Charles and I were married in August and every birthday, Valentine’s Day, Anniversary, etc. he’d make me the most wonderful cards. But balloons are nice too... And there’s always lots of LOVE…. Amy brought over two exquisite bouquets for our anniversary and Laurie...

  ….especially so because I have the most wonderful students! Here’s the class at the Huntington Botanical Gardens where I have been teaching since the mid ’90’s.  When I started there the class was in an area that is now the Boone Gallery and the Botanical Staff...

….and that’s exactly what beautiful Maggie’s sacred environment is! In case you’re wondering, Manjil is a Hindi word and nothing expresses the all encompassing, loving environment better.  I so wanted Nikka to see this enchanting home and what a universal, literary...

If you want to relax, toss aside all cares and take a one day vacation then I suggest a day at the Bel-Air Hotel. Just seeing the swans as you approach the hotel will place you in another world….a world of serenity and great beauty……a reminder to live joyfully!  Even...

…..was held this year at the Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica. The ever lovely Natalie with CTG Producing Director Doug Baker. Before we heard Doug Baker and Artistic Director Michael Ritchie discuss the upcoming season, there was an incredible buffet. There were...

…..beginning with Maggie as we attended a cooking class at ‘PIRCH', one of my favorite, joyful places. Chef John made sure all participants had a station and a task….  Maggie polished up her knife skills with onions, tomatoes and a few other items….  How amazing was...

  ….at the home of Manuela Goren, CTG board member, and her husband James…..….began with Amy and me driving to a spot nearby their residence to be greeted by members of the CTG staff and then taking one of the several shuttle vans of Chucksparking.com to our hosts...

…..has got to be one of my favorite things to do.  Perhaps it’s because all of the china is hand painted by my dear friend, beautiful Lissi Kaplan, with love and tender care. lissikaplan.com I always love describing the work of my amazingly gifted friend. Adorable...

On July 4th, NASA’s Spacecraft JUNO completed it’s successful five year journey to Jupiter to begin it’s elliptical orbit peering deep inside this huge planet telling scientists about cosmic leftovers that coalesced into our solar system…searching for our beginnings....

…Perhaps it’s eating ice-cream on the deck watching the fireworks…….. ….but secretly I suspect it’s the grilled cheese sandwiches I always make.  Piled high with cheese, bacon and tomatoes and grilled with a ton of butter.  Everyone throws artery caution to the wind!...