Meditation Garden

There was no arguing with the panorama from this Meditation Garden.

year in review

The back room of the Sky Suite was the perfect place to do my year in review.

Quiet Room

I don't think I had been in Ojai Retreat's Quiet Room, essentially a library.

 

Ojai Retreat revisited

Love this place!

Sky Suite

The Sky Suite: a fantastic room to stay in, especially as a place to reflect on the passing year. I've only stayed in one other room at the Ojai Retreat and I have nothing but good things to say about the place. It was time for a re-visit!

Bungalow Shops

Sometimes while enjoying a coffee at Java and Joe's, you accidentally discover, or rather uncover, the existence of the Bungalow Shops.

garam masala

A top-notch stocking stuffer. I was aware of this from the old "Curry Festival" collection. Given all the recent reports of toxins found in spices, this appears to be a superior brand.

LeSueur sweet peas

Peas that sing straight out of the can.

Xmas meal 2025

A very nice meal prepared by the Mrs. The homemade carrots blended well with the LeSueur petit pois and the Beyond brand spicy sausage packed an additional punch, making these the lead guitar and and keyboard to the rest, which were good background music. I guess I should add that the Trader Joe's picante peppers in the background were sort of like a guest vocalist belting out an impressive solo.

"or soap"

"I can never have too much soap."

"You can always get me coffee"

"There can never be too much of that."

notes from a rainy Christmas

banana yogurt revisited

in a world where banana yogurt is bullied into submission by the strawberry lobby, I support any and all banana yogurt, regardless of taste or quality. This one gets accolades for existing.

advertencia

Rain is good but all the toxic bacteria and other crap it releases isn't. Obviously that doesn't deter surfers from surfing!

new improved beach lot

It's still very much in the works...

solstice jetty

This was around the time of the King Tides but what we have here may just be low tide. Actually that day was winter solstice, so the whole natural world had a certain gravitas.

Room Service revisited

Nice outdoor space, hoping that maybe they get some tables!

Findings Flea

Adrift in New York? Been there, done that. Seen at the new Findings Flea in Ojai.

the Charlie Brown Xmas Tree

The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree, in practice, exceeded my expectations. I didn't want to take it down! With thanks to my niece for sending it to us. To top it off, we watched the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, first broadcast in 1965.

Royal Tandoor

I'm a bit in disbelief that I've never blogged about the Royal Tandoor Indian buffet in Santa Clarita. For years it's been a delicious stopping point on many, many road trips.

Mount Gorgonio finale

Headed home in the direction of snow-capped Mount Gorgonio.

the outdoor dining area

The new, improved outdoor dining area at 29 Palms Inn.

The Lady From 29 Palms

Some sheet music seen on the wall at 29 Palms Inn. We intended to look up this song - apparently recorded by The Andrews Sisters - but never did.

breakfast colors

While having breakfast I gazed out the window and marveled at the color scheme in the pool area, enhanced by a bit of December foliage.