My Little Mendocino, or just another tacky souvenir shop?

Artistic Creations, I remember now, why I wrote that, and why it was so important to me to have that as my blog title. I have just returned from a delightful drive and stay out to the Mendocino Coast, and I have to keep telling myself that I am back, because my soul is so full of that kind of beauty, that kind of fresh air, and that kind of artistic quality. Once you have seen the beauty of the coast you wont soon forget it, and you look for it around every corner you go thereafter. You peek in yards and down alleys for dense gardens of calla lilies, tulips and iris growing wild, and large fields of bright green and yellow and purple, and you long to ponder a rough rocky coastline, with its water crest spray, forever skyline, and invitingly intimate sandy beaches.

While walking about town, you come across many creative and whimsical, sometimes large-wooden carvings that stand in unison on clean and flowery streets, and the hand carved nameplates on every ones houses invite the eye to look, as if to say, welcome, we are proud to live here. Driving on the windy HWY 1, you see dozens of gnarly-old-bent and windblown-Monterrey pines, with there dark black trunks, they give you a stoic greeting and a deacon-like illusion, protecting the town, and nurture the life all around it. But each street feels more like a path, and even if your driving you somehow feel like a deer yourself, sprinting too fast to enjoy what you pass. Many houses are completely covered in shrubs, that actually protect it from the wicked winter weather, and yet the shrubs are actually heather or some other flowering variety that looks gentile to the eye, but older than the hills, with its immense size. Every breath is the wonder of spring, and no photo or words can contain such beauty, in its essence it is too intense, but when taken in at an early hour its a cup of coffee to the eye, I never felt more alive.
It will be my twentieth wedding anniversary this year, in a few days, and because it falls so close to Easter, we celebrated early with a stay at the Wharf Masters Inn, in Port Arena. One hour south of Mendocino, it is a tiny little town with genuine people and rugged history all it's own. It still has one fishing pier and a real sense of the good life, I was healed by the luxury of nature and good wholesome food. We ate at a restaurant right in front of the Hotel, that was as good if not better than the Cliff House in SF! I was so full after half the meal, and impressed with heirloom green and purple cauliflower! Oh and large and organic sprouts, freshly caught grilled salmon and local water... yes water! Steve had prime rib so large HE could not finish even half of it! That night we watched the waves come in and listened to the sound of the ocean, and revived our past, our blessed 20 year relationship. With rest and quiet, it was a really special evening. No worries, and his good friend and owner of the Warf Masters, John Tante, made us feel right at home. Everything was perfect. Even the weather was special, because it must have been an 80 degree day on the coast, no one could believe it!
The next day we set out early for a rummage sale in Elk, and then further north to see my favorite friend and entrepreneur, of Village Toy Store and Zo printing in Mendo, as they say.

We arrived quite early at the rummage sale, and Steve was quickly pressed into service by the locals to help set up and move furniture, making him quite popular. He is like that, always willing to lend a hand, and look for the fishing gear; Steve is not shy about asking for what he wants in return! I gladly sip my delicious coffee and eat a home made bran muffin, and wait for them to open. I decide to wander a bit off the path, as to not to look too excited to buy rummage, AHEM, and seek photographic moments in more giant shrubs of purple fragrant flowers, and calla lilies and such. I return to find art I like and of course, sewing stuff, and a huge GRINCH doll. I am not made of stone you know! I love a good deal, and as I tried to leave, I found a few more things, thinking I will get this for her, and them , and oh yes. A whole six dollars later, the nice ladies say, do you need a box? No thanks I think I will be fine. I am still waiting for Steve to finish his good deeds, while again in the car sipping on coffee and nibbling on ever-the endless muffin. I tried to leave at this point, but then of course, our new and kind friends, show us exactly what we needed-a beautiful antique game table! How can we resist? After some haggling we give our money to a good cause, the local school, and play tourist as we take apart the Buick to find a way to get it our treasures home. I can fit anything in a car, I am a Mom, so after about 30 minutes and some donations ourselves...we did it! They were so nice, they offered to bring it to us! I am sorry to think they wont, but its a long drive for anyone, and we felt like we had made a big enough impression for one day. And now really had a full car!

I don't live in Mendocino, I live inland, and its much more rugged here, the heat is intense in the summer and the streets are busy and crowded. Redding is a mere 200 miles, but the mountain you climb in between reminds me of something of C.S Lewis writings, the watchful eye hounds you as you go come to what feels like the Shire, down from the Mtns of Mordor.
The Shire is probably not as friendly as the Port Arena area, Elk or Mendocino, because we met more smiles and more kindness and ate foods of such organic quality, I fell human again. I feel alive again, and because I was on a two day holiday, that was richer than my last two years here, I felt that time can stop as well. No cell phone service, we brought no computer, and no Internet interfered with our day. I did not even wear a watch, the time was spent while the sun was up, and evening came and went with grace and forgiveness.

Now the drive to the coast was a wild ride for sure, in fact my steaming brakes can attest to that, but it was worth it, when the windows are open you can quickly smell the special fragrance of burning brakes. We willingly rest, and even laugh a little when no one is there, speeding by you besides, a bumble bee or a butterfly. There is a real sense of peace at the coast, a beautiful portion of rest that comes over you, just by being in such an intimate atmosphere of real people, running real stores, and real authentic smiles and grateful shop keepers. It is not to say that no where else do people appreciate your business, but when your choices are, one grocery store, one bank, one art store and one health food store, you begin to appreciate the uniqueness of the town, the determination it must take to sustain this kind of lifestyle, and ability to live on less than what is easily the hustle and bustle of bigger more congested cities. The sign for Mendocino said the total population was 10,008. But I could have sworn it said One thousand, eight, I will have to check on this. My drop in to my favorite friend was a grand success, and I was very satisfied with another spectacular lunch and feed on Organic greens, with dessert as well. Steve ate another burger, I don't know where he puts it!
After lunch I wanted to peruse the Toys, and Kits and atmosphere of her wonderful shop, I was effervescent with joy to see her again, and her lovely family. But her shop is not to be missed, with all the hand made quilts and toys, and charm, I wished I was a child again. Right on the main street, next door to Moody's Coffee. As we said our farewells, and I was pleased to find excellent kites, we made our way back to the car with more coffee, this time it was as intensely flavored as it was high in caffeine, and I was able to drive the entire way back, 5 hours- no problem!

It was a wonderful sojourn for both of us, Steve was as happy as I to be on our outing, we both had time to think and rejuvenate, and because it was so unplanned and on the whim, it was even better that all worked out to be so perfect. And when we returned home, I looked at my photos, over and over, and remembered my friendly stay, the feeling lingers, and color my life today, and I hope forever. My hope to become more creative, and artistic is growing again, and knowing that not everyone lives like this cement covered world of fast food and cars, trash and tinsel, makes me whole again. There are still un-ruined places to go, with food that is nourishing, and people that genuinely enjoy total strangers. There is no place like it, say hi for me if you go. Say Hi to John Tante, he says his business is off 60%, AND IS SELLING,...say Hi to Rae and Dean, they are probably donating their time for a good cause in Elk, say Hi to Wanda at the Toy Store, she's probably very busy, but when you see her town, you will know why she does it. When I see that town, I want to bottle it and bring it here, in fact, I was wondering if that is possible? Can one try to make a city like the country, can it be copied, or is that just like a tacky souvenir store that tries to make a buck off of the real beauty,( I saw zero souvenir stores, t-shirts, stickers and fridge magnets! BTW)

I had to write this memory, and share it before the photos, because I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but these photos, mean the world to me. It would be an insult not to thank those that we enjoyed it with, and really share the fun we had. I will look for a way to open a little Mendocino here, when I figure that out, I will do it. Until then, my search for it continues, in my city, in my art, and in my garden. Happy Trails to you!