Butterflies!

At the end of February we started noticing butterflies hanging around.

The next week we were playing in the park and I noticed so many more. 

We could stay in one place and feel like a stream of them were flying past us.

The newspaper wrote about it, too.

Maybe this video will give a little sense of it.

I suppose it wasn't a surprise to see that not all of them made it to their destination.

Art in the Neighborhood

Last week A. and I went to the Pomona College art museum for a pop up thrift shop.

"Incorporating objects selected from SoCal thrift shops,
Michael Decker's artworks explore consumer culture's connections
to nostalgia, sentimentality, and optimism.
Available for purchase: T-shirts, toys, figurines, and more!"

So much fun, but we didn't buy anything.

I am glad we went early so we could see everything all together.

It seemed so sad to think someone would buy a piece and not a whole set.

Over at the Ginger Elliott Exhibition Center at Memorial Park

 there was a public opening for an art show called "Text Me That".

My favorite piece was a quilt called Texting from back in the day to today,
including old letters, a page from a phone book, and a Morse code machine.

Lucky us to have art in the neighborhood!

Covered Dish

I am part of a Buy Nothing community that encourages people to offer items and patiently wait for people to share why they would like to have the item, not just give it to the person who happens to be online at the moment. People may also request specific things from the group. It is a caring and generous set of folks.

This item was offered and I really wanted it, but it was gifted (the group's word) to someone else. I mourned the loss of the item even though I didn't even know I wanted it before I saw it. We had been putting the butter on a plate and covering it with a bowl, which was functional but not elegant. 

I was telling this to a friend, who said she had one never used. It was teeny tiny and just didn't work for us. I guess that is why it didn't work for her, either.

I went to several thrift stores and saw nothing at all or some awful butter dishes. Sigh.

And then there was a joyful event. On the first Thursday of each month I go to a local retirement community's rummage sale and this beautiful pyrex butter dish was sitting on the shelf. So much happiness for a quarter!

But there is a problem. Most west coast butter is shaped like the stick on the right, but the butter dish is shaped for butter like the one on the left. I can find that shape, but it tends to be the more expensive brands. I guess we'll live it up. The other problem is that butter can last a long time out of the refrigerator because it is high in fat, but it starts to break down when exposed to light for too long. So now I am back to coveting the butter dish I didn't get! Maybe I should just solve it by using up the butter more quickly? 

Mardi Gras

The amazing kids of the neighborhood arranged a Mardi Gras party and the weather cooperated.

We decorated masks and crowns.

A lot of good food was enjoyed.

At every party, regardless of theme, we decorate cakes.

Mostly we stand around and chat, which is a nice change from just waving to one another as we go about our days. I love our neighborhood!

New Name

A couple days ago I was browsing at the library (and yesterday and today, but that is 

not the point of the story) and was asked what I thought of the new name. 

On this sign you can see that it says, "County of Los Angeles Public Library,"
and the old website used www.colapublib.org

The new name is LA County Library and uses www.lacountylibrary.org

The name the person was referring to was the addition of Helen Renwick's name.

According to the article in today's local paper, Helen Renwick was a widow who moved to town with her only child and bought quite a bit of land.  She lived on Sixth St, but after moving her house to College Ave. she decided to donate land for the good of the city, including a post office, city hall, and library.

Not long ago her house was moved across the street

and an art museum (The Benton, featured in the LA Times this week)
is being built in its place behind the library.

Claremont Helen Renwick Library is a bit of a mouthful when answering the phone, but it is shorter than Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey Library.

Books I Haven't Read

But plays I have seen!

The high school production was entertaining because
we knew some of the kids on stage, some of the kids behind the
scenes, and a lot of members of the audience.

The next night we saw a professional production of this play,
which is the musical version but adapted to be more true
to the book. It was not particularly upbeat, but the
acting and singing were great, along with clever sets.

This weekend it is time to cheer on all the P-P Sagehens in the SCIAC basketball tournament.

Joy

It seems like everyone is clearing out their closets, but I don't feel the need to conform. Despite that, today I decided I am ready to let go of the ear warmer that I wear under my helmet. I bought at the Hind outlet on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder in 1992, or so.

This is too stretched out and no longer does the job.
I will take it to H&M, which recycles old clothes.
I will replace it with one I bought in Denmark about eight years ago.

These were bought at the same store and definitely still spark joy. I have an undamaged pair that I wear on nicer occasions, but these are good when I need two layers of mittens to cycle to the pool.

Looks like there are some two-mitten days in my future.