Sainte Genevieve MO...a little road trip to the past

The best preserved French Colonial settlement in the USA

Beauvais Linden House, home of Bulduc Museum

I grew up near Sainte Genevieve and knew of its history as the first and oldest settlement on the west banks of the Mississippi.  I knew that it was first settled in a slightly different location in 1735 and that won us the round at a local trivia bowl, but I digress.  "Ste Gen" as us locals referred to it was renowned in the area for it history, hospitality (never was a dry county as where I lived was), and of course floods.  Floods in the 1785 is what lead to the relocation to the current site.  

First stop on my tour was the Beauvais Linden house ca 1820 with and addition on the right that mirrored the original house added in the 1850s,  This is a traditional "shotgun" style house with a central hallway that seperated the family quarters from the public or social and entertaining portions of the house.  It now serves as the museum to the Bolduc house across the street.  Trivia:  The boxwood hedges on this property that you can walk in and under are over 200 years old.

Louis Bolduc House ca 1793

After touring museum we bought the tour ($8) for the Louis Bolduc house.  This home was built by Mr Bolduc when he arrived in Ste Genevieve after the fall of Canadian territory to British control.  This home was built in the traditional vertical beams style of France with a mixture of mud, animal hair and straw packed between the beams to serve as insulation and seal the cracks.  Unique to the house is the "Haitian Porch" or wide porch that wrapped around the home protecting the interior walls from the summer sun and aide in keeping the home cooler in the scorching humid Missouri summers.

The Bolduc house was also built in the shot gun style with a central hallway.  This central hall served as Mr Bolduc business office where he traded and sold goods with the other settlers.  From this central hall he could access an attic or cellar that was used for storage.  

The left side of the house was a large social room used to entertain potential business partners and travelers that he did business with.

Bolduc family living quarters

To the right of the main hall way was the Bolduc family living quarters.  It was tight with as many as 3 generations living under one roof.  There are several family heirlooms on display in both sides of the house as well as the central hall way.

LeMeilleur House family quarters

After touring the Bolduc house we went to the LeMeilleur House which was built to house relations of Mr Bolduc.  It served many purposes over the years including a black smith shop, convent, school house and an auto repair shop.  It was carefully restored with period correct pieces ca 1820 gathered in the area.

excerpts from Le Code Noir

Interesting to note in our discussion and tour of the Bolduc and LeMeilleur homes was that the families and settlers in general didn't view slaves as property and treat them as harshly as they were treated in the British colonies.  They believe slavery was wrong, though they owned a few, but treated them considerably less like chattel and more like extended members of the household.  The Code Noir outlined how blacks were to be treated and they ignored many of the provisions that were adhered to in the British Colonies.

After leaving we meandered down the block to the Jean Baptiste Valle house built in 1794 and served as the home of central government for the colony.  In fact when the Louisiana Purchase was complete, Mr Valley was appointed Commandant of the new territory.  This house has gone through a couple of renovations over the years with the last family member vacating the home in 1940.  It currently is staffed with artists from the "D'majj group" that use it as a gallery and work to help preserve it.

Rose Garden at the Jean Baptiste Valle House

Interesting trivia from the Valle house was that the Rose Gardens are documented through records as having been established over 200 years ago.  The D'Majj group and the National Society of Colonial Dames that owns the property is going to have a forensic archeologist conduct research to validate this claim as being the oldest continuous rose garden west of the Mississippi next year.

Ste Genevieve is a marvelous community.  Aside from all the history its got two big events that I remember from when I was a kid that is still a big deal.  Entering into its 150 year is Oberle Meat, maker of what I call the best smoked sausage on the planet. Slightly new is the annual, held 2nd weekend of August, Jour de Fete, a huge community art festival and carnival. 

More pics from my road trip on Flickr

Make Your Own Kind of Music, be the best you possible

I stumbled across this song by accident and it struck a cord.  I was a wee lad when it was released summer of 1969,  I had my transistor radio glued to my ear via head phone and rode my bike all over just to get out and ride.  Funny how a song can transport you back to a point in time and suddenly you remember a turning point.

Summer of 1969 was a tumultuous for this country.  I have vague memories of that summer from the news...Walter Cronkite was a staple every night.  Protests.  Riots.  Anti-war Marches.  Summer of Love culminating in Woodstock.  I was way to young to partake, but it made an impression on me.

This song in particular made me decide enough of being forced into a mold.  I hated math and didn't want to be an engineer.  I loved art and and the arts.  I loved my cameras.  I decided that summer I'd pursue my dreams and be a photographer.  Much to my fathers consternation and my mothers support I did just that.  Thanks Mom and Mama Cass for the encouragement to be the best possible me.

"Footsteps and Shadows" Versailles, France April, 2007

Press junkets and stuff...adventures galore

Fog rolling in at Carmel Valley Ranch Lodge

This summer has had some fun press junket adventures.  I blog with integrity and include a disclaimer on the posts advising who sponsored me.  The words are always my own, in my own conversational tone, as if anyone can make me say something I didn't believe in the first place.  Its a fine line being diplomatic when there's something you don't care for yet not offend your hosts...after all you want to be invited back again for another event!

One of the best events ever that I have been on was host by Nissan as part of their #NissanAdventureDrive and #NissanYearoftheTruck campaign.  It was held in Big Sur country up on the northern end of the Central Coast.  Nissan hosted us at the Carmel Valley Ranch which has got to be one of the nicest, poshest resorts I've ever stayed at.

Fireplace in the guest suites at Carmel Valley Ranch Lodge

The event itself was a ton of fun.  Even with a wild fire in Big Sur that forced us to change the route and off-roading course for the Nissan Armada Platinum didn't really put a damper on things.  Smokey yes, but not a damper on the 3 days worth of activity.  

We had 3 vehicles, half day in each to test drive on and off road.  Each vehicle had a unique route so  you got to see tremendous cross sections of what the Monterey peninsula has to offer.  The off roading routes were fun as well. 

Nissan Armada Platinums at Laguna Seca off road course

With the aforementioned wild fire our course for the Armada was changed.  WE got to use a specifically designed course at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, yes that Laguna Seca that I've always wanted to visit got scratched off the old bucket list and added to my bucket of adventures!  Yes, it was fun putting their trucks through their paces in the mountains, but this was the icing on the cake for this adventure.

Formal dinner in the Organic Garden at Carmel Valley Ranch

Of course a good host, and Nissan excelled at this, made sure your meals were fun and memorable.  First night at the country club was a 13, yes thirteen course, tasting menu.  Very nice and really a tremendous meal.  The final night of the Adventure Drive was a sit down dinner in the Ranch's organic garden featuring farm to table fresh produce, herbs and meats from their.  Amazing meal, great company and so much fun to watch the sunset from atop a hill overlooking Carmel Valley then watching the stars fill the darkening sky.  This has got to be a memory I won't soon forget.

Carmel Valley Ranch is on my return destination list.  Their concierge services are top notch as are all the facilities and the staff is uber friendly making your stay oh so very pampered. I'm telling you I didn't want to go down the hill for the return trip to Los Angeles.

The return trip started out normal enough.  We got a notice our flight was delayed 45 minutes from Monterey airport.  No biggy right, still ample time to get to SFO and make our connections home.  We're sitting at the gate and we get another message...flight delayed as United couldn't find a plane.  This time I'd miss my connection, as would others sitting there with me from the event.

Nissan went out of its way to reroute and re-book tickets.  For those of us that wanted to, and I did, make the SFO connection they provided a driver to take us there (hour and a half drive) and we were rushed off to SFO.  What an interesting ride that was, great conversation with my fellow adventurers and we were at SFO in time for our connections.

I got to SFO and United struck again.  They were prepared to bounce me from my flight as the flight from Monterey was delayed past my flight to Burbank departure time.  They ignored the confirmation of the flight done by the good folks at Nissan and put me on stand by...why because they were oversold by 9 passengers for the SFO-BUR flight.  Grrr...long story short I was able to get on and got home in time for the Grand's first concert in the park with his pre-school!

some folks can sleep anywhere...like the carpet at SF

I'm working on my next adventure or two before summer is out.  A road trip to Las Vegas is part of the scenario.  If I can squeeze in a trip to Palm Springs yet I'll do that too...I have Hilton points to burn so that's a cheap trip if I can make it happen.

Paso Robles Wine Country....living it up on the wine trail

This past weekend was Paso Robles Wine country 2.0.  AS in our second time and with a group of former coworkers hell bent on a good time tasting wine on the Central Coast.  Added bonus is we got to enjoy cooler weather than home as So Cal was broiling in record breaking heat.

I've reviewed the wineries in more detail on Yelp.  Click that link for the details.  

First up having toured more than a few wineries over the years its imperative you have a designated driver as you get tipsy without trying after a few stops.  In our case since we had a group of 7 we opted to rent a limo for the day and be escorted to the wineries rather than drive ourselves.  We use Grand Cru in Paso Robles and was not disappointed.   If you can ask for a driver, ask for Kyle was really terrific.

First stop on our tour was up a barely one lane wide yak trail to Le Cuvier wineries.  Don't let the drive scare you, this place is worth the drive to get up there.  The wines from this boutique winery are among the best I've ever had. The tasting experience is at the top as well.  Then you get the incredible views from the cliff side patio overlooking the Paso Robles valley.  Amazing experience.  A must do.

Another hilltop stop with views to die for is Calcareous.  This winery is named for the limestone formation in the area that adds to the terroir or minerality to their wines.  All very good wines, terrific gift shop and very friendly staff.  Meg was terrific in lightening up the day and setting us off on the right foot.

Next on our loop of the West Valley of Paso Robles was Minnassian-Young Winery.  This winery is unique in that it is a dry farming operation relying only on local rainfall to keep the grapes growing.  They do several varietals but specialize in Zinfandel.  Truly one of the highlight stops for us of the day.

 

Oso Libre is a winery more need to model after.  Its a sustainable winery and cattle farm.  The two working to keep each other going.  We were there the day before Fathers Day and hit it just right.  The place was crowded yet Kyle was able to maneuver the limo to the main tasting room and there we joined the celebration of a fresh Angus beef burger cooked over a wood fire with a glass of their award winning "Carnal" red blend wine.

Next in our round of stops was Thacher Winery. It was a decent winery, tastings were #10 flight and their Zin was pretty exceptional.  Ditto the Grenache.

Our last and final stop of the day was Rabbit Ridge.  The place was a ton of fun and needs to be on anyone's must stop list.  Its set up in a warehouse with barrels and cases of wines. Joanne and her daughter Sara made us feel totally welcome, led us through a tasting flight of 12 wines that were all good to excellent...more of the latter than the former and they are priced so well we came home with a mixed case!

Aquarium of the Pacific

"Undulating Jelly"

Aquarium of the Pacific is a must see place, not as big or dramatic as the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, but it does a marvelous job none the less of presenting local sea life to the visitors.  They do an exceptional job of displaying local aquatic habitats found here along the Pacific coast.

They even have shark and stingray tanks where you can use the two finger stroke to "pet" those creatures.  Having been stung by a 'ray once, I've learned to give them a healty respect and give them ample leeway...but that's another story for another day.

There's even a Lorikeet aviary where you can buy "nectar" concocted to match what the birds feed on in the wild.  Its a hit among all the visitors as the Lorikeet will land on your arm for that tasty treat.

"Lorikeet feeding"

On top of the exhibits where you get to touch and feel they have a variety of movies available during the day that are either free or need special tickets to see that address the sea, its life and vitality and what we can do to protect it.  

"Undulating Jelly" was simply post processed to remove the blue cast caused by the water and artificial lights and wall color.  Clarity was amped up a bit so details were retained when resized for the web.  "Lorikeet feeding" got a similar simple post process from RAW to remove the blue cast from an overcast day.

Fun with Siri

No graphic here as it would be a spoiler.  Ask Siri if he/she can beatbox.

The result is hysterical.

Cars meet art, well Legos

Lego and Ford joined forces and the result was Legos used to sculpt a Mustang in the iconic Ford blue. 

Also available this spring as part of the Lego Speed Champions will be a Raptor with a Ford hotrod on a trailer behind it. Look for the models that replicate key design features of these Ford cars in Lego Stores and select retailers this spring.  

Ruminating at LAX

Free wifi is nice even if they limit it AND it's hard to connect to. This Boingo hotspot is ok for light surfing and general Words with Friends bs. After that...forget about it.

Normally one swelters at the airport. Not here today. Doors are open and there's a cold damp breeze by good old gate 53b. Jacket I packed is for below freezing Detroit so even if I could get to it, why bother ad I would be overheated in no time with that thing here. 

I'm impatiently waiting for a flight that's been delayed by half an hour. No reason given which makes it frustrating. 

Commute gawds smiled on me today. Add in TSA precheck and I made it from home to gate in 55 minutes. Certainly nothing to complain about. I remember another trip last summer that took 2.5 HOURS.   

I may update here from along the way in Detroit for their auto show. Providing my hosts at Ford give us a little free time  to write during the day. 

Life as a "Digital Influencer" is fun...except for killing time at airports. C

Pondering what the new year holds in store...

In the SGV area of Los Angeles that I live in it ain't the New Year until the B2 bomber buzzes the Rose Parade in nearby Pasadena then cruises over my 'hood making a turn back to its home base.  Its been that way for years.  Precisely at 8:02AM me and my neighbors out squealing with glee at the sight of it passing over us.

2015 was a kick ass year for me.  Long over due, greatly appreciated and humbled by some of the experiences.

2016 is shaping up to be more of the same.  In 6 short days I'm off to NAIAS in Detroit as one of Ford's guest "digital influencers".  Who said social media doesn't have benefits for even a hack like me?

Other trips include one possibly to MO in the spring, definitely TX in the spring.  We'll do a trip in April to Paso Robles with friends to see another dear friend up there who works at one of the wineries.  A couple of trips to Palm Springs, one with and another without kids.  Then a big trip in the fall...East Coast.  Either DC/Norfolk area where my youngest is stationed if he doesn't deploy.  If he deploys well then we're taking a fall color tour in NE.  Meander much?

Chicago wears its Public Art like fine jewels

Bob Newhart at Navy Pier

Chicago is world renowned for its public art.  For good reasons, its masterfully done my major artists and free to everyone.  Its like fine jewelry that sets the city apart from the rest with the right amount of bling to be a significant attraction for tourists and locals alike.

In the city or surrounding water front parks there is plenty to see and appreciate.  It draws people to them like a magnet.  Its sometimes subtle, other times in your face making you interpret what you just saw and experienced like "The Bean"

Picasso cubist sculpture in Daley Plaza

Our tour guide for our city walk about was my old roommate in College...A Steve Warnelis.  He's a wealth of information on the city, its art and history.  This Picasso was rumored at one time to have been a cubist abstraction of Picasso's girlfriend but current thinking is that its his dog.  Regardless hit Daley Plaza in the heart of the city and make your own interpretation of this modern beauty that started Chicago as an "art city"

Among the cities newest and most wildly popular Cloud Gate aka "the bean" because of its unusual shape not unlike a giant kidney bean.  Its an amazing piece of highly polished and reflective stainless steel that invites you two walk around and see how it distorts reality.

 The lovely Mrs at "The Bean"

Inside and under "The Bean"

Bronze Bison

The Bronze Bison in front of the Chicago Stock Exchange isn't an homage to a bull market, or even to urban legand Mrs O'Leary who's cow reportedly caused the great Chicago Fire.  It is an homage to their past and origins as a rail head city and slaughter house in its early years where bison were herded onto trains and butchered and distributed to points east via the rail road.  From this cast bronze statue hundreds of fiberglass replicas were made and shared around the city.

Not to be outdone and adding to the visual cacophony is all the stores on Michigan Avenue each vying to out do the other with its visual display. Hands down Macy's in what was one the Marshall Fields and Company flagship downtown was the show stopper with its windows for Christmas.  It was devoted to a space theme with astrological and planetary displays.  This one for Saturn and Jupiter was the one we could see best as the rest were totally mobbed.   MOBBED I tell you.

Just a few highlights from our trip to Chicago for our youngest graduation from Navy Boot Camp at the Great Lakes Training Center a few miles up from Chicago.

I look forward to visiting that great city again and taking in more of its museums and public art.

Electronic Billboards...wish I could share the link with you

This has been a ton of fun.  As one of Ford's "digital influencers" I got invited to create billboards, Electronic Billboards using their cars and templates and adding my own touches.  Hit enter and voila they go live shortly thereafter in the city you chose.  The cities to chose from are L.A, NYC,Chicago, DC, and Miami.

Here in Los Angeles the billboards are along a variety of freeways.  This pic is from the one near my home at the 210/605 junction.  I've also had my designs show up at NYC Times Square and at the SF Golden Gate Bridge.  Pretty cool huh!?

Orbs floating in air...

Its all about having fun with framing...when you don't have a client with a storyboard close by giving direction.

This image is from the grounds at the Clautiere Vineyard in Paso Robles.  We, the lovely Mrs and I, used this winery as our starting spot on our whirlwind tour of East Valley wineries at the suggestion of an old friend and his partner.  What a great place...fun wine, fun tasting manager and more importantly a tasting room done up like the mad hatters place on acid replete with adult playroom.  Too.  Much.  Fun.

In their courtyard next to the parking area and the tasting room there's this giant orb nestled under an old coast live oak.  From its branches are more orbs, some with dangly bits.  Its whimsy in the vineyards.  I could have shot this perfectly level or perpendicular but it would have lost its dynamic tension.  A careful step around and twist of the camera puts the orbs in alignment and everything else askew.  Better composition and just a little hint at the twist of things to come in the tasting room.

Traveling in the Ozarks

It's been a busy week. I'm quite literally battered and bruised. No, I didn't get blown up with LEGAL fireworks which really are a thing here in Missouri. It was a colossal slip and fall on wet grass. Who knew that was a problem here were it's rained at least once everyday we've been here. 

More to create shortly on the trip here and on the SoCalAutoBlog. Short version is in 6 days I put over 1k miles on a rental car and covered a lot of SEMO and SIL. In due time rest assured I blew stuff up, drank a lot and just had fun. 

Western 2/3 of USA. I. Own. It.

Create Your Own Visited States Map

Yeay baby...I get around.  check the geo tags on flickr as most will tell you where I've been over the most recent years since I joined in 2007.  Some prior I manually geotagged,  Dude, I do more than meander, I get around.

Sierra Madre Playhouse you're getting a lot of my time and talents

Its a reward and satisfaction thingy.  I enjoy putting my creative energies to use when I get reward and satisfaction out of it.  Or are the two the same thing?  Satisfaction is my Reward. could be but that requires an analyst to sort it all out.

Since joining the Board of Directors at the Sierra Madre Playhouse I like to think I have had a little impact.  Results are more immediate in some places than others.  The end result is I hope to reach the citizens of Sierra Madre and the San Gabriel Valley and let them witness the fun we are having, the most excellent productions and want to join in the fun.

We, the marketing committee had a brain storming session.  It started out with some grumbling that we aren't getting impact with our social media campaigns.   I pointed out we aren't using them at cross purposes and the MTV generation in particular loves visual/aural stimulation not just 140 characters in a twitter post.  I said we need to do more with the YouTube channel we have in place and do something often to keep it fresh and provide fodder for our Instagram, twitter and facebook accounts.

They listened, I with a DSLR that shoots HD video started shooting stuff.  Its too much fun putting it all together after we shoot.  I'm a noob and luckily Windows MovieMaker is a powerful tool thats stupid easy to use so I get quality results out the door.  Better yet, the Playhouse gets media to promote themselves and their productions at no cost other than some time.  Time well invested.

Do check in to the Sierra Madre Playhouse YouTube channel (And Mine).  Follow the Playhouse also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Follow me on Instagram....

Yes, I don't do as much here as I like. I'm actually considering ways I can reinvent this blog and focus it more on my creative endeavors in the arts in general rather than just my personal art.  Can it be done, yuppers, just need time to sit and do it.  Being the @frazgo brand means I'm always busy...cars, food, the arts and time with the fam not much time left in a day.

Do follow me on Instagram. From the inane to profound to future posts on my various blogs I shoot a lot daily with my phone and instagram immediately.  Its a good clue to what you will see here next or on one of the many other blogs that encompass @frazgo.

Big shoots, big events, big anything that requires high res, high quality stuff is always on Flickr.  Its a great source for promoting my serious work.  It won't go away anytime soon.  And as I have a pro-account there, there will never, ever be ads to annoy you.

Lastly...I've ventured into exploring the options out there with video.  High quality stuff, not just from a flipcam.  My DSLR does HD video and I've been experimenting with it for stuff for the Sierra Madre Playhouse.  Follow my YouTube channel.

Who are you Oscar or Felix?

A little something I've been doing of late.   Video.  More precisely promo video stuff for the Sierra Madre Playhouse of which I'm on the board now.  Busy guy?  Mais oui.



So...subscribe to my YouTube channel...see all my cars ala "Blair Witch Project" and now higher quality stuff for the Playhouse.

Dusting off the password...a bit of celebrating today

I suppose tis quite the accomplishment to do that in 8 years with just ART and "blogging on the fly..." stuff as opposed to porn.  I don't kid myself, a friends ex specializes in raunch porn his trying to pass off as vintage and he does a million in 3 months.  But I took the higher road and did it my way, the way I always do.  True to myself.  True to those that follow me, never raunch for sake of views.

I'm still blogging everywhere, but here.  I do shoot often, love my newish EOS 60D from Canon, it does some pretty amazing stuff, but its still just a tool that enables me to create images.  I know when I resort for techniques sake things suffer.  In the end its about stunning images, not how you got there.

Recently we took the fam down behind the Orange Curtain for a day of whale watching.   Something you just can't do here in the SGV.  By far my favorite tour company for that is Dana Wharf Sport Fishing and Whale Watching in Dana Point.  Their crew works well with other boats to  ensure you see a whale, or two, or dolphins to make your trip memorable.  Often they have a Marine Biologist on board and they give you a ton if information and trivia on what you are seeing to make the trip even more fun.  Worth the trip.  Been with them twice now and both times were pretty amazing.

To follow my daily adventures, or my adventures with commercial stuff and CARS follow me on flickr. 

Henry Fords Office and other cool stuff

By now if you haven't figured it out, I'll soell it out. Blogging leads to notice which leads to adventures. My current adventure is courtesy the good folks atFord  Motor Company who gave me this trip to Detroit. No strings, all opinions are my own.  

Last night we got a real treat. Dinner out at the 1903 Piquette Plant where Henry Firs built his first cars. There's even s recreation of his office. 

Only 97K and change to 1Million visits

It wasn't that long ago I hit 500K views and thought that was something.  I'm plugging along. Taking pics, mostly light commercial stuff for a local marketing guy for his clients web sites.  Tons of cars for SoCalAutoBlog.  That's whats really driving my stats these days.  That and the B2 Bomber fly over on the 1st of the new Year.

How long to I hit 1Million views...about 3 months at the rate I'm going. Of course that is subject to how many hits I gather next week as I post stuff from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  That could quickly accelerate the popping of champagne and tossing of confetti for the 1M mark.

Don't get me wrong, I really do like the numbers stats.  I suppose I need to figure out to carve out more fine art time is all.  And quit neglecting this blog.  We'll see what 2015 has in store.

Maybe I'll start tearing up the pixels with shorts of Los Angeles and document its history.  DK, you tell me what you want to see.