Back In the Saddle: A Cowboy Birthday

Last weekend we were invited to a very special western-themed birthday party for our friend, Amber.  It was held in the beautiful backyard of the home she shares with her husband, Bob.

All the guests were given a "western welcome" with their
very own, personalized, mason jar drinking glass.

 

Mr. Tiny & Mary with the birthday girl, Amber (I stole this photo from her).
 One can almost see the ghost of bunny ears behind Amber's head that she so
artfully retouched out of the photo.

Bob & Amber's backyard is great!  It is perennially decked out with a western/desert motif so the setting was ideally apropos.  I should have taken more pictures of the perfect surroundings that included wagon wheels, succulents, the barn and the corn!  Here are some photos of the cool desert details that were waiting around every corner.

 

 

The garden path (by day & by night) was lit with kerosene railroad lanterns. 

I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, I LOVE WESTERN WEAR!!!  My collection, if it can be called that, is measly, consisting mostly of ties.  There is something about the incredible detailing, the folksy charm, and the spirit of the West that makes western wear a favorite for me.  Not to mention the brilliant people like Nudie, Manuel, Jaime, Gene, Dale & Roy, and The Sons of the Pioneers that made western wear COOL!  Unfortunately, I can never really pull off the entire look head-to-toe because my arches are high and my calves too thick to wear boots!  Nevertheless, here are some fancy western duds.

Queens of the Rodeo, Amber & Mary. 

Mary wore a vintage western shirt with new two-piece western

ensemble that I finished for her right before we left for the party. 

I think it needs some applique before it is truly "finished."

Ben & Mary showing off their matching shirts

How!
Pale Face heap happy to see Lone Wolf, Emily,
(the only Native American represented) at the party.

My favorite family photo of the night.
 Lovey, Charles & Dollie
 Are you my mommy?

All the food an fixin's were delicious.  People roasted hot dogs over the open fire and I made my award-winning roasted potato salad.  My mom and dad told me that bestowing an award to oneself in no way negates the validity of the award.

Amber made all kinds of tasty, themed offerings.
You'll have to ask her why they are labeled "Smore Pogs,"
but I was particularly taken with these S'More Pops.
It would've been easy to fill up on homemade rice krispie
treats too, but...

We had to save room for the beautiful horseshoe cake that Dollie made!

Amber's feeling lucky with her lucky horseshoe cake.

No matter how much cake one consumes, there is always room for presents.

Charles & Amber and an inch worm

After the sun set slowly in the western skies, a chill set in, so we gathered around the campfire to sing some cowboy songs.

Singing cowboy songs with Steve, Mary, Ben, Amber, and Dave was my favorite
part of the evening.  Among all of the wonderful bands in which he plays, Dave is
a feature in The Lucky Stars, the kings of western swing in Southern California.

You know it's a good party when....
Happy Birthday, Amber!!!

Here are a couple tunes to give you the feeling of our wild west shindig!

 

"Way Out There" - Sons of the Pioneers

"Tumblin' Tumbleweeds" - Sons of the Pioneers

Cheers & Happy Trails!

Mr. Tiny

Invading Indian Territory: The Wigwam Village Motels

Hi-how-are-ya! Hi-how-are-ya! Hi-how-are-ya!  When was the last time you immersed yourself fully in the indigenous culture of your country?  When last did you slough off the cares of our modern, workaday world for the purposes of cultural appreciation and personal enrichment?  I am always open to a spiritual awakening - an opportunity to open my heart and mind.  I embrace the chance to really "walk a mile in another man's moccasins," as it were.  In search of such an experience, I sought out, nay, I was called to the Wigwam Villages of San Bernardino, CA and Holbrook, AZ.  The Wigwam Villages were the vision of  Frank Redford, a Kentucky native, who built his first wigwam in 1933 to capitalize on his collection of Native American artifacts.  What started out as a roadside attraction dedicated to Indian culture soon turned into a motel concept and The Wigwam Village Motel was born.  In total, seven Wigwam Villages were built from Kentucky to California.  For the purposes of this blog post, we will be using the terms "wigwam" and "teepee" interchangeably - just to keep it authentic!

Wigwam Village Motel #7 - "Do it in a Tee Pee!"

Wigwam Village #7 (est.1949) in San Bernardino, CA is a veritable diamond in the rough.  This is not a stale cliche - "rough" is an accurate description of the surrounding area.  My mother's people are from San Bernardino; I can remember the dreamy days we spent with my great-grandmother and great-aunt in their turn-of-the-Century, San Bernardino homes.  The area, while decidedly working class, felt old-timey and safe. Unfortunately, the last few decades have been less than kind to San Bernardino.  Yet, somehow, it felt good to be there - especially in a teepee!

The Happy Hunting Ground

In Indian territory

The wigwam

The interior did not fulfill my dreams of peace pipes and smoke signals.
In fact, the furnishings did not speak to Native American heritage at all.

Rating: ^^^^^^^^^ (9 wigwams) - The facilities are well-maintained and the staff is very courteous and seemed genuinely happy to have us.  They allowed us early check-in, gave us recommendations for places to eat and even took our photo and added it to their Facebook page!  A one-wigwam deduction was taken for the boring, standard motel furnishings.

Wigwam Village Motel #6 - "Have you slept in a Wigwam Lately?"

Wigwam Village #6 in Holbrook, AZ was built in 1942 by Charles Lewis as a wigwam franchise.  According to the motel website, the payments to Frank Redford as franchise fees consisted of the dimes collected from the pay-radios installed in each teepee!  We liked the exterior of these wigwams better than the San Bernardino location as they look like the picture postcards from the 40's.

A teepee-cal teepee

Vintage automobiles enhanced the motel's Route 66 credibility and character.

The custom, metal benches outside the teepees were a reminder of  our  path.

King of the castle teepee!

We were happy to learn that the room's furnishings, including the quirky,

 bedside lamp and desk/vanity were all original.

Native American Art

The room was surprisingly roomy - enough for two beds.

My biggest complaint was the distracting, southwestern bedding!

Wigwams by day...

...and wigwams by night...

Rating: ^^^^^^^^^ (9 wigwams) - It is hard not to give a perfect 10 to a motel that has operated for nearly 70 years by maintaining the look and feel of true, vintage-American roadside/Route 66 history.  Really, who doesn't want to sleep in a wigwam?  A single wigwam deduction was given for a less-than-immaculate bathroom, proximity to the bustling railroad tracks (all-night freight trains) and those terrible, I mean terrible, bedspreads.  The staff was accommodating, the sleeping quarters were tidy (bonus point for the original art/furniture), the exterior of the wigwams were well-maintained and the vintage cars added greatly to the atmosphere.

Wigwam Village numbers 6 and 7 are independently owned and share only a common history.  Beyond the San Bernardino and Holbrook motels, there is only one other remaining Wigwam Village.  Wigwam Village #2 is located in Cave City, KY which means just one thing - we'll be seeing you in Kentucky for another authentically-Native American experience.  How!!!

Wigwam Village #6

811 West Hopi Dr.

Holbrook, AZ

(928)524-3048

galerie-kokopelli.com/wigwam

Wigwam Village #7

2728 W. Foothill Blvd.

San Bernardino, CA

(909)875-3005

wigwammotel.com

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny