80th San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo

It's that time of year again, folks. It's the weekend of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo!

Festivities start off this evening at 6:15 p.m. with the traditional parade down historical downtown Hollister.

For details  about the Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo, click here.

Another Hysterical Sight in Historical Downtown Hollister

We were just pedaling our bicycles north on East Street—the Husband and I—when I happened to glance to the right as we passed by the parking area behind San Benito Glass. Silver oh-la-la legs attracted me from high above so I had to circle back and take a photo.Wouldn't you?

I'm glad I did. Check out the close-up. Anyone else see the Mona Lisa smile?

Hanging Out at the Hollister Farmers Market

Today is Wednesday. That can only mean the Farmers Market is setting up on Fifth Street.  It starts at 3 p.m. and goes to 7 p.m., every Wednesday through the end of September. Fresh veggies, fruit, eggs, chicken,  meat, and flowers. Honey, tea, breads, cakes, and other handmade and handcrafted items from local artisans.  Can't forget the live music or yummy food ready to go. Yep.

Always Ready to Go!

This little helper stands guard on Sunset Drive, near the Mabie Skilled Nursing Facility. I have to say, it has a cuteness to it in a quirky and geeky way. Did anyone else think it resembled Jerry Lewis in "The Nutty Professor"?

'Twas another sight I saw on a walk the Husband and I took the other day. In case you missed the other two, you can click here and here.

Up There on the Roof

This angle of the ER building at Hazel Hawkins Hospital always intrigues me. Anyone else get reminded of science fiction movies of the future?

Notice the orange windsock. Helicopters land up there on the roof. I don't think they land on the round overhang, but sometimes I wonder. Being that our community is in a somewhat remote location, I am glad the hospital has a heliport.

Neighborhood Art

The artist was a young teenage girl, who glanced at us briefly from her new creation in progress. Her father was very proud of her talent and skills, as he smiled broadly first at his daughter and then at us while we appreciated her sidewalk art.

Memorial Day, 2013

The flowers—artificial and natural—are in bloom in the Veterans' section of the Calvary Cemetary.

Peace.

Stray Chickens and Feral Cats

The city of San Juan Bautista is known for many things such as the mission, the state historic park, Fremont Peak, the deAnza trail, El Teatro Campesiño,  the St. Francis Retreat Center, antique shops, restaurants, Vertigo coffee, and organic farms. A lot is packed in and around the small, beautiful city, which sits on the San Andreas Fault. Most definitely. And, of course, I cannot, will not, and shall not forget to mention the feral chickens and stray cats that wander around town. They, too, make San Juan Bautista the unique place that it is.

2013 Hollister Airshow

Upside-down flying, loop-de-loop maneuvers, and other death-defying aerobatics will be taking place at the Hollister Airshow this coming Memorial Day Weekend.  You gotta see it to believe it! And, when you do, it'll still be unbelievable.

The event  runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26. According to the schedule, the airshow starts at 11 a.m. and ends around 3:30 p.m.  For details of the well-known performers, such as Vicky Benzing, Dr. D, and Eddie Andreini,  check out this link. To learn about the specific times when performers will take to the air, click here.

Tickets are available at the Airport Manager's office at the Hollister Airport throughout the week, as well as at the gate on the Airshow Weekend. Adult tickets are $15, and children (6 through 12), $10. Children who are five and under get in for free. Parking is $5.  Cash only.

Free shuttle bus service is available from the Parking Garage on Fourth and San Benito Streets in downtown Hollister. The shuttle leaves about every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Note: parking at the garage is free.) An on-demand shuttle service is also available at Frazier Lake Airpark.

For more information about the event, visit the Hollister Airshow Website. To check out the gallery of photographs of past events, as well as videos of the performers and other aerobatic pilots, check out the Hollister Air Show Facebook page.

The Hollister Farmers Market

If it's Wednesday, then it must be the Farmers Market Day in historical downtown Hollister.

Every Wednesday, from now until September 25, 2013, you can get your fresh local produce and meats,  breads, sausages, honey, and handcrafted food and wares at our farmers market. It's open from 3 to 7 pm. The produce and food vendors are lined along Fifth Street, between San Benito and Monterey, with many of the take-out fare in the parking lot between Fifth and the lawn in front of the parking garage. On the lawn, you can find craftspeople and nonprofit organizations, as well as entertainment.

Enjoy!

Bales of May Hay

Does anyone else think it's too early to be seeing bales of hay?

It would've been great if it had rained more this season. 

For information about our current water conditions in California, check out this link. And, for info and tips about conserving water, head over to the Save Our Water Web site.

Save the Date for the San Benito Olive Festival!

Are you ready for an olive festival in our own neck of the woods?

Sure, you are!  The first annual San Benito Olive Festival will take place October 19, 2013 at the historic Paicines Ranch. Save the date and please spread the word.

Double click on the image to see the full version.

Z is for Zazzy

Zazzy as in feeling stylish while wearing this bling of a gown. This was in one of the display windows of Sylvia's  Jewelry and Gifts on San Benito Street, near Fourth Street.

I'm been going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. This post marks the end of the event. Whoo-hoo! I think I deserve a zazzy treat. To check out other A to Z participants,  click here.

Y is for Yummiliciousness

Yeah, I know. I could've just said yummy. But, hey, might as well put all that learning about suffixes to good use. Besides, the food at Heavenly Bakery is exactly that.

I've been going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Tomorrow will be my last day.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

X is for Xanthic

Xanthic? That means being of a yellowish color.

Just so you don't have to wonder, the preschool is not in that building.

Curious about the whereabouts of the sign? It's on the north side of Union Road as you approach San Benito Street.

I'm been going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Two more days left.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

W is for Wire

Barbed wire is still a common sight inside Hollister city limits.

I'm been going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Only a few more days left to it.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

V is for the Veterans Memorial Building

The Veterans Memorial Building was dedicated in November 1927. Today, the hall is rented to community organizations as well as to businesses and individuals for private parties, public meetings, and community events. For information about rentals, go to this link.

To see other views of this Hollister landmark, please click here and here .

I'm been going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

U is for Umber

This umber colored brick building has been standing strong at the corner of Fifth and San Benito Streets for nearly 140 years. It is one of the oldest commercial buildings in downtown Hollister. 

I've been participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge this month. About a week left to go. If you'd like to check out other blogs in the challenge, click here.

 

T is For Takino, Japan

This beautiful lantern, which stands in front of the City Hall, is a gift to Hollister from Takino, Japan. The two were sister cities for over 10 years.

According to Wikipedia, Takino merged with two other towns in 2006 to form a new city called Kato.

I'm been going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

S is for Schwinn

Most people who grew up in Hollister got a Schwinn as their first bicycle. And, most likely it was bought from Muenzer's.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Want to read other blogs? Click here.

R is for Rally

This July 5 and 6 is the 2013 Hollister Motorcycle Rally. Bikers will trek from all over the United States to take part in celebrating the birthplace of the American Biker. To learn more about the rally, please check out this post.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out blogs by other A to Z participants.

Q is for Quaint

The city of Hollister was officially incorporated as a city in 1872. It was named after Colonel William Wells Hollister, the man who sold his land to the San Justo Homestead Association, the group of men who founded the city.

Many of the houses built in the early years of the city still stand. As you stroll down the tree-lined residential streets of downtown Hollister, you can see various  architectural styles, including the pioneer, Italianate, Queen Anne, Craftsman bungalow, and Mediterranean Revival styles. Quaint as all get out.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

P is for Parade

Hands up: Who loves a parade?

Hollister is the place to be then. We have the:

Portuguese Festival Parade
San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Parade
Mexican Independence Day Parade
Hollister High Homecoming Parade
Veterans Day Parade
Lights On Celebration Parade

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. If you'd like to check out other bloggers, please click here.

O is for Olive Festival

Big news, dear Take 25 Readers! The first Olive Festival is in the works.

Yep, an Olive Festival! Organizers have set it for October 19, 2013 at the Paicines Ranch in beautiful Paicines, just down the road, south of Hollister.  Save the Date!

Olive trees were first planted in the area at Mission San Juan Bautista by the Spanish padres.  The mission used the olive oil it produced for essential goods that it could not make.

Today, we have several local olive growers in San Benito County who produce award winning olive oils.  Many of which can be bought at local businesses, such as San Benito Bene and Bertuccio's/The Farm, as well as from the producers themselves.

Here are some of the local olive growers that you can check out online:

• Brigantino Olive Oil
• Guerra Vineyards and Groves
• Oil of Paicines 
• Pietra Santa Winery  
• Sons-of-Sicily
• Suncoast Organic Farm

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out  other A to Z Challenge participants.

N is for a New National Park

Just recently, the area got a new national park when the Pinnacles National Monument was redesignated as the Pinnacles National Park. Hurrah! A big thanks to Congressman Sam Farr for introducing the bill in Congress.

The 59th national park is home to condors, bats, and various other flora and fauna. It offers fun adventures for hikers, birders, rock climbers, naturalists, families, and everyone and anyone who enjoy being outdoors. The eastern entrance is about 30 miles south of Hollister, right off Highway 25. To learn more about the new national park, check out these links:

• Pinnacles National Park
• "Pinnacles Rocks: One of California's Best Kept Secrets" by Mike Sweeney
• Friends of Pinnacles
• Pinnacles Partnership

I've been participating in the 2013 A to Z Blogging Challenge, which goes through the month of April. You can check out other Challenge bloggers by clicking  here.

M is for Mustard

See all that yellow. That's wild mustard. It grows freely in the fields and orchards during Spring. Some historians say that the Franciscan padres scattered the seeds as they walked the El Camino Real to better see the road. I wonder if they also ate the wild growing vegetable. It tastes so much better than the mustard greens found in the supermarkets.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. This is the third week. To check out other A to Z participants, click here.

L is for Lido Hotel

Whenever I walk by Lido Hotel on East Street, I wonder what it looks like inside. Would I shudder in disgust or gasp a "Wow!" at a sight of ghostly splendor

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

K is for Knoll

I love this sight every spring—the oak trees dancing on the green knolls above Union Road.

I'm participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge during the month of April.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

J is for Jalopy

The jalopies are spiffed and buffed and anything but dilapidated when you view them at car shows, of which there are several throughout the year in and around Hollister.

One of the bigger car shows is part of the Hollister street fair. This year the annual Street Festival, Car Show, and Swap Meet will take place on July 20. For more info, head over to this page at the Hollister Downtown Association Web site.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Want to check out other participants?  Click here.

I is for Irrigation

Drive the length of the Highway 25, from beginning to end, and you'll easily understand how agriculture is--and has always been--a major industry of San San Benito County. Thank goodness for irrigation.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

H is for Horse

For the past 79 years, the San Benito County Saddle Horse Association has hosted an annual Horse Show and Rodeo at Bolado Park. This year shall be no different. The 80th annual event will take place on the June 28 to June 30 weekend. As always, it will be kicked off with a parade down San Benito Street on Thursday evening (June 27).

Head over to San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Web site for a deal more information.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out other bloggers.

G is for Golden

This is a common sight around Hollister and throughout San Benito County, come summer time. Would you say the hills are brown or golden?

Golden? Ah, you're a true Californian.

Someone once told me that he knows when strangers are Californians at heart. They get a blissful sound in their voice as they describe the golden hills of their home.

Today is the second week of the April A to Z Blogging Challenge. Would you like to check out other participants? Click here and enjoy.

F is for Fair

The San Benito County Fair, that is.

This year, the county fair will be held October 4,5 and 6. To learn more, check out the San Benito County Fair Web site.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out other blogging participants.

E is for Everywhere

The five palm trees. I can see them from almost everywhere in downtown Hollister.  One of these days, I'm going to find out who planted them and whether there was a reason for planting them. After all, palm trees aren't native to the area. Here's another view of the five palm trees.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

D is for the Diablo Range

The Diablo Range flanks the east side of Hollister. For that matter, it runs through all of San Benito County. The mountain range starts up in the San Francisco Bay Area and 'flows" down to the northern part of Kern County.

I'm participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge this month. To check out other participants, click here.

C is for Clock Tower

The clock tower is on top of the Eastern Star Masonic Temple Building. Both the tower and the building are 104 years old. If you'd like to know more about them, check out this link.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. That means I'll be posting every day in April but Sunday.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

B is for Building

The Hollister City Hall in the late afternoon lighting

The City Hall building was originally the home of the San Benito County Free Library. Yes, it was a Carnegie library. In the 1990s, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. That means I'll be posting every day in April but Sunday.  Click here to check out some other A to Z Challenge participants.

A is for Apricot

Today's post starts the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I'll be going through the alphabet during the month of April. No posts on Sundays though. The challenge was founded by Arlee Bird. Thank you, Arlee! You can check out  A to Z participants by clicking here. Now, on with the first post. . .

The Blenheim apricot, in particular. It's a smaller apricot, full of intense flavor, whether eaten fresh or dried.

Once upon a time, Hollister was surrounded with Blenheim apricot orchards. And, picking or cutting apricots was often the first job a kid of my generation got. The cut apricots were laid on trays and set to dry naturally in the sun. The few orchardists who are still in business continue the same process today. Two local sources for locally grown apricots are Apricot King and The Farm/Bertuccio's.