Weather not bad 01-05-08

Just a quick post to say that where I live in Orange County did not have much rain during the night - about a half an inch - and the wind was not as bad as what we have had in the past few months. However, the weatherman says that more is on the way. If it follows the same track it will likely miss us again - or not! Eventually all these storms will move to the east and hit some of you. Stay warm and dry.

Latest book read 01-04-08

I can't go a day without reading. I've had this affliction all my life and don't really want to have it cured. I just finished Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns". It has some heart wrenching parts, as did his "The Kite Runner", but it is a wonderful story, beautifully told and with characters that I cared about. I wish there would be a sequel to tell more about what happens to Laila and all the rest of the family. I must admit that I don't know a lot about Afghanistan - the native textiles are wonderful, the land is unforgiving, there has been constant war for many years. Seeing the inside of a family, even a fictional family, and the changes made by the wars is very sobering. How much do we value our freedoms and how quickly could they be shattered? If you don't mind having your heart 'wrenched' I recommend the book. It has been raining here, but not hard.

Bougainvillea 01-03-08

Not a lot in bloom in January, but in SCalifornia there is always something. This is the stalk of a bougainvillea vine which grows like a weed here. I love the twisting vines and the wonderful colors produced, but the plants require constant pruning and have nasty thorns.

The flower is the small trumpet shape with the tiny white 'hat', surrounding it are the colorful bracts that come in many colors from white to wine red and from pale yellow to apricot. This is the most common color - Diego Red.

Grown on a fence or trellis the plant becomes an enormous mound of color. Now there are hybrids that are bushes, rather than vines, which are very popular in desert landscaping.

Heavy rain is predicted for this weekend. I hope the forecasters aren't crying 'wolf'. Homeowners in the firestorm areas are sandbagging and piling hay bales in preparation, lest the hillsides become mud flows.

Missed a day 01-02-08

Here it is only the 2nd day of the new year and I have missed a day on my 'daily' blog. I'll keep trying to do better.

New Year's Day 01-01-08

Here is dawn of the new year. It isn't blurry because I was hungover, but because I couldn't hold the camera braced against a post - it was too windy! It howled all night and all day and started decreasing about 8pm tonight.

Corky seems to like his new bed, but I have a hard time finding him when he has his black nose and eyes buried. He caught up on his beauty rest while he was here and today I took him back to his parents in LBeach. I miss him, but it will be easier to sew without his assistance!

New Year's Eve 2007

This may be the last time I write a 2007 date, I wonder how long it will take me to remember to write 2008! I'm sounding more and more like my little Grandmother who died at 92. She had some pithy observations about ageing and, by golly, she was right.

Doesn't seem that the sun actually "set" tonight, it just sort of faded away. The wind is howling, pity the poor people on the parade route in Pasadena, and Corky is unhappy because he didn't get his walk this evening. Tomorrow will be a better day and, it is to be hoped, a better year.

I wish you a joyous and prosperous 2008, Del

Construction Fence & Roses 12-30-07

One of the reasons I drove north was to attend a birthday party for Jeanne Mills, a quilting friend who, among other activities, takes groups of quiltmakers to France. http://jeannemillstours.com/ It was a lovely party and we visited with many people that we don't see very often. The party, given by her adult children and grandchildren, was at Jeanne's house in Pacific Grove.

I took this picture a few blocks from Jeanne's house. The local planning commission requires an 'outline' of any house, or addition to a house, to prevent encroaching on the existing views from the surrounding houses. I've always thought these outlines fascinating. In the past few months I have shared similar images with Jeanne Williamson http://jeannewilliamson.com/, who uses the imprint of construction fencing in her fiber art. But this is the best picture yet - the outline of the addition is very well defined. Like a sketch in the air!

Since my drive home yesterday was entirely in the dark there wasn't much chance for photos. But when I was waiting at In and Out Burgers in Grapevine, CA, I noticed the abundance of blossoms on these landscape roses planted along the building. Usually we have roses blooming well into January, depends on the variety and the care they receive. Many people here prune their roses in February which gives regrowing time for a great blossoming at Easter time.

Corky is staying with me for a few days and today he 'helped' me with my quiltmaking. Which is okay, but in return he thinks he should receive 24 hour petting and rubbing. That means I don't get much sewing done, even with his help!

Home again 12-30-07

Yes, I did arrive home safely last night at 11pm. It was an easy six hour drive with several pit stops and, throwing caution to the wind, a stop for an In and Out hamburger w/fries! Haven't eaten that sort of thing in so long I had forgotten how good it is.

Here is a much better vineyard picture - it almost doesn't look real, does it?

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images