A walk around Lake Balboa in the valley is a mini bird viewing tour. The lake is a manmade one, really manmade, the water isn’t diverted from elsewhere. It is reclaimed water from the Tillman reclamation plant. One of these days people will recognize that this water is pure enough for our faucets. Until then, we have a lovely park with a lake, and much more water flowing down the LA river.
Water brings water birds, like your standard teal duck. There are also geese, domesticated and a few Canada geese who are probably never going home.
The ducks enjoy floating on the water and eating fish and grubs. The lake is stocked with fish and many a fisherman enjoy a lazy afternoon along side the lake.
The cormorant isn’t as buoyant as the ducks, most of its’ body is underwater.
Which is why it needs to spread it’s wings to both dry off and cool down.
Speaking of ducks, here is an unusual fellow, nice tuft on his head. There were a number of these ducks, so it must be some sort of breed.
Not sure what this fellow is.
This egret sure can twist his neck!
In any city park you will find squirrels, especially if someone is feeding them.
You looking at me?
Yes I am, do you have a problem with that?
Me! Me! Look at me! Ok, the common pidgeon is a bird too, I guess he deserves a spot in this post as well.
So it’s the arrival of Halloween decorations.
Strange flowers on the cactus…
As well as their interesting fruit, that lets us know fall is here.
One neighbor was in such a rush, they started decorating in mid September.
I still can’t resist a cute owl, be he part of out door decorations…
or for sale on a pillow at Pier One.
There are the buildings that are always there, like these Russian onion domes on a 1960’s building on Ventura Blvd. There used to be a Russian night club here, now I think it’s a Chinese restaurant. At least the color fits in with fall.
Big happy pumpkins! I think I’m going to avoid the ghoulish decor this year. Too much murder, mayham and terror in the real world, I don’t need to pretend.
There are always those who keep their standard decor, no matter the changing seasons.
I went to a local park instead.
So maybe I don’t have all this ivy, but it doesn’t look much different from my yard.
The dress itself is cute. McCalls M6959, it fits well, it light and summery.
I really like the bias binding all around the dress, so much easier than hems and facing. I just happened to find a commercial one from Wrights that matches perfectly. 
Just to prove I’m not at home, let’s get some pictures on the playground equipment. Woah! Tripod, camera, clicker and spinning!
I think I’m holding on for dear life!
That strategically placed snap works! keeps the front bodice from gaping open, even when one is losing control on a spinner.
Phew! I need a rest. Btw, the cotton is some unknown that I bought for $6 in downtown LA. I really need to make another visit.
Another thing I did was lower the tripod some, so the angles are a little different. A few more years of practice and watch out CBS, I’ll be on the lot instead of outside.
Elin wrote a book on Geocaching, so she knows how it’s done. So we met up with another cacher and went hunting.
This was part of a pair of boxes, finding them wasn’t hard, finding the clues to open and then synchronize the little electronic displays inside – that took some talent.
And here we are! The prize!
This was a short one. Not enough exercise for a lovely Saturday. So on we went on a hike.
I captured one moment of quiet on the trail, there were hikers, bikers, and walkers. In SoCal, people are out and about all the time. 
With things to see, and time to spend talking with a friend.
There is a place called the museum of the San Fernando Valley, I finally went there. Meh, I can see how the Valley is beginning to come into its own and I wish them success, but nothing about this organization made me want to get involved.
There are things that are worth stopping for, like this wonderful sign. I think I’m just souring on the concept of many museums. Sure there is great art that is worthy of being shared. But these days, everyone has a museum, and by calling it that – they feel they have elevated what’s inside when in many cases they have simply diminished what a museum is all about. 
Maybe this sign says more about the Valley than anything else. Of course, I’d like to see all these groups joining together for one service in one common language, English. But maybe they do for social events and people are comfortable with religion in their own language.
The church was build and destroyed 3 times, final time in the Sylmar earthquake of 1972, so the building we see today is very new, 1974. Although it is adobe, I’m guessing there is a lot of earthquake retrofitting inside those thick walls. The 1994 earthquake damaged the convento but not the church.
I don’t know how much of this is old or original from the previous churches. It certainly is ornate. When I arrived for my visit, I was told to view other parts of the grounds since a funeral was taking place in the church.
Exiting the back door and looking through the church back to the green garden.
They were given prime realestate right next to the church and the area is a lovely garden, with a mural of Bob Hope.
When I visited, the Magnolia tree was in bloom.
As were these lovely white lilies.
Water is the most important element anywhere in California. The mission used to have it’s own water system and this fountain is a replica of the original.
What used to be the main gathering point for all the women is now simply decorative. 
Along with other fountains on the property.
The Archival Center of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is here on the property. Both an historic museum as well as a research center. You know me, I love mosaic, and am thrilled to see the Piczeck Tableaus which show the development of the Archdiocese, from the original one that was established with the Spanish.
Through the Monterey – Los Angeles Diocese that lasted 93 years, covering five Archbishops.
Finally to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as it is today. Of course all that other large area has been split into smaller more manageable archdioceses as well.
It was time to visit the San Fernando mission. When my older sons were in 4th grade they were at a Jewish Day school, so maybe visiting a Catholic mission wasn’t ‘appropriate’ – even if it is integral to the history of California.
I can only guess that my youngest missed the visit because there was so much work to be from the damage of the Northridge earthquake. Notice the mission bell?
The bright turquoise paint might be new, but looks like this bell is original to the spot. I don’t know who the people are who erected it, I do know that it was cast by Mrs. A.S.C. Forbes, I have no idea what her first name was. Such was the tradition in the early 20th century to only use initials.
Another one stands right by the Church itself, I don’t think this one is original to the spot, but I may be wrong. Meanwhile, just look at how thick the adobe is.
School children visiting the mission. 
The bell tower here is not as impressive as Mission San Gabriel, each mission has wonderful individual characteristics of their own.
All the missions had a lot of land. Unlike Mission San Gabriel, the buildings are spread out here with a lot of open space. To the left is the Convento, finished in 1822. The front faces the street with those twenty one Roman arches, this is the back view.
It is the only two story adobe building of it’s size still standing. Today it houses an extensive museum as well as the only intact wine cellar in any of the mission, it is underground, better for climate control.
See how thick the walls are! They have to support a second story. Of course the building went through massive renovations and earthquake support after 1994.
Walls and arches were pretty low, both the Spaniards and the natives were short people.
A section of the adobe wall was left un-repaired. They used a very thick coat of stucco to protect the adobe. Although this stucco isn’t fired, it is much less porous and does protect the adobe bricks from the elements. The roofs had fired tiles, the tile maker is in the museum.
These have been exposed to the elements for 20 years and are still in very good shape. Yay for California clay!
On a side building, out of the way, someone has affixed a modern tile.
Welcome to Uncommon Threads, a collaborations between four fiber arts groups. 
Members of each guild need to sit in the gallery while it is open to the public. So I met Linda Stone, she has quite a few pieces in the exhibit. Being a member of two of the groups helps. 
This quilt was on display at Paducah a few years ago, Linda does realism very well.
She has been branching out into the modern as well. A sign of a good artist, one who keeps on learning.
It’s a good thing Maureen Cox signed this piece, we were friends years ago but then drifted apart. For a few years now she has been staining fabric with rust and then creating the artwork from there.
I was there the very first day it opened, so not all the artwork had labels yet. While this is clearly a quilt, it is also a from of collage.
By the same artist, Susan Gesundheit, this is a fabric collage, I don’t see any quilting here. Most of the quilts are considered art quilts, if only because they are small and are hanging on the walls.
This artist used vinyl in a very interesting literal way. For me coming to this kind of show is a real pleasure. I see names of people I have known in the past and see how their art has developed. I see new art I’ve never seen before and I get inspired, not to copy or recreate, but simply to enjoy good textile art.
I LOVE weaving, I did learn how to weave on an eight heddle loom. One has to pick and choose, I can’t do everything so I don’t weave, but I really appreciate what goes into it. 
Like here, a ‘simple’ stole, but look at the difference between the front and the back! The colors really change drastically.
Achieving three dimensionality.
Even a display of scarves makes my heart sing. 
Of course I react to bright colors…
…and three dimensional objects like these birds.
Or this wonderful dancing woman.
I shared my solid challenge with the Valley MQG this month. The top was finished and spray basted. 
I spray basted these two at the same time. Because of the intricate piecing and slightly larger size, the New York Beauty is heavy!!! Really really heavy. I know I mentioned that before, but working two quilts at a time really emphasized the heaviness.
I quilted in a way that I won’t be repeating, using a ruler I quilted inside every patch. The ruler part isn’t a problem, I really like the ruler and want to do more ruler work. The problem is the stopping and starting every few seconds.
The backing is also a solid, I don’t know if is had to be. Funny thing about this fabric, the other side has an all over tiny floral print which would have been so much better for hiding all the sins on the back here. Notice the birds nests as well as all the tiny ends? When your machine cuts the thread for you, it is a very nice feature, but leaves more of a mess.
I used more threads than I’m showing here. I even tried a monofilament, (it’s the one in the sleeve). Didn’t like it, even though it’s low sheen, it still shines in a way cotton or poly thread doesn’t. You may have noticed that I switched threads on the back as well. This is because no matter how much you play with tension, if the two threads don’t match – you can see it when you look very closely. So I sort of tried to match darks and lights. No one will be looking that closely that I felt the need to really match each thread.
And now for the artful shots at the l
Being at the lake means a lot of birds, I only captured a few on film.
I’m not a rainbow person, I am pleased with how the colors flow here. Forcing myself to work with one charm pack from 
I also really like that the block, the Churn Dash is lost in the colors, this is what I was trying to achieve. Use on block but really let the color tell a story.
Side by side, the NY Beauty is much more ‘my style’, both in scrappy prints (I did adhere to a color theme) and in the FMQ. The Rainbow was a true challenge for me. One I loved doing, but I don’t see it changing my preferred style.
I didn’t put a sleeve on the rainbow, I’m not even thinking of a name. After I share this in both guilds, I intend to gift the rainbow to a dear friend. It makes a perfect lap quilt for cuddling up on the couch. It won’t be hung anywhere and she won’t care if it has a name.
Hollywood Way has some interesting businesses. We usually end a walk with a Taco, but this was in the middle and the competing signs didn’t encourage us to cross the street.
Now that is a good name for an animation company. Right next door to The Animation Guild.
The cartoonish look makes much more sense now.
If you have small children, it’s a great visit, they have a play area with a large track full of Thomas Trains. And yes, I have bought items here, I don’t just use it as a free play area.
Not sure that tower ever gets rented out.
Quite worn out, they have been here a long time.
Along the way we met local residents
There were also many people out, enjoying their yards, riding bikes, putting up Christmas decorations.
It is old, the stone pillars on the driveway indicate that this was an ‘important’ home. The Clapboard and the rounded window are not new elements. Today there is a modern garage, I’d really love to know the history of this.
If this were anywhere else, it would be a very expensive home. But most people who want to live in such a home, don’t want to live in this neighborhood. Well not exactly, I could see some young hipsters who would love both the neighborhood and the home. The North part of North Hollywood is beginning to become a gentrified area.