Art & Inspiration HAMB FOR THE HOLIDAYS

It's 12:34 on the pacific coast. Happy Christmas eve.

 

Hello,

In looking back into our travels, we used to visit various different places nearby our mainstay of Santa Barbara. For 4 years we had a reason to visit Santa Barbara, as our son was an English major at the university. Also, it was like old home week since we used to come up here when we were teenagers to visit our friends attending the UCSB campus for overnight surf trips. Several great surf spots within walking distance of the housing north and south on the campus.

But, each place has different thing we did on those coastal travels. Years after our son was gone from the university, we still had relatives living in the Santa Barbara area. So, it still gave us a reason to stop for a visit. One visit was this tiny town of Ojai. It is well known for a destination spot and is quite busy most weekends.

As usual, my wife like to shop in various stores. Since we had our little dog with us, I stayed outside to wait in the covered overhead archway seating. As I was sitting, I noticed an old red pickup on display a**** the Christmas stuff being sold at this little store.

The town was full of holiday cheer and we enjoyed the walk through the whole cityfront avenue. It was a different area in that it is inland surrounded by the local mountains. But, for some, it is a relaxing destination.

Jnaki

Jump up many years later and we were searching for a holiday card for our granddaughter. As I walked down the aisle to look at several rows of cards, I noticed a similar red truck a**** all of the white and red Christmas cards.


So, our display of the Buick Skylark convertible fits right in when she comes over for a visit. YRMV

And, she can see “ her” tree since it has been on display since she was 1 year old, with her personalized name on each one.

Happy Holidays... from So Cal

 

I opened this card today, apparently some in the real world appreciate a white walled five window full of Christmas birch and conifer as much as we do.

 

Merry Christmas from Lepus, and Mrs. Lepus

 

Revved up for Christmas eve.

 

Gives new meaning to "deck the block".
Merry Christmas Mikey!

 

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year! Me and my girl out delivering baked goods a few weeks ago (before it snowed and they salted the roads).

 

Merry Christmas to everyone and Best Wishes for 2026!

Bob

 

Merry Christmas!....

 

I'm so excited about the Holidays... I just can't control myself.
Merry Christmas to all you HAMBers.

 

Merry Christmas to all.
If you have been good, Santa may drop a nice load at your house.

 

Thank you! Same too you and all.....

 

Hilarious! And true.

.bjb

 

Always enjoyed this work by our own @Jeff Norwell

 

NO, i'm not sick but yesterday evening there was a Christmas Movie "Violent Night" ( 2022) on TV and not for little kids. Pic is Santa with his favorite skull crusher in hand. Actually reminded me of going to the Drive-In in the 1970s for the late-night Vincent Price horror movies.

 

Hello,

One Christmas when we still lived in the far reaches of the Westside of Long Beach, our backyard was large with plenty of space to play and build all kinds of stuff with wood or mud, etc. One thing was those outside incinerators that was part of our daily/weekly jobs of “taking out the trash” and lighting it on fire inside of the concrete incinerators. They were the popular item in most late 40s houses and went out when the local cities started the city wide trash pickup programs.

We were using sling shots, spears made from branches and our trusty play bow/arrow sets to hit targets, etc. If a bunny came running across the yard, those things all came into play trying to hit a live target. Yikes!

But, our dad was “into” guns as introduced by one of his friends. (But, only for a short time…) So, as a requisite present at Christmas, he gave us two Red Ryder Lever Action Rifles. For me, it was difficult to crank the lever to get it ready for the next shot. Then when it kicked back and pinched my hand, that was it and it stayed in the closet.

Then, a new BB rifle was introduced and my dad got me one, since my brother still had his crank handle version. The first thing we noticed was the pump handle rifle was faster and more powerful. But the slide mechanism was easy to pull and get ready for the next shot. YRMV

Jnaki

The odd thing was, I could easily pull back the grip to **** the slide action pump rifle. So, now that was my sidekick and companion for all shooting and play activities. It was so powerful that we had to go out beyond the backyard to the huge field near the Terminal Island Freeway. Now we could shoot anywhere and not damage our targets. No, we did not shoot anyone’s eye out…yet.

Note:
After a couple of years, our dad sold his pistol and never went shooting again. He had enough. But, he allowed us to keep our rifles and we continued to use them until we were young teenagers. Then, those rifles also went into the storage trunk and they were given to our cousins, who now could... "shoot their eyes out..." YRMV Our next adventures with old cars was just beginning...