#Monterey Bay Aquarium ~ New exhibit to entice us!

viva-baja-desert-coral (1)

“The slithery.  The scaly.  The spectacularly showy.  Discover incredible animals from land and sea in this special exhibition featuring creatures from the coastal habitats of Baja California.  Life here thrives on the edge of sand and surf, where rugged desert coastline meets the sapphire waters of the Pacific.”

Cortez Rainbow Wrasse
Cortez Rainbow Wrasse

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has opened an amazing new exhibit.  You will not want to miss it!  I first was introduced to Baja in the 1970’s when I flew down there in a small 4-seater aircraft.  The airports were so rough that we had to fly over the runway first to scare the cows off so we could land and the gas had to be strained through netting before filling up the tank.  Baja was dotted with many tiny fishing villages along the coast at that time and we snorkeled and saw many of the amazing fish and critters in this exhibit.  Those were the days . . .

Panamic green moray eel
Panamic green moray eel

Luckily, I never ran into “these guys”!  Although I have seen morays up close and personal scuba diving in other areas in the tropics, I never try to pet them!

Golden trevally
Golden trevally
Desert tortoise
Desert tortoise

“This 800-mile-long narrow peninsula in northwestern Mexico is separated from the mainland by the Gulf of California.

aquarium-baja-map

With almost 2,000 miles of coastline, sun-scorched desert, lush mangrove forests and colorful coral reefs, Baja is a land of contrasts, where unique plants and animals survive and thrive.”

Pacific Seahorse
Pacific Seahorse
Lookdown
Lookdown
Bluespotted Jawfish
Bluespotted Jawfish

I hope I have peaked your interest with these incredible photos from the Monterey Bay Aquarium web site.  Go take a gander at these amazing creatures in person.  You’ll be glad you did!

 

#Remodeling your kitchen in your #Carmel or #Pebble Beach home

 

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One of the most important things you can do to improve the value of your home is to remodel your kitchen.  How do you decide how to start?  First look at the many kitchen design ideas to find out what appeals to you and if you are planning to sell you’ll want to also consider what will appeal to most buyers.

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There should be a common theme throughout your home so it all flows and looks like it belongs together.  Does your home have a cottage feel or is it traditional or contemporary?

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Now plan the layout of your kitchen.  Picture yourself cooking a meal in the kitchen and be sure you place the range, the prep area, and the refrigerator so it will be convenient to create that fantastic meal!

butcher block

What type of materials will you use?  Butcher block counters or maybe granite, quartz, concrete or even carrara marble.

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Other decisions to make . . .  storage, lighting, appliances, and even the kitchen sink!  Good luck!  Set a budget before you begin and have fun creating a special place in your home.