Ventura September 2017

On our flight from Austin to Los Angeles -the plane was half empty

Jessie and I took a really short trip to Ventura California this past weekend. REALLY short - we left Friday afternoon from DFW, connected in Austin, flew into Los Angeles, and after picking up our rental got to our hotel around 10. We both pretty much crashed - our bodies stayed on Texas time the whole weekend! Two hours ahead of California, so it was about midnight on Friday.  

My beautiful Jessica 

 Saturday morning we were up early and went to the coffee shop at the hotel. The Vagabond Coffee Shop.  Walking in immediately Jessie loved it.  The atmosphere and decor made us feel as if we were in one of the coffee shops Sam and Dean from the show "Supernatural" frequented. The staff was super, and the food so delicious. It was one of the best dining choices I have made on a trip. 

Vagabond CoffeeShop

After breakfast, we drove to Santa Paula, The town my parents grew up in. 

We first visited the Santa Paula Cemetery. I visited my dad's parents, my great-grandparents, 2 of my uncles, and one of my great-great aunts. Couldn't find my grandpa Jimmy's marker. They gave me the incorrect one in the office. Next time I come out I will try again. 

My grandmother Martha. 

My dad's older brother David. 

My Uncle David's wife, Liz. 

My grandfather, and my dad's youngest sister- Marty Ann. 

My Papa and Granny - mom's grandparents. They raised her. 

My Aunt Doll and her husband Dan. Aunt Doll was my Papa's(James Brown) sister. 

  

My dad's brother, Bobby Dale. he was hit by a car when he was 7. 

After spending time finding relatives, and learning what a GREAT map reader Jessica was, we drove into town. First stop after all the hot traipsing around the cemetery was Foster's Freeze. Jess got a milkshake.I LOVED them when I was a kid. 

Then it was on to visiting places my parent's had told me about as I was growing up. 

We first went to Santa Paula Union High School, I didn't take photos, the campus is HUGE now, and doesn't look at all like the photos from my parents past. 

Then we drove up Railroad Avenue-

Church my parent's got married in. It was the church my granny attended when mama lived with her.

The Santa Paula train station - it has been in many movies, and TV Shows. 

I had some very windblown hair! 

 We drove by the house my Uncle Tommy and his family lived in, but couldn't get a photo.They had a big plastic tent thing up outside blocking most of the house. 

Then we headed back towards Saticoy - making a couple of photo stops - 

Briggs School, it was the"intermediate" school, after they attended Olivelands Elementary. My dad told us stories about walking 5 miles in the snow to Briggs School. (As a child, I didn't know there was NO SNOW in Santa Paula) 

The Limoneira Ranch was where my parents grew up. Mama's grandpa worked on the ranch, and my dad's father did as well.

 We drove the 10 - 15 minutes from Santa Paula to Saticoy, where many happy days of my childhood were spent at the home of my great-aunt Cissy, and great-uncle Cleon. Cissy died in 2010, but my Uncle Cleon is still there, in the house his parents owned when he was younger.

Cleon and myself

Photos on the wall.. my boys are on the left, above the tiny photo of me with glasses. My sister, and niece and other family members are here too. 

Drawing of my Aunt Cissy when she was younger.. the little black and white photo under her frame, is my mom at about 13 years old, she had such light blonde hair! 

I asked him to "smile" this is what I got :) 

Front porch...  no dog, but the warning has been there forever.  I love it still has "The Kelleys" sign on it! 

Side door used to be the main door we used going in the house, the "little house" on the left side was where Cleon and Cissy lived when his parents lived in the big house. and on the right side of the backyard house was a bathroom/laundry room. 

After our visit with Cleon, we headed back to our hotel to change, we were hot. I was trying to send my google directions to the Bluetooth in the car, and it kept playing this song...  We thought it was appropriate! 

Our last visit was to our friends, The Woods Family. They moved to Ventura from Texas about 2.5 years ago. We were so happy to see them! 

The chickens, Lazy, Brocko, and Stripey. Mama and daughter hatched them from eggs, and are raising them. Denedra said they are about a year old. 

At Ventura Beach

Then she drew an octopus, and her brother holding hands with it. 

Jessie and I - Ventura Beach 

Sweet girl  found some pretty red seaweed

We left Ventura Beach and headed south, down the Pacific Coast Highway, to Santa Monica. We had dinner at a really good burger place, The Burger Lounge. SO delicious. 

Then we drove to the Santa Monica Pier. 

The END of Route 66. Now I have been to both ends, but not driven the entire way (yet!) 

 We walked to the end of the pier, where we saw all these people with headphones on.. some with red lights, some blue, and some green. (we also discovered they could change the color) Apparently, this was a "Silent Disco" or "Silent DanceParty" or something like that. For 15.00 you can rent the Bluetooth headphones, and choose which DJ to listen to, Red, Blue, Green..  And the rest of us normal people just saw people dancing around and not hearing ANY music.. it was an experience for sure. We had a good time, laughing and watching all these people. 

The lighted Octopus at the arcade area of the pier. 

Jessica and I at the Santa Monica Pier.

 We had such a blast with the Woods family. Jessie can't wait to go back.  Jessie would love to go on her own, but she's not driving, so couldn't get from the airport anywhere. 

It was the best weekend Jessie and I have had together in a very long time. Not very expensive, and so worth the time. I love Southern California, at least the Ventura/Santa Paula area. Jessie does too, she said she'd be happy living there! 

Santa Paula has the mountains around it, Ventura has the beach. It is perfect almost! 

We got back to our hotel around 1am.  Got cleaned up and crashed. I definitely got all my steps in that day! We woke up early and headed on down to Los Angeles. Had to return the rental car - Which if you are looking for a new car, I highly recommend this Subaru! We LOVED it! 
And AVIS is the BEST CAR RENTAL place ever. Great rates, easy pickup, and return. They first had me in a MINIVAN, I clicked on the app and said nope didn't want that...  so I got THIS! same price! 

We weren't sure we would get on the flight home, it was so full... They did have room for one, so I told Jessica to go. Then before they closed the doors, they called me (apparently a paying passenger didn't show up) and I also got on the flight. 

Made it home Sunday Evening. About 48 hours after we left. 

Short trip, but packed with so many memories!