Myself, wearing a black cowboy hat, black Mexican Tourist jacket with green design, white peasant top, blue jeans, standing in front of the mission.

Retracing Zorro’s Escapades at Mission San Luis Rey

January 25, 2023, 2 Comments

Before we get going, I want to say that it is important to remember that the California missions have complicated histories. For some, they were and remain a place of peace, with memories of weddings and other life events, however, they also have a history of violence, slavery, and forced religious conversion, which aided in the…

Close-up of a record sleeve featuring a handsome mustached man holding papers, text reads "David Niven reads the 'world's most famous love letters'" to the right is a heart shaped chocolate box, and nearby is a pair of pink birds with large blue eyes.

Hearts Galore!

January 18, 2023, 1 Comment

Over the last few years I’ve really gotten into collecting vintage Valentine’s Day cards and chocolate boxes, and I feel like I’ve reached the point where I truly decorate for Valentine’s Day. What’s so funny is that I still really don’t care much for the holiday itself, but I love the vintage ephemera that results…

Myself standing in front of the gold wings from Wonder Woman '84.

Revisiting the Warner Bros. Studio

January 11, 2023, 2 Comments

This year is a big year for the movie industry with lots of anniversaries, including both Disney and Warner Bros. Studios turning 100. While Disney’s icons are of the less tangible, animated variety, Warner Bros. offers incredible studio tours that allows guests to step inside their most beloved films and television series. Way back in…

Myself, wearing a red crocheted head scarf, a maxi length, long sleeve dress printed with a quilt like design, of red, blue, yellow, and green. The hem is blue all the way around, a brown belt, and a large squash blossom necklace of green stones, standing next to an old fashioned lamp post, in Frontierland, that has a pine swath with a small ceramic jug and small wooden barrels intertwined with it.

Patchwork Christmas

December 28, 2022, Leave a Comment on Patchwork Christmas

As per our tradition, Patrick and I went to Disneyland on Christmas Day for a relaxing, but fun day going on a few rides, but mainly indulging in many of the sweet treats offered during the holiday season. We also spent a good deal of time just strolling, peaking in the windows at the marvelous…

Patrick, wearing a red satin shirt, seated next to myself, wearing a white dress printed with holly and Santa heads, seated in front of our green aluminum Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2022, Leave a Comment on Merry Christmas!

From our home in sunny Southern California to yours, Patrick and I wish you the happiest of holidays!

Myself, standing in front of a pink Main Street building, wearing Minnie Mouse ears of pink, green, and white psychedelic stripes, with a gold mesh bow in the middle, a light brown swede coat, pale green peasant top, jeans, and gold boots. In my hand a purse featuring images from the Main Street Electrical Parade.

Wintertime Sweethearts

December 21, 2022, Leave a Comment on Wintertime Sweethearts

Last weekend Patrick and I celebrated our wedding anniversary, spending the day at Disneyland riding our favorite attractions repeatedly and dining at Cafe Orleans. Growing up, I loved the cartoon Once Upon a Wintertime that was originally from the 1948 film Melody Time, but was featured as part of A Walt Disney Christmas VHS in…

A Christmas card featuring a scene of an old west general store, with a pot belly stove, shelves of merchandise, two cats, a shop owner behind the counter, and a woman with her children standing at the counter. In a doorway to the right there is a Christmas tree being decorated.

Vintage Christmas Cards Vol. 4

December 15, 2022, 1 Comment

Christmas is really all about traditions, even here on the blog, as I have several Christmas time traditions. One of which is sharing a portion of my ever growing vintage Christmas card collection. I really delight in vintage commercial illustration, and greeting cards have always provided some of the warmest, most charming images. This sampling…

Overall view of our living room, with a large desert landscape in oranges and yellows hanging on the wall, between it and the couch are vintage Christmas cards and a vintage Coca-Cola advertisement. Sitting on the orange couches are Santa plush dolls. On the TV is a scene from Christmas Chronicles.

Christmas Time is Here Again

December 13, 2022, 1 Comment

Christmas is almost here, and we’ve decorated the house top to bottom for the holiday. It was our first Christmas with Houdini, and as he is a little more curious and rambunctious than Colonel Whiskers, we didn’t put up as many trees as in the past, so you’ll see that the pink and blue trees…

Myself, wearing a brown hat, blue jean jacket, tee featuring a desert landscape, tan corduroy pants, and dark brown boots, standing in front of the Copper Room.

Flying High at the Copper Room

December 8, 2022, 2 Comments

Just a few blocks off of Highway 62, (the highway that takes you to Joshua Tree National Park) is the Yucca Valley Airport, a small, hobbyist style airport catering to those in the high desert. Attached is the quaint, but delightful Copper Room, which was once frequented by one of my favorite musicians, Gram Parsons.…

The Island of Misfit Christmas Songs

December 6, 2022, 1 Comment

Welcome to yet another Christmas playlist post! Each year I pull a small sampling from my large Christmas music collection to share with you and this year I’ve pulled some of the weirdest numbers, a mix of kooky, sad, and downright bizarre. “Island of Misfit Toys” The Misfits The Misfits have been a staple of…