Friday, 25 April 2008
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Currently Listening
Tapestry
see relatedHearst Castle
Stand on the stairs and daydream.
Imagine yourself in the pool.
What is it about a castle, high up on a mountain, that makes me feel like a little kid? It also appeals to the wanderer/adventurer in me. The fantasy of my own creation. Every time I've been there, I have felt like I stepped back in time. The energies from a era gone by swirl around me as I look out on to the vista of lupine, mustard flowers and wild sweet pea. Rolling hills, with trees and protected animals roaming freely. My eyes come back and rest on the enchantment of the Neptune pool with it's sculptures that wrap around and in the water of pool. You see the sculptures enjoying the moment as they silently offer a pleasant invitation to join in the wonder of the water.
The Central Coast Wine Classic will be held July 10-13. We start planning way ahead to make sure that all goes well. Once up on the mountain on the day of the event, I have no time really to take pictures as it's "game on" to create a bistro including building a kitchen on site for 250 patrons that will experience an evening of excellent food and wine. They'll be soothed with harp music as they wine and dine. They will be part of an energy that has created financial futures and funding for approx. 13 nonprofit organizations. It's a win win for all involved and I'm proud to be part of the amazing group of people who team together to make this happen.
Archie McLaren, our interesting leader and creator of the Classic, has made this happen by bringing people together for a common cause. He has assembled a group of people who go out of their way to make the exciting, informative, stimulating, fun, with wine included, four day event spectacular.
Today was the walk through. I spoke to my contacts, asked my questions, then took my opportunity to snap some pictures. These are but a few, as my dial up is temperamental.
What thoughts does the idea of a castle provoke in you?
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Comments (16)
I went there as a kid and loved it. Although I was sensitive to the present "energies" that I could not quite put my finger on. My grandma is an intuitive and could sense it as well. It was cool wandering around looking at all the grand living quarters and the huge kitchen!! What made my trip most memorable was the view!! I will never forget how it felt being way up high looking out!
@gentle_whispera - So open and freeing. The view goes on forever.
@Jaynebug - yep and the crystal clear waters of the pool were very alluring as well! I had the time of my life there!
lovely ! castles to me (from my dreams) are dark & musky yet magical in their own right i love stone castles may you have a successful event the picKs are so inviting blessings beck
Whoa, what a mansion. When I think of castles, it's more along the lines of King Arthur.
Funding for 13 non-profits, wow, that's some expensive wine. Good to know there are some rich generous people out there.
@llibra - True enough. A mans home is his......and all that rot. ha ha The four event filled days last year brought in over 1M. Generous indeed.
I've never stepped foot in a castle so I don't know from first-hand experience what kind of energies I might encounter, or feel the history swirl around me. I just don't know because I've never thought about it. I am more interested in contemporary architecture, although I can appreciate the past.
The bistro/fundraiser Classic though sounds amazing...I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! From the looks of things, you live quite an extraordinary life, Lyne...I may have to subscribe to you again to find out more
Lucky duck that you live so close as to plan a local event there!!
Do you get to see elephant seals very often?I just saw them for the first time last summer.These days, I call our fat cat an elephant seal.Cute.I am excited about the wedding-and yes indeed; joy is the wave I am catching :) Today, hooray, for a few hours we are taking a breather, heading to Princeton and strolling our stroll...then I will work work work. I have to accomplish environmental day job snap, celebrant snap and shhh, the other deadline driven secret snap-all very happy wholehearted brainy nice rays.What are you all up to this weekend?@bodhitree - Yes, we were up to see the elephant seals in March. They were having babies all over the beach. Amazing creatures. I was at the beach last night. So nice. Today is gorgeous too. I have to clean my house. Too many piles everywhere among us five.
The pool didn't have water when we were there last time...it did the other time I was there..I would give ANYTHING to go swimming in it!!
@portiajules - Me too. I joked with one of last years Wine Classic volunteers about acting out a trip over his feet by the pool so I could get in there. ha ha. They told me about a year when the water wasn't in there and they had been planning to have champange by the pool. The lady that told me had the best expression on her face as she related the story. "No Water? Are we serving it in the pool or what?" she said. Too funny. Anyway, the water is sparkling and inviting and I would love a nice long dip.
Hey Ms. Jayne, As an engineer I was interested in the mechanics and logistics of assembling materials from around the world and then constructing the property. Prior to visiting I read the 1960s biography of Hearst called, appropriately, Citizen Hearst. I was surprised to learn that from a business standpoint, William Randolph Hearst was a prodigous loser. The money that built the castle and launched the Hearst publishing empire came from William Randolph's father who was a mining engineer (and later a U.S. Senator) with an uncanny ability to buy the right stakes at the right time.
I do identify with your coments about being able to visualize Chaplin and Rogers and Theodore Drieser and others living large at the estate while I was on the tour.
I was also disappointed to learn that to see the entire property, one had to take (and pay for) three tours. Maybe that has changed since I was there last.
Very nice write-up and photos!! Thank you.
@Slag_Runner - I don't think that has changed at all. I feel fortunate to be able to go each year as a committee member, but even then I only get a small glimpse of the surrounding property and buildings. They do have the Friends of Hearst Castle Foundation and I'll have to check out if they get some of the money from tour traffic.
@margknittinaround - Is that your new book cover? Go Marg!
@Jaynebug - yeah man! i took the pic off the pdf proof - the actual book is coming in about 5 days for final approval...then you'll really see me start to dance - heehee. m