Something begins... and lots of pics

Wanting something to work on during the pregame and intermissions, I grab somebody else's scraps I found thrown away at Modern Domestic, dots and dashes and small stitches calling to me like a Morse code message.  Add here and there from my own scrap stash, soft stitches, heavy stitches - something begins.  I continued the next day ( another game!) and the message becomes clearer.  I conjure up a whole series in my head.  Where will it go?

More photos from Santa Barbara (see previous post): Sunday Santa Barbara Pier and the view from the pier. Trolley The history of California presented through its flags. The Artists'Market, Sundays in Santa Barbara This is where I first met The Sisters, Mette and Sissel, in their booth. a walk along the beach    PS, our motel was just a block away from all this beautiful beachiness! Monday The giant fig tree Mission Santa Barbara Remnant of the chalk art festival Welcoming bells in a tree near the entrance A lovely table setting - it was Easter, after all! Mette and Sissel Thank you for such a lovely dinner in your cozy home! Tuesday This was our day for sightseeing. On the itinerary: the Courthouse, the shops, the parks, and the art museum. We took the tour of the Santa Barbara Courthouse, rich with California history and incredible southern Spanish architecture.  Shopping The scary window washer! Easter bunnies Turtles happy at home on their sunny rocks in the courtyard of the shops. The cutest chicken coop ever, behind a gift shop! And the lucky chickens who live there. And their eggs?  These were at the farmers Market. Mosaic in a storefront We went to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art to see the exhibit from Degas to Chagall, which was delightful.  We also saw some other wonderful work: Detail of a piece by Michelle Stuart, Drawn From Nature exhibit Snowflake photos by Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley, part of the Heavenly Bodies exhibit at SBMA Tibetan sand painting at the museum  Another beautiful spot in Santa Barbara (Alice Keck Park?)  Santa Barbara is in bloom! After hopping around town, we went back for a brief stop at Mette and Sissel's home so that Janet could pick up the artwork she had bought from them.  Well, our 20 minute visit stretched out into 6 or 7 hours of the most interesting conversation with the Sisters and Sissel's husband Reinhart! Notice the sign above Sissel and Mette's studio door: Entrèe des Artistes Mette Artwork by the Sisters, Mette and Sissel, ceramists and painters extraordinaires! Wednesday One more visit to the Courthouse, because I had just learned about letterboxing the night before! Markings on an outer wall Clockworks of the Clock Tower This is when we discovered the Wonderful World of Letterboxing! Our first letterbox find! Second letterbox Onward to Lotus Land - The Gardens of Madame, Ganna Walska, in Montecito, California.  Incredible gardens, the vision of a European singer who loved the unusual! Portrait of Madame Ganna Walska, opera singer and creator of Lotus Land.  "Enemy of the Average." Ganna Walska and her garden clock, back in the day. A final burst of letterboxing before we say adieu to Saint Barbara... Looking for #3.  Letterboxing takes you to strange and wonderful places! Dear, beautiful, Santa Barbara, Thank you so much for your hospitality, your beauty, and your fair weather.  I am so happy I could spend more than just a few hours with you.  I hope I may visit again soon! xoxo  lulu