Of the special things we're taking with us to Spain, Olivia de Lopez is one of our favorites. Olivia, after being found by our friend Judy, spent her first years at the entrance to Judy's parents idyllic cabin on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands north of Seattle. After a winding drive through tall trees, lush rhododendrons, and scatterings of daffodils, we were greeted by Olivia's weathered and haunting visage. Judy named her.
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| OLIVIA'S ORIGINAL HOME ON LOPEZ ISLAND. |
Late in life, Judy's father decided to sell the cabin on Lopez. It was right around the time Jerry and I opened Viola's Resort in Palm Springs. On Judy's first visit, she brought Olivia with her and we immediately placed her right inside the main gate. It was a drastic change for Olivia — going from cool, shady, and damp to hot, sunny, and arid — but she adjusted perfectly.
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| OLIVIA DE LOPEZ. IRVINE, CALIFORNIA. |
Olivia traveled with us from Palm Springs to Santa Barbara to Las Vegas and, until last week, she watched over us from an eight-foot height in our kitchen here in Irvine. She is now waiting to be packed for her longest voyage yet, to Malaga. Given her Spanish heritage (the name, the name), it seems fitting.
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| OLIVIA AMONG FRIENDS. GETTING READY TO SAIL TO SPAIN. |
Hello Mitch:
ReplyDeleteIt is very much to be hoped that she does not suffer from travel sickness!
We wonder if you have both considered where she might go in Spain? Inside or out? Sun or shade? Whatever, you will have fun placing her.
I'm new here. Are you going to open a new hotel/b&b in Malaga?
ReplyDeleteBTW love 'Olivia' and the smiling oak man.
I can understand why she made the "cut" in what you are taking with you. That looks like a lovely cabin. The San Juan's are stunning.
ReplyDeleteJ&L: The question of the month is where we (and Olivia) will end up living in Malaga... inside or out, sun or shade. I'll definitely share a picture of Olivia's new spot once found.
ReplyDeletePeter: Thanks for visiting! No, our hotel/b&b-owning days are over. I love "smiling oak man," too. Jerry discovered him in Palm Springs. Judy was visiting recently and we both for the first time noticed a resemblance to Jerry. (Jerry doesn't see it.)
Craig: The cabin and setting were perfection with a view of Orcas Island and a bald eagle that would visit a tree right outside the bedroom window. What a place.
Olivia is a beauty!
ReplyDeletesophie...^5:
ReplyDeleteThat she is.