Dear Readers,
Read this post first:
“The Valley of the Flowers” Part 1
. . . . And as if this childhood setting was not quaint enough, we also had the good fortune to live near the village of Solvang, California: “The Danish Capitol of the World.” Danish settlers named the town “Solvang,” meaning “Sunny Fields,” when they migrated to California in 1911, to escape the harsh midwestern winters. And, really — who could blame them?
Entering the village of Solvang was like entering one of the “countries” of Epcot — except that this village was authentic! For special occasions, Dad & Mom drove us [my three siblings and me] over and through the undulating hills of The Valley of the Flowers, to Solvang, where we dined at a Danish restaurant named, “Paul and Margaret’s.”
We also lived near Buellton, CA, the home of Andersen’s Split Pea Soup Restaurant:
The South may know a thing or two about BBQ — but I was raised near the Santa Maria Valley, “The BBQ Capital of the World” and home of the “Tri-Tip Beef BBQ:”
Our Valley of the Flowers was famous for “Pinquitos” [“Little Pinks”], which we ate with our BBQ. The Portugeuse farmers brought “Pinquitos” from the Old Country, when they first settled in the Valley of the Flowers:
Way before salsa became “hip” and replaced ketchup — way before you could buy salsa in a grocery store, we dined at the Far Western Tavern in nearby Guadalupe and enjoyed freshly-made salsa with our BBQ and pinquitos:
At this point, I am getting a little ahead of my story — but I cannot resist posting these last two photos of Los Olivos, CA, home to “Mattei’s Tavern,” an Old Stage Coach Inn, circa 1886.
This historic site included a restaurant that was so quaint and romantic that I fell in love with it — and with my future husband — when he took me there to dine, in 1970.
. . . These are the snapshots – the postcards — of my idyllic life in “The Valley of the Flowers,” circa 1958 – 1962. The events that interrupted that life will be the subject of the next post, Part Three of this series.
Coram Deo,
Margot
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Margot’s Corner 
Margo,
Enjoy your photos, thoughts and reminiscing.
Almost one year later and your writings preserve loving memories and inspire all those blessed to read.
Special thanks dear friend,
Margie Gibbons
Dear Margie,
How wonderful to see your reply to this post! I haven’t been very regular in writing my blog posts but your encouraging words will motivate me! I called a few weeks ago and had a nice chat with your Steve. I would love to get caught up! Please call me when you have a few minutes!
I think of you often! I saw Jerry & Ann’s daughter in Publix! We chatted a few minutes.
I took Water Aerobics with a friend this past summer, at 7.00 am! I thought about you and the fun we had, The Davises & Paynes had supper together and then went to see “White Christmas” at the Little Theatre: We kept saying, “Steve & Margie would love this!”
Love,
Margot