Walking in Los Angeles

I spent time with my sister in South Gate and I spent some time with my DD in LA.  My DD wanted to take me somewhere that I would enjoy so we went to a sewing shop. It turns out the shop was only 3 miles from DD's apartment. The shop really specializes in garment sewing, but it was a good visit because DD has been wanting to learn to sew. We had a great time talking to the owner of the shop. Before we left my DD signed up for the beginner class where she will learn to use her machine and about the basic notions. She will also make a tote bag. She is really excited and I am too.

On another visit with DD we went to downtown LA. Our first stop, my DD's favorite shop...The last Bookstore. It is crazy in there. On the main floor it is like a regular, orderly book store. Upstairs is full of fun stuff. First of all there are no straight rows of books. All the bookcases are on angles to make a kind of maze through the books. There is an old vault with mysteries in it. There is an arch made out of books. And my favorite, the section where the books are arranged by color. It seriously looked like a fabric shop to me.
The arch

The colorized books

There is a small yarn shop up on the second floor too. And above the hall outside the shop is this amazing piece.

Along one side of the building there are small galleries with local artist's art on display. Lots of fun in one place.

 We walked through the historic district. We wandered down to the fashion district too. As we headed back toward Angel flight, my DD asked if we could go to a vintage resale shop that she follows on instagram. She googled the address and we were really close so we went to look for it. We couldn't find the shop, but as we were looking DD saw the owner walking to the post office. We went back the way we had come and looked again. Still no luck. Just then, the shop owner passed us and I said we will follow her. We did. DD found a really cute dress and some black shorts.

After walking several blocks,and up a giant hill and back down it, we found out the Angel flight was closed. :(  It is a trolley up a big hill with a park at the top. DD was so excited to show me the park that I walked up the million steps to see the park. Which was also closed. I needed oxygen.

Our last stop of the day was a foot massage in Chinatown. DD always wanted to go get a foot massage, but felt strange going alone. (This from the girl who packed her stuff and moved to LA. Without me.) Turns out they soak your feet while they massage your head and neck and arms. Then they do the feet and legs. Finally they have you lay face down and do some stretching on the back and arms. This lasts for an hour and costs $20.00. REALLY!!! It was awesome.

What a day.

Sunset at the beach

One evening my sister and I headed to Huntington Beach. The plan was really just a drive down Pacific Coast Highway  (or PCH). As we got along Huntington Beach there was a lot of parking so we decided to park and take a walk.

We got out and started to look out at the beautiful water. It looked like we couldn't get down to the water from where we parked unless we took up rock climbing. (Have I mentioned that I am a klutz?) The sun was getting lower in the sky and we just kept walking and enjoying the view.

As we traveled down the path we saw that we could get down to the beach. Yeah.  And it was a dog beach too, so we saw lots of dogs playing in the sand.

I had to put my toes in the sand.

I wanted to put my feet into the water so I went closer. One wave came and washed over my feet. It felt so good. Another wave came and washed over my feet. Then my sister called my name and I turned around for a second, looking back at the ocean in time to see a bigger wave coming. I managed to move a bit, but I still got wet up to my thighs. In jean shorts.  That does not feel good like waves on your feet let me tell you.  My sister laughed and got my picture, which is still on her phone.
Now it was her turn to get her feet wet. Ha ha ha she got hit by a big wave too. She had on Capris. Now we were wet, and it was cool by the water so we started back toward the car.

That is when we saw this sign:

Between being wet, and that silly sign we laughed all the way back to the car.

Happy stitching

Southern California

My sister and brother in law and my DD#2 all live in Southern California. I went west for a visit. I have been back a week and I am barely getting myself functional again.  Maybe the reason I stay home a lot. :)

My DD took me to Griffin Observatory (That might not be the exact name ). We went up a twisty road to the top of a mountain. Scared me. You gotta remember that I am a flat lander. I live in Illinois, and we don't have hills let alone mountains.

Inside the observatory there was a really cool instillation of 'space' jewelry. In one long hall there were so many pieces of jewelry that were stars, moons, and sun shapes. It was so cool, but too dark to get a good picture.

There were also many different views of L.A.  all around the observatory. Complete with smog layer.

And of course a selfie of my DD and I up on top of the mountain.

Outside of the observatory the different orbits of the planets were identified by a small plaque and a circle etched into the concrete. I had to take the picture of the one for Pluto. Is Pluto a planet again? I think it is.  In any case Pluto was identified by Clyde Tombaugh, a distant cousin of mine. We never met but Pluto became my favorite planet (after earth of course) when I learned about Clyde.

I have more of my trip to show and tell. And I never got my Aurifil blocks posted so that is coming up as well.

Happy Stitching.