Tuesday, July 10, 2012

work date

'meet me after work for dinner?' my husband asked.

i arrived at the harbor a little early


to have a walk around, to see what i could see. hmm, a pair of standup paddleboarders, a sailboat motoring in and a very large fog bank in the distance. i don't see him yet.


 a  friend is having a show at the harbor


  ahoy pup!


 this boat unloaded many surfboards and children to the dock


 oh! i see him, here he comes!


 :)


this is what he does. leading kayaking and hiking tours in the channel islands national park. if the idea of paddling through sea caves in one of the most spectacular places on earth appeals to you, contact channel islands outfitters here .


 anacapa island





here are photos of what it's like paddling out at the islands. pictures taken by my husband, of me.
here is another one he took, i'm in vogue, hee hee ,yes, you have to wear a helmet, it's a necessity for the caves, and arches, like this one.



i expertly watched him put the days boats away


good job honey!


 he loves my help


no sooner was he done, than our dinner buzzer went off, calling us to our table, only a few steps away.




there are the boats he just put away, now we're sitting just above them, overlooking the harbor




nautical views and people watching


dinner with my own personal guide.  :)


if you go:
santa barbara harbor, santa barbara, california
brophy bros. restaurant and clam bar, they have an interesting website, here
with links for more to do in santa barbara.
cheers! lori

52 comments:

  1. Looks heavenly. You have a truly beautiful lifestyle. X

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  2. Dear Lori, your photos are like from fairytail! So beautiful and amazing colours! You are lucky girl to have your own guide to guide you even to Vogue! That was a perfect date for a dinner! x Teje

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  3. Lori can I come visit you now pretty please!!! I have seen the Channel Islands on TV and oh my I can't believe this is reality for you and your husband. Your harbor pictures are stunning. Thanks for sharing the mag pictures and links. They are just too amazing.

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  4. One day Lori Ann, one day I will make there and I would love to have a tour given by your Chuck! I am so glad you had a wonderful date and I hope you have another one soon.

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  5. Oh. My. Goodness. I can hear the boats, smell the air, and taste your dinner too ;-) Living by the sea - in Normandy - helps put me in context here pretty fast. My husband had a spell of organising and teaching sandyachting tours on the broad expanses of our famous Landing Beaches. Let's be honest here; your coast is not in the same league. It is stunning. Simply stunning. And whilst there must be a tiny element of humdrum in these working days of yours, there surely must be an enormous portion of magic and you seem to be the best kind of person to milk that magic to the very last drop.

    Happy week to you and your husband.

    Stephanie

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  6. Oh my Lori, do you really live there?!! It's so beautiful!
    What fun you and Chuck have. That seafood menu is making my tummy rumble! Was dinner as delicious as it sounds?

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    1. it was emma! i'm hoping to return soon, but you have to come hungry, the portions are huge!

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  7. I think you might be married to a famous person. Or your husband is married to a famous lady? Either way, you two were meant to be together-forever! Thanks for the lovely photos :)

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  8. Hey honey,

    Ok, you're adorable, but the helmet...

    Fabulous posting and I would love to do one of his trips. Aren't we lucky to have such beauty so close to us? I love those islands and used to love sitting in my living room in SB with a big telescope. Could see a Jeep on Santa Cruz Island.

    Hugs,

    S

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  9. Hello Lori! I found you via Ginny, your knitting pal. Even though I live on the other side of the country, I love your posts. I grew up in Ventura County. THIS post however, had my heart thumping! We are a large family of 9 and three years ago, we did a big cross country trek visiting lots of National Parks. We spent time with my grandparents who have a lovely view of the Channel Islands from their patio of their mountain home (even though the ocean is 30 miles away). As a homeschooling Mom who loves to read, our family really enjoyed the Island of the Blue Dolphins. We were so intrigued by the fact that Karana really lived on these islands. All of us went to the Channel Islands National park (from the VTA Harbor, not yours :( and I thought that we had died and gone to heaven. It really is the best kept secret! It is worth every penny! We brought a few kayaks with us and my husband went into the caves with the older kids while I was beach bound with the littles. We visited many, many NP's that summer and that was EVERYONES favorite by far. It really is something special! I cannot believe that your husband gets to see this every day. Incredible! We even followed up by going to see where she was buried at the Santa Barbara mission.

    sorry to hog your com box!

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    1. hi leslie! thank you for the great comment! you are so lucky to have taken a trip like that, all those np's! chuck does go out of ventura harbor, actually much more than s.b. (but ending up in the same place, at the islands)
      we LOVE that book too, it was one of my favorites growing up and my childrens too. amazingly, the islands are much the same as when karana lived on them.
      soon i'll be going back out and can make a proper post with photos of this national, worldwide, treasure.
      :)

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  10. I remember this area when we lived in Southern California in the 80s-92. I never get tired of seeing the beauty of the water, the harbour, and the islands and I agree, you have a wonderful lifestyle. Thank you for a peek into paradise! XOXO

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  11. What an excellent dinner date. Thank you for letting us come along!

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  12. How lucky you are and what a perfect location. Hope you had a wonderful dinner....of course you did! xxx

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  13. Swoon...it looks so dreamy, the water, kayaks, the view, dinner with your hubby.
    You certainly live in paradise. Thanks for sharing your lovely images....ps
    hope your dinner was delish :)

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  14. Oh it all looks so very lovely, thanks for sharing. Your pictures are beautiful.

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  15. What a fantastic date. I looked at the channel island tours in the past. We just need a babysitter until the youngest gets bigger.

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  16. Oh my Lori, how absolutely sublime. I am in awe of your msgnificent part of the world. The sailor and I would love to kayak in these picturesque waters. Book us in for next year. Meanwhile NYC is just fabulous as expected. Missed Your daughter yesterday but will venture up to the square again before we go. I would really love to meet up. Xx

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  17. i do believe i see lobster on that pasta plate. my enjoyment of that photo is second to seeing chuck's legs. honestly, you two deserve each other :^)

    santa barbara harbor. it sounds familiar :^)

    love double love
    kj

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  18. Wow!! that entire day sounds like heaven to me, how very lucky you are! I would love to go sea cave kayaking, wow!

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  19. Oh, to live in such a heavenly place!!! Every day looks like a holiday! Lovely.

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  20. Lori,
    I found your blog looking for knitting inspiration....wow I truly found much more!
    I started from the birth of your blog and I'm now up to date. You have taken me out of my world and into so many unknown (to me) beatutiful territories over the last several weeks. Not only is your knitting inspirational and beyond beautiful,your photography makes me want to travel the world over. Thank you for taking the time to share all your extroadinary endeavors with us.
    Karen

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    1. oh wow, thank you so much karen, it is my pleasure. to this day, blogging continues to surprise and bring joy (it's been almost 4 years since i began). thank you so much for reading and leaving such a lovely comment.

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  21. That fog bank is amazing. What a wonderful dinner. I love the menu -- matching drinks to the meal. Lovely! Wishing you a great rest of the week. Tammy

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  22. Lori what a wonderful job Chuck has. He reminds me a little of Larid Hamilton, with his fearlessness and love of the outdoors.
    My husband and I used to date at that restaurant. This post made me o so happyxxx
    julie

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  23. i like that sharon called you honey. i like to call her honey. sometimes i call you buffy but i don't know if you mind so i don't say it out loud except for now.

    most sincerely
    sunshine

    hee hee

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  24. What a wonderful day , Lori and this restaurant is on my wish list now!

    I don´t know how to swim... is it possible to go kayaking or do I have to learn swimming first?? Oh, this sounds so great to explore these beautiful lands near your town!!

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    1. mina the next time you are here you must go! i'll watch the babies! (you don't have to be a good swimmer, you'll be wearing a lifevest, but maybe you could take a swim lesson with camila) :)

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  25. hi lori, i'm here with JB and we just looked at this post. "god," says JB, "it is gorgeous. we need to thank lori for these fabulous peek."

    love love
    kj & JB

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  26. What a wonderful job and wonderful place! I loved the pictures in this post and the way you have captured the atmosphere of the sunny blue harbour...just beautiful!
    Helen x

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  27. Such beautiful pictures... the kayaking looks fantastic, if only I lived closer!
    Maybe I'll have to plan another trip to the States.
    ahhhhhh...

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    1. hi! yes, next time you'll have to stay on this coast!

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  28. Beautiful photographs, fantastic views. I am greeting

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  29. The water looks so crisp and refreshing!

    I showed Chase (he is dying to learn how to kayak) and he says "I can't even imagine how awesome that job is!". I told Chase if we ever get a chance to visit, maybe Chuck would be his instructor. ;)

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  30. Ah, beautiful. I love that you guys went on a mid-week after-work date two feet away from where he works. :) Your posts always bring me so much joy, Lori! ::hugs::

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  31. such a glorious journey that i still want to do. some day phil and i will kayak out to the channel islands with you and chuck. with luck we will shoot to do it our next trip to california... :))

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    1. autumn is the best time amanda, conditions are usually perfect, i know you guys will love it.

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  32. You paint the most beautiful pictures with your words and photos. Thanks for the little escape! :)

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  33. It all looks wonderful and lovely! The weather the water the boats well everything!
    And that gorgeous pasta!
    And your pictures are gorgeous as always :)
    ♥M

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  34. In my next life, I think I'm going to be you. :)) I love Santa Barbara. When I lived in SoCal, that was where I wanted to live. The pics are so amazing, I feel like I've just visited! You and your hub are the cutest couple. :) xox

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  35. Oh a meet me here secret date is so fun! I've been to CA several times but never Santa Barbara. Gorgeous views and the smell of the ocean must be very nice. My family still talks of a clam hut place in Maine we visited once - the best fried clams we tasted. Nothing else seems to compare. Too bad they don't deliver to far away. :) Oh how I miss good seafood.

    What did you do to a few of your photos - the ones that look as if they've been miniaturized? A certain filter? Or after photo editing? I like them.

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    1. the photo effect is done at tiltshift ellen. it's fun, you and your daughter will have to try it.

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  36. This looks like such a lovely date and adventure sweet Lori!! Santa Barbara looks like a dream.xo

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  37. Oh yes, now finally summer has arived here too, just through your post but still, I can feel it, despite all the rain and storm outside... thank you for taking me on this little harbour date with you. You two are the sweetest and most amazing couple I have ever "met" and one day Aaron and me will book a tour with Chuck, oh yes!
    Love, Gesche

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  38. What a fun date! Gorgeous photos too!

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  39. oh this is breathtaking..stunning! I love the way you wrote this post!
    this is really a beautiful place to be..maybe maybe;)
    sarah

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  40. what a lovely dinner evening you two had. and what awesome jobs chuck has! so fun that you get to be a part of it all - even if it's taking pictures or being the one in the pictures! such a great life.

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xoxo lori