#dtla

Happy Friday!  Happy Friday Fave Fives!  Here's how I spent my week.  At least how I spent one of my favorite days this week.  Join us at Living to Tell the Story for Friday Fave Fives.

I've been thinking all week about how to share my day in Down Town Los Angeles.  Yes, I traveled down there again.  This time, two friends from our small artists group wanted to explore LA with me.  Sometimes, people will say, "When I think of Los Angeles, I think of traffic, smog, and Hollywood."  Well, yeah, there is traffic; sometimes there's smog (not much anymore, really); and of course, there is Hollywood, which I avoid, and truly it isn't all that glamorous.

But Los Angeles is so much more.  There's history and beauty and mystery.  And great food.

1.  "The Girls" wanted to go up to the top of the City Hall building.  Twenty-six stories.  The top floor also has a walkway/observation deck all the way around the outside.  You can look down on all of Down Town from the four sides.  What views!

2.  We had to laugh--we found where the Halloween witch keeps her broom.

3.  Right in the middle of the crosswalk, there was the city seal painted on the bricks:

4.  We visited a new to me spot:  The Last Book Store.  Really, it deserves its own post.  Here I am posing in front of a wall of books, one of hundreds.

Tunnel of Books

Of course there was a knit shop tucked into a corner of the second floor.

5.  Los Angeles, like any large city, has its share of funky art, fun signs, and beautiful architectural detail.

I hope you enjoyed your 'day' in Down Town Los Angeles (#dtla) as much as I did.

What a Week(end)!

Wow. Where did the week go?  Well, I know where my weekend went; but the whole week flew by, too, which is why I didn't even get around to check on others who posted their Friday Fave Fives last week (my apologies! I'll do better this week.)  If you wish to participate in Friday Fave Fives, follow THIS LINK to Susanne's blog.

1.  Of course, my first fave would be the days I spent at Reyes Adobe Days last weekend.  I love this venue because the staff there are so welcoming and helpful and encouraging.  They moved tables.  They offered water.  They gave hugs.  (Don't tell the other places, but I think this is my favorite place ever to do weaving and spinning demos.)

My very serene view of the patio before everyone arrived.  Do you notice the damp spots?  Yes, it rained Friday night.  Believe it or not.  In Southern California.  Not much, just enough to get everything wet and make it all smell wonderful.

2.  On Saturday, I took my rigid heddle loom and worked on a scarf which I nearly finished that day.

Eleanor enjoys helping me.

Finished on Wednesday!

3.  On Sunday, I had my spinning wheel and worked with some alpaca fiber.  It's fun to play the guessing game with the kids.  "What kind of fiber am I spinning?"  Some of the hilarious answers included elephant, giraffe, dog and cat.

4.  You'd think I'd take a day to rest, right? Nope.  Monday morning, my friends and I surprised our friend with a Birthday Brunch.  At her house.  Her husband and daughter organized it, and for once, she was truly surprised.  It was the BEST!

5.  Guess what I did on Tuesday.  Yep.  Nothing.  The reason that is one of my faves should be obvious.

And here are some wise words to make you laugh:

You only need two tools in life.

WD-40 and Duct Tape.

If it doesn't move and should,

Use WD-40.

If it moves and shouldn't,

Use Duct Tape.

It's Autumn! Truly.

Hello!  It's finally cooling down a bit.  We've even thrown a light blanket on the bed.   It is mid-October, after all.  And it's Friday, so I am celebrating Friday Fave Fives by linking up with everyone over at Susanne's blog.  You can, too.

1.  See? There are autumn colors in Southern California!  A fallen leaf.

2.  And since it's fall, it's time for another weekend of spinning and weaving at a favorite venue, Reyes Adobe Days.  Honestly, I think the workers at the adobe and park are the most friendly and helpful I've ever encountered at a demonstration.

I'll be there Saturday and Sunday.  All day.  Selling my autumn hats.

3.  And little headbands.

4.  Stretching my knitting a bit, I tried a new bunny pattern.  Isn't she adorable?  Those shoes!  What you can't see well is that there are even buttons on the shoe straps.

5.  I've been rereading a children's book this week:  Redwall by Brian Jacques.  It is a fiction story.  Have you read it?

Los Angeles Downtown Day

This week I combined several of my favorite things in to one memorable day.  Here are Five Faves from just that ONE DAY in Downtown Los Angeles, my contribution to Friday Fave Fives with Susanne.

1.  I spent the whole day with a very dear friend.

2.  I rode the train.

3.  I walked. And walked. And walked. More than 20,000 steps according to my pedometer.

4.  Although my friend has spent many years living in the LA area, she had never walked or even known about many areas in downtown Los Angeles. So. I led her on a walking tour.

Bradbury Building

which is famous for appearing in lots of movies

Bells of  Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Who knew there were hidden monuments all over downtown?

The Million Dollar Theatre

Steps across the street from Riordan Library

5.  The compelling reason for us to meet 'halfway' was just to spend time together and encourage each other.  Which we did.  It was a day full of blessings!