Cold weather, Warm cats

We're having cold weather, dipping into the 40's at night.  I don't run the heater except in the early morning and the house is chilly.  The cats have found ways to cope:

In other news, Barb and I, her friend, Kristen, and room mate, Sherry, toured six houses, all part of the Redlands Holiday Home Tour to benefit the legal fund of the local YMCA.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos.  The homes were a variety of styles, ages, but were generally large, expensive, and featured decorating quirks that you don't see in the slick magazine spreads.  One house had a "travel" room, another an octagonal room that used to be the master bedroom.  Several had pizza ovens in the backyard and the last one we viewed had a walk-in wine cellar and tasting room.

One of our favorites was actually out in Mentone and was owned by a painter and assemblage artist.  His was a modest tract house that he had customized by adding additional large picture windows, painting the kitchen cabinets red (though not as red as our cabinets in Highland), and building a large studio behind the house.  The studio/gallery had a high ceiling and was perfect to view his creations which were huge and meant to be viewed from a distance.  He was in the studio when we visited and Barb talked with him a bit.  It was a working studio rather than a "show place" which was a refreshing change from the other homes.  Barb asked him if his metal garbage can, which was covered with paint and dented, was one of his creations and he replied that it probably would be incorporated into one of his works one day! 

Attached are the few photos that I did take:

Sherry and Barb

Barb and the new Honda

Kristin, Sherry, and Barb in the entry court of one of the old houses.  Barb is holding the paper booties we had to wear to walk through the houses.

Loggia and Koi pond in the same courtyard

Another house.  We liked the succulents in the fountain.

On the way home...note the fog bank at the foot of the mountain.

Not on the home tour--look at the fog!

After a long day of trekking through all the ritzy dwellings, this house got my vote as the best one:

It's Barb's, of course!

This shot is for you, Ted.  Barb & Sherry made six different kinds of cookies!  All yummy!