Ojai - Ventura Sister Trip and Dad's Memorial Trip

 

    Yesterday, May 21 2022, Lisa and I took a trip in memory of our dad who passed away on July 30, 2013.

    We took this same route in September of 2013 in order for the two of us to do something special to say goodbye to our daddy, that post is here.

    My mom and dad were really big on road trips, just taking off with all of us kids bundled up in the back seat and seeing where the road would take us. I don't believe there was ever a plan, but maybe mom and dad did plan things and just didn't tell us, we just went with the flow because we had utter and complete trust in them and their ability to always make sure we were safe. 

    I want to remember this trip and to post it to my blog in case (God forbid) that I end up with Alzheimer's which does run in our family. Having it here means my kids and my sister will have access to it and maybe they will read me these words and show me these pictures and for a brief moment I will be me again...Alicia, the documenter of her life!

    Unlike my mom and dad, Lisa and I had a plan. We took Highway CA-33 which is a winding road through the Los Padres National Forest that reaches an elevation of  7,510'. When we took the trip shortly after dad passed away, the whole trip was so beautiful because everything was lush and green and flowering. We went again a few years later and everything was dry and brown and it made us sad. I was hoping that this trip would be better and it was! Just take a look at these gorgeous photos.

Los Padres National Forest Highway CA-33

Clouds coming over the mountains

View of the cloud cover and the mountains

My beautiful sister, my partner in crime - Lisa

Obligatory Selfie! As you can tell, it was very windy!

Happy to see flowering plants!

Downtown Ojai - We just came up and over that mountain!

    Once over the mountain we had to make a pit stop as one normally does on a long road trip, we stopped in at a local Vons Grocery Store, did our business and then ogled the aisles of wine they had, quite an expensive selection. Needless to say we did not buy any there, but the day was young!

    There was a cute little liquor store in the same shopping center and Lisa snapped a picture of the name of the store, we thought it was pretty unique! Attitude Adjustment Shoppe. We didn't stop in but plan to do so next time. 

Attitude Adjustment Shoppe 

    Just by luck we happened to find a craft store in the same shopping center. It was just the cutest store and they had so many great things for crafting and art journaling plus they had ready made items you could give or purchase for yourself. I really wanted this beautiful hand  that was carved out of wood and painted red with several Zentangle patterns on it, but it was a bit above my price range for what I wanted to spend for the day. Now I regret not buying it.

    We met a very nice art journaling instructor by the name of Carolynne who was there that day for a 3-series Art Journaling Class held on Saturday. When we told her that unfortunately we were from out of town she offered to do a special class for my sister and I on another Saturday if we wanted to drive back to Ojai. While we were there it sounded doable, however on the drive back we realized that is was a long, long way away to make the trip just to take a 3-hour Art Journaling class, but we would try to find a place in Bakersfield that offers the same thing. Sorry Carolynne, I would have loved to take the class with you, you were so sweet and gracious.

     I did buy quite a few things at this shop, they were very reasonably priced and had some items that I've not been able to find at our craft stores in Bakersfield. I will do a separate post with those items.

    From there we headed to downtown Ojai to do some sightseeing and shopping. Here's some pictures from this location, it was beautiful, cool and overcast with a slight breeze and everyone was so happy and friendly, we had a great time!

Loved this hand-painted tile on the side of a building and had to take a picture with it.

There was just beauty everywhere, Lisa in front of a fountain.

Cute little shop. I want to make a string of beads list this one.

We had to do some Wine Tasting of course. Lisa had the 2021 Syrah Rose and I tried the 2020 Roussanne, both we good, but not good enough to buy a bottle.

It was a lovely place to just sit and unwind and catch up with each other.

My pretty sister and her wine. I know she will hate her hair in the picture, but it was windy!

After our little wine tasting while we were still relaxed we did some walking around and headed into the little shops on the street. 

    Lisa and I pitched in to buy our mom this beautiful hand-crafted necklace. We know she's going to love it just because it's red!

Detail on the hand crocheted flowers with seed beads in the center.

    I'm going to do a separate post also for our time that we spent in Ventura for lunch there, so stay tuned for part two. 

The Reunion - Another Grand Adventure

     It seems that lately I spend more time on the road than I do at home. I was in Lake Tahoe on October 6th, then I was at the Pomona RV Show for Lisa's birthday trip on October 13th. 

     On the weekend of October 20th I didn't stray as far but I still attended a Halloween party put on my friend Connie and her family, I haven't blogged about that one yet, but I will along with photos of my fabulous costume that I wish I could just wear every day in real life!

     But my sister Lisa and I shared another very special trip this Saturday, October 27th. We drove our mother to Santa Maria (a 2 1/2 hour car trip) to visit her sister-in-law, our Aunt Leonor. Aunt Leonor is the sister of my dad and they had not seen each other since the funeral for my dad in 2013.

Mom is the tall one with the cane (Tia Leonor won't use one!)

     Even though it had been many years, these two picked up right where they left off, talking about family and friends, sharing memories of days gone by and getting caught up on who had already passed on. 

     There was also quite a bit of conversation about whose aches and pains were worse than the others, which Lisa and I giggled about as we do the same thing. 

     It was a beautiful thing to see these two women together again. They'd been great friends for years and their husbands were always willing accomplices for their trips to the Casinos and shopping.

     Now they are both in their 80's, they've had their mishaps and falls. They have their medical issues and can't move around like they used to, but you just can't quell that fighting spirit, the will to still get out there and do some gardening or clean your windows. To take long car trips to visit each other even when you know that those car trips will leave you exhausted and trying to regain your strength in the week that follows.

     I know that there will come a time when mom can't do those long car trips any longer. We're hoping to be able to take her to Arizona next month, but we are waiting for the go-ahead from her doctor before we can make any plans.

     But for this one day, these two friends, these two sisters were able to be together and to relive happier times and I'm so happy that Lisa and I were able to do this for them.