After dropping off his truck at the shop Will and I walked home along the Silver Lake Reservoir where we spied this lovely tree. It reminded me of the Magnolia Plantation gardens in South Carolina.
On the way we stopped for breakfast at Local and pondered such trivial things as whether or not the homeless are ever arrested for stealing those shopping carts. Will counters that they aren't stealing them so much as finding them. So they are rescuing them I say. And I say, you know they have rolly carts that you can order online. To which he makes a point as to why that may not work since the homeless don't have a ship-to address ... or money ... or a computer.
What can I say. It's going to be really nice stepping under this in the mornings.
We're on the positive side of renovation. Flickr set is up. Lot's of demolition going on. Down to the the bones. And the bones are looking really good. The electrical wiring looks like it will need some upgrading. Which is ok, I figured it was going to be that way.
It started raining when they started on Thursday. But I guess they're used to it. So, all is going well as of day 3. Much more to come.
When the container arrives this week to sit curbside in front of the house, the debri formerly known as Joe's apartment will soon occupy it. The first phase of renovation will commence on Thursday 01/22/09 with demolition. The project of transforming an upstairs apartment into a master suite will officially begin. Walls will tumble and light will pour in.
I visited a couple of tile showrooms this weekend to see and touch the vision in my head. Oooooo...I love the tile. At United Tile and Stone on San Fernando there's classic pinwheel, black tumbled marble mosaic, subway and shelf-rail tile. Going deaper into the warehouse showroom I entered a colorful, yet dimly lit hallway leading to a couple of bathrooms. 
These were virtually big square rooms with basic toilet and sink fixtures, warehouse-high ceilings and large industrial windows. Nothing fancy by any means, but spacious with a cool stripped down feel.
I guess it may seem odd that I found these two old bathrooms in any way interesting, but I did. Maybe it's the light, maybe it's the space, maybe it's the imperfections. Sparkly showrooms are alright, but I rather like things a little more lived in.
My life is like... 
this wandering map of roads leading to places I've never been before. I have a way though, of seeing where I want to be and finding the road that will get me there, which is not always a straight and paved road. Nor do I have a clear sight-line to the road's end. It is mostly made up of bends, and I don't know what's around those bends, but they keep drawing me in.
And if I stray, which has happened plenty, I will eventually find my way back to the road that leads me to where I want to be. I have a decent sense of direction.Yesterday, I realized that I will turn 50 this year. What, you say!?! Yup, I say.Now, it's just a number, not a milestone, not a significance. No hoopla required, believe me. It was just a realization that I now find occupying my thoughts for some reason. Not sure why. I'd reason that it definitely has something to with the number itself. I do admit it is a big ol' round one.
Merry Christmas Eve ;)
Not finding the Broguiere's Egg Nog on the super market shelves yet this season we made the drive to Montebello's Dairy to get it straight from the source. My Milk Man is holding a carton containing bottles of Milk, Chocolate Milk and four bottles of Egg Nog.
Happy Holidays!
After the rain this week I've got a pretty view from my 12th floor office looking north to the Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory. Good weather for hiking the Ferndale Trail up to the Observatory.
Will and I took a trip downtown to stop by La Mano Press' art sale. They're shutting down the Los Angeles shop. I picked up a piece by Emilia Garcia printed on an alter candle, and Will a great piece by Artemio Rodriguez himself.
The day was cool and we had just left Costco where we bulked up on pet food, litter, and Diet Pepsi. The place is always, always a nightmare of clueless drivers clogging up the traffic flow in the parking lot. I really never ever cease to wonder why some people will sit there with three cars stacked behind them and wait for someone to unload and pull out of their space, rather the park in a spot that would require them to walk a little bit. So, as we inched around just such a tardo, and drive on back to the rear of the store, there are literally dozens of available parking spaces.
With that chore done and behind us as we passed a Christmas Tree lot with day-glo flocked trees lined up against the chainlink fence Will scolded me for not having my seatbelt on, which caused me to then miss my shot as we shot by the day-glo flocked Christmas trees. Recovering I "click it or ticket" and we continued our way across the bridge to the artists space near the San Antonio Winery. No tardos, no hassles, no lines at the check out. Just art and artists, and a bowl of Reeses penut butter cups, and Chicklets gum, and my sweetie pie. Happy days.
Will and I stayed home for Thanksgiving this year. The only other time we haven't been traveling together for Thanksgiving was 2005, the year we were married. Since then we've been going to my Mom's in South Carolina. And last year we extended the trip and went to Charleston for a few days. I like getting over to the east coast and there will be future trips there along with diversions to N. Y., or Atlanta, or New Orleans. There's lots in the east, south and north, that I'd like to see. Dinner this year was cooked by Casey and me.
All of my recipes came from Sunset magazine: cranberry and meyer lemon relish, herb rolls, chard and sausage French bread stuffing, plus spicy pumpkin soup which is an old recipe from Oprah's magazine. The first time I made that soup, Will and I were still dating. Casey made the leg of lamb and roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes with caramel sauce, and berries creme brule for desert. Casey's friend and neighbor, Nancy, came to dinner too and once the dogs, well Ranger, stopped acting like there was a demon inside her, the finishing touches were put on the dishes, wine bottles were uncorked and we all sat down at the table to eat. Casey is a really good cook, and she made enough to feed 12. My dishes all turned out really good too, and I only made enough to feed about 8. I didn't take any photos after Casey and Nancy arrived and only snapped a few of the table, but the food not only tasted good it looked good too. We snipped fresh rosemary sprigs from the backyard shrub and the house smelled heavenly. The dogs calmed down and were laying at our feet under the table as we ate and drank wine and talked.
I'm so thankful for all I have and all I have accomplished. In a time when so many people are facing such difficult and uncertain times, I'm thankful for the love and stability I feel in my life and my home and my family.
While I cleared the dinner dishes, Casey sprinkled sugar on her creme brules and berries and put the torch to them. While they cooled in the fridge I put the coffee on. After coffee and desert we soon said goodnight to our guests and Will and I were left to collapse on the sofa. And before we went to bed Will had all the dishes done and everything was put away.
I sure like traveling, but I like coming home.
Denver was great. I never did need that winter coat though. It was 78 on Tuesday and the evenings were also comfortable. It wasn't until the day I left that a cold front had moved in overnight and temps dipped way down to freezing. I think I saw some things I wouldn't have if I didn't have that Sunset article too.
With the conference and time constraints I could only stick to the downtown areas. Couldn't get over to the Rockies or any country trails. I've always loved a downtown that has a river running through it. Reno (yes Reno), Redding, Chicago. Accessible rivers with trails, parks and activities; more of a feature of the city than something that is considered to be a problem area by its officials.
Maybe someday the Los Angeles River will be like that. Maybe I'll have to get more involved in the developments here. I know there are local advocates for the Los Angeles River and plans underway to develop the riverfront areas. Progress being made as the people of the city become more involved in its direction.
Denver Photos here.
Denver circa 1898I'll be traveling to Denver on Monday for work. I've never been there so I'm looking forward to it.
I don't own a winter coat so I went out this weekend and bought one. Now it looks like it's going to be in the 60's, and even in the 70's on Wednesday. I was hoping for snow, or at lease chilly weather. That's hardly even long sleeve weather. I'm packing that winter coat anyway.
I came across an article in the October issues of Sunset with a 3 mile self guided walking tour so I tore out the pages and I'm bringing them with me. I'll be staying right across from the convention center in downtown Denver so I should be able to see quite a bit while I'm there. All my batteries are charged and my gear is packed.
Photos to share when I get back.
* * *
Now we wait.
Redirecting the majority of the work towards the back dormer, we're widening it and taking some space from a bedroom to install a generous master bathroom, and turning the bedroom into a master closet. Although the balcony was cut from the plans because of the budget we'll have a large window at the end of the bathroom to bathe the space in light and create a breezeway from the front dormer through to the back dormer.Work potentially scheduled to begin January 2009.
After meeting with the cabinet lady earlier this week I have all of the kitchen materials and finishes chosen and my husband has given his "ok by me".
From floor on up they are:
- Floor - 12" terra cotta tiles set on the diagonal with a 6" border.
- Cabinets - Maple recessed panel doors finished in canvas glaze with steel bar pulls.
- Counter top - PaperStone in Slate. A recycled product made out of paper using a cashew nut resin. It has the look of Soap Stone and cuts much like wood.
- Wall Color - Goldfinch.
A little update on how things are progressing: No problems refinancing to pay for the renovation, but Jesus' initial estimate was way too much so I started eliminating and scaling back the scope of the upstairs project. I hope to have a revised number from him by tomorrow so I can give the bank a final number. This could fund by the end of the month.
This weekend I combed through my list of products and materials (appliances, tub, vanity, sink, etc) and through scaling back and even eliminating items that don't effect the overall integrity of the design I've been able to shave 13% off of my bottom line. Now, let's see how much Jesus was able shave off and we'll be on our merry, dusty, disruptive, construction zone way.
My wonderful husband and I drove downtown to have breakfast at the recently opened Nickel Diner. I ordered the 5th and Main; BBQ Pork Hash with Poached Eggs. While it sounded good in theory, the BBQ sauce completely overwhelmed the plate. I pushed the saucy pork aside to get it away from the perfectly poached and very fresh eggs. I wish I had tried something else. Oh well, some choices I make in my life are better than others. And in the whole scheme of things this one wrong decision is certainly not likely to be the cause of any great catastrophy. The place itself was really great with a wonderful menu, I just selected the wrong dish.
We had high winds yesterday making the skies over Los Angeles today a deep and clear blue. We marveled at the blueness as we passed the beautiful old Rosslyn Hotel and spied a couple of cats in a shop window where we were met by Stella, the shop's owner. She invited us in to her unique "gallery" of art, dresses, hats and a variety of furnishings, props and cats. A delightful lady with an accent I couldn't place. Something sounding kind of German-ish to me, she had her Best of Downtown awards and other notable mentions and articles on a shelf and hanging on the wall near the back of the shop.
It felt very comfortable to me. Her shop. It was filled with the things she obviously loves, including a few cats, and in all her creative and quirky splendor she has carved her place in life.
Now that I'm home with my Sweetie pie, doing laundry and dealing with a few work issues, and crunching numbers on the house renovation, I think about the day when my days may be spent welcoming passersby into a shop, my husband tinkering on bicycles, and a dog and cat or two nearby.
Photos on Flickr
The color of dry grass, lions blend into the landscape. I suppose that's nature's design enabling them to remain unseen as they stalk their prey, and disappear into their surroundings should an enemy be near. While exploring the floor of the Ngorongoro crater on our safari honeymoon through East Africa and Rwanda in July of 2005, seeing any of the big cats was the most thrilling and wonderful thing. These three young lions rested with their mother nearby. It was early and the crater's rim is cloaked in fog. Their fur is damp. Sometimes I'd like to throw it all into the wind and leave possessions behind. Simplify, get out of the city, depart. I feel that day will come, but first there are excursions to be made,
renovations to embark upon. Responsibilities. My home is here, mine and my husband's, and our own young lions to watch over.
After dropping off his truck at the shop Will and I walked home along the Silver Lake Reservoir where we spied this lovely tree. It reminded me of the Magnolia Plantation gardens in South Carolina.
