♥ MEMORIAL WEEKEND TRIP TO THE RANCH ♥ PART 1 ♥

AWAY AWAY FROM THE CITY OF LA (THERE'S AN AMAZING APRICOT TREE...AND ONE OF THE FAMILY DOGS, CUPCAKE, CHILLING OUT ON THE RIGHT)

ON THE ROAD...

I just thought it might be nice to do something different this weekend for the blog. At the last minute, I decided to drive up to my parents' ranch about 3 hours north of Los Angeles for the weekend (it's a holiday weekend here in the States and most people have Monday off). I tend to take for granted that everyone sees this stuff, but I do have a load of foreign readers and this might be fun for them.

Let me start by saying that I am definitely a city girl. I like cabs and walking on busy streets and cafés. I love high heels. This, however, is the country. It's dirt and animals and bugs and trees and everything else that comes with country territory. My parents have smallish ranch...about 7 acres....with loads of animals and lovely organic fruit and eggs and other fun things. Plus, it is just beautiful here. I stayed here for a while a couple of years ago when I was finalizing my novel and it was so so easy to get stuff done. I am going to attempt to work on my new novel while I'm here. More on that soon.

But first...here is the trip from the beginning. I just thought it might be interesting to show what it's like to leave the city...and drive somewhere not along the beaches. If you are a tourist to LA, you will probably drive on Highway 1 also known as Pacific Coast Highway. But we have to take another freeway...that goes more inland toward the mountains. It's also fun to see what's here. Let's start...I'll have more to post after this (a quick shopping trip where I scored some amazing products for an amazing discount that I'll post next) and some other photos of the actual place I'm at. Let me know if you like this stuff and I can do these journey posts every time I go on a trip. :)

THIS IS THE FREEWAY WHEN WE LEFT...ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN LA. LATER IN THE DAY AND THE NEXT DAY THIS FREEWAY WILL BE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC. ICK. BEST TO LEAVE EARLY.

AN ICED CHAI LATTE FROM THE COFFEE BEAN. I THINK I PREFER THE ONES FROM STARBUCKS BUT COFFEE BEAN HAS A DRIVE-THRU WINDOW.

LITTLE LOTTE ON MY LAP. SHE IS SO HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH. SHE KNOWS AND SHE TENDS TO LOOK AWAY OR DOWN. SO PRETTY THIS LITTLE THING.

 WE STOPPED BY SEARS (A PLACE YOU BUY STOVES AND TIRES FOR YOUR CAR AND APPLIANCES...OR KARDASHIAN CLOTHES) TO MAKE A PAYMENT ON THE CREDIT CARD AND NOTICED THEY WERE LIQUIDATING THEIR ENTIRE BEAUTY DEPARTMENT! SCORE!!! I'LL DO A POST ON THIS NEXT. AMAZING BUYS! INCLUDNG DERMALOGICA SKINCARE!

IN A LOT OF PARTS OUTSIDE OF LA PROPER, THE SUBURBS, YOU WILL STILL FIND THE ORIGINAL OLD SIGNAGE FROM COOL FOOD JOINTS LIKE THIS ONE. I GUESS IT USED TO BE A BURGER JOINT BUT NOW SELLS BURRITOS, TOO.

WE STOP BY A FAMOUS ARMENIAN KIND OF MARKET WHERE THEY SELL EVERYTHING. PICKING UP SOME FRUIT AND OTHER GOODS FOR MY DAD AND THE TRIP.

ARMENIAN BAKERIES ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST PASTRIES! ARMENIAN BAKERIES ARE REALLY POPULAR IN LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE DEF LEAVING LA WHEN YOU REACH SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN...SEE THE ROLLER COASTERS IN THE DISTANCE.

THIS IS WHAT IS LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU REALLY START TO LEAVE THE CITY. IN THE SUMMER. IN THE WINTER IT'S GREEN AND SOMETIMES SNOWING HERE.

WHEN YOU AREN'T DRIVING ON PCH, AND IT'S HOT SUMMER TIME, YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF...DESERT. AND COWS. :) NOT TOO EXCITING.

WE START GETTING CLOSE TO THE RANCH. IT'S ALL ORCHARDS AROUND HERE. ESPECIALLY CITRUS AND NUTS.

THIS IS PART OF THE ORIGINAL TRAIN TRACKS THAT RAN HERE BACK IN THE 1800'S. IT JUST SITS THERE ALONGSIDE THE ROAD LIKE A GHOST. SO PRETTY HERE. THE MOUNTAINS IN THE HORIZON.

ALL THE ORCHARDS. AWESOME PLACE TO RIDE YOUR VINTAGE BIKE.

YEA...WE'VE ARRIVED. THAT'S NOT MY PARENTS' PLACE. THAT'S ACROSS THE WAY. BUT LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS HERE. HARD TO THINK WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE CITY.

More soon. Next post will be the haul of beauty and then continue with the animals and other fun things around here. Happy weekend if you are relaxing or partying! ♥

more fun things ♥ anna dello russo x h&m