Tag Archives: #Carmellifestyle

The “Belles Fleurs” of Carmel

The Beautiful Flowers of Carmel

Ingrid Bergman rose

I visited Carmel many times before moving here and I always went home with the striking image of flowers in my mind.   Everywhere I went in Carmel, there were aways flowers.  In people’s yards, hanging from their houses, in restaurants, in the plaza, in the park, in  the retail stores and even in front of real estate offices.

Alain Pinel Realtors
Alain Pinel Realtors

I would go home determined to plant more flowers in my yard, which I usually did.  I’m not sure there is anything else that is a growing thing that can put me in such a delightful mood!  I love asparagus, but it does’t make my heart sing like flowers do.  So enjoy some of the “belles fleures” of Carmel.

garden

‘Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”                                      ~Luther Burbank

Flowers of Carmel - 1 (10)

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”          ~Henri Matisse

Flowers of Carmel - 1 (12)

“I must have flowers, always, and always.”  ~Claude Monet

Flowers of Carmel - 1 (6)

“Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.”  ~Theodore Roethke

Flowers of Carmel - 1 (13)

“I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one.”
~Edna St. Vincent Millay

Flowers of Carmel - 1 (14)

“A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in–what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.”
~Victor Hugo

I will end with my favorite flower.  Talk about making my heart sing – gazing at, experiencing it, and smelling it -a rose makes my heart sing Handel’s Hallelujah chorus of the Messiah.

Flowers of Carmel - 1 (7)

So I urge you, stop and smell and enjoy and savor the roses and all the other beautiful flowers of Carmel.  If you’re somewhere else, smell the sweet gifts of nature wherever you are!  But we hope you’ll come to Carmel soon!

 

OPEN HOUSE ON CARMEL POINT ~ 26335 RIO AVENUE, SUNDAY, 7/31 10:00AM-1:00PM

You’re invited to an Open House at 26335 Rio Avenue on Carmel Point Sunday, 7/31 10:00am – 1:00p

(*Note 26335 is correct house number, it was said incorrectly in the video!)

Stunning Al Saroyan, Master Builder, remodel offered at $2,450,000 3BR/2.5BA. Three fireplaces, skylights, vaulted ceilings, hickory pecan hand-planed floors, close to the beach and much more!

kitchen

Susan Clark 831-320-6801
Susan Clark 831-320-6801

Call Susan for a showing (831-320-6801) or come to the Open House Sunday morning 10-1:00pm!

Open House on Carmel Point ~ 26335 Rio Avenue, Sunday, 7/31 10:00am-1:00pm

You’re invited to an Open House at 26335 Rio Avenue on Carmel Point Sunday, 7/31 10:00am – 1:00p                                                           (*Note 26335 is correct house number, it was said incorrectly in the video!)

Stunning Al Saroyan, Master Builder, remodel offered at $2,450,000 3BR/2.5BA.  Three fireplaces, skylights, vaulted ceilings, hickory pecan hand-planed floors, close to the beach and much more!

Call Susan for a showing (831-320-6801) or come to the Open House Sunday morning 10-1:00pm!

Susan Clark 831-320-6801
                     Susan Clark, Alain Pinel Realtors

Living the #Carmellifestyle ~ Bopping around Carmel on a sunny Saturday!

Living the #Carmellifestyle . . .  by the way, what does that mean anyway?  I guess it’s different for everyone depending on “what floats your boat” but I’ll give you a taste of what I think is fun around Carmel, because that’s just what I did yesterday on a gorgeous Saturday morning.  (Yes, realtors do take a day off once in a while!)  I started off the day having a lovely breakfast with my hubby and then after a kiss good-bye, I took off on my adventure.

Mantra Salon, at Mission and 7th, in the Court of the Fountains
Mantra Salon, at Mission and 7th, in the Court of the Fountains

First stop was my appointment with Veronica, owner of Mantra Salon, for a cut and color.  She is so amazing and I always feel beautiful when I walk out of there.!  Since I’m preparing for a trip I had a long list of “to do’s” and having my hair done was #1.

Court of the Fountains, Mission & 7th
Court of the Fountains, Mission & 7th

Mantra Salon looks out onto this beautiful courtyard, Court of the Fountains – how Carmel is that!  As I left sporting my new do, I noted the mark on my tires,  and knew it was time to move my car before the meter maid came around again.   I found a lucky spot right on Ocean Avenue right where The Art Festival was in full gear.

23rd Annual Art Festival & Plein Air Competition
23rd Annual Art Festival & Plein Air Competition

Artists come from all over the country to participate in the Annual Art Festival & Plein Air Competition.  They scatter themselves all over the Monterey Peninsula Wednesday – Friday painting all of our wonderful scenery.

Painting of the Carmel Mission by Julie Khyler
Painting of the Carmel Mission by Julie Khyler

Then the paintings are hung in the outside gallery on Mission St. between Ocean and 6th for viewing, judging, and bidding on.  The winning bidders will take home the paintings to hang in their homes.

Viewers admiring the paintings.
Viewers admiring the paintings.
Painting of the Pacific Grove ice plant in bloom by Monika Johnson
Painting of the Pacific Grove ice plant in bloom by Monika Johnson

All of a sudden I spotted a very familiar scene.  Stacy Barter had painted our charming Alain Pinel Realtors office in downtown Carmel and her painting had won first prize in the Plein Air Competition!

Painting of the Alain Pinel Realtors office in Carmel by Stacy Barter
Painting of the Alain Pinel Realtors office in Carmel by Stacy Barter
First prize in the Plein Air Competition
First prize in the Plein Air Competition
Susan (moi) admiring Stacy's painting
Susan (moi) admiring Stacy’s painting

Well, that was certainly a wonderful discovery, but my stomach was growling so I headed to Carmel Plaza  to the Carmel Coffee and Cocoa Bar

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to grab a delicious Greek Salad before the fashion show which would  begin at 1:00pm.

Greek salad with chicken at Carmel Coffee and Cocoa Bar
Greek salad with chicken at Carmel Coffee and Cocoa Bar

Mira Schumacher, the owner of the cafe, greets her customers by name and makes them feel very welcome . . . and has dynamite food!  Since the cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, I settled on a table in the sun to enjoy the lovely weather as well as the 60’s music that was already blaring throughout the plaza to put us in the 60’s mood.

Outdoor tables among the gardens in the plaza.
Outdoor tables among the gardens in the plaza.
Fashion Show with a 60's theme in the Plaza
Fashion Show with a 60’s theme in the Plaza

After lunch I hurried to a seat in the area of the  plaza where the Fashion Show was to take place.  The master of ceremonies was just about to begin.

Master of Ceremonies introduces the fashion show.
Master of Ceremonies introduces the fashion show.

I’ve always loved Fashion Shows so was really looking forward to it!

Here we go . . .

Model on the runway in Carmel Plaza.
Model on the runway in Carmel Plaza.

 

to be continued . . . .