Roseville... Ice Capital of the WORLD?

On a recent adventure through one of Roseville's parks, I came across this NOTICE located above a footbridge that I was visiting while waiting to have my taxes done. (The things I do to pass the time, I know)...

HOW STRANGE! Or at least it was until I saw the Roseville Historical Land Marker #2 on the other side of the bridge that explained why the sign hung there.

Turns out, Roseville CA located just north of Sacramento was once the Ice (as in FAKE) capital of the world.

WHO KNEW? I couldn't pass up the opportunity to snag some dirt. And thanks to my bff we scooped some up and marveled at how many times the places we go to on a regular basis turn out to have so much historical meaning.

It was a great day and I got a great sample of dirt. Who knows who may have walked...or skated...across these grains of dirt as well as this footbridge?

The sign reads as follows:

Across the footbridge situated high above the Southern Pacific Railroad yards, passed untold thousands of Pacific Fruit Express employees at the world's largest artificial ice plant. In disuse since 1974when the giant plant was razed this local landmark was moved in 1986 for use as a public footbridge across dry creek and as a memorial to those days when Roseville was the ice capital of the world.

Dedicated in March of 1987 as the Reuben E. Nelson footbridge in honor of Reuben Nelson, long time superintendent to the PFE and civic leader.

Alcatraz

WELCOME TO THE ROCK

Ha ha ha! I love when Sean Connery said that in the movie. Nick Cage learned a few things about himself when he portrayed an FBI agent and "side kick" of sorts to Sean in the movie entitled The Rock back in 1996.

And although I have never been to Alcatraz personally, I do have some great daughters that have visited there. (Thank you to the Man upstairs that it was only a day visit)

Thank you to Madi, Brady and Holli for snagging me this sample of dirt from the island of Alcatraz on a recent visit there. I have many dirt samples that are in these cute little magnetic fridge decorations. I always love getting them!

Alcatraz, also known as "The Rock" is the most infamous prison in United States history. It housed some of the most notorious criminals we have ever seen in our nations history. This prison was known amongst criminals as the worst place to go. Alcatraz is secluded on an Island off the coast of San Fransisco, with no one around for miles, these prisoners sat in this dark, foggy and dampened prison counting the days, trying not to go completely crazy. Alcatraz was opened back in 1934 and it closed it's doors in 1963. Alcatraz was considered one of the harshest prisons around. The prisoners had minimal privileges, if any, and some prisoners where even driven to complete insanity because of the conditions that were Alcatraz. This makes Alcatraz tours in San Fransisco, one of the most popular things for most tourists and even locals here to do.

Thank you again to my sweet family for thinking of me on their trip to San Francisco.

Ventura Beach, California

Ventura Beach, California. Now there's someplace I would like to be this week! Not because I want to be surfing or anything like that, but mainly to collect more sand like the one that Jeremy Berg's family brought me this past week.

The sand is gorgeous, but the bottle that it was delivered in (along with the bag) was just as beautiful! Carolyn Berg had the sand, along with a way cool magnet delivered by Jeremy's grandparents right here to me in Orem while they were on their way to Idaho Falls to Watch Jeremy play. He is one of our players this year and is having quite the season to say the least. He is 5-0 and doing GREAT!

Thank you to the Berg family for the sand, and for sharing your son with us for a little while. We are looking forward to this year's PLAYOFFS and more importantly, to seeing Jeremy become successful in the years to come.

Rancho Cucamonga

Recently, the baseball season started. Along with new players coming and going, I have the privilege of meeting their parents as well. Some stay longer than others, but even if it is for a brief amount of time, it is always fun to get to know them.

Enter the Wing Family.

Michael played in Orem near the end of the 2008 season. He lived with us for that short amount of time, and his impact on the team was felt immediately, but for our family it was even more. He kept in touch during the off season and when he went to the Dominican Republic for fall ball. Of course, my staying in touch with him was for purely selfish reasons...I needed dirt from the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes' home field! And my efforts paid off! His parents Damon and Laura came to visit Michael this season and with them they brought me this dirt sample.

It even had a little additional "turf". They live in Rancho and of course, are seasoned veterans at attending baseball games too! They plan to visit later in the season, and hopefully will be able to fulfill my request for dirt from Anaheim Stadium. It will complete the entire collection for fields that the boys of summer play on while on their journey from rookie ball to the BIG LEAGUES.

Thank you Wing family! You, (and the VERY cool t shirts) are very much appreciated.

Michael will no doubt leave a lasting impression on the Orem Owlz team as well as in the hearts of the Ridley Clan.

Roadtrip California style

THANK YOU to my sister! These items were sent to me quite some time ago, but given the fact that I have done nothing but work, work, work...I just barely got to the P.O. Box this week!

The only information I got with these little goodies was that they were not to be taken out of order. Apparently they made sure to put all of them in baggies,and marked not only the dates, but the TIME as well that they were collected.

So this is a post about a recent road trip "California" style. The event was a celebration of sorts for my nephew Rick who was finishing up his high school career. They ventured down from the Sacramento area to Southern California, hitting several very COOL spots. They are as follows:

June 3, 2009

6:50 a.m. McDonald's in Santa Nell parking lot

8:15 a.m. Colinga Avenal Rest Area

9:47 a.m. Grapevine Jack in the Box

June 4, 2009
1:32 p.m. San Diego Zoo

June 5, 20009

8:48 a.m. Imperial Beach

5:30 p.m. La Jolla Beach

June 6, 2009

5:40 a.m. HAMPTON INN Kearny Mesa San Diego

8:13 a.m. McDonald's Newhall

10:11 a.m. Lost Hills Exit

11:53 a.m. Rest area with No Name

So, there you have it. A fun road trip that I didn't get to physically go on, but got to enjoy through the efforts of my sister and her family! Thank you for including me on your journey! Oh and thank you for not charging me extra for the very cool seashells.

Don Pedro Lake, California

Let me just start by saying this...
I found it very funny that the delivery of this soil sample in the mail came to me in UTAH, from CALIFORNIA, in a bag from a guy who is JAPANESE(Yamamoto), with a label that says Made in MEXICO and yes,with a return address of ARIZONA.
Thank you my friend, for sending it my way. There is no confusion as to who YOU are!

JUST GOES TO SHOW YA...DIRT TRAVELS!

Don Pedro Lake is located just west of Sonora in Central California. It was collected from the shore at Flemming Meadows. Another fishing tourney was the purpose in the trip, unfortunately, my dirt sample was the only TROPHY received that day! Better LUCK next time? Thank you for the dirt, and for once again including me on your adventure!

CCC Martinez, California

Here it is...Not only did I get some WAY cool dirt from Martinez, California located in Contra Costa County, but I got something even cooler! A new little grandson named Kelvin Kyler Love. This is the pic of the baby, and the dirt...and yes, every time there is a new place that baby Kelvin will visit, the tradition will continue. New baby. New dirt.

The dirt is from the hospital that Kelvin was born in. Kelvin was welcomed into the world on Monday, April 27th at 4:17 in the morning. Read more about the whole story at www.ridleyclan.blogspot.com. P.S. The little brown spot on the Itty Bitty Diaper...isn't what you think...It's the DIRT! Welcome to the world Kelvin!

Box 158...Hey that's ME!

This is the box I got in the mail on Friday! Ain't it a beautiful thing...Dirt, just for me. This is what it looked like on the outside, and in and of itself, is a wonderful thing....But WAIT! There's more...

the stuff below is what came on the inside of the box... 5 samples from all over the place!

The letter along with it reads as follows:

The letter is from my sister Sue Harrington. The dirt traveled from Tonopah, Nevada to Indian Springs, to Tehachapi, to Baker and then finally to Boron. Oh, and least us not forget to Orem, Utah and my personal favorite spot...BOX 158.

Thanks sis! For thinking about me on your journey, and for just being my sista!!

Ione, California

Ione, California

During the days of the gold rush, miners knew the town of Ione by the names "Bedbugs" and "Freezeout". Unlike other communities in Amador county, Ione was not founded as a mining town, it was founded as a supply center, stage, rail stop, and agricultural hub. Today, the town is home to the Mule Creek State Prison. According to the prison's website, there are 3,782 prisoners residing in the facility, well above the design capacity of 1700, and they account for well over half of Ione's population.

This sample was taken from the home of my friend Joe Reyes. I actually know 2 people that work at the prison in Ione! Turns out Joe's wife and my sister - in - law both work there. So, dirt, is truly, the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of us all.

Donner Pass

Growing up in Northern California and living just at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, I got to travel quite often to Reno. In doing so, I went over the Donner Pass. For those of you that haven't been there before, it is beautiful. The story of the Donner party and their struggles can be found at http://www.donnerpartydiary.com/ . I got the sample above about 12 years ago when traveling back from Loomis and a family visit. Several years ago I got to experience a different side of the Donner Pass. I traveled to Roseville, California via the California Zephyr operated by Amtrak. It runs from Chicago, Illinois to Emeryville, California. The ride is a L O N G one, but well worth it! On the return trip there are actually guides on the train that give an audio account of the Donners and their demise. There is also a monument at the Donner Memorial sight, indicating how deep the snow got during the storm. This dirt was gathered from the base of that monument.

Keep me posted...

Few things in life get me as excited as seeing a new sample of dirt in my PO Box. At the UPS store on Center Street in Orem, the employees there always treat me so well. They get almost as excited about where my dirt is coming from as I do! In fact, they usually know BEFORE I do where it is coming from. I have had kind of a slow serious of events this last little while. But that is kind of how it is in the DIRTY business that I work in. So, keep me posted. Send me some dirt. Here's the thing...I still have over 100 plus samples that I still haven't posted about, so really, there's no RUSH! I have plenty of time, and too, the dirt isn't going anywhere.

The little white vial on my keychain, is now filled with my FAVORITE dirt ever. Any guesses?

New Melones Reservoir

So in my travels, I have connected with lots of people. But in my blogging, I have had a chance to RE CONNECT with lots of people too. Joe Reyes being one of them. Joe and I attended Del Oro High School together in California. We crossed paths infrequently in those days, he was always wrestling in the gym and me? I was busy playing softball outside! But, we have recently re-connected thru blogging and working on our high school's 30th reunion.

When Joe read my blog he jumped at the chance to get on board and send me some dirt! He and his wife Kim went fishing (something Mr. Reyes gets to do a lot!) and were kind enough to get me some dirt from their adventures! This dirt is very unique in that it is very textured! It reminds me of coffee grounds. The picture doesn't really do the deep red color justice. This sample was saved from the Angles Camp area located on the map on the right ------------------->

More information on the New Melones Lake can be found at the following website:

www.gloryholessports.com/about_new_melones_lake.
I heard a rumor that I might be getting some new samples soon too! Thank you in advance, and I appreciate you thinking of me!

Romine Territory

I was so excited to get this little sample from the Romine Family who are located in Lake Forest, California. We met the Romine Family via their son Andrew who is a phenomenal, yes, unbelievably phenomenal baseball player. Andrew lived with us during the 2007 baseball season during which time he played for the Orem Owlz, the rookie team to the Anaheim Angels. Andrew was so much fun to watch and the best short stop ever to take the field at the Brent Brown Stadium in Orem. (okay, so as his host mom, I may be a little biased). Andrew's family, mom June, little sister, and his dad Kevin, came and visited with us too! If the name Kevin Romine rings a bell, it is probably because he was a Major League player himself. Pappa Romine played for 12 years with the Boston Red Sox. * Yes, I even have dirt from the field at Fenway too. This dirt was from their yard and is now holding a special place in the collection.

I miss Andrew. He no doubt will be in Arizona very soon. He, along with all our past players, will be sweating it out during spring training . For this baseball fan... not soon enough!

Thank you Romine Family! Thank you Andrew. L.L.s

San Diego, California

The sample on the left was the dirt that Meagen and Christopher collected while on vacation in San Diego 2 years ago. The one in the middle is actually one that I collected over 5 years ago. The container it is in was actually a vial that my Avonex medicine used to come in. I have since then, purchased a new white plastic carrying case about the size of a teaspoon that I keep on my key chain just in case I find some cool soil and I need a place to keep it until I get home. The one on the right was given to me by a former client that I worked with in the scrapbook industry.

I have collected so many samples from San Diego, California, that I decided to combine them all in one post. You remember KK? She sent me some dirt recently from the Lake Mead area in Nevada. Well, she sent these samples from San Diego as well. I laughed when she dropped a little note in the bag too. This is not from the beach, but you can SEE the beach from where I got it! Ha ha ha. Love that line!

She also sent me some sand dollars as well. Knowing my love of the ocean she must. Those quickly went into a decorative jar in my guest bathroom. Thank you to Meagen and KK both for the samples. San Diego is so beautiful. The median temperature is 78 degrees year round! That's something I could get used to. Thank you to everyone for expanding my beach sand from San Diego.

The Tale of Two Cities

Lewisburg, West Virginia and Fremont, California. ...Quick. What do they have in common?

(insert theme from Jeopardy here) Well, they both had my good friend Julie Hatch visit them recently. One to reunite with an old friend, and one to say goodbye to a loved one. Both visits, actually, were completed by Julie and once again she remembered to bring me back some soil.

Surf and TURF

Sand from Surf Beach in Lompoc, California. It's located next to Vandenberg Air Force Base. This dirt was obtained after testing of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) missile. This is the missile that defends our nation from missile attacks. The only other detail I can offer (Top Secret means Top Secret) is that a newly acquired friend named Lance saved it for me and sent it my way! The texture is very similar to sand I have also recently received from San Diego.



Surf Beach is located not far from Highway 1 and 240 where the road dead ends at the Vandenberg Base. Amtrak has even recently just opened a stop there letting you right off at the beach. And you know how I feel about Amtrak! Ride the rails, and then the tide! Sounds like the perfect vacation to me! There is also an Embassy Suites near by. Remember, staying with a Hilton property is always the best way to go.

Thank you Lance! I appreciate you thinking of me during your recent JOURNEY!