Smelling the Roses

The roses are bursting in bloom around town. Have you noticed?

The other day, the Husband and I stopped to admire the roses in front of a house on Seventh Street. As I smelled a red rose, the Husband, having no sense of smell, asked, "Do the different colors have different smells?"

I leaned over to sniff an orange rose. "Yes, they do." I can't remember what I told him the rose smelled like, but the red rose reminded me of the taste of vanilla.

The Blossoms at City Hall

The trees in front of the City Hall are in blossom right now. They're more gorgeous in person. Check them out, if you can.

Blending into the Scenery

Don't you just love how the Hollister Hills SVRA painted their barn?

620 Monterey Street

The church on the southwest corner of Monterey and Sixth Street was built around 1883 as the First Presbyterian Church. Today, it is the Hollister Church of Christ.

The (southern) wing was added to the church in 1929, as well as the wooden stucture was plastered in stucco.  The two towers have always intrigued me. I wonder if it's possible to get up into the towers, if there were once windows in the towers, and if bells used to toll from them.

Julie -- Our Local Story Teller and Bundt Cake Maker

This past week I won one of Julie's Bundt Cakes in a fundraiser raffle at one of the elementary schools. It was winner's choice, so I asked for a lemon cake with chocolate frosting. Julie said it was an uncommon combination, then joked, "I hold no responsibility if it doesn't work."

The combination worked deliciously well, thank you very much, Julie's Bundt Cakes, especially on the second day when the flavors settled in.

Some, if not many, of you local readers, may know Julie. Julie Englehardt, that is. She is quite an enterprising creative lady. Not only does she make bundt cakes for sale--award-winning I might add--but she also offers tea-time parties to celebrate birthdays and, as Julie puts it, "any time of the year."  In addition, this freelance writer and substitute teacher,  is the owner and creative director of Story Time Adventures. Along with giving themed storybook readings to children, Julie performs as Ms. Bunny and Mrs. Claus, and as these characters will write letters and make phone calls to children.

To learn more about Julie and her products and services, check out her pages at Facebook.

• Julie's Bundt Cakes 
• Story Time Adventures 
• Mrs. Claus
• Julia's Tea Time Parties 

Note to FCC: I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, unless winning the bundt cake in the fundraising raffle counts.