CALIFORNIA HERE I COME

A few years ago, I realized that whenever I’m about to go on a long trip, Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again” starts going round and round in my head. Sometimes it starts while I’m puttering in the garden or making dinner.

This morning, I started humming it while sitting at my computer.

I leave for California this afternoon!

Despite raging wildfires, I’m heading for Southern Cal to meet the folks that I have been working with on The Mystery Project.

It’s been almost a month since I “met” A & S via e-mail. Since then, we talk on the phone and e-mail at least 20 times at day, including weekends. I feel as if I know them quite well even though this will be the first time we all sit down together in their Santa Monica office.

With luck, we will put the finishing touches on the book visuals. After that, I can finally get down to writing the text, but not until sometime next week… I’m extending my trip in order to visit my California cousins and spend time with my son Fred (who created the above SM Pier graphic)

Fred moved from an apartment in Westwood to a cottage in Venice early this summer but I still haven’t seen his new place. Note the canals (see photo below). Founded in the 1890s by wealthy tobacco mogul Abbot Kinney, Venice was designed to resemble Venice, Italy.

Fred’s little blue cottage is about 6 blocks from the beach and close to lots of great vintage shops and home boutiques on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

I hope Fred won’t mind dropping by Kelly La Plante’s Organic design shop, Vanessa’s Turquoise, a vintage furniture emporium located in a quaint Japanese bungalow that was originally a ticket booth for an Asian themed amusement park ride, Sue Balmforth’s gloriously romantic Bountiful Home, Jennifer McGarigle's FloralArtLA (see above photo) or Lizzie’s Tumbleweed and Dandelions, where hand-painted furniture and shabby chic finds are king! I’m excited—and I’m bringing my camera!

*** BLOG DU JOUR ***

While I’m away, I hope you’ll take a mini vacation, too. Paddle the canals of Venice, Italy. Marvel at marzipan in Nice. Bask in the colors of The Bahamas. Pause in Provence. Tour the floating markets of Thailand. Photographer Robert Barab travels the world and you can tag along with him at www.robertbarab.com. Click on “gallery” and have a great trip!