Carmel Pt. 1: The Chair, and a famous caboose

Last Friday I started cleaning up the back yard, getting rid of pots, putting plants in the ground, when I realized that it was time to get ready for my trip to see a cousin in Carmel! Fortunately, I was driving so I didn't have to care how I packed. Since the trip was only three days, I didn't need to take very much.

I had a lovely visit with Julie. She and her husband have a beautiful home in the village portion of Carmel. There aren't any addresses, and so you just have to find the two nearest cross streets and go in that direction. Everyone has given names to their homes: Live Right, The Cobblestone, The Jewel Box. It got me wondering what I would call mine. The Nut House comes to mind, after The Junk Pile. Anyway, she and her husband were real smart. Seventeen years ago, they bought a shambles of a house, rented it out, and when they were ready they rebuilt it and moved in. Only 40% of the population lives there full time, and most of their neighbors have multiple homes.

There's a little house next door to them for $1.29 million. It's small, but cute. 1.2 million is a lot of money to pay for charm, but it's all about location. I told her I could be interested in charm and location at half that price, but not for that amount.

Julie and I went the Mission Ranch Inn, owned by Clint Eastwood. It's a lovely place, and I remembered having stayed there when our son was a baby 20 years ago. We went with my parents, a friend's family and the three of us. It was a good time, and Clint had just purchased it. The cabins were sheep herder's shacks and I remember laughing because the furnishing were definitely on the rustic side! It's all changed now, and is "country posh."

Anyway, we walked into the bar and I took a seat at a table and was admiring the view of the pastures and the Carmel river beyond it. I noticed everyone staring at me, and I assumed that I must look a mess. Julie and I quickly looked down at the menu, ordered, and then ignored the people staring at us to enjoy the view. Two men, on their way out, walked up to me and asked if I knew who had just been sitting on my chair. Clint! I laughed and asked them if I should just pack up the chair, put it in the back of the car! My cousin Julie shouted, "No, I think everyone here should just touch your ass!"

The photos above are of The Mission Ranch, and the last two are of Clint's truck. I think you've seen it in his movies. They use it on the ranch.