Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Happy Places

happy place

 

 

Looking out from the kitchen window,

Westport, California.

Symbols in unexpected places.

 

 

 

 

passage

 

Secret passages,

Dark gardens,

Trails through the headlands on the Northern California coast.

 

 

 

 

 

Broken things that hold something dear that you cannot throw away.

 

 

 

Places that inspire creativity.

 

Moments that encourage daydreaming.

 

 

 

 

ocean view

 

 

 

Silence after an eventful day.

Being in the arms of someone I love.

Willows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

mendocino

 

Main street Mendocino.

Summer of 72.

 

 

 

California North Coast

Sitting on the beach,

feet buried in warm sand.

Listening to the waves coming in and going out.

 

 

 

 

A & M

A & M

Spending time with these two.

My cousin Alma and her husband Mike. Their daughter was married last weekend, it is one of the reasons I came home.

Their spirit, their faith, their love is uplifting, encouraging, steadfast…

Imagine this… a few days before their daughter was to marry, their business burned to the ground. Talk about a ride on a wild roller coaster of emotion! Yet they remain uplifting, encouraging, steadfast… happily sharing love… which is a testament to their happy place called love and devotion.

 

Photos taken at Westport House.

 

Comments

21 responses to “Happy Places”

  1. Zosia

    So sorry about the fire. I hope your cousins will be able to rebuild and continue their business.
    I love the photo with the trees and an Adirondack chair by the shore – a quiet place to meditate, reflect and dream.

    Reply
  2. Jackie

    brilliant photography…the “cross” window, the bench by the water’s edge…brilliant and beautiful.

    Reply
  3. Theresa Cheek

    You have a way of seeing the moment frozen in time with your photography. So sorry for the tragedy with your cousin though.

    Reply
  4. Kathie B

    The only silver lining to Alma and Mike’s business burning is that (I gather) everyone is safe. They certainly face a lot of work in both the short and long term, whether they rebuild or embark on a different endeavor. At least they have the love and moral support of you and other family members, and the joy of their daughter’s marriage. We wish Alma and Mike our best, whatever path they choose.

    Reply
  5. Morgan Cairigliano

    Very nice Corey! I have always enjoyed reading you daily post! Today’s really touched me! Thank you so much for coming to town early for the wedding! I can’t even begin to explain what that meant to me! Love you lots!!!!

    Reply
  6. Marilyn

    So very sorry for your cousin and husband’s business burning to the ground. I wish them the best in new life adventures.
    Your photos are as always amazing! I have a weakness for Adirondack chairs by the sea, so this one particularly touched me.

    Reply
  7. everton terrace

    Wow on the fire, assume all are safe. They look full of joy in the photos.
    That chair nestled in the trees looking out over the ocean is so very inviting. Beautiful.

    Reply
  8. martina

    That first photo was just what I needed this a.m. Thank you!
    I hope Alma and Mike do well and the fire just makes new windows of opportunity open for them.

    Reply
  9. annie

    The comfort of the cross
    Secret garden of comfort
    The comfort of family in a time
    of distress
    Comfort and Joy
    Blessed advent to you, Corey.

    Reply
  10. ellen cassilly

    Lovely post. I had lunch today with Dan Cooper from Willows. He and his wife now live in Durham and also in a cabin in the Sierras. One day I will visit. E

    Reply
  11. Lorretta from NH

    Oh my, your “Symbols in unexpectged places” photo was so perfect for me this evening. I always try to read your blog no matter what and today was no exception. Today we buried my father in law and his most favorite place on earth was the ocean. That picture said it all for me, with out a single word being passed. Thank you!

    Reply
  12. Nicolette

    What a beautiful place. I forgot how beautiful it is, Memories of my childhood flashed through my mind. Thank you. You can see that you and Alma are cousin. You two have the same face expressions.

    Reply
  13. Tia

    Your photos are great! Thank you!

    Reply
  14. Lee

    Dear Alma and Mike,
    Your spirits are so inspiring. Wish you and the family the best to com.

    Reply
  15. JulieKP

    I spent part of my honeymoon at the Mendocino Hotel. Our room is the window on the far right above the porch on the second floor. That beautiful yellow building brings back wonderful and hysterical memories for me. I can’t believe it was 14.5 years ago. Thanks for sharing that picture and bringing back wonderful memories.

    Reply
  16. Tongue in Cheek

    My prayers are with you Lorretta!

    Reply
  17. Donna B

    Each June, my husband joined a colony of water color artists for two weeks in Mendocino. They painted sitting on the streets, the cemetery, along the coast – anywhere. I would spend hours on the coast photographing, and hours in the french Sallie Mac shop in town (because every color I mix turns brown). In July, he would join another group of people for photography in Mendocino. Your pictures brought back memories, but the first picture with the cross really touched me. I never dreamt that he would die so young and that I would not be returning every June. So many unexpected things we take for granted. But the cross, we can never take for granted. I will always treasure his picture of the beautiful white Mendocino church. Thanks for your pictures….

    Reply
  18. Marie-Noëlle

    I wish I had that positive spirit all the time … in any circumstances …
    xo

    Reply
  19. Maura

    I think you come from a long line of happy contented loving people Corey. You’re very lucky to have such a large and loving family…of course you already know that 😉 What a shame about your cousin’s business but it looks as though they’ve taken it in their stride and have what’s most important..each other. Have a wonderful time with your family.

    Reply
  20. Kathie B

    If I’m not mistaken, the town of Mendocino doubled for a classic New England coastal town in the film “The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!” and then for Cabot Cove, Maine (murder capital of the world, it seemed) in Angela Lansbury’s long-running TV series, “Murder, She Wrote.”

    Reply
  21. Lily

    So beautiful pics!
    Hope nobody was harmed by the fire and they are able to rebuilt!

    Reply

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