rompin' roun' the desert with Dakota

It was such a pleasure meeting Dakota of Sweetheart of the Rodeo, a darling, humble, doe-eyed cutie, who shares in my affection for vintage clothing (our discourse included praise of wiggle fringe dresses à la Wanda Jackson, two-piece cowgirl sets, and velvet cigarette pants), and country and roots music ( I think she is the only person to ever ask me if I’ve been to Bakersfield (known for the Bakersfield sound, of which California’s country heros, Buck Owens & Merle Haggard, were the main superstars)).  We also share an abiding love for exploring old haunts and playing in the great outdoors. It’s delightful and encouraging to have so much in common with a gal several years younger than myself.  We met at the 26 foot tall statue of Marilyn Monroe in Palm Springs, then set out on our desert adventure.

Our first stop was Joshua Tree National Park, where a hiker told us that we were dressed optimistically (which I dwelt upon neurotically because I didn’t know what he meant, until Dakota suggested that perhaps he meant we were dressed the opposite of gloomy, and then my mind was at ease). It’s true, we added a burst of color to the muted desert scene. We strolled along the trails, talking about our upbringing, and admiring the teal blue sky and the intrepid rock climbers.

After, we made our way to the Hayden Movie Ranch to explore the Scarlet Lady, a saloon train car from the turn of the century. (Read more about the Scarlet Lady here; it’s a fascinating story). Though weathered, the Scarlet Lady remains glorious.  Her intricate wrought iron detailing and her tarnished patina really send me.  Fortunately, I was able to preserve the memory of our time spent with the Scarlet Lady with a photo taken right before my camera battery died.  When the wind started  kicking up and the sun was fading, we drove on to the Desert Hot Springs Resort to soak in the natural hot springs. I’ve already written about this mid-century desert hot spot before, so I won’t go into detail about it, but I will say that it was the perfect ending to a lovely day with a new friend.

Photos of me taken by Dakota.

Outfit: early 60s dress, vintage corduroy jacket, vintage cowboy boots (thrifted)