In the Lap of Luxury!

We've been celebrating our 40th Anniversary this week! The date isn't really until September 3, but we had time now so we decided to stretch things out a little and start celebrating early. The background on this is that we started putting money in an envelope a year or two ago so we could go on a cruise to Alaska. But as the time drew near we decided to re-think our plans and let our minds wander a little... Hmmm? Where else could we go with that amount of money? Ireland for a week? Up the coast for a big two week "honeymoon?" They all seemed not quite right. We didn't want to go far, we wanted to both really want to go there and there needed to be something that called us. What about a resort nearby? What about Torrey Pines Lodge? Bingo! We've always loved that place, so we called and set up the whole deal. And they upgraded us to a wonderful room, too! We had a lovely time... take a look.

This warm and inviting lobby is filled with beautiful details... from beautiful lamps to tile work, to comfortable furniture to the cheery fireplace that burns some logs in the evenings.

The lodge was build in 2004 and was inspired by the Gamble House and another Craftsman home. These are the front doors and those are our big suitcases! We never use them anymore since we're more often flying with little carry ons. It was fun to take tons of clothes, just in case!

Here's one view of our room, as soon as we arrived.

We enjoyed the fireplace, which clicked on with that switch!

"Need more toilet paper..." no, there just happened to be a phone in the potty room... "Fairies" came in twice a day to set everything to rights and make the bed or take off the bedspread, etc.

Here we are in the bathroom... there was a big tub over on the left.

Out on our balcony we could look right at the croquet lawn and the 18th hole of the golf course.

This is our balcony, which we thoroughly enjoyed. We had a nice time giving and receiving lists of things we love about each other...

If you turn your head to the right, while on our balcony, you see the pool.

Monday morning we headed out to the North Course. David golfed and I watched and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

In the evening we went to one of the restaurants for dinner and I ordered this beet salad. I love beets.

We wandered around the grounds, admiring the beautiful brick work. Our balcony is right at David's right shoulder... at the top of that "H" in the lighter colored stucco.

The next day, July 26th, was my birthday. It started with breakfast in our room. We split an order of Eggs Benedict, made coffee in the room and got an additional order of fruit. Yum.

For a birthday treat, I had my first massage in the spa and it was lovely! I snapped a picture of the spa, where they provided everything you needed to have a relaxing day, if you wanted to.

In the afternoon we went down to La Jolla, then came back and had fun sitting and watching people come up to the 18th hole of the South Course.

Dinner that night was in the snazzy restaurant, where I got a picture of one of the many beautiful light fixtures that are all over the property.

At the end of our meal they brought us a little plate of sweets. Isn't that nice?

Wednesday we hung around the pool. This is an area near the pool... there are so many pretty places there!

I was reading Pioneer Woman's book, "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" during the week, a fun and romantic book, so we were reading out there and ordered lunch. The nice guy who was working the pool area brought us an anniversary treat of two glasses of champagne and two chocolate cookies! Wasn't that nice?

In our room, just a few things that were fun to look at... this picture is hanging by leather straps...

... the detail on all the woodwork...

The dragonfly motif that appears in lots of places... it was a pleasure to look at everything.

Thursday David golfed the South Course which I thought was just beautiful! Several of the holes were right on the water, like these. Wow!

There was an "airport" for gliders and these aircraft... they were floating all around the bluffs. Another exciting thing was all the military aircraft that went over, some super loud. I think they were from Mirmar and the little fighter jets were quite awesome to hear and see.

Here I am, waiting for David and the guys he was golfing with to finish a hole.

What a view! Of course golfers don't see it all that much because they're so absorbed in the game, but I sure enjoyed it! and I know David actually did too.

When we got back, they were busily setting up a big "do" on the lawn below us. It looked like no expense was spared. Later that night we went to the hot tub and on the way back we stopped to ask someone what group it was. It was sponsored by Pfizer, the drug company, and it was for people who treat animals. Apparently there were lots of cowboys from Texas, etc., there, in addition to many others. There was a band and it looked like tons of good food.

An architectural detail of our balcony was a pleasure to look at...

This bedside lamp was just one example of the pretty lamps that were all through the Lodge.

It was a sweet time. We called it our "Land Cruise" and it lived up to our expectations! Now we're back home and "There's No Place Like Home!"