Oops

Look what I found in a draft from seven months ago! Better late than never.

We don't do a lot for the holidays, but we often exchange cards and sometimes gifts. This year I received a woven heart.

Using a laser cutter and special paper helps,

but these would still be a challenge to weave.

My gift was to try a new recipe, chocolate shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with freeze-dried raspberries. They won't last as long as a paper heart, but they were still enjoyed.

Another Annual Tradition

I cycled to the LA Co. Fair but the gate I have been going to for about twenty years no longer exists. I found the new gate but not a bike rack so I parked in front of the conference center.

My usual stops included the

The Millard Sheets Art Center

backside

in the courtyard
with an incomplete work by David Flores

I always take a quick peek at the competitive cooking

including decorated cakes, like this disco ball.

I always visit the competitive table settings (tablescaping) under the grandstand.

I skipped the $8 popcorn and bought roasted corn.

My only impulse purchase was
to have my fortune told by Zoltar.

I zipped through the plant building to take pictures
for a friend who loves this section but hates the fair.

On the way out I wandered past the miniature
trains (see a virtual tour here).

I always visit the kids' collections
(although A. points out the collections are from
kids who have parents who buy them lots of
stuff, but I am going to ignore that comment).

I love this new-ish game. Everybody gets six tokens to vote.
Would you rather...
...have lunch with Elvis in the Fifties or Madonna in the Eighties?
...be an author or illustrator?
...find a dinosaur egg or dragon egg?

Would you rather...
...have a miniaturized pet or giant pet?
..be a scientist or wizard?
...ride on a broomstick or pterodactyl?

And then I headed home!

I was glad I had not taken my usual route because I went through a neighborhood with plenty of shade and I stopped at two little free libraries.

What a great outing!

Local Detention Camp

"...As a result of hysteria and racism.
May such injustice and suffering never recur."

Outside the L.A. Co. Fairgrounds there is now a remembrance plaque memorializing the Japanese-Americans held there before being sent to Heart Mountain Relocation Center.


As I put out our flag today it was a good time to pause and consider not only our country's past, present, and future actions, but also what happens locally.

Some days are like that

The plan was to donate platelets, but my iron levels were too low despite eating liverwurst, cream of wheat, and grapenuts for the past 48 hours. Sigh. I am especially annoyed because I last donated on 8/8 and today is 9/9, which would be the start of a nice pattern. May this be my biggest problem!

More from the Best Location in the Nation

I used to take classes at the art museum on Saturday mornings, which I loved!

The Gathering Place

Swedish Modern Design 

Motawi tile from MI

It has been remodeled since my childhood but I still love wandering around and visiting the gift shop.

I did not do a great job of taking other pictures, but if I had I would have taken one from the world's best indoor mountain bike park, a wonderful pool that will soon celebrate its 100th birthday, or the restaurant I went to twice. I did take a picture of my dad's office that he is emptying after fifty years with the institution, but I decided not to post that.

I did snap a picture of A. and his friend, who was visiting his grandparents at the same time (not a coincidence), loading the kayaks so they could paddle around the local lake.

The last picture was on the way to airport.
I did not bring any cheap gas home.

Bye, home of my heart.

August Leftovers

Taken near the grocery store on an evening walk.

We finally gave the vacuum cleaner we bought in 1995.

I hope this is based on the book.

college tour

Found while helping to clean up

So proud of myself for recycling this.

The whole county system, not just our branch

Annual Tradition

I suppose the pictures look the same each year, but I promise I took these pictures today!

Maybe one year I will go inside and listen to the convocation speeches.

Bonus picture from Instagram