Playing Koi

We went back to the Gamble House to pick up some large Arts and Crafts tiles. We bought a frog tile to guard over the stove while the larger Koi plaque will hopefully bring some good feng shui to the front of the home. The ceramics were designed and made by northern California resident Janet Ontko

Kangaroo In The House

We trimmed the large red Kangaroo Paw in the front yard and stuck one of the blooms in a vase in the living room. It now commands the room with it's height and beauty.

Pasadena Gamble

The other day we took our guests to Pasadena's most famous home..... the Gamble House. Designed by Greene and Greene, the house is now a monument to Craftsman style homes. And although we were too early to enjoy a tour, we wandered around and then hit up the excellent gift store. We walked away with an amazing frog tile, amongst other goodies.
We then proceeded to a quick look at the Rose Bowl and a bit of shopping in Old Town.

Weekend Dog

Seven makes the most of some noon day sun.

Pork Loin

The piece de resistance of Mom and Nancy's recent trip was the final night's meal. While they were watching "Julie and Julia", we were channeling the great cook in the kitchen. Peeling root veggies and a fragrant porcini rub, we added two monster sprigs of rosemary from the garden..... an hour later the smells were great and the flavors better..... Bon Appetit!

Griffith Observatory

In view of the Hollywood Sign, we visited Griffith Observatory yesterday. Fantastic weather but with just enough haze to obscure the ocean views. I had not been since the rehab and the place is a great example of 1930's architecture. The telescopes still work! Definitely worth a nighttime visit.

Coke Sleepwalker

We did a Coke commercial last fall for the Superbowl. Lots of cool animals and a lot of special effects. If you did not see it during the game, the ad can be viewed here

Baaska

My friend Martina has been traveling to Mongolia to help out the street kids there. She has set up a foundation called Children of the Blue Sky. The child that started it all is this young man Baaska. And it looks like he's grown from a cherubic youngster into a fine young man. He's going off to the mines to operate some trucking equipment. It's far away and no one is very happy about his absence from the city but it's what he wants to do and because of Martina's work, it's what he's trained to do. She's giving these kids a place to live, an education and vocational training to help them off the streets and into jobs.

Numbers

* 39 percent of Republicans believe Obama should be impeached, 29 percent are not sure, 32 percent said he should not be voted out of office.

* 36 percent of Republicans believe Obama was not born in the United States, 22 percent are not sure, 42 percent think he is a natural citizen.

* 31 percent of Republicans believe Obama is a "Racist who hates White people" -- the description once adopted by Fox News's Glenn Beck. 33 percent were not sure, and 36 percent said he was not a racist.

* 63 percent of Republicans think Obama is a socialist, 16 percent are not sure, 21 percent say he is not

* 24 percent of Republicans believe Obama wants "the terrorists to win," 33 percent aren't sure, 43 percent said he did not want the terrorist to win.

* 21 percent of Republicans believe ACORN stole the 2008 election, 55 percent are not sure, 24 percent said the community organizing group did not steal the election.

* 23 percent of Republicans believe that their state should secede from the United States, 19 percent aren't sure, 58 percent said no.

* 53 percent of Republicans said they believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be president than Obama.

During his appearance at the House Republican retreat last Friday, Obama explained that it was hard to forge bipartisan consensus when lawmakers were trashing his health care bill as a "Bolshevik plot". These poll numbers show that the gulf preventing bipartisan consensus extends well beyond health care. How does a Republican lawmaker explain to his or her die-hard base that it is important to work on legislation with a racist, socialist president who is illegally holding office only because of the help of ACORN?

The full results of the 2000 self described Republican poll are here

Downtown Garage Sale

Los Angeles hass a permanent garage sale down on Colyton St. They have tons of bric a brac and furniture. Lot's from movie shoots. I was looking for a chair for the desk and came across this one for $20. It has a slight crack which we glued. Some Goo Gone to get rid of the tape residue and a once over with the refinishing oil will have this chair looking corporate again. Solid North Carolina frame. When we took the seat off, there was a packing slip to a Hollywood production company making the 1997 Travolta film "A Civil Action". And although this chair is a transition piece until I can find a matching Thonet, it might be worth renting the flick to see where our new find first sat.

Blue Birds

There has been ungodly squawking in the early mornings coming from the tree by the driveway. We have been playing host to two Blue Birds. Magnificent looking and BIG! I was finally able to capture the smaller one as it drank from the gutter.... I guess our drainage isn't all that it's cracked up to be. The birds tend to stick around for a few minutes and then proceed elsewhere.