Kids' Fun at Hidden Valley Retreat!

Hanging out in the Children's Garden

Family reunions, summer camps, group retreats; no matter the occasion, kids love Hidden Valley! With 10 acres of private, natural space, kids have plenty of room to explore. Young ones can splash in the pool, throw frisbees on the built-in frisbee golf course, play board games in the Main House, walk through the Children's Garden, perform skits on the stage, and much, much more! There are bugs and butterflies to be discovered, fresh, juicy fruits to be tasted, and marshmallows to be roasted. Your kids will adore their time at Hidden Valley!

Irish and Peter's Wedding

Just as spring turned to summer, we had the pleasure of hosting Irish and Peter's nuptials at the property. The celebration was charming, but also especially unique and personalized thanks to the couple's creative DIY ideas.

flower arrangement

The pair took advantage of Hidden Valley's unique experience to customize their wedding. They set up craft stations in the event center in order to create beautiful floral arrangements and one-of-a-kind details. The vast property at Hidden Valley truly allowed Irish and Peter's loved ones to experience several special moments with each other doing fun activities.Together they transformed pretty chrysanthemums and stunning proteas into gorgeous, handmade flower arrangements and boutonnieres.

boutonnieres

With a second wave of DIY inspiration, Irish and Peter created their own guest poster rather than opt for a traditional guestbook. They started with a cute bicycle template, then asked their guests to mark the page with their own, brightly-colored thumbprints. The result was a fun, ultra-personal keepsake to commemorate the friends and family that shared this special day with them. 

The happy couple also reinvented the traditional seating card idea. Instead of using individual placement cards to guide guests to their seats, Irish and Peter chose a chalkboard style template to create a series of signs displaying the table number and the names of the guests that were seated there. The seating signs were then hung from a simple line of twine near the Barn House and the Garden Suite. Putting the assignments onto a clothesline evoked a casual, yet practical and pretty style in the great outdoors.

Irish and Peter even dressed up the lighting poles on the property by wrapping them in gauzy chiffon. It was a very simple way to add something special to the dance floor. They even decorated the back of the wooden wedding stage with paper garlands for a little pop of color. Accents of yellow and grey unified the decorations and completed the personal look of this creative wedding!

A big thank you to Photographs by Anjuli for the photos! Congratulations Irish and Peter!! 

Clickery Photography Wedding!

Our good friends and associates, Katie and Zack of Clickery photography were wed on May 10th, 2011. We have had a great relationship with them since we met at our bridal fair, and chose them as our preferred photography vendor. Katie and Zack are an extraordinary couple that own their business, and they photograph as a team. 

You can imagine our joy when K and Z told us they wanted to use us as their wedding venue. Out of all the venues they've shot at, they chose us! We were honored to have them, of course.

All of that excitement was recently revived after we received a disc in the mail of all of their beautiful photos! Unfortunately, the talented team couldn't shoot their own photos, but they sure had an entourage of photographer friends to do it for them! Because Katie and Zack were so familiar with the property already, they knew all of the best locations (even secret spots) to take pictures together. 

Here are a few of our favorite photos, you can view their whole album on our Facebook. 

On the terraces, we love the balloons!

The ceremony was held at Hippocrates Circle.

We love this bench!

K&Z fancied up our fence leading to Hippocrates circle.

Reception in the Event Center.

We LOVE this photo, so funny!

We highly recommend Clickery Photography for any wedding! Because they are a team, it is like getting two for the price of one! While Katie is in the Mountain View Suite capturing every moment of the bride getting beautiful, Zack can be clicking the groomsmen getting ready and goofing around in the Barn House. You get the eyes of not one, but two talented photographers. And now with the experience of getting married at our venue, we can give our full guarantee that your Hidden Valley wedding pictures will be better-than-perfect if you choose to use this dynamic duo.

Clickery Photography can be found here. 

The New Barn House

These last two weeks were dedicated to renovating The Barn House. Our devoted Hidden Valley renovation team conquered this project. We targeted the Ranch Hand Room and the Rawhide room.

New Signs to label the bedrooms

We started by installing fans in all the bedrooms, because we have been having some hot summer days. Now the barn house guests can relax indoors with cool breezes rolling throughout the house!

We painted The Ranch Hand room a beautiful calm blue, and added matching throw pillows. The Rawhide room also received a fresh coat of sage green paint. We found some great original oil paintings and framed them, so each room has its own original piece of art! Each bedroom got new furniture, and all new lamps and light fixtures. All of the windows received a new window treatment, with funky curtains to match each theme. We also framed some great horse photos for the palomino room (we just love themed bedrooms)!

The new and improved Ranch Hand Room

We also added a few new beds, with all new comforters. Now the rooms are soft and cozy with their new bedspreads and fun decor! With our new bed configuration, the Barn House can hold up to 14 people. Each room now has a queen or king bed to hold couples. 

In the Ranch Hand Room, we turned an oil lamp into an electric lamp with a bulb. We will post on how to make your own on our next blog!

The Palomino Room (Left) and Rawhide Room (Right)

The Barn isn't for the animals anymore! It still has all the barn charm with the comforts of home inside.

Weekend Wedding Trend

We were all proud of ourselves for coming up with the weekend wedding idea when we realized that it is a growing trend across the country.  That being said, Hidden Valley does put its own special twist on it.  Below is an article written by Tracy Curnette on how she plans weekend weddings in Sonoma, CA.  Read on to see how we do things in SoCal.

Tips for Planning a Weekend Wedding

Would you like to turn your wedding into a full weekend of fun? The growing trend toward weekend weddings, filled with fun which can range from spa treatments to golf touraments for your guests, has caught on at destinations everywhere. This month, we talk with Tracy Curnette, Event Manager and Marriott Certified Wedding Event Planner for The Lodge at Sonoma for her tips on planning a weekend wedding--whether in Sonoma, California or elsewhere.



For brides planning a weekend wedding, what nearby attractions or on property activities are of special interest for their guests?

Sonoma: Well of course the Spa! But as I have already mentioned that, there are some wonderful winery tours to experience. We also have a number of historic landmarks, a wonderful downtown plaza with fabulous unique shops, art museums, and hot-air balloon rides.

Hidden Valley: While San Diego has all these activities to offer and more, we at Hidden Valley also like to take it easy and enjoy the simpler pleasures in life.  Our activites include taking a walk, picking fruit, playing horseshoes or pool, read a book, relax by the pool, or cook a family meal.  Sure we have the world famous Wild Animal park just minutes away but you can aslo stay in and enjoy Grandma's wold famous chocolate chip cookies too.  You want spa treatments?  We can arrange for you to enjoy them right on property as well.


Why do you think there has been a trend lately toward more weekend weddings?


Sonoma: Brides, grooms and their families are putting a great deal of care and planning into their weddings today. Often weddings are planned for one to two years in advance. A weekend wedding insures that the most possible invited will be able to attend. In addition, the fun is not limited to the day of the wedding alone. Activities can be planned to enrich and engage your guests for two or three days.

Hidden Valley: People are on tight budgets these days so a weekend wedding has many advantages for those of us who need to watch our spending.
   1. You can make it a wedding/ family reunion.  If people are flying across the country you might as well be able to actually spend time with them.
   2. At Hidden Valley there are places for 40 to sleep at no extra costs.  Meaning: no hotel rooms.
   3. A budget bride is a DIY bride.  At a weekend wedding you family is there to help you.  Need chairs set up?  Favors wrapped?  Isn't that what cousins are for?
   4. You get to actually spend time with your family.  Enough said.

How can weekend weddings help join families and make everyone feel more comfortable?


Sonoma: With a weekend wedding family and friends are not seeing each other for the first time at the wedding ceremony. They have had relaxed opportunities to rekindle friendships and enjoy one another’s company in a less formal venue. This contributes to a warm and comfortable atmosphere at the wedding.


Hidden Valley:  Yes, we agree. 



What types of activities have you helped weekend wedding brides arrange for guests?


Sonoma: Again the Spa! I have arranged Spa treatments for all of the bridal party and delightful luncheons in the Spa Garden. These can be planned for the day before the wedding or the morning of the wedding.

The groom and groomsmen are usually fond of a golf outing at one of our premier golf clubs. Infineon Raceway is also just minutes away. For the adventurous, ESPN Russell Racing Schools offer a full spectrum of open wheel racing courses, karting classes, driving courses and group adventures!

And of course, it is great fun to get friends and family together in a plush, luxury limousine bus, where speed is definitely not the focal point, and sample Sonoma’s wine.

Hidden Valley: Sure we can help you but most of the time families want to plan their own outings.  A trip to the beach or the San Diego Zoo. San Diego has so much to offer but don't forget to leave time to relax and smell the roses.


What functions are especially appropriate for the day after the wedding?

Sonoma: Post-wedding bunches are very popular. Friends and family can get together one last time, enjoy delicious cuisine and sip mimosas or fresh peach Bellini’s. Some brides have even tied in their gift opening with this event. Don't we all want to see the presents?!

Hidden Valley: Mmmm...brunch.  We think brunch is a fabulous idea but, not when it costs $50 per person.  Why not take your newly integrated family and share some favorite family recipes.  We have 2 kitchens so why not use them?

Fall is for Persimmons

Take a look at our Persimmon tree! 

The one in the picture is a Hachiya persimmon. It starts out orange and when it's ready it's almost red. You have to wait till it's the consistency of pudding but, it is so sweet and delicious. We also have Fuyu persimmons. This version is a lighter orange and it's rounder. You eat it when it's hard and crispy like an apple. For the past two monthes we've been enjoying our persimmons. If you've never tasted one they are quite a treat. I've been sharing them with family, friends and of course our many guests at Hidden Valley. I also have been trying my hand at a couple sweet treats; most recently, I made persimmon cookies. Here is the recipe if you'd like to give it a go. I found it on allrecipes.com

Persimmon Cookies

2 ripe persimmons, pureed

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease or line one baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt.

3.Cream the butter or margarine with the sugar. Beat in the egg and persimmons. Add the flour mixture and mix until combined, stir in the chopped nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheet.

4.Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes.

Enjoy!!!

A little pat on the back

Chelsea and her youth group stayed with us 2 weeks ago and left us such a nice review we had to share it with everyone.  We appreciate the feedback and a positive review makes all the hard work worth while.  To read her review and more go to our yelp page at http://www.yelp.com/biz/hidden-valley-retreat-and-spa-escondido

"I recently brought my youth group from Arizona here for a little weekend getaway. We absolutely loved everything about this place and it is easily said that it exceeded my expectations!! I Highly recommend it for any occasion and age. The home and property is well maintained and very comfortable. The grounds are fun to explore, beautiful to look at and, and completely relaxing!! I know that we will for sure be returning to Hidden Valley!!!!


Thank you Chelsea, we look forward to having you and your group back again soon.

So Much Zucchini!!!

Anyone who has grown zucchini knows that once it comes, it comes in mass quantities all at once.  And you can't neglect it otherwise you end up with something that looks like this.

GIGANTIC, MONSTER ZUCCHINI!!!

In case you can't tell, that zucchini is as long as my arm from elbow to fingertip.  And there wasn't just one, there were 6 this size. 

That being said, we have had to get creative with the recipes.  Here is a recipe we've been enjoying for the world's best, super moist zucchini bread.  My friend Daune came up with the recipe and it has been getting eaten as quickly as it is getting baked.  Plus, it freezes well and lasts in the fridge for up to a week.

Ingredients:

6 c AP Flour

2 tsp Salt

2 tsp Baking Soda

2 tsp Baking Powder

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Allspice

1 tsp Cloves

6 Eggs

1 c Vegetable Oil

1 c Applesauce

2 c White Sugar

2 c Brown Sugar

2 Tbsp Vanilla

6 c Grated Zucchini (with the excess moisture squeezed out)

Directions:

1. preheat oven to 325 degrees

2. Grease and flour a 4"x8" loaf pan

3.Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl (everything up to the cloves)

4. Beat eggs, oil, apple sauce, vanilla and sugar together

5. Add tthe wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix to combine.

6. Add the zucchini and fold to combine.

7. Pour batter into pans (about half way up)

8. Bake 1 hour or until the a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

This recipe make 3-4 loaves

It took me about 1 hour and 25 minutes to cook 2 loves at once but it was well worth the wait.  Enjoy!!

Rabbit vs Hare

There are hundreds of these rabbits/ hares on the property.  We see them bounding about the gardens, orchard and up and down the roads.  I greet them as "bunnies" but it occurred to me that they may not be rabbits.  So I did a little research and looked at a lot of pictures of both and I have come to the conclusion that these are hares.  The main differences are the long ears, long legs, their solitary life and their instinct to run from us rather than hide.

If someone can correct or confirm my assumption please let me know.  Either way, they are the cutest thing to see on the property.

Organic Pest Control

As many of you know we are trying for a completely organic property. That being said, there are some creatures we would rather not have on the property like: mosquitos, mice, rabbits (in the garden) and gophers. The organic way to control the pests and balance our ecosystem is to encourage preditors to live on the property.

In the case of bats and owls we are building them homes. Bat boxes and owl boxes are easy to build and you can find the plans for free online. You can also find kits and prebuilt ones as well. We have an owl that lives in the palm tree by the deck and if you sit out there at dusk you might see it leave to hunt. Watch carefully because when they fly they are completely silent.

Here is a link to the Bat Conservation page which has tons of resources including step by step plans to build your own bat box http://www.batconservation.org/

Same for the owl boxes. http://www.owlcam.com/whatever/boxbuild.htm

In our garden, we have a family of gopher snakes that keep the rabbits and gophers at bay. We didn't need to build them a home, we just avoid approching them so they don't get scared away. Since they are completely harmeless they are invaluable to anyone with a garden.

If you give nature a chance it will balance itself out and benefits our guests in the process.

Garden Update

Here are the current pics of our veggie garden.  As you can see it is doing very well.  Our sunflower has bloomed, we have a ton of baby zucchinis growing, the beans are blossoming and our watermelon is starting to vine.  It's so exciting to see all our seeds grow into such huge plants.  Our hard work is soon to be rewarded with fresh vegetables.

Dr Jensen left us all the tools...

...we just had to learn to use them.

While reading an article in an organic gardening magazine I read about a 100 year old farm tool called a wheel hoe. It is still used today and has changed very little since 1890. I immediatly thought about getting one to assist in preparing the garden beds rather than using a pick, shovel and hoe like we had been doing.

The funny thing is that while walking the property last week I realized I had a wheel hoe sitting right next to the barn. All this time we had the tools; we just didn't realize it! So here are a few pics of Van sharpening the blade then using it to plow our new children's garden (more details to come). I'm sure this wheel hoe is at least 50 years old so it must have been used while Dr Jensen was here. Thanks Dr. J!

Our Veggie Garden!

Now that the rain and cold has finally passed, it is now time to put in our summer vegetable garden. Putting in a garden takes a little more time and energy but the results are well worth it. Since we do everyting organic and made by hand, we got into action. First we turned the soil and pulled any big weeds. Then we needed to prepare the beds for the seeds. We planted zucchini, squash, 4 types of tomatoes, pole beans, snap beans, corn, watermelon, canteloupe, cucumber, celery, asparagus, strawberries, and basil. Yum! As things begin to come up I will be posting more pictures.

Build Your Own Bird House, - A Gift from Us at Hidden Valley on This Earth Day

Spring has sprung here in southern California and at the Hidden Valley. Although we've been busily building a 12' x 14' pergola for our up and coming "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" nuptials, we spent the late winter crafting, painting, and then placing numerous, wood Bird Houses around our 11-acre property.

Today, it is absolutely lovely to amble around the historic ranch while breathing in the verdant valley views and soaking in the early morning antics of our neighbors, - a verbose bunch that includes doves, crows, sparrows, woodpeckers, thrushes, and even some birds of prey.

In honor of this Earth day, we thought we'd share some simple bird house making designs with you. It is important to remember that birds make their own choices, so don't be surprised if you find tenants you never expected in a
house you intended for someone else. Also,all the birds care about is their safety and the right dimensions: box heighth, depth and floor, diameter of entrance hole, and heighth of hole above the box floor. In other words, how elaborate you make your bird house depends on your own personal sense of aesthetics.

Below are some tables that refer to various bird sizes and needs:
Species Box Box Entrance Entrance Placement
Floor" Heighth" Heighth" Diameter" Heighth'

American
Robin* 7x8 8 --- --- 6-15
---------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern &
Western
Bluebird 5x5 8-12 6-10 1-1/2 4-6
---------------------------------------------------------------
Mountain
Bluebird 5x5 8-12 6-10 1-1/2 4-6
---------------------------------------------------------------
Chickadees 4x4 8-10 6-8 1-1/8 4-15
---------------------------------------------------------------
Titmice 4x4 10-12 6-10 1-1/4 5-15
---------------------------------------------------------------
Ash-throated
Flycatcher 6x6 8-12 6-10 1-1/2 5-15



When it comes to building your birdhouse, you will also want to keep in mind:
Ventilation, Drainage, Entrance Hole, Accessibility, and Limiting Predator Access.
For more information on these as well as building a bird house for other types of birds, please see
http://www.talewins.com/birds/birdhouse.pdf

Most importantly, we hope that you will take the time to enjoy the bounty that this planet offers up not just today, but everyday. We hope you'll always take a moment to: smell the roses, look up and at the cloud formations in the sky above, listen to the wind as it rustles through the trees, and revel in the steady hum of bees pollinating flowers, and life continuing, changing, growing, dying, and being born once again, anew.

We Just Couldn't Wait...to Introduce the Next "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" Contest Couple

Since some of you have already been asking (and voting) for them,
here they are...

Ariana and Matt of San Diego, California.

These high-school sweethearts have been working at their blossoming love for nine years now! (WOW!) They are focused on their careers, each other, and on making this planet a better place for everyone. Matt cares about the environment and is a familiar face among San Diego city parks, while Ariana loves kids and is working to become a family and child advocate. They are hoping to put the icing on the cake with a wedding at the Hidden Valley.

"Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" - This Couple Does

The countdown has begun.
On Saturday, May 30th, 2009, the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa will announce the lucky winners of its "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" Contest.
One lucky couple will receive a 70-person dream wedding to be held on our historic property on September 12th, 2009.
In anticipation of what is to come, we will randomly be posting a short blurb about couples who have entered our contest.
You are encouraged to vote for your favorite couple by clicking on the "Comments" link at the end of this posting. Simply tell us why YOU think the profiled couple should win. But, no worries, this isn't American Idol and, utlimately, it is us at Hidden Valley who are choosing the winners. So, stay tuned, start subscribing, and read on to this week's couple...

Introducing....


Julie and Rodney of San Diego, California.
It must be fate for these star crossed lovers whose paths first crossed as sweet, innocent children. This random meeting became a consistent happening as they continued to grow through adolescence. Although the attraction was mutual and immediate, nothing more became of their young, developing romance. That is until 2007, when destiny bumped them into each other once again. This time around, however, the timing has been nothing but right. On January 30th, 2009, Rodney got down on bended knee and this local couple has known that it was meant to be from the very beginning.

No Idle Hands Here

Last year, the Hidden Valley's newest owner, Fiona Markowitz, applied her artistic vision to decorating and re-designing all of the bedrooms found within the property's two main facilities. Walls were painted, from the neutral tones of Asian-themed bedrooms to the vibrant pastels found in the Main House's suites, curtains and bedspreads were sewn and hung, and imaginary worlds were brought to life, as is the case in the African Safari Room. A large space that sleeps 10 people in bunk-style beds. A dilapidated barn was refurbished and is now a rustic, but comfortable living space that can accomodate up to 14 overnight guests.

Firefighter Appreciation Day Held On Our Historic Property

As many of you remember, in October 2007, a firestorm devastated southern California. Valley Center, along with many other communities, was affected. My husband and I had just purchased our dream property and had to helplessly watch as the Witch Creek fire raced through the valley towards our home. Just as the fire was only 10 feet from our house, the firemen arrived and saved us. It was a miracle and we thank our dear friends, the Valley Center Fire Department, for their bravery and for driving into the raging fire to save our dream. They are our local heroes, as I’m sure you will agree.

One year later, we felt it was time to show our gratitude by hosting a fundraiser in their honor. We opened up our property to the community with music, food, education, and fun. The best part was that a sizeable donation was made to the Valley Center Fire Department to use as needed.


We look forward to making a difference in our community again, one of these days soon. We thank all of our local heroes! And we thank you, -thanks for coming out, swaying to the music, and making it a day to remember!

The Hidden Valley Heath Ranch

The Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa, founded in 1960, was originally known as The Hidden Valley Health Ranch. For decades, Dr. Bernard Jensen, a holistic health pioneer who authored over 50 books on human longevity, alternative healing, and natural health, lived his dream of gathering dedicated pupils at his homestead.
Down below, in Hippocrates Circle, the doctor would present lectures on irridology, hydrotherapy, and reflexology. His days were also spent walking around his 13 acres, of winding paths, bubbling stone fountains, and verdant valley views, while he ate directly from over 100 organic fruit trees. Thanks to the work of Dr. Bernard Jensen, as well as that of his neighbor Dr. Paul C. Bragg, by the late 20th century, "Hidden Valley, California" had become synonymous with natural health.
After Dr. Jensen's passing in 2001, at the grand old age of 92, the property fell through the hands of numerous owners. Three years ago, it was purchased by Stephen and Fiona Markowitz, local San Diego entrepreneurs who have owned and operated a national, award-winning event company for the past 20 years. The ambitious couple have been busily renovating and upgrading the facilities, and the land, since.
Unfortunately, the grand re-opening of the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa, as an event venue for reunions, retreats, vacations, and small weddings, was stalled due to the tragic Witch Creek Fire of 2007.
Now, after countless hours, and resources, spent saving Dr. Bernard Jensen's original dream, the Hidden Valley is once again a thriving land, ready to welcome you back to experience the peace, tranquility, and rejuvenation, that it is famous for.