Tuesday, November 25, 2014

THANKSGIVING WISHES...









"As we express our gratitude
 we must never forget that the highest appreciation is
 not to utter words, 
but to live by them".

John F. Kennedy








I am very thankful for the many friends I have met through blogging and
 for the chance to be invited into their lives and
 for my husband and family 
who love,
 and do right by me,
 no matter what.






So wherever your journey takes you, 
whether it be over the river and through the woods, 
or along an interstate highway
 stuck between a Toyota and a Buick,
 I wish you safe travels and 
the blessings of family and friends
 waiting for you 
at the other end.





"When the gray-haired
 New Englander
 sees round his board
The old broken links of 
affection restored,
 When the care-wearied man
 seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles
 where the girl smiled before,
What moistens the lip 
and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past,
 like the rich Pumpkin pie?'

John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807 - 1892, "The Pumpkin"







Many thankful blessings to one and all...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


...Judy...










Tuesday, November 18, 2014

GOAT HILL FAIR...









We left home early Saturday trying to make it down to the fair when it first opened.
  There was fog in the early morning hours and it still lingered as we made our way down Highway 80.






We arrived around 11:00 and 
the show was already in full swing.





There were two huge buildings chocked full of vendors and their wares
 with some booths set up outside.





There was a large variety of items for sale and
 by the looks of the amount of bags being carried and
the sold signs on large pieces of furniture, everyone was doing well...





...except me.


It was posted that the Rodgers House was going to be open for touring from 10:00 to 3:00. 
 At the time of our arrival it appeared to be closed up, 
with the gates locked and all the shades drawn.





Our history with the house goes back quite a few years. 
 When we were living in Santa Cruz, we would visit at least once a month.  
The house was situated on it's original site in Watsonville and each of the downstairs rooms were occupied with wonderful little shops. 
 I was always able to find some little trinket and that was fun, but
 the big draw for us was the house itself.

  At the time we lived in a house built in the 1960's, but we always had dreams of living in an old house. 
 Once, after we moved to Grass Valley and had our old house,
 we went back but the house was no longer standing and a shopping center had taken its place. 
 We assumed the house had been demolished.



The Rodgers House as it sat in it's original place (far right hand corner) sometime after it was built in the 1870's.
Large house (front right side) was built by the Rodger's son and was eventually torn down.


What we didn't know, until just a few months ago,
 was that the house had been moved, refurbished, and
 now sits at the entrance to the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds.




The original water tower reconstructed on the present site.


It all looked as we remembered it only in much better shape but
 for right now it seemed that we would not be able to go inside. 
 So how does a girl drown her sorrows?..
by shopping of course!





I found this adorable little scale that I am so happy with.
 I had to laugh to myself as the tag on it stated "as is".
 There is nothing wrong with it except for some chipping. 
What??? 
Isn't that how it is supposed to be?!!





I also found this little chippy and rusty, red caddy 
that will be perfect for Christmas and beyond!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It was time to leave the fair and stop by the kids for dinner before heading back home. 
 As we were taking our treasures to the car,
 we happened to see a lady coming out of the house and she invited us inside!  
It seems it was open the whole time 
even though it didn't appear to be.





She took us in the back door so that we entered into the kitchen first. 
 We both remember the huge wall of windows that were over the sink,
 from the ceiling down with little panes of glass.
 It was quite a disappointment to see they had been replaced with these smaller versions.
 Kind of like remembering something through your young child eyes and
 thinking it was so big, then seeing it as an adult and 
it seemed so much smaller. 
However, knowing that the house had been cut into four pieces and
 moved about eight miles
 and the price it would be to duplicate today those exact windows, 
it was, disappointing, but understandable.



Mr. James Rodgers astride his horse




Malvina Rodgers' (his first wife) wedding gown

Mr. Rodgers and his first wife, Malvina, came from the San Francisco bay area. 
 They had eight children and when they outgrew their present home, 
they bought 80 acres in the fertile valley of Watsonville and 
built this large house to hold his growing family, 
sometime in the 1870's.




After his wife died, he married his second wife, Esther Steinbeck Rodgers. 
 She was the sister of John Steinbeck.





This is the original stove Mr. Rodgers bought for his wife, Esther.
 She is pictured with it in the above photograph.





Formal dining room




Built-in china cupboard and fireplace in formal dining room




Formal parlor fireplace mantle







You might think the subject of this painting is the homestead but, 
in reality, 
it is the ewe in the foreground. 
 One of the Rodgers' sons raised it and 
she was a prize winning specimen...






...which he received this trophy cup for.


When the Rodgers family heard that the house was being restored,
 they graciously donated family heirlooms,
 such as furniture, art and various items and family photographs 
which are on display throughout the house.













John Steinbeck, as a guest, for Thanksgiving dinner






This is Mr. Rodgers beaver top hat.
 He had it embellished with embroidery and pearls, 
so that when he went to a formal function and they took his hat,
 it could be seen that he was someone of importance and wealth.






The upstairs was off limits but when I commented on how much I liked this single bed in a downstairs bedroom...




...she said there was an even smaller one upstairs and would I like to see it??..are you kidding me??...







So perfect!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I apologize for my pictures.  It was a little dark because of the drawn shades and I couldn't get just the right angles, but I hope you got a feel for the house. 
 There was no literature about the family, all that I know was what the docent told us and so don't know if I remember it all correctly. 
 I don't think the house shows to its best advantage 
but I can visualize how it could look
 with the right colors of paint or maybe a bit of wallpaper
and the presence of a family.





The house will be open again at Christmas, 
decorated, and the docents will be in costumes befitting the era. 
 There also happens to be another large craft fair at the same time 
so I'm hoping that we will be able to return.


...Judy...





It was a great Goat Hill Fair and more.


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Tuesday, November 11, 2014

OF HEROES AND BIRTHDAYS...










"I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero
'till the end of the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life."

Bonnie Tyler, "Holding Out For A Hero"


To my personal hero and all who came before him and all who will come after...
Thank you for your service and
 Happy Veteran's Day...
You are all heroes.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Last week was my birthday and I had a really beautiful day.

The Captain brought me flowers and 
took me out to a prime-rib dinner. 
 I had my camera in my pocket and 
my last words, before sitting down to the table were: 
"Don't let me forget to take a picture."

Well, guess what?

Sorry, but it was a beautiful sight and oh, so good!






The kids came up the next day and took us out for a great Mexican dinner.

Jake and Jacenda gave me the beautiful candle.  
I have never smelled anything so wonderful.  It is Lavender and Cedarwood 
put out by Essential Elements. 
 I can light it for awhile in the morning and the scent is still lingering at bedtime. 
 It is one of my most new favorite things in the world.






Another favorite thing of mine, in the world, is lanterns. 
 I have picked up a few at Hobby Lobby and Home Goods but,
 I haven't seen any like the two that Tami and Tim gave me for my birthday. 
 The tiny lights inside shine through the windows in the shapes of stars. 
 They are amazing and I just adore them.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




I know you are all wondering...
why I didn't go shopping for myself for my birthday...
as I normally do.

It is because this coming weekend, 
we are going down to Santa Cruz to attend the
 Goat Hill Fair Vintage Market
at the Watsonville fairgrounds.

 I have been following their blog for sometime 
and was thrilled to hear about the show..




Country Cottage


The Captain and I used to participate in a similar type of country show at the same fairgrounds many years ago.
(At which I sold the very picture that is featured on my blog header today).

I am anxious to see how the two shows differ
 as the types of merchandise has changed over the years.




The Rodgers House
Photo courtesy of Goat Hill Fair blog post


There is also an old house that we had admired throughout our years of living in Santa Cruz. 
 It is a historic home of a prominent Watsonville family and
 was opened up with charming shops in each room. 
 After we moved away we tried to find the house again, but 
the area had changed so much that we thought it had been demolished. 
 We found out just recently that it had been moved to the entrance of the fairgrounds
 where it has been refurbished and will be open for a tour at the time of the show.

I am beyond excited and
 am hoping I will be allowed to take pictures to share next time.


...Judy...





Thank you
 Jerry, Tami, Tim, Jake and Jacenda
 for making my birthday so special.
 Love you all to the
 moon and back!


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