Home again, home again... jigidy jig...

Ok, so remember I mentioned that I had a, "slip" while on our Big Sur hike yesterday? Um, yeah. Woke up with a very ouchy backside (think tailbone!) and a massive large apple sized purple/red/green yuck bruise. Good times. It makes for a good story though.

We checked out of our B and B (sad face) and headed to the beach in Carmel with coffee and tea.

The water was a bit chilly for my bathwater temp preference.

The view of Pebble Beach

We drove the 17 mile drive to see the mini Hearst Castles... where the other half live. We stopped at all 21 points of interest of the Monterey Peninsula scenery.

Spanish Bay

Poppy Hills Golf Course. You'd better bring a bucket of balls.

Shepard's Knoll

Being goofy. The engagement photo that Tommy and I will never have! :O) (No engagement!)

Note to self... sitting photos accentuate tummy rolls and require lots of cropping before suitable. Next time stand behind subject.

The lone cypress

Pebble Beach

Tommy has been going on and on about his favorite drink, "bubble tea." We went to four bubble tea spots in Los Angeles and they were all closed between Christmas and New Years Day. So, alas, thanks to my Carmen the Garmin, we found bubble tea.

Bubble tea is characterized by a huge straw and big black balls of tapioca at the bottom of the cup. The balls are also sometimes called boba. The drink originates from Taiwan and is now popping up throughout the US.

I had green apple and Tommy had some self created blend. Is it bad to stay that Bubble Tea isn't my thing? I think I'm more of a straight tea, smoothie or milkshake kind of gal. But I did try it so that's all that counts, right?

The last sunset of 2009. Welcome 2010!

Tomorrow we'll meet my sister Dana, Nick and family for the 2010 Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Tailgating, football and sun? What could be better for the guys? I'll enjoy the people watching, seeing my sister's prego tummy and relaxing. Oh, and being a traitor and rooting for the Ducks instead of the my Alma mater The Beavers, for one day only!

Christmas Letter 2009

Christmas 2009

What an incredible year ~ full of God’s goodness and grace. I am blessed beyond measure and thankful for the many opportunities and experiences that He gives me as I journey through this life. Many thanks to each of you for walking beside me and for all of the love and encouragement that you surround me with ~ I am appreciative for your presence and support!

I challenged myself to be more this year ~ to learn more, to give more, to laugh more, to push myself more and to LIVE more. I wanted to enter my 30’s striving to use my time, talents and treasures to the fullest. Little did I know that I would be stretched more than I thought possible and taken to new and exciting places.

I began serving in new areas. I became a volunteer for Comfort Zone Camp, a weekend program held in Malibu several times a year for grieving children . WOW! Kids have so much to teach us and it’s amazing that even in their brokenness they are able to grace others with perspective and wisdom. I also took a huge leap and joined The Saddleback HIV / AIDS Initiative and became a trained HIV tester and counselor. I enjoy being actively involved in a cause that is very close to my heart.

I was fortunate to travel quite a bit. Although I bicker that I’m single and without a family of my own (YET), I do realize that I am able to, just get up and go, and am taking full of advantage of this while I am able. I spent time with my precious sweet God daughters (and old St. Jude / Church friends too!) several times in Memphis. Tommy and I took a cruise to the Southern Caribbean (St. Lucia was my favorite!) in the spring and ventured to the amazing city of Chicago last August. I had a reunion with my soul sisters Lindsey, Tirza and Olivia in Portland TWICE in one year and also relaxed in my home town paradise. I spent a week at Mt. Shasta cheering on my friend Kathi on her climb. My brother Ken and Sonia’s Maui wedding was the perfect excuse to tack on a week of vacation to a Hawaii work trip. (Somebody has to work the Hawaii territory!) I had to cancel my trip to Cabo San Lucas for JulieAnna and Steve’s wedding due to the Swine Flu. BOO! But will get there another time, God willing!

I celebrated my 7th year with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I continue to absolutely LOVE
my job as a Philanthropic Advisor and have been touched by many of the sweet Hospital supporters that I visit. Especially with the economy, I never take for granted that I have a job and am doubly blessed to get to do
meaningful work to further St. Jude’s mission.

I pray that all of you are blessed with good health, time with those that you love and the desires of
your heart in 2010. I am grateful for friends and family ~ new and old. Please keep in touch and when you
are in my neck of the beach (HA!) you’d better let me know! :O)

God’s peace,


Melinda Marie

melindamhughie@gmail.com
BLOG: mmhughie.blogspot.com
Cell: 949.201.5349


Joy to the world for the PRINCE
of PEACE has come….

The road adventure continues... Cambria to Carmel

We woke up bright and early (by my standards anyways...) to leave Cambria and head up to Carmel. On the way we checked off a few more sites on our list to see. First stop was Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

Hearst Castle is a palatial estate and a National Historic Landmark. It was designed by Julia Morgan for William Randolph Hearst (Net worth 2.5 BILLION dollars).

Hearst castle was built in 1922 and cost $37 million to build. It is 90,000 square feet and has 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a movie theatre and the world's largest private pool. A bit excessive? This is only one of his many homes!

I took so many photos... but just posted a few here for highlights sake.

My favorite part of the tour was looking at and leaning more about the Neptune pool.

I would love to swim in this pool! It is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide and 95 feet wide at alcove. It is 3.5 feet deep at the west end, 10 feet at drains and holds 345,000 gallons of water.


Tommy and I talked about how this palace will be nothing compared to the mansions awaiting us at our eternal home in Heaven.

Our next stop was to see the elephant seals in Piedras Blancas in San Simeon. I've been wanting to do this for several years but have never been in the area during the birthing season, which is December - February.

We saw a brand new baby pup! And her mama was super protective!

We found so many gorgeous lookouts...

Bixby Canyon Arch Bridge

Headed to the McWay Waterfall trail.

This is the only time that I've seen a waterfall fall into the ocean. Pretty awesome.

We were rushing to get to Big Sur before dusk. And we made it. We hiked to a waterfall. I slipped and fell.... not fun! But I picked myself up, dusted myself off and carried on. (Like the trooper that I can be).

Oh! And how cute is my outfit? It's my "traveling uniform."

We made it to our Carmel Bed and Breakfast (Carmel Country Inn... which is wonderful!) in time for a rest before our 8pm dinner reservations at Little Napoli Bistro Italiano.

A packed day. But traveling with Tommy never translates to sitting around. Tomorrow's agenda: Pebble Beach, 17 mile drive, and the long drive home to celebrate New Years Eve on East Coast time. It will be another early wake up call to spend the day in Pasadena at The Rose Bowl. Good stuff!

Malibu to Cambria via Highway One

We spent the day in the car. The views were breathtaking and I wished for a chauffeur so that we could both enjoy the view. But someboday (me!) had to drive. We took our time cruising up Highway One, stopping to stretch our legs and take it all in before the next beautiful stop.

This beach is just outside of Malibu. There wasn't a soul around and it was quiet and peaceful.

We had lunch in Solvang, California. It's a small Danish town that reminds me the quaintness of my hometown of Sisters, Oregon.

Merry Christmas, in Danish! Tirza, my best friend from High School was born in Denmark and my dad studied at the University of Copenhagen.

We had a traditional Smorgasbord meal.

For many years my dad bought my mom Royal Copenhagen plates. They lined our kitchen. Seeing these in the restaurant jogged my memory.

We had Aebleskivers for dessert. They are yummy danish pancakes with homemade raspberry jam.

Tonight's lodging is at a bed and breakfast in Cambria . Cambria is a unique town off the beaten path. It's very picturesque and amazing to see the ocean while amongst pine trees. I had some great work appointments tonight. Tomorrow I have a vacation day and we're headed to Carmel. Can't wait!