Old West and Hollywood on State Street

Such fun strolling on State Street in Santa Barbara. The antiques in this one store, only, offer so many choices of the memorabilia of old Hollywood and the nearby ranches.

Gardens at San Ysidro Ranch

Some of the lovely surprises are the water lilies blooming in the pond.

Fruit trees frame the rose garden, next to the kitchen garden.

The Artist's Hand

An appreciation for what artists do is present at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito. I noticed original art in the stained-glass windows at the main house and on the painted table tops around the pool.

The San Ysidro Ranch is listed in Travel and Leisure Magazine to be the 4th top hotel in the world.

Pools

All of the pools make me think of the California sky.

...pass by this when going to the legendary Melvyn's in Palm Springs...

..copied from the original at Adamson House,this pool is at the Point Dume Club...

...I swim here most mornings at the Malibu Bay Club...





...Dick and I spent an anniversary here at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito...

Trattatoria Mollie

It was a Dottie's birthday. Coming to this restaurant in Montecito, after many recommendations, was part of the celebration. We started with the soup of the day---cioppino.

Dottie choose the seafood pasta.

I had Mollie's famous turkey meatballs.

We savored every morsel.

Line Dancing

I have been dancing two days a week. That isn't nearly enough.

Living with Grace

Viki loves living by the sea. What she chooses to live with reflects her spiritual connection to it.

Last Night's Sunset

Looking West to the Channel Islands. The lights are from the shrimp fishermen's boats.

The Year of the Dragon

I ask Laura to pose by her zodiac head,
depicting The Year of the Dragon. This installation is currently in the north piazza of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Entitled "Circle of Animal Zodiac Heads," the artist, Ai Weiwei, has recreated the famous bronze heads that once adorned the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, China.

Flatbread and Art

When taking our children to the new Los Angeles County Museum of Art at the opening in the early 60's, I would never have thought to have so many memorable returns. This time it was enjoying time with a dear friend.

We stopped in for flatbread at the Renzo Piano-designed Stark Bar with herbs grown in the chef's garden behind the bar and restaurant. Exciting art was in our line of sight everywhere, along with the other interesting art lovers. The constant changes have colored every return.

Bouillabaisse and Art

The couple at the table next to us were from Des Moines, Iowa. They came to to admire the architecture, as Richard Meier had designed their art museum, too. We were glad we took their recommendation and ordered the bouillabaisse...exceptional!

Against the South wall is a part of the installation done by California artist, Alexis Smith. It is entitled "Taste" and covers the walls at the Restaurant at the Getty Center.


This is a detail of the same installation that appears on the East wall.

"Buck"

"Buck," is the true story of a man who turned his childhood pain into empathy with and, thus, an understanding of horses. The techniques he uses in training horses are so subtle as to seem zen-like. His story was the inspiration for Robert Redford's film called "The Horse Whisperer."

A Beautiful Day at The Getty Center

A trip to The Getty Center now includes sculpture gardens in the usual and new unexpected places.

The stainless steel sculpture by Puryear has been there from the opening. Then came the magnificent bronze by Maillol. Today the painted fiberglass sculpture by Ray surprised visitors as they exited the tram. Entitled "Boy With Frog," it was loaned by the artist and his gallery.





Jan and I had fun with this reflective surface.

The sign cautions to not touch the sculpture.

We didn't and neither did this restful couple.

Independence Day 2011