Photo heavy post ahead.
Closing night was great! A full house of Parrotheads – hearing their enthusiastic reaction to all the jokes and songs was such fun. Couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful ending to this run. Everyone in the cast is lovely and they are truly going to miss each other.
Yesterday, we got up and started packing up the car, which took a long time as Don has been here for over 3 months. Then we stopped at DSW so he could get some sandals, whereupon I bought some new Birkenstocks, whereupon we ran to Whole Foods to get some breakfast from their hot bar and some coffee to go. So we got on the road a little later than we’d planned.
The beach near Laguna Beach on the Pacific Coast Highway.
As you might imagine, we hit the brakes when we saw this sign.
Don was hoping they sold t-shirts, but alas, they didn’t.
We went through countless little towns. As we were traveling through the South Bay area of Los Angeles, I looked up to see this sign:
As my shriek echoed through the car, Don took his cue and turned the car around.
I’ve heard about Antique Stove Heaven for years. This well-known little shop restores vintage stoves and yours truly has wanted an antique stove for YEARS.
EEEEEEEEEK!
We went inside to find a funky shop, short on decorative appeal, but long on beautiful old stoves. Marcos, who was working there yesterday, restores many of the stoves and he spent a lot of time with us, explaining the process, taking us on a tour, letting us pet his cat and his dog. We learned so much.
Could you die?
Here’s the big news. Don has fallen for these beauties! We’ve fallen in love with this one, specifically:
An O’Keefe and Merritt from the mid-fifties. We also like the one to the left.
Here it is with the cover up and converted to a shelf:
See those white protrusions at the top above the clock, etc? Salt and pepper shakers.
We’re very serious about this baby. We would have to have it converted to propane, but Marcos told me they do that all the time.
What do you think Don was saying to me here? (I’m not sure, but this photo makes me laugh – also, he’s holding my phone for me.)
After our time at Antique Stove Heaven, we drove toward Santa Monica, where we stopped, put on our bathing suits, and jumped in the Pacific Ocean.
That’s the famous Santa Monica Pier in the distance.
Don did a little body surfing, I played in the waves…it was glorious.
Then we drove through stunning Malibu.
We stopped at a lovely, intimate Italian restaurant and had a delicious meal. And then we drove for quite a while until we found a motel for the night.
Today: More driving up the coast of California.
Happy Tuesday.
I love those old double oven stoves!! Susan Branch has one, and I’ve been admiring it for years on her blog. Gorgeous scenery, thanks!
I was going to comment that it reminded me of the stove that Susan often shows on her blog!
I’m enjoying your adventure.
I’ve looked at Stove Heaven online. I’m drooling! and I love the stove you love. If you end up with it I will truly be jealous! I wanted one for my new kitchen but there wasn’t enough room if I wanted extra cabinets and since my kitchen is small I opted for the cabinets.
Safe travels!
I am homesick, seeing my old stomping grounds. My idea of Heaven is a winter house on the California coast and my summer house here in Colorado. Soak it up…and buy that stove!
What he’s saying to you in that pic is…”Honey, do you think this will fit in the back of the van? “. What a great adventure you two are on….safe travels to you! ;)
You are truly packing the memories in with Don, Claudia! A great start to the road trip. One of my best friends has that very same make and model stove! She salvaged it from her parents house and it is now in use at her home.
am LOVING this travelogue; thanks so much for taking us along. –suz in ohio
My son just bought a new stove and I was explaining to him the kind of stove I cooked on when I was a kid. Now I can send him pictures. I am sure he thought I had a faulty memory! I used to really love that grill in the middle for cooking eggs and pancakes for Sunday breakfast. Much easier than a skillet. You two are in for great breakfasts.
That is the stove that Susan Branch has, I think. And it is also the stove I would love to have! What a great store. I am going to remember Stove Heaven! You two have a great trip home.
Happy travels! I am loving the chance to tag along on your road trip in unfamiliar territory along with the the treasures you encounter on the way! Thank-you Claudia<3
Love the stove! My husband and I had a 1950’s double oven stove in our first apartment as newlyweds. It had a small oven to the left and larger oven to the right. The small oven was perfect for cooking for two people. I didn’t realize gas stoves could be converted to propane. That’s good to know. Our neighborhood is all electric but maybe a propane converted gas stove would be an option. Love all your pics! Drive safe and have fun on your travels home.
I think road trips are the best way to travel Stop whenever you like and investigate whatever strikes your fancy. Have fun!
Stove Heaven, indeed! Those are some beauties, for sure. Hope you get yours…you know how I love mine. We trucked ours up from FL last year and Mr Wizard converted it to propane and electric and it has been so fun to have it at the lake. It’s the thing I miss most when we leave, I think.
Have fun on your trip…but I know you will, since you’ve already made a good start. Safe travels.
What a wonderful road trip, especially including the stop at Antique Stove Heaven. Loved browsing through the selections, imagining.
I would have loved being on closing night! I’m glad Don had such a great experience. I miss the beaches of Calif so much. Laguna Beach use to be one of my playgrounds when I was in high school. So, those stoves! Love Love Love! What a great stop and maybe one will be in your home in the future?? These posts make me want to fly to Calif and drive the coast! Hugs!
Those old stoves are the best.
Marilyn
What a wonderful trip diary, for both you AND us! Thanks for taking the time to share. What a delight; incredible photos as usual, Claudia. You’re on my turf and I’m glad you both are having a memorable time. I just love it that you have so much fun together; a couple of ‘kids’, that’s you two!
Quelle adventures
I believe that stove is like the one Susan Branch has…. she always has some sweet things on that little shelf. What a fun stop that was!!
Glad you are enjoying the drive. Road trips are the very best!!
It sounds like you’re having a lovely time. Stay safe and enjoy the rest of your trip.
What a beautiful trip. All the lovely roads and sights are unreal for most. Or like in the movies.
I believe that Don is saying in the picture, “hey babe, let’s do this”. He’s serious about that
stove. And I can see why.
I also love Birkenstocks. I know some consider them ugly, but they are comfortable and that’s what’s happening in my world.
It is disgustingly hot and humid on the east coast. I know it’s July but still…
Enjoy the rest of your trip and stay safe.
Monica
What a wonderful adventure that drive looks like. I love those stoves too! Thanks for sharing.
They don’t make them like that anymore!
A great start to the drive home! Hope you can get the stove as it is rather fabulous!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us Claudia. It’s bringing back some wonderful memories for me when we took a trip along the beautiful California coast a few years back.
The stoves!! The one in the window, farthest on the right, is the one I would like. Oh, what a treasure!
That face Don is making, looks like he is running numbers in his head. Serious contemplation!
Have a blast on your road trip!
That is a perfect day!
These stoves remind me of my great-grandmother’s and her little kitchen, that we all just loved to sit around it. Nice memories.
Thanks for taking us along on your trip; what a good time the two of you are having!
Claudia, I’m really enjoying hearing about your adventurous road trip! I love antique stoves and have often dreamed about having one in my kitchen but I think they probably wouldn’t fit where my stove goes. The one you are serious about is divine! Are the prices through the roof? That stove would look dreamy in your cottage kitchen! It sure would be fun cooking and baking with it! Looks like you two are having a perfectly glorious time! So happy for you. Road trips are the best!
I was so excited for you taking my dream road trip and now you’ve been to Antique Stove Heaven, a place of my dreams! I drooled over their website the whole time we were building our log cabin, but Stephen King wasn’t having that shipping bill. 🙁
Dear Claudia and Don enjoy every second of this trip together and live off the memories for many years to come.
What a delightful start to your road trip! I absolutely love the stove – I think that author Susan Branch has that one in her home.
Thank you so much for sharing your travels with us. This is fun!
What a wonderful first day on the road, Claudia! That Stove Heaven was incredible and I love the one you were lusting after. It would be so,perfect in your little cottage. Hoping the rest of your days on the road are this happy and carefree. xx
Love, love, love those old stoves! I think one would look perfect in your kitchen! :-)