Visiting Little House - Big Sky Ranch

I learned in March that the outdoor scenes of Little House on the Prairie were taped in Simi Valley, and since the 50^th reunion festival was such a big hit, the chamber of commerce decided to host tours to the sets. This past June they had a tour booked for every weekend, but now I believe they offer tours one Saturday out of a month. 

 

Well, I know my friend from New Hampshire would have loved it if I went and I didn’t want to let her down, so I signed up for another trip – this time to see the outdoor sets.  

 

Personally speaking, I thought the $75.00 price tag was a bit hefty, but I really can’t complain.  This was a bus tour and you had to pay for the bus somehow. 

 

The name of the outdoor film location was called “Big Sky Ranch,” and it was the home to the Ingalls home and the town of Walnut Creek. It was about an hour from where the indoor scenes were filmed in Hollywood. The episode where Nellie gets pushed into the water was filmed on the Big Sky Ranch, and the Sweetheart tree is still growing on the ranch. 

Sweetheart Tree

 

Unfortunately, there was a fire in 2003 which destroyed most of the actual structures that were left on the ranch, but for the 50^th festival, they created some mock-ups and placed them on the ranch so you would get a flavor of where they stood on the set.

 

My tour was set for 1215. I really should have picked an earlier time, because it was kinda’ hot – in the 90’s when it was time to take off.  Dean Butler was on the tour before me, but he wasn’t on my tour. I did manage to get a picture of him, which was nice.  They had a kiosk that sold coffee, water, and snacks. I stopped by a local place to eat a bite for lunch. Our tour was late leaving because the previous tour was late getting back.   I think it took about 15 minutes to make it out to the Ranch.

 

When we got there, it was dusty. As I was sitting in the back of the bus, it was hard to hear the tour guide. The Ranch had several rolling hills.  

 

I think the easiest visual for me, was the opening scene, when the girls are running down the hill. The bus stopped in that area, and we were allowed to get off and take pics, but we couldn’t go past the roped off area because of critters and snakes. 

 

I got some nice pictures of the area, and it was nice to connect with like-minded people and fans of the show. It’s absolutely amazing how many people just loved the show and enjoyed the books. They were selling some souvenirs, but I didn’t pick up any at this time. 

 

Overall, if you’re a fan of the show, you’ll enjoy the getaway. I took some cool pics and got to see something I wouldn’t normally have. 

 

Extra links:

https://collider.com/little-house-on-the-prairie-filming-locations/

Walnut Grove, then and now 

*****

Check out this great summer read:

Re-released: Journey of the Heart - Can James help Rachel save her winery?

"The story is short enough to be enjoyed in one sitting whether you are at the beach or on your easy chair enjoying a glass of wine, making believe it is the Santori Chardonnay. In short, this is another happy, heart-warming tale of love from the experienced pen of Stephanie Burkhart." -- 5 Stars, Goodread Review, Joy Cagil 

Buy Journey of the Heart

Health Topic - Staying Cool in the Heat

It’s been a busy couple of weeks. I’ve been working long hours at work and picking up some overtime shifts.  I haven’t had a chance to work on some of my topics such as Alaska and self publishing, but I hope to work on them soon.  With the weather getting hot, I’d thought I’d tackle a health topic today – Keeping cool.

I personally stay cool by using my AC. Mind you, my electric bill is no joke so hench, I must work overtime to help pay for that bill. {e:smile} Sigh…. We all have our techniques – swamp coolers, fans, spending the day at the beach or the lake. Ah, but what are the benefits? Why stay cool? 

Wearing a hat to stay cool. 

 

I think when we get too hot, the heat illnesses are prone to occur. They range from heat cramps to heat exhaustion. Heat cramps occur when your muscles spasms after working out in the heat.  Some say it is caused by an electrolyte imbalance caused by the heat, others say the heat causes the muscles to lose their ability to contract.  Heat exhaustion’s symptoms include exhaustion, excessive sweating, cramps, headaches and nausea.

 

One of the big things you can do to help avoid heat cramps and exhaustion – drink water. You don’t want to get dehydrated. When you get dehydrated, you feel lighthearted, may faint, your urine turns bright yellow and get headaches.   I’ve been there a couple of times. It’s not fun. 

 

Ways to keep cool in the heat? 

 

#1 Drink water. Help your body out – you can spray yourself with water using a mist bottle or what I would do when hiking, I would get out a bandana, get it wet, and keep it wrapped around my neck. 

 

Drinking water is one of the biggest things you can do to help maintain your body temperature. 

 

#2 Wear cooler clothing like cottons and light colors.  

 

#3 take cooler showers with lukewarm water. 

 

#4 eat snacks instead of meals – salads, watermelons, and fruits. 

 

#5 stay in the shade as much as you can. 

#6 - wear a hat 

********

Did you know? Journey of the Heart had 3 different covers? Journey of the Heart has been re-released with its 2nd cover.  Find it on Amazon!

Can James help Rachel save her winery? 

"The story is short enough to be enjoyed in one sitting whether you are at the beach or on your easy chair enjoying a glass of wine, making believe it is the Santori Chardonnay. In short, this is another happy, heart-warming tale of love from the experienced pen of Stephanie Burkhart." - 5 Stars, Joy Cagil, Goodread Review.

Buy Journey of the Heart

 

 

Looking for Sarah Palin #4

Ketchikan!

Well, I wish I could have gotten to this entry earlier, but it’s been busy out my way, my apologies.  Next on the itinerary was Ketchikan. We arrived early, around 7 am, but didn’t have much time in the town. The ship was going to leave at 1 pm.  We had excursions to visit Totem Bight State Historical Park and see a Lumberjack show. 

 

Ketchikan is probably first “big” town in Alaska you’ll come to on the inside passage.  The inside passage is that arm of Alaska that reaches down into Canada on the coast. There’s a lot of islands and inlets. It’s considered the southernmost entrance of the inside passage. It’s also considered Alaska’s first city, as it’s the first one you’ll encounter as you come up from Puget Sound.  Ketchikan’s airport is on a separate island close to the coast, but once you land, you need to take a ferry to reach the city proper. 

 

On the day we visited, there was a light rain and mist. We rushed off the ship and found our line to visit Totem Bight State Park. It’s 33 acres and features vivid totem poles by the Tlingit and Haida Native American Indians. Not only that, there’s a Tlingit Clanhouse among the poles. Each totem pole told an amazing story (sadly, I don’t remember many) but what a rich culture. In the early 20^th Century, the area was abandoned by the native peoples, and in the 1930’s the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) was hired to restore the poles. They’ve done an amazing job. I would love to spend more time in this area. 

 

Here's a link for more info: https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/totembgh.htm

 

At the park this was this plant called a skunk plant. I remember it was a big plant with bit yellow blooms. I guess the native wildlife will eat it, but it’s a bit of laxative and it really loosens the bowels. We were cautioned not to eat it.

 

We must have been there around an hour and 15 mins. I would have enjoyed more time visiting the park, but we had to make the Lumberjack show. 

 

Who knew Lumberjacking was a thing? We went into Ketchikan proper and found the show. I learned there are colleges which offer courses in lumberjacking. Lumberjacks climb poles, spilt logs, throw axes, etc. It was a very excited show. The small seating area was spilt into 2 and our section was rooting for the Canadians who won. After that we rushed to boat and stopped at a tourist shop with just enough time to buy souvenir stickers! 

 

I fell in love with Ketchikan. It was so lush and green. Heck, it’s considered part of a National Forest! I wanted to bring an NHL Hockey team to Ketchikan. But I don’t know if that would be do-able.   Heck, I was looking on Zillow for summer homes in Ketchikan. 

 

I definitely wanted to spend more time in Ketchikan and learn more about the town and its history. I heard Ketchikan is called the salmon capital of the world, but I was so rushed, I didn’t have time to discover why. Maybe next time I’ll try the salmon. 

***

 

When Sarah Palin was running for governor, she supported a bridge be built between Ketchikan and Gavina Island, the home to the Ketchikan airport. As governor, she vetoed the legislation that would have provided it, citing fiscal responsibly. Sadly, this decision made the residents of Ketchikan a bit miffed, and boy do they hold a grudge. In 2022, the Republican party of Ketchikan voted to censor her to that decision she made back in 2007. 

 

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes by Sarah Palin:

 

“Buck up or stay in the truck.”

 

“America is looking for answers. She’s looking for a new direction; the world is looking for a light. That light can come from America’s great North Star; it can come from Alaska.”

 

“I love those Hockey moms. You know what they say is the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull is? Lipstick.” 

 

****

Re-released: Journey of the Heart - Can James help Rachel save her winery?

"The story is short enough to be enjoyed in one sitting whether you are at the beach or on your easy chair enjoying a glass of wine, making believe it is the Santori Chardonnay. In short, this is another happy, heart-warming tale of love from the experienced pen of Stephanie Burkhart." -- 5 Stars, Goodread Review, Joy Cagil 

Buy Journey of the Heart

Great Summer Read: Journey of the Heart 99 cent on Amazon Kindle

 

BLURB: 

James DiMera returns to his home in California after World War II, only to find out he's lost his farm. His way of life gone, James becomes a journeyman, selling Bibles, looking for a sense of purpose. But after the loss of his dream, what can there be for him?

Rachel Santori's family winery is in trouble. She's looking for someone to trust. When Rachel meets James, she can't deny how he touches her lonely heart and soul with his kindness and the way comes to her aid. How long has it been since she had someone to depend on? Can James find a place of belonging in Rachel’s life? Can love mend both their weary hearts?

EXCERPT: 

She approached the older man behind the counter, her stride resonating with purpose, her expression full of determination. 

"Good day, Mr. Smith."

"Miss Rachel. How are you today?" He folded his hands in front of him, offering her a smile. 

"I have a business proposal for you."

"Go ahead."

The elderly man remained at her side. 

James walked toward the counter, his sandwich and soda in hand. Something in his gut told him she needed help – really needed it. The sound of her voice? The way she avoided the man's question? The hint of desperation in her expressive eyes? He wasn't sure. 

"I'd like to sell you three cases of my best wine."

He raised a bushy eyebrow. "The 1928 Chardonnay?"

"Yes."

"Why, I shared a bottle with your father before he died. He was very proud of that vintage – wanted to save it for special occasions."

"The harvest is coming and I need to be able to pay my workers."

James slowly inched closer, listening intently.

"I can offer you five hundred dollars."

"Now, now, Mr. Smith." The elderly gentleman tapped his gnarled finger on the counter. "You know the wine is worth much more than that. Five hundred is not a fair price."

"Vito, I'm running a business."

"There's no need for you to take advantage of Miss Rachel because her parents aren't here." He paused for breath. "The wine will sell – at a good price, and you know it."

"All right – eight hundred dollars."

"Wait a minute, Sir." James interrupted and peered at Rachel's spellbinding eyes for a second before looking at Mr. Smith. "You've tasted this vintage before?"

"I have."

"So you know how much it's worth?"

"I do."

"You seem like a fair man, Mr. Smith. At least you were with me. I believe if you offer Miss Rachel one thousand dollars, you'll recoup your investment and more."

"Now, young man, what do you know about wine?"

"Not much, but I do know human nature. You respected her father and he you, enough to share an expensive bottle of wine. Honor that respect now. I suspect if Miss Rachel didn't have to make this offer to you, she wouldn't have. She knew you and her father had a good relationship. Honor that, like you honored my service." 

"You're good, Son, I'll give you that. I'll offer you nine hundred dollars for the wine." He paused. "I know I've been hard on you, Miss Rachel. You should consider hiring a younger man who can help you manage the estate."

REVIEW: 

5 Stars, Amazon, Joy Cagil

The story is short enough to be enjoyed in one sitting whether you are at the beach or on your easy chair enjoying a glass of wine, making believe it is the Santori Chardonnay. In short, this is another happy, heart-warming tale of love from the experienced pen of Stephanie Burkhart.

Buy Journey of the Heart - 99 cent Amazon Kindle

Heath Topic: Finding Progesterone and Estrogen after Menopause

Now this topic isn't for everyone. I thought I'd tackle a health topic today:  taking progesterone and estrogen after you've gone through menopause. 

 

Mind you, my journey through menopause was pretty easy. I stayed on the pill until I was 52. I didn’t really notice any of your typical menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings or night sweats. My OB/GYM took me off the pill at 52. My last period ever was 3 months later in April that year.  It’s really nice not having a period anymore. That said…

 

Things I’ve been struggling with: minor aches and pains, inflammation, and weight gain. Which I understand is fairly typical after you’ve gone through menopause.  The biology of it: my hormones are low.  

 

In my research so far, exercise is important. Even the little stuff. A walk helps your cardio vascular system.  Doing light weights will help your muscles keep tone and keep your blood moving.   

 

One struggle is with weight and inflammation.  For inflammation, I use bromelain and quercetin, organic, natural based anti-inflammatories. Bromelain is usually found in pineapples and quercetin in plants like onions, green tea, apples, and berries.  I do think they help. I can get pretty stiff if I’m inflamed and I can feel pretty bloated as well. 

 

What I’ve found that works really well is natural based progesterone and estrogen.  If you haven’t heard about it, it’s out there and it’s working wonders for me. 

 

Progesterone plays a vital role in regulating female hormones. Its main job is to regulate a woman’s menstruation and prepare the uterus for pregnancy. It’s produced by the corpus luteum (which is formed when an egg starts to ovulate)  It can help elevate post menopausal symptoms from aches and pains, to hot flashes.  When you’re post menopausal, you don’t produce a corpus luteum and so the hormone level becomes low. 

 

Here's a little more about progesterone: 

 

Estrogen’s main function is the support of the female reproductive system, but it has other functions such as keeping cardiovascular tissue healthy, fights inflammation, prevents brain fog, boosts your mood, protects muscle mass and brain density.  Estrogen is great. 

 

To help keep the body less achy and inflamed, I started taking natural occurring progesterone and estrogen and it’s made a big difference. You can buy these over the counter and you don’t need a prescription. 

 

Here’s my go-to progesterone:

NOW Progesterone 

and here’s my go-to estrogen:

JNS Estrogen

Mind you, I’m just sharing what works for me. I’m not a doctor. Do your own research and if you think these might work for you, give them a try. 

 

*******

Check out my 99 historical sweet summer romance story: Journey of the Heart. Can James help Rachel save her winery? 

Amazon Kindle; Journey of the Heart

5 Stars, Amazon Review, Joy Cagil:

The story is short enough to be enjoyed in one sitting whether you are at the beach or on your easy chair enjoying a glass of wine, making believe it is the Santori Chardonnay. In short, this is another happy, heart-warming tale of love from the experienced pen of Stephanie Burkhart.

California Dreaming

 Forgive.  I'm a bit late with my California post. Just recently we went to Pismo Beach to check out the Clam Festival.  It was the 75th Anniversary of the event.  As I'm from New England, I ALWAYS enjoy a good Clam Chowder. :) 

But first I'd like to share this verison of "California Dreaming" done by the School of Rock. The leader sing kinda reminds me of Mama Cass (Voice-Wise!!) as she gives a really heartfelt, honest vocal performance with power and grit. 

Pismo Beach is so low key. The weather was really nice when we went. There was a real chill vibe, and I loved how the focus was on the clams. 

There's nothing like the peace of the beach and the beautiful coastline to make one relax.

The Clam chowder tasting was on the pier. A lot of local restaurants particpated in the challenge.  I picked #10. For me, that was the most authentic to a New England style chowder. 

Even the Beach has fun with it's Pismo Beach sign! 

Pismo Beach is great for surfers.  Here are a couple trying to catch a few waves.

California may have it's ups and downs, but one of the most beautiful places in the state, IMHO,  is anywhere on the coast. 

*************

STORY PROMO: 

My ebook, Journey of the Heart, is set in the California Wine Country after World War II. It's available with the Kindle Unlimited program. 

BLURB:

James DiMera returns to his home in California after World War II, only to find out he's lost his farm. His way of life gone, James becomes a journeyman, selling Bibles, looking for a sense of purpose. But after the loss of his dream, what can there be for him?

Rachel Santori's family winery is in trouble. She's looking for someone to trust. When Rachel meets James, she can't deny how he touches her lonely heart and soul with his kindness and the way comes to her aid. How long has it been since she had someone to depend on? Can James find a place of belonging in Rachel’s life? Can love mend both their weary hearts?

BUY LINK:https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Heart-Stephanie-Burkhart-ebook/dp/B07S1VL7JZ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Stephanie+Burkhart&qid=1636253141&sr=8-3

Camping at Lake Tahoe, CA

During my vaction in June, the family went to Lake Tahoe.  We'd never been and I was very excited. We camped at DL Bliss State Park.  This park is on the CA side. There are several camp sites on the CA side.  There's another State Park, "Emerald Bay" and severl US Forest Service parks. DL Bliss was closer to the southern side of the lake.  

Here's a picture of our campsite. It was kind of "compact" but there were enough trees where we didn't need an EZ up.  

Also at our site, was a camp stove.  I'd never seen a camp stove like this.  Brent tried to use it but it didn't get hot off. 

I was really impressed with just how blue Lake Tahoe is.  The color was striking.  Our area was woody and green and smelled wonderful.  I was so impressed with the scenery I went ahead and ordered a CA Tahoe state license plate.

Here is a waterfall.  We were at elevation, between 6500 - 7000 feet. Several of the surrounding mountains still had snow on them and it was still melting.  The waterfalls in "emerald bay" were very active. 

Here's the entrance to the Vikingsholm State Park.  It's a steep mile decent to the Vikingshom estate.  It was commissioned in 1928 and built in 1929 by Mrs. Josephine Knight.  She and her husband came from Chicago. 

Here is a view of Vikingsholm.  Mrs. Knight architect traveled to Scandinavia and studied how buildings were made.  His travels inspired the "vikings" house that was built. Mrs. Knight and her husband were known as major backers for Charles Linbergh's solo flight in 1927.  Mrs. Knight used Vikingsholm as a summer home. 

Here my son, Joey, is collecting water from Lake Tahoe as a souvenior.  This is on the CA side.  Sadly, we never got a chance to visit the NV side for him to get his NV souvenior. 

Here's me and my buddy, Grumpy Cat, as we take a cruise on Lake Tahoe.  In the background are the snow covered mountains.  

Enjoy this 99 cent summer romance:  "Journey of the Heart." 

Blurb: Set in Sonoma, CA in 1946, can James help Rachel save her winery or will he drift out of her life the same way he drifted in?

12, 5 Star Reviews on Amazon

The story was compelling and not boring, which is often a stereotype of sweet romances. I would recommend this short sweetie of a story. Good job, author. - Angel E

Excerpt: 

"Your case threatened to run away, so I bribed it." Her sweet expression was an arrow through his heart. 

"Really? What did you bribe it with?" He wiped the sweat off his brow with a handkerchief, caused from a combination of the summer heat and lifting the heavy cases. 

"A job."

He hooked his thumb toward his chest. "Are you offering me a job, Miss Santori?"

BUY LINK: http://amzn.com/B008G1JI6C

First, I'd like to apologize for being on "hiatus" for a couple of months.  All I can say is that real life, work, and scouting got in the way.

Since February, I've been very busy doing scouting things.  Here's what I've been up to:  

Exploring Trains with my Cub Scouts

Marching in the 4th of July with my Cub Scouts

Backpacking with my Boy Scouts

Buying Strawberries at the Strawberry Festival


Unfortunately, I've had a tough time trying to keep up with my emails.  One BIG change that is coming up is that Victory Tales Press has closed shop any my 99 cent titles will revert back to me, so I'll be looking for a new publisher for them soon.  
I haven't had much time to write, either.  I have written a couple of "flash" fictions and poetry which you can find on my Writing.com account at:  http://www.writing.com/authors/sgcardin
Hopefully, I'll be able to start up writing soon, as I really miss it. 
The big thing about today is that it's NATIONAL FRENCH FRY DAY!!  I love fast food fries. Not many deals for French Fry day though, but if you download the McDonalds App, you can get free med fries on Friday through September.


So, I just gotta ask:  What Fast Food Chain has the best French Fries?  

PICK THIS UP:  Journey of the Heart.  This 99 cent summer read is here through August.  

BLURB:

James returns to his home in California after World War II only to find out he's lost his farm. His way of life gone, James becomes a journeyman, selling Bibles, looking for a sense of purpose.

Rachel Santori's winery is in trouble. She's looking for someone to trust. When Rachel meets James, she can't deny how he penetrates her soul with his long, lonely looks. 

Can James find a sense of belonging at Rachel's winery? Can love mend both their weary hearts?

BUY LINK:  AMAZON: http://a.co/ecUbsjf

Also available on Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords 

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