Sunday, April 29, 2012

Trixie B. True Rules!


One day, I was exploring www.esty.com, which is this really fantastic website for creative folk to sell their wares.    They have everything from handmade furniture, to clothing, to jewelry, to purses and wallets.  I'm sure they have more. but these are the areas I frequent most.

Anyway, Scout has been wanting a new wallet, and I came across a seller who makes vintage trailer wallets.  Her etsy page can be found at Trixie B. True.  I got a fun idea in my head - I wondered if this artist could create a custom wallet with a Loretta theme as a present for Scout.

Loretta, The Original

So, I reached out to Trixie B. True and sent her the link to The Adventures of Scout and Bear.  Trixie B. True was more than up for the challenge, and what she created is AWESOME!  She kept me posted on her creative process, and let me be involved in choosing colors and the interior material used.  But the design and the output was totally Trixie's.  We couldn't love the wallet more.  Further, she was fast, the quality and craftsmanship of the wallet is just gorgeous, and while you might think that having something custom designed and made would be expensive, Trixie was incredibly reasonably priced.  In fact, I think she should be more expensive considering how nice this wallet it.

The only thing I am disappointed about is the quality of my photos.  Maybe the new Loretta Wallet sparkles too much that she is too brilliant to be properly photographed, but I tried a few different backgrounds.  I hope you can at least see how beautiful she is, and how truly nice this wallet is.  So nice, in fact, I think I might end up keeping it for myself.  :)


See How She Sparkles!

Houndstooth Cloth Interior Lining



Super Snazzy

Plenty of Room For Cards and Money


Super Retro


Loretta On The Move!


I just want to thank the wonderful artist and person behind Trixie B. True.  For awesome gift ideas - and even better for presents for yourself, check her out and support small businesses and people living their dreams!

Balboa Park and Our Newest Addition

Scout and I have been home for a while now, and when it's back to the grind, I neglect being creative.  I think I also forget that not everyone lives in such a beautiful place, and that people might actually like to see photos of San Diego.  It can be really great here. We try to take a walk through Balboa Park as often as we can.  We live within walking distance, and every time we take that walk we kick ourselves for not doing it more often. Check out these great pictures that Scout took.

Evening Sunlight On The Trees

Balboa Park Is Full Of Gardens

And Really Cool Trees

That Looks Like A Nice Place To Sit

Love Is Everywhere

The Park At Twilight

The Botanical Garden

The Fountain

Beautiful Spanish Architecture

Even With Construction, It's Still Beautiful


So, what's new for us?  Well, besides being really busy with work, we have a new puppy.  Her name is Lola Santa Lucia Perez McElhenny.  

Hi!  I'm Lola!


See How Long I Am?

 We first saw Lola in Las Cruces, New Mexico when were were headed home from our east coast adventure back in January.  At the time, she was only 2 pounds and hadn't yet been spayed or had her vaccinations.  Because we were from out of state, they wouldn't release her to us until these things had happened (shelter rules), and so we had to leave her behind with just a promise to come back for her when she was ready.  More than a month went by before she weighed enough to be spayed, and before she was well enough to travel.  She had a pretty bad base of kennel cough that she just couldn't kick, and they didn't want her to have her surgery when she was under the weather.  Everything aligned finally, and she was ready to come home with us.

I Will Chew Anything

What a bundle of joy she is! Even Bella seems to enjoy having a baby sister. They play nearly all day long and both are settling into sisterhood quite nicely. We were a bit worried because Bella doesn't make friends very easily. These two are quite a pair though.

The Best Big Sissy

Why Do You Keep Pointing That Strange Black Thing At Me?

We are in the throws of puppy training - learning how to walk on the leash, how not to eat shoes, how to let us know it's time to go potty, etc.  All the fun things about having a puppy.  She loves to snuggle though and she smells so good.  It's all worth it.

Here are some pictures of our first month together.  Enjoy!

Play Time


I Look Like A Strange Rabbit

Sleepy Time

Catch Me If You Can!

Is Anyone Going To Scream At Me? Nope...Because I'm Going Potty Outside.

Lola, Let Me Show You How To Sit


Momma and Her Babies

On The Long Walk Home


Stay Tuned for Lola's first adventure in Loretta when we all head to Coachella!




Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Dig it, baby! Palm Springs


We’ve been swamped with work lately (which is a blessing!) and so we almost had to cancel this quick trip, but instead we were able to sneak away and spend one night in Palm Springs so we could attend the Palm Springs Modernism Week exhibit on Vintage Trailers. 

The original plan was to bring Loretta and Bella with us, and spend a long weekend.  Due to our busy schedules, we ended up without the trailer or dog, and with only one night – but we made the most of it.

The drive is about 2.5 hours long, and midway we stopped in a town called Hemet to pick up a bathtub.  I think I mentioned in a previous post that we are preparing for a bathroom remodel, and Scout found a $400 brand new tub on the materials page on Craiglist for $100!  So, we swung by and picked it up – luckily having more than enough room in the back of our expedition.

We checked into the Viceroy Palm Springs, and instantly loved the trendy boutique feel.  My favorite is always poolside beds, and with 3 different pools on the property, there were plenty of spots to take a late afternoon nap.

We explored the town, walking in and out of cute shops, and we had appetizers and cocktails at a funky restaurant called Lulu Palm Springs, before heading back to our hotel room to rest and freshen up for a late night dinner. 

Dinner was wonderful.  We splurged and dined at Le Vallauris, which is named best restaurant in Palm Springs year after year.  They have a gorgeous courtyard for outdoor dining, and the food and service are wonderful.  Scout loves French food, and we always seek it out for special occasions.  This special occasion really was that we were able to squeak out 24 hours to relax and be together, but we also seemed to celebrate Loretta, and how we are such good supporters of each other’s dreams.  It sounds corny, but it’s a real rush knowing that we are following through with our plans and making things happen.  We both know it’s a blessing and could end at any moment, but in the meantime, we think it’s something to celebrate.

Back at the hotel, there was a wedding reception happening in the garden outside our bedroom window.  It was fun to fall asleep to the sounds of happy people and embarrassing wedding dance music.  We felt much more relaxed already.

Sunday started with a tour of the Home Depot-sponsored Makeit Right C6 House, which is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath prefabricated home.  It was beautiful.  Scout and I are both very interested in prefabs, mainly due to their use of sustainable, recycled, and environmentally friendly materials.  (Did you know that a regular home construction site can generate more than 10 tons of waste, whereas a prefab home has less than 1 ton of waste since most of the materials left over are recycled and used in other prefab projects right there in the factory. ) We also love the style of these homes, and their modular format.  This one was just under $195K including the upgrades.  All you need is a spot to put it.

So far, you have probably noticed there are no pictures in this blog.  In our haste to leave, we forgot the camera.  And of course, when we arrived, both cells phone batteries were dead…therefore, no pictures.  (I hope you take a few moments to check out the links I've included.)  But we did make sure we were fully charged for the reason we came:  The Palm SpringsModernism Week Vintage Trailer Show.

This show was awesome!  It was $10 a ticket, and we got to tour at least 15 trailers.  Some were full of original materials, while others had been converted and decked out into hi-tech bachelor pads.

She's Far Out, Baby.

A Vintage Decoliner - You Can Drive it From the Roof!

Home, Sweet Home

A Hoopdee BMW Truck?  This Truck Tows An Airstream.

The Vintage Trailer Show

 We could have taken pictures inside all the trailers, but it was hot outside and there were lines 15 people deep to get inside each one.  So, it was usually a quick in and out.  But we were able to spend a nice amount of time inside our favorite trailer, a 1963 Airstream Bambi, owned and designed by Kristiana Spaulding.  Kristiana is a jewelry maker, interior designer, and all around Airstream officianado.  Check out her lovely work at www.silvertrailer.com.

I just loved this trailer, and thought it would be the perfect getaway and creative space.  Although it has no kitchen or bathroom, Kristiana says that they make due just fine, and really enjoy traveling in it.  I can see why.


Cozy Comfort


Creative Space

Memories of Her Travels

That's all for now.  Until the next adventure, take care!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Who dat?! It's Scout & Bear in the Big Easy



It feels like forever ago already, and wouldn’t you know it, ‘real life’ took over as soon as we got back to San Diego, but we had a blast on our 3 day stopover in New Orleans.

I have hazy memories of the French Quarter from my childhood when we lived in Mississippi and would take road trips to Louisiana for long weekends.  Even hazier are the memories from a trip to Mardi Gras during my freshman year in college (hopefully those photos never make an appearance on the Internet)…but in this visit, the French Quarter lived up to the hype, and seems even cooler than I remembered. 

Man Hole Covers in New Orleans
We made the drive from Orlando (an overnight stop at Disney to use our final park pass!) to New Orleans in one day, and at the last minute decided to check into a hotel.  The weather had a weird feeling to it, and the weathermen were spouting words like ‘tornado’ and ‘hurricane’ and ‘Katrina’…so, we thought it might be the smart and safe thing to do.  Most hotels were full within 30 miles of the city because it just happened to be the night of the SEC Championship, which happened to be held in New Orleans of all places.  But we found a cheap motel off the highway, and settled in.  I love hotels.  Especially nice ones, which this one wasn’t but it wasn’t one of the worst either.  In the end though, I found myself feeling like Loretta would have been a lot more comfortable.  And wouldn’t you know it, there wasn’t a single drop of rain! 

The next morning, we checked into the French Quarter RV Resort, which had a pool and hot tub and was located only a few blocks from the French Quarter.  It was basically a parking lot next to an overpass of a major highway, but it was walled in and gated, and had 24 hour security.  Apparently the crime rate in New Orleans has significantly diminished, but I didn’t really want to take chances and stay in a bad neighborhood.  This park was safe, clean, and in a central location – which was exactly what we needed.

New Orleans at Night

The Entrance to the French Quarter RV Resort

A Bit of New Orleans Architecture

Resort Pool and Spa

 The first day, we walked into town and explored by foot.  The, oh I want to say 10 street by 10 street square, French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, and was basically the original city.  At some places around the perimeter of the French Quarter, you can still find pieces of the original wall and gate structures that were used to protect the city.  The architecture is a mixture of both Spanish and French, as that area was owned by the Spanish and French prior to becoming part of the US.  

Beautiful Details

With the exception of one end of the famous Bourbon Street, which is full of bars and strip clubs, the rest of the French Quarter is primarily residential with a nice smattering of boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants.  It’s a fantastic place to stroll around window shopping, while enjoying a cocktail – which is allowed in plastic containers on the street.  (How civilized!)  And there is always something interesting to look at!

Who Knew New Orleans Had an Issue With Cat Selling?


We also made it to a state-run museum and saw a heartbreaking but beautiful exhibition on Katrina and her effects on the city and the people of New Orleans.  The damage caused by that storm was devastating.  I’m not a Katrina expert by any means, but the impact of that storm reminded me of when I lived in Germany, and nearly every conversation I had with a stranger started with “before the war” or “after the war”…I wonder when and if New Orleans will ever progress to life where Katrina is just a distant memory. 

Another fun site that we stumbled upon (which was literally just outside the wall of the RV park) was St. Louise Cemetery #1, which is the final resting place of the Voodoo Priestess, Marie Laveau.  Marie Laveau was born a free woman in New Orleans in 1794, and she became famous as a skilled Voodoo practitioner.  Her crypt is covered in a series of triple X's (XXX); people write on the crypt when they ask Marie Laveau for a wish.  There is also a file of  'offerings' left at the door of the crypt - flowers, candy, candles, makeup, clothes...whatever people think Marie may want in exchange for granting their wish.  I left chapstick because it was the nicest thing I had in my purse at the time.     

Crypts

The Whole Gang's Here!

Hello, Jesus.

To get a better look, on Day 2 we took a bus tour.  We went back through the streets of the French Quarter, driving by the must-see destination “Brad and Angelina’s House.”  We also drove to the Garden District, where were snuck a quick peek at the old Anne Rice House, Nicholas Cage’s house (and his mausoleum…), Dan Goodman’s house, and (Scout’s all-time favorite) Sandra Bullock’s house.  While it sounds like we took a Celebrity Homes tour, we also went through the downtown (central business district) of New Orleans, drove to a few cemeteries, and then went extensively through the Ninth Ward, where the devastation caused by Katrina can still be witnessed. 


Art We Bought From a Local Artist
Named Vinsantos DeFonte
The Frames and Glass are From Katrina-impacted Homes
Us with Vinsanto DeFonte, Artist

On a lighter note (if you like Jazz, that is), we spent an evening in a very locals-friendly part of town (or so we were told), where the street was lined with restaurants and bars and every single place had a different band playing, most of which had no cover charge.  The food we had that night was terrible, which was such a disappointment since New Orleans is known for its cuisine, but the music and atmosphere were fantastic.  That was one thing that stood out to us while we were in New Orleans – there is literally music on every corner.  The city is floating on sound.  It’s wonderful.

Fats Domino's House


People have really been worried about visiting New Orleans since Katrina happened.  The crime that occurred during the storm and after turned this American city into a place of total mayhem.  New Orleans took first place in having the highest crime rate in the country.  Several years later, however, New Orleans has become quite safe again.  Our bus driver had an interesting take on this, and while I'm not sure it is true, it seems plausible.  He said that when people evacuated, they went far and wide and had to basically build interim lives while they were away.  These are people who live paycheck to paycheck, and who don't have the money to go for periods of time without working.  They moved away and found jobs and alternate housing, and now the idea of giving those things up to move back to New Orleans and deal with the mess that is now their old house, etc, seems too daunting and expensive.  The people who could afford to return, however, were mainly the wealthy.  Richer areas were repopulated almost to capacity after the evacuation was canceled, while the poorer neighborhoods remained largely empty.  And with wealth comes less crime, and a sense of revitalization.  One thing can be said for the people of New Orleans, rich or poor monetarily; they are a people rich in spirit, culture and passion.  The feeling of determination is palpable.

Foundation For Sale

Remains of a House

Just Foundation

Abandoned

These Markings Mean the House Was Surveyed by Police and Found Empty

Clean Up Crews Never Came

People Fled to Their Attics During the Flooding and Hacked Through the Ceilings.  Many Didn't Survive and Were Found Dead in the Attics.

Someone's Insurance Money Came Through.  Not Everyone Was So Lucky.

The Storm Took The Siding Right Off

This is the Ninth Ward Fire Department...


Here are a few pictures of the Ninth Ward revitalization, in particular homes built by Brad Pitt's Make it Right Foundation.

This House Has  Roof Deck Where You Can Go For Safety During a Flood

On Stilts

Stilts and Solar Panels

See the Theme?

It Can be Over $30K to Raise Your House 12 Inches

While I wish that I had more to share on our time there, like I said, life at home took over quickly and the fun of trailer life has since diminished.  We had a brief reminder of it this past weekend in Palm Springs at the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show, which I’ll cover in my next post…but for the most part, we are back to our regular lives and worrying ourselves with regular household things…like closet renovations, and bathroom remodels, and boring stuff like that… Gosh, we can’t really settle down, can we?  Stay tuned!

Not Sure How Bobby D Stays in Business, But This Sign Captures New Orleans Style

But before I go, 2 fun stories that we learned on the bus tour…Hookers got their names in New Orleans…They would stand up on the balconies of the houses with a fishing line and a metal hook, and as men would walk on the sidewalk below, the women would lower the line and “hook” the men’s hats.  If the man wanted his hat back, he would have to enter the brothel.  (I’m sure he said no, I have a lovely wife at home, but thank you anyway.)

There's No Hooking That Hat
The second story is how Jazz got its name.  Apparently, when jazz was created, people found that they really liked to dance to it.  Someone said that when people danced to that music, they looked like real jackasses.  So, it affectionately was coined ‘Jackass Music,’ which was soon abbreviated to J’ass Music.  J’ass was written all over the town – on walls, on flyers, on club doors and signs…and hoodlums would deface those signs and scribble out the J’, leaving only the ass.  City officials didn’t like the word ‘ass’ written all over town, so someone suggested changing the s’s to z’s, and Jazz was born! 

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