Week in Review

This guy!

"Look at Winston" is still a frequently heard saying in our house. He just often does cute or weird things. Here, he's balanced over the front edge of the couch arm, leg dangling.

This is Violet's spot in the home, where she does her schoolwork and plays video games.

Something about the afternoon sun shining in through the front screen made them both vie for position on the shoe basket...

Violet asked to go to Valley Market to get spices to create chai lattes. I brought along some old cheerios to feed the ducks and geese, and Violet enjoyed that.

This young lady loves animals! And it was a gorgeous day as you can see.

Cora has been away a few days at the theatre competition. I'm so proud of her! She was nervous, but she pushed herself, and spent two nights at a hotel near the college with other students. 

She stopped at Porto's before she came home, and brought home yummies for dinner and breakfast the next day.

Violet begged me to take her back to Devil's Punchbowl on Friday, when she was off school for the four-day President's Day Weekend. After she agreed to help clean the house, we took off.

Here are the outcroppings that look like Vasquez Rocks.

The river was peaceful.

We're not big into celebrating Valentine's Day, but when I saw all those baked beans at Costco, I figured I knew the best way to Stacey's heart. Ha!!

Later on Saturday, we went back to Mel and Nick's to help some more. Here, Stace is putting in a roller blind at the kitchen window, and Mel's artist friend Shannon is painting adorable flowers on the cabinet doors.

We finished the day by seeing South Pacific at the Canyon Theatre Guild.

On Sunday, we had lunch with Colleen, Rigo and the kids at Green Valley Smokehouse, up San Francisquito Canyon. The food was good, the community rural and sweet.

 We went for a short walk afterwards. Always nice hanging with these guys!

Tidbits

On Sunday, we watched church online at home, and then went to Mel and Nick's new apartment to help them. Stace put up lots of curtain rods, while Violet put up a stick-on tile backsplash in the kitchen, and wallpaper in the bathroom. I did lots of moving of boxes. 

Monday was Cora's 19th birthday! We decorated the house, had gifts laid out, and sent her off to college for her first day of the spring semester. 

Then, I met my Dad at Costco and was very excited to find these Heinz "British Recipe" baked beans. I've never seen these here - usually we have to buy English style Heinz beans at import stores, at import prices. These cases were $8 for six cans, a steal!

Violet and I got Teacision, and the gal behind the counter wrote a special note to Cora. Ha!! 

We got Stone Fire for dinner and she opened her gifts, and then went to college theatre rehearsal.

The American College Theatre Festival began the next day, so Cora didn't feel great on Monday, with all the nerves. We'll celebrate later, when she can relax and enjoy it more.

In the photo, she opened Violet's gift - a stained glass piece representing her character in D&D. They hugged, but I wasn't ready with the camera, and they refused to recreate the moment. Cora isn't much for hugs, so it's a real treasure to get one.

Later Monday, Violet began working on an oil pastel portrait.

I was in awe Tuesday when I saw it. 

She also has been busy on her lino cuts. Here's a javelina, and below we have a prairie chicken. Also, a desert scene in glass.

We have been on an "All Creatures Great & Small" kick since Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty introduced it to us. And, our library has it!

This little guy planted itself by the nectarine tree, and I just have to let it stay! So bright and cheeful.

Orient Express

Cora has been working for her old high school for a few weeks, helping build the set you see here, for Murder on the Orient Express. This top photo shows the simple, elegant set they built to represent the passenger cars. 

And these were the dining cars.

Even Violet helped out one day - she went in and added paint effects to make these letters look 3D. It's all flat paint, not separate letters attached.

Cora then stage-managed the show, and absolutely loved it. She had to choreograph the movements of numerous people to smoothly change scenes, when the dining cars and passenger cars changed places. 

Violet helped out backstage during the closing show as a gofer/stagehand.

Meanwhile, I helped by running the box office. On Saturday evening, I had my own helper - Eloise! She made a paper sign that Violet was admiring, that said Tickets.

Tidbits

 We start this week's Tidbits with sad news - our beloved Honu Coffee in Newhall announced they will be closing in early February, after 11 years. This isn't the closure of a place that couldn't make it - they have lots of fans and (seemingly) plenty of business. But the owners are ready to move on.

Violet and I went in the day we heard the news, to get drinks and spend my Christmas gift card. We got syrups, so I'll have a taste of Honu for the next few months at home.

For posterity's sake - the sweet "dogs of Honu" photo string.

Violet and I actually went a few times...

We've had funny weather - tons of rain, then a heat spell. Our last tomato bush was covered in flowers so I made Stace leave it when he cleared out the rest of the garden. We returned from Washington to a ton of ripe cherry tomatoes!

Also this week, my parents took Violet with them to the Ronald Reagan Library to see an exhibit on Cowboys in Hollywood. And, my debit card was compromised, so I had to replace it. Now for the hassle of redoing all the recurring expenses that are hooked to it! And, speaking of expenses, we had the Audi in for some work. Ugh, as they say, you might be able to afford the higher-end car, but can you afford the maintenance and repairs?

Over the weekend, Stace helped Christina finish some bigger projects, while Colleen and I helped as well, as she got the Oasis Resource Center ready for company. On Tuesday afternoon, Finally Family Homes hosted a grand opening of the resource center, with media and local dignitaries. It was well-attended, and a tribute to all our friend has done to assist former foster youth  in our area.

Our friend Brad was in town for work, and it happened to be his birthday. So, we took him out to the Local, and caught up on life for him, Emily and the kids in Texas.

Friends!

Winston tried to jump up onto the kitchen counter, tripped on a plate that was too near the edge, and brought down the plate, fruit bowl, and himself. It was very loud. 

Bits of plate spread far and wide - against the far bookcase, into the playroom, etc. 

Also that day, I got to clear up cat vomit because someone likes to eat plastic bags. Sigh!

Romeo and Juliet

 Cora took on her second job, working for her old high school's theatre department over the weekend. I helped by writing the press release and volunteering in the box office for "Romeo and Juliet," while Cora did all sorts of work to help things go smoothly.

Cora's friends Mackenzie and Lucas played the leads, and did a great job! Cora would have loved to perform in a whole Shakespeare production; hopefully someday.

Week in Review

A few weeks ago, Violet's shelf fell off the wall with a big crash. Since then, she and Stace have been working on creating a new shelf, designed by Vi. 

It is now complete, and came out beautifully. 
 

Violet wanted to make sides, to discourage the cats from jumping onto the shelf. She also designed the shape to go with her art plan. One side featured a sunrise, the other showed nighttime, created with an etching tool my mom gave the girls for Christmas.

Violet also got the sewing machine back out, and added lace to these jeans. 

I introduced the cats to Cat TV - it's been a hit. 

(Basically, just put that into your YouTube search, and you'll find lots of options for videos of mice and birds to entertain your cats!)

Evie had to be in the bag! When I posted this photo in a tortie cat group on Facebook, I got over 330 reactions. 

Later, she decided she liked the box better.

This week, I spent time several days helping Christina try to clean the floors of her charity's resource center, after a bit of flooding damaged them. 

I also met up with my other Christina friend for coffee on Saturday morning, and went out with Heather and Maggie on Friday night. It's always nice catching up with friends you haven't seen in months. 

On Saturday, after Cora went to work, Stace, Vi and I went to the annual Art Classic competition, to view the artwork.

Later, Stace and I went to the Catholic church carnival in Newhall, and then to a theatre show.

On Sunday, we went out to visit JT and Jim. Stace helped Jim with a fence project, while Violet, Callie, JT and I had a great day out. We started with a garden center, and then went up Mount Baldy, in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. 

Violet loves the mountains, and loved being among the big trees near the river. We went into the historic Mt. Baldy Lodge for lunch. Later, we walked around cute downtown Claremont, and Violet bought a corduroy coat and I got tennis shoes at a used clothing store.

We picked up In-n-Out for the guys, and later made our way home. We stopped on the way at a classic diner that features pot pies, recommended by Stace's coworker who lives in the area. We bought these four cold, ready-to-bake pies for the next night's dinner. Yum!