Road Trip- Bravo Farms Cheese Factory

Cruising along the 99 freeway on our way to get beehives, we took the Merritt Dr. exit for a bite to eat in the small farming community of Traver, California.  

We saw a small and interesting series of buildings from the freeway and wanted to get a closer look.  Man am I glad we did.  We stumbled upon a hidden jewel... the Bravo Farms Cheese Factory and Cafe 99. 

The cheese aging room and the 99 Cafe are located in adjacent rooms.    Look at all that wonderful aged cheese.  

There's a great view from every window inside.   You can watch the cheesemakers at work.  Below the windows you can see there were many interesting distractions like picture frames made from aged barn wood and wrought iron garden decorations.

Back outside, the entire building facade is decorated in vintage signage and antiques.   From the freeway it resembled a scene from a Disneyland set...  Walking about I felt as though I were walking backwards in time...

The food at the cafe was wonderful.  BBQ!  The decor inside was 50s themed.  The walls were completely covered by replica vintage signage.  Sorry, no pictures from in there.  my fingers were covered in bbq... 

 

There was a great gift shop and it was bursting with tasty local valley farm products.  Everything from dried fruit and nuts to dates and handicrafts.  Tables of packaged candy framed the center wall.  It was a rainbow of sugar, all kinds.  

I was amazed by what they managed to fit in there. So many neat and unique gift ideas and Bravo Farms packaged cheese...

LOTS of free samples too!

Back outside again and we found a covered wagon.  My hubby is a sucker for a good wagon...  

At the other end of the building we almost ran into this adorable little wagon for the kiddies.  

It still works too.  

We watched a few little ones channel their best John Wayne and Roy Rogers as their parents took turns snapping pictures and popping quarters inside the hungry little machine.  I got tired just watching the tykes...  and they sure were having a blast.

We eventually managed to find this giant atrium courtyard and that was the best part of all, for me.  

You know how I like farm animals... They have LOTS of animals.  It was a veritable petting zoo.

There were pygmy goats and turkeys, and a pair of amazon parrots too.

Then we found an enclosure with two of the cutest mini donkeys, Fiona and Shrek.  

 

Next to the roadway lies a wonderful little farmer's Market full of local citrus.  

I got my favorite- Cuties... 

while Jerry fell in love with their plumelos.  

They're like giant grapefruit, but much sweeter.

 My favorite "room" in the whole place was the hen house.

You heard me right.

I fell in love with their chicken coop.  I could write a post just about that coop.  It was awesome.  Maybe I will later...

Jerry had a blast climbing up into their AMAZING three story high tree house... That was not for me though, I am afraid of heights.  I kept my feet firmly planted on the ground and took a few pictures...

 We stopped for one last hurrah next to this old milk delivery truck that came from the Owens Valley, where Jerry grew up.  We had a great time, a fun meal, and enough laughs for a week.  All at this little place we'd never seen or heard of before.  If you find yourself on the 99 freeway between Fresno and Bakersfield, consider a pit stop and check out Bravo Farms and Traver, California.

I am linking this post to these fun hops this week-

Kelly Morris' brand new Homesteader Blog Carnival HERE

Tiffany's Garden Life hop at No Ordinary Homestead

and Jill, Kendra, and Amy for The Homestead BARN Hop!

Knott's Merry Farm- Ghost Town at Christmas

     Over the years, we have had a unique Christmas tradition in our family, and this year (our first post-kid Christmas- since Jon got married) we continue the tradition.  The Hubby and I spent the day at world famous Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.  At Christmas, the park is transformed and renamed Knott's Merry Farm.  It's one of the oldest theme parks in America.  History HERE!  We had a blast as usual.  Over the next few days, I am going to share a few highlights.  Today, let's talk about the Ghost Town area of the park (our favorite area).  Upon entering this section of the park, you can't ignore the GIANT old fashioned wooden roller coaster "Ghost Rider". 

 It's huge and so intricate. 

After you've ridden it, you'll need an aspirin.  It really whips you around, but in spite of this, and in spite of knowing it will happen, YOU'LL ride anyway.  It's too exciting to ignore.

Our next stop was the celebrated Bird cage Theatre.  

The Bird Cage Theatre features an acting troupe that have been performing together for 25 years and we were fortunate enough to see them perform the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.

  

If you look close you might see Jacob Marley warning his friend Ebenezer Scrooge to change his ways before it's too late (above).  

They are AMAZING actors.  

 We found lots of festive spots to take pictures, like this one next to Santa's Toy Shop. 

 Here, in the background is Charlene. We've been coming here for more than a decade at Christmas, and Charlene has been here every year demonstrating homemaking skills past and present on this porch.  I have watched her card wool, crochet, and once- she even knitted a blanket for her dog from the dog's own fur.  On this visit, Charlene was demonstrating making bobbin lace.  Look below.

 She is an amazing artist.  She said it takes her about an hour to create an inch in length of this pattern. Wow.  That's dedication.

 Later, we settled down for a Victorian Christmas stage show at the Calico Saloon with a tall mug of cold sarsaparilla. Yum.  Then, we were almost robbed at gunpoint by train robber Bad Billie Blackthorn.  I say "almost" because I charmed him out of his gun and turned him in to the local Sheriff.

 He wasn't such a bad guy after all.

 Then, we ran into a couple of friendly Victorian ladies and gents caroling with bells.

 

 Jerry got lost for a bit at Boothill...

 

 He even got locked up in JAIL as an accessory to Bad Billie's crime. Eventually, we got that all sorted out in time to enjoy yet another stage show.  This is the Wild West Stage Show and it features an Army Officer and outlaws.  

  

Nobody got hurt too bad.

Here's another nice shot of Jerry! he loves carvings.  Our trip through Ghost Town was awesome.  We saw so many great things.  There are so many artists hidden within Ghost Town, but you've got to go through all the shops to find them.  We found a glassblower making intricate, delicate glass ornaments, a blacksmith plying his trade- making cattle brands, an old wood carver making an eagle, and gold miners panning for gold.   

  Stay tuned for my next Knott's Merry Farm post.