the oaks

Yesterday a few residents came and asked for a Smokey Bear comic that the interpretive rangers pass out to kids -- so I got husband to bring me some, and I took a hike up through The Oaks to deliver them. I got the chance to explore a side of the neighborhood I haven't spent any time in --  and I was stunned. It's so beautiful up here. Amazing, huge, expensive houses - a neighborhood I would never be able to afford to live in, if it weren't for our caretaker status. The best thing about rich and fancy houses is that they don't skimp on the landscaping. Also - this neighborhood is all hilly, so lots of the houses have had very creative layouts to accommodate that. My eyes aren't big enough to drink in all of this. I love hiking through the park, but I might like hiking through the neighborhood even more...

flowers at the trail cafe

Went up to the Trails today for a sandwich... the whole patio is full of flowers and herbs. On the weekends the line goes out to the street, so it's my "yay I live here and can go on weekdays" treat. Today was one of those hard-to-get-up-and-out days, and having this nearby place to go get a sandwich and take a minute to look at these flowers was really good for me.

passion berry

A friend of mine in San Diego sent me a beautiful package - and it's a gift that keeps on giving, because it included a variety of tea bags. So I am here, enjoying my evening, working on my marathon crochet flowers, drinking passion berry tea, out of a ceramic mug I made. Feeling sweet and thoughtful and loved.

flowers!

I applied for the Renegade Craft Fair - which is a giant craft fair in LA. If I get in, it's a two day show and I'll need lots n lots of product... so it's time for some marathoning crocheting. These flowers will be turned into hair clips, rings, and earrings. I also sell them here, on my etsy shop. I have a bunch of photos of them as finished products on my facebook page.

someone asked me for a pattern -- so here goes

using the magic circle technique I then do 10 half double crochet stitches in the circle, and pull tight. (If you want a smaller center, do single crochets. If you want bigger, double crochet.) 

Switch colors, and attach with a slip stitch to the top of one of the hdc's. Chain 2, and attach to one of the stitches with a slip stitch. Chain 2, skip 1 stitch, and attach to the top of every other hdc. So you should end with 5 chain2's. Attach to the nearest Chain2 space with a slip stitch. Then, *single crochet, half double crochet, 4 double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet* in the same space. Repeat from * in each of the 5 chain 2 spaces. Finish off, tuck in strings, and you have your flower!

I use embroidery floss and a tiny little crochet hook for these - but you can use any weight yarn or size hook, it'll just change the size of the flower.

yo yo's part two

Figured out what to do with all those fabric yo yos!!! Rings and hair clips! I sewed buttons to each one and am waiting for my supplies to get here from my ebay purchases before I finish them all off. To be sold in my etsy store soon! 

zen doodle

I run a challenge group on facebook, where everyone picks something they want to do every day for 30 days.  One of the group members does a 'zen doodle' daily. She inspired me -- my paper journal is now full of them! It's awesome. I zone out with pen and paper next to husband who is watching tv or playing computer games... it's meditative. I wouldn't've thunk it, but it is.

For the record, I also bought a few new micropens at Blue Rooster - a small and local art supply store on Vermont. It's not a huge store, but it's got paint, pens, journals, markers, charcoal and canvas. And it's nearby. Score.

california history

Today I discovered a new trail, and I love it. Well - it's the trail that husband and I went up the night we did the crazy Mt. hollywood hike - but I discovered it in the daylight. It's this great trail that's tucked into this canyon, and is kind of meander-y, and there's enough distance between it and any roads or buildings, that I can kind of pretend that I'm really out in the wilderness all alone, but it's close enough to civilization that if I got hurt or something, I could still get help. Husband says that it'll get just FULL of mustard -- which is my favorite flower. I'm torn about my love for mustard.. since it's technically a non-native. But it's been around for so long, that it feels like part of California. For any of you non-natives, the deal is that when the Spanish missionaries came to California and built their missions, they scattered mustard seed between, to mark the way. Each of the CA missions are about a day's horse-back ride apart, and the mustard is part of CA history.  So I love it, both for it's look and for the lore.

I also noticed lower down on the hike, that all the conifers have new and bright green needles! I remember when I was in Alaska I would take the new spruce needles, steep them, and make tea. It's nice to see spring in the trees.