Wednesday was Quilting Club day for Paulette as she left for the North Clubhouse at 10am to join about 20 other ladies who meet there from 10-4pm each Wednesday. She took her sewing machine with her as they actually work on their quilts all day so it’s not just a gab session, although I’m sure there’s plenty of that going on too. That left me here at the RV site to entertain myself and the muttzo’s for most of the day.
The main church at Mission Santa Ines
Since I didn’t do too much except read and take a few walks around the park, I thought I’d write a bit about our visit to the historic “Old Mission Santa Ines” on January 5th – a little over a week ago, before it slips my mind altogether. The mission is located in the Danish town of Solvang, just off Hwy. 101, and the day we were there was just perfect weather – all sunshine and very warm.
The altar area and entrance to the Sanctuary
Mission Santa Inés was founded on September 17, 1804 by Father Estévan Tapís, who had succeeded Father Fermín Lasuén as President of the California mission chain. The Mission site was chosen as a midway point between Mission Santa Barbara and Mission La Purísima Concepción, and was designed to relieve overcrowding at those two missions and to serve the Indians living east of the Coast Range . Despite its name, the Mission is located at 1760 Mission Drive, Solvang, California.
This is Mission Santa Ines from the outside
Most of the original church was destroyed on December 21, 1812 in an earthquake centered near Santa Barbara that damaged or destroyed most of California's missions. The quake also severely damaged other Mission buildings, but the complex was not abandoned. A new church, constructed with 5- to 6-foot thick walls and great pine beams brought from nearby Figueroa Mountain, was dedicated on July 4, 1817.
I’m pretty sure this is the original bell from the Mission
On February 21, 1824 a soldier beat a young Chumash Indian and sparked a revolt. Some of the Indians went to get the Indians from Missions Santa Barbara and La Purísima to help in the fight. When the fighting was over, the Indians themselves put out the fire that had started at the Mission. Many of the Indians left to join other tribes in the mountains; only a few Indians remained at the Mission.
This is one of the small Priest’s chapels in the Mission
In 1843, California's Mexican governor granted 34,499 acres of Santa Ynez Valley land to the first Bishop of California, who established at the Mission the College of Our Lady of Refuge, the first seminary in California. The college was abandoned in 1881; by then the Mission was disintegrating. A family lived there in the 1890s and did some repairs, but much of the complex collapsed in 1894.
The gardens in behind the Mission were very nice and well looked after
The Danish town of Solvang was built up around the Mission proper in the early 1900s. It was through the efforts of Father Alexander Buckler in 1904 that reconstruction of the Mission was undertaken, though major restoration was not possible until 1947 when the Hearst Foundation donated money to pay the for project. The restoration continues to this day, and the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers take excellent care of the Mission. Today the Mission is an active parish; there is also a museum, gift shop and information center.
Another picture of the luxurious Santa Ines Mission gardens
It was another warm, sunny day here but the wind kicked up a bit preventing it from getting as hot as yesterday, although it was still quite comfortable. The wind, about 10-15mph, wasn’t strong enough to stop anyone here from going about their normal activities – i.e. golfing, swimming, tennis or just sitting outside relaxing.
Paulette got back from her quilting group just before 4pm, so we took Molly and Rylie to the dog park for a run, came back, had dinner and settled in for a quiet night of watching TV and computer stuff.
Have a great Thursday and thanks again for visiting!
0 comments:
Post a Comment