Norton Simon Museum for the Soul in Pasadena

Viewing Van Gogh paintings is something I need for my soul! In Amsterdam, in 1990, I saw the 100 year anniversary of his death exhibition of paintings that Van Gogh considered his most important works. It left a lasting impression on my life.

Last week we visited friends in San Marino for several days and when we found out the Norton Simon museum was open till 8 p.m. on Saturdays we went in the afternoon. It was Halloween, when we arrived at 3 there were people there but by 6 p.m. we were practically the only ones left besides the staff. It was our treat to take our time without fighting crowds like there are at the Getty museum.

The Norton Simon museum has six Van Goghs, an amazing number for a small museum. Three are on the wall entering the first room.

Portrait of a Peasant was painted in 1888. You can never appreciate Van Gogh art as much until you see it close up to experience the thick paint and use of colors.

Much of Picasso's work leaves me feeling as disconnected as they look but this piece was interesting, at least it was a complete figure.

It was like a private visit to this impressive museum.

Another Van Gogh from his earlier darker period in Holland, one of the potato eaters.

Downstairs with a view to the gardens.

And the closer view.

It was the art we wanted to see again, we first visited the museum several years ago. Another Dutch artist, Frans Hals, did this Portrait of a Young Man. The Frans Hals museum in Haarlem, Netherlands, is where I first saw his work.

And then the master! Portrait of a Bearded Man in a Wide-Brimmed Hat, 1633, by Rembrandt.

It was amazing to see the face close up, almost alive, just ignore the few reflections from the glass.

The self-portrait of Rembrandt was amazing.

What a beautiful way to spend Halloween evening among the works that are so unbelievable. These are just a few of the many famous paintings, we won't wait so long to return to the Norton Simon museum.

Visit from Amy

Amy was my first guest for a quick spot of tea in front of the garden castle shed. Jan and I met Amy when we signed up for a recent eBay class at adult school. She manages the senior center at Manchester Center and adult school registrations.

We noticed photos of various chickens on the bulletin board so I asked and Amy said they were hers. We had such fun chatting about the chickens she raises. I never knew they could be pets.

In our chat I also found out Amy loves having tea and has a teapot collection.

I invited Amy to stop by one afternoon on her way home for a cuppa and a sweet treat. When Amy took a bite of the cake I made she recognized it and asked if it was a sherry cake. She grew up having it and told me how her mother decorated the cake. Then we discovered how much we both love Van Gogh! She spent two days in Amsterdam during her college years and spent both days at the Van Gogh museum.

Amy brought me gifts! After she left Jan took a photo of me holding the teapot and 6 fresh eggs from her adorable chickens. The teapot is made in Portugal, very nice! Just before she arrived I quickly wrote a note in chalk.

My sons grew up having the sherry cake and now my grandsons love it so here is my recipe that a friend gave me about 1978.

Many cake mixes now have pudding in the mix and it works both ways, just the cake mix with pudding or adding a 3 oz. box of instant vanilla pudding. The recipe says use an angel cake pan, I've always used a bundt pan and spaying with Pam Baking now bakes with an even color.

The cake is good plain or goes well many ways, with ice cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup or topped with cherries. A can of cherry pie filling, slightly warmed, is easy but Trader Joe's dark morello cherries makes a good topping. They are not sweet or thickened so you have to do both.

Drain the liquid from a jar of Trader Joe's dark morello cherries into a sauce pan. Add half a cup of powdered sugar and a tablespoon of cornstarch. Whisk till dissolved, then heat and keep stirring till thick. Add in the cherries, remove from heat, mix in just a couple of drops of almond extract, not much.

Serve cherries over wine cake, have a cup of tea and enjoy.