Monday, July 22, 2013

Review For Heritage Park Victorian Village San Diego California


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[caption id="attachment_1313" align="aligncenter" width="486"]Review For Heritage Park Victorian Village San Diego California Review For Heritage Park Victorian Village San Diego California[/caption]

My review For Heritage Park Victorian Village in San Diego, California is a bit different than my other reviews. This is because I visited the park vicariously through my husband.  He was in San Diego and had some extra time, so he visited the park and called me on the phone.  He suggested we visit the park together because the houses were so beautiful.  I've included 3 of the 6 Victorian homes in the park.  They also have the first Synagogue in San Diego.  My husband took the photos from his phone and sent them to me so I used them for the slide slow.

He actually walked the grounds, giving me a report.  It's sounds like a great place but we won't have time to go together for awhile, so this review for Heritage Park Victorian Village will have to do for now.  The down side which makes me not want to rush into visiting the park is that the houses are for viewing only.  This makes the park a great disappointment to me.  However, walking the grounds within the Romantic Victorian setting is like experiencing an old fashioned stroll down the street during that time period.  At least that's the impression I get.

According to my husband it was an easy walk around the grounds. So if you have walking problems or someone in your group does, you shouldn't face difficult problems. You're welcome to bring your own food and have a picnic if you wish.  I give this park a 5 out of 5 for walking ease, but a 3 out of 5 for disappointment because of the inability to view the inside of the homes.  There is plenty of parking.

 

About Heritage Park Victorian Village


The park began when the County of San Diego, along with the Save Our Heritage Organization, moved the historic Victorian Era homes and Synagogue to about eight acres of parkland in the Old Town area.  It's located in the southeast corner of Old Town, Heritage Park.  There is also a tea house on the grounds.

 

Heritage Park Victorian Village Information


Location: Old Town (4 Miles North of Downtown San Diego)

Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM

Tours: Guided Tours take place at 11AM and 3PM and last about 30 – 45 minutes. A $2 donation is suggested.

Address:  2454 Heritage Park Row in San Diego, CA 92110.

 

 

Heritage Park Victorian Village San Diego California




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Sunday, July 21, 2013



Review For The 1897 Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Historic Landmark In Redlands, CA.




[caption id="attachment_1295" align="aligncenter" width="442"]Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Kimberly Crest House and Gardens[/caption]

I hope my review will be helpful.  This is a beautiful place to spend a Sunday afternoon. We've visited the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens many times, but we were never able to see the kitchen so we thought we would give it another try today.  Well, it really wasn't that great, but the house and grounds are so beautiful it was worth another visit.  It was also a great chance to take more photos which I've included below.

The Kimberly Crest House was built in Redlands, California in 1897 by the Widow Cornelia A. Hill for $12,000.  Later she sold the house for $29,000 to Mr. and Mrs Kimberly of the successful paper company, Kimberly-Clark.   Under their ownership the beautiful gardens were created that you see in the slide-show below and other renovations that were quite significant.

Even though the grounds are breathtaking, as far as walking is concerned, I have to rate the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens a 4 (out of 10 with 10 the best). There are many steep stairs to get to the house that can be difficult for some.  We watched a woman on a walker get to the top with great difficulty.  She was a great trooper, but I just want to warn anyone with walking difficulties. 

The parking lot is quite a distance from the home, and since it's uphill all the way to the porch, it can be a difficult visit. However call ahead because the tour begins in the back of the home where there is a driveway and a place to drive into the back area.  You may be able to drop-off someone in a wheelchair or walker and then go park your car.

 

The Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Tour


The tour of this historic landmark is well-worth the visit.  The Victorian home sits on 6 ¼ acres of Renaissance style Italian gardens and is managed by the Kimberly-Shirk Association, a 501-C3 Non-Profit.   As I said, the tour of the home begins at the back of the home.  The docents are knowledgeable and in love with the home, sot it was a warm experience and quite educational for that time period.

The tour is an easy walk through the bottom floor and part of the second. Because of leakage on part of the top floor roof some of the rooms are being renovated. The stairs to the second floor is easy to walk up. They use the servant stairs to return to the first floor, but if you hold onto the railing it isn't difficult. There is a third floor but it is in use as offices and can't be seen.

The house operates as a museum that is open for public and private tours. The grounds are utilized for a variety of public events and can be rented for weddings or private events.

There is a Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Gift shop and museum in the carriage hour on the back side of the property which was the original carriage house for the horses and buggy.

 

Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Slide Show






 

Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Information


Days Open: Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Phone: 909-792-2111

Fax: 909-798-1716

Address: 1325 Prospect Drive, Redlands, CA 92373






 

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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

My Maltese Dog Sammy Is A Great Little Pet and Friend




[caption id="attachment_1245" align="alignleft" width="235"]A Great Little Pet Sammy, A Great Little Pet![/caption]

If you're looking for a pet that is calm, happy and wants to stay close by you, Maltese dogs are the best!   They don't make good watch dogs at only 8 pounds or less, and they don't bark a lot to warn against any trouble, but they "big" personalities make up for the small size.

Sammy is 6 years old, but he looks like a puppy.  This is him when we brought him home from the Kennel.  The video is what he looks like now.  He has hair rather than fur which makes him hyper-allergenic.   And he doesn't shed.  As I've said, he doesn't bark much.  Hardly ever.  He only make noise when he wants something.  His favorite thing to do is run, especially when we chase him.  We chase him around the furniture in a circle and he keeps us from catching him.  He could go on forever so we have to stop the game.

 

Why Sammy Is A Great Little Pet For Retired People


All of the reasons I've mentions so far make him a good pet.  But he's also perfect if you like having a little furry friend close by.  He's velvety soft and likes to sit at our feet.   However, he has times where he like to sit on our laps.  He loves everyone and especially loves our grandchildren.  He also loves getting compliments.  His tail wags with the words, "you're so cute."  He expects compliments on a regular basis when we take him for walks.  Lately he hasn't gotten too many due to the heat and less people out, but he's patient.  He's a patient little dog, so he can wait for the Fall to arrive.

He travels well, but we've never gone on longs trips with him.  He can get car sick, so we leave him with our daughter and  it's good a fun time for everyone.   I don't know about other Maltese dogs, but when he walks he skips.  People stop us to remark about his unique walking habits as well as his habit of spinning.  He spins like a top when it's time to do his duty.   When there are people around him they find his little habits a bit strange, but no matter what, Sammy is a great little pet for us.  We love him!

Visit my Getting a Pet page which is about how we care for him and what to look for when you decide to get a pet.

 

 
Sunday, July 14, 2013

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Hemet California's Echo Hills Golf Club Review


[caption id="attachment_1171" align="alignleft" width="300"]Echo Hills Golf Club Echo Hills Golf Club Entrance[/caption]

The 9-hole Echo Hills Golf Club in Hemet, California renovation is now complete.  It was closed for over two years.  It opened around March of this year so we visited and took a few couple of photos.  It's actually quite beautiful!  And it's my kind of course.  I don't like the 18-hole courses--they're too long for me!  I actually don't golf.  However, when I go with my husband to the 7 Hills course I get somewhat bored. But that's just me.

The Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District did the renovation after purchasing it in pretty poor condition.  The former owner had closed it down in the summer of 2010 because of losing money due to the high cost of water that made the course unprofitable.

 

Echo Hills Golf Club History


The 9-hole course is public.  It originally opened in 1959 and was  designed by Ed Dover.  It measures 2229 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 92 and a 29.2 USGA rating.  You'll find 3 sets of tees for different skill levels.  This is a great course for beginners or people who love to play the game but either have little time or don't want to golf for 4 hours.

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Echo Hills Golf ClubEcho Hills Golf Club


_____________________________________________________________________

Golf course details


  • Holes: 9

  • Public

  • Open year round

  • Open to guests

  • Yes to Tee times


Facilities


  • Pro in house: No

  • Driving range: Yes

  • Rental clubs: Yes

  • Rental carts: Yes


Green fees price ranges


  • Week days: $15 - $22

  • Weekends: $15 - $22


Course policies


  • Metal spikes not allowed

  • Check for Dress


Course policies
Contact Information

Address:
545 E Thornton Ave
Hemet, California 92543
Riverside County

Phone: (909) 652-2203
Fax: (951) 925-7339

 

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Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles, California Slideshow


visit

 

The Heritage Square Museum is an amazing place to visit on a Sunday afternoon.  It's a peaceful place that takes you back to the end of the 19th century. This was a time when California was a new state and Los Angeles, which was once a cow town, was being formed into the large and diverse city it's developed into today.  It's continually expanding so we make regular visits every few years.  If you love turn of the century homes from the Victorian era, you'll this museum.  It's a visual monument of the settlement and development of Southern California during its first 100 years of statehood.

This is a great place for learning about how people lived at that time--especially for children and teens. Although it's a great activity for grandparents and their grandchildren to share, some very small children get bored.

The California Heritage Square museum offers exceptional examples of architecture from the time with eight historic structures that were moved to the property at the museum.  Besides the homes, there's a church, a depot and a Colonial Drug store filled with authentic items that were donated by a family who owned the store contents. They were left to them by a relative who owned such a store.  None of the products are sold, it's completely for viewing.

Heritage Square museum isn't open for much of the week.  It's open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and some holidays.  See below for more information.

 
Heritage Square Museum For Elderly Visitors

For those who are elderly or have difficulty walking, this is a good place to visit.  The square is mostly grass with a gravel road that makes it easy for walking.  The tours are great, but you can also walk the grounds on your own. Not all buildings are accessible without the tour but some are. There is some climbing of stairs within the homes, but you don't have to climb to the second floors.  There are photos and books in the Heritage Square Museum Gift Shop for reference if you miss that part of your tour.

You can visit some of the homes alone as well. If you need to walk slow and rest, go early so that you can take your time and make a day of learning about the different homes and about the history and names of each by perusing the books in the gift shop. I noticed a few of the visitors who utilized canes or walkers were seated on the porch of some of the largest homes at the front of the square. So there are places to rest if necessary and be cool in the shade.

I encourage you to visit the The Heritage Square Museum when it's cool.  The first time I visited was at the end of June and it was very hot.  We ended up leaving a little sooner than we planned just to get out of the heat, but as I said, there are cool places to rest.

SEE MY PHOTO SLIDESHOW OF SOME OF THE BUILDINGS BELOW.

 

Museum Hours:



The Heritage Square Museum is open from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Also, Friday, Saturday, Sunday & most holiday Mondays.*
Guided Tours

Guided tours depart on the hour between 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. from the Palms Depot.




Directions

Heritage Square Museum is located at 3800 Homer Street in Los Angeles off the 110 Fwy, 10 minutes Northeast of Downtown.
Admissions

$10 Adults (13+)
$8 Seniors (65+)
$5 Children (6-12)
Children age 6 and museum members are admitted free.

Discounts for AAA Auto Club and TimeTravelers® members.

Parking Ease:

We've never had a problem parking.  There is a designated parking lot just outside the square, however, it's not large, but big enough for the normal traffic they get.  Call ahead of time if you're going to be visiting during one of their many events that may cause a crowd.
Phone:  323-225-2700

Address:

3800 Homer Street

Los Angeles, California

(off the 110 Fwy, 10 minutes Northeast of Downtown)

 

Heritage Square Museum Slideshow





  

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Tuesday, July 9, 2013
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[caption id="attachment_956" align="alignleft" width="300"]Heritage Museum Of Orange County Maag House Of Orange County[/caption]

We've visited the Heritage Museum Of Orange County twice in the last 3 years, both times on my birthday.  We returned recently mainly to see if they had completed work on the Maag House built in 1800 which is a part of the museum.  It's been under construction for some time, but on this day it appeared to be opened.

The front of the home appeared closed with a padlock on the door handle, but the side readily welcomed us with a sign to step up onto the porch.  High on the outer wall facing us was an attractive grouping of old photos in pretty frames and tour phones just underneath them.  Like a child I rushed up the porch in my sandals and found myself tripping into the wall with my feet twisted into three large pipes vertically placed (yes, I should have worn tennis shoes).

The Heritage Museum of Orange County was closing as we had arrived a bit late.  So I decided to just leave and notify them of the problem later.  I haven't been back so I wanted to begin my review with a warning to be cautious at the Maag House and proceed up the porch with caution or just take a look from a distance.  It's probably best to wait until all their work is completed.  After a few hours I was feeling better thankfully, but the potential danger was there.

 

The Heritage Museum of Orange County


[caption id="attachment_961" align="aligncenter" width="640"]Heritage Museum Of Orange County The Parlor Of The Heritage Museum of Orange County[/caption]
 The Heritage Museum Of Orange County Is Used As An Example To Educate The Local Children About The Victorian Era

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[caption id="attachment_965" align="alignleft" width="300"]Heritage Museum Of Orange County Heritage Museum Of Orange County[/caption]

Our visit of the Heritage Museum of Orange County was a positive experience when we visited a couple of years ago.  It's a beautiful home with the colors of the Victorian era as you can see in the photo above of the parlor or music room.  It's filled with unique decorations such as the large butterfly and moths that quickly caught my attention.

At the time we went it was free so we had the guided tour and then we were able to look around the house on our own with a well-planned personal tour booklet we were given.  I've included the current costs below.

The home was designed and built by Hiram Clay Kellogg.  He was the first engineer of Santa Ana and Orange County.  The house was moved to it's current address on Harvard street (see address below) from another location in the area in 1980 to avoid a scheduled demolition.  Until then it served the family into the 1950's.

[caption id="attachment_975" align="alignright" width="233"]Heritage Museum of Orange County Stairway - Heritage Museum of Orange County[/caption]

Mr. Kellogg's first wife died following the birth of their only child.  He remarried and had four more children, five in all.  While living in the home, he designed the towns of Elsinore and Corona and designed the Pacific Electric Railway connecting the cities of San Bernardino, Riverside and Colton.

The most interesting part of the home once inside, is the the fact that he developed an interest in ship design during his sailings to  Hawaii.  The large structure in the center of the elliptical staircase is a ship's mast.  However interesting, the stairs are not easy to climb for anyone with walking problems and for parents with small children. The landing halfway up the stairs has views of the the vestibule and the dining room but it's dangerous.  This is because it's designed like a ship's bridge and the railing or banister is short, making it easy for unattended children to fall over the side.  So if you have small children, hold onto their hands throughout the tour and especially if you're on your own without a guide. Also the house is 3 stories, but only the first and second floors are available for viewing.

The grounds also provide nature trails, a rose garden, citrus groves, the Blacksmith Shop, and a Gift House as well as the Maag House. It's a very peaceful environment with benches for sitting and resting.

For visiting purposes I rate the Heritage Museum and the grounds with 4 stars out of 5 because the stairs can be difficult for some people to use and the building issues of the Maag house. Other than that I loved the house and I'm impressed with the way it's been carefully preserved. The parking lot leads to the grounds and houses, however it's some distance and there is no way to let out person's with disabilities or walking difficulties in front of or near the main house.

 

Heritage Museum of Orange County Information


Please call before visiting as prices and hours can change.
Hours:

Friday: 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m
Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Or Call For Groups of 10 or more for appointment only tours.

Weddings available.  Call for information.
Prices and Amenities:

Adults: $5
Seniors/Children: $4
Free parking
Free use of grounds for individuals and families during public hours
AAA/Access Member Discounts


 
Special for Santa Ana Residents Only:

Free Admission & Tour on first Sunday of every month.
Address:
3101 West Harvard Street
Santa Ana, CA 92704

Phone:
714-540-0404
Parking

There is a convenient parking lot with plenty of parking. The parking lot leads to the buildings.













 

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Monday, July 8, 2013
[caption id="attachment_947" align="alignleft" width="275"]fff Hemet California Western Science Center[/caption]

We had the pleasure of being one of the first families to visit the Hemet California Western Science Center Museum.   We went with two of our children and their children so we had five grandchildren from ages 1 to 11 at that time.   We spent a longer time than expected because much of the museum is geared toward giving children a fun experience with science.  There were many "hands on" displays, all very unique.  They kept the children interested for over an hour and the adults as well.

I'll continue with my Hemet California Western Science Center review as soon as I can gather some of our photos from inside the museum. In the meantime you can view my slideshow of photos my husband and I took to show how attractive the museum is from the outside. It's fairly new as museums go.


Hemet California Western Science Center


 

 

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Sunday, July 7, 2013

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Sunday Lunch Specials In Our Local Area Lead To Our
El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina Review


[caption id="attachment_824" align="alignleft" width="281"]El Patron Restaurant Review El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina Review[/caption]

My husband and I have found only two Mexican Restaurants that we love for regular dining and in our travels throughout Southern California.  I'll get my reviews out for those later.  However we found a jewel of a Mexican restaurant by accident in our own backyard of Hemet, California.  We've been living here for a few years while we decide where we really want to live for the rest of our retirement.   It's been great here but we always have to go out of town for Mexican food.  NOT ANY MORE!

After visiting the Western Science Center Museum in the Diamond Valley Lake area we traveled a short distance East and noticed the El Patron Mexican Grill  and Cantina and thought we'd give it a try.  Our experience led to this unexpected El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina.

We ordered once we sat down and not long after our waitress brought our food.  Great service is important, but the food is the real test of a great food establishment, so we said a quick prayer (we do this before we eat--not because we were afraid), took a deep breath and dug into the food.

I felt like food critics because we've been disappointed so many times in Mexican restaurants.  But Oh My Goodness!  The food was absolutely delicious! My husband ordered two enchiladas from the lunch special menu and I ordered two lunch special tacos.

What really surprised me was that the beans and rice tasted just like my grandma's from when I was a child.  I thought I would never have that taste again!  She never passed down her recipes so I'm clueless about what she did.  Now I can just go down to the East side of town and taste her food all over again!

My grandparents on my mother's side were from Spain. My grandfather was a minister who settled in American as a pastor with his young wife, and at that time, two small children in Orange County, California.  Their church was in a small Hispanic community that influenced my grandmother's cooking from Spanish to Mexican.  So I was used to the mild Mexican food dishes of the people in that area, rather than the hot Sonora style food.  By chance my husband has the same taste that I do, so this has been our dilemma.  Now we have three Mexican restaurants that all have great food, but it all varies in taste.

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[caption id="attachment_853" align="aligncenter" width="300"]El Patron Restaurant Review Left Side View of El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina[/caption]
 

Now, Back To My El Patron Restaurant Review...


El Patron Restaurant ReviewThe prices were very reasonable for the quality of food and the service, as I said, was consistently good throughout our meal as well as afterward when it came time to receive our check and pay.  Our hostess and waitress were very friendly and caring.  The restaurant itself was very clean and comfortable with televisions on the wall playing different sports programming.

If you're ever in the Hemet, California area, I highly recommend this restaurant, especially if you're just passing through in a hurry.   I give this establishment 5 stars out of 5.  How about you?  If you visit, please rate it below.  Thanks!  We hope our El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina Review is helpful!
 
_____________________________________________________

El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina Information:


Address:  Address: 41525 California 74, Hemet, CA 92544
Phone Number:  (951) 652-4545
Average Prices:  Range is to approximately $14.00
Family or Business:  Casual atmosphere serves family or business clientele



 

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Saturday, July 6, 2013
Your Transition To Retirement Can Be Difficult Without The Desire For Change

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[caption id="attachment_317" align="alignleft" width="300"]Transition To Retirement Transition To Retirement[/caption]

Change doesn't come easy for everyone and that includes our transition to retirement living.  If you feel adverse to changes in your life then retirement could be a difficult transition.  It doesn't make you wrong, foolish or stubborn.  It just means that the routine you've lived by for many years and the activities you've enjoyed may have to meet with some change.  It's just another life challenge.  And, yes, meeting life challenges makes us better people, but how do you make yourself like the changes retirement brings when you're not happy with them?


The way I've found over the years to make changes and receive great benefits from them is to keep my emotions out of the equation of acceptance, enjoyment and flexibility.  Emotions change like the wind, and can negatively cause us to be disappointed with our current conditions. We might feel good about something one day and then feel badly about it the next.  This type of emotional uphevel taints the reality or truth of what we have or have to work with to be happy and at peace.


Everyone should have a means of overriding negative emotions that can steal our ability to build a new life and live it successfully.  It's our emotions that feed our minds with doubt and fear, leading to negative thinking and unstable behavior.  Before one knows it, they're paralyzed to move forward and utilize all the talents and abilities they possess to live productively.


It's also the emotions which keep the heart from feeling the joy retirement can bring and the excitement of rebuilding.   I realize that For some, there is no change or rebuilding as far as retirement is concerned. People who own their own businesses for example or who have been independently wealthy all or most of the lives will continue in the same way as is normal for them, but there are still changes to face that come with getting older.  Transition to retirement for anyone can mean children leaving home and beginning new lives, relationships taking a new turn as spouses spend more time with one another, needing long-term medical care, friendships becoming more long-distance or downsizing one's living accommodations.


 

Transition To Retirement With The Best Qualities


 Taking a little time each day to be at peace will keep your emotions from dominating your mind and heart.  Your intellect will be free to be creative, while your heart will be free to be lead in the best direction with guidance for making the right decisions and knowing who to trust.  This doesn't mean you should be void of emotion, it just means that you should practice using only your best emotions.  Anger, frustration, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, forgiveness and other negative emotions will only make you feel old and selfish, instead of loving and kind.


Taking time to sit in a peaceful spot of your home, patio or even a closet, just to let your emotions be still so that you can take control over your thoughts, allowing only those which are positive to take over your mind about what you want to be and what you have at the moment. These short sessions you spend alone will help you to create positive changes and habits that will help you adjust to change in a positive manner for the rest of your life.


When you transition to retirement living, one of the highlights is having the time to be more introspective about who you are and how you can best treat others, especially your family members.  The more generous you are with your understanding, kindness and compassion, the younger you'll feel and the more vibrant your life will be for others.  These are the productive emotions that will make your retirement years truly golden.

 

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Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Review Of The Marston House Museum In San Diego California

[caption id="attachment_721" align="aligncenter" width="500"]George Marston House Museum George Marston House Museum In San Diego, CA[/caption]

It was a beautiful morning when we left our city of Hemet, California on our road trip to San Diego.  Still early in the morning the traffic was light due to the 4th of July parade and events scheduled for later in the day and evening.  The weather was cool and breezy with a lush view of palms and shrubs on both sides of the freeway in many areas.  We arrived early at our destination just outside Balboa to one of San Diego's most famous Historical areas where the Marston House Museum, one of California's finest examples of the Arts and Crafts Movement, is located.

The outside of the home isn't quite the typical look of the Art's and Crafts architecture, but once we entered, the style was clearly present with a simple elegance.  Our guide pointed out the rare Irving Gill furniture interspersed throughout the home which was a nice fit with the mission furniture in the first floor living area.

The property was designed and built by the Internationally famous architects William Sterling Hebbard and Irving Gill in 1905 for George W. Marston and his wife, Anna Gunn Marston.  George Marston was a prominent civic leader in the areas of historic preservation, conservation and history, even though he was very low-key about his constant work and philanthropy.

I've included my photos of some of the property below.  It's beautiful with five acres of blooming flowers, lovely gardens surrounding the property and lush rolling lawns.  The house is 8,500 square-feet, 3 stories high.  However the 3rd story is not available for viewing.  Marston House became a house museum in 1987 after the Marston family gifted it to the City of San Diego for the enjoyment of the public.  The tall trees surrounding the property are pine, eucalyptus and oak.

 
My Recommendation:

I highly recommend a visit if you're in the Southern California area.  It's well worth the time and you'll thoroughly enjoy the 45 minute tour.  The guides are very knowledgeable and make the time spent an adventure. The tour is inexpensive. It's $10.00 for adults, $7.00 for 65 and older and students with ID, $4.00 for children and free for children 5 and under.

Parking: No designated parking. Drop off passengers at the carriage house, then find a spot on the street to park.
 
Visiting Hours: Hours Can Change, it's best to call. See below.
 
Walking: If you have problems walking, the layout of the grounds are easy to walk through. However, there are random steps because of different levels in the gardens. There is no ramp for wheelchairs into the home so call ahead about information on this. There are three levels within the house, but only two levels are shown on the tour. The stairs are wide and the steps short, making it easy to climb the stairs.


 

Views Of The Marston House Museum












[caption id="attachment_677" align="alignnone" width="196"]Marston House Museum Marston House Back View[/caption]


[caption id="attachment_689" align="aligncenter" width="204"]Marston House Museum Side Garden[/caption]


[caption id="attachment_690" align="aligncenter" width="197"]Marston House Museum Front Of Property[/caption]


Call Marston House Museum For Information
3525 Seventh Avenue in Balboa Park
Phone (619) 297-9327

  

Our First Retirement Road Trip To San Diego On July 4th


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[caption id="attachment_657" align="alignleft" width="416"]Retirement Road Trip Retirement Road Trip[/caption]

I'll be taking time off today for a 4th of July retirement road trip to San Diego California, a popular beach city in Southern California.  This will be our first retirement road trip there.  We've been traveling mostly for family visits or quick trips, so this will be a trip that will be travel only.  I'll be taking some photos to share here because it's a very scenic area.

San Diego is a large city and absolutely beautiful.  It's filled with special events, cultural activities and recreation for all ages.  Our family has visited San Diego mostly for it's historic museums and zoo.  My parents took my siblings and I to the San Diego zoo when I was only eight or nine years old.  Our children and grandchild have great enthusiasm for the museums.  It's always a great experience for them!  And the cool ocean breezes adds much to the ambiance of each visit.

The museums offer a diverse variety of interests and it usually takes some time to visit each one.  We have made many trips to visit one museum at a time.  Our favorites are the Natural History Museum, the historical aircraft museum and the classic car museum.  We've seen them all more than once.

Although most of San Diego's privately-owned major attractions are well-known around the world, many diverse and exciting recreational opportunities are also available through programs at City parks and lakes.  One place of interest is the legendary Hotel del Coronado.  It's spectacular!  Located on 28 oceanfront acres on Coronado Island, it was built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.  It's truly an American treasure! The Del's visionary founders, Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story, dreamed of building a seaside resort that would be "the talk of the Western world" and they truly succeeded.  The photo shown is Coronado at night.

I'll post more about our retirement road trip to San Diego in a couple of days with photos....

HAPPY 4TH!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013

My Bankruptcy and Retirement Series Will Begin Tomorrow!


[caption id="attachment_591" align="alignleft" width="235"]My Bankruptcy and Retirement Series My Bankruptcy and Retirement Series[/caption]

I want to make a quick announcement about my bankruptcy and retirement series.  While it may cover information that you already have about the mechanics of bankruptcy, I'll also include some wisdom for you in regards to retirement living that may be helpful.

I actually wrote this series some time ago and thought it would fit well on this site.  It's important to know the pros and cons, but it's also important to make the right decision for you.  Some people might feel ashamed while others can feel a sense of relief.  It's important to understand your feelings about the subject before plunging into it to stop paying your bills.  You may be sorry in the future.

My bankruptcy and retirement series will discuss the importance of interviewing a few bankruptcy lawyers instead of signing up with the first one you visit.  It's also important not to be pressured into using a lawyer just because they were recommend.  I'll talk more on this subject in the series for finding a lawyer that is honest and who will give you help to rebuild or reinvent yourself if needed.

If money problems are taking away from the quality of your life, I hope I can offer you information that can help you make a quality decision about what to do and not do.  There are various types of bankruptcy, but there are also alternatives.   I know there's lots of bankruptcy information on the Internet, but I hope my bankruptcy and retirement Series will also give you unique information as well.

Go to my Bankruptcy and Retirement Series.
 

 

 
Monday, July 1, 2013
Living The Simple Retired Lifestyle and Loving It!

[caption id="attachment_545" align="alignleft" width="253"]Simple Retirement Lifes Simple Retirement Lifestyle[/caption]

The more I write about being retired, the more I realize how much I love this time of my life!  Once my birthday was over yesterday, I was very thankful to be alive and live the quality of life I desire.  To be remembered by my children and hear the sounds of my grandchildren's voices singing happy birthday to me is really the best part of my life, aside from my belief in God and thankfulness for my blessings.

We love living a simple retired lifestyle, but we've always lived a simple life.  Not being prepared as financially ready as we wanted to be by retiring early, wasn't devastating to us.  No matter how much money we've made, we've always lived according to a certain standard that was fulfilling for us. However other people may find living a simpler life than they're used to a negative reflection on their progression of lifestyle.

Also many people grow up living a specific lifestyle they feel comfortable with so they feel uncomfortable thinking about living below their standard of living.  They feel the need to  maintain the way they've lived for all or most of their lives in order to feel happy.  While this is understandable, I just wanted to write a few words about having to live a simple retired lifestyle after spending a lifetime of living without concern of money to maintain a desired lifestyle.

 

Simple Retired Lifestyle vs Higher Income Lifestyle


For those of you who face a lower standard of living and see it as losing the quality of your life, I'd like to help you see yourself as much greater than the worth of your lifestyle.  Rather than being bitter or angry, you can look at the potential of rebuilding your assets and enjoying it at the same time.  It's exciting to have new goals that you know from within you can accomplish--even if it's going to take some work and some time.

It's also helpful to examine how you've come to view your life and your lifestyle.  Maybe living a simple retired lifestyle is something you really want, but it doesn't fit with your family or friends lifestyle and how they see you.  However, your joy and happiness are worth more than the opinions of people who can only see you as they knew you before. You probably won't want to walk away from these people, but you can train them to understand who you are from the inside and help them feel comfortable with your life-changes.

Keep your joy, don't complain and share your new experiences with others in a manner of achievement and success rather than trying to keep up appearances.  If these people are really close to you, then they'll change along with you to accept your new life and help you rather than making you feel badly.  For those of you who are disappointed in your new life, don't let others make you feel like a failure because you're not!  Train them to encourage, uplift and offer you any help they may be able to give you to enjoy your simple retired lifestyle.

 

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