Old California

We’ve always been fascinated by the tales of old California.  People coming from all over the world in search of gold and silver, fertile lands to farm, or just to create a home for a new generation of Californians.  

Lex, Sar and I visited the Ojai Museum in Ojai, California just recently.  Ojai is a unique little sanctuary of resort spas, a small shopping precinct, a world famous music festival, well-known spiritual center, and was home to a now deceased centenarian artist, Beatrice Wood.

To get to know the area, we visited the Ojai Museum housed in a former Catholic Church.  It was charming but also very informative.  We were delighted by the exhibit that is currently on display about the former inhabitants of the area.

Mama Dada?

The founder of AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)  She decided to create the organization when she observed a retired teacher living in a chicken coop because it was all that she could afford on her pension.

Remnants and relics of the former Catholic Church

Edward Libbey founder of the Libbey Glass Company was fond of Ojai and helped in beautifying the downtown district in the 1920’s

A special exhibit of the valley inhabitants during the Rancho Era and their descendants

The Legend of Zorro was inspired by Joaquin Murrieta

Yes, a relative of that famous Cuban Congo player, Desi Arnaz of “I Love Lucy” fame.

A hair wreath

Tales of Old California and perhaps some gossip?

Well, we hope you enjoyed this visit as much as we did.  We couldn’t fit all of the wonderful exhibits in this post but perhaps we will visit again in the future.

Ojai Museum:

​Sun 12n-4pm, Tues-Sat 10a-4pm
Suggested donation: $5 adults, $1 children 6-18
Free: current members, under 6
and, through Labor Day,  military members and their families
Address: 130 W. Ojai Ave

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Sunshine Blogger Award – What a Surprise!

 

We received such a surprise from one of our fellow bloggers!  Zareen Benjamin from Plantpicker has nominated us for the Sunshine Blogger Award.  Considering we’re getting a load of rain this week, we certainly appreciate this nomination!  Please check out Zareen’s posts on lifestyle, reviews, and beauty tips.  Her insightful observations on her life journey is a pleasure to read.

Rules:
• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog so others can find them.
• Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
• Notify the nominees about it on one of their own posts.
• List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or your blog site.

Answers to Zareen Benjamin’s Questions:

1. When did you start blogging?  We started blogging in July of 2016.
2. What is your blog about?   We write about our travels and the quirky places that we have encountered or visited.
3. What is your number 1 blogging tip?  Don’t worry about the small stuff.  Just start writing.
4. What post did you enjoy writing the most?  We enjoyed writing about “The Loneliest Road in America” because it really was.
5. Where are you from?  We’re from southern California in the San Fernando Valley – Yes, this is where the “Valley Girl” phenomena began from the Frank Zappa song.
6. What tourist attractions are in your country? any tips for someone visiting?  We have tons of tourist attractions but we just visited The Getty Center in West Los Angeles and we were floored by all of the beautiful artwork and history of the museum.  Our tip for anyone visiting Los Angeles is get a Metro pass.  Driving in LA is hazardous to your mental health.
7. What are you doing currently, career? studies? school? etc.  Lex just started a new job last year and Neek is a primary caretaker for Sar and her aging, and sometimes cranky parents.
8. What is your favorite movie?  Our favorite movie is the 2004 comedy “Sideways”-  Anything to do with wine is a plus!
9. Who is your favorite fictional character?  Lex’s favorite character is Agent Cooper from “Twin Peaks”, but Neek’s is Agent Scully from the “X Files”
10. what was your 2018 highlight?  Our highlight was definitely visiting the “That’s From Disneyland” memorabilia display before it went on auction.
11. What is your biggest goal you want to achieve in 2019?  To be good to each other because sometimes we argue too much 😉

Questions:

1. Who inspires you the most?
2. Where was the furthest place from home that you have ever traveled to?
3. Which blogpost gave you the most pleasure to write?
4. Why did you start blogging?
5. Do  you have any social media accounts and what are they?
6. What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
7. What is your favorite dish?
8. If you could ask a famous person in history a question, what would that be?
9. Who would be that famous person?
10. What did you do on New Years Eve 2018?
11. Do you believe in ghosts?

Our Nominees:

1. A Petite Slice of Life
2. Always A Foreigner

3. Captain’s Quarters

4. In Dianes Kitchen
5. Wine and History Visited
6. Emma Cownie
7. TRIP MONKEY
8. One ‘C’ at a time
9. a mindful traveler
10. DhananJay Parkhe º Global Goodwill Ambassador/Speaker, Author, Mentor
11. Ultimatetravel

Thank you for your support!

Love, 

LexandNeek

 

 

 

Christmas Wishes 2018

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  We feel very lucky to have such a wonderful community to be a part of.  Enjoy!

That’s From Disneyland! – Disneyland Memorabilia Pop-Up Exhibit and Auction

Neek sez:

Every summer, my Mom and Dad would take us to Disneyland.  We had choices of visiting Knotts Berry Farm or Universal Studios or even Magic Mountain but Sar and I always choose Disneyland.

So much has changed at the park throughout the years and Lex, Sar and I have missed seeing some of the attractions from our childhood so when we heard that a Disneyland Memorabilia Pop-Up Exhibit was being held right nearby our home, we just had to visit.

Richard Kraft who is the collector partnered with Van Eaton Galleries to create a pop-up exhibit of his collection before it goes to auction.  The exhibit will be open from August 1 to August 26, 2018 and the auction will take place on August 24 to 26.

Ruddy’s 1930’s General Store Museum – Desert Views Road Trip Part 4

Neek sez:

Located in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs is one of the most unique museums that we have ever encountered.

A fellow named James Ruddy had spent decades acquiring general store merchandise and memorabilia.  Some of the items were bought directly from a Midwest Depression Era liquidator who had kept the products in his basement for over 40 years.  More than 6,000 of the items are in their original condition and 95% are filled with their original contents.  So, that box of 1930’s Uneeda biscuits probably have the original biscuits inside.

Romance and Sex Life of the Date? – Desert Views Road Trip Part 3

Lex sez:

Our next stop on our little desert road trip took us to Indio.  One place that Neek, Sar and I were really curious to visit was Shields Date Garden.  I had never been to this place before even though I love dates; as a child my parents took me to another place that sells dates in Cabazon, Hadley Fruit Orchards (more on that in a later episode).  But I had seen the place before on a Huell Howser TV show on public television, so I was very excited to experience the place!

Approaching the driveway, the Shields Date Garden sign from 1953 with a knight in shining armor pointing toward the main entrance is a standout sight. 

A Journey to Salvation Mountain – Desert Views Road Trip Part 2

Neek sez:

Leonard Knight must have been very impressed when he saw a hot air balloon fly near his home in Vermont in 1971.  When he later moved to Nebraska, he built his own balloon with the words, “God is Love” but never got it to fly.  Finally in 1984, Leonard moved to a remote desert town in California called Niland and decided this would be the place to build his testimonial to God.

Four years into building his mountain, Leonard Knight’s hard work crumbled into a heap of sand and rubble.  Although Leonard originally wanted to make his structure from concrete, the material was very expensive and he began mixing sand into it to stretch it out.  The sand caused the instability.