Brandy 10-26-07

Not the drink! The beautiful rose named "Brandy". It ties with "Mr. Lincoln" as my favorite. I'm always amazed that the high wind doesn't just rip leaves, buds and blossoms off the rosebushes, but they are extremely wind resistant. Some leaves are ripped off and some buds and blossoms are shredded, but the remaining buds are soon opening to give us roses for our holiday tables. One year a friend carefully pruned and sprayed and watered so that she could adorn her Thanksgiving tables with bowls of "Brandy". When she went out on Thanksgiving morning to cut the blossoms they were all gone. Someone had come at daybreak, or maybe even in the dark, and stolen all her roses! It's one of the nastiest things I have ever heard, but I'm sure it has happened elsewhere.

I have still been staying in to avoid the smoke, so my life is too dull to be imagined. Maybe things will look up next week.

Smoke coming back! 10-24-07

I tried to take a picture of the very red sun about 1/2 hour before sunset, but it came out white! Why is that? The Santana winds have died down and the usual onshore flow is returning. This resulted in more smoke today than yesterday! The news pundits say it is the smoke being blown back off the ocean onto the land. I'm not sure I believe that. But however it happened it was a bad lung day and every time I stepped out the door my chest started caving in! (That is what it feels like - something sitting on my chest. I have a lot of sympathy for Marie Osmond). I had to go out for a very short time, so I wore a TB paper mask and I didn't have any problems. I can't imagine what problems are in the future for the people who have endured the smoke and ash. Unfortunately, the symptoms can take weeks to manifest themselves. Research done with survivors of the 2003 fires showed that people who already had lung problems had fewer repercussions from the pollutants. The researchers believe this is because those people knew they had to protect themselves, whereas people without previous problems didn't give protection a second thought. I hope I have been careful enough - I don't want a bronchial infection out of this!

I have been working on a quilt. Well, on a couple, as is my habit. I don't know why I can't just create one at a time, but without a deadline to force me to do so, I don't. With an important deadline pressing I can work harder at being focused. No deadline? No focus!

I think Jill Rumoshosky Werner's blog post today about courtesy from those in charge of exhibits to the artists involved is very timely. Check it out at: http://wernerstudio.typepad.com/redefined/

More autumn 10-23-07

Red Rock, PA. Fall Foliage 11-21-07

I have seen pictures of the autumn trees in the NE states, but this one really stuns me. I suppose I haven't seen too many pictures of such a immense area and hadn't contemplated just how many miles are covered with this amazing color change. Some day I will take a "leaf peeping" tour, maybe even to PA!

I apologize for my "typo" yesterday. The smaller plume of smoke in the photo is from the Malibu fire - not Santa Monica. I have corrected the blog.

The winds have died down considerably, but the fires still burn slowly up the canyons and mountain sides. The sun has gone down so there won't be anymore water drops tonight. The Forest Service planes/choppers only fly from dawn to dusk. The most serious areas now are Running Springs near Big Bear and in San Diego County where 500,00 people have been evacuated from their homes. It is horrific!

California burning 10-22-07

NASA/Reuters satellite image - Sunday, Oct 21. Catalina island on the lower right, Malibu fire is the smaller plume in the middle. Long Beach is just where the land runs into the right edge of the picture. Orange County is further right off the image.

One of the news programs here once used the lead-in, "From the mountains to the sea and in all of Southern California....", which seems appropriate to this day. Not only from the mountains to the sea, but also from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border - a lot of miles. After I said no fire in Orange County last evening a crazy arsonist set three fires in the hills above Irvine, which are now one fire that threatens thousands of homes. The smoke and ash are horrendous. I thought of going to Long Beach in the wee hours to stay with the Poodle Prince and his parents, but I didn't, which was a good choice because they also have smoke and ash blowing south from the fires in Northern LA County. Five million people suffering from raw throats and scratchy eyes!

The wind is whipping up again this evening, the house creaks and rattles. I was surprised that I didn't see more damage while I drove the 20 mile round trip for a doctor's appointment this morning. Maybe a dozen trees down and a block wall pushed over onto the public sidewalk. But great drifts of leaves, twigs, palm tree debris, pine needles and trash (of course) were everywhere. Plastic bags float through the air like jelly fish, signs on poles waggle like those in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and the sound of chainsaws can be heard in the distance. The prediction is for the wind to last through Wednesday - may the Goddess protect us! Send water dropping aircraft, please.

Shielded from the wind 10-21-07

The wind is howling and, as you may have heard on the news, there are at least seven wildfires burning in Los Angeles County. Placentia is in Orange County to the southwest and, so far, no fires burning here. I doubt, however, that anyone is resting easy. Although there is no undeveloped property in this city, which is surrounded by Fullerton, Anaheim and Yorba Linda, the threat of fire is a constant in this land of little rain. One spark that gets away, pushed by 80mph wind gusts, can burn up a neighborhood. I worry enough for all of us, I'm sure!

It looks as though the firethorn (pyracantha) is on fire! I haven't seen any birds feasting, but maybe the berries are not quite ripe enough. When I am ironing or rotary cutting I can see over the short wall at the back of the yard and across to the park and the firethorn - green leaves, white flowers, red berries in different seasons. Today I have been enjoying the view whilst I am working on a quilt I started at least a year ago. So long ago that I have forgotten exactly what I intended to do! Time does slip away!

Addendum PIQF - 2007 10-21-07

The Mancusos have posted images of the winners in both the main show and the wearables.

Wearables: http://www.quiltfest.com/activities_detail.asp?id=57

Show quilts: http://www.quiltfest.com/activities_detail.asp?id=56