Iconic Route 1 extends almost the entire length of California, but our favorite stretch for road trips is through Big Sur, which comprises 90 or so miles along the central coast from San Simeon to Carmel. Big Sur’s beauty is not overrated: Sandwiched between the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific — redwood groves on one side and rocky beaches with sea lions on the other — it’s remarkably unspoiled, partly because the only access is via the two-lane Route 1, or Cabrillo Highway. Devote a long weekend, ideally in May or September for fewer crowds. Start out in San Jose, which has the closest major airport, and head south 74 miles on U.S. 101. Merge onto Route 156 and pick up Route 1, cruise through Monterey and Carmel, and then enter Big Sur proper. There are no big towns, only small clusters of roadside restaurants and stores, so fill the gas tank in advance. The road twists along precipitous cliffs and it can be a relief to stop for impromptu hiking, picnicking, or beachcombing (try Jade Cove for its namesake stone). A bohemian Eden in the 1960s, when Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller spent time here, Big Sur is an area where their free-spirit vibe still lingers.

Car show in Paso

This is just one of many LOUD cars at the car show in Paso. There were lots of cars and airplanes. The car show was at the airport warbird museum in Paso. Very interesting!!Our 4 year old grand daughter loved it!!

Kite surfing

Here is a little video about how windy it has been here lately. This is in Cayucos, but you get the picture. Beautiful kites of all colors. Very striking when you are crusing down the road and all of a sudden...Kites of all kinds!!

Red Mountain Road

Today was the broker caravan of new listings in Cambria. We went to Red Mountain Road to see a fabulous listing. This is the view from the road to the property. Awesome!!!

Belated Easter decor

I forgot to add these pics to my Easter post...The chocolate bunny was an idea from Martha!! And my garden bunny......Nice and sunny here and warm....a bit of a breeze. Beautiful day!!

Spring has sprung!!

Here is some purple from the garden...Iris,petunia, freesia, and some unknown stuff.

White in the garden.

These are wonderful little freesias that I planted a long time ago. They just keep coming up year after year......And they smell soooo good!! Here is a sweet little bunny hiding in the bushes getting ready for Easter.

Add in some white petunias and you have a great white garden..It is springtime in Cambria.

The weather here today is georgous!! Now at 5:30 pm it is 75 degrees!!!

I am doing an open house this Friday on Weymouth...I am baking fresh cookies!! Come by for cookies and to see a beautiful, ocean view home. Follow the Coldwell Banker signs.

I don't know why all my sentences have an underline. I guess that is the way blogger rolls.

Those little bunnies you see in the photo were at a friends house where I play Maj Jong. They are napkin holders that a friend of hers made..They are the cutest things I have seen in a long time..

By the way,,,I didn't win at Maj Jong. But I did have a lot of fun. The hostess made a yummy chocolate cake for our snack.

February Stats

The new market statistics are here for February. The average sales price for Feb. 2010 was $559,550. That's down from Feb. 2009 when the average sales price was $711,000. The average days on the market is 223, up from 144 last year at this time.
We have 22 pending in Feb and 15 new listings. That is all the good news for now. Back tomorrow with more fun and games.

Hearst Castle 1957

Here are a couple of pictures of me at the Hearst Castle in 1957 or so. My grandparents worked for the Hearsts and I got to go to work with them. My grandmother worked as a cook for the family. My grandfather drove the buggy that Mrs. Hearst used to go to town. He also took care of the horses.
I remember smelling the orange blossoms and seeing the HUGE kitchen.....all stainless steel!! Very impressive to a young child.

2009-2010 Survey of California Home Sellers.

Changes in family and employment status as well as adjustments to monthly mortgage obligations played significant roles in homeowners' decisions to sell their homes in 2009, according to California Association of Realtors "2009-2010 survey of California Home Sellers." According to the report, 67 percent of all sellers in California did so as a result of difficulties related to meeting their mortgage obligation.

March Update..... Real Estate Statistics

Well.....another rainy day in paradise!! I knew I should have bought that raincoat I saw. Every time I bought a raincoat....it didn't rain anymore. So I stopped buying raincoats and look what happened!! Over 20 inches of rain.
Here are some interesting real estate statistics for this year. As of March 1, 2010 there are 100 active listings in Cambria and San Simeon. This includes single family homes, condos and mobile homes. Since Jan. 1, 2010, 21 have gone pending and 18 have sold.
The average square feet of the pending homes is 1753. The average list price is $665,086 and the median list price is $499.00. They have been on the market an average of 162 days.
The 18 houses that were sold since the first of the year were on the market for an average of 174 days. The average sales price was $619,806 but the average list price was $657,203. They were larger houses in the fact that the average house was 2406 square feet. The selling price was 95.74% of the listing price.
The median listing price is $474,000 and the median selling price was $447,000.
Enough facts for now. Have fun and enjoy your evening.

I've learned that when a man with money meets a man with experience, the man with experience ends up with the money, and the man with money ends up with experience!!

Is Spring Near?

Here are some pretty little posies from my front yard. Can warmer weather be close?? PLEASE!

It is dark and threatening outside. We are supposed to get another huge rainstorm tonight and tomorrow. Up to 3 inches of rain!!

It is a quiet day in Cambria today. It's Friday so we have our wonderful farmers market going on right now until 5 pm. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies and lots of flowers.

On Saturday February 27......Cambria western dance jamboree. From 8;30 am to 5 pm there will be workshops and from 7 to 11 pm is the dance. It is at the Veterans Memorial Bulding 1000 Main Street in Cambria. Call 805-927-3624 for more information. Let's Dance!!!

Lunch at Old Stone Station

Clyde and Myrtle Van Scoy built this gas station in 1931. The garage was added in 1934. New owners, Curtis and Hazel Woodland, purchased the property in 1945. "Red" Blue managed the gas station during the late 1940s.

In 1972 Thurman and "Millie" Fairey and their two sons purchased the property. Thurman operated the garage and Millie turned the old gas station into her antique store.

In the early '80s Ray and Claudia Done purchased the old gas station. After considerable work and restoration a restaurant was born. The Old Stone Station......

Today the Tuesday Lunch Girls had a marvelous lunch. I had the special Tempura Seafood. Just divine!!

We are about to get more rain!!

More rain is on the way. Yippee!!! Just what we need. Don't forget.....we have a wonderful farmers market every Friday afternoon from 2;30 to 5 pm at the Veterans Memorial parking lot. Lots of yummy stuff.
Don't forget to stop by my open house on Saturday at 325 Bristol Street in Cambria. It's not quite this view but close!

Everyone Loves a Fresh Day!!

I found these guys down the street from my house. They love all the new grass and rain water.
Now is the perfect time to see Cambria. Everything is green and clean. Oh yea.....we also have the Monterey Pine Pollen!!! Everything is lightly dusted with a thin yellow film. Beware of sneezing, itchy eyes and runny noses. If you are just here for a couple of days it shouldn't bother you.
I am doing an open house this weekend at 325 Bristol Street in Cambria. It is a beautiful ocean view home. Come see me!! If you need more info just email me.
Off now to finish up my taxes...ugg!!

Beautiful Pacific Ocean

Tonight I am going to the Chamber Mixer. Meet and greet business owners in town. Usually a very nice time. Food and wine and nice company.

The weather here is a little chilly today but the sun is out and everything is bright and beautiful.
On Sat. the 13th the American Legion Auxilary is hosting a Prime Rib Valentines Dinner. There will be two seatings. One at 5:30 and the other at 7 p.m. you must make reservations by today at 805-927-5010 or 805-927-1776. For $15.00 you get prime rib, potatoes, green salad, rolls and dessert. You can't beat that!! See you there! I will be helping to serve this delicious dinner.

Also happening this week, on Tues. the 16th and Thurs the 18th lighthouse is offering free tours!!! The tours last two hours and did I mention they are FREE!!
Call 805-927-7361 for more information.

That should keep you busy for a few minutes. I will be back soon with more happenings in my neck of the woods.

Great Day in Cambria

Well.....another beautiful day in Cambria. Puffy clouds, rain showers, rainbows!! who can ask for anything more than that!!!

Tomorrow night is the Chamber mixer at Dr. Azevedo's office. It should be fun. Good food, good wine and lots of mixing. Maybe a lead for my real estate business, maybe just fun.