Eat Locally: The Inn at Tres Pinos

The Husband and I had no idea what we had been missing when we stepped into the Inn at Tres Pinos last month for dinner. Everything about the restaurant was quite delightful. The setting was intimate and comfortable, the servers were friendly and efficient, and the food and drink were heavenly.

Built in 1880, The Inn at Tres Pinos is a Historical Landmark. Once upon a time, it was a brothel, but that isn't the sole reason for having achieved landmark status.  Check out this web page for more history about the place and Tres Pinos. 

A Sunrise in Hollister

Earlier this month, I hung outside watching the sunrise. I'd forgotten how grand it is to wake up, rather than go to bed, before the sun lights up the sky.

A&W Restaurant

The root beer floats from the A&W on the corner of South & East Streets are delicious memories. One of these days, I'll give in to the A&W bear's invitation and see if the A&W's root beer float  tastes just as good as I remember.

Industry

For another view of this huge metal mass, click here.

When I was growing up in Hollister in the 1960s, almost every kid I knew had at least one relative working for the canneries. In my family, Auntie Virginia was a regular on the line for many, many years while the Only and Older Bionic Brother worked there when he was attending Gavilan.

I applied for a line job when I was 18 or 19. You had to come prepared to work, with your apron, hairnet, rubber gloves, and, if my memory is correct, a paring knife. You stood in a group with women of all ages, watching women working on the canning line as you waited for the person-who-chose-new workers to do his thing. He looked out onto the mass of eager applicants and picked out women for the openings. What his criteria was, I have no idea. I just knew I didn't fit it.

Back then, there were two working canneries, both on Sally Street, but with one on either side of South Street. Today, all the buildings make up San Benito Foods, which is part of the Neil Jones Food Company.

Sacred Rain Ceremony

This morning, the Husband and I joined about 80 folks or more at the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park Plaza Green to participate in the Sacred Rain Ceremony presented by the San Juan Intertribal Council led by Sonny and Leynee Reyna. Also joining in prayer and song were Ann Marie Sayers and Canyon Sayers from Indian Canyon in Hollister.

The blue sky was quite clear when the ceremony began. By the middle of the ceremony, clouds came creeping in from the south and west. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. Let us not question though. In each our own way, let us continue hoping and praying for a gentle, nourishing rain to feed the Earth, the animals, and us, all.