After my downtown tour, I had lunch here, yes the falafel was good. I’m sharing the image because in the 1980’s all the food stalls in Grand Central Market were made out of neon. Most of the newer stalls are following that tradition, I’m not sure if it is a requirement or not.
After that it was time to visit the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale. I had gone on the Neon bus tour a few years ago, wonderful thing to do if you are in the LA area in the summer. 
During the day, the diving beauty shines, but no as much as she would at night.
I don’t know if this installation lights up at night. Neon is a technology that became quite popular in the early 20th century in advertising. All of the signs in the exhibit have come from buildings that are no longer around. I’m glad there are people out there who are saving these artifacts.
This is the sign from the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. There were two of these marquees, put up in 1957, they came down in 2001. Thank God one was saved and was repaired back to good working condition.
The orange-red is the color you get with neon gas. 
The blue comes from Argon gas. Using phosphates is how you manipulate these two into other colors.
I had to take a selfie! I don’t quite understand these pop up museums that are just Instagram opportunities. The Neon Museum has a purpose, to educate and to share an art form that almost died.
It wasn’t easy getting this sequence on my camera! This is one of the fun things about neon, the stop action motion. This is a very funny advertisement for a bar.
Neon really is art, I do enjoy the creativity of the designers.
Bars, peep shows, and motels, don’t forget the motels! Eric (a fellow conservancy docent who leads some of the Neon Bus tours) was there and was telling me that he could tell back in 2017 that the economy was roaring back, because so many old motels are being torn down for modern development. The museum tries to get the signage, but that is not always possible.
There is a poster with images of motels around the country. This one caught my eye! The motel is no longer there, but look what I found a block away!
The Carlton Motor Lodge, another Art Deco motel. Btw, the word motel is the combination of the word motor and hotel, the first of these was in San Luis Obispo. Clearly, this one is using the words motor Lodge instead. I don’t know if the neon sign still works.
The blade sign is newer. I do like the Atomic Age star on the top. I hope this survives a while longer!
Leah
Karen Kay Buckley has come out with a simple tool called perfect seams. These little plastic templates help make a perfect tubes, from 1/2″ to 1/8″.
Trim the sewn edge, iron down and start appliqueing.
I have here the 1/2″, 2/8″ and 1/8″. The narrower the tube, the easier it is to get tight curves. I sewing with silk thread, strong and almost invisible. I sew by hand, for me, applique is hand work.
I twisted these freely as I sewed. Knowing me, I probably won’t use the 1/2″ much.
Don’t look at these for color schemes, I’m using us scraps I have on hand.
I had a $10 gift certificate from Candy’s Quiltworks. So I bought some more boy fabric and made another pillowcase. This is for foster kids, they always need pillowcases to give the kids and girls themes are more plentiful than boys. So whenever possible, I’m making pillowcases for boys.
In an area, the size of Disneyland was the birthplace of American Space exploration. Today, there is a hospital, large sports facility and a huge outdoor shopping mall. Oh and this little 
All of the Apollos and the shuttles were built here. This one, sitting outside was the first to leave the atmosphere and come back intact.
Here is Bill, the head of this museum. He is showing us a very important artifact, this is the coupling mechanism for the Apollo. I can’t explain it all, but somehow, this small device is what allowed the space program to jettison the boosters while leaving earths atmosphere, while being able to come back again. As I said, I can’t explain it, it’s a small thing thing that made a very big difference.
An image of the crew, which included an Indian woman and the famed Israeli pilot, Ilan Ramon.
Of course, I have a special place in my heart for a fellow Israeli who flew this mission. He was part of the mission in the 1980s who bombed the nuclear reactor in Iraq. The world condemned Israel no end for that, although in private, I’m sure the world sighed a sigh of relief. Condemning Israel for anything is what the world does. Then, years later, one of his sons’ was killed while training with the Israeli air force. Life has not been kind to his wife, Rona.
This museum is a hands-on location that is great for children, they have a robotics lab, they have all kinds of things to do. There is a real gap, these days kids don’t care much about space exploration, it’s just not in the conscientiousness of this generation. That is what happens when the world turns it’s attention to other pursuits. These days, it’s SpaceX and Space Virgin, private companies that are exploring opportunities. The government is too busy wasting money on anything else it can. Not that space exploration is a waste, but most government spending these days is.
Joel by the suit.
Me in the suit, well, I’m not suited up, there is a ladder in the back. It’s just a photo op.
Snoopy the Astrobeagle became a mascot for NASA. Oh and that table? I just got the corner of it, but this is a very large conference table that was used here at the facility. In the movie Apollo 11, the table is in Houston, but in reality, it was in Downey. When the trouble started on the capsule, all the info about the Apollo 11 was poured out on this table and the engineers who had worked on actual capsule put their heads together and came up with the solutions that Houston passed on the guys up in space.
I explored parts of the compound I hadn’t seen before. Always a fun thing to do.
The ghost sign from Edison, this building was built in 1902 as the first Edison power plant west of the Mississippi.
Tucked off in the corner is a workshop of innovators and builders of amazing things. I have to confess that I didn’t go see their installation, next time.
This is the backside of the building, so maybe the building was built in 1894, or maybe most of the powerplant was added on later.
You know me, I will take any chance I can get of taking pictures of the downtown skyline. From this angle the new Broad tower is invisible.
Teresa and Hawke in front of their Ascension quilt. 
Me too! I got into the fun. As did many of the visitors to this studio. They are planning a series of quilts with the theme of wings. I’ve watched this one being created on Instagram, was so much fun to see it in person.
Among the industrial and the freeway, old homes survive. Some like this one are well cared for.
Or how about dressing up a small cottage with some Victorian flair?
Then there is the old rundown Victorian, broken up into apartments. So this is how one uses the vestibule to create two private entrances. It is a large building, so it could be there more entrances were created on the sides or the back.
Have I mentioned I’m appliqueing flowers in some of the rings? Take a closer look at the upper right-hand bird, The outer ring is done in the light blues only. Except, once you step back from the quilt, it doesn’t really show up. So I decided to add some birds.
I only have three of these light blue rings and wanted more birds. Here is the quilt top finished, with eight birds. Hopefully, they are scattered in a pleasing manner over the quilt top. 
This is an opportunity to use my appliquick tools. Here is the first bird. I think it looks just fine.
Here is the final bird, maybe you can’t tell, but I feel like I’m getting better with these tools. My tiny circles are rounder. I know, it won’t matter, the quilt as a whole is lovely. 
I do enjoy mastering a new skill and with all these birds and circles, I feel very very comfortable with the appliquick tools now.
I can’t say I love all the birds equally, I’m luke-warm on this one.
The flower here is probably too big.
The bird is fine, the vine, too big. But I was practicing making vines, and I’m pleased with how it came out, even if it’s a bit big in comparison to the bird.
Just right! As I said, I’ve had fun with this and am really in the mood for a major applique project, something like a Baltimore album, but not with all the old-fashioned blocks. We shall see. This needs to be quilted and I do have other projects to work on, not full-size quilts. Also, now that the weather is warming up, I want to get back to sewing some more garments.
We worked off the same pattern Storm at Sea. You can see how color placement changes everything. This is one of those things I love so much about quilting. Our fabric choices and placement make all the difference.
My quilt.
Irene’s’ quilt, she is hiding behind the quilt, that is Ruth peaking out.
Ruth’s quilt. She worked with a design program (not EQ) and came up with this stunning version. So now, we are mailing them off and since there is always a waiting list for quilts for veterans, I’m sure they will find good homes very soon.
It’s springtime, which means spring break. So the cousins went to Griffith Park to ride the ponies.
Then there was the train ride, no pictures.
Shira does love being a big cousin.
Beer is liquid bread.
Any healthy eating habits go out the window on Passover. This is a must, Maztah with peanut butter and Israeli chocolate spread. When my kids were little, they took sandwhiches with this spread to school. These days it’s a once a year treat.
Eyal had a good time as well, he tried the matzah, what he really liked was the chopped liver.
I love knit fabric, especially one that is mostly rayon. And look at that print, those roses! This took two hours to make, I love my serger. The only thing I did on my sewing machine was sew the hems.
The sun is in her eyes, otherwise, I can assure you, very happy granddaughter. Look how her shoes match perfectly.
Who doesn’t love a dress that twirls?
Another shawl, although, sadly, despite all the work, it’s more like a scarf than a shawl, it does cover my shoulders, but not enough.
Knitting with two yarns takes longer than just one. The narrow bands are one skein that gradually changes color.
Interesting shaping, which is what attracted me in the first place.
I’ve already wound up another ball of yarn, even if my knitting has slowed down a lot, I have to have a project on hand.
Look at these bearded irises! After a few years, my irises have died, I think I need to get some more. I know, the blooms are short-lived, but they are so worth it.
Don’t know what this is, but boy do I love the bright orange.
California poppy is popping, especially at the 
I bought this fellow there years ago and it’s a large bush now.
They have garden tours, it was too busy today for that.
This is a great place for any kind of information about native plants.
$80 for this cactus, must be rare.
I came home with a few penstemons, they will have beautiful blue-purple flowers and should bloom for a few months. That is unusual with natives, most have a burst of flowers and then that’s it. If all goes well, next year I’ll add more natives to the garden, since my garden is a little sad these days. 
The the next day, I grabbed a friend and we went on the Pasadena Historical society home and garden tour. No photos allowed except from the curb. I understand that. Sometimes it’s about the experience without the photos. So here is an amazing Mid Century, it’s hard to see, but there is a glass bridge that connects the two sides of the house. Oh and the wife does a lot of mosaics!
A 1908 farm house. Today there is a small nursery in the back, all this on a rather busy street.
The McNally Mansion in Altadena is up for sale! Built in 1887 it was a rea treat. They still have gas chandeliers!
Although this view is from the curb and today is used as the front, this is actually the back of the house. The house just went on the market! It is a historical home, so it can’t be torn down, what a gem! Well worth the visit, which is why I love these tours.
The station was packed with people, some traveling and many others, like us, there to enjoy the music.
333 years is a long time, the balloons were decorating the station, both inside and out.
Oh look! There is a paper mache Bach!
Someone with a Bach bag.
No, I cannot explain this Vaccaro with his stuffed pheasant, all I can say is, they both enjoyed the concert.
No explanation for this tiger head either. It’s LA.
This gorgeous half dome is atop the Patsaouras Plaza in Union Station, a newer addition to the complex.
Kids from all over Los Angeles are learning music through the Harmony project and what great musicians they are.
After some music, we went for a walk, a huge limousine pulled up in front, not sure if they were there for Bach or not.
Past Chinatown to the new park at the old cornfield. Today it is Los Angeles State historic park. It needs to grow into itself, but it is lovely to have this park in a dense part of north Chinatown. People were enjoying the park and I had to get a picture of City Hall.
This time I even treated myself to banana cream pie, with real bananas. Then back through Union Station, where the finale concert was taking place in the old Ticket concourse. Down to the subway and home.
I sat down with a nice cup of tea and drooled, thinking of all the things I want to make. Then I put a pattern to good use.
I’ve been concerned that the light blue ring doesn’t really stand out. So, add some applique. I modified the pattern some, but just by removing some elements. This also gave me the chance to practice some more with my Appliquick tools. I am getting better!
There are so many new apartment buildings, Little Tokyo is hopping. This mural over a parking lot really grabbed me. I think I have a thing for birds these days. Not to mention that it looks like embroidery, cross stitch and all.
I think they prefer this cat in this neighborhood.
That looks like the Challenger, lets go take a closer look. Indeed it is a memorial to one of the astronauts. Although I was in Israel at the time, this disaster was very big news. We all heard about Christa Mcauliffe, the teacher from New Hampshire. 
The Japanese American community has not forgotten, I am grateful for that. We don’t hear much about this community because they overcame the indignation and horror of internment during WWII by president Roosevelt, and went on to build good meaningful lives. One of them was Elison S. Onizuka, I’m sorry he died when he did, I’m glad his community honors him.
Redbird is in the rectory of St. Vibiana. You can see the new apartment block in the background, the whole neighborhood is filling up with these. St. Vibiana is the original Cathedral in Los Angeles. Once the new Cathedral was built, there was nothing holy or consecrated about this building. It almost faced demolition and these days serves as an event center.
I wish we had more address signs like this. Beautiful.
A very upscale homemade smores, with marshmallow ice cream, decadent and amazing.
Yup, very very happy with my birthday.