Only in L.A.--Shopping!

Our experiences today all fall into the 'only in L.A. category, so I decided to dispense with the text and just use pictures.

Main Picture: Claire, Amy and Julia with the spoils from our shopping trip to Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice . About Kinney was a developer and conservationist, best known for his "Venice of America" development in Los Angeles. The Venice part escapes me, but the area has become a hipster shopping area with quirky architecture, eclectic boutique size shops, restaurants and interesting wall art. 

 First Extra: we began the day with a walk up Fryman Canyon, a popular hike through one of the many canyons that separate the San Fernando Valley from the Wast side of Los Angeles. At the top of the first pitch I couldn't resist the picture of the sun worshipper, seemingly oblivious of the numerous people coming upon him as the topped the hill, but, this being L.A. probably not at all oblivious.

Second Extra: The Farmers' market was in full swing when we got there. It is the same street we were on twice yesterday, first for coffee then revisited for yesterday's shopping. I love Farmers' markets and it is interesting to compare ones from Corvallis to Sebastopol to Los Angeles.

Extras three and four: A shoe store on Abbot Kinney and a wall mural on a mens' shop across the street. They seemed strangely related, so I included the wall art even though for some reason it is rotated and I can't figure out how to derotate it.

We've had a really good time here with the girls going shopping and the men staying home, watching golf on television and cooking. I think I like this traditional division of labor...especially since all my shopping purchases had to go on OilMan's credit card since mine, for undivulged reasons, is being declined.