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Slim Paley Photo
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Slim Paley photo
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Slim Paley photo
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Slim Paley photo
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Slim Paley Photo
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Slim Paley Photo
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AZU
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It’s that Day already! My favourite place to go right now, and every year at this time, is Ojai, CA. to experience all the orange groves in full bloom. The drive through the mountains from Santa Barbara is spectacular, especially with all the rain we’ve had. The wild flowers are blooming and the lake is high and oh so blue. It’s best to go late afternoon on a warm day when the scent is heady and lush and the light is divine. Last week I drove through the fields and stopped several times to take photos and just immerse myself in the smell-it’s so intense it almost makes you giddy. If you live anywhere close and haven’t been this year, please don’t miss it! Stop at Azu for delicious food, a nice wine selection, and great home-made gelato (“Wine-Down Mondays” includes 30% off your wine selection 
) Or if you’re in the mood for a fabulous (and I do mean fahbulous) burger, go to the pub at The Ojai Valley Inn, where you can also catch whatever sports game is happening.
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photo from WhiteFlowerFarm
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- As you already know, lilacs are one of my favourites but a Syringa that reblooms?! “Bloomerang” is a new type of lilac that begins to bloom in May and supposedly continues until the frost hits. It’s a beautiful purple-y pink colour and the shrubs reach 4-5 ft. tall. Better Homes & Gardens Garden editor chose it as a favourite pick for 2010. Good enough for me. It says zones 4-7 but even though I’m in zone 9 I’m going for it! I choose to live in the Fast Lane.
“Bloomerang“ can be ordered from Readershopping.com ($19.95 for one $55.95 for 3)
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Slim Paley photo……………The Point, Adirondacks
I’m loving this App for iphones called “Shakeitphoto“ You can take any pic from your iphoto library and turn it into an old Polaroid! It even makes the sound of an old Polaroid camera and develops right before your eyes…just like the Olden Days, only a lot faster. Once the photos are “developed” they drop right back into your library. Very cool!
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Slim Paley photo
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Slim Paley Photo…………Greece
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Slim Paley photo
All photos taken with my camera and then “shaken up” on the “Shake It Photo” App. (.99 cents- btw- is there a “cents” key on Macs?!)
These roses were from the farmer’s market earlier this Spring (I couldn’t wait for mine) They were a little too perfect so I took a boring glass vase and wrapped it in a scarf to make the arrangement a little more fun.
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Slim Paley photo
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This adorable set of six solid perfumes by Fragonard is absolutely ideal for travel, the smallest evening bag or even just your pocket. They come in tiny plastic pots, less than 1/2″ high and just over an inch in diameter. Available at “Upstairs at Pierre LaFond” in Montecito (website lists other Fragonard locations) Mother’s Day anyone?
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Lastly, thank you everyone for all your great comments on the “Denim” post- What a fun trip down “Denimory Lane”!
Happy Friday to you all!
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By the road on the way to Ojai
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Always a joy to get the Friday Favourites. The stuff of life indeed. COLOURS!
Great blogs as usual Slim. I can smell the oranges here in dreary Dublin. We all need sunshine and flowers in our lives. Love the new Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs styles in your great Denim post. The Baby Gap are sooooo adorable – I could run away with the two babies. Keep doing what you do best Slim. Happy Friday. Bank Holiday here in Ireland this weekend.
The director Frank Capra chose Ojai, which is Spanish for ‘Valley of the Moon, as the location setting for Shangri-La in his classic movie ‘Lost Horizon’. That is how beautiful Ojai is. It is an
unspoiled jewel, and the Spring is the perfect time to visit.
Thanks, Slim, for another terrific blog.
Wonderful pics as always!! You’re a lucky “girl” living where you live…Seeing your photos I’m sure that if someday I went to Santa Barbara I would do it on spring..
Your blog cheers up my mornings, thank you!
Regards from Spain ♥
P:Love the App “Shakeitphoto”!!
Thanks for the polaroid idea, so miss them. Shake it , shake it!
How did I ever miss the summer long blooming Lilac in the White Flower Farm Catalogue?
Thank you, thank you for mentioning it. I stopped mid-blog to order my 3 and they are on their way.
You always start my day with a smile!
Your photos make me miss California so much….
Hi Slim,
Love Ojai and oranges. Myhouse is in the middle of a 40 acre orange grove. No need for scented candles this time of year.
Want one or two of those lilacs. Thanks for the heads up on that.
Love that roadside sign.
Happy Weekend to You.
~janet
How divine! Please tell me it never gets old… to me it’s one of the most intoxicating scents ever.
Happy Weekend to you too!
As soon as I saw the first picture, I could smell the orange blossoms….you know, I’ve always said we’d never move back to Cali, but your posts just make it so tempting….absolutely gorgeous photos! Thanks for sharing your favorites – and love the wine shop name!
Have a glorious weekend!
Great post! Love the Bloomerang lilac… might give that a try, as my zone 6 garden produces massive lilacs already, but they disappear all too quickly. Slim, did you have the comfort level to use a scarf you love to wear to wrap that vase (love the look!), or was it a third string bench-warmer?
Thanks LK. Actually I did have the comfort level- I was very careful ( no bleach in the water of course) I love that scarf but decided I wasn’t using my silk scarves enough and thought that would be another fun way to appreciate them.
PS. – Third string bench-warmer- is that a woven hemp seat cushion??
I love, love, love the scarf-wrapped vase! And I’m downloading that app as we speak. xox
Slim,
Always so inspiring! Azu’s Blood Orange Gelato is to die for as well as the Lavender and Mint combo. My wonderful husband took me there for my first Mother’s Day last year(4 months pregers). I have been dropping some not so subtle hints for a return visit this year! I am getting sooo excited ! I can almost smell the intoxicating Orange Blossoms now! Thanks Slim!! XXOO
MMMMMmmmm the orange groves look amazing!! And the shake it??? I can’t wait to shake up all my photos!! Happy Friday!!
Slim!
I love your blog it is always a pleasant part of my day!! I am planning on going to BOA tomorrow for my 25th Anniversary. Would you go to the Santa Monica or North Hollywood location?
Thank you so much and have a wonderful week end.
Kind regards,
Susan
Fantastic Susan! Congratulations on hitting the 1/4 century Anniversary !!
Plus, if you live close enough to Hollywood to go to BOA I think you get to multiply the years of your successful marriage by dog years
I have only been to BOA on Sunset by Doheny so I cannot speak for the Santa Monica location.
I have a friend who went there though and said beware of the sommelier’s wine by the glass rec.- or at least don’t be afraid to ask the price.
Hope you have a wonderful time and I do rec. the Wagu!
HUGE fan of Friday Favourites…. Love allllll the gorgeous pics! Always look forward to your photos…and getting that Shake it up App!
One of your most tantalizing posts in some time!
Have not been to The Point in probably 20 years, thanks for that reminder.
Yes, I too could “smell” the orange blossoms, my tubbed orange trees here in northern Calif, with all the rain and cold weather, have not bloomed. Thanks for the preview!
Wonderful photos & the scarf idea is briliant!
Ojai is pure magic! I ride a motorcycle and this time of year the ride to Ojai is one of my favorites!
Maureen
Slim-
Another lovely post and thanks for the heads up on the ‘Bloomerang’.
Living in Maryland, I can only dream of the heady fragrance of the drive to Ojai. Any perfume recommendations to approximate the experience ?
Have a great weekend. I will be co-opting your fab scarf idea very soon.
Slim, your readers might like Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom perfume. It beautifully captures the scent of the blossoms you describe. I almost had sense memory reading this post when I saw the first photo.
LOVE the “attitude adjustment” store!!! hahah! As usual, your photos amaze me!!!
There is something so perfectly divine about the picture of the roadside sign, it made me cry.
A beautiful collection to begin the weekend!
It always amazes me that you have a delicious looking orange ready to be picked, and right next to it a beautiful cluster of orange blossons. So different from our many fruit trees here in B C. Blossoms, fruit, that’s it, same time next year. We love our visits to California. One of the first things we would do when the kids travelled with us was go to the orange groves and pick oranges, so delicious. Wonderful pictures. The orange and blossoms pic are up on our screen saver, almost looks like 3D. Have agreat weekend.
B J
Better late than never. Loved all your photos as usual. What a fabulous thought the scarf showing off the stunning flowers. Who would have thought of that? It kind of looks like Hermes- yikes you are brave. Love Ojai-another little slice of heaven. Stunning weekend here again in S.B. We are so blessed,
Thanks again for a beautiful post.. Until next time , have a wonderful weekend Slim. ox
There is not a better bike ride, in my opinion, than the one from Ventura to Ojai. It is an old rail track made into a bike path by the rails to trails folks. The ocean breeze is behind you as you ride up to Ojai and in your face as you ride down. A stop a Suzanne’s for lunch in the interior garden makes it a perfect day. I think that Pilates instructor of yours would approve.
This sounds great Wendy! I often think about buying a bike…but I’m afraid of Helmet Hair and I don’t like pedaling uphill,
however a friend has read your comment and it looks like I’m in for a well earned lunch at Suzanne’s sometime in the near future.
Thanks for this…I think…
PS. This could reduce my infamous pilates teacher to tears!