I liked the vertical column of hats, that's all...

...almost done with the massive inventory of California pictures; not too much is happening here. Tho I should add that last night I went to the city with my older son's fiancee (who doesn't have a blog name yet) to see an opera called Three Decembers. The star performer, Frederica von Stade is retiring soon, I'm told. I'll try most things once, and this was my third opera since the fall. It was a modern opera--like a play set to music. Funny how we got the tickets: the kids went to a benefit for the opera and my son WON tickets to a series of performances. Well, he was nearly as thrilled as if he'd won twelve crochet lessons!! But he's had a work commitment and was not able to go to the last two.

My little niece hasn't figured out this angle yet....

...an event at the American Girl Store in the Grove brought out little girls with their dolls and their matching outfits. I have mixed feelings about the craze...glad for now, not to confront them.

I didn't intend to show CA pictures for so long....

...but I have a lot of them. And now, it's freezing outside and pouring down icy rain. Who wants to go out in that? Besides, you don't want to miss this beguiling image: the tiny child is confused by the water feature; she wants the statue of the other little girl to give her a drink, too. Can't believe I caught the shot! It was taken at the Grove in the LeBrea area. Full of wacky people watching...

Classic California...

..Hubs took this one, after my comment about the terracotta colors, part of the LeBrea residential complex near where our blonde fellow works at the Grove. Our dear l'il daughter-in-law kept us company one day; we visited the tar pit Museum at LeBrea; and I am reminded of other restaurants we liked: Urth, Local and a special Hollywood feeling place called Hugo. And let's not forget the cute little coffee house called Novel in the Factory District near her school! With all that enjoyment I was shocked that I actually lost 2 lbs. on our short trip!

One more from the fashion District....

...from here, we walked back up the hill in Search Of Food! We discovered the Central Market and shared a pupusa --just cheese, please. Thus fortified, we extended the adventure to ChinaTown and finally stumbled into Philippe's without realizing it is a landmark restaurant in LA. Hubs had a dipped pork sandwich and I got an egg custard, both of which we shared. Old Peoples' Travels. The next evening, we took l'il pearl and that nice young man of her's to Canter's Deli for dinner--Those were the dining high points, in my opinion. Oh, and I learned I must try to make a pizza with spinach and fontinella cheese sometime.

Colors of California...

...even in the parts of the city that aren't so fancy, you are reminded this is no ordinary place: a big old warehouse might be painted pink or other fruit-salad colors. I love the terra cotta or golden tones against the deep blue skies.

Patriotic Fabric Shop in the Fashion District