reside behind it. Nowawdays it's a very popular candy store...they make delicious fudge!

My favorite spot in all of Carmel - the Tuck Box. Built (by my favorite research subject, Hugh Comstock) and opened in 1926 (as Kay's) it has always been a breakfast and lunch spot and was my destination for birthday breakfast last week.

My favorite table, off to the side. Our local paper (in print since 1914) comes out each Friday so I grabbed a copy and prepared to entertain myself during my meal. The dining room was fairly empty which is kind of unusual for this place but I wasn't complaining.

The avocado and jack cheese omelette was particularly delicious that day but the real star of any Tuck Box meal is the scone. It's unlike any scone I've ever had anywhere else. It's not your regular biscuit-type scone, it's unique. The recipe was introduced in the 1940s and is supposed to be of nothern English or Scottish origin but I've never seen or tasted anything like it. It's especially good with the homemade jams and marmalade that the Tuck Box has made for them and I never turn down a little whipped cream. Just looking at the picture makes me want to skip work and go back today for more.

The dining room is cozy and adorable. Most people enjoy sitting in the front bay window but I prefer my little table off to the side.

I did spend the rest of the day being more social but my solitary breakfast in Carmel was the perfect way to start the day. Carmel will always be my hometown and I'm so grateful to be able to spend so much time there.

Happy birthday Carmel

I really love this time of year, especially when it's time for the annual birthday parade in Carmel which is held on the Saturday closest to Halloween. This year it actually was on the big day itself. Carmel incorporated on October 31, 1916 which made this the 99th birthday.

My favorite part of the parade is that anybody can join in so every year we drag bring our dog to walk alongside us. Jasper got off easy every year, all he had to do was walk but each little dog has had to wear a costume. (insert evil laugh here)

  This was Charlie's parade debut so she had to have a special outfit. Luckily a wonderful friend is an amazing sewer and she offered to make something for my princess. It was so much fun picking out the pattern (Steampunk Princess) and all the material when my friend visited (from Maryland) in early October.

My sewing skills are pretty non-existent (although I really would like to learn) so I am so grateful for her offer. 

 We joined the big group of walkers - adults, children, and dogs - and walked past the cheering, laughing crowds. I saw several people point their cameras right at Charlie and heard a lot of "how adorable" comments from the onlookers. Charlie seemed to love all the attention and walked right along with enthusiasm.

Her hat was a little less enthusiastic; it kept slipping under her chin. We'll have to fix that for next year.

 After the parade we stopped at Nielsen's for lunch. This grocery store has been in Carmel since the '30s and they are the best lunch value in Carmel. If you're ever in town, try their 3.99 burger. You won't be sorry.

While we were at lunch, a couple of people asked if they could take Charlie's picture. She and I loved all the attention.

I can't wait to do it again next year!

life with Charlie

A week and a half later and we're quite mad about our Charlie girl. She has fit into our lives so perfectly; it reminds me of our first days with Shifu. The rest of our life is kinda upside down but we know that we've been blessed by adding this little sweetheart to our family.

We've been busy over the past couple of weekends, taking her here and there.

 first visit to the beach

 first visit to my favorite park in Carmel

 now we know she's my dog, she is rockin' that hat!

 driving around with me during the week

 picnic in the park

super Charlie, able to leap tall stumps in a single bound

Sometimes I look at her and marvel about the perfect timing, perfect setup of events (good and bad) that brought us together. 

I love our little family

 

Sunday Drive - the Carmel birthday parade

Carmel is one of those places that enchants a lot of people and attracts busloads of visitors. I can see why, it's beautiful and charming and almost seems like a make-believe town. Perhaps it's all the fairytale cottages or the tree-lined main street, full of shops, that ends right at the edge of the sparkling blue ocean. Maybe it's the assortment of art galleries, high end jewelry shops and gourmet restaurants that leads people to believe that Carmel is a vacation paradise but not the type of place where real people live.

And yet, I assure you that real people live here, dodging in and out of the many visitors who sometimes forget that they can't just stop in the middle of the road to check the map they picked up at the visitor's center. We welcome the tourists and schedule wonderful events for them (Concours d'Elegance, Bach Festival, AT&T golf tournament) but sometimes we like to throw a little party just for us.

The Carmel Birthday Parade is an event for the locals. The town founders were brilliant enough to incorporate the town on October 31, 1916 so every year on the Saturday closest to Halloween, we throw ourselves a little birthday bash complete with a parade. This isn't your usual type of parade, there are no marching bands or floats. This is a real community parade where everyone is welcome to participate. All town organizations are invited to have a car in the parade or to walk behind a banner. The police and fire departments haul out their shiniest equipment to drive up and down Ocean Avenue with lights and sirens going off every few seconds.

The best part, however, is that anyone that would like to walk behind all the cars is welcome. So, many of us turn out every year in our best costumes (or not) and wave at all the bystanders on the sidewalks. There are lots of children in costume but, Carmel being Carmel, the kids are usually outnumbered by all the dogs...in costume.

Here are a few photos from yesterday's parade to show you why it's my favorite event of the year.

Of course the most amazing dog in the parade was my darling Shifu. 

But there were many other cute dogs there too.

And look, we even had kids in the parade!

It wouldn't be a 2014 Halloween event without an Elsa. I heard that this year's Halloween drinking game will be to take a drink every time an Elsa shows up at your door on Friday. Good thing the next day is Saturday!

Marching down main street - Ocean Avenue.

Our police department has only the most modern of equipment, of course! Isn't that car a beauty. I wish they'd let me take a ride in it one day.

 When it's all over the whole town heads to the local community center for hot dogs and chips. At $5/person, it's the best deal in town...by a long shot!

Oh no, Shifu is dismayed that we've reached the end and it's time to go home. 

We can't wait to do it all again next year!

beyond the garden gate

Have I ever told you about where I work? I don't think I have. 

If you follow me on Instagram you would know that I work in one of the most beautiful places on the face of the Earth - Tor House. I post way too many pictures of this enchanted spot but it's hard to stop because every corner brings inspiration and the views are fantabulous.

Normally you have to pay for a guided tour but follow along with me as we go beyond the garden gate for a little peek.

The courtyard is magical in any kind of weather. It's not always sunny at Tor House, frequently the fog rolls in and surrounds us.

Abalone shells line the pathways to the cottage. Usually they sit in an orderly fashion but this particular day they were all scattered but there were no animal tracks so I can only conclude that the ghosts were having a wild party before I got there. Oh, did I not mention that Tor House is haunted? I haven't run into anybody but the TV show Ghost Adventures thinks they did. I will say that I have heard  noises that defy explanation.

Told you it was a beautiful place!

The quail are frequent and very welcome visitors in our courtyard.

There are many benches where you can rest and reflect.

This is the far end of the courtyard, looking out to the sea. What lies beyond?

More beauty than you can even imagine. We've recently begun a project to bring back the natural wildflowers that would have been there in Jeffers' time.

Would you like to see inside the cottage? Let me go find the key (yes, this is the actual key that I have to use each time I go in there) and we can go inside the next time you visit.

See you soon!