The Traveling Hillbilly Recharges in Ojai

As you all can see from the lack of blog postings, the Traveling Hillbilly hasn't been traveling much lately, well at least not for fun.   As we all know, all work and no travel makes for a grumpy hillbilly!  So it was time to plan some "shut down and reboot" trips.  The first one, a quick get away to Ojai, California, The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa to be exact.  It's just a couple of hours from LA, it's absolutely beautiful and best of all, it's pet friendly so the hound could come along.  The original plan was a quick Sun-Tue trip but after getting such a great rate at the resort, I decided last minute to add an extra night on and headed up on Saturday afternoon.

After two hours in the car, Miss Lucy Grace and I were ready to stretch our legs.   From the moment we pulled up in front of the resort to check in, we were welcomed with friendly greetings!   Everyone was just so pleasant and welcoming.  I have not been to the resort in a long time and it quickly made me think, "Why have I waited so long to come back?"

We get to the room and there waiting in the corner, is a dog bed, 2 bowls (one with treats, one with a bottled water).   Lucy Grace is instantly in love and I realize she's never going to want to leave!

After we get unpacked and settled in, we decide to sit on the patio outside our room and admire the view.

As I sit with my glass of wine and enjoy the cool breeze, I wonder (as I often do when I'm on vacation), "Why don't I do this more often?"  Why do I let myself get so caught up in the day to day, that I don't stop and enjoy this amazingly beautiful planet?!   We are lucky to live surrounded by such beauty and often don't appreciate it.  We should.  I pick up my book, begin reading and just enjoy a truly peaceful moment.