A Week of Roaming in So Cal

Friday the 14th was the Hope Council Spanish themed dinner at Scott's house.  The fantastic food brought by all the members included Paella by Peggy.  The evening included Spanish Guitar and Flamenco Dancing.  We all felt the great music and Loren was moved to dance with the beautiful Flamenco Dancer. 

Saturday the 15th was a day with friends Chris and Jeff, their daughter Kate and friend Tim.  Kate had just graduated with MS from UCSB.  We took off for the sunny Santa Ynez Valley and some wine tasting and lunch at Roblar Winery, then to Los Olivos for wine and cup cakes, then to Curtis for more sipping and then supper at the Firestone Walker Brewery.  'Twas a great day with friends....Chris and I began working together 36 years ago before she and family moved to Bellvue, Wash.

Roblar Winery where Brian takes good care of us.

On Monday Colleen and I returned to Santa Barbara with her sister Lucy and Mark from Philly.  Colleen and I became stoaways in their suite at the Bacara Resort on the coast in the Santa Barbara area.  Lucy was on a company sponsored award retreat and we enjoyed the benefits for a day.  Bacara is a beautiful place to hang out....especially as stoaways.

 On Tuesday evening I met friends and former colleagues, David and Bill at Ladyface Ale Companie - Alehouse and Brasserie in Agoura.  We sat outside, sipped and shared, ate, and enjoyed the beautiful setting with music and remberances of long ago.  I enjoyed the Trois Filles Tripel, a Belgian style.

If it's Thursday, it was a V.A. day with the class in Westwood and a field trip to the Norton Simon.  During the class we talked about Vincent Van Gogh and watched a video of his amazing paintings with Don McClean singing "Vincent...Starry Starry Night."  We then rode over to Pasadena in the V.A. van and enjoyed the Norton Simon collection including several paintings by Vincent Van Gogh.

"The Peasant," 1888

"The Mulberry Tree," 1889

Henry Moore's "Reclining Woman"

Henry Moore's "Girl Seated Against a Square Wall,"  1957-59

Henry Moore's friend and competitor, Barbara Hepworth gets the largest and most promenently displayed sculpture in the entry circle called "Four-Square (Walk-Through)," 1966