More Art Appreciation

So Saturday we went to see more art!! Grandma stayed the weekend and let us have some time without the kids. Craig had not been to the Huntington to see the new Chinese Garden yet and I really wanted him to finally see it. It's always so inspiring to go to the Huntington! The gardens are just so beautiful. We hung out in some of the nicest places there and especially enjoyed the new Chinese Garden. And how I loved looking in the bookstore without little kids wanting to touch everything!














Afterwards, we went to The Folk Tree in Pasadena to see the "Dia de los Muertos" show that is up right now. I just had to see it. It was also VERY inspiring. And I love being able to buy fun Mexican tin art when I so desire.

I have to add that the weather has been BEAUTIFUL these past two days. It has been clear, crisp and even chilly!! Yesterday morning I drove to Whole Foods on Foothill and couldn't believe how clear and huge the mountains looked. I love this change in the weather!! But I need a winter coat . . .

Pasadena Art Night

Friday was Pasadena Art Night. We started by having dinner at "Bistro de la Gare" in So. Pasadena right where the Farmer's Market is. We had the best table right on the corner with all the windows. And wow. The food was really good. They had the most delicious potato leek soup you could imagine. Really great french food--

Too bad while we were there we discovered our camera is broken! :( We had to use the camera phone-- so not good pictures until we get a new one.











Afterwards, we drove up to Old Town for Art Night. We went to the Majestical Roof for David Lovejoy's reception. It was sooooo nice there! The installation of the magnifying glasses looked so pretty at night. There were lots of people there and there was a fantastic band playing called Zephro. They did originals and covers-- Tom Waits, Jobim (Girl from Ipanema!) and the Beatles (I'm only Sleeping.) The singer sang so beautifully. We hung out with David Lovejoy for a while and I was honored that he used some of my pics off my blog for a flyer he made!! We had a great time looking more in depth at his art-- he creates the most beautiful surfaces! We loved listening to the great music and enjoying the prettiest courtyard in Pasadena. I'm so glad it was being enjoyed by so many people. We had planned to check out other places for art night, but we just stayed there--it was too nice to leave.

Ballet and the Farmer's Market

So this past Thursday the girls started their ballet class for the semester. They were sooooooo happy to dress up in their ballet clothes! They have not done ballet since spring of last year. All day they kept asking me when is it going to be 3? The class is in South Pasadena at the War Memorial building. Their teacher, Miss Claire, is an angel and uses positive reinforcement and talks in a very kind voice which we really appreciate. The class actually is combined tap and ballet. They loved using their tap shoes! We were pleasantly surprised to find that an old friend is in the class (I went to high school with her mom,) and another little girl that is in our Tuesday home school group! The girls had a wonderful time. And Ceci doesn't seem to mind just hanging around outside.

We then went to the Farmer's Market where we met Brieanne, Tristan and Ethan. I saw Dan and got to sing a song with him which was soooooooo nice. We did "I know you Rider." We then went over to an organic store called Organic Rush so Brieanne could buy a collar and leash for her new puppy! Craig joined us and we got balloons, played, shopped, and watched the bubble man. I sang one more song with Dan as it was getting dark (Uncle John's band) and then it was time to go!

Planting our Autumn Garden

Yesterday and today we worked on our autumn garden. Yesterday we tore out all the old tomato plants and weeds, etc. and put some compost down. While working, we discovered the biggest spider we've ever seen!! It was HUGE! Bigger than a quarter at least. Yuck. With him, we don't need to put up Halloween decorations!

Today we planted our seeds. We planted peas, two kinds of carrots, two kinds of broccoli, romaine lettuce, butter lettuce and swiss chard. I've never planted a cool season garden before! So it's kind of exciting.

The girls were so happy to help! They LOVED every part of the process from picking out the seeds at Whole Foods, to weeding, raking and sweeping, to examining and comparing the seeds and then finally planting them. They did a really good job planting. I mostly let them do it themselves once the soil was prepared.

Here's what Lala was singing while we were planting!! :)

The prophet said to plant a garden so that's what we'll do
For God has given rich brown soil, the rain and sunshine too
And if we plant the seeds just right and tend them carefully
Before we know, good things will grow to feed our family




We were also singing:

Mother Earth, Mother Earth take our seed and give it birth.
Father Sun, gleam and glow, until the roots begin to grow.
Sister Rain, Sister rain, shed thy tears to swell the grain.
Brother Wind, breathe and blow, and the blade green will grow.
Earth and Sun, Wind and Rain-
Turn to gold the living grain.

Olivia's first haircut

Yesterday Olivia got her first haircut!! It was very hard for me to finally take her in because I hated to get rid of any of her precious blonde locks. But, she still had her baby hair and it's been totally uneven. So I took her to this totally cute place where they cut children's hair called "Little Kuts" in Pasadena. It's so fun, you get to sit on a carousel horse while getting your hair cut! There's also a really fun area to play in while you wait. She ended up getting layers-- so that the long straight hair on top wouldn't cover the sweet curls underneath. I think it looks really great. And even better when dry--very curly.

Bella also got her hair cut there (and btw, I got my hair cut too, but not at Little Kuts!) I'm not ready to get Ceci's hair cut yet-- I love that baby hair just the way it is no matter how uneven.

Pics from LA County Fair

Okay, here are some pics that we finally figured out how to get off our phone. Sorry for the low quality. I'm infatuated with breast-fed babies and mamas with their babies! Look closely at the mama rat with her 9 11-day old babies breastfeeding. The guy with the super-long horns is a Watusi cow. It looks so uncomfortable!! The last pic is of Ceci petting a calf!

Did you get to watch it? :)

I LOVED General Conference this weekend. It was sooooo uplifting and soul-filling. It just makes me want to do better!! My favorite talk was by Elder Quentin L. Cook who spoke on trials and how they are essential for our growth. How I needed that reminder. Elder L. Tom Perry's talk on simplifying was wonderful as well. I was very touched by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk on angels--so beautiful! I also truly enjoyed President Thomas S. Monson's Sunday morning talk on gratitude and enjoying the journey of life. How I wish I would keep these wonderful words in my heart at all times! How grateful I am for our Savior and His gospel. How grateful I am for inspired leaders that testify and teach of Him. To hear any of these talks, you can click here and then click on the talk you would like to hear.

Shroomin'

My felting classes have started again. I had a wonderful time making this gnome and mushroom for our nature table!

Millard Canyon

On Friday we got to go on a nature walk with some of our home schooling friends. We were DELIGHTED to go to Millard Canyon which is up in Altadena. In all my years of living in Alhambra and Pasadena, I had never been to Millard Canyon which has a beautiful stream and a short hike to waterfalls! (We didn't go all the way up because Ceci fell asleep.) It was sooooooooo wonderful! There were butterflies all over and dragonflies. Such a pretty place!! We were also blessed to get a surprise visit from my sister Yvonne and her little Mila that morning so she joined us which was so nice! Yvonne caught this cute little frog in her hands. Right after the picture, he leapt out of her hands and brushed against my arm!! Yikes! :) But we had so much fun. I think we're going to spend a lot of time at this beautiful place.

Our wheat braids

I meant to post this with the last post! A three-strand braid in a love knot and then a four-strand (compass) braid.