On a mission to see all the California missions. An often overlooked mission is in Oceanside, Mission San Luis Rey.
Although the mission was established by the Spanish, this one is named for King Louis IX of France, who lived in the thirteenth century. His mother was Spanish so I guess that merited his having a mission named for him.
Once again, we have on of Mrs. Forbes mission bells outside. 
This building was completed in 1815 and has gone through some more modern renovations. A nice bell tower, it was a little hard to see the actual bell.
This is a Franciscan monk, with a robe and rope belt, but what is the guitar doing here? It certainly looks like a modern addition.
This Church is the largest of all the CA missions, it is also quite active, people were praying during my visit. It has the traditional brightly painted decorations.
The wonderful wood beams were brought down from what is today the Cleveland National Forrest. 
Many unique features in this church, a wooden dome. I love how the rays of the sun are coming through.
As well as a wooden cupola.
After looking up, it was worth looking down at the smooth polished Mexican tiles. 200 years gives them so much warmth.
The main altar.
This Church also has two side altars, one dedicated to St. Francis.
Clearly an active Church, a lot of candles being lit.
As well as a Madonna Chapel. I think of this image as the Madonna of Guadalupe, but she isn’t, no roses around her, she is simply the Madonna. Although the style she is painted in is the same as many of the Guadalupes.
More votives in her chapel.
An interesting motif above the window, a small star of David. I doubt it has any Jewish significance here, I think the motif fits in with the design. There are also two Shamrocks, and not too many Irish were here at the time.
Today there is an active Franthean School of Theology on the premises, actively training professional ministers for the Church. I think this is one of the things I love about these missions. Each has a long history and yet each one has found an important purpose in the present day. These missions are very much alive and thriving.
Then, I paid a visit to the cemetery, which warrents it’s own post.
Leah
By now you know, I have my camera at the ready when we travel. I always look up. This decoration atop a 4 story office building downtown caught my eye, Sea horses. Look how well they are made to fit into the classic elements. The rest of the building was a very plain Art Deco, I wonder how many people actually look up to see this beauty.
Speaking of Art Deco, there were two such elevator doors in this lobby!
I didn’t go with a plan to take pictures of tile, although, Santa Barbara is the place to do that. Once I got home and looked at the images, then I realized how many of the pictures were of tile. This could be an old staircase, but I think it’s relatively new. First of all the curve, second of all, notice the anti skid on the lowest step? I may be completely wrong, it’s not the age that matters, it is that someone took the time and effort to do this.
Got to love it when a simple sign is made up in tile.
How about this peacock! The designer is from Pasadena, the tile artist from Santa Barbara. Their names are given, but not the year this was installed.
I know, not tile, but come on! Isn’t this marvalous signage for a club! Not only a hanging piano, but a massive red chandelier. At night when we drove by, there was quite a crowd outside. So I’m guessing it’s as good as the sign.
Why this says News I don’t know, but it does.T
I should have taken more pictures of this building. It’s a Santa Barbara Gaudi. Actually, the architect is
This is El Andaluz, I”ve looked online at pictures, I really should have spent more time here.
I think this is a mixed use, commerial and residential.
He has designed many other buildings, I really need to go back.
This is one of four benches out on the street.
As I said, I need to go back and look more closely
I’m on a mission to visit all 21 California missions. I have no idea how long it will take. I have no concrete plans. What I do know is that the last time I visited the Santa Barbara Mission, my kids were little. I never went there during the years my son was a student at UCSB.
This is probably the most famous of the Missions. It certainly has the largest number of foreign visitors. Junipero Sera is standing out front greeting people to this mission as well. I heard some of the guides saying that this is a life-size sculpture, he was tiny. I believe he was tiny, I also believe that casting bronze sculptures isn’t cheap or easy, so he probably was larger than this.
The sacred garden, inside the mission, the only reason it is sacred is because it is part of an ecclesiastical structure – there isn’t anything holy in the garden itself. Although what a wonderful quiet retreat from the world.
Fountains are a big deal in arid California. The mission was built on the spot becasue they were able to redirect spring waters here. A fountain is a very necessary thing, not only a thing of beauty.
Beauty doesn’t hurt.
The garden is in full bloom, I just adore purple roses.
… and was a little early for the cactus bloom.
The Mission is a combination of adobe and stone. Adobe came first. On our tour we were the only people from California, others were from England or other parts of the US. They wanted to know what is adobe and why is it used. Adobe is unbaked clay bricks. It is used all over the world in arid climates and is often faced with stucco or lime in order to protect it from rain. One question no one asked was why? Why not bake the bricks. I didn’t want to step on our guides toes – but here’ the answer, an oven used to bake bricks needs to things – to be very large and to have plenty of wood to burn. Wood is scarce in arid climates, so baking in the sun will have to do.
The mission bells, I have no idea if this is an original or a replica. What I do like here is that the main structure is made of stone, once they rebuilt the bell towers (earthquakes happen), they faux finished the concrete to look like stone. We’ll see more faux finishing inside.
Maybe this is one of the original bells?
This is a small bell in the courtyard. We were there at noon, the bells in the towers were ringing and ringing loudly!
Our guide was a secular Franciscan. Which means he went through the seminary but decided not to become a priest. He is affiliated with the Mission Church but he lives off campus with other seculars. Being called secular doesn’t mean he isn’t religious, he appeared to be quite religious. Most of the tour was more about the Catholic practices in this church, which I appreciated, seeing that I’m pretty familiar with the history.
For an adobe building to be tall, the walls have to be massive.
Plenty of faux marbling inside the church. Although I think the artists would readily admit that they went way beyond faux – into fantastic. 
I have to include arrested decay, I find it so beautiful. This is out in the cemetery, all of these textures just make me happy.
Untreated wood will rot, whether outside or in.
Paint is a barrier, but even it peels and the wood is exposed to the elements.
Creating a whole new beauty.
Tile fairs much better, unless it’s in the ground and the water leaves stains and marks on it.
In the bathrooms the tile is well protected. Tile details from the 1930’s is small yet wonderful. Notice how each little strip is different. The larger color tiles are cheap, it’s that fine detail that pulls it all together.
The metal work, the curves! the detail. The brickwork, also curving. It just makes my soul sing. Hopefully, all of these details helped the women, gave them a sense of peace, regardless of their mental situation.
A little griffin on top of an outdoor light fixture.
A door handle that wasn’t replaced.
Statuary used to abound. The man who created this worked for Gladding McBean, so he knew clay! A woman basking in the sun, I don’t think nude sun bathing was allowed, except in sculpture form. Here as part of a birdbath. Many more sculptures are now in storage, all of this was part of a relaxing southing atmosphere.
Rocks abound and rocks are used. Another birdbath.
A restful retreat all made out of Faux Bois, that Concrete made to look like wood. All the rage in the 1930s. A gardener worked here to make this location a real oasis, I wonder if there was water and a pond. I bet there was.
It is a former sanitarium for women in the Crescenta Valley. We are talking the very northern part of Glendale and Los Angeles, beyond the Verdugo hills. The facility closed in 2006 because it simply couldn’t be brought up to code, being on a hillside, with many stairs, narrow pathways, and decaying buildings.
In the 1920’s, Agnes Richards, a nurse who worked in mental hospitals decided to make a big change. She came to the Crescenta Valley where many sanitariums already existed and created a dignified homelike setting for women with mental illnesses. The whole place was for women and run by women. The Rose cottage was the first of many on the compound.
Early buildings were in the craftsman style, here is one with a screened in rock porch. Rocks being very very plentiful here.
Other buildings were built in the Spanish revival style.
Got to love a docent with a parasol. Joanna heads 
Since 2007 the property has been owned and maintained by the Parks dept. of the City of Glendale. They are now in negotiations to turn this into a park/shopping area. I hope they succeed.
1930’s Spanish revival means tile.
Inside are many objects from the past. The Murphy Beds were not used by the patients, but by the nurses that lived here.
Details on some of the light fixtures.
An old tray that would get a nice price at an antique store.
Crochet doily probably made by one of the women. Handcrafts were a big activity here. Reminds me of a job I had in Israel. It was a day center for seniors – they would come in for activities. One thing we did was have them knit, crochet, and create all kinds of handcrafts that were sold in a shop. The proceeds went to buy more materials. The exact same thing happened here.
Among the objects saved are items owned by the residents, of course, some of the items aren’t that old. Or am I dating myself? That round orange object as a shaver, for legs, from the 80’s. I had one of those!
Many items are in storage, a few are out on display, the hope is to have a museum in one of the buildings and much more will be shared.
First of all I bought new hiking boots, we are going to Switzerland with friends this summer, time to get good boots and break them in.
Getting a different point of view of the Church’s cross, I usually see it while whizzing along on the 118 freeway.
The trail predates the large gated community, so they are obligated to have a right of way for walkers. Oh my, what a community it is.
Just look at this lion head!
The gardeners were working hard, so I got a chance to peak beyond the gates into some of the front yards. Yes, even in a gated community, people put up gates around their own property.
…and have gargoyles protecting the premises.
Up and out beyond the community, a hazy look back at the San Fernando Valley bellow us.
With some obligatory rusted object.
Our original plan was to hike to these old foundations of a house, but time ran short, so I got a picture from afar. Next time.
It is a large property, the entrance looks like it would have been very impressive.
Back to the Church parking lot. You can see why it’s called Rocky Peak. Interesting rock formations here at the Santa Susana Pass.
Since I mentioned Passover, here is an obligatory image of the brisket I cooked in the Instant Pot, and yes, it was moist and delicious. Hardly any leftovers, just enough to send home with the CPA son. Great Seder, good company, two of the guests discovered that their mothers were best friends as children. What a small world.
Spring is very short but colorful here in So Cal. Our dull iceplant becomes a carpet of bright magenta.
Trees burst into glorious blooms.
Our state flower, the California poppy makes an appearance. This year, in certain locations, hillsides are carpeted with orange. It is time to go out and enjoy nature.
We drove 30 miles from home up into the Angeles National forest. A lot more green this year. 
The haze is hanging over the basin. You have to strain to see the tall buildings of downtown Los Angeles with the Palo Verdes peninsula beyond. 
Wildflowers are beginning to bloom. The yellow out in the mountains is very different from the city trees. The redno California poppies here. I may yet have to drive up to Lancaster to see the reserve. My friend went to Lake Elsinore and took incredible pictures.
The red is visible, yet small.
Remnants of the Station Fire from a few years ago. It started right near here.
And yet, some trees appear to be completely burnt and they have found a way to produce green leaves again. Fire is fickle. Many trees didn’t fair this well, and they are gone.
Enter 
Here is one such fellow. It is supposed to rain later this week and they may come back with a water truck once or twice this summer in order to give these saplings a fighting chance to survive until next winter.
As well as plenty of planes leaving contrails in the sky.
Man and nature, side by side. It is wonderful to get out and enjoy both.
Our tradition after a hike is to find a local Taco joint and eat without any guilt. This is at 
On the way down I pulled into Redlands to visit the university. I had heard it is a lovely campus. No in depth visit, but love their church.
… and that deep blue sky!
Took a nice walk on El Paseo, unfortunately, a lot of shops are closed, but the public are in the median is fun.
Since the desert surroundings are pretty stark, it’s no surprise that people here love bright colors.
Isn’t this an adorable display? An old stove painted bright orange. This one is for my friend Becky, she is always on the lookout for orange.
Cute handbags, I noticed that the flowers are all the same, the bags are different colors. 
A fun way to display flowers. Talking about flowers I have to add something that has nothing to do with my trip.
This supermarket orchid sits right near the Pot’s vent. I have never succeeded in getting any orchid to re-bloom. Shortly after I got the pot I saw flower buds!
This is what I came home to! An orchid bloom! All that steam led this plant to believe it was back in the tropics, and it is now producing flowers! Yay! I will probably fill the window sill with some more.
From bright yellow….
To…..
Blush on the rims of the petals…
Through the pinks….
To red! Whites, purples, and many other colors in between.
Purple berries.
Golden Ginko leaves on the tree.
Strange flowers on the aloe.
More weirdness.
And a bee busy at work.
Not only did these nice people pose for me, they tried to explain what their costumes are about. Can I just say I LOVE cosplay, it is such a creative way to express oneself. It doesn’t have any hoity toity affectation of the art world – it’s creative, it’s community, it’s fun!
I wasn’t going to ask everyone who they represent, I just watched, enjoyed and took pictures.
This character looked out of place, but what do I know? Most of the costumes were full of color.
One thing I love about Japanese anime, or even cosplay is the strange juxoposition of fierce and cutesy little girl ethos. I can’t explain it, I don’t want to explain it, I just want to watch and enjoy.
It would be a lot of fun to have a hand in making one of those costumes.
Now this guy is all fierce, his weapon alone is a thing of beauty. No, I’m not talking about the guy in the foreground. One of the cosplayers told me that sometimes these weapons come to life and become characters themselves. This is a world that is completely foriegn to me, but I was thrilled to get a glimpse into it.
Love the image here, cosplay in the forground and people on their social media in the background.