Funny Mom Truth...

 I follow a delightfully funny, most times poignant, instagram page called Grown & Flown. It is described as "The #1 destination for parents of teens, college students and young adults. Because parenting never ends." I constantly find myself laughing out loud. Today's, I just needed to share.

If you're a parent, or were ever a teen, I hope this made you smile. Have a fantastic day!

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Some Temecula History: Walter Vail

History can be found everywhere and Temecula's trove happens to be a very rich one.

We had the opportunity to meet Walter Lennox Vail.
"If you've ever wondered who the Vails were and why we find the names Vail Ranch or Vail HQ in our local area, you will want to attend the Temecula Valley Historical Society presentation at 6 pm on Monday, March 27 when Bill Veale will dramatize the story of Walter Vail. Walter, who left home in New Jersey at age 21 with $100 in his pocket, eventually purchased 87,500 acres of cattle-grazing land in the Temecula Valley as part of his real estate holdings in five states. Bill, one of the historical society's Notable Men and Women will present the program live at the Little Temecula History Center."
This was the description, "For those who watch Yellowstone the Temecula Valley was the Vail family version. If you mentioned cattle, you were talking about Vail cattle. We still have Vail family descendants who live here and have a proud stake in the story of Temecula."
Great things happened for Mr. Vail, after he arrived in America from Nova Scotia: a successful marriage; a fortuitous railroad line location; a lucrative silver mine; and the purchased of the 160 acre Empire Ranch which over the years expanded to include over one million acres. Whatever this man touched seemed to turn into gold.
Eventually, the Vails would own more than 87,500 acres surrounding the little town of Temecula. When Vail was tragically killed in a Los Angeles streetcar accident in 1906 (at age 54), Walter’s youngest son, Mahlon Vail, took over and managed the Temecula operation for many years.
Southern California was growing, but Temecula remained much the same. Cattle still roamed the Vail ranch, and as one Elsinore newspaperman joked, "The little town had no place to go but up – and it never went up." But in 1964, the Vails announced the sale of their ranch for $21 million to a consortium of developers who announced plans for a 135-square mile semi urban pastoral master-planned community, Rancho California. While the name didn't stick, that ranch sale allowed us to find a home here in Temecula. The story is much longer and more detailed, but I think this gives you an idea of the man who was Walter Vail.

By the way, it may have taken a while but Temecula did go up. When we moved here in 1993 the population was 28,453 residents. Today, just in the town's city limits, that number in 112,976.

Speaking of Vail descendants, we had the delightful opportunity to hear family stories from Ann, great granddaughter of Walter. What a very cool night of very cool history!

"It is pretty hard to tell what turn things will take in this country. One month everyone has plenty of money and the next month, they are dead broke." -Walter Vail, 1875

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My 61st Birthday...

Our 70°+ day was spent at the San Diego Zoo. Unbeknownst to me, it was Spring Break, which meant it was more crowded than I have seen in years.

Also unbeknownst to me, Steve's annual membership is not honored during certain blackout dates (i.e. Spring Break) which my birthday happened to be one of. As we were pondering our expensive options, another guest heard what was happening and used her pass to get Steve in! I got teary. My faith in humanity's restoration began there, even before entering the Zoo. The restoration was completed, by the end of the day, after dozens of people saw my It's My Birthday sash and wished me a "Happy Birthday" all day long. I was delighted. What fun!
The true highlight, however, was the fact that our SoCal granddaughters joined us in all the zoological joy! Their enthusiasm for everything we saw and did was a gift. Since I don't share them on the blog, you'll just have to imagine how adorable they were delighting in all there was to experience!




I was intrigued to see this plaque. I don't know why I was surprised. Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration (WPA), created by Executive Order to fund state and local public works projects, hired the unemployed directly. The WPA became the largest of all public works programs. Many parts of the Zoo exist because of this incredible program. Wow.



At 2 PM we found ourselves at the Wegeforth Bowl for Wildlife Wonders.
Here wildlife care specialists introduced us to "wildlife ambassadors representing San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s conservation work around the world." We were able to "Learn about amazing wildlife—from the Amazon to right here in our own backyard in San Diego—and find out what everyone can do to help conserve wildlife and the world we all share. Presentation runs 15 to 20 minutes."
It was pretty darn cute and the girls seemed to really enjoy it.
Dinner was at Old Town Mexican Café in Old Town San Diego. It's rather poignant that we spent my birthday at the Birthplace of California as it's also the Birthplace of Me. It was a perfect day! I'm a happy birthday girl.

"Keep calm and be crazy,
Laugh, love and live it up
Because this is the oldest you've been
And the youngest you'll ever be again!"

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Birthday Month Magical Moments

I'm a firm believer that it's the little magic moments that truly matter most. The last few days have been overflowing with them. I am a very happy Birthday Girl.

Southern California just experienced its 12th atmospheric river. A great reminder of the need for a storm to produce a rainbow was very evident! I 💙 rainbows.
After running errands with Steve's Mom, we had lunch at the Windmill Food Hall (our first). We were greeted with this very appropriate reminder... "Never be afraid to reinvent yourself!"
This Carlsbad landmark was built in 1981 as Andersen's Pea Soup Restaurant. It was the company's fourth location and it closed five short years later. After changing hands, many times, this 14 vendor food court seems to be the ticket. It was hopping when we were there on a Wednesday.


Later that night, we met up with David and Karen for fun at Oceanside's Orfila Winery.
That delightful catch up was followed by dessert at Parlor Doughnuts.
I abstained from devouring a doughnut because I had a date with Suzanne at The Crafted Scone.
This new Temecula treasure was worth the wait.
With a very cool environment and delicious pastries (not to mention the exceptional company), I know this is a place that will be on my must visit again list!


Flowers from Lori, numerous birthday cards via the USPS, and a long lost postcard from Italy (mailed in January) have all been a part of this birthday month's magical moments AND there are still six more days to go!

"Your birthday is the beginning of your own personal new year... each new birthday is a chance to begin again, to start over, to take a new grip on life... It is a time to toss old hatreds, resentments, grudges, and fears into the wastebasket of life; a time to forgive and forget, a time to stretch your soul...It is a time to dust off your dreams and shine up your ideals." ~Wilferd A. Peterson

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California Citrus State Historic Park

On a beautiful Saturday morning, we joined Brady and family on an explore through history where grassy, tree-shaded areas evoke a quieter time — an era when the American dream might be found in a leafy evergreen grove, heavy with golden fruit.

Visitors to California Citrus State Historic Park are greeted at the park entrance by a replica of an old-fashioned roadside fruit stand. This charming big orange structure recalls an era that forever changed the landscape of Southern California.
Of all the crops that constitute California’s agricultural legacy, juicy golden oranges conjured an image of romance, prosperity, and abundance. Warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters provide perfect growing conditions. Between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, the groves spread across Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties, and into the Central Valley. This second California gold rush, combined with innovative methods of irrigation, fruit processing, advertising, cooperative marketing, and railroad transportation, helped establish California’s image as the land of sunshine and opportunity.




This fountain is devoted to Orange Day. As a marketing cooperative, Sunkist’s first advertisement was published in Des Moines (1908) to promote the California observance called Orange Day. The ad stated, “For years March 1st has been celebrated as ‘Orange Day’ in Southern California and the festivities embrace a period of one week.” The ad also mentioned, “The orange offers unlimited possibilities in the daintiest of desserts. Their use is unlimited. Morning, noon and night.” With it drained we were able to be fountain faeries... if only for a morning.
And we were able to get groovy in the groves!


The Sunkist Visitor Center/Museum (open Fridays – Sundays) has exhibits on the significance of the citrus industry and its history, as well as tastings. What a treat.


The mission padres planted the first Mediterranean varieties on the grounds of Mission San Gabriel around 1803. Emigrant Kentucky trapper William Wolfskill developed more acreage from seedlings he obtained in 1841. In the mid-to-late 1800s, lemon, lime, and orange trees grew in today’s downtown Los Angeles. Then, in 1873, Eliza Tibbets of Riverside obtained two young Bahia, or Washington navel orange trees, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those two trees are from which all other navel trees have descended. Here is a blog showing Ms. Tibbets' tree. Wow.


A Ranger led walk focused on the history of the industry and helped us to learn the varieties. Picking and eating was encouraged along the way. Fun, messy stuff.






This cute farm stand is where we bought our souvenirs (Cara Cara Navels). Gless Ranch (c. 1958) won a coveted bid to design, plant, and farm the orange grove at the new California Citrus State Historic Park in 1993. What a very interesting connection to some incredible local history.

Who knew such history could be found in an orange grove? Oh, that's right- Brady did! It was the perfect way to savor a gorgeous, almost Spring day.

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