Good Morning from John Smith Road

No fog. That's a grand way to start a Saturday. Have a wonderful day!

Enterprise Road

You're looking east on Enterprise Road, near the intersection with Southside Road. The mountain in the distance is Santa Ana Peak.

The 2016 Downtown Hollister Farmers' Market

Hollister has its own certified farmers' market. Yes, indeed. The 2016 season opened last Wednesday. Did you make it?

Every Wednesday, until September 28, 2016, the Downtown Hollister Farmers' Market will be from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. on San Benito Street. The main street will be closed between Fourth and Seventh Streets from noon to 8:30 p.m.

The market's layout is different this year.  You'll find the produce booths in the middle part of the market. The food booths are on the south end, near the Veterans Memorial Building. There are tables at both the south and north end of the market for you to sit and eat, rest, and/or people watch.

I saw a variety of new food vendors last Wednesday, selling such items as Puerto Rican sandwiches, Hawaiian shaved ice,  artisan tamales, hot dogs, and fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yummmm.  To see photos of some of the food booths, check out the "Food Court at the Hollister Farmers' Market" album at Facebook. You don't need to register or sign in at the site to view it.

See you at the farmers' market!

May Mustard

A fair view of yellow mustard on Fairview Road.

Have a wonderful weekend.

The May Carnival

Anyone noticed the trucks full of carnival rides parked on San Benito Street next to the high school earlier this week?

Yup. It's time for the annual May carnival that San Benito High School has been hosting for the last several decades. It'll be in the football parking lot, starting tomorrow evening, May 6, 5 p.m., and running until Sunday, May 8, 5 p.m.

Have fun!

La Bamba

La Bamba is the theme of one of the murals painted on utility boxes in historical downtown (or is it downtown historical?) Hollister. In 2015, the City of Hollister funded a mural arts project, employing the talents of local artists Joel Esqueda and Roland Resendiz to create five murals that represent  different cultural aspects of San Benito County.

La Bamba was a 1987 movie written and directed by Luis Valdez, who is the founder of El Teatro Campesiño, based in San Juan Bautista, and considered the father of Chicano theater in the United States. The movie is a biographical story about rock-and-roll legend Ritchie Valens who turned the Mexican folk tune "La Bamba" into a popular rock-and-roll song in the 1950s. Unfortunately, Valens' life was struck short, along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper, when their airplane crashed upon take off.

Some parts of La Bomba were filmed in San Benito County.

Today is Monday Murals, a weekly meme hosted by Oakland Daily Photo, at which I'm linking up. Click here to see murals in other parts of the world.

First Day of May

Hello Dear Take 25 to Hollister Readers,

Thank you very much for your kind and generous words and hugs as the Husband, Molly the Cat, and I adjust to life without the Mama. We appreciate the love very much.

For you, today, this first day of May, I give you a photo of gorgeous flowers that I spied in a front yard in San Juan Bautista.

Hugs with much love to each and every one of you.

~ Su-sieee! Mac

Abandoned

A is for abandoned.

And, that's all this gal shall be writing for the 2016 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Life has taken a critical turn that disallows (such a word?) me to participate in this year's blogging challenge.

Best wishes to all participants.

To see the list of bloggers, click here.

Intermission

Lone Tree Road, Diablo Range

Dear Take 25 to Hollister Readers,

I'm taking a hiatus. How long, I do not know. The Husband, the Mama, Molly the Cat, and I have started on an interesting, one-of-a-kind learning adventure. I will be writing about it now and then at my other blog, The View from the Top of the Ladder. I welcome you to join me there anytime.

If you're new to Take 25 to Hollister, I'm sorry to have missed you. Thank you for visiting and please wander about the blog to find out about what there is to do and see in and around the real Hollister, California, such as the Pinnacles National Park, different state parks, the various parades, Mission San Juan Bautista, San Benito Olive Festival, and fantastic shops and restaurants.

Thank you, all Dear Readers. See you around town.

~ Su-sieee! Mac

A Tropical Vibe

Close my eyes for a second. Feel the sun's warmth on my body. I can almost believe I'm in Hawaii, rather than traveling along Union Road looking towards the Gabilan Range. Sweet Aloha!

Spotted: Sleepy Bear!

Come on. Doesn't that look like a bear's face in that pepper tree trunk? Maybe it's trying to wake up from its hibernation.  The Husband and I spotted it as we walked on Fourth Street in San Juan Bautista. giggle.

Spring!

Apple orchard on Duncan Road

Once upon a time, the back roads of San Juan Valley zigged and zagged among apple orchards. Imagine how the valley looked when the trees were full of blossoms.

Tres Pinos Creek

Water!

Flowing, too.

giggle.

Egads, A Phone Booth!

This remnant of olden times (lol) stands on the southeast corner of Fifth and East Streets. I remember a phone booth being on that corner since I was a teenager many decades ago. This same one? I don't know.

Interestingly, the phone booth still has an attached phone book. Hmmm, I don't recall there being a phone.

I wonder what Superman would've done if this was only type of phone booth around. Giggle. 

A Reflection of the Gabilans

I spied this reflection of the Gabilan Range while the Husband and I drove through the San Juan Valley after a very nice rainy day.

See you tomorrow.

Union Road Hills at Sunset

I love looking up at the hills as the Husband drives along Union Road. Anytime of the day. This photo was taken a couple of months ago.

Peek-a-Brick!

What's that well-known downtown Hollister building between the branches? Giggle.

Still scratching your head. Okay, click here.

The Hollister Mural, Revisited

As I walked by the open green space on San Benito Street, I noticed the great full view of the Hollister mural painted by Ernie Valles. The mural's a beauty, don't you think? The artist painted a map of downtown Hollister during the mid-20th century, as well as of some of the iconic buildings of our town.

If you haven't checked out the mural yet, then what are you waiting for? If you don't want to go out in today's rain, then click here for a few other photos that I posted in 2010.

Loving the Weather

This past Friday was one of our wonderful rainy days (just like today). When I was downtown,  I took this shot of blue sky breaking through the clouds north of town while grey clouds were bringing rain south of us.

I love Mother Nature.

Flamingos in Hollister!

Giggle.

Pink flamingos are perched at the corner of Fourth and San Benito Streets!

Soon, they and more of their friends will find their way to front yards around the county. Giggle.

Who are you going to call if it happens to you?

Call the Flamingo Busters, aka the Women's Club of Hollister!

By the way, if you'd like to have flamingos take over someone's front yard, the Women's Club of Hollister is at your service, too.

Splish Splash!

Fairview Road, looking north from Sunnyslope Road,
from the other day.

The weather report says it'll be raining a lot this morning and again in the evening. Be careful out there. Slow and easy, please.

Window Reflections

What can I say? I like checking the window reflections while walking down San Benito Street. giggle. This is what I saw in one of the windows of Mars Hill Coffeehouse the other day.

The View from San Felipe and Shore Roads

Those green rolling hills run above the Pacheco Pass Highway (aka Highway 152). I took the photo from San Felipe Road, by the Dunneville Cafe & Market. They make a delicious tri-tip sandwich. It was well-worth a trip in the rain for the Husband and me the other day. Yummmm.

Wooden Lace

The trees across from the San Benito County Free Library were looking quite splendid in all their lacy glory in yesterday's rain. It won't be long before their branches are dressed in green.

Enjoying the View on Valley View Road

When I'm riding the bicycle, I like to stop on that stretch of Valley View Road where there's an unobstructed view of the Gabilan Mountains. Seeing the wild mustard and other wildflowers in the large empty field during our "green" months is a joy, too.

The property is up for sale for development of housing.  So, let's enjoy the view while we can.

From Open Fields to Blocks of Houses

This could be the last year that we see Spring in the fields east of Fairview Road, between Hillcrest and Sunnyslope Road.

The Santana Ranch development is in the works. Construction began on the southeast end in 2015. A few of the Anderson Homes are already up and ready for sale. According to the developer's website, it offers five floor plans. Interestingly four of the names reflect a seaside setting—The Carmel, The Monterey, The Cypress, and The Big Sur.

The fifth name is The Bixby. At first, I thought it was chosen to honor Lewellyn Bixby, one of the men who purchased the San Justo Ranch way back when. But, wouldn't there then be houseplans named for the other co-purchasers? You know, like  The Flint (for Thomas and Benjamin Flint) and The Colonel (for William Welles Hollister).  There are none. So, maybe The Bixby is named for the Bixby Bridge.

How did I get onto that subject?

Anyway.

When the construction is all over, 1,100 houses will be standing upon once was open fields. Let us enjoy the unobstructed view while we can.

From the archives: November 13, 2011

From the archives: February 18, 2011

Fisher's Delicatessen

Want to eat a delicious, heartwarming meal that features locally-grown and made products in Hollister? Then check out Fisher's Delicatessen, at 650 San Benito Street in downtown Hollister, that recently opened. 

The new restaurant is owned by Chef Mike Fisher, a popular caterer, who is well-known in the region for his amazing dishes. A Hollister native, Chef Mike graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Academy of Culinary Arts in Paris and broadened his culinary skills and experience at the Hotel del Coronado, Bernardus Lodge, and other distinguished restaurants. Chef Mike has also been part of the team putting together the annual San Benito Olive Festival.

Fisher's Delicatessen offers both sit-down service and take-out. Its creative menu includes small plates (such as babaganoush, hummus, and marinated olives), salads (grilled asparagus, hello), soups (seafood chowder!), sandwiches, and entrees. If you're into craft beer on tap or the wines from San Benito County, the restaurant has several choices for you. 

When the Husband and I were there yesterday, the entrees included lasagne bolognese, turkey stew, tri-tip steak, and harissa shrimp skewers. I had the stew, which was made with free-range turkey. There is definitely a difference in what ingredients are used. Yummmmmm.  

Fisher's Delicatessen is open from Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Chef Mike Fisher

Driving at Twilight

The Husband turned right from Highway 156 onto Union Road. I leaned out the window and the camera went Click!

The Diablo Range

I pedaled up Hillcrest Road on the bicycle this morning. Puff, puff. Seeing the Three Sisters and Santa Ana Mountain near the top of the road was worth the struggle. Every time.

Walking in Downtown Hollister

Downtown Hollister is a great town to walk. So many possibilities. Walk up and down the main street, side streets, and alleys. Venture into the residential area beyond South Street or to the west of San Benito Street. Climb up Park Hill and enjoy the view.

If you'd like something a bit more organized, check out these round-trip walks designed by the Downtown Hollister Association. You can download a copy of its brochure describing the walks here. I've summarized the walks below, providing links to past posts on Take 25 to Hollister that give you some background on the subject matter of many of the walks.

• Sacred Heart Walk, a one-mile stroll, begins at Dunne Park where Sacred Heart Church originally was located.
•  Downtown Shop Walk, 1.2 miles, allows you to see and visit all the shops and businesses in downtown Hollister.
• Historic District Walk is 1.3 miles long, covering the Downtown Hollister Historic District. 
• Fault to Fault Walk is a 1.3 mile walk along the Calaveras Fault.
• Vista Park Hill Walk, 1.5 miles, takes you up to Park Hill, the highest point in Downtown Hollister. 
• East of Eden Walk is 2.2 miles of some John Steinbeck history and movie settings for the East of Eden movie.
• Hazel Hawkins Walk, 2.3 miles, starts at the original Hazel Hawkins Hospital and goes to the IOOF Cemetery on Buena Vista Road.

Have fun walking through downtown Hollister!

Artichokes of Hollister

Artichokes grow in Hollister?

I always thought artichokes grew in foggy, sandy areas, so it still surprises me whenever I see the artichoke fields around here. Workers were harvesting the artichokes in the fields along Union Road this morning. One of them mentioned that Bertuccio's Market on Airline Highway (aka Highway 25), near Union Road, will be selling some of the artichokes.  Yaay! Beats driving all the way to Castroville for fresh artichokes.

Being Spontaneous

The last time the Husband and I were in downtown Hollister, we suddenly decided to pop into the Fifth Street entrance of the old Elks Lodge building, climb the three flours to the top, and walk down the other side of the building to exit on San Benito Street.

It's been awhile since we young old fogeys climbed more than one flight of stairs. Puff, puff, puff.

Alas, we couldn't complete our spontaneous plan. The glass doors at the top floor were locked. Oh well. The floor tiles up there are gorgeous as you can see.

By the way, we took the elevator down. Yup, an elevator, one of the few elevators in Hollister. Giggle.

How Tall, the Wild Mustard

In some fields, the wild mustard is rather tall. It almost reaches the sun.

Okay, I exaggerate. Although, I'm sure I could stand in a field of yellow mustard plants and you wouldn't be able to see me.  I love the sight and smell of wild mustard. It also tastes mighty good with garlic and soy sauce. Have I said that before?

Enjoying Twilight

Sometimes I want a red traffic light to take its time when there's an amazing light show at twilight.  I took this photo at intersection of the The Alameda and Highway 156 in San Juan Bautista, which I enhanced with the art filters in Photoshop. The Husband and I were on our way home to Hollister, after stopping for a glass of Brewery Twenty-Five's Many Moons Stout at Vertigo Coffee.  The cafe now offers craft beers on tap. Whooo-hooo!

Rock!

The things that catch your eye when you're driving a windy road. For instance, up on Lone Tree Road the other day, I saw this huge rock on a hillside. It was quite handsome standing near the top in the late afternoon sunlight.

I wonder how the huge rock got there and if it used to sit among boulder mates. From what I could see, the big guy is surrounded by smaller rocks, which reminded me of a sheepdog tending its flock.

It was a foggy day. . .

Kinda spooky, huh?

I wonder if the branches may be bearing blossoms now. I took this photo out the car window as the Husband was slowing for the stop sign at the corner of San Benito Street and Union Road.

Stop and See!

On the southwest corner of Fourth and East Streets are two fun shops. One is Bill's Bullpen that has the latest sports cards, comic books, sports memorabilia, and other sweet stuff. Next door is San Benito Glass that offers glass repair and installation, as well as a wide array of antiques for sale.

Stop and see for yourself when you're in downtown Hollister.

Coconut Moons Stout

Last September, I drank a locally handcrafted beer that was deliciously the best in my book. (I wrote about the beer here.) Made by Brewery Twenty Five, I didn't think they could top their Many Moons Stout. Ha!

One month ago (January 23), at Running Rooster, the Husband and I drank what I consider the best handcrafted beer I've tasted thus far. Coconut Moons Stout, which is also made by Brewery Twenty Five. Mmmmmmmm.  We paired the beer with a slice of rich thick chocolate cake. A sip of beer, a bite of cake. Repeat. Repeat. Again, repeat. Yummmmmmmmm.