Browsing Tag

Big Sur

Outdoors The Big Sur House Travel Uncategorized

big sur under siege by fire and visitors

August 30, 2020
May in Big Sur

UPDATE: On September 11, the Dolan Fire is is 113,486 acres and only 26% contained. 14 firefighters were injured in a burnover incident. Thankfully, the last one will be leaving the hospital this week. The fire has been burning for over 3 weeks with no end in sight at this time. For anyone who loves Big Sur, please consider donating to Big Sur Fire , an all volunteer brigade made up of 22 men and women who do more than…

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Outdoors The Big Sur House

outdoor living at the big sur house

June 18, 2020
The Big Sur House

More than ever, our homes have become places of comfort and refuge. With temperatures heating up, we are now turning to our outdoor spaces as an extension of our homes. Today I’m sharing our outdoor living space along with links to some truly inspiring blogger’s gardens. Here at The Big Sur House, we spend most of our time on the front deck (you can find the story on creating the deck here). With the stay at home order still in…

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The Big Sur House Travel

hello may!

May 31, 2020
Big Sur

The days, weeks, and months are running together. I can’t believe June is almost here and we are still in lockdown in this part of California. I try not to focus on all the things that I can’t do, but instead on the things I can. While I can’t hike any of the trails or visit the beaches, I can hike our very steep road and enjoy its beautiful vistas. And I’ve enjoyed watching the change of wildflowers with each…

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The Big Sur House Travel

spring sheltering in big sur

May 23, 2020
The Bixby Bridge

I honestly don’t know where the time has gone. The first month of the pandemic, I was numb and unmotivated. But something kicked in during the month of April (yes, I am a month behind!). After the parks and trails in Big Sur (along with most of California) were closed, I turned my attention to home. Heaven knows that with 3 acres of untamed property, there was plenty to do. I’m still knee deep in poison oak and mud (I…

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The Big Sur House

mini bathroom refresh

May 8, 2020

While we are thrilled that The Big Sur House has two full bathrooms (helpful when family and friends visit), one of them I have fondly dubbed “the cave”. There are no windows and the back wall is actually cement built into the slope of the back yard. Yep, it’s dark, cool, and just a little bit scary. When we first bought the house, we knew redoing the bathroom wasn’t in the budget and not a priority. It consisted of a…

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The Big Sur House Travel

isolating in big sur

April 25, 2020

In March of 2020, our lives changed virtually overnight. The shock of it has sunk in and the new “normal” for the moment involves long lines at grocery stores, working from home, wearing masks, and apparently a toilet paper shortage. I’ve been extremely fortunate on the TP front, as I always stock between 20-30 rolls…it’s something I never want to run out of…especially in Big Sur where the closest market is 45 minutes away and there are constant road closures.…

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Christmas The Big Sur House

a bit of christmas in big sur

December 1, 2019
The Big Sur House

While we won’t be spending Christmas in Big Sur this year, I still wanted it to have some holiday spirit and cheer without setting up a Christmas tree. I made some simple decor changes and it was just enough to make me want to hum Christmas carols and swig eggnog! I tend to keep things simple and natural. Here in Big Sur, I have potted paperwhites, driftwood trees, and pinecones that I bleached last year. Candles, tiny lights, the stove…

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Travel Uncategorized

magical pfeiffer beach

July 27, 2019
Big Sur

Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California is two miles down a mostly one lane road. As you might imagine, during the summer it can be a frightening proposition. It also is one of the windiest spot with sand that buffets your face…nature’s idea of dermabrasion! All this aside, it is the beach made famous in the iconic Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton movie, The Sandpiper. When the crowds are gone, it can actually take your breath away with its sheer beauty. On…

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Outdoors Travel

hiking solo

June 22, 2019
Big Sur Hiking

When I can combine two of the things I love, Big Sur and hiking, it’s a good day! Just to clarify, while I truly enjoy hiking with friends and family, there is something meditative and restorative about going solo. Much to the consternation of my family, I know there are risks going it alone…but I’m not talking about hiking for days…three to four hours tops! I always tell someone where I’m going and let them know when I return. This…

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Travel

helpful tips when visiting big sur

June 15, 2019
Big Sur

Big Sur has become a popular destination and is on many bucket lists. It’s beauty is dramatic and pristine. With more and more tourists, it’s fragile environment is at risk…so much so that there is a Big Sur Pledge which I highly recommend taking. We are all stewards of this magnificent place and it is sad to see people disregard the rules either blatantly or unknowingly. After reading and taking the pledge, here are a few tips that I’ve found…

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