My vacation is quickly winding down. These photos are from City Hall, in Pasadena. I took these photos recently while driving around town and running errands.

This fountain is huge! I took several shots of the fountain, but I liked this angle because you can see the arches in the background.

This is a shot of 1 of the ceilings. I LOVE the texture and pattern on the ceiling and although it is very monochromatic, the textures really make the ceiling pop!

Another view of 1 of the interiors. Notice the archway and patterned ceiling above it. City Hall is a spectacular, gorgeous building. 1 of the most beautiful things is when the sun begins to set and you can see the oranges, reds, and golds bathe City Hall in natural light. It is quite something.

Today was all about catching up with old, close friends. I met 2 of my oldest friends, Christina and Yolanda at the Huntington Museum, in San Marino. The 3 of us met for tea to celebrate our birthdays (all of us are February babies) and my promotion to principal. As I have posted before, the Huntington is 1 of my favorite places on the planet. I visit it several times a year and each time I do, I especially enjoy the peace of mind and solace the gardens offer.

I forgot to mention that Chris and Yolanda are both art teachers and artists. However, Chris is officially retired. The 3 of us taught together @ my 1st school, Stevenson Junior High School, in the Boyle Heights community, in Los Angeles. The 3 of us have been friends for all of my career: 24 years. The photo above is from 1 of the gifts Chris gave each of us. My photo doesn't really do justice to her adorable artwork and creativity! It is a basket and inside, is a gift. But if you look closely in between the 2 bunnies, there is a silver ring. It is actually 3 rings bound together. When you take the ring apart, the center ring opens and exposes a heart in the center. Chris gave Yolanda and me the same ring. Chris had the ring on too and said that the rings were a sign of our friendship - each of us now has a ring that honors many years of friendship.

More gifts that Chris bestowed on us. Check out the beautiful ribbon flowers on our gifts that Chris made. Oh, to be retired...

After lunch, we went into the gardens and took some pictures of this wonderful day. This shot is of Chris and me, in the rose garden. Right now, the Huntington is blooming in all its glory. Spring has arrived!

All through tea, these beauties were tempting me! I could see them through the windows of the tea room. And I bet it would not take much to imagine their scent. I got a chance to snap them up close, and yes, their scent was heavenly!

1 last photo... Chris and Yolanda sitting in the rose garden. Today was a perfect day (even if it was somewhat gloomy and chilly). There is nothing quite like spending a day at the Huntington, having tea, and catching up with special friends. Now, I am ready to go back to work after this week off..

These 4 photos are shots of my latest artwork. This is the 1st time in over 7 years that I have made this book. I have made this book several times since I took the class originally. Each time I have made 1 of these books, it has been a gift. I learned how to make this book in 1 of Kelly Kilmer's classes, called "Travel Journal and Field Kit". That class and another of Kelly's classes, "Soul Cards", have been my 2 favorites. I made this journal and kit for an art teacher as a thank you gift. She and I worked together @ my last school, Wilson High. On and off, I have been working on this journal and kit for the last 2 weeks.

This is a shot of the journal and back cover of the field kit. The journal has a Frida theme to it.

This is a shot of the inside covers of the field kit, journal, and some art supplies.

This is a shot of the "pouch" where the journal sits inside the field kit. I used rubber stamps, collage images, and lots of paint for this project. Today, I started my spring break. I am off for a week and am anxious to churn out some new art like this.

Tonight is the 1st time I have seen this version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell performing their HUGE hit, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". They still rock after more than 40 years!

The first of 2 Marvin Gaye videos. What an incredible talent!

Marvin Gaye

April 2, 1939-1984

Today is Marvin Gaye's 70th birthday. Marvin Gaye has always been my favorite singer. Any tribute I could write would not do the man and artist justice. In 1970, I was 11-years-old. There was a small music store near my school that would play a HUGE part in my life for almost 35 years. Several times a week, I would stop by this store on the way home from school and buy records with my allowance. Every week, I would walk out with several records in a bag. But 1 day, this same 11-year-old kid, walked out with her 1st album. It was Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On". I got home and was SO excited to rip off the plastic covering so I could play it on the stereo. I already knew "What's Going On", the single, from hearing it for weeks on the radio stations. But the album was quite something! Ground-breaking, unique, passionate, sad, and haunting. Just like Marvin. I was SO fortunate to see Marvin in concert, not once, but twice. The 1st time was when I was 14 and the 2nd time came a few months before he died. By that point in 1984, I was no longer a teenager; I was 24. Although 10 years had passed since that initial concert I attended, Marvin still had it! What an incredibly talented, spiritual, tortured, beautiful, and sexy man he was! Happy 70th, Marvin.