Myself looking at a sea otter through a massive floor to ceiling window.

A Visit to the Aquarium

February 19, 2019, 1 Comment

Over the weekend a group of my friends and I went to the Aquarium of the Pacific. I honestly hadn’t been to an aquarium in ages, so it was a fun diversion for the weekend. I fully intended to really go nuts shooting photos here of the cute seals, brightly colored fish, and other fun…

Bill Pickett: The Rodeo Innovator that History Forgot

February 15, 2019, Leave a Comment on Bill Pickett: The Rodeo Innovator that History Forgot

Bill Pickett was born the second of thirteen children on December 5th, 1870 in Williamson County, Texas. Pickett’s bloodline was of Cherokee and Black. In the 5th grade, he left school to be a ranch-hand, and he learned all there was to know about being a cowboy. He invented the technique known as Bulldogging, which…

A couple and a dog drive in a red car, a cop stands near the front gesturing to a "One Way" sign. Text on the door of the car reads "No two ways about it"

Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards

February 13, 2019, Leave a Comment on Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards

For the most part I’ve never much cared for Valentine’s Day. Never really celebrating or decorating, with the mild exception of using the holiday as an excuse to wear an excessive amount of pink and red. Over the years I’ve seen cute vintage valentines and antique shops and flea markets, but I mostly refrained from…

Donald and his arsenal to do his taxes: A range of books (including two law books, a math book, and an algebra book), yardstick, globe, a bottle of paste, a bottle of aspirin, a box of files, two adding machines, a compass, and his piggy bank.

That Time Donald Duck Helped America Pay Their Taxes

February 11, 2019, 4 Comments

For those in the United States, it’s tax season…everyone’s favorite time of the year, right? Well, once upon a time, a little angry duck helped everyone pay their taxes a lot quicker. On December 12th, 1941 Walt Disney received a call from the United States government. Walt had already lent his studio’s services for the…

Nat Love: The Real Life Deadwood Dick

February 7, 2019, 4 Comments

Nat (pronounced Nate) Love was born into slavery around 1854 in Tennessee. He learned to read and write with help from his father, despite the statutes which outlawed Black literacy. When slavery was overturned, his family stayed on the plantation as sharecroppers with 20 acres of land. After his father died, he took on another…

Myself standing outside the main doors, wearing a straw hat, a white peasant top, and maroon skirt that features gathering in an asymmetrical design.

The Outlet Mall Masquerading as an Assyrian Palace

February 5, 2019, 5 Comments

If you’ve ever driven along Interstate 5 through Commerce, just outside Los Angeles, you’ve likely spied a grand ancient looking palace and perhaps wondered “What on earth is that!?” Well, it’s an outlet mall actually. Yes, an outlet mall, known simply as The Citadel. But it wasn’t always that way. The building was actually built…

Mary Fields: The Forgotten Badass of the US Postal Service

February 1, 2019, 6 Comments

Hello all! I’m Carla, and I blog over at Tiny.Angry.Crafts. This month I will be showcasing a Black Person of the week from The Wild West. As a young child, I was very fortunate to have my grandmother teach me something new; her being a schoolteacher and all, she would give me a double dose…

Introducing Black Heroes of the Wild West Series

January 30, 2019, 3 Comments

February is Black History Month, and this year I decided to honor it with a unique collaboration with fellow blogger Carla of Tiny Angry Crafter to produce a series. While I love the mid-twentieth century, I also love the history of the American West, and Carla thought it would be a good idea to shine…

Myself, in front of a Peanuts style backdrop of a desert scene, wearing a navy colored patio set with silver ric-rac trim, and a tooled leather belt, purse, and shoes.

Peanuts Celebration 2019

January 28, 2019, 5 Comments

Last year Knott’s Berry Farm introduced a new entertainment offering to its unique seasonal schedule, Peanuts Celebration! Sadly, last year I didn’t have time to visit, but this year I was not going to miss it! As some of you may know, Charles M. Schulz’s beloved characters call Knott’s Berry Farm home, but typically the Peanuts…

Myself standing in front of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, wearing a magenta dress with gold and silver ric-rac, a silver belt, and silver moccasins.

Valentine’s Month at Disneyland

January 25, 2019, 2 Comments

This year Disneyland introduced “Valentine’s Month” to the park with extra decor, special food items, and even a scavenger hunt to celebrate the holiday of love. I’ve always enjoyed a good scavenger hunt, so Patrick and I went over to the park for the day to experience it. For those familiar with Disneyland’s Easter Egg…