from the land of fried & frozen food

In what is fast becoming tradition, we were at the gates of the fair on opening day -- actually opening minute -- last week.

And, I'll say it again.

This girl...

loves rides.

The only possible way to make rides more fun?

Friends.

I was possibly most pleased with the fact that she met the minimum 42-inch requirement which meant I didn't have to go on rides like this one.

She has been on ump-teen carousels by now in her short life, but it never fails to please.

Katie swore up and down that she remembered from last year the humongous yo-yo ride had a 40-inch minimum requirement.

I kept telling her, "I'm not sure honey, it's awfully big."

Alas, we reached the ride this year and the minimum height requirement was 44 inches. (Thank goodness, because that thing is BIG and goes up WAY high.)

Instead she got her swinging fill on smaller versions.

And, what is better than a girl who won a stuffed panda in a game?

Two girls who won pandas in carnival games of course.

For more details of our adventure you can check out the article I wrote for the local paper here.

the nanny? so cliche

I love that Spring seems to usher in traveling art exhibits in Southern California. I've done a pretty good circuit over the past month or so. I saw the Renoir sketches at the Getty -- also saw this and this.

I'm partial to paintings, though I do usually check out the other art on exhibit. I haven't taken the Little Wickies with me yet. Maybe soon.

One my favorite Renoirs is Gabrielle and Jean (pictured right). I always thought this was such a sweet picture of a mother and child. When at LACMA I learned that it was his nanny and his boy. Renoir also painted her in the nude all. the. time. I know, it's art and he found inspiration where he found it. But still, I'm a wife after all.

Gabrielle (the nanny) is more than prominent in so many of his paintings. She's the one in the beautifully renown painting which graces the banners currently hanging in the streets of Los Angeles (left).

Do you think his wife rolled in her grave a little when they placed that painting on the cover of the Website and brochure, and then on the banners?

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side note: my article "Caught Mid-Stride in Life" appeared in the magazine Mommies Magazine if you want to check it out.

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