Life in Florida

We have been living in Florida for six months now …….. and are having a great time exploring and enjoying a year round outdoor lifestyle.

While we will always love California, and may go back someday, living in Florida is working well for us.  Sitting on the beach in Carmel, wrapped in Pendleton blankets while our grandson played in the freezing surf, in a wetsuit, sort of clinched it for me.   

  

                                               Champagne with my love

Boca Grande ………… Banyan Street

                                                 Christmas at the Don Cesar - Saint Pete’s Beach

                                The view from the  condo we stayed in when we first arrived.

                                                   The pool and cabana at the house . . . . . . . . .

Landon enjoying the arcade at Margaritaville and celebrating his 10th birthday at Disney World.

                                                          All roads lead to the beach!

   

Photography: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman
 

Three months on the coast of central California.  

The mission in Carmel-by-the-Sea is usually a the first place I go when we are here.  I love the architecture of Spanish Missions and this one is so very beautiful and has lovely gardens.  I’m glad we arrived in March, because shortly after I took these photos, the mission underwent some major renovations and is now surrounded by fences and construction equipment.

We had a visit from our daughter and grandson which brought us a great deal of joy and they loved it here.

The view from Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The Gin Bar at the cottage.  

A neighbors Cecil Bruner roses in bloom and extremely fragrant.  I’ll need to plant some of these.

Plenty of seafood.  

 Photography:  Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

Falls End

 It has certainly been awhile.  In this most surreal of years, I suddenly find time on my hands.  All travel on hold.  Trying to stay put.  Tomorrow I will put away the pumpkins and drag out the Christmas decor.  A last look at the pumpkins before they are wrapped and stored for another year.

All the best

Photos: RYANNAN Bryer de Hickman

Winter Life

Feliz Navidad

 Winter is a time for comfort food and in New Mexico that means posole, empanadas and bizcochitos.
Sufganiyot is often prepared during Chanukah.  One of the things I miss most about New Mexico is the food, so it was a treat for me to prepare, style and photograph these images for the 2018 edition Winter Life magazine published by The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Photography By:  Ryannan Bryer De Hickman

Royal Palms

We have been spending a fair amount of time in Arizona this year.  Our hands down favorite place to
stay is the Royal Palms in Scottsdale.

It was nice to escape winter for a bit.  All the flowers were blooming and the temps were pleasant.
We hope to go back at the end of this month when the orange trees are blooming.  When our kids were growing up, we would make a trip to Phoenix every Spring Break.  My husband is a baseball fan, and some of the baseball teams are in Phoenix for Spring Training.  I'm pretty content to lounge by the pool.  There is nothing quite like a city that smells of orange blossom.

We have stayed in many different resorts in the Phoenix area, but the Royal Palms is always the one we love the most.  I love the architecture and the way the paths meander from one outdoor room to another.    The spa is also quite nice.

 Unfortunately, while we were away this winter, there was a deep freeze at our Texas house.  I follow the Austin, Texas garden blog - Rock Rose - so I wasn't surprised to come back and find the garden looking rather dreadful.   My orange tree survived, as did the Fig Vine, but the Sago and Fan Palms look half dead.  Hope they can rebound.   As I type this, a deer is just outside my window.  So many things I have planted have become expensive deer food.  I can't bear to keep them out though.  What a treat to see them come up from the lake to graze on my lawn, and everything else:-)  Part of the joy of living in the countryside.

Photos By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman
Sotto Il Monte

BIRTHDAY GIRL

                           Thirty-four years ago, this sweet beautiful little girl was born to me.                                                                              
               
                                     She has brought so much joy and happiness to my life.

                                                           Born in Boulder, Colorado
                         

                                                Raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico

                             

                                                        We survived the teenage years!!!

                                                       High School Graduation

                                           Desert Academy - Santa Fe, New Mexico
                                                     

College Days - Hawaii Pacific University - with roommate Lindsay.  That was a tough start.  We flew
to Hawaii at the end of August 2001.  I went to all the parent orientations, set her up in her dorm room, enjoyed the sand and sun and then flew back to Santa Fe.  Eight days later, 9/11 happened.  I had a panicked child on an island in the middle of the Pacific and no way to get to her or get her off the island.  As you may remember, all flights were canceled for days after that tragedy.  We made it through, along with countless other parents and kids. She would end up graduating from Hawaii Pacific University and staying in Hawaii for nearly ten years - with many visits from Mom & Papa.

                  She met her husband Jason in Hawaii.  A musician and IT whiz  - we love him!

                            Together - they gave us the ultimate gift - our grandson.

                                                           The Payoff!!

So Happy Birthday my sweet, loving daughter!!!   Today she is spending her birthday helping to host a baby shower for a friend.