Successful Pheasant Hunters

Galen & Patti Busch came over on Saturday, October 24. Patti and I had a good visit while Galen went pheasant hunting with Sam, Brent, Brent's boys, and Matt (their German exchange student). Here is the result:

Successful hunters:
Galen, Sam, Seth, Weston, Matt, Sam, and Brent


Weston with his first pheasant.


Brent showing the longest tail feather
measuring almost 23 inches.

My Visit to California, Part 2

Saturday, October 17, Blake took Louise and me to see the Nethercutt Collection and Museum. The collections were acquired by J. B. Nethercutt and his wife during their lifetime, and the museum is open to the public free of charge.

The two-hour tour of the Nethercutt Collection in the four-story exhibit building requires a reservation, and you must be over 12 years old. Children can visit the Nethercutt Museum in the second exhibit building without a reservation and still see an impressive collection of antique cars.

In addition to the antique cars, the collection includes early mechanical musical instruments, musical pocket watches, antique furniture, and much more.

Nethercutt Collection and Museum

Nethercutt is the founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics. Next door to the museum is a small retail outlet for the cosmetics and the factory for the plastic containers. The cosmetics are made in another location.

The Grand Salon, which elegantly
represents the display rooms of the
1910's, 20's and 30's with marble columns,
chandeliers, and painted ceilings.

According to their website, the Nethercutt Museum "showcases more than 130 of the world's greatest antique, vintage, classic and special interest automobiles including many top winners of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance." In fact, there are over 250 American and European automobiles dating from 1898 to 1997, and 30 are rotated on a regular basis in the Grand Salon.

Each automobile is serviced and maintained to be as drivable as when the "vehicle originally rolled off the showroom floor."

I chose to have my picture taken by a
1938 Cadillac shown in the second building.


This sign is for the car pictured above,
which cost $6,000 in 1938.


1937 Talbot-Lago Type 150-C-SS/Sport Coupe
One of only 14 in the world,
it has an appraised value at $2.3 million.

Louise & Blake by a 1930 Ford


Sign for the car shown above that
cost $530 when new.


Part of the collection on the third floor.
The glass cases at the back feature the
Mascot Collection of more than
1,100 hood ornaments.


Lalique hood ornaments in the
Mascot Collection.


With the stairs to the fourth floor seen in the
background, this photo shows a large
sculpture that had been dismantled and
stored and was about to become scrap metal
before it was saved and restored
by the Nethercutts.

Featured on the fourth floor is a collection of musical instruments, reported to be one of the world's finest.

A European Orchestrion
These were used in lieu of a live orchestra,
and the collection included several of these
displayed and in working order.
They were much larger than a player piano
and sounded like an orchestra with
various instruments playing.


Collection of musical watches


The tour ended with a mini-concert on this
Wurlitzer Pipe Organ that had been played
earlier and replayed as though we
were hearing the original music.
The organ was used for background music
and sounds accompanying silent movies, and
our guide demonstrated its various sounds.


This shows the pipes for the organ
shown above. There was a second set on
the other side of the room. Both the organ
and pipes were decorated for the
approaching Halloween.


1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson Locomotive,
which is part of the Nethercutt Museum.
It had a speed of 90 mph.


Narene ringing the bell of the locomotive.


The dining area of the
1912 Pullman private car, #100 "California."
Our tour included walking through the
locomotive and private car with its bedrooms,
bathroom, kitchen, and dining room.


1913 Oliver Typewriter in the
Pullman car.


Also touring the Nethercutt Collection and
Museum were a group of Ferrari owners.
Louise and I had our picture taken by one
in the parking lot. We selected a red Ferrari.

We went to church on Sunday with Blake & Niki's family, and then Louise and I returned to Shafter after lunch (which included a delicious apple pie made with the apples Niki and a friend had canned).

Blake & Niki's home in Valencia

Louise and I had such a good visit and the week went by fast. The next photos are some taken on a drive we took around Shafter and Wasco.

Louise's house in Shafter
This photo was taken right after they had
planted the winter lawn.
If I had taken this picture a little earlier,
the grass would still have been green.


Roses in Louise's rose garden.


A field of roses near Shafter.


Cotton growing at the experimental station
where Gus worked while he was alive.


The office where Gus worked as an
agronomist working with cotton research.


Monument commemorating the site of the
world's first man-powered flight referred to
as the "Gossamer Condor Flight."

One thing I haven't mentioned yet is the day Louise and I went to Bakersfield for a nice luncheon and had an enjoyable time looking through some gift shops.

Dewar's Candy, Ice Cream, and Soda Fountain
in Bakersfield is celebrating their
100th year in business. I bought a box of
"Chews" to take to Blake & Niki's family
and a sack to bring home with me.
(Narene & Louise)

I returned home on Tuesday, October 20, with many happy memories.

Visiting Louise in California

I returned Tuesday, October 20, from an enjoyable visit with my sister, Louise, in California. My flight both to and from Bakersfield went as scheduled, although I had been concerned that I might not have enough time in San Francisco to make the connecting flight to Denver. As it turned out, I had just enough time to get in line to board with 11 minutes to spare.

Louise & Narene at the door of
Blake & Niki's house.

On Thursday, Louise and I drove to Valencia to visit Blake & Niki and Louise's twin granddaughters.

Louise, Niki & Blake and Holly and Ashley

Blake took Louise and me to Los Angeles on Friday where we went on a tour to see celebrity homes, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and other sights. Then on Saturday, he took us to Sylmar to visit the Nethercutt Collection and Museum. From the numerous pictures I took while on these tours, I will share some selected ones below along with some explanations.

Louise & Blake waiting for the
Star Line Celebrity Tour to begin.

Many of the celebrity homes were mostly hidden from view by landscaping and gates as we drove by in our open-air tour van, but we got glimpses of enough to enjoy the tour. I found it interesting that the homes owned by stars from an earlier generation were more likely to be visible from the road.

"The Manor" in the Holmby Hills neighborhood
is the home of Aaron Spelling, the television
producer known for such shows as "Dynasty,"
"Charlie's Angels," "The Love Boat," "Beverly
Hills 90210," and "Charmed."

This is an aerial view from the Internet of
Spelling's 123-room home. He died in 2006.
It is listed in 2009 for sale by his wife at
$150 million, making it the most expensive
house in America.

Our guide told us Lori Spelling, Aaron's daughter, has taken her mother to court to try to get the will contested; because the father's will left the estate to the mother and only $100,000 to Lori. At 56,500 square feet on more than 4.6 acres, it is the largest home in Los Angeles County. It includes a screening room, bowling alley, four two-car garages, tennis court, and pool. There are 16 carports and a parking lot for 100 cars. There is an intermediate floor for closets between the second floor and the attic.

Behind this gate is the Playboy Mansion of
Hugh Hefner. The market value is
reportedly $50 million. The 21,987 sq. ft.
house sits on 5.3 acres.

Behind this gate is the home where
Michael Jackson died. The guide said there
were flowers and tributes placed here and
all along the fence following his death.


Here is an example of the privacy
achieved with hedges and foliage.
(I don't recall whose home this is.)

Home of Lucille Ball (deceased)

Home of Peter Faulk


Home of Jack Benny (deceased)


This yard was decorated for Halloween.


Some of the areas were zoned to have a
certain kind of tree lining their streets.
I found these trees interesting.


Beverly Hills and Sunset Strip signs


The famous Rodeo Drive in Hollywood


Blake posing with our guide.
Since it was a relatively clear day for the
Los Angeles area, we were able to enjoy
the view from Mulholland Drive overlooking
the city and off toward the ocean on the right.


View of Hollywood and Los Angeles
from Mulholland Drive.

The iconic Hollywood sign as seen
from Mulholland drive.


The Hollywood Bowl

Our guide pointed out other landmarks of celebrity interest as we continued our tour.

"House of Blues" on the Sunset Strip


Also on the Sunset Strip is
"The Comedy Store."
Johnny Carson was one of the first comics
to perform here. Other alumni include
Tim Allen, Jim Carrey, Chevy Chase,
Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno,
David Letterman, Eddie Murphy,
Jerry Seinfeld, and Robin Williams.


"Carney's Express Limited" is recommended
for their hot dogs and hamburgers.
Located on the Sunset Strip.


Hollywood "Magic Castle"
This is a private club for magicians and those
promoting the art of magic. To enter,
you must be a member or have a guest card
from a member. Louise and Blake have been
guests on another occasion.


"Grauman's Chinese Theatre,"
which is the preferred location for the
movie industry's most prestigious premieres.


In front of the "Grauman's Chinese Theatre"
is where tourists come to see the
footprints and handprints of the stars
and other entertainment celebrities.
Narene & Louise are standing by
the prints of Julie Andrews.


Shirley Temple, the child star, was
barefoot when she made her print in 1935.
Often earlier stars wore high heels that
seemed to make their feet appear very petite.
The first prints were made in 1927.


"Footprints" for Star Wars characters.


The "Hollywood Walk of Fame" on
Hollywood Boulevard has bronze star plaques
for celebrities in the entertainment industry.
This is Celine Dion's star,

who is one of my favorite singers.


Along the walk in front of the
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
are costumed characters such as
Darth Vader (pictured above).
They are there hoping tourists will pay
to have their picture taken with them,
which Blake did; however, I took the
picture with Blake's camera and not mine.

Below each celebrity's name on the stars is one of five emblems signifying the celebrity's category: a movie projector for movie stars and directors; a television set for those in the television industry; a phonograph record for singers, songwriters, and recording artists; a radio microphone for radio personalities; and the twin theatrical masks of comedy and tragedy for live stage performers.

Although there is a star for Lassie, Kermit the Frog, and Darth Vader of Star Wars, some famous celebrities have not been awarded a star yet (such as Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, or Jane Fonda).

A view of the Hollywood sign in the distance.
This photo is taken near the location of the
Hollywood and Highland Center with
retail stores, restaurants, nightclubs, a
six-screen cinema and the famous
Kodak Theatre.


Kodak Theatre
where the Academy Awards ceremony
has been held since 2001.
(Narene & Louise)


Stairs leading to the main entrance of the
Kodak Theatre. On each side of the stairs
are glass plaques with the names of
the Best Picture Oscar winners.


This is where we had lunch
at The French Crepe near the
Kodak Theatre.
(Blake & Louise)


The Roosevelt Hotel hosted the first
Academy Awards in 1929. Famous
celebrities have stayed here, including
Marilyn Monroe. There is a
"Marilyn Monroe Suite."


The "El Capitan Theatre" is an exclusive
theater to premier Walt Disney movies.
It hosts live stage shows, world premiers,
and other special events.


In this photo, Ashley and Holly
are enjoying the fountain and flowers
while we are waiting for seating at the
Angus Steakhouse where we ate with

Blake & Niki and their girls.

Pictures about our visit the following day to the Nethercutt Museum will be in the next blog posting.