A Train Themed Weekend

The weekend started with a train ride to Sacramento to take my parents to a music festival I haven't been to since I was a teenager. I usually take the bus, but decided that I wanted a more relaxing and quieter trip. I also love the train station in Sacramento. It was nice being on the train. But, sadly when I got to the station, it was being renovated. I hope this means that they are restoring it, rather than updating it. I really wanted to show pictures of the station on this blog, but even the ceiling was covered. Originally built in 1926, it has beautiful features. Hopefully, after the renovation, I will be able to take this trip again to show how beautiful it is. 

 The next day my parents and I went to the Sacramento Music Festival. I planned my outfit well in advance which included a hat to keep the sun off. Typically, May is the beginning of a hot summer. But, this year it was quite pleasant. It only reached the high 70s, with a nippy morning, and quite nippy evening. I really felt like I was in San Francisco weather. 

 With our tickets, we had free admission to the Railroad Museum. This was another place I hadn't been in many years. My dad is a train nut. So, it really made his day to be able to go to the museum again. There were several exhibits of real trains, with a few that could be boarded. One such train car was a sleeper car that moved like it was really going to down the tracks. There were also several wax figures of such things as engineers and train staff, but my favorite was the wax figure depicting the women who went to work on the railroads during World War II. The plaque called it "Fighting on the home front." I do have to admit, though, that I didn't actually read any farther than the title. Another exhibit had a replica 1930s train station, again with a was figure on the telegraph. 

 Though I've been to this museum several times, I enjoy it each time. I understand that they can't let people onto a lot of the cars, but I do wish I could get inside to take period pictures. Either way I still had fun on my train themed weekend.

The only place to take photos without the construction background was the phone booth. I'm trying to hide the more modern looking phone.

At the replica train station, "buying" train tickets.

"Waiting" for my train to come (without luggage).

The sleeper car (sounds so sinister, doesn't it?)

Fighting on the home front exhibit.

Being in front of an outhouse has nothing to do with trains. I just have this kind of sense of humor. 

A closeup of some of my favorite earrings.

Going to Grandma's House

My grandmother will be 90 years old this year. I haven't seen her in three years. I figured it was time to pay her a visit. I was quite shocked at how much she had aged in those three years. It was very sad. I really need to visit her more often.

My mom and I planned this trip several months ago. My grandmother lives about four and a half hours from me. So, scheduling a trip takes planning. I took the Greyhound to my mother's home on Thursday afternoon. On Friday morning, her and I left for my grandmother's. On the way, we got a bit hungry. As many times as I have been to Nevada, I have never explored Truckee, CA. This time, my mom and I did a bit of exploring. We stopped in downtown Truckee for a hearty lunch. Across the street, to my delight, was an old gas station that was converted to a real estate company. They were careful to keep the aesthetic of the building, only changing the garage doors. They even had the original gas pumps. I just had to take photos.

Sadly, the next day, these glasses broke. I spent the rest of the weekend squinting.

When we were about a half an hour away from my grandmother's home, we stopped in Reno to shop at an antique store. I found a very cute pastel quilted dress from the 1950s that is super comfy. I didn't spend a lot of time in the store since I was only looking for clothing, and there wasn't much. After that  we headed back on the road to my grandmother's. We spent the evening with my uncles and my grandmother eating bbq'd tri-tip and chicken. I don't get grilled meats often, since there isn't much room in San Francisco to have a bbq. So, dinner was quite a treat for me. 

The next day was quite windy and was playing havoc on my dress collars (they kept hitting me in my red painted lips). But, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to shop in the one thrift store in town. I found a coat pattern from 1958, and several old cook booklets - dating from 1940 to 1955. 

Being the only grandchild on my mother's side, I get all the important things. The last time I saw my grandmother, she gave me her wedding ring, which I cherish. This time she gave me her watch, which still works. My grandfather always bought my grandmother nice gifts when he got in trouble with her. The watch came after he spent the night in jail for getting intoxicated. When he was released, he took her to the jewelry store to buy a watch.

 I was also able to go through all of my grandmother's photos, which I had never done before (I don't know why), and hope to be able to post some of those on this blog soon.

It was then time to go back to my mother's house. We stopped in Reno again to visit another antique store that I couldn't find the day prior. I had previously visited this store the last time I was in Reno. They had tons of vintage clothing at the time, but sadly not any more. I did, however, get the most fabulous 1940s dark green hat. After that we hit another thrift store where I found a spring yellow hat with white flowers. It was getting late, so we stopped shopping, and headed back to my home town.

Sunday morning was the day that I headed back to San Francisco. Before we left Sacramento, CA, I talked my mom into going to two more thrift stores. The first one I found an adorable 1950s green night gown. At the second one I found an old 1972 Jim Beam bottle in jade green. Though not as old as I typically buy, I couldn't let this bottle go. It was so pretty. To sweeten the deal, the cashier gave it to me for 50% off. I think that green was the color of my weekend. 

In case you haven't notice, my hair is a little different too. Until Washington, D.C. can figure out what to do with the budget, we will be furloughing twice a month. With the cut in my pay, I've had to figure out what I could live without. One of those things is my hair. My stylist stripped as much of the color out of my hair as he could, and dyed it a few shades darker than my natural. The goal is to gradually let my hair grow out to it's natural color. Usually my hair can take a lot of abuse, but I have reached the point of what my hair can take (I had stripped it less than a year ago to shoot the extra scenes for our film - then went back dark). You will probably see me wear a lot of scarves like the ones above as I try to hide the fact that I no longer wash  my hair daily. I am still learning how to style them, but am enjoying the challenge. 

Even though this was a fast trip, I enjoyed spending time with my family and shopping. This will probably be my last big shopping trip for a while. I am glad that I had was able to go out with a bang.

Summer Days With the Top Down

I have mentioned in the past that I love classic cars. Many years ago I decided to buy my first and only classic car. At the time, I was looking for a muscle car. I especially loved Firebirds, but was open to any cool classic car. I test drove a 1957 Bel Air, but it wasn't what I wanted. First it was a four door. Second it wasn't completely original. A few things had been modified which didn't set well with me. And, third, it did not have power brakes, which scared the snot out of me when I drove it. I kept looking. Then my future car called my name. It was a 1968 Ford Galaxie convertible in baby blue. It was a boat. But, I instantly fell in love with the auto. It was basically first owner. It belonged to the father of the man who was selling the car. The father bought it new, but became too old to drive. So, the son had the car transferred in his name. He rebuilt the engine (a 302) and stored it in the garage afterward. He was very sad selling the car as he had fond memories growing up with it. 

It was my daily driver and only automobile for five years. I enjoyed every minute of driving that car. It was a smooth ride and was super fun to drive with the top down. Owning a classic car as a daily driver isn't all peaches and cream, however, especially one that needs a bit of work. During the winter weather, my windows would often get so fogged, that the only one I could see out of was the front. The kicker was that I was constantly leaving my lights on and draining my battery. This is what finally made me buy a modern car. Eventually when I moved to San Francisco, I sold both cars. 

As the man I bought the car from, I will always have fond memories of the five years I drove my Galaxie. It helped me moved several times. The trunk was so big that I even hauled a vintage dinette set in the trunk. I remember the days of having the top down, a scarf and sunglasses on, and getting my nose so sunburned that I looked like an alcoholic for days. Even though Galaxies are not my favorite classic car, I will always have a big soft spot for them. I get especially excited when I see them on the street as there are so few of them on the road these days. My favorite year will be the first year of production, the 1959. The following year they changed pretty dramatically into the basic design of what they would be years later, but they still maintained the fins that were popular in that year. Maybe one day I can again purchase a Galaxie. Until that day, I scan the roads to get my fix. 

1968

1959

1960/1961

Pictures taken from a Google search and are not owned by me.

The Shady Dell

A couple years ago I crossed off something on my bucket list that I thought I'd never get to do. That was visiting the Shady Dell in Bisbee, AZ.  What I didn't know when I first heard about this place, was that my grandmother would later move 20 minutes away from Bisbee. I took the opportunity to spend a little time with her, and spend a little time in heaven.  When I arrived, I felt like a dream had come true. It was everything I had imagined it would be. I had slipped back in time, and felt at home.

There are nine restored trailers that can be rented by the night (a boat and a bus too). Each trailer is decorated in the mid-century style. In my particular trailer, there was a t.v. hooked up to a hidden dvd player. They provided a couple of movies, including a film noir set that made me squeal with joy. They have their own "radio" station playing classic jazz music, and a record player with various records to choose from. In the kitchen there was an original working stove and refrigerator.  There is also a diner in the court, but sadly it wasn't opened when I was there. Outside the trailer, there was astroturf with two metal lawn chairs, which I spent the morning in my pjs listening to the birds (until my grandma told me to get back inside and take the scarf and curlers off of my head because I looked crazy). The managers were nice, and also dressed in vintage clothing. I even took home a tshirt as a souvenir.

I have not stopped thinking about the Shady Dell since I left. Someday, I'd like to go back and spend more than just a night there. If you ever find yourself in the area, or want to take a trip back in time, head on over to the Shady Dell.

February 3, 1953

I got a letter from Peter! He'll be home next week, but wanted to send me some things from Paris. He enclosed some fabulous photos. Can't wait until he returns.

Photo from jan 1968

Photos from DesertCate

November 23, 1952

We saw the Grand Canyon! How majestic! There are no words to describe it's beauty. I am happy that I had a chance to see it. I wonder what I will get to see on our next trip.

November 21, 1952

We are in Arizona! It's quite a different view than what I am used to. I am staying in this quaint little trailer. It's practically brand new. It belongs to a friend of Edwards. So, me being here isn't an added cost to the trip. I get my own little space to relax and listen to music. It's very quiet here, except the wonderful sound of the birds. Edward's meeting is tomorrow. So, I will have to try to keep myself occupied while he is gone. On Tuesday we will take a drive out to the Grand Canyon. Wednesday we head home. I hope to relax and make the best of the time I am here.

Visit the Shady Dell