A Walk Around Old Towne

Recently a friend asked if I would go to Old Towne Orange to check out an antique
piece she had been told about.  This was a great excuse to poke around a place that
is known for its many antique shops.

Old Towne Orange is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the
largest National Register District in California.  It also has the second largest
concentration of historic buildings in the state.

The town is centered around the original plaza with a lovely fountain.  There are lots
of shade trees and people seem to really take advantage of sitting on the park
benches and enjoying the fountain and surroundings.

I arrived early because I thought I would just look at the piece my friend was
interested in and then drive straight home.  Unfortunately, once I saw the item I
knew it was not what she had been hoping for.  However, since it was early I
decided to walk around the town a bit.  Besides, I had left home without a bite
to eat and was famished.  I needed a cup of tea before heading home.

I came across a wonderful little shop and nursery called Dragonfly.  It was such a
surprise. Wonderful plants and hidden garden treasures outside an old house
that makes up the shop with several rooms inside. It you are in the area, you must
stop here.  The people are lovely and helpful and the hidden garden treasures are
great fun.

Now I was in the mood to hunt around a little more.  The town is made up of several
antique shops and antique malls.  I’m not usually an antique “mall” type person but I
went right to the place that I always enjoy.  Country Roads Antiques has been set up
so creatively and is a joy to walk through...over and over again!  Not only is it large
and everything wonderfully displayed, but out in the back is an entire area of garden
and architectural finds.  It’s a great place to treasure hunt.

Ok, I had my cup of tea when I first arrived but now I was in need of a little treat
to hold me for my ride home. This looks interesting...

Paris In A Cup Tea Salon looks like a little teacup place but once inside I could see
in the back was a huge tea room where many people were enjoying tea and tea
sandwiches and pastries.  In fact, it looked like maybe there was a party going on...
maybe a wedding or baby shower.  The front of the tea room is a lovely shop with all
kinds of French sweet treats and items.  Oh my!  I spotted macarons!  I found the
perfect treat for my drive home.

After a few more ventures into different antique shops, I was finally back in my car.

My friend wasn't disappointed that her antique piece turned out to be less than what
she wanted because I was able to find something else that she has been wanting for a
very long time. She was very pleased when I dropped it off at her house!

Oh, here are a few treasures that wait inside Country Roads Antiques...I will be
showing you more in my next post.

Fence Me In or Don't Fence Me In

I have been trying to make a decision about something and it was very much on my
mind when I went for my usual Sunday morning walk today. It's nothing really
important, but still, I have to make a decision.  You might say I'm on the fence
about this decision.

I always enjoy this walk because it puts me in touch with my neighbors and
neighborhood and I always end up at the Farmers’ Market which is a favorite of
my weekend outings.

As I was walking today I kept noticing all of the different kinds of fences my
neighbors have around their yards. Maybe I just happen to notice it more today
because I’m on the fence about a decision I have to make. You just never know
how things come together!

We certainly have a great variety of fences and lots of roses, hydrangeas, agapanthus,
cactus and tall grasses.  Here are a few that stood out to me this morning...

And look at this sweet little willow fence...

I love the variety.  How about you...Do you have a fence around your yard?  If so,
what is it like?  Or, by any chance, are you trying to make a decision about something?

A Very Hot Saturday...

It was so hot today!  But that didn’t stop my friend “J” and I from doing a little
antiquing/junking.  When we left my house early this morning we didn’t know
we would be driving into such high heat...106 degrees to be precise.

We had been planning to take this Saturday and just relax and check out a few
places, both old and new to us.  We drove down to Escondido, Ca to the grand
opening of La Maison Rustique Urban Barn.  They have just moved into their
new location which is about 8,000 square feet of vintage pieces.  This was an indoor
and outdoor event today.  They had over 20 vendors and all kinds of festivities for
the opening of the new location.  Did I mention it was 106 degrees!?!   My hat is
off to all the vendors set up outside in the parking lot in the hot sunshine.  I'm sure
you can feel how hot it was just by looking at the pictures. 

Among the vendors was Rita Reade with her Mammabellarte art signs.  Rita is
absolutely the nicest person and everyone loves her work...

More to see...

 Can't you just feel the hot sun and heat on the pavement!

Going inside now...

Let's take another look outside again... Here is Retreat Style...

Some of artist Denise Adams Chafin's handpainted work...

We had a grand time and found a few special things (don’t we always???) and then
realized it was time to grab an ice tea and drive on to our next stop.

We headed out to one of our favorite places which is Matilda’s Mouse on the old
Betty Crocker Estate in Valley Center, Ca.  “J” and I always spend lots of time
when we visit this location.  Matilda’s Mouse is named after a Wire Hair Fox Terrier
who is always the hostess for the day, but it was just too hot for her to be outside in
this heat.  The location is fabulous.  It’s an old huge barn on what is known as the
“Betty Crocker Estate”.  Betty Crocker was/is a fictitious person but the woman
who lived here was actress Agnes White who created “Betty Crocker” and
developed and tested recipes in the kitchen here.  She had turned it into a commercial
kitchen which has now been restored to a kitchen with beautiful copper countertops.
The barn is the place for antiques!   Everyone who works here is fabulous and helpful
and fun.  We walked in looking hot and sweaty and right away they offered us ice water
to help refresh our spirits.  Many thanks!

I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves.  But to be honest, my camera was
really beginning to feel the heat.  Even inside the barn you can see the much too bright sun
streaming in through the upper windows.  Did I mention it was 106 degrees!?!

Yikes, it just too bright today! The heat and humidity are wrecking havoc with my camera.

Matilda is so famous that she has her picture painted on the barn.  However,

I understand she doesn't like to sign autographs...

Let's go inside...but please remember that it's hot and my camera is really not enjoying

the heat...

I think I'll sit in this big wicker chair while you look around...

Of course we found several special things (don’t we always???) because this is one
of our favorite places to visit and you can find Matilda's Mouse  HERE.

Well, it was time to head out and find a cold ice cream.  We made a few other stops
along this Saturday's antiquing/junking adventure and naturally found a few other
treasures (don’t we always!?!)!

It was a 12 hour hot, hot day of fun and we were so tired and now glad to each be
heading to our own homes...exhausted, hot and having had a fun day.
Thanks for coming along with us.

I also want to thank A New England Life for the guidance she gave me in enlarging
my pictures.  Her blog is beautiful and I get homesick each and every time I view and
enjoy her posts. Take a look  HERE.