Wackarons

When out-of-town bloggers visit--especially Francophile bloggers--the search is on for macarons. (You know better than to ask me about macaroons, right?) This time we tried Lette on Fair Oaks. Pretty! And lots of flavors. I figure you're supposed to eat them.

Apparently no, not if you're a photo-blogger.

(Pictured: Virginia of Birmingham, Alabama Daily Photo and Paris Through My Lens, and Kathy, aka "the Chieftess," of Mammoth Lakes Daily Photo. Here's Kathy's take on the event.)

Primavera

 It's spring. Around here, that means Primavera.

You're invited!

I'm told this pretty poster is untweetable. How's this?

Saturday, March 19th, 11am-? Farnsworth Park, Altadena
Bloggers, families, friends & groupies welcome!
bring a dish, utensils or paper goods to share
info: altadenablog@gmail.com
or call 626-791-5327

I imagine that's more than 140 characters. I'll let you pick what to abbreviate. We'll have plenty of characters at the picnic, no abbreviations necessary.

Please spread the word (there's a little button below). I hope to see you there.

Primavera II

Apparently it's my tradition to post a photo of Timothy Rutt for the annual Primavera celebration. Tim is the brains behind Altadena's powerhouse Altadenablog, and Primavera is the San Gabriel Valley Blogger potluck Tim hosts along with Altadena Hiker Karin Bugge, Susan Carrier of Open Mouth Insert Fork and Cancer Banter, and Debbie Swanson Patrick of Altadena Above It All and Altadena Daily Photo. Thanks, you guys! We had a wonderful time.

I took this photo early, before things got crowded. Later on we had about 45 people, says Tim. Maybe we'll see more pictures of the picnic on their blogs. The food was great and the people were even better.

If you weren't there we missed you.

Playtime!

It's fun time for the San Gabriel Valley blog community. This means not just bloggers, but blog visitors, too--whether you comment or not. Just because you're reading this right now, you're invited to the SGV Blogger's Potluck on March 20th! Wasn't that easy?

It's a chance to meet your blog friends face-to-face.
It's hosted by some of your favorite Altadena bloggers.
Last year it was a blast (not like the picture, though).
Come!

There's one catch. You have to bring something to share. You know, like, food. It's a potluck.

Today's photo is a relatively nondescript parking lot at the corner of Walnut and Marengo. I keep taking pictures of it and not liking them (gee, I wonder why). I finally just played with it and was satisfied. After all, today's post is about playing. Sometimes you've just gotta.

UPDATE: Look what Thal sent: according to his comment today, this was the Beaux Arts style Wilson School, formerly at this location. "After the 1933 Long Beach earthquake," says Thal, "many such buildings were demolished as unsafe. Then this corner remained vacant for a long time, owned by the city, and then when the LA County Court needed a parking lot, this ugliness was built."

Meaning the parking lot which, even with my most playful alterations, doesn't hold a candle to the Wilson School.

Bloggers Rock

Yesterday's San Gabriel Valley Blogger potluck was a success! Not that I'm the least bit surprised, considering the people involved.

Organized by Timothy Rutt of Altadenablog, Karin Bugge the Altadenahiker, Susan C. of Open Mouth, Insert Fork and Cancer Banter, and Debi of Altadena Daily Photo and Altadena Above It All, the potluck attracted many interesting dishes, including this giant cookie contributed by Michelle Mills, a.k.a. Mickie, who blogs at Diary of a Doo Dah Queen and Mickie's Zoo. Here, Mickie and her cookie pose with Timothy.

Mickie said she had to spell the word "blogger" for the cookie decorator, who had never heard of a blogger.

Kelly of West Coast Grrlie Blather wondered aloud if any of us had encountered, uh, disrespectful reactions when people found out we were bloggers. If I've gotten those reactions I was ignorant of them (blissfully so). And speaking of ignorance, someone who disdains people because they blog surely doesn't understand what blogging is in the first place.

I've found the San Gabriel Valley blogging community to be fascinating, diverse and welcoming. I've found the global blogging community to be all of the above as well. Blogging has opened up my world in ways I never knew possible. What are your thoughts about blogging?

Here's Kathy's post about the potluck at the KCHblog. I'll add more links as I find them.
Tim posted a video, apparently shot while I was in the bathroom.
A lot of fun shots at Cafe Pasadena, including Boz's glamor pic.
Altadena Hiker has added another photo.
This just in: Pasadena PIO's post.

Join Us

Tonight we celebrate Earth Hour from 8:30-9:30 pm. The World Wildlife Fund is asking everyone on the planet to turn off their lights for one hour as a show of our commitment to finding solutions to climate change.

John and I wondered what we'd do with a whole hour away from our computers. Then we thought of something.

One little hour seems a small amount of time to show support for the entire future of our planet. I hope you'll join us. I mean that figuratively. Don't come over. Do something at your house.

But you could join us this afternoon at the San Gabriel Valley Bloggers' Potluck. Bloggers, friends, families, fans and lurkers are all invited. It would be lovely to see you there!