Escape

My darling husband and I had a miniature vacation (or a very long date) today.  We cycled to the station, took the train downtown, wandered around, and reversed the trip.  Over 100 pictures later it is time to do a blog post.  I'll string you along and post just a few photos now.

the conductor - our tickets were checked only on the way to LA

in the enormous buck-a-book section of The Last Bookstore

a view out the window

a zoomed-in view

some book art in the same bookstore

part of the property is rented out to artists, including this yarn shop

the hall outside the shop

also this jangleodeon, with a notice not to touch
"There will come a time when you can touch it,
but this is not that time."

just because

ditto

More photos to follow.

Holiday

Seven weeks ago on the second night of Passover we started counting the omer, which literally is a measure (omer of grain).  It was used as an offering for the seven weeks leading up to Shavuot, the holiday celebrating the giving of the Torah.

When we lived in Ithaca we had friends who said if we counted the omer every night they would bake us a cheesecake!  They still send us the chart, but we bake our own.

Unfortunately one night was missed.

We decided to still bake a cake, but to sacrifice one piece.

Chag sameach!

Bonus photos!

2009

2010

2011

2012

Botanic Garden

We didn't make it Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden for the Folk Music Festival (featuring Ben Harper, if you know who that is, but I don't.  I know he grew up here and his brother has kids at my kid's school and his mom gave banjo lessons to my mother-in-law, but I only know lots of people are fans of his music.).  We did visit as part of a family outing, which was a substitute for a day in Pasadena.  Take what you can get.

There is a new set of bugs at the garden.

This one has disco balls for eyes.

If you click on the photo you may be able to read the statement about
"The Wonder of Wildflowers."

I especially like the "logic-defying design,"
which does indeed enhance the beauty and amazement.

To me a visit to RSABG wouldn't be complete without looking for turtles at Benjamin's Pond.

Appreciation

The school held a Volunteer Appreciation event, which I used as a time to recruit a new science fair coordinator!  They also brought out all the students to sing a few songs for us, including the Sycamore song and a vocal and signed version of Melanie White's Believe.  Another great year is almost at an end.

The Way of the World

I have a couple sets of these measuring spoons, maybe received as a wedding gift.

At some point I acquired these, which aren't as nice, but fit well into little jars.
I let the baby play with them and when I couldn't find them
I was sure she had tucked them away in a secret place.

Months and months after losing them I finally bought this set when I was in Denmark.
Guess what I found one week later?
They were in the wrapping paper drawer
and probably fell out the back of their regular drawer.

Public Art

Claremont has a Public Art policy and a Public Art Coordinator.

When we moved here this art was on a spit of land at Harrison and Indian Hill where the road takes a little jog.  There had been a public art project in Los Angeles that featured painted angels, similar to the cow parade project.

I am not sure why she was replaced by a horse, as shown in my friend's blog several years ago.

Last week this piece, Redux by Jim Mitchell, was installed and the angel can be seen in the background at the park across the street.  I still like the angel, but I have no complaints about having a variety of art around the city. 

One last post

 One last Danish post with a few photos.  Please visit to see many, many more.

rhubarb juice concentrate

spring is here if the winter snowsuits are on the drying rack

Danish field trip

Can you name any of these players?

This photo was taken while running errands on my last day.
What a hard place to leave!