Tag Archives: Ojai

Yet Another Ojai Treasure

Posted on by

78

.

All photos by Slim Paley

.

.

Speaking of Summer Reading…(well,weren’t we??!)

(Look, it’s almost Summer. Lengthy segues are for Fall)

.

As I mentioned last week, I decided  to reread “Dandelion Wine” by Ray Bradbury so we stopped in to one of the true treasures of Ojai;

“Bart’s Books”

to see if they had a copy.

.

.

Just one block off the main street of Ojai, Bart’s is a sincerely NOVEL experience (:))

.

.

Passing through the  narrow entrance  one discovers  a  preposterous proposal-

a bookshop open almost entirely to the elements 24/7!

What of the rain? you may well ask, as I did.

Well, firstly, it hardly ever rains in Ojai, but when it does the overhang apparently provides just enough coverage to keep inventory dry.

Being on the inland side of the mountain range that separates Ojai from Ventura and Santa Barbara, the climate is much warmer (OK, it’s HOT) and therefore the books don’t suffer from damp in the way they would oceanside.

.

.

.

 How many bookshops do you frequent where enormous grapefruits come rolling off the roof  to land at your feet?? ( top right corner)

..

.

,

Or you’re offered a perch in your own little interrogation booth to peruse  ’True Crime’ tombs?

.

.

.

.

.

A ginormous cat named “PYGMIE” presides, serving up more attitude than a French flight attendant.

This was the look she gave me when I asked how often they turn over the choices on their “Most Requested” shelf.

.

.

.

Grab a stick of hard candy or a Nespresso and stay for hours- as we did!

.

.

Cookery books are to be found, where else? in the kitchen of course.

.

Bart’s, not surprisingly,  had experienced a run on their Bradbury inventory over the last 48 hours so there were no more “Dandelion Wine”s

however we found many other fun treasures

including a copy (in one of their few glass book cases) of Charles Baker Jr.’s “The Gentleman’s Companion: Volume I & II” for a reasonable $100

.

Slim Paley photo

Featured in one of my past posts, The Gentleman’s Companion is THE ultimate book concerning the art of concocting cocktails.

.

.

.

as well as this fab Douglas Fairbanks biography with a most irresistible cover.

Eat your heart out Johnny Depp.

.

.

Lastly, not to be a rabble-rouser, but

know what I won’t be reading this summer?

“50 Shades of Grey”

There.

I said it.

I feel like Meryl Streep in “Silkwood”

~

.

.

PS.

After all your hard work and heavy lifting at Bart’s, why not saunter up the road to the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa and treat yourself to one of these;

(Vegetarians look away)

.

I cannot deny I was dreaming of this burger the entire drive over.

Great Burgers & Books.

Life is Good!

~

.

Off to a Good Start…

Posted on by

74

.

Slim Paley photo

.

.

As we near the end of this first week of 2012, I’m sharing just a few photos I snapped in Santa Barbara where we’ve been blessed with some of the most incredible January weather I can recall  in many years.

Almost guilt-ifying (but not quite )

I popped over the mountains to beautiful Ojai on Wednesday afternoon and on the drive home felt compelled to pull over to the side of the road and capture the moment.

 I’m afraid I missed the best of the light, due to the driver behind me who was obviously neither a proponent of the “Slow Movement” or a person who appreciates spectacular natural lighting but I guess that’s life in the fast lane (see what I did there?)

.

.

Slim Paley photo

In addition to the spectacular vistas encountered on the pass between Santa Barbara and Ojai,  the copious amount of avocados rolling around on the road at this time of year is almost comical.

 I was mashing guacamole the entire way :)

.

.

Slim Paley Photo

and lo & behold the ”Golden Arches” (Montecito Style) are out

..

Meanwhile, the last batch of Trader Joe’s frozen chocolate croissants were devoured…

.

Slim Paley photo

(Sorry, but these just never get old for me. I mean look-they’re jockeying for position off the baking tray for goodness sake!)

This is the closest I will ever come to baking like Martha Stewart.

.

.

source unknown

I grabbed nice long hugs before I sent my cubs back to school

.

.

Slim Paley Photo

…I did not win the first Scrabble game of the year, despite a last minute “Qi” on a triple point letter square, but did manage to keep several New Year’s “Intentions” in tact, including pulling out my art supplies and reading a non-fiction book ( resolution #4; learn something new everyday and write it down).

.

Although I didn’t get a yoga practice in, I intend to this weekend.

..

from the book “Bitter with Baggage”

.

.

Lastly, the second season of “Downton Abbey” starts on Sunday night- I can hardly wait!

.

.

.

Slim Paley photo

and this was the view from my desk most nights this first week in January.

.

The world is indeed a wondrous place to live.

Slow down, look around and pick up the free avocados

.

.

Thanks again for all your lovely comments on my New Year’s Post, I truly appreciate each and every one.

.

Happy Weekend All!

~

Sit Up Straight and Wear Your Fruit!

Posted on by

52

.

.

Slim Paley Photo

In Honour of Mother’s Day;

SIT UP STRAIGHT AND WEAR YOUR FRUIT!

You ‘d have to be a Fashion Magazine Teetotaler not to have clocked the abundance of fruity delights proffered up by designers for Spring/Summer 2011…in which case, you probably wouldn’t be a Slim Paley reader, now would you?!  But just in case  (and because I hate to leave anyone out-this is a 100% all inclusive blog, except for certain Housewives on Bravo (and their husband) everyone is welcome here- even Jazz Lovers!)   er, wait…what was I saying?? Oh ya, trust me, it’s a veritable cornucopia of fruity frivolities out there!  Personally, I’m really liking it. It’s fun and it makes me smile, although I don’t generally invest in prints that date themselves so quickly, one or two pieces might be just what the Nutritionist ordered.  

Stella McCartney wins for growing the prettiest, most photographed crop, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing the trickle down into less expensive shops before you can say “Darling, There’s a seed in my Mimosa”

A funny little blast from the past to accompany you…

Hey- you think it’s easy to find songs about fruit?!  Save it for your next karaoke party!

Eat Up :)
.

Charlotte Olympia

.

.

Photo Miguel Riveriego

.

..

Stella McCartney

Dal Lago fruit jewels in diamonds & enamel

.

.

.

.

.Me, HERE, NOW

.

.

Kiwi & Strawberry fruit Mojito

  • Kiwi – 1 pcs
  • Strawberry – 5 pcs
  • Brown Sugar – 3 spoon
  • White Rum – 45 ml
  • Dark Rum – 30 ml

Gently muddle 1 kiwi and 5 fresh Strawberry along with 60 grams of Brown sugar, once sugar starts melting add crushed ice and 45ml of Bacardi white rum.  Thoroughly mix all the ingredient with the flat end of a spoon. Once all ingredients are mixed top the glass with crushed ice.  Sprinkle 30 ml of Bacardi black rum. Garnish with slice of watermelon and passion fruit.

Recipe provided by Horizon Pool Bar at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina.


.

Carmen Miranda- an original fruit as fashion Femme Fatale

.

.

Slim Paley Photo.

‘Hat on Porch’

Channeling Carmen…

I know what you’re saying; 

“Slim, you didn’t actually wear that hat, did you??”

.

:)

.

.

Prada Summer 2011

.

.

Kate Spade Pineapple purse

.

.

Rochas summer 2011

.

.

.

Prada skirt

Tarina Tarantino earrings.

.

.

.

Carmen Miranda


.

.

Slim Paley Photo

Oranges & blossoms from the groves in Ojai, California

If Ojai met the Italian Riviera, fell in love and got married, this scent would be the fruit of their union

It’s gorgeous!..


Stella McCartney via Australian Vogue

.

.

Or, you can insert me right here too!

.

.

.

Slim Paley Photo.

Fruit & Avocado stand on the road to Ojai

.

Citrus Hues in The Home…

..

.

.

.

Photo snapped from Better Homes & Gardens

.

.

Giorgetti Arabella chairs

.

.

..

.

My kitchen in the summer

.

.

.Slim Paley photo

Close up of Stella McCartney print for summer 2011

.

.

Stella McCartney

Chopard

..

.

I love a pretty tangerine tone for toes in the summer, don’t you?

.

.

Kate Spade

.

.


Original video footage of Josephine Baker’s Banana Dance 

.

Slim Paley photo

.

Wishing All Mothers a Wonderful Day tomorrow

You Deserve It!!

xx

.

.

Add to FacebookAdd to DiggAdd to Del.icio.usAdd to StumbleuponAdd to Twitter

The Week That Was

Posted on by

31



Slim Paley photo

Early morning in my library, just before Sunday yoga

.

Well, that was a crazy week.

It began with wild storms and loads of rain.  Tuesday I took a field trip to Sun Valley CA. to look at stone slabs for counter tops (very different from Sun Valley, Idaho, I might add) During the drive there and back I passed through every possible weather permutation save snow I think.  I felt like the mannequin in the shop window in “H.G. Well’s The Time Machine”

.

Marble slab warehouse

.

Apparently an interesting customer had been in shopping the week before…

 

.

.

As a child, one of my favourite movie scenes was when the mannequin in the shop window of “The Time Machine” conveyed the accelerated passage of time by racing through all the different periods of fashion.

.

and I always thought Rod Taylor was so handsome and his house so cozy. I could never understand why he was a bachelor :(

But I digress…(I know you’re shocked)

.

Wednesday, well, I don’t even want to go into that day, and yesterday a friend and I attended an all day “Yoga Immersion” in Ojai.  The class was from 9:00 to 4:00 (with a break for lunch. Tofu, of course!)

.

Slim Paley photo of Ojai

.

Down Dog Kitty

 

Here are a few things I learned in the class :

-I’ve confirmed I’m not comfortable with “Free Style” yoga- not even with super loud music- not even in my own bedroom, much less a room filled with 75 people I don’t know.  If you told me the survival of the entire manifest of The Titanic was at stake I could not dance around with the reckless abandon of a couple of yesterday’s classmates. Oye.  OK, maybe once, in my early twenties, after a couple of Singapore Slings the night after seeing “Flashdance”  did I dance like that.  No, come to think of it, still not quite that animated. And I’m sure I had a bra on.

-Never look at your good friend when you’re trying not to laugh.

-If your personal repetoire of unguided yoga poses runs the gamut of A to B, Freedom Style yoga might not be your bag, Man.

-Always find out beforehand if a class is geared towards students or teachers. That would be really helpful.

-Might also be a good idea to inquire ahead of time what style of yoga is being taught.

-My no-ride, no wriggle, no-show Gap boy shorts are still The Bomb.

- Some people like to ask questions just to hear the sound of their own voice. They should get over themselves.

-The next time I smell big bunches of yoga sage branches it might be too soon.

- Mat to Mat, head to toe exercise with 75 other people in one room for an entire day is not my idea of a dream date.

-I love my feet.

-and I’m glad I had a pedicure,

aaaaand

We’ll leave it there.

Namaste and all that though.

.

The Best Part of Sunday morning yoga!

.

.

 

Comfort food is definitely in order these days

 

 

Slim Paley iPhone photo

.

WILD MUSHROOM CROSTINI

3 TBL butter

12 ounces assorted wild mushrooms (shtake, oyster, black trumpet and crimini)

1 1/2 tsp. fresh thyme

 

THYME VINAIGRETTE

1/4 cup red wine

3 TBL. fresh thyme leaves

2 TBL mayonnaise

1 small shallot chopped

1/2 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing thick slices of rustic bread

 

Saute butter, mushrooms and fresh thyme in frying pan until cooked.

Whisk together ingredients of vinaigrette and drizzle over mushrooms spread on toasted bread brushed with olive oil

Season with rock salt, fresh black pepper and Truffle oil!

Serve with salad and nice hearty glass of red wine

Enjoy!

.

~

.

Slim Paley photo

Aaahhhhh…. bubbles & pictures of Birkenstock Busters

Happiness!

.

.av

Have a supple weekend :)

.


.

Oh, and PS.  If you were in the class… I wasn’t talking about you!

(Yoga cats via flickr)

Friday Favourites (8)

Posted on by

30

.

.

Slim Paley Photo

.

.

Slim Paley photo

.

.

Slim Paley photo

.

.

Slim Paley photo

.

.

Slim Paley Photo


.

Slim Paley Photo

.



AZU

.

.

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.

.

.

.

photo from WhiteFlowerFarm

.

- 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)

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

Slim Paley photo

.

.

Slim Paley Photo…………Greece

.

.


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.

.

.

.

Slim Paley photo

.

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?



.

.

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!

.

By the road on the way to Ojai

.

.