Wanting to do something unforgettable to mark this milestone of my dear friend's birthday, I secured a highly coveted reservation for tea at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. We meandered about for hours, observing so many beautiful things hence this lengthy sharing.

By the way, only approximately 180 copies of the Gutenberg Bible were printed and first made available in about 1455. Of these, 145 were done on paper. The remaining thirty-five were printed on vellum (treated calfskin). Mr. Huntington paid the most for any book, ever, when he purchased this copy for $50,000 in 1911 ($1,614,452.63 today).

In The Canterbury Tales (1400-1405), Geoffrey Chaucer portrayed daily life across a broad social spectrum, with a new appreciation for humanity and humor. Chaucer wrote in the dialect of Middle English that became the basis for the modern English language. Medieval Europeans revered the written word, but most shared tales through a rich oral tradition. The wealthy and powerful coveted lavishly illuminated manuscripts for their beauty and the social status that they conveyed.

How cool is René Descartes' heart? Famous for the mathematical coordinates that bear his name and for stating, "I think, therefore I am," the French philosopher and mathematician (1596-1650) also had a powerful influence on the early modern understanding of the human body. His Treatise on Man sought to explain not only the mechanics of how a body functions but also how it is related to the soul. Having heard of Galileo's condemnation, Descartes never finished this controversial treatise, and it was published only after his death.

To preserve the the books on display, and to limit exposure to harmful light, curators turn the pages periodically. This ensures that each visit will reveal something different. I love that. John James Audubon's The Birds of America: From Original Drawings, vol. 1 (1827-1838) is a grand publication created to show all of America's birds in a single set of volumes. The enormous book illustrated nearly five hundred bird species and reflected the natural world more accurately than previous bird artists' works. Not only were the backgrounds an important part of the illustrations, but the birds were also rendered full-size-even the big herons, eagles, and others whose necks and wings were posed to fit onto the pages. Wow.

This display about Artificial Illumination tells how it became an indispensable feature of industrial societies and exemplified the progressive embrace of technology. The innovations of the modern era accelerated human impact to the natural environment and shifted it to existing arts and ways of life.

This is the saddest story here. Author Jack London (1876-1916) and his wife Charmian had been concerned about the risk of fire at their Sonoma Valley ranch. They placed this manuscript of The Sea-Wolf in a "flameproof" bank vault in San Francisco, only to have it burn there during the cataclysmic fire following the 1906 earthquake. The irony of it all.

A must for any first time visitor to the Huntington is the British and European Art Collection. Displayed in an early 20th-century Beaux-Arts residence, once the winter home of Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, this collection encompasses a broad range of styles, cultures, and media, from antiquity to the present day. It features one of the most significant holdings of British art outside the United Kingdom, including its famous collection of 18th-century grand manner portraits, including Thomas Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy, Joshua Reynolds’ Sarah Siddons as the Tragic Muse, and Thomas Lawrence’s Pinkie. Important examples of 19th-century British landscape paintings by artists such as John Constable and J. M. W. Turner echo the lush gardens outside the gallery walls.

The furnishings are pretty impressive, too. I want to live in the Large Library with its writing desk, "attributed to The Pagoda Master, ca 1730".

Oh, to walk on the carpets which were made for King Louis XIV (1670-87). These luxury carpets were made on looms by knotting tufts of TWISTED WOOL within a matrix of interwoven wool and linen strands (the warp and weft). The upright loops, called "pile," were cut to create a dense, plush surface. Each square inch of carpet contains 90 to 130 knots. The Huntingtons own two of the 93 carpets originally created to adorn Louis XIV's palace in Paris. Designed to form one continuous decorative scheme, all 93 carpets would measure about 480 yards in length, or four football fields.

In the 25 years it took to complete these carpets, the King had moved to his court to Versailles. With no need for them in his new home, some were given away as diplomatic gifts.

Like many Gilded Age Americans, Henry and Arabella Huntington sought an air of elegant sophistication for their home and were enraptured by the art and design of late 18th-century France for its fine craftsmanship and association with the royal court of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. Key in creating this ambiance was the inclusion of finely hand-carved wall panels, intricate French furnishings and other decorative arts, much of it covered in gleaming gilt-bronze.

Don't you love when you learn something new? I knew that historically a drawing room was used for relaxation and socializing after dinner. What I didn't know was the fact that the word 'drawing' is abbreviated from its function as a withdrawing-room, or more simply a space to withdraw to'. Did you know?

Those of us of a certain age grew up playing the game Masterpiece which came out 200 years, to the year, after one of its famous game pieces was actually painted. Blue Boy (1770) was Thomas Gainsborough’s first attempt at full length Van Dyck dress – knee breeches and a slashed doublet with a lace collar – which is based on the work of Anthony van Dyck, the 17th-century Flemish painter who had revolutionized British art. For Gainsborough, it was a way to show that he could match the elegance of the earlier court portraitist, who was as much a gentleman as his clients. Rather than a commission, it was painted for his own pleasure and as a demonstration of his abilities.

Interestingly, Henry and Arabella purchased Boy in 1921 for $728,000 ($12,475,479.78 in today's dollars), the highest price ever paid for a painting at the time. By bringing a British treasure to the United States, the Huntingtons imbued an already well-known image with even greater notoriety on both sides of the Atlantic. But beyond its cultural significance, the painting is considered a masterpiece of artistic virtuosity. Gainsborough's command of color and mastery of brushwork are on full display in the painting. It really is something to behold. Wow.

This is the first time I've seen the "Greek temple dedicated to eternal love". Constructed of Colorado Yule marble, the mausoleum of Henry and Arabella Huntington overlooks the gardens from a knoll west of the orange groves. It was a spot that Mr. Huntington loved. He selected John Russell Pope, one of America’s most distinguished architects, to design the mausoleum in the form of a Greek temple. Pope believed the classic circular peristyle (or double colonnade) and dome were well suited to the nature of the Huntington grounds because it presented a perfect front from every angle, and was a combination of two perfect forms, the circle and sphere. Pope later used a similar design in the construction of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.

We spent most of our visit outdoors in the various gardens. Encompassing about 130 acres, the Botanical Gardens feature living collections in 16 stunning themed gardens with more than 83,000 living plants, including rare and endangered species, and a laboratory for botanical conservation and research. We began in the Japanese Garden.

For over a century, the historic Japanese Garden has been one of the most beloved and iconic landscapes at The Huntington, with its distinctive moon bridge, picture-postcard views of koi-filled ponds and the historic Japanese House. One of the most popular spots at The Huntington, the Japanese Garden has attracted millions of visitors and remains a site of both fascination and contemplation.

We spent the most time in Liu Fang Yuan 流芳園, or the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, one of the finest classical-style Chinese gardens outside of China. Filled with Chinese plants and framed by exquisite architecture, the landscape is enriched with references to literature and art. Visitors can find both physical relaxation and mental stimulation when exploring the dramatic 15-acre garden.

The Chinese calligraphy lesson was an added bonus. What fun.

The symbol chosen was 天 (sky, heaven) and throughout the garden we discovered it.

The Subtropical Garden was in full bloom. This was a part of the Huntington I had yet to explore.

Lunch was a traditional tea. Set within the historic Rose Garden, the Rose Garden Tea Room continues its elegant tea service with a selection of teas, seasonal house-made scones, and a variety of savory and sweet offerings.

It began with Seasonal House-made Scones served with Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd, and Cranberry Orange Relish and delightful pots of tea.

Our three layers of culinary delights included SWEET: Ginger Cake with Quince Compote and Cream Cheese; Chocolate Brown Butter Almond Cake; Belgian Chocolate & Sea Salt Caramel Tart; and Seasonal Fruit Tart. SAVORY: Cucumber Sandwich with Dill Cream and Peppercress; Turkey Cranberry Salad Sandwich; Smoked Salmon with Dill Cream Cheese and Caviar; Sea Salt & Tellicherry Pepper Crusted N.Y. Striploin on Pumpernickel with Horseradish Cream; Curried Carrot & Golden Raisins; and lastly a James Beard Vidalia Sweet Onions, Sea Salt, Herb Garden Crusted (we'd never had an onion sandwich and we both loved it the best).

I have been returning to the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens for over 20 years. Each time I visit I discover something new. I am so pleased to have had this opportunity to celebrate with Cindy and share this special place with her. What a fantastic day.

"The more you praise and celebrate your life,

the more there is in life to celebrate."

—Oprah Winfrey