Santa Barbara Animal Adventure

Mr. P had a wonderful time traveling to Santa Barbara, California from January 31 to February 4 with Mara to meet up with her friend Tara! They encountered travel woes, a billion cute animals (including the cutest ostriches ever), they went to a film festival and hounded film star Jennifer Lawrence, went to the beach, watched butterflies mate, and went whale watching! How do you fit all that into a few days? Mr. P and his guest are pros at this kind of thing. Here we go:

A crazy layover in Denver for Mr. P and Mara as they missed their connecting flight.

Alas! A beach and a drink in Cali, just how this traveling pickle likes it.

Hello hippie cupcake!

Mr. P enjoys the view from the Santa Barbara courthouse tower. (Looks a bit European, eh?)

What up, Ben Franklin? You like chillin' with a pickle, or what?

Ben must have not liked chillin's with Mr. P. He put these pigeons on him! BIRD ATTACK!

Enjoying a bagel while waiting to board the whale watching boat! WHALES!

Tara and Mr. P trying to stay dry and look for whales at the same time.

Look out One Eyed Willie, we're coming up right behind ya! Well, Mr. P and Tara that is.

At a "weird bar." GAME OVER. Poor Mr. P, he's never been good at this game.

Hello film fest! Hello HUNGER GAMES star Jennifer Lawrence. Check out Mr. Pickle's bow & arrow! His skills could give Katniss a run for her money. In his mind.

Theater front. Trying to get his eyes on THE Jennifer Lawrence.

In the meantime, may as well practice some Katniss-style bow moves...

Alas! Jennifer Lawrence is spotted! Look at Mr. P, being all cute and blurry and stalkerish.

Pickle-blur inside the theater, waiting for J-Law to give her interview and get her award. Yes, inside! It was a beautiful, old-style movie palace! This green guy does enjoy a good film.

Checking out the butterfly preserve. The area is full of eucalyptus trees and milkweed plants, so it's an ideal place for them to stop on their migration to and from Mexico. Mr. P LOVES monarchs.

If you walk up a path from the preserve you end up on this bluff. Great view!

Mr. P's lovely hosts, Mara and Tara. No, their names don't rhyme, and he kept getting it all confused.

Attempting to feed the ostriches at the ostrich farm. OSTRICHES! They are sooooo cute and Mr. P just wanted to pet one.

Then he saw the signs and decided against it. Even though he has survived alligator attacks on more than one occasion.

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?

They stopped in a Frankenmuth/Gaylord-esque town (except a Danish version) in the mountains for lunch. It was strange to see a bunch of Nordic stuff in the middle of the California hills. The food was amazing though: Danish sausage, Swedish meatballs, cabbage, pan-fried potatoes, and of course, PICKLES! Mr. P was in heaven.

Onto a mini horse farm! Do you C Mr. Pickle?

After leaving the mini-horse farm, they passed by an animal rescue park/petting farm and had to stop. Mara says it was the happiest place she's ever seen. The animals were all running around in the same pens in harmony, and they were all so CLEAN! She tried to take a picture of Mr. Pickle riding on the tortoise, but it was too fast and he kept falling off.

The baby mini-donkeys like to snuggle with people at naptime. Tara and Mr. P. were happy to keep this baby company. Mr. P. tipped his hat down and was about to take a snooze, too.

Happy, crazy animals playing.

Hannah's mom runs the animal rescue. What a fun job!

When she would yell "Heeeeey, Tom!" one of the turkeys would gobble.

Last stop, the lavender farm! The lavender wasn't really blooming, but there was a fun purple store that sold lavender products. Mr. P. helped Mara pick out some sachets to take home!

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Alas, an action-packed trip comes to end. So much fun was had! Mr. P thanks his gracious hosts. It's amazing how every trip to California is so different!

Don't forget to check out his itinerary and see if you can fit Mr. Pickle into you travel plans!

Skating to Venice

Mr. Pickle had the honor of joining Susie and Jeff on a quick weekend trip to Venice Beach, California from January 5-7. It was a mix of business and pleasure. There was a beach, some relaxing, some skating, some fun.

Check out these stylish looking lads at In n Out Burger at LAX. First up double double fries and a shake. Then a 10 mile skate to Venice.

Mr. P was tightly packed, ready to roll. Literally.

Brunch at Rose Cafe in Venice was sweeeeet. This pickle really needs some sunglasses.

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Oh, what a lovely little getaway! Mr. P sure digs California. In fact, he's probably going again in a few weeks. But! Next up is a state he's never been to: Washington!

The San Francisco Treat

Mr. Pickle stayed on with Miss Elizabeth after their recent east coast trip and then headed off to sunnier pastures: San Francisco, CA from November 29- December 3. It was a short trip but was full of many treats and thrills. Here we go:

 A visit to Makeshift Society brought Mr. Pickle in contact with his future home: A mini camper. I mean, really, look at him, it's too great.

More tiny things at Makeshift Society. HELLO HAT!

The visit to Rainbow Grocery in search of treats not available in New Zealand was endless. Erin and Mr. P were super hunters.

GASP! Look closely at that bucket. MR. PICKLE brand pickles?? And the pickle on the bucket is wearing a tiny hat! The real Mr. Pickle and his travel mates were in awe of this.

Mr. Pickle has chocolate covered. Fine, delicious, dark chocolate. Mmmmm.

Midway Airport brought many adventures for Mr. P, including controlling the Jetway.

Mr. P and Miss E learned that Midway Airport was named after the Battle of Midway.

Mr. P looks terrified as he ponders what statues eating live pickles have to do with the Battle of Midway!

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And so ends another trip. Mr. P sure has been many places this year. He's going to spend the holiday in Delaware- a state he's never been.

Where are YOU taking him next??



West Coast Librarian Adventures

After a tour of Chicago with Elizabeth, he stayed in her possession and they headed to California for a week for the American Library Association Conference. He does indeed love his library friends. This was his second ALA, as he went to the conference last summer with Jenny, when it was in New Orleans!

Anaheim, San Diego, and beyond was a good mix of ALA time and fun time. Thanks, E for being a good hostess to our little green friend, and for keeping him safe from killer penguins and killer jellyfish. Here we go:

 

Mr. Pickle met a penguin at ALA. Perhaps it's the Penguin Books penguin? 

 

Pickle @ Your Library

 

Conference swag featured a Wookie cookie. Say whuh? 

You must be at least this tall to ride this ride. Sad to say, Mr. P was not tall enough. He probably would have gotten sick on the roller coaster anyway. 

Which way to Disney Land?? 

 This pickle loves his BBQ. Here he met some pickle friends while chowing on Korean BBQ at Jeong Won, just North of San Diego.

Tiki time! Mr. P is dressed for the night. 

Awww, they're both making the same face!

Mr. P is still tiki-ing, and jumped into the art. Let's call this performance art. 

 Mr. Pickle and his new bendy friends. They told him to "get bent" and he told them he couldn't and they accepted him anyway.


Time to relax on the shore of Imperial Beach in San Diego.

Mr. P met a JELLYFISH! He was skeptical, and concerned, and alarmed, and very excited.

 Mr. Pickle was announced God of the Crabs at the beach!

Spirit of Imperial Beach! Pickle in hand, ready to make you swoon. (Or just teach you to surf.)

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Mr. P is headed to Spain next. But he's got the rest of summer open to travel with you. Would you like him to join you? Let me know!