Joshua Tree

 Can you believe these colors?!

Last weekend, I went to Joshua Tree to attend my friend Jodi's wedding. It was the best kind of wedding - under a bed of stars, a short, tender, and humorous ceremony reflecting the bride and groom’s distinct personalities, a dirt dance floor plus really good tunes, and a table filled with all sorts of yummy desserts. I had so much fun, I forgot to take any photos. The off-road adventure to attend the wedding in my friend Ji’s Prius was equally memorable.

While in Joshua Tree, I played the tourist along with Pete and some of my favorite gals. We went to Desert Christ Park in neighboring Yucca Valley and visited the tiniest museum ever - the Crochet Museum in Joshua Tree. We drank beers at Pappy and Harriott's and put quarters in the juke box. There, I also ate a crazy amount of chili. In the car, I sang loudly along with a new friend to Loretta's "Coal Miner's daughter" while Pete drove us through the long, quiet, undulating desert streets. We hiked a little in the Joshua Tree National Park, and visited Cap Rock where Phil Kaufman set the corpse and coffin of Gram Parson ablaze. The desert is an interesting, serene, weird, sacred place, and I feel lucky to live only a few hours away.

Blue & Brown: Pentax Spotmatic

Some film photos taken with my 1960's Pentax Spotmatic.






Pete looks so cute in his blue plaid pajamas. The scenic photographs are of Joshua Tree. I can’t wait until my photography class starts because I truly have no idea what I’m doing.

the best of country music

I had an enjoyable time looking through this old book "The Best of Country Music" on the patio of Room 8. I have some classic country picture books at home, but this one found in the room had some really inspiring pictures.

Merle Haggard. I was lucky enough to watch him perform at the Queen Mary about 6 months ago. I only found out about it 30 minutes before he was to take the stage. Pete was out of town, and none of my friends were available on such short notice, so I went by myself. Hearing him sing live was a dream come true.


Willie is the King!

I definitely tend to romanticize hobos & trains and Woody Guthrie days, even though I know it was hard livin. but look how happy this hobo looks.

Nashville, TN, is one of my favorite towns of all time. When I think of the legends that played in the honky tonks on lower broadway, and then in the Grand Old Opry, I get chills. Plus, the ribs are good, and the folks are kind.


I sure have a hard time keeping my dresses down.

Outfit: vintage 80s bandage dress (thrifted), 70s beaded Native American denim vest (thrifted) another one of my favorite pieces. I meant to show you a more detailed shot of the vest, but I forgot to upload., vintage cowboy hat (LB Flea Market), snake necklace (thrifted) & cross necklace (LA Farmer's Market). AA bicycling shorts (not intended to be shown to this degree, my word!).

I hope ya'll are swell!

Room 8, and the Joshua Tree National Park

Gram Parsons & Nudie (I would love to have a Nudie suit!)

Gram Parsons spent a lot of time out in Joshua Tree, and loved the magical desert dearly. When he overdosed in Room 8 of the Joshua Tree Inn, his step dad made plans to have his body sent to Louisiana for the funeral. Phil Kaufman, Parsons’ road manager, was outraged because he knew that Parsons wanted his ashes strewn across the desert in Joshua Tree. As such, Kaufman and another friend rented a hearse, drove to LAX, and convinced an airline employee that they needed to take the coffin & Parsons’ body because plans had changed. Then they drove to Cap Rock in Joshua Tree and set the coffin and body on fire - an amateur cremation. Hey, that’s what friends are for. Read more about this legendary story here.



We spent several hours in Room 8 listening to the Byrds’ country album “Sweetheart of the Rodeo,” in which Parsons’ sings. Then I danced on the tile floor to the music of the Rolling Stones, while Pete relaxed in the Chesterfield chair he had come to love, so much that he asked the front desk if he could buy it. They said “no”. While listening to the Rolling Stones, we thought we heard a thump, and attributed it to Parsons, since he was buddies with Keith & Mick. Other than that, Parsons’ didn’t make much of an appearance. But we still honored him by listening to some good old country music, and I wore a rock and roll get up about town and at Joshua Tree National Park.




I bought this necklace in Joshua Tree. Because of the brown specks, it's considered Brown Turquoise, symbolizing wild horses, symbolizing freedom, symbolizing naked cowgirls, symbolizing me.



Keith Richards & Gram Parsons in Joshua Tree


Joshua Tree, I miss you already and it’s only been two days.

Outfit: 80s bandage dress, vintage Wrangler studded jacket, heart belt, and vintage motorcycle boots. (everything thrifted), AA knee high socks & bicycling shorts. Though my wardrobe is diverse, I feel most comfortable in this type of outfit. This jacket is one of my most cherished pieces. Growing up scrawny & poor, I was used to scrapping. I don’t scrap anymore because I don’t have to, but this outfit says something of the inner toughness (or maybe confidence is a better word) that I want to preserve.

Click on 1st & last picture for source.

Until next time, kids.

kickin up dirt in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is truly a setting worthy of the 1930s organza dandelion seed dress that I bought from Clever Nettle quite a while back. One could easily go 1930s glam with this dress, but I thought I’d wear it in the style of a desert cowgirl. I wish I wasn’t such a half-ass though -- my under slip is visibly scrunched up in all these photos. Pretty Boy Pete dressed up too in a vintage sparkly sport coat (recently thrifted in Vegas), vintage Levi’s stay press & his newly purchased vintage beatle boots. He found these boots at thrift store here in Joshua Tree. Throughout the course of our trip, I caught him many times sighing over and making googly eyes at them. They’re just a tad too small for him, but he’s smitten, and what’s a few blisters in the face of true love. True Love never did come easy. Still, I feel like I’ve corrupted him slightly. I just adore the dress I’m wearing, but I regret to inform you I did tear a few rips in the dress while kicking up dirt in the desert. Until 10:00 p.m folks, I’m built for speed, and old beautiful dresses such as these just don’t hold up. Now to hang it back up in the backroom, where I can admire it daily.



The lime- green orb of light is actually Gram Parsons.





Thrift stores were fruitful in Joshua Tree. I found a 50s mohair scarf, dead stock Bass oxfords, an olive- green Greek fisherman’s cap ( a rare color for this hat), and some stuff to sell on Etsy one day hopefully soon.

Stay tuned for more posts on Gram Parsons’ room at the Joshua Tree Inn, Joshua Tree National Park, and spandex rock & roll get-ups.

Outfit: 30s dress (Clever Nettle), vintage cowboy hat, which looks an awful lot like the one Gram Parsons always wore (Long Beach Flea Market), vintage motorcycle boots (thrifted), snake necklace (thrifted). Other accessories: cross necklace & earring.

lovely lavender loafers and a vow to get fit

I’m not going to blame getting older, because I don’t believe in that shit for now, but I feel like something powerful is pushing me towards comfort, which is why I’ve been wearing these lovely lavender loafers by Cole Haan all week. And speaking of not speaking of getting older (and perhaps being out of shape), I have decided to get fit again. To support this endeavor, yesterday evening I went to a Pop Physique class. Pop Physique is an intense fitness class that blends elements of pilates, yoga, ballet bar work, and light repetitive weight lifting. The teacher assured me that the crazy leg shaking I was experiencing was a good sign. This is what a Pop Physique class sounds like : “Shoulder blades down. corset up those abs. tuck your pelvis. now re-tuck. tuck, tuck, tuck. tuck left, tuck right. Tuck, tuck, hold. Tuck, tuck, hold.” I’m in so much pain today; I could barely brush my hair this morning without pain on account of the push ups & weight lifting. I will probably switch to yoga, my dance work out videos, and running because Pop Physique is pretty pricey.

Tonight, I’m taking my niece, Anna, to see a performance of “Annie.” I haven’t seen her as often these days because I’ve been out of town every weekend. This weekend, Pete & I are going out of town again, and I’m super excited for this adventure. We’re going to Joshua Tree, and we’re staying in the room that Gram Parsons died in. My wardrobe for the weekend is going to be pretty rock and roll in honor of the fallen angel.

Alrightee friends, enjoy life!

Outfit: 60s olive-green skirt (thrifted); I love this color!!!, vintage Kenzo top (thrifted) & Cole Haan shoes (Cole Haan Outlet at Stateline, $40, people!)

'Age' is the acceptance of a term of years. But maturity is the glory of years.
-- Martha Graham

Time wounds all heels.
-- Dorothy Parker

I intend to live forever, or die trying.
-- Groucho Marx