Carmel, CA

The Barnyard

History- the Barnyard is a group old local barns that were put on one property to create a small town shopping center. Over the years there have been some wonderful locally owned shops and restaurants that include The Thurderbird Bookstore, Total Dog, Succulent Gardens, London Bridge Pub and Hudson’s. Most of these stores are no longer in business with the exception of Hudson’s; they have relocated to the Crossroads.

Today-The Barnyard is popular amongst tourists but there are many locals that frequent the shops and restaurants.

Restaurants-

1. Bahama Billy’s-With a great island flavor to thrill your palate. My favorites include their Mango Salad, Killer Meatloaf & the Skirt steak. You will love the bread while you are waiting for your food. BB’s also has some great specialty cocktails.

2. Robata’s-My favorite Japanese restaurant. It can be a bit cold in the winter but in the summer and fall eating on the patio is great. They have a very reasonable lunch menu that will fill you up. Some of my favorite sushi is their spider rolls, shiitake nut rolls and the Carmel Roll.

3. From Scratch-This restaurant has been around for a long time. It has a nice covered patio that you are more than welcome to bring your dog to. Local artwork is abundant on the walls and is for sale. In the winter time they have fabulous soups; the tomato basil is to die for. They do have wonderful breakfast specials as well; try the yummy French toast.

Shops-

1. Heidi’s-Great work shoes and now they have fun women’s shoe too. The staff is very knowledgeable and the owners are warm and inviting. If you see a sale sign you better hurry and run in before they are all gone.

2. Michael Sherman Jewelers’-Talk about beautiful one of a kind jewelry this is it. Everything is handcrafted and is the upmost quality.

3. Khaki’s-This upscale store is it when searching for men’s clothing. They carry only the world’s finest designers. Stop by and enjoy outstanding customer service.

Make sure that on your next visit that you have an empty stomach and a wallet full of cash to enjoy the shopping. You will be happy you did!

for more information on local places to visit go to Carmel, Ca Homes for Sale.

My first post of 2010 and what do you think it's about?

With 2009 in the past and a the fresh "New Year" I have made some plans for the first part of the year. I will be doing some traveling to some of my favorite places, Big Sur California is one of my favorites in the photo (above) just north of Monterey.

One of my second favorite places to visit is the "Red Woods" in Northern California photo (below), my "Giant Friends" have really missed Vegas Bob and they are waiting for my return.

I am getting at that age where I need more time away from the hustle and bustle of work & the city. Life is short and who wants to spend their whole lives working for "Uncle Sam" and not enjoying the wonders of the world.

Can you tell me who this person in standing in the middle of this tree?

Photographs by Robert Swetz - All rights reserved - 2010

www.SearchMyPics.com

93rd Annual Carmel-by-the-Sea Birthday Celebration

and Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 31, 2009

THIS IS REALLY A FUN EVENT! WE HAVE ATTENDED FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS!

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA -The City of Carmel-by-the Sea is proud to announce its 93rd Annual

Birthday Celebration and Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 31, 2009. The parade begins at

11 a.m. meandering through our commercial district on Ocean Avenue. Adults, children and

leashed dogs are welcome to participate in the parade. Make sure you wear your costume and

join City Dignitaries riding in grand old cars as the City salutes its residents, as well as our elected

and appointed officials. Complimentary ice cream will follow the parade for all participants!

A wonderful hot dog lunch and entertainment await outdoors at Sunset Center parking lot

(located on San Carlos between 8th and 10th) beginning at high Noon! Tickets for the lunch are

now available for purchase at Carmel-by-the-Sea City Hall and at the event, buy early, as a

limited number are available. $5 for a hot dog lunch including chili, chips, a drink, ice cream, cake

and coffee (donated by the Carmel Chapter of the American Red Cross). For ticket information

please call (831) 620-2020.

For up to date information, please call (831) 620-2020 or e-mail clopez@ci.carmel.ca.us.

Before the Superbowl on Sunday a friend and I couldn't help but go out and enjoy the phenomenal weather that we are having here on the Monterey Peninsula.

Where did we go you ask....Point Lobos!

Point Lobos is a few miles south of Carmel on Highway 1 before you reach Carmel Highlands. A state park that many people flock to during the migration of the whales every year. If you park outside of the park it is free to walk in. Click here to get more information.

So back to Sunday... it was one of those days that made Point Lobos almost more breathtaking than normal.

Here are some of the photos that I took I hope you will enjoy them.

Along the trail!

The Sea lions enjoying the February Sun!

Are those California Poppy's before spring?

This morning I received this email and it looks very interesting and just what I need in the changed market. So I thought that I would pass it along to anyone interested.

L O R N A H I N E S

Positive Time in a Negative Market

I'm always surprised when I hear people blame their lack of opportunity or eminent failure on the circumstance of 'time'. So many assume that 'time' is accountable for our failure and we have no control over our success or defeat. "It's not a good time to buy," they say, or "This isn't a good time to be selling real estate," or "My timing is off... I should have sold sooner." There are so many ways we can blame time for keeping us away from getting what we want.

Real success comes from our ability to make time our friend.

Every minute of every day is an opportunity that time grants us. Time is the benefit that we have to help us turn fear into courage, frustration into hope, and defeat into success. Our relationship with time and how we perceive and use it can give us more of everything we want. We can use our time for all of the good things in life. It's a good time to make a gratitude list. Every day take stock of all of the benefits and good fortune we have and every day remember the most important benefit: the benefit of time and how we use it.

How do we use the time we have to talk to people?

What positive conversation do we have with our potential clients in order to draw them to us and into this market? How do we use our time at open house? Are we creating new clients and building a better business? Do we use our time to speak with everyone about the opportunities of this market? Are we using our time to build our business in a more positive place or are we letting the negativity in the world take us away from our success?

It is a good time for investors to put money into real estate. It is a good time to buy a home for much less than in the past many years. It is a good time to sell a home if you want to be somewhere else. It is always a good time to do the thing we want to do to build and achieve our future success.

Real estate trends in cycles of time. I always ask the client, "When the cycle evolves, and because of time you have created more equity, would you rather be here (where you are) or would you rather be there (where you want to be)? Where do you receive the most benefit?"

Time can be a foe, or for the very wise - no matter the circumstance - a friend.

When I was young and frustration and defeat seemed to overwhelm me, my mother would say, "Give it time. It will look better in the morning. Time heals everything." She's 83 years old now and recently said to me, "Time marches on and doesn't wait for any of us. Right now is the best time we have." How good it would be for all of us to remember each and every day that right now is our time. It is this very time that this market gives us so many opportunities for our success. We should make it our best time.

It's time to make a plan.

Let's use our time in a better, smarter way than we ever have before. Let's plan for a stronger and more productive year than we ever have before. Let's plan on this being the best year yet. Let's plan to stay in better and more personal touch with our sphere and with our past clients; do more open houses and be more effective; make more appointments and quit chasing leads.

Let's plan to use our time to remember all of the opportunities in this market and convey those opportunities to our potential clients. Let's use our time to say the things our clients need to hear to overcome their fear. Let's use our time to overcome our fear and plan for our success. And most of all, let's remember what a great business real estate is and how fortunate we are to work in it.

Let's quit getting ready to get ready to go... and let's go!

It's almost 2009! It's our time. It's going to be our best year yet. And how do I know? Because we can make it so. It's always a good time and a good market to do the things we want to do and achieve the success we desire. It's time to recognize the opportunities of this market. They are out there... reach out and seize them!

Sincerely,
Lorna

L A S T C H A N C E T O R E G I S T E R!
Lorna Hines Annual Business Planning Conference
Coming to Carmel This Week!

Lorna Hines Two-Day Conference
Annual Business Planning Conference for 2009

Two-Day Event - Thursday & Friday - December 4 & 5, 2008
Check-In, Materials Distribution, Morning Coffee & Networking Begin at 8:00 am
Workshops Begin at 9:00 am Sharp & Conclude at 2:00 pm (both days)
Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club in Carmel, California

Refer a Friend!

Complete Conference Details & Online Registration
www.SCR-BayAreaCourses.com