Koalafornia Dreamin'

There is a new exhibit at the San Diego Zoo.

It should be called 'find the koala'.

But Koalafornia Dreamin' embraces the fact that koalas are sedentary animals.

They sleep a lot.

Up to 20 hours a day.

This little joey appears to be having a sweet dream.

Sign of the Times?

Housing prices are going up.

At least here in San Diego.

The cheekiness of this sign made me laugh out loud...

A sign posted in City Heights.

Spiffy Side Car

I pulled into an open parking space this afternoon.

Right next to this.

A two seater WITH a side car!

Could that miniature windshield be any cuter.

It took every bit of self restraint I possessed. 

To not hop in. 

And wait patiently until the owner appeared. 

So I could ask for a spin around town.

Boddy House

My favorite room.

That is one tiny little typewriter. Love the globe.

After stopping to smell the roses at Descanso Gardens, we walked up the hill to visit the Boddy House.

Perched on top of the hill, this house once belonged to Elias Manchester Boddy, who owned the Los Angeles Daily News. 

He bequeathed his estate to the County of Los Angeles as a floral park.

Five years ago, the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts transformed and restored the house to a contemporary interpretation of its original Hollywood Regency style.

Glamorous wall treatment and sparkling chandelier in the bathroom.

Formal dining room.

A peek at the kitchen.

Incredible light fixture.

Arched ceiling in the foyer.

So many details to see inside the house that you forget.

Just for a moment.

The acres of incredible gardens just outside the door.

Descanso Gardens

Sunday was hot.

Hot hot hot. In the high 90's. Not much of a breeze.

But Descanso Gardens, even at high noon, was gorgeous.

Let's take a sloooooow walk so we don't get overheated...

Descanso Gardens is worth a trip to LaCanada Flintridge.

Fight Against Women's Cancers

Today was the 20th anniversary of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) Revlon Run/Walk for Women.

This year I walked with a childhood friend.

We knew each other from grade school and high school, lost touch, then reconnected over FaceBook.

She was joined by friends, family (her mother was my Girl Scout troop leader), co-workers and a bunch of attractive soap opera stars (her sister is an actress).

It was a day of catching up. 

While confetti was tossed at the starting line and adorable 8-year-old twins, holding up our team sign, lead the pack around the 5K route. 

I asked them to pose like a rock star!

My friend, sporting a very short 'do', was pushed in a wheelchair as she is still recuperating and getting her strength back from chemo and surgery.

That didn't stop her from smiling and laughing the entire time, while urging us to 'take it easy' over the pot holes.

She is a survivor.

Along with so many others we walked with this morning.

Our team was a happy one.

The day felt jubilant.

Drums played as we went through the tunnel and onto the field to receive our medal.

Finish line was inside.

But all around us were reminders.

Pictures of loved ones.

Signs that said, 'walking in memory of...'

It was a day to rejoice, a day to remember, a day to raise money to keep on fighting.

Art in the Pines

A few scenes from Sunday.

Fourth annual celebration of Art in the Pines at Torrey Pines State Reserve.

Local artists sell their work to benefit the educational programs at the reserve.

This artist (on left) uses chopsticks to drip paint on canvas.

Looking up while listening to the band.

This lookout competed with artist renderings of the natural views.

One of my favorites on display.

Rain started - time to go home.

Tomato Selection

It is a sunny 85 degrees today.

Which means the garden should have been planted already.

Oh well.

There are 4 bags of compost in the trunk waiting to be unloaded.

This Champion, Celebrity and Supersweet 100 are now home and sitting in the shade.

And below are the ones left behind.

Not enough room in the garden for every variety.

Beefsteak (it sounds so darn hearty)

Better Boy and Better Bush (why Better and not Best?)

Early Girl (known fact that girls mature faster)

Stupice Heirloom, when Googled came up as 'small Czech tomato, pronounced stu-peach-ka'

Tomatillo - tomato grows inside a husk

What grows in your garden?