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22 February 2014

Ah, a lovely and relaxing day. We all slept in - at least sort of. Of course Joe and I woke up fairly early, as we weren't all the way to Pacific time yet.  But we didn't need to rush anywhere. We all had a lovely brunch at a neighborhood restaurant. James headed back to the apartment for a bit of a rest before heading off to yet another long day of work (the lad works far too many hours), while Joe, Kendra and I went to Grace Cathedral.  We've been in there before, but had never been able to really take a good look around.  We all walked the inside labyrinth (there's one outside, too) and looked at the art installation. The display, by Anne Patterson, is called  Graced With Light and uses nearly 20 miles of ribbon! According to the handout, "The ribbons carry our prayers, dreams and wishes skyward, and, in turn, grace streams down the ribbons to us." The artist and the cathedral community assembled it.  The blue ribbons went up in March, 2013. In May and June, people wrote prayers, hopes and wishes on the red ribbons. We missed the video part - it wasn't up very long. It was lovely, and I imagine at its best when the church is full and people moving around create breezes to move it all. The stained glass changes halfway though the nave.  The

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building  - the fourth to bear the name, dating back to 1849 - started construction in 1928 , then paused for (I think) a few decades, finishing up in 1964.  When it started again, they used a completely different style. The windows go from very traditional to quite modern, but all very lovely. The pews in the choir have cushions naming all the churches in the diocese - and there's a St. Clement's! The cushions appear to be all California fauna, while the kneelers for communion are the flora. 


Kendra and I then went off to get pedicures so we'd have pretty toes wearing sandals in Hawaii. Kendra wanted a bit of a nap, but neither Joe nor I wanted to sit indoors on another lovely day, so we took off on a walk to Union Square and through Chinatown and back to their place. We walked through a park that's known as the back yard of Chinatown, or something like that.  Dozens and dozens of Chinese gather there, all playing the same game.  Kendra and I saw them doing this last spring, but it was a totally different game! We wonder if it differs by day of the week. Sure can tell my shins aren't used to all these hills... Off to another dinner (no food in the house and that's the way we want it) and back for an early night.  We have to be ready by 6 tomorrow morning, so an early bedtime will make 4:30 a bit easier to take.