Danger: Books & Botany

Back in my USC days, I was christened Lady of the Lake by a few fine Sigma Nu gentlemen and an undoubtedly cheap bottle of champagne. As such, it seems almost blasphemous that I have lived in Los Angeles for this many years without ever visiting my namesake. Ms. Lady of the Lake's statue at Echo Park Lake was restored just last year as part of the area's massive rehabilitation project. You won't find her in any of these pics because...well...there's only room for one LotL in a single frame. 

Originally built as a reservoir for drinking water in the 1860's, the lake found itself neglected over the years to the point of almost no return. It was deemed an impaired body of water in 2006. In 2011, the veritable cesspool was closed for rehabi…

Originally built as a reservoir for drinking water in the 1860's, the lake found itself neglected over the years to the point of almost no return. It was deemed an impaired body of water in 2006. In 2011, the veritable cesspool was closed for rehabilitation, drained and then refilled with 26 million gallons of water. It felt pretty clean to me? Just kidding. This was totally staged. There was no way I was touching that water in a white dress.

Behold: Dystopia!

Behold: Dystopia!

I made friends with this family of geese. LOOK AT THOSE GAWKY LITTLE FLUFFNUGS! I don't think it was so much that they thought I was one of them, as it was that they thought that I thought that I was one of them. And then they felt sorry for me.&nbs…

I made friends with this family of geese. LOOK AT THOSE GAWKY LITTLE FLUFFNUGS! I don't think it was so much that they thought I was one of them, as it was that they thought that I thought that I was one of them. And then they felt sorry for me. 

We also did our best to creep out this little guy as he paraded across the lily pads. And watched this duck catch a snail. Lose a snail. Search for a snail. Catch a snail. Lose a snail. And then give up. Which I'm pretty sure serves as proof that pe…

We also did our best to creep out this little guy as he paraded across the lily pads. And watched this duck catch a snail. Lose a snail. Search for a snail. Catch a snail. Lose a snail. And then give up. Which I'm pretty sure serves as proof that persistence doesn't always pay off.

The Outfit: Zara lace dress. Shoemint boots. The jacket is a brand called Charles & Victoria - one of the first test shoots I did in NY was for the designers. They're awesome. So are their designs. 

The Book: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Down on Grandpa's Farm

Some of my favorite memories take place on my grandparents' farm in the 177-person town of Alexandria, NE. Limbo-ing our way under electric fences, learning the difference between cows and bulls, tiptoeing with trepidation toward the bank of the bottomless pond, shrieking in fear when my sister and cousins pretended to be Indians on the warpath.... (I'm from Nebraska. I was an impressionable child. Give me a break.)

Right before he passed, my Grandpa sold a solid chunk of acres to the state. All I know is that the purpose somehow relates to sewage, so I decided now was a better time than later to take yet another trek across the cornfields - with my sister, now as a less vengeful companion, my mom as tour guide, my father as grudging photographer, and my adorable nephew as a prop.

The things this bridge has seen...

The things this bridge has seen...

Sorry, John Deere, Grandpa was Farmall forever

Sorry, John Deere, Grandpa was Farmall forever

Children of the Corn II: The Offering

Children of the Corn II: The Offering

This house had once been turned into my Grandma's Craft Haven. The street number 308 happens to be the same as my Gypsy Haven. Coincidence? I think not.

This house had once been turned into my Grandma's Craft Haven. The street number 308 happens to be the same as my Gypsy Haven. Coincidence? I think not.

The Outfit: St. John cashmere coat with leopard print lining. I received it as a gift during my high heels-higher hemlines phase of life, and only recently unearthed it from the back of my closet. Yay, growing up! Vintage dress. UGG Australia's Belcloud boots - excellent for swamp-stomping.