Psycho's Funhouse

No, this isn't a self portrait or a picture of the front of my house, but some days it certainly "Could Be". (Though I usually don't wear hats like Psycho the Clown here.)

Psycho's Fun house was part of The Halloween Haunt at one of my most favorite local hiking spots, Hart Park in Santa Clarita. Hiking for me is my workout session and my meditation.

Thank you for joining me for Mellow Yellow Perfect Moment Monday. My best to you and yours that Pyscho the Clown doesn't come and redecorate or move into your place.

Music Of The Movies at The Hollywood Bowl

I had the most wondrous of evenings this past Saturday night when our family went to a performance of Music Of The Movies at The Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Williams. Everything was delightful- the venue, the company, (we went with our son's piano teacher and her family who are also friends and neighbors), the food, (picnicking is encouraged and we brought a beautiful crab salad with avocado and tomatoes, teriyaki chicken burritos, turtle brownies with caramel and pecans, and a bottle of wine to share because with us it is all about the food too!), perfect weather, (cool enough for a sweater and a cuddle), and of course, first and foremost, the Music.



The Hollywood Bowl is a unique venue, it is outdoors and built into a natural amphitheater created by the Hollywood Hills. In addition to encouraging picnicking where you can bring your own food and drinks, they also allow cameras and for this particular concert, LIGHT SABERS!!!! Mr.Williams is the composer of the music from Star Wars and many of the audience bring their light sabers for when he plays music from Star Wars.


(Light sabers powered up during The Imperial March from Star Wars).

To share and listen to musicians of this caliber tampers with your sense of reality. While listening to the movie themes, there was frequently a video montage of the movie and I had to keep reminding myself, "This is Live Music, not the soundtrack".

For the first half of the performance, the orchestra played music from The Harry Potter movies including the main title theme song and also the music that signifies a particular place or character in the movie such as Diagon Alley or The Night Bus. Actor Lynn Redgrave provided the introductions to the music in the first half including how the music becomes an essential part of the character and action. The First Violinst played her violin in the style of a witch fiddling as part of the Diagon Alley theme. I could practically see the sparks coming off her bow and the cobblestone streets with Harry and Hagrid shopping for wands and brooms while she played.

(Red, White, and Blue lighting during the Superman Theme.)

For the second half of the concert, the Orchestra played "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca, jazz from "Catch Me If You Can", the "Superman" and "Batman" themes, and then concluding with Not One, Not Two, Not Three, Not Four, But FIVE, Yes, Five Encores with Star Wars Theme Music. That was when the light sabers powered up and the audience raised their glowing weapons in salute to the Orchestra and conductor. Live music touches me, us, in a way nothing else does and I feel privileged to share in this evening with my family and friends and now you. We can't wait to go again next year.


May The Force be With You.

Thank you for sharing in Perfect Moment Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Ruby Tuesday, Midweek Blues, and The Color Carnival. (I'm multitasking this week. Can you say blogger slacker? Yes, I thought so, ;oD)

Addition to my Doll Family for Perfect Moment/Mellow Yellow Monday

Please allow me to introduce you to the newest member of my doll family, Ashley. She is an early birthday present from my thoughtful family and she came from a wonderful yarn and fiber arts store, Websters in Ashland, Oregon. Ashley was made by an 18 year fiber artist using the technique of "felting". Her unexpected arrival and the joy of a new doll still thrills this soon to be 48 year old little girl at heart.

A sincere Thank you to my hosts, Lori for Perfect Moment Monday and Drowsy Monkey for Mellow Yellow Monday and to you for your visit.

Happy 59th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Canary in a Stripmall

Welcome to a Mellow Yellow Perfect Moment Monday brought to me by a Canary in a Stripmall. Several weeks ago my youngest son and I were waiting outside a restaurant for my husband and older son to arrive to meet us for dinner. Shortly after we sat down a little canary landed on my son's shoulder for a few moments. It then flew a few feet away and look distressed with its beak open and ruffled feathers. It was quite tame and did not appear to be able to fly far. I caught it easily and we went to a nearby petstore to see if it was an "escapee" from their bird department. No such luck but they did tell me the name of a veterinarian who fosters birds. However it was evening time and the veterinarian's office was closed for the day. I did remember that a fellow soccer mom from my son's team worked at an emergency veterinary office. I called her up and asked her if she could care for the bird overnight until the foster vet opened the next morning. (I am not a bird person and I have a cat that would find this little birdie a tasty snack.) She agreed and we brought the bird over in a paperbag. (Which we got from the ice cream store next to the restaurant.) We were unsure how the bird would fare. The next morning I picked up the bird and s/he looked great, like a normal little canary. Here is the bird in my cat's carrier awaiting transport to the foster vet.




Thank you for sharing in a Mellow Yellow Perfect Moment Monday. I hope my little bird friend found a good home.

Mellow Yellow Monday "Around My Garden"

Welcome to Mellow Yellow Monday, a celebration of All Things Yellow.

I hope you enjoy these pictures of my cheap therapy and workout program aka My Garden.
I recently installed a rock and flower garden with roses, agapanthus, and alyssum.
Day Lilies are perennial and thrive on neglect. My kind of flower.
Here is White Alyssum, Yellow Cornflowers, and Blue Cosmos. (Doesn't Blue Cosmos sound like an alcoholic beverage? Blue Cosmos for me and my girlfriends, please. Gosh, let's invent the drink if they haven't already.)
All done trimming my roses to prepare them for another rounds of blooms.

Thank you for sharing in the Sunny Delight of my garden.

Mellow Yellow Monday - Cricket Players in Los Angeles

Here are Cricket players at a park near our home in North Los Angeles County. (Please double click the picture, sorry it's so dark. June Gloom.)
I love the multiculturalism of Los Angeles where you can watch Cricket players from Mumbai play on the field next to Soccer (futbol) players from Puebla, Mexcio.
Thank you for stopping by for Mellow Yellow Monday.

Mellow Yellow Monday - The Dog Edition

Happy Mellow Yellow Monday, a photo meme of the color, Yellow. This is a picture of Charley, our 16 month old Labradoodle puppy. He is a most Mellow Yellow Dog and loves his kitty, Abigail too. Thank you for stopping by and please click over if you crave more Mellow Yellowness.