Equestrians

Said the queen, "Ms. Dee Klein, I decline to recline on the equine." Say that five times, if you dare.

And, if you want another "Take 25 to Hollister" tongue twister, try this one.

As for the photo? I spied these equestrians  in a corral just north of Tres Pinos, while the husband was driving back to Hollister. We were on Highway 25, aka Airline Highway, of course.

Horse Hay 4 Sale

Jose and Jorge have horse hay for sale. Say that five times quickly.

The hay for sale was sighted on Airline Highway, aka Highway 25, heading to Tres Pinos. It was near Best Road, across from Ridgemark, in case you're needing some hay. But, don't ask for Jose or Jorge. I have no idea who owns the hay.

Deceptiveness

"Distances are very deceptive."

That is the example given in my thesaurus for the word deceptive. This picture provides proof for that phrase.

I'm standing on the sidewalk on McCray Street by Premiere Cinema, about a mile away from the cannery. See the smoke in the photo? That's coming from the cannery. Doesn't the smoke look like it is much further away than a mile?

That mountain peak at the far right of the photo. That's Fremont Peak, about 19 miles away. Doesn't it look so much nearer?

It Is A . . .

You'll find this object throughout downtown Hollister. What do you think it is?

A sun dial?

A peace symbol?

A no parking sign?

Nope. Nah. Not at all.

Hint: You lock a transportation device to it.  I've noticed a lot more people—young and old—are riding these devices lately, particularly the beach cruisers. So cool!

Yep. You got it.

Bolado Gopher

Earthquake! just now.  It felt like one of those rolling waves. I'd say a 4.8. We shall see.

But, that's not what today's photo is about. Nope. Yesterday, the husband and I drove over to Bolado Park to deliver my entry fee for the upcoming San Benito County Fair. Alas, the office was closed. We wandered the grounds a bit to see if someone was still around. Nope. Just gophers. The one who went into the hole seconds before I took the photo was bigger than this guy.

I wonder how gophers handle earthquakes.

Another Angle of a Beaut of a Building

Even while sitting in my car in the Bank of America parking lot, the Briggs Parking Garage looks impressive against the open sky of blue. Honestly, though, I hope nothing gets built taller than it downtown. Is that what "old" people...uhm...griped when the Odd Fellows or Elks buildings went up?

Ice Cream, Please.

Has summer finally arrived? What better way to cool down than with ice cream, which is what the husband and I did the other evening. Check out the family of bicycles whose owners were already enjoying their treats outside of the Santa Barbara Ice Cream Parlor  on McCray Street.

2/28/12 Update: The Santa Barbara Ice Cream Parlor has gone out of business!

Cannery Season

The San Benito Foods cannery is a hopping. The cannery is part of the Neil Jones Food Company, a food processor based in Vancouver, Washington. It used to be that there were two canneries in town, both owned by local residents.

Another Peak Out the Elevator Window

A while back, I took a photo through the elevator window at the Briggs Garage, while I was at the top floor. Here's what I saw when I got down to the bottom.

Many of you probably recognize the name on the truck: Mansmith's as in yummy-tasting BBQ.

How Old Am I?

I'm so old, I remember when San Benito Street ended at Nash Road. The only time you would turn into the "new" part of San Benito Street was so you could park your car go to go see the football games. You parked your car on the long expanse of grass that is now the paved parking lot and sports fields.

Funny thing is, I don't think of myself as being that "so old". Speaking of which, have you gone to the "You know you grew up in Hollister, if you. . ." page on Facebook. Lot of history being talked about over there. Check it out.

Onion Field

Harvest time is nigh. Some crops are already being harvested. This is the onion field at the north end of the 25 bypass in Hollister.

The Vault that was Once a Bank

When I was a kid, I thought there was only one bank in Hollister, for that matter, the whole world. It was  Bank of America and it existed at the corner of Fifth and San Benito Streets. Yep, the 80-year old building that is now home to The Vault.

Rolling into Hollister

The husband and I happened to be driving on San Benito Street when the Union Pacific freight train came rolling into town. Toot-toot!

By the way, have you tried the food at Burger Factory yet? Yummy. Myself, I like the chicken teriyaki bowl, the jalapeño burger, the mushroom burger, the. . . .

Coming Up: 2011 San Benito County Fair

This year's San Benito County Fair will be September 30 to October 2.  Cock-a-doodle-doo! 

If you're still thinking about entering a photo, cake, quilt, or something else in the fair, you have until September 2 to send your entry form. For all the details of the fair, as well as to download an entry form, head over to this page at the San Benito County Fairgrounds Web site.

Thumbs Up for History

 

I took a photo of this "flyer" at the San Benito County Fair in 2009. Just came across the digital file on my hard drive. I wonder which side of the street this was.

Speaking of history, this Saturday, August 20, the San Benito County Historical Society will be holding a fundraiser at the historical park to raise funds to rebuild the Dunneville Dance Hall. It sounds like it will be a great wingding. Wish I could clone myself so I could go. Click here for more details.

Music and Theater in the Park

2010: Hollister's first Music in the Park. Click on the photo for an enlarged version.

This Saturday, August 20, the San Benito County Arts Council and Hollister Youth Alliance will host the second Music and Theater in the Park at Dunne Park on Seventh Street (between West and Powell Streets). From 1 to 7 p.m., this event will showcase local musicians, performers, and artists. Bring your picnic blankets, chairs, picnic fare, and joy and just hang out. You deserve it.

Watching Night Fall

Last year, I attended the Dave Mason Concert on the Green at the Peppertree Ranch. The concert was awesome as was the unfolding of day into night on the eastern foothills and the Diablo range beyond them.

As the sun began setting behind us. . .

Then later as the sun crept towards the horizon. . .

School Starts Soon!

Before Rancho San Justo Middle School, all sixth to eighth graders in the Hollister School District went to R. O. Hardin. At least that was how it was in my day, the 1960s. I don't know know what it was like before then. Anyone know?

A Close Up at the Victorian Beauty Downtown

I seem to be obsessed of the Victorian building at the corner of 5th and San Benito Streets. I'm not. Really, I'm not. But, I did happen across another angle of the building the other day that I doubt few have seen. Just didn't have my camera at the time. One day, soon. Until then, here's a look at a bit of the detail on that 140-year-old (more or less) building. And, if you want to learn about William Palmtag, the man who built it, click here.

The Hanging Flowers of Hollister

Have you noticed the hanging pots of flowers up and down San Benito Street this summer? It adds to the charm of downtown Hollister, don't you think?

The Hollister Downtown Association gets credit for installing the beautiful flowers on the lamp posts. The cost of maintaining the flowers is done through sponsorships.  For information about sponsoring a pair of hanging flower baskets, check out this page at the Hollister Downtown Association Web site.

Looking Out from Under the Vines

Have you ever gone inside the PG&E Customer Center on East Street and looked out its window? You almost feel like your looking out of a cave.

Here's a reminder of what the building looks like from the street.

Setting Up for the Farmers Market

The Downtown Hollister Farmers Market is every Wednesday, from 3 to 7 p.m. on Fifth Street, between San Benito and Monterey Streets.  Lots of local food, crafts, wares, and joy are there.

The Library in Hollister

When I was a kid, the front of the library was landscaped with bushes that had flowers that smelled like hot dogs. Really, they did. The bushes were where the outside wall is now. The foyer, bathrooms, and meeting room were all added in the 1980s.

The San Benito County Free Library is a consolidation of the county and Hollister  City public libraries, which occurred in 1959. The City Hall building was once the Hollister City Library that was built in 1919 from money funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation.

Want to know more about the fascinating history of our public library?  Check out this page at the San Benito County Free Library Web site.

From the Briggs Garage Elevator

Yep. This photo was taken through the elevator window on the top floor. You're looking over Fifth Street. It was around setting-up time on a Farmers Market Day.

Our Diablo Range

I don't think of the mountains to the east of us as being part of the Diablo Range. But, they are. When I was a kid, I thought they were hills. I know better now. They're such pretty mountains, and they are "ours".

No U Turn

I  noticed this "No U Turn" sign the other day. The husband says it has been up for a while. I wonder how many U turns were made to cause the sign to go up. It's such an odd place to even think about doing a U turn.

Where the 25 and 156 Meet

One of the benefits of roadways going through once-upon-a-time orchards, grazing lands, and vegetable fields is this: We finally get to see what we couldn't before.

Truckin'

That's right. Any chance I get, I'll get my little camera out and snap a photo—even out car windows and, as you know, through dirty windshields. Not when I'm driving, of course. This glimpse was taken as the husband and I were heading north on the Bolsa, aka 25.

Maggiora Brothers Drilling, Inc. is a local business that drills water wells and installs water pumps. I didn't know it existed until yesterday. The company has been around for over 40 years. Check out its Web site. The business is very interesting, even if wells are things you don't need.

An Appealing Glance

Metropolis—the city where Clark Kent, aka Superman, lives.

That's what comes to my mind when I see the Vault sign. I don't know why. Maybe it's the sophisticated look of the V.

For that manner, discounting the sign, downtown looks rather glamorous from this angle. Don't you think?

Big City Parking

Who has parked in the free parking garage on Fourth Street because they couldn't find parking near let's say the library? Wells Fargo? Paines? the farmers market on Wednesdays?

Did you know you get a good view of downtown from the elevator?

Did it really cost the city several million dollars to build it? 

Have you ever thought of going up and down the garage stairs for exercise? The husband and I did it first time yesterday.

Loooking Out of San Benito Bene

The husband and I finally checked out the new store, San Benito Bene, last week. Kathina, the owner, is selling a variety of locally made products. The ones that stick in my mind are the Marich chocolates, orchids from Watsonville, and the goat milk products from Bell Hill. I like knowing that I can conveniently purchase the chocolates downtown.

San Benito Bene is located at 615 San Benito Street. Kathina says that she has plans to set up a station where you can make-your-own gift basket of local goodies. How cool is that! The shop is open Monday through Saturday. Stop in the next time you're downtown.

Nope, FTC, I wasn't paid to write about San Benito Bene. I just like to let people know that there is a central place in Hollister  (finally!) where we can find locally made products.  It's about time.