Hello! Happy 4th of July! Happy Independence Day! I love this patriotic holiday and relish the chance to celebrate the love I have for my beautiful country. What an honor and a priviledge to be an American! I have been so lucky in my life to see much of the USA in my travels. I've been to the 'four corners' as I like to call them: Alaska, Hawaii, Key West FL, and Maine.... and most places in between. BUT, my favorite places are always near the ocean. About a month ago the hubs and I took a trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea to celebrate 20 years together. It was a great trip....no TV, no computers, just us....relaxing, taking photos and being still. I finally got around to choosing my favorite pictures from our trip and thought today would be a good day to share them. I hope you and your families have a great holiday!
Here is a beautiful home in Pacific Grove - we met the owners - they were outside working in the front yard! What a cool old house.
This is what we came for....
This might be my favorite photo from the trip!!! I followed him with my camera until he was right in front of that rock! I shall call him Jonathon! LOL.
This is a California Condor! These birds are VERY rare, almost extinct, and we were lucky enough to see about 8-10 of them flying above us in Big Sur. Their wing span is eight feet across! I don't really have a zoom lens - this is how close they were!! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
San Carlos Cathedral...
BIG SUR! Can you see Bixby Bridge in the center of the photo? Also, can you see the cows!? This picture depicts California to me....
The fog is rolling in - what a lovely sight....
California Poppies in the wild...everywhere!
I love this photo because it shows how quickly the weather can change... On the left side of the photo it's a bright sunny day... On the right side it's foggy. Perfection if you ask me. This is at Pebble Beach on 17 Mile Drive.
The world famous Lone Cypress Tree....
The 18th hole at Pebble Beach - golfers coming in for the day...
The La Playa Hotel...
I fell in love with these old fashioned roses. Oh my. They were the prettiest and softest shade of peachy pink. It was hard to capture the feeling of them...
Downtown Camel-by-the-Sea, Ocean Avenue...
I loved this necklace at the J Crew store so much that I bought it! I love this look - the denim jacket with the funky plastic flowers. Awesome. Every trip needs to have a little shopping, right??
Carmel Beach the morning we left to come home....until I see you again old friend....
Wanda your photos are amazing. We went to Carmel last year and it was a beautiful trip. Thanks for sharing your memories. Happy 20th!!!!
Posted by: Gisela | 07/15/2013 at 09:52 AM
You are a FANTASTIC photographer! I loved these sights you captured...the sea and the flowers...Thank you so much!
Posted by: Katherine Kee | 07/09/2013 at 10:54 AM
I view you posts for the beautiful cards you do, but these photos took my breath away....You really know how to snap a photo at just the right time and angle..All I can say is WOW!!! You could do PR work...how could anyone not want to visit after viewing your pictures.
Posted by: Beverly Lausen | 07/09/2013 at 10:02 AM
I love all your beautiful pictures. I feel like I really went somewhere. I swear I could smell the ocean in some of those photos. Weird since I have no sense of smell and have never sniffed an ocean. Very refreshing photos!
Posted by: Princess Judy | 07/08/2013 at 12:10 PM
You have captured the beauty of Northern California and make me miss it! Thanks for sharing these awesome photos, Wanda! :)
Posted by: Kathy Martin | 07/08/2013 at 06:58 AM
OMGoodness Such Gorgeous pics Wanda!! Wow!! thanks for sharing them with us!! One of my all time favorite places to visit, too.. 8-)
Hope you guys had a Super 4th! 8-)
Big hugs
Shannon
Posted by: Shannon White | 07/07/2013 at 01:12 PM
OMG, Wanda. These are some of the most beautiful photos! I've never been in that area, and now wish I could get there. The sights are breath-taking! You certainly have a photographer's eye! You captured everything perfectly! I especially love Jonathon Livingston Seagull!
Posted by: Broni | 07/06/2013 at 02:42 PM
Loved your pictures of the Carmel area. It is one of our favorites. We are going there next week for our 50th!
Posted by: Louise | 07/06/2013 at 07:30 AM
How I LOVE the California coastline! And Carmel is just one of the MOST beautiful spots ever! I love all your photos, Wanda. You make me feel like I'm back home again. Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Audrey Pettit | 07/06/2013 at 07:13 AM
Thank you so much for sharing your photos! Hope you don't mind but I saved one to use as my screensaver. :)
Posted by: Kathleen Swafford | 07/05/2013 at 10:48 PM
Stunningly beautiful photos as ever Wanda... hope you enjoyed your holiday week..... x
Posted by: Nikki Brown | 07/05/2013 at 11:43 AM
Beautiful photos. I especially like the triplet of bloom, layered one on each other.
If you love the ocean, carry on up the coast to your Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. Then carry on north into British Columbia across the border. Our coastline is endless and enchanting.
Posted by: Brenda | 07/04/2013 at 06:56 PM
These photographs are so beautiful, Wanda! You are SO talented! It looks like you had such a wonderful and special time! Happy 4th of July to you and yours! :D
Posted by: Kimberly Gajewski | 07/04/2013 at 05:57 PM
Love your photographs. I miss the coast.
Posted by: Rosa M. Vasquez | 07/04/2013 at 05:56 PM
Wanda - I Love, Love, Love your very special photos!!! Gosh your eye and the camera lense are so connected - truly enjoyed seeing what you saw!! TFS :-)
Posted by: Peg Parsons | 07/04/2013 at 04:52 PM
You have a wonderful photographic eye Wanda...I really enjoyed scrolling through your photos!
Posted by: Sherrie | 07/04/2013 at 11:40 AM
GORGEOUS WANDA! Happy 4th! Such talent!
Posted by: Lezlye | 07/04/2013 at 11:22 AM
Your pictures are wonderful and certainly capture the Carmel area. Your flowers are utterly fantastic. I have spent many weekends, over the past 20 years, in the Pebble Beach area and you have captured it like no other has ever done. Thank you!
Posted by: Fonda Jo | 07/04/2013 at 10:51 AM
Happy 4th of July Wanda...your country is stunning!
LOVE your photo's ....so GORGEOUS ALL!
Have a great long weekend!
Hugs Holly.
Posted by: Holly Saveur | 07/04/2013 at 10:32 AM
Beautiful photos Wanda! You're so talented!
Posted by: Karen Motz | 07/04/2013 at 10:25 AM
Great pictures!!!
Posted by: Mark | 07/04/2013 at 08:07 AM
I love this area too, and your pics a awesome!!! You really capture the feeling there.
Hugs, Jackie
Posted by: Jackie Murphy | 07/04/2013 at 08:04 AM
Wanda, love, love, love these photos!! They are beautiful. I am camera shopping, what kind of camera do you have?
Posted by: Jamie | 07/04/2013 at 07:58 AM
Wow...these photos are incredible! Loved them! Thanks for sharing and happy 4th to you! Speaking of oceans...I'm at the Outer Banks as we speak and need to head to the beach!
Posted by: Wanda Cullen | 07/04/2013 at 07:41 AM
Really amazing photos Wanda. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Posted by: Sue McRae | 07/04/2013 at 05:36 AM