Desert Tower

Third day of our San Diego trip, we visited Desert Tower. C. & I had been here before, in cooler weather, at dusk, after hours. This time it was blazing hot, and we all were able to see inside the tower and meet the man who now owns the property. The girls watched him feed resident turtles who were finding shade under a wash basin. There were a few little funky residences on the property, it seems like a peaceful place to live.

Unarius

On the second day of our San Diego trip, we visited the Unarius Academy of Science in El Cajon. The first two pictures show a model of the future. Especially L. was fascinated by this, as if it was a fact that this would come to be. We all agreed we'd like to live in this future. I don't claim to understand all of this, but I was interested, though a little wary when C. talked about visiting. I thought it might be in the middle of nowhere, and perhaps a bit unnerving. But it was a welcoming and positive environment with an unexpected and fascinating aesthetic from the late 60's/early 70's.

flamingos, a gorilla & a mermaid

First day of our San Diego trip, it was so hot, but the girls were really troopers. We went straight to the Wild Animal Park, then stayed near Little Italy and had pizza at Filippi's Pizza Grotto.

Definitely one of my highlights from the Wild Animal Park, this gorilla, relaxing, with her cardboard box.

Statues we saw at a motel, near where we stopped for gas, maybe in Oceanside? When C. saw it, he whistled.

surprises

Budding plants in our new compost bin... we transplanted a few, we're not sure what seeds they're from. Could be tomatoes, cantaloupe?

Lele is stirring her tomato soup on the stove. I tell her, we have crackers for your soup. She says excitedly and sincerely, "oh boy!"

P. pulling up her saggy pants way up.

automata

hand crank boat automata by cartoon monster from Portland

Another gem found, these things make me take a deep breath and feel better.

I think it's the knowledge that wonderful things exist, and that people are taking the time to make them.

with ce

1 

w/ ce

My husband and I have been working on and off on a collaborative project of 24 mixed-media paper panels. We started about five years ago! I guess there was a lot of "off" time. This summer, I caught up on a lot of piled up work in the studio, including this project. We have about half done. It's like a game of hot potato... I added on to them, and now he has the unfinished stack to work on. He has posted more of this project on his blog: uglyconvention.blogspot.com. This piece seems to depict how one can feel sometimes, hopefully not too often.

fake nyc

"fake nyc" by bubbo

Bubbo describes this as: a photo of NYC taken from a skyscraper, then digitally altered to look like a miniature model.

leaf portrait

I stumbled upon Jenny Lee Fowler's work today.

I like knowing there is someone out there making something like this. This is what breathtaking is to me.

I Remember You

"SEVEN Week25 2009 I Remember You" by Iris Schwarz

This picture reminds me of this: The spirit is the true self. - Cicero

I just ordered this print - can't wait to see it in person.

after dinner walk

Leelee and I had an adventure walking the Long Beach Greenbelt on 7th near Ximeno tonite.

It's so close to where we live, but this was our first time there. Next time we'll bring Daddy and P.

Quaintest carport, if I was a car, I'd like to park here...

also a perfect area for more party room or a shady yard sale.

clue, part 2

Clue weapons by Chris:

revolver 

lead pipe

knife (w/ retractable blade!)

candlestick (my favorite)

wrench

rope

I would post pictures of the the Clue rooms we'll be using, but they're messy.

The girls did a great job decorating the Clue notebooks.

cat carrying a cloud

Beautiful, embroidered piece by artist - Paulina, from Southern Finland, her etsy shop is Lemmikkiapina. 

I found out about this artist through Kitty Genius, and loved this piece especially, "cat carrying a cloud". 

clue

Col. Mustard 

(this one cracks me up whenever I look at it, I may add a piece of yellow yarn, coming out of the bottle top)

Miss Scarlet

Mr. Green

Mrs. White

Mrs. Peacock

We're getting ready for P.'s "Clue" - themed 11th birthday party next Saturday night... I was in a zone making costumes late last night. Various dollar stores, Fabric Barn and my glue gun were indispensable allies. I asked P. to model each hat, embodying each character's personality. 

More kids than we thought will be showing up, so we had to add characters... Lady Flamingo, Miss Peachpit and Madame Noir. I'm still tweaking Lady Flamingo and Professor Plum's headgear. We're trying to create a sophisticated, mocktail atmosphere for the party, where the kids will be life-sized game pieces in their own Clue game. 

Miss Peachpit

Madame Noir

C. & I were reminiscing about the Clue games of our childhood, his was from 1960, my brother and I played the version from 1972. theartofmurder.com/clue_games has pictures of Clue throughout the years. When C. told his best friend Rich about the party, Rich had no idea what "Clue" was :) We also will show the Clue movie to P. & L. this week so they can get even more amped up for the party!

Will post C.'s creations soon: murder weapons and giant dice made from his favorite materials: cardboard and duct tape. We have to have our fun while the girls will still tolerate goofy parties. 

watts towers

I've been meaning to go here for literally decades. In September, they are scheduled to be finished with safety work and will allow visitors to tour inside again. Watts Towers

re-ment love

It's impossible for me to be in a bad mood when I look at this picture, especially looking at the expression of the cat on the right.

goodbye

Dear Friends of Chi Chi,

Last night Chi Chi passed away peacefully in her sleep. She lived an amazingly long, happy and healthy life of over 19 years. She gave us so much joy.

Chi Chi was adopted from a cat rescue in 1990 in San Francisco. Her original name was "Gretel" and she was found living behind a Chinese restaurant with her brother (Hansel).

Chi Chi had a career as an efficient mouser, and was a skilled bird catcher in her time. She had long ago retired from those duties, but continued to serve as a reliable alarm clock (with her daily 5 AM wake-up meows) to the end of her days.

We will always love her, and cherish the time we had with her.

Thank you for all your kindness toward Chi Chi over the years.

Love,

Chi Chi's Family

laundry nest

happy birthday chris!

It was June 8th (but we had a belated party yesterday).

good 'ol Chi Chi

weirdness

Still from "Night of the Hunter", creepy and beautifully shot film.

Angelo's & Vinci's in Fullerton, for L.'s 9th Birthday..
must be seen to be believed.

may

Flowers from C.

Happy Mothers Day!

art

"Andy Kaufman - I'm from Hollywood/Breakfast with Blassie"
A totally fascinating netflix pick, a fearless comedian/performance artist, his whole life was his strange, easily misunderstood work.

C. & I went to the Louise Bourgeois show at MOCA around Christmas or New Year's, C's cousin Lisa gave us a membership for a wedding present. The show was great.. I had never seen her "cells" which was what left the biggest impression on me. I couldn't find images of exactly the ones we saw, but this gives a taste of them.

santa monica

Camera Obscura in Santa Monica

view from the pier

touch tanks at the Heal the Bay Santa Monica Pier Aquarium,
under the pier

jellyfish

shark eggs

Figuring out the holidays as we go, vacuuming the crumbs from my car, when things get overwhelming-trusting that there must be a way, I'm grateful for that. passionworks.org - the descriptions of the artists. Easter at Jane, Matt & Noah's, missing C. there, "Peeps" the cat.

egg heaven

breakfast with C. Saturday morning - "Super Browns" are the best.

wonder shell flower

for January 13 (WONDER SHELL FLOWER)

sold - Thanks Lydia! (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)

happy birthday mom

Sherman Library & Gardens

Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar for Mom's birthday. How L. breaks the ice: asking adults if they can do what she does with her face (making her pupils disappear while smiling).

first etsy sale

Thank you Lydia!

chinatown

slippers for P.

Baby on the train with little pigtails sticking straight up, dim sum in Chinatown for Doug's birthday, faded Ricky Schroeder poster in one of the shops, monster movie art tiles & tiny tiled sunsets in the metro stations, cute no expression baby with a dirty nose, holding his own rolled up pull-up in a leather belt, strapped to his mom who sold candy to passengers on the metro, P. & L. in their Chinese dresses with umbrellas, Chi Chi sleeping on top of us at bedtime.

i speak rock

Hearing L. say, in the backseat, to no one in particular, "I speak rock! Homey means friend. Shorty means girl".

nap buddies

february

Chi Chi in her new tent.

Valentine gifts

Kimiko's opening in Chinatown at Sabina Lee Gallery, wish I brought the camera, L telling Richard "We meet again". Lady at another art opening with bare legs on a freezing night, holding her baby, both dressed funkily.

Nearby cafe, coffee and internet, sights on the way home.

closing reception

Rich's art by the front door

goodbye cute, old stove

bathroom art

L & Cookie creations

Andrea & Rich's artwork in the bedroom

Betsy & Richard's artwork

postcards in the closet

Hanging art w/ C in the old, bare apartment.. feeling that that is what I want to be doing everyday.

bathtub kitty

bathtub kitty

Telling L. that she and P. aren't allowed to try to retrieve Chi Chi if she goes on the roof - L. quickly replying "yes I know, UNLESS you say it's OK".

Good haircut place for the girls nearby (P. smiling in the mirror because she liked her hair, L. being so impressed with P.'s haircut, saying to her multiple times, "You look like you work in a shop"), triple spoon: Chi Chi, C. & me.

San Diego

Che Bella is still there on India Street.

Good pizza in Little Italy with the doughy crust that C likes

sad glarfs

topiary yard we found around dusk, that gave me the shivers as we spotted it, it was so crazy.

Chi Chi (pronounced "shi shi")

Christmas gifts L. made that she left at school over winter break.

small happys

sock penguins

re-ment purse & shoes for Sooin

surprise new year print from Kimiko