July 17

See this? Know what it is? It's a virgin jar of Vegemite. Americans know not this joy. I was tempted to carve "A.C" into it with the tip of my knife, because my sister always claimed that right as we were growing up (she was the vegemite fiend, I preferred pb). But I didn't. I just slathered it on my buttered sourdough toast (that's real butter, thank you), added slices of cheese, and chowed down. Mmmmmmmmmmm.

July 12

Josh and I spent the weekend sans enfants at Morro Bay, where temperatures are at least 30°F lower than at home. Very, very pleasant.

July 5

One of the things I love about living in a large, cosmopolitan city is how easy it is to obtain exotic things. I decided I wanted to make this for dinner, which calls for the addition of pomegranate molasses. A visit to the Persian market down the street revealed three different brands to choose from. Love that!

Yesterday's big purchase was a new pair of thrift store jeans. The pair I've been wearing for the past year are so threadbare that they're likely to embarrass me in public one day very soon. Like the others, the new ones are too long, and as I rolled them up this morning I remembered my sister's admonition to take up my jeans properly. "You can sew! Hem them, why don't you!"

So, flush with the pomegranate molasses success, I stopped at the fabric store to buy some gold thread with which to hem my jeans. And what should I spy in the magazine rack?

I had to buy it, didn't I?

July 4

A three day weekend. With no plans. Bliss. Yesterday I read, I napped, and I stitched this teatowel. Being a big fan of Anthropologie teatowels, I was of course drawn to Anna Maria Horner's version in Seams to Me. I dug through the stash and found a soft, absorbent man's shirt which generously offered up its back panel for the cause. The next few hours were spent peacefully appliqueing and embroidering. Such a lovely way to spend an evening! And such a lovely result, if I may say so! I've already started on another, with a completely different colour scheme.

June 28

Chili + cornbread* + brownies + tropical fool + family + five good friends. Another lovely Sunday night dinner.

*Thanks for the recipes, Deb. They were a hit.

June 27

My Saturdays are usually spent doing HSL (housework/shopping/laundry). Today, I blew it all off, and decided to take Lauren (who has been away for a week with grandmothers -- I misssed her!) and go check out the Palos Verdes Peninsula instead. I had vague thoughts of whale watching and maybe a short hike; but mostly just escaping to a cooler clime and hanging out with my girl.

First stop was lunch in a cute little garden café.
While waiting for the food, Lauren wandered off to photograph this fountain. On downloading the photos just now, I was bemused by the women -- I've seen water pouring from stone mouths and penises before, but never from nipples!

We sauntered along the bluff for a mile or two. We've missed the grey whale migration -- again! How come I've lived here for 12 years and never got it together to see a whale? Next year, next year.

Then it was a crawl back up the 405 to the west San Fernando Valley, watching the car's thermometer steadily rise from 72° to 102°. Ah, the joys of living in the hottest part of the city. Remind me again, why am I here?

June 25

Morning in the front yard.
Fragile beauty.

You can clearly see why they're called Kangaroo Paws.