Evenings at Hearst Castle

This is the life! Here we are at Hearst Castle, dressed to the nines and ready for the butler to call us in for dinner. The year is 1933, WR (or Willie, as Marion calls him) Hearst and Marion have invited us to the ranch in San Simeon for a week of fun, sun and frolic! How do we know them and how can you be invited also? Maybe I'll tell you another time.

There is never a lack of anything to do at the ranch, WR provides horses for day rides (but ride with one of his guides, if WR goes it's an all day affair-the last time I went on a ride with him, I was saddle sore and couldn't walk straight legged for days!), there is a tennis court, and it's lighted so one can play at night!, and two, count 'em, pools! (heated, of course, have you ever heard of such a thing?). I didn't think of bringing a bathing suit along, but no matter, suits are provided and kept in the dressing room area near that giant pool that WR calls the Neptune Pool. He thinks of everything!Cocktails at 7 pm and Dinner at 9, notice that we are expected to dress for dinner, but not too dressy, we just can't stay in dungarees if we've been riding. Luckily the house has a hair dresser on staff if we need a little help after all of that activity. The difficult part is trying to stay awake for the evening movie, if one hasn't had a nap. Last nights movie was one of Marion's new ones, Polly of the Circus, with Clark Gable (lucky girl!). She's adorable in it, and such a cut-up! You can't go wrong with Clark in your movie!

Today I took a ride down to the beach, you can see it from the house, but it's quite an ordeal and bumpy ride to get there. Cook made us a picnic lunch to take along. About five of us went for the day, we did go into the ocean, but the water is a bit cold! We went searching for shells and found some interesting ones. What a lovely day! The weather is pleasant in the daytime and cools off at night.

There are beautiful gardens to explore, never mind my photos, I'm stiil trying to learn to use my new brownie. At this time of year flowers are blooming and the air is fragrant with the scent of roses, jasmine, you name it.

Mother and I are staying in this house, I think WR calls it Casa del Sol. It's a bit formal, but still comfortable. WR has done a beautiful job of decorating all of these rooms in all of the houses. How many you ask? I'm not counting...I got lost in Casa Grande one night and had to pick up a phone (they are all over the house for this reason, thank goodness!). If the operator hadn't been able to direct me to the Assembly room, I would still be lost!

This is the view from our sitting room, our bedrooms look out on this view also. We've seen some spectacular sunsets, I'm sure that's where the name of the house came from.

One more day and night left here at the ranch, but Marion has planned a costume party for our last night here. The theme is Wild West, and the staff is bring loads of costumes from the movie studios for us to choose from. This is going to be wild! WR has even thought of providing entertainment for the evening. Roy Rogers and his beautiful wife, Dale Evans have been up at the ranch all week, and the Sons of the Pioneers have arrived at the ranch. I'm looking forward to hearing them sing, we're all in dancing moods!

Our visit is coming to an end, but I know I'll be back. I will have so many nice memories to cherish. Maybe we'll see you at the ranch sometime!