GREAT DAY

It's so nice to be down here in Pasadena!  We left winter at home and came to 65 degree weather.  It's wonderful.  The wind can be a little cold, but I am not complaining.  I can actually look up and see the sun.  I love it.

We made the rounds, checking out the Blacker House and the neighborhood.  Then we went into the Huntington when it opened.

We spent the afternoon, saw almost everything, had lunch next to the lake in Suzhou, China, the Garden of Flowering Fragrance (which features a 1.5-acre lake, a complex of pavilions, a teahouse and tea shop, stone bridges and waterfalls set against a wooded backdrop of mature oaks and pines).

We walked the perimeter, visiting most of the other gardens, seeing things we've never seen before.  Amazing.

He spent a lot of time checking out and documenting the Greene & Greene portion of the museum.  

Amazing G&G inlay.

While he was doing that I found the most amazing quilt - someone should make a book about this one.

Next to the lake, where we had lunch

I think my lips got sunburnt.

HELLO QUILTCON

We left early in the morning on Alaska Airlines for LAX.  Our plane was about 1-1/2 late taking off, but this was probably the only time I wasn't hysterically freaking out because we didn't have another flight to catch and we had plenty of time once we get there.  [Alaska Airlines gave us a $75 credit for a future flight, yea!]

We landed, got a rental car, had lunch and then headed to Pasadena.  Darrell dropped me at the Convention Center in Pasadena and he headed to the Gamble House (of course).

I had a great afternoon looking at the quilts and buying stuff.

Here are the highlights:

I didn't get a lot of pictures of quilts.  I didn't think about it until it was about time to go.  

 Goodbye Quiltcon, see you next year...I hope.

OUR TRIP TO PASADENA 2012

Southbound on I-5

Crossing from Washington into Oregon

Traffic jam - I finished my crossword.

Still in the traffic jam.

A flipped-over semi -truck and trailer.

Two hours to get past the accident, now the road is wide open.

Spent Wednesday night in Redding.

The shadow of our rental truck near Williams, CA.

On I-5 Southbound

Stopped just South of Sacramento at Cosumnes River Preserve

Saw lots of birds and ducks, including these Sandhill Cranes.

Another jam just before we get to Bakersfield where we spend Thursday night.

Getting coffee before we leave Bakersfield Friday morning.

Climbing the Grapevine

Grapevine

Heading into LA

Heading down from Grapevine

I love the freeways in LA

Great shot!

The Gamble House in Pasadena

We made it to Mecca

Friday morning, setting up the booth, Joe helps.

Terry finds a quilt shop!

New Moon Textiles in Pasadena

The view from our room, looking east over Pasadena

A sketch of Darrell in his booth.

Sunday morning outing for me.

The visitors center at Eaton Canyon

I met up with a Pasadena Audubon group.

We went birding.

We were guided around the park.

Saw lots and lots of birds.  I was amazed.

A wild olive tree.

The Penny Tree

People have been pounding coins into this tree for years.

Packing up after show Sunday Night.

Our flight out was cancelled Monday morning, but we were able to catch a slightly earlier flight.

In our rental car headed into San Francisco.

Our destination - the de Young Museum

Bad planning - the museum is closed on Mondays!

Lots to do in Golden Gate Park - we head into the Japanese Tea Garden.

Beautiful buildings.

Interesting trees.

Tea houses.

Lots of interesting trees.

and interesting structures.

Buddha

Very nicely maintained gardens.

The only structure in need of repair.

We really enjoyed walking around this park.

Darrell on the wooden Moon Bridge.

Spreckels Auditorium

I'm always amazed at the flowers still blooming.

We walked around Stow Lake Island...

And up to Strawberry Hill - that's the bridge off in the distance.

Downtown SF from Strawberry Hill

A mural in the Beach Chalet by Lucien Labaudt.

We had lunch at Noori, an Indian Restaurant in the Sunset District.

Went to this art supply store that Meg recommended.  Bought lots.

We did get some rain.

Driving through downtown.

Heading up the hill.

To Coit Tower.

Looking out to the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Coit Tower, we didn't have time to go up in it.

Headed back to airport, we got caught up in traffic jam.

The reason for the jam, a ball game.

At the airport, watching the Presidential Debates.

Our flight was delayed two hours but we made it onto an earlier flight.  It was crammed full!  But we were very happy to not be sitting at the SF airport until midnight.  Nice to be heading home.  Great holiday.