SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JULY 25 & 26

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JULY 25 & 26:

          Another sunny, bright, perfect California morning on Saturday. Cool when we first woke up, but by the time we took Pappy for a walk, beautifully sunny and warm.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                 

 

Took time to make a bigger breakfast and enjoyed it outside.

Then just hung around the RV park and read until it was time to leave for my hair appointment at noon. This is really such a nice, pleasant park and has earned a fine reputation; we've heard folks here speak Spanish, Chinese, Italian, & German.  The patio area especially, with the canopied swings and bubbling water fountains nearby, just invites you to relax and cast your cares aside.  

                                           

   

       Spent the afternoon getting my 50,000 mile tune-up on my hair. It's been 11 weeks – long overdue! After a minor ordeal - the first gal I went to was a big mistake – she obviously hadn't actually styled hair for a long time – I think she only handles the older “wash & set” group . . . Bill could have done a better job with Pappy's clippers . . . I needed an SOS repair job . . . found one - a very nice, generous woman who emigrated to the States from Iran when she was 17 for educational purposes – then 1979 and the revolution, and she never went back. Very successful – her husband is a civic engineer, and she's owned large salons - beautiful woman. But she cut too much off - I feel scalped! Oh well, it'll grow.

       After Bill picked me up, we did a little grocery shopping in the same plaza, came home, and shortly afterwards started a fire. Had steaks and roasted potatoes and a salad for dinner. Cooler – ate inside. Can't believe how quiet it is here on a Saturday night! We love it!

       On Sunday, we worshipped at the church up the road from us: Sanctuary Bible Church. Subdued contemporary style; solid sermon in a series on Revelation. Pastor and several folk were very warm & friendly. We'd definitely return if we were here longer.

  Relaxed in the afternoon; I snoozed out on one of the patio swings in the balm of the sunshine. Shortly before 5:00, we drove up to Mission Ranch. This is an inn and restaurant owned by Clint Eastwood, just behind the Carmel Mission. It's a gorgeous property – 22 acres overlooking a lovely meadow, with fantastic views of the mountains and Carmel Bay and Point Lobos in the background.  

It began as a ranch in the 1800's, and by 1850 was one of California's first dairies. The restaurant is housed in what was the creameery back then. The property has had some 17 owners, including a family who farmed potatoes here for the Sierra gold miners. In 1986, Eastwood purchased it, reputedly rescuring the property from an impending fate as a condo development. He oversaw meticulous restoration of the buildings, and it now enjoys a reputation as a wonderful place to stay and/or enjoy a meal. The word is that he frequently makes an appearance here.

            

                                                                           

                                 

 

     We just ordered wine & appetizers from the bar menu and thoroughly enjoyed them on the large patio  overlooking the meadow and the sheep grazing there (more about that in a minute).

                                          

                                             

 

 

 

 
 
                                          Restaurant and patio from behind:

 

 

 

  Was on the coolish side, but not too cool to keep us from enjoying the wonderful ambience. The sun would go in and out. Stretched out our stay by ordering fabulous desserts – cheesecake for Bill and an absolutely delicious chocoalte mousse cake for me.

         Then we just strolled around the peaceful elegant grounds,

                                                            

ending up by the barn where the sheep go each night. 

 

                                              

 

 

 

 Their shepherd came out to herd them in – moms and lambs first,

 

                                                                    

 

then the males, including the ram who sired all of this year's babies.

 
                                                        

Altogether they have about 30 sheep here, including one black sheep which was given to Mr. Eastwood by a friend as a joke. The shepherd (female) visited with us for quite a while after getting all of the sheep in the barn. She & her husband have raised sheep for years, and one day not too long ago she ran into Eastwood in a feed store and approached him and asked if he'd be interested in inter-breeding their two flocks. That led to her present job with him. He keeps the sheep simply for his pleasure and that of the guests here – no economic or ecological benefit.

                                 

 

                                       Engaging in typical sheep butting behavior:

 

 

       A really wonderful, relaxing evening. One last look up at the idyllic restaurant as the sun was setting,

                                                                     

             

  

capped off by lovely views of the Mission on the short drive home.