The Conejo Valley Guide "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, highlights of local things to do, compilations and other items. Focus is on information relevant to Ventura County and surrounding areas, including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Moorpark, Somis, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Barbara and Moorpark.
The Conejo Valley Guide® "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, local things to do, holiday event compilations, announcements and more.
Local photographer Patrick Taillon took these picture of rolling green hills under dark cloud cover while at the Moorpark College campus yesterday, March 26th. He used an Olympus XZ-1 camera with it's built-in photo filters for these pics. For more of Patrick's work, visit his website at www.patricktaillon.com.
Yes, today is the first day of spring. But who would have known through the torrential downpours and 40 to 50 mile winds today. The storm has taken its toll on trees. In my 10 minute drive through Newbury Park today, I saw probably 20 of them down. Stay dry and safe. Thousand Oaks resident and executive coach Scott Leese of Dynamic Coaching Strategies caught this photo of a fallen cedar at the Thousand Oaks Library today.
Photographer John B. Mueller took this great shot of the sunset looking down the Camarillo grade. I've tried capturing this shot while driving down the grade but have never been successful. John did it right by actually getting out of the car at Camarillo Grove Park, climbing the hills and waiting for the right moment. Kudos and thanks to him for sharing it! Visit his website at www.johnbmueller.com and his Facebook page to see more of his work.
Speaking of Camarillo. Here are some upcoming Camarillo events, things to do in Camarillo, fitness and sports activities in Camarillo and kids fun and activities in Camarillo.
We are nearing that transition period between winter and summer, otherwise known as SPRING! Spring begins on March 20th and this latest work of Camarillo artist Chuck Trunks he calls "To My Surprise" captures some of the spirit of that transition. See his other work on Conejo Valley Guide by clicking here.
And with the coming of spring of course we have a lot of fun things to do around Ventura County. Here are some links for you to explore:
EASTER FUN
EARTH DAY (APRIL 22ND) EVENTS
FRESH PRODUCE AT 2 DOZEN LOCAL FARMERS' MARKETS
John B. Mueller is a Camarillo based photographer whose work I have admired for several years. Here he has captured some beautiful images at a local spot he refers to as 42 Step Beach (in reference to the number of stairs it takes to get there). Check out his website at www.johnbmueller.com and his Facebook page to see more of his work.
Announcing the world premier of yet another Chuck Trunks' piece, entitled "Moonlit Pools." This one really wowed me with its 3-D effect. And if you look carefully, well...if you just look...you just may well see something very familiar in this piece...but where's the moon!? See his other work on Conejo Valley Guide by clicking here.
I immediately thought Malibu and Ventura when I saw this piece. Here are a handful of Malibu activities and a few dozen Ventura activities.
Now if you'd like to order this piece*, Chuck has an arrangement with Pi Studio Printing in Camarillo where for only $39, you can order a 16 x 20 Luster Photo Print that would look great on your wall. You can also order a full blown, framed canvas gallery wrap in any size that will knock your socks off.
* The print comes with the moon, not the CVG bunny. Though come to think of it, 2011 (2/3/11 to 1/22/12) IS The Year of the Rabbit, so if you want the bunny, just ask for it!
This is a guest post by Anne Schroeder, great-granddaughter of Nils Olsen, one of the original settlers in the Conejo Valley in the 1890s.
Wednesday, January 26th, the community unveiled a monument commemorating the original Norwegian pioneers who built the Norwegian Grade. My great-grandfather, Nils Olsen and his sons Nick and Oscar are in the picture that is part of the monument. The picture was taken by Nil’s wife during the ten years it took them and their Norwegian neighbors to build it, from 1901-1911, working in the slack time between crops and harvest. The picture shows them with hoes and shovels. Off-camera was a horse-drawn blade and $60 worth of dynamite donated by the county.
Nils Olsen's grandchildren, including (from left), Neil Olsen, Mary Olsen Rydberg, David Olsen (great-grand-son), Gerry Olsen, and Wyatt McCrea.
The Olsen family is proud to be part of the monument, a group-effort that includes Ventura County, Cal Lutheran, Sons of Norway and the Pederson and Olsen families. Thirty five Olsen family members came from all over California to honor the men and boys who built the grade.
For three generations we didn’t realize the story was important, so as children we kept it to ourselves, afraid that our friends would think we were boasting—or worse, lying. After all, tractors and graders built grades, not a half-dozen men and a barefoot waterboy.
Today, Ventura County residents know the story of the grade and its restoration; even the hand-forged hoe that was pulled out of the earth by a grader. In the photo that graces the monument, my great-grandfather is holding that same hoe, down to the slight burl on the limb-handle. It is physical proof of a story that we thought would disappear into the distant past as has happened in so many communities. Fortunately, VC understands that the privilege of having participated in a community’s founding years creates obligation to share.
Historic photo on the monument. Nils Olsen is second from the left (with the famous hoe). My grandfather is second from the right. His brother Nick is in the middle with his back turned.
My mother, Jean Olsen Thompson, is 83, the oldest living relative of the Olsen family, and almost the
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
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