We’re Home!

As always, Emily and I had a wonderful time on our “Girls’ Trip” to Carmel Valley. We ate great food (and I drank good wine), took a bubble bath, spent a lot of time lounging in bed and watching TV, played Bocce Ball and Croquet, and even went on a gorgeous hike. After a bit of wandering around in Carmel on our last day, we drove home along 17-Mile drive, stopping for lunch at the Lounge at Spanish Bay for an amazing burger!

Here’s our room. They greet you with a glass of wine while they prepare your paperwork. When we had settled in, we turned on the TV and the premier episode of Friends was on! I’d forgotten what a ditz Rachel was–LOL!

Then we wandered the grounds…

The light in our room the next morning was just beautiful, so Emily allowed me to take some photos of her during TV commercials!

Finally after a very long morning of being lazy, we went for a hike at Garland Ranch Regional Park. It is just breathtaking there! I found multiple locations I would love to shoot in: lovely little meadows filled with beautiful wildflowers, a stream to play in (though it was a rushing river this time of year), and huge meadows filled with gorgeous grasses. I think the golden hour light there would be phenomenal, too, but that day the clouds rolled back in too early. I DEFINITELY plan to go back there for a shoot one day!

The next two were shot with my old xTi, which Emily has inherited. I let the battery die on my camera and hadn’t thought to bring a spare. I could have cried! But Emily kindly allowed me to borrow hers for some shots. I still love that little camera!

Put it into Auto and handed it to another hiker for this one–I am trying harder to be in a few photos now and then…

Wandering the grounds again at the hotel… The light was glorious!

Splurged for Room Service the next morning, before heading home… I just love her sleepy hair and the chocolate chip pancakes they made especially for her!

My budding photographer–I am so very proud of her!

We wish we could go more often, but perhaps leaving it as a special occasion place makes it all the more special!