’16 late May-some June

June 30

Here’s the bowl of succulents from Lill at home in the window box at The Big House. I am definitely going to get some shots of the place before the workers get going…tomorrow? I’m going to try!

June 29

All photos by Rome! And we made these ourselves. You probably figured it out – the pear is mine.

kk.

June 26

Lona and I went to Ikea and later I went to Lill’s Mid-Summer party..I think she has a picture I can get. I took this picture a few months ago but haven’t used it yet.

The Refrigerator Door: from Rome and Lilly-soccer and school pictures, Valentine’s Day cards, photo booth pictures, Holiday card; Kathleen’s funny thank-you note; Cynthia, Mike, and Kieran’s Holiday card; the ticket to Disney Hall and one of the finest performances I have been privileged to enjoy (thanks to Marsha!); Paris Macaroon magnet from Lill; Shira and Chad’s wedding; the Dragolovic’s Holiday card; my 3D kitty magnet, so cute; there were three birds, one origami I made, one straw guy I made in Laos, and a porcelain beauty that was a gift.

Here is the photo of the prep-crew at Lill and Tony’s parteee.

June 25

The California Incline. They probably are not going to make it by July 4th, but soon, soon.

The rose garden in Palisades Park is looking good.

June 24

We have two CONs in LA this weekend, CatCon and PolitiCon. Which one looks better to you?!

I am wrong over and over and over. Please don’t vote for Donald Trump and make me wrong again. Please.

June 23

Home from the delights of Saint Paul it’s back to regular life of the summer variety.

Swimming!

Piano Lessons!

We also had Finley over for a play date and…

…YAY, Happy Birthday to MEEEE!

ak.

I’m off in the morning to Minnesota to visit Cynthia, Mike, and Kieran! Lucky ME!!

June 8

Hi girls – oh yes, yummy treats!

It was the 4th Grade music performance at Jefferson and it was FAB. The entire 4th Grade, three and a half classes worth, memorized 7-8-9 songs and matching movements and performed them with enthusiasm and skill. Good job kids! Excellent Rome!

June 7

From Nancy’s facebook – and dear grandgirl Chloe. Nancy is wearing The Boot these days from having wacked her foot on a step so we drove around together today doing chores.

I’ve also had three electricians out, got the car serviced, etc on the chore front and my first Monday Potluck in two months.

June 5

Another outing with Les today – a picnic and polo at Will Rogers, always a lovely time.

June 4

Lonie and I went for a stroll around the Marina looking for Larry Ellison’s sail boat that is visible from L&H’s window across the channel.

June 3

Les is visiting from Boston and we had a fun afternoon kicking around the beach.

He likes to stay at this AirBNB in Santa Monica on 4th. I want that hanging drape of wonderful sounds.

Les wore his swimming suit and brought a towel but no, the surf was very wild and no one else was in the water. So we went to eat instead.

May 22-June 2

This is mi familia in Ecuador. The young woman second from the right had just arrived so most of the week it was we three students and the two sisters. Living in the house were also two more sisters, some nephews, a granddaughter or two – I was never completely clear but it was a fine home-stay.

The two sisters pictured here were wonderfully chatty always in Spanish so our listening skills certainly improved. We students tried to use Spanish as much as possible although there were times my frustration level peeked and just quickly had my say in English.

The young woman on the left is a French speaker from Quebec and the fellow on the right is multi-multi-lingual speaker from the Netherlands. They both spoke perfect English.

I missed Christa’s college graduation. Here she is with Lona and Hartley and the paper representing the CAR waiting for her in Honolulu.

She’ll be going to medical school at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu and the car will definitely come in handy for commuting all those late nights. Congratulations Christa!

Happy hour half-price dinner with Sharon at Fig and it was delicious.

I also caught up with friends and family and didn’t take pictures because for one reason I was entirely distracted by ‘what am I going to do in the house’!

My tenant in the front left before I went to Ecuador and now I’m working on getting it in tip-top shape which is A LOT of work.

I went to store after store and I’m totally not done going to stores.

Here is a pigeon who lives at Home Depot.

Then there was this: termite eradication.

The tent was on for three days and two nights which I spent with DAK&L (thank you!).

Open house and a display of art that is so cool. We also got to visit the classrooms and the turn-out was impressive. It was packed both with delighted families and amazing work. Wow on the teachers and the school for supporting them.

I’m selling the stove and it’s not worth much, handsome as it is.

The Van Valkenburgs! I got to join them for a holiday bbq where, as usual when I go there, I ate myself into a coma.

A very fun outing at the mall!

It’s one of those huge spaces with giant dinosaurs and some information about them. They pass out a quiz page that you can answer by reading the signs. The kids loved it.

Mostly though, it’s bounce-house type material formed in elaborate and very entertaining climbing, sliding, jumping structures.

Across a whole wall.

Hi girls!