John headed to Carmel Valley together with Penny and Adrian December 28. Isabella helped Olivia un-Christmas the house while she recovered from the bug Adriana and a few other family members had been a 24-hour campground for. No fun – especially because Isabella was planning to spend some time with Sandy and Bill at the stables. She got well just in time and Olivia and the three girls dropped Isabella at Sandy’s on their way to Casa Bellamia December 30.
Later that same day Nick, David and John went to enjoy the sunset at Carmel Meadows before we all had dinner at the Monterey Club. Nice to have to wear a dinner jacket once in a while. It’s certainly the exception these days.
We all went to see a possible venue for John and Olivia’s wedding Saturday morning. Still as lovely as the first time we saw it. More on that at a later date… John and David got dropped off on the way back and set out for an almost seven-mile circular hike in the valleys and on the ridges around the house. The weather was absolutely amazing. The sandwiches Penny had prepared us were enjoyed with outstanding views of very beginning of the valley and the Pacific Ocean.
New Years evening was celebrated as the house. We had two fondue pots going – one oil, one cheese (and one chocolate for later). Once consumed we gathered around the big screen to watch The Bucket List. Almost everybody stayed awake until it was 2012. Great times and a proper way to bid 2011 a fond farewell.
(for that reason a pretty) Slow start to 2012 but we all got out and about. Sandy and Dave headed to Big Sur. The rest of us took the shorter route to a beach and while we never really thought the girls would actually get their feet and bikinis(!) wet, we stood corrected a few minutes after arrival.
