The Lassie House

Is Timmy in the well?

The Lassie House: photo by Cliff Hutson

The Lassie House, located in Pomona, California, is the childhood home of Jon Provost, famously known as Timmy, from the television series "Lassie".

Built on 1/2 acre, in 1897 (or 1900 - sources vary), the house is an historic landmark and is said to be one of the largest and most beautiful homes in Pomona. It has under gone renovation over the years. The above photograph shows how it looks today, after work completed in 2018. It would have been quite different when the child actor lived there.  I can say that with a lot of confidence because I first encountered it about 35 years ago. Back then, it had a fence and hedge around it. While it was difficult to to get a good look at, one could tell that it was painted white and was tatty looking.

The new owners, one of whom is the president/founder of a construction company that specializes in historic restoration, certainly improved upon the property. Some of the changes were quite extensive. One example is the addition of a well - which actually seems to be a fountain.

Lassie House Well: photo by Cliff Hutson

I guess this was done in recognition of the popular belief that Timmy at least once fell down a well and his faithful collie fetched rescuers to save him from his predicament.  However, even though Provost titled his 2007 memoir "Timmy’s in the Well" he points out Timmy never once, in the show’s 571 episodes, fell in a well.

 

A Rainy Day and a Monday

Talking to my cat and feeling old:

The astute reader of this blog might have realized that I often borrow from song titles, or lyrics, for the titles of my photographs and topics. Today underscores that. We have  had several days of rain and today is a Monday. And, I am down.

The rain is appreciated as I live in a state that has recently experienced a. spate of droughts. But, I used to the dry weather and the recent series of storms makes me realize that I would probably not do very well in the PNW or similar climes. 

Raindrops: photo by Cliff Hutson

But, this has presented some interesting opportunities for photos. The grey skies allow me to experiment with different lighting than I am used to, venturing no further than my patio. 

Rainy Day #12 or #35: photo by Cliff Hutson

Even when the raindrops keep falling on my head.

More Raindrops: photo by Cliff Hutson

MLK Jr. Day / National Hat Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of January each year.

I an no more optimistic about his legacy than I was last year.

National Hat Day

Can a man have too many hats?

Probably, I have  plenty anyway and it is hard to pick a favorite. So, in celebration of  National Hat Day this January 15 I herein share a small sample.

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Reading Log: December 2023

The books that I finished reading in the month of December 2023: 

December 2023 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America," Betsy Gaines Quammen

"Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains," Bethany Brookshire

"Hondo," Louis L'Amour 

"Out There: The Science Behind Sci-Fi Film and TV," Ariel Waldman 

Cliff's Notes

"True West"

I was very disappointed in this book, thinking that it would contain more history than personal stories. The author maintains, based on her personal experiences, that America can be brought together if we meet our fellow Americans where they are.

That may be easy for a well to do, somewhat noted, white woman to say. It is not so practical in a land where a service station in Arizona refused to sell me gas, or where my wife were seated in a restaurant in Idaho Falls but never served. 

She does write well though.

"Pests"

"Pests are what happens when we think that we've got nature all figured out, and nature decides to give us the finger."

This was both an entertaining and informative read.

"Hondo"

My newspaper of record recently devoted several paragraphs to a discussion of the movie of the same title and the novel as they both mention a local community - San Dimas. I decided to watch the movie and then read the book, which was based on the movie rather than the usual sequence. They were both pretty darn good. Each in its own way.

See how they differed was illuminating. A novelist can use extensive character description and metaphors.  A screenplay has to solve the problem of how to put necessary information in to the mouths of characters whereas a novel can just tell the reader about it.  

So, at bottom, I will say that I enjoyed the book more. Mostly because it gave me some leeway to enjoy the landscape as it were, rather than have it relegated to the background as I keep an eye on the actors. But, let me go on record as saying that I will never give up one form for the other.

"Out There"

Another enjoyable read. But, then I seem to have an inborn fascination with the juxtaposition between science fiction and real science. I came of age during a time when many of the things first hinted at in books and movies became (more or less) actual technological advances. This book limns the way real life and science fiction may intersect. 

Bonne année!

 

Happy New Year!

Dogwood: photo by Cliff Hutson

Wishing you a happy New Year, filled with peace, love and joy!

I am resolving to get up early and go outside.