Hermitage

Alfred Tibor "FREE" 1993 Bronze

Beyond the bookish themed house lies a colorful off kilter world rarely seen by the public. An asymmetrical hermitage ruled by a crazy hermit genius with a unique angle on life. "Ted", who's gift for writing books (40 in number) is matched only by his whimsical lost wax sculptures and fanciful art collection. He sings the body electric... Or bronze in this case. Cleverly staging a bevy of cast metal nymphs joyfully dancing alongside busts of classical composers, great authors and U.S. presidents. They line the rough hewn paths and frolic in aqueous pools. Artfully juxtaposed within a clever fence of bicycles & VW Bugs, these creative sculptures will shock and surprise you. The guided tour meanders through a carefully tended 10 acre botanic garden of cycads, fruit trees, cactus, bamboo and tropical palms. When you find yourself chuckling over humorous quips etched on rocks, Congratulations! You are now happily under the creative spell of artist and founder Theodore Roosevelt Gardner II. A bona-fide hermit who graciously provided lemonade and dried fruit/nut snacks after our tour but was nowhere to be found.

Why did Ted build this secret wonderland? Where does he get his inspiration for new installs? What does it cost to tend a sculpture garden of this magnitude? Who will take over his legacy after he is gone? A poster in his museum gave the answer.

"Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction."

Indeed, Hermitage Santa Barbara is well on its way to becoming a tourist attraction. The lush garden rests mostly on a hill top over looking Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean. Open two days a month, this rare collection can be seen free of charge but you will need a reservation.

To visit Hermitage Santa Barbara - A Whimsical Sculpture & Botanic Garden.
info@hermitagesb.org
www.hermitagesb.org

If you would like to read more about founder, Theodore Roosevelt Gardner II, or about Hermitage Santa Barbara you can find his books on Amazon, at your local bookstore, or the local library or visit http://www.knollpublishers.com/

Sculpting a Wacky Life

Photo by John Wiley

When the Levee Breaks

Santa Maria Riverbed - Dry as a Bone

Mr El Niño
Hopefully you will arrive as predicted and fill this riverbed with water. Precious water. Much needed water. As much of a hoped for event, the perils remain to be seen. Can this levee and sandstone cliffs hold the expected deluge? Or will the levee break?

In January 1969 this humble riverbed in Santa Maria, CA was brimming over with water. Breached by a magnificent 100-year storm who's downfall lasted 10 days straight. One for the records books. Soon water was overflowing and threatening to expand its containment area. Mud and debris flowed bank to bank. Farm lands so desperately in need of rain were flooded and crops destroyed. Nearby houses normally high and dry were flooded. Families and businesses were displaced and daily life disrupted. The seasonal cleanup was huge and county resources were stretched to capacity.

Recent draft maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency showed that much of Santa Maria, including 20,000 parcels and 17,000 structures, would be designated as in the flood plain, triggering a flood-insurance requirement for many property owners. Fortunately mistakes were learned and infrastructure improved in a critical 2009 federal/Santa Barbara County project that rehabilitated approximately 6.3 miles of the 50-year-old structure. Five years and $47 million dollars later the old bridge that crosses the river has been retrofitted and the levee re-engineered. Now it stands ready to take on this Winter's expected heavy rain storm. Assuredly, one day, Mother Nature will test this levees structural ability to hold back water. So come on...My sandbags are ready. I dare you Mr El Niño! Give me all you've got! Let's end this drought!

Slide Show Santa Maria Levee History

Santa Maria River Levee Trail

Things That Go Boo!

I let the rattly skeleton

In my closet out

Once a year to go

Trick-or-treating and shout.

My skeleton is made of bones

Lots of them, I know

They're in my arms and legs

My ten fingers and my toes.

My skeleton holds me up

So I can dance and run

And do lots of other things

That are so very fun.

My skeleton keeps growing

Right along with me

I never want to lose it

Cause then where would I be?

Rocky Nook Park

Mosaic Reptiles Turn 20

Just when you think the day is over and you've seen all there is to see in town, suddenly you spy Ethel. A six foot long, brightly colored, red mosaic alligator lizard staring back at you from the banks of Santa Barbara's Mission Creek. She's nestled in-between the natural river rocks giving you a wink and a whimsical grin. Upon closer inspection you notice more toothy creatures just past the footbridge at Rocky Nook Park. Shocking at first, a second blue tiled reptile named Harry comes into view. These beautifully crafted mosaic sculptures are the work of Dan Chrynko, a unique local artist known for his intricately embellished boulders. Perfect for climbing, children of all ages will adore exploring these fanciful tile works of art. Pack a picnic basket and enjoy a day hike amidst ancient oaks and sycamores in soothing natural surroundings. This is what happy memories are made of.

Creek Lizard at Rocky Nook Park

Visit Rocky Nook Park

PCPA Theatre

51 Years of PCPA Theatre

Memorize for me the words of a playwright than speak them back to me with song and dance. Rehearse for me your character's personality and facial quirks. Show me that acting is craft. Give me your believable energy and make true actors come alive on stage. Quick costume change for me then stand on mark, mind your cue's, sing your heart out. Emote for me the plot of this PCPA creative collective. Translate for me raw emotions as I live on stage through you. Let me down gently after hours of make believe theatre. Now let me honor your efforts with my applause.

PCPA Box Office

If I Were a Rich Man 

Song from Fiddler on the Roof

Alligator Pear

Zutano, Topa Topa, Hass, Mexicola, Rincon, Bacon, Spinks, Lamb, Fuerte, Pinkerton, Anaheim, Creamhart. These are not exotic travel locations or decadent libations, they are names of avocado cultivars. Pear shaped fruits who's pebbled, thin, blackish-green skin hides an edible buttery textured flesh around a single ovoid seed. Prized as natures super food, high in monosaturates, studies show avocados help to reduce blood cholesterol. You can accelerate the ripening of avocados by placing them in a brown paper bag along with a banana at room temperature. Avocado oil is a favorite among cooks who desire its health benefits as a salad dressing or for high-heat cooking. What do you call an avocado that's been blessed by Pope Francis? Holy Guacamole!

Avocado Health Benefits

California Rare Fruit Growers

Whistler Mountain

Whistler Mountain was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and now sets the gold standard for stunning nature getaways. Many wooded biking and hiking trails wind along side Winter ski lifts offering the active character cheap thrills throughout the year in picture perfect surroundings. All the modern conveniences of life are within close reach of this carefully planned alpine village. A unique variety of delicious dining options makes fueling-up a tasty treat. Nearby family condos and student hostels allow tourists of all ages and pocketbooks a way to live memorable mountain moments. For the perfect scrapbook, snap a selfie photo with a symbol of Canada, this area is patrolled on horseback by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Just 90 minutes from Vancouver we found this quaint village setting had a rare nostalgia all its own. Did I mention Canadians are the nicest people? Yes, really!!

Plan Your Visit to Whistler Blackcomb

Jocko's Nipomo

Historic Jocko's! Some would say the best steak house on the California coast. A restaurant with years of staying power and a permanent line out the door. This is a prime meeting place for the carnivore foodies. Where fellows bond over the perfect oak coal open pit seasoned beef. They exchange shouts of glee as the first perfectly cooked morsel is consumed. A cherished family pinto bean recipe and golden garlic toast will accompany your baked potato, salad, relish tray and steak. And yes, complimentary ice cream and coffee are offered for dessert. If you don't already have dinner reservations, plan on waiting until 8:45pm for seating. Don't be scared away by the restaurant's cinder block exterior. This is definitely the eating place to visit any time you are in the Nipomo area. For early risers a hearty breakfast of ham steak and eggs is popular and at lunchtime the Jocko burger is a local favorite. Afterwards take out bags are graciously given to weary chewers who leave content having eaten their fill of succulent aged steak. A down home western setting with lots of local dim lit bar flavor and savory open pit custom meat cuts. The perfect place for birthday's or retirement parties this local legend is a "must eat here before you die" restaurant destination. So why don't you "Come in an monkey round" sometime.

Call for Reservations (805) 929-3565

The History of Jocko's

Secret Garden Oasis

I've found a pathway out! The plan to escape this maya has been woven into my life's story. A tranquil green oasis in the middle of ten acres. Long revered as the bounty of Mother Earth, organic vegetables, fruit trees and edible flowers are paramount to my existence. Their shade and lush foliage is a much needed supernatural sanctuary for man and beast. Songbirds and wind chimes ride the west winds with serenely sweet jargon. Duckweed and tadpoles float like clouds metamorphoses in Ovidian pools. I take refuge in my secret garden as part of my daily meditation routine. I love to sit and relax. With each measured suspiration I gain peace of mind in this lovely canopy of green toned heart chakra hues. Spacious, ever free, lovingly nurtured and nurturing, my plants give healing energy back in spades. Garden spades that is!!

Read the "The One Straw Revolution" entire book PDF online:

by Masanobu Fukuoka

SCOBY to the Rescue

My family knows me as having a special cabinet where the miracle of fermentation takes place. Mysterious, vinegar smelling, symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeast floating in glass jars, swimming warmly in a still, dark, place. "SCOBYs" are kitchen science at its best! Silently growing they resembling human placentas, undisturbed, doing the backstroke, waiting expectantly for final bottling one day. Brew baby brew! When the time is right a glimmer of sunlight awakens the SCOBY to the will of the brew master. Skillfully it will be harvested, the medium blended, oh so carefully, with fresh picked, organic, blood orange, pomegranate, sapote, or guava juice. This additional step creates a second round of fermentation which gives rich character to the green tea elixir. Finally it will be refrigerated after 30-50 days of ferment magic, the mix now ready for tasting and deserving of the name Kombucha. A culture with roots in a two thousand year old Chinese tradition that claims long life and grand health benefits, like preventing and fighting cancer, arthritis, diabetes and other degenerative diseases. Today, it may be one of the world's most popular health beverages made simply from tea leaves, sugar, water and Kombucha culture. This probiotic brew is mighty good for what ails you!

Order a Kombucha SCOBY and Start Brewing!

Kombucha Health Benefits

Getting the Perfect Balance

I Love My Prius!

H Y B R I D 

H A I K U 

Zoom past gas pumps smile
More money in my pocket
I drive a Prius
 - Andra

Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery

Like prize fighters from the gloomy depths these elephant seals lumber onto the shore and drop in a heap as spectators silently do a countdown. Fleshy globules weighing in at over 2,000lbs these marine mammals have a face only a mother could love. Slow moving blobs of blubber cluster together and lazily dream of salty sea mermaids and swaying palms. Inertly waiting until the next meal, they flip ping pong sized flipper full's of sand onto their neighbors back. Sunbathing and frequent rough housing give onlookers a chance to document the rituals with cameras and videos. During mating season you can hear their loud threats and grunting retorts to other males. You can almost hear one seal bark to the other, "Hey meathead stop throwing that sand around and hitting on my female or else!" Bloody sores and gashes from bites makes this a real street fighting lesson for the kiddies. Colorful kiosks educate while a wooden boardwalk allows viewers of all ages the chance for a closer look. This coastline is subject to high winds, harsh sun and cold so don't forget your windbreaker, sunscreen and visor. Plenty of parking makes this Highway 1 coastal treasure, just north of San Simeon, a must see main event. Showtimes are....

January

Female elephant seals continue to arrive on the shoreline. 

Peak of births usually are the last half of the month.

February

Elephant seal births continue. 

The peak of mating is around Valentine's Day. 

More females leave.

March

Last adult elephant seals leave.

April

Female and juvenile elephant seals return to molt.

May

Female and juvenile elephant seals molt.

June

Sub-adult male elephant seal return to molt.

July

Sub-adult and adult males molt.

August

Last adult elephant seals molt.

September

Young-of-the-year and juvenile elephant seals haul out to rest.

October

Young-of-the-year and juvenile elephant seals haul out to rest.

November

Sub-adult elephant seal males haul out. 

Mature males begin arriving at the end of the month.

December

Elephant seal bulls continue to return. 

Females arrive. 

The first birth is usually mid-month.

Get Involved: Friends of the Elephant Seal