La Misión de la Purísima Concepción de la Santísima Virgen María

Mission La Purísima Concepción is part of the La Purísima Mission State Historic Park, and a real must see for anyone interested in the workings of a historical Spanish mission. The site is also significant as a center of the 1824 Chumash revolt.

The current mission is located about 4 miles northeast of the original site of the 11th California mission, which was destroyed in an earthquake in 1812. A marker stone at the end of a suburban cul-de-sac indicates the site of the old mission, but the only remains are a couple of ruined walls.

The relocated mission was unique in that the buildings were laid out in straight lines instead of in the typical quadrangle used for all the other missions.

The mission was secularized in 1834, and after a few decades, the only structure left standing seems to have been the mission residence building.

A full restoration of the mission was taken up by the National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, but I'm not sure how the La Purísima Advisory Committee came up with the architectural design used for reconstructing the mission.

CCC restoration of the old church building.

Mission residence building, 1904

The area in front of the mission has a number of corrals for cattle, swine, and sheep. Several wooden ox carts are also on display on the grounds.

La caretta

Entryway to the cemetary

The old church

Wool from the sheep in the corrals were spun into thread and then woven into cloth.

The room of the master weaver
looks like it's straight out of the
Rumplestiltskin fairy tale

Olive oil was also produced at the mission.

Olive trees

Olive mill

Olive press

Kitchen of the Mayordomo

Apartment for a soldier

Barracks

Indoor stove

Outdoor cooking area

Community kitchen

The mission residence building includes quarters for the padres, offices, a chapel, wine cellar, and various workshops.

Hide racks

Leather shop

El baño

Tallow vats

Pottery workshop

Pottery kiln

There were actually a number of other buildings that I didn't see since I didn't really look at the park map beforehand, but Mission La Purísima is definitely worth another visit.

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes

In 1923, Cecil. B. DeMille built the City of the Pharaoh at the Guadalupe Sand Dunes for his film The Ten Commandments. I only became aware of this story after watching the 2016 documentary, The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille, made by Peter Brosnan.

I stopped by the dunes twice this year, but neglected to do the proper research beforehand, so I wasn't able to visit the site of the buried movie set either time.

I believe the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve is about a mile or so south of the movie set, but I couldn't pinpoint the exact location by searching on the Internet.

From what I understand, directions might be available from a NAPA Auto Parts store which doubles as a small museum, and there is also the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center where many artifacts are on display, but it is currently open by appointment only.

In any event, the first time I stopped by was in July, when the dunes were closed off to protect the nesting grounds for California terns and snowy plovers.

It was windy and overcast in July, and not many people were visiting the dunes.

I visited again over Thanksgiving weekend, and you would almost think it was Summer.

The next time I pass by, I hope I'll be able to hike some of the trails and take a look at the site of the City of the Pharaoh.

DCon 2021

I attended DCon at the Anaheim Convention Center over the weekend, and it was the first event I've been to in two years.

The line seemed to be very long, but it actually moved very quickly even with checking for proof of vaccination at the door.

Various pieces were on display outside of the exhibit hall.

Autonomous logging robot
by Michael Marras

Come Play With Us
by Victor Castillo

Art toys from the Time Bandits booth.

Various subversive action figures from the DKE Toys booth.

Tokidoki was the only apparent overseas attendee at the con.

Goth cupcakes from Art of Miso.

Skull and taxidermy pieces by Brooke Weston.

Ram Ship

A doll in an iron mask from Ave Rose Art.

The item that I am most looking forward to are the upcoming sofubi Cthulhu toys displayed at the Mondo booth.

Some cool models at the FM Raw Toys and Art booth.

Tatogigeator

Gaaopilie

Some pieces from the Imperial Lotus Dragon Custom Show.

More assorted pictures.

2016 Ecto-1

Glass Ecto-1

Martian Toys mascot

Master 9 Eyes (M9E)

We Are Not Toys booth

I get the feeling that there were probably only two-thirds or half the number of vendors that attended in the past, but the number of visitors seemed high. I had a two day pass, but didn't bother going the second day. Still, it was good to go to an event after such a long time.