Final Reflections on my Trip to Cali...

My week got away from me a bit this week...so I am writing a few remaining and random thoughts about my trip to Los Angeles....

First I have decided (based on this inspiration) to investigate aqua/ teal colored lighting for a few strategic spots in my own garden which is currently lit mainly in white... a row of trees in Santa Monica were lit in this soft aqua/teal and I thought it was a stunning departure from traditional landscape lighting....

Since I was in the neighborhood I thought I would provide you a bit of my own "Tour of Stars Homes"...with the former long-time residence of Elizabeth Taylor...

This kind of roadside spectacle is so cliche LA...(tee hee)...

Are you wondering what this is? This property is built into the hillside and has a pool with viewing holes cut into it's base...walking around the perimeter of this pool...it would be like going to visit seals or polar bears at the zoo... but instead you are looking at swimmers......hmm...not sure what the appeal is there....

I am one of those people who can never resist a stroll through a potentially good farmer's market...in my final post about my Cali adventures I had to feature the fabulous fresh fare that grows abundantly in the Golden State...here is a quick recap of a Saturday morning market in Pacific Palisades...




I don't think I have ever seen such large and perfect produce....

I marveled at how each strawberry box was "designed" for perfect symmetry...

There was even bug netting over the bakery goods... but the irony is there are hardly any insects flying around in Los Angeles...I appreciated the attention to detail though! On second thought...maybe the bug netting was mainly to keep customer's hands off the merchandise!

As I winded down my quick tour I saw a few of these magnificent displays of orchids for sale...what a fabulous collection...and a beautiful way to begin my Saturday! Speaking of Saturdays...have a fabulous one tomorrow! XO

Strolling Montana...

Whenever I am in Los Angeles I try to take some time to wander down one of my favorite streets in West LA...

It houses a great selection of boutiques and quaint cafes and coffee bars and a visit to Shabby Chic....(can I just say I miss the Chicago store terribly!!) is always on the agenda...

I invested in a little "petticoat junction" while I was there with a new duvet cover...

 

 

 

and Pom Pom Interiors....

(eyeing a pair of wall sconces for a new idea for my bedroom...)

 as well as the Benefit Boutique are among my "must have moments"!!

A couple of other images of lovely landings along Montana Avenue....

a blow dry bar...(my newest obsession)...we have them where I live but not done this nicely...

 Los Angeles is a treasure trove of fun spots that I feel compelled to visit every time I am there...but it also is home to some of the worst traffic you have ever experienced! So, I find that lately I pick different areas for different visits...otherwise I find myself spending hours in the car instead of hiking in the hills or having lunch at the Veggie Grill...

and dinner at Shu...

and dessert at the yogurt shoppe in Pacific Palisades...

A good part of LA's charm is the relaxing vibe...somehow "that" AND traffic don't go together...so recently I have been content with picking a few spots each trip and leaving the rest for my next visit...which keeps me coming back regularly (that and a set of my oldest and dearest friends live there too!)

Urban Oasis...

One of the great things about Los Angeles that many visitors never really take advantage of is the amount of Nature that is right at your fingertips... sure, everyone knows about the beaches and the great flora and fauna but what I love best is all the fabulous mountain and canyon hiking that is available minutes from the most urban of settings....

I recently spent the weekend with my dear friend of almost 30 years...Mademoiselle M... who has lived in Los Angeles most of her life and always shares with me the most wonderful things the city has to offer...we love to hike together and so that is what we did in fabulous weather. As the temps hovered around 15 degrees in Chicago I was thrilled to be hiking in temps reaching 85 degrees..but with NO humidity!

There was a soft breeze too... so it was just nirvana...after leaving the Midwestern Winter.

So many trails and canyons...you could get lost for days...

There are trails for every level of endurance too...

My favorite thing was seeing the Pacific Ocean in the distance...

One of my favorite " bends in the road" as we headed back down....

This image made me chuckle...an "Urban Cowboy" on a cell phone....

I have a fascination with unique tree trunks whenever they appear...

On another afternoon we did another hike...beginning our journey by this wonderful tree...

soon I could see the Pacific Ocean on one side...

 and snow capped peaks on the other....

Many trees are bare because it is technically Winter there too...

I loved the flowering bushes growing wild along side our path as well...

On our way back down the mountain I kept marveling at how we could feel so alone in nature right in the middle of the second largest city in the U.S....amazing!