Scenes from Santa Cruz and Monterey for Ruby Tuesday

The Central Coast of California is stunning and awe-inspiring in the truest sense of the word. Plus, the "reds there are quite robust." ;o)

Santa Cruz Lighthouse and Surf Museum
Capitola Wharf Boat Rental
Monterey Bay Aquarium

Happy Ruby Tuesday and thank you for visiting, and May The Red Be With You!

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)

Two Hooded Car and Is This Even Street Legal?

This car eliminates the pesky issue of back seat driving.



Mid 1970s Datsun/s? spotted in Old Town Newhall, California.

Happy Ruby Tuesday and Midweek Blues! Any crazy cars in your neighborhood? Thank you.

Pool's Open - Ruby Tuesday

Summer is here and our community pool is open.
What signals the start of Summer where you live?
Happy Ruby Tuesday where Red Matters.

Ruby Tuesday - Fun Food at the Craft Fair

One of the best things about going to any kind of Fair is the fun junk food. Last weekend at the Craft Fair, I did treat myself to a Funnel cake which is like a deep fried lacy donut with powdered sugar. Delicious! Thank you for stopping by to check out Ruby Tuesday, a photo celebration of all things Red.

Ruby Tuesday - Fresh Strawberry Cake

Today's Ruby Tuesday, a photo meme to celebrate all things Red, gives me a chance to show off my baking skills. Here is a picture of my very fresh, Strawberry cake with whipped cream frosting. I made this for a friend's son's graduation party because it is the graduate's favorite.

A few of my baking tricks include making a three layer cake by dividing the batter in thirds and reducing cooking time by a third. For example, if two eight inch cake pans take 30 minutes to bake, three layers will require approximately 20 minutes.

Between two of the layers I spread Seedless Strawberry Jam and then thinly sliced, rinsed and very well dried fresh strawberries. Between the top two layers, I apply whipped cream frosting.

Whipped Cream frosting is whipping cream, a little REAL vanilla extract, confectioners sugar and dash salt. The secret to great whipped cream frosting is to use a Deep, Metal bowl and thoroughly chill your metal beaters and bowl prior to whipping up your frosting.

To decorate with fresh fruit, it must be throughly washed and DRIED and also sized to take into account ease of cutability.

Of course, love and caring are sprinkled liberally.

(My detail oriented husband wiped off the crumbs on the cake stand before we delivered the cake, but unfortunately After I took this picture, can I tell you how much this bugs me to see crumbs there?? Ack!!)

Ruby Tuesday - MetLofts Los Angeles

Please step on up for Ruby Tuesday, a photo celebration of All Things Red!

In downtown Los Angeles near the Staples Center is a visually arresting and engaging loft apartment building called the Metlofts. In the entrance of the building is a large, pressure sensitive walkway that lights up with combinations of red squares when you step on them. The image of the walkway is mirrored on the front facade of the building. My husband, our niece, her husband, and I had a great time playing around with this interactive light show.

Ruby Tuesday - Cactus Blooms

I have been stalking my neighbors' gardens for inspiration for my own garden and was happy to find this cactus in full bloom. Thank you so much for sharing in Ruby Tuesday, a photo meme to celebrate the Color, Red.

Ruby Tuesday

This picture is of the chorus from a play our oldest son is performing in.
(I apologize to the grammarians for ending my sentence in a proposition. Please feel free to leave me more grammatically correct options in the comments.)

Thank you to Work of the Poet for hosting Ruby Tuesday, a photo meme of the color, Red.