Road Trip: Part I-The Hermitage

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.” 

― Audrey Hepburn

This quote is totally my friend Camille. I love to tell this story and I have told it many a time, but here I will share it again. Camille and I worked together as social workers several years ago. We had a group meeting each week together and I still remember the very first time I heard her laugh. I thought to myself, "Oh. I am going to like her." She has this genuine laugh that is full and bubbles up out of her like it just cannot be contained. And sure enough, spending time with her is quite a similar experience. Her beauty cannot be contained. 

 So Camille invited me to take a trip to Big Sur with her a while back and seeing as how I had never been, I gladly accepted. We had the time of our lives. We even discovered this fabulous hermitage with REAL monks.And we got to talk with one! 

It takes approximately 10 years to become a monk and they live in community with one another each sharing various chores to contribute to the hermitage. One thing we noted right away was the general rule of silence. Unbeknown to us, they were in the middle of a service when we entered the chapel. There was a retaining wall blocking our view so when Camille peaked around the wall and came face to face with a room full of monks, she jumped back and looked at me eyes wide. From my perspective she just jumped and gasped. I couldn't drum up a good guess for what she must have seen. So of course I stuck my head around the wall myself and...  well there they all stood silent as could be. The entire chapel floor was made of marble (we later learned, from India) and you could hear a pin drop from anywhere in the massive room. The entire space echoed even an exhale. Lol. I just thought it was SO funny that I started sort of a hiccup/gasping type of laugh. I was TRYING SO VERY hard to contain myself. I barely made it back out the doors without an all out roaring explosion escaping my chest.

Once safely outside we were greeted by a posted sign requesting that guests remain silent beyond that point. I will admit... I am not a sign reader. Many times my attention has been directed to a posted sign to help my apparent misunderstanding. I guess when you commit to silence it becomes much more important to read. 

The hermitage is located approximately 40 miles south of Carmel and along the most beautiful stretch of Highway. It was a beautiful day, with sun and rain and rainbows. 

Come see.

Christmas Has Arrived

Christmas has arrived and we are all about it. We headed down to the Christmas tree farm and away we went celebrating the season. For some reason this year, I have found myself particularly fond of the smell of the Christmas tree. 

Mmmm...

Fishing Trip

Took a fishing trip this weekend. Had the time of my life. Caught a fat large mouth bass and I was so tickled about it. I was in awe of all the wildlife.

Little Birds

Found these little cutie pies on the forest floor. 

They were so chipper and playful they drew me right into their little world. 

Adventures at the Beach

I was out-and-about today exploring my new town. It was one of those warm late fall afternoons where the sun has an orangey glow that seems to baptize everything it touches. 

I drove around looking for whatever caught my eye. That brick building caught my eye and I was taking some pictures of it from my car while in the middle of the road... Welll... lets just say I simultaneously discovered where the local police station is. Yeah that would be next door to the pretty brick building. A line of police cars just appeared out of thin air. They were coming out of their driveway while I had my face in the viewfinder. I pulled the camera away from my face and VOILA! Oh hey! Heh heh. Hello there. 

(Act cool Jenna. Just act cool. Show no weakness.) Thankfully the first car stopped and held up all the others while explaining the history of the building to me. Highly embarrassing. Highly.

How I wish I could convey the smells and sounds that accompanied these images. The photos of the swing and sunset at the end, there was a smell of bonfires wafting across the salty breeze. 

Ah it was just lovely!