Stormy Weather 12-13-08

I suppose some of you will think I have a nerve showing the weather in SCalifornia while half the country is suffering from ice, snow, rain, power outages, etc. But for us this IS weather.

The CVS drugstore I sometimes go to has a row of these palm trees in the middle of the parking lot. I don't know what kind they are, but they always remind me of the fans held by slaves in Egyptian paintings. This one shows up nicely against the baggy grey clouds.

The wind was whipping things up and chasing the clouds, so each minute looking through the camera was different. Grey clouds, blue sky, white clouds - changing, changing, changing.

I also made a swing over to Tall Mouse our local independent craft store to pick up some ribbon and Xmas gift bags. I've been shopping here for thirty years, I think. It was sad to see it so empty this evening, so close to Xmas.

From that view of Tall Mouse I turned to see these purple bags of moisture - an amazing color, eh? The sun was almost down and I headed home before the rain started, but it didn't start. Maybe tomorrow - I hope it is a gentle rain so the hillsides won't slide down.

Tomorrow evening I will post another quilt from the TCQC.

It isn't winter yet! 12-12-08

I am sure that all of you on the East coast don't agree, considering the terribly cold and icy weather you are having. however, the Winter Solstice isn't until December 21st. That is when winter begins!

After what I understand has been the warmest autumn ever in Southern California we have finally had some cooler night temperatures. The leaves that remain on the deciduous trees are finally turning colors. These are Crepe Myrtle, the loveliest of autumn colors. The bright red spots on the right in the background are Xmas decorations, but to the left between the houses the liquid amber also has autumn colored leaves.

"Autumn Lattice"

Del Thomas/Mary Leakey 2006 30.5W X 50.5L

I made this quilt for an exhibit at Back Porch in Pacific Grove. Actually, Mary made the lattice blocks from a design by Sandi Cummings. She didn't want them anymore and I could envision this setting, so I put them together, did the quilting and Mary hand finished the binding. I rather like this piece, but it didn't sell during the exhibit so it is living on my wall again. It is a Southern California autumn w/lots of green and sunshine with a minimum of colored foliage.

Persimmons 12-11-08

I am very fond of persimmons. When I was growing up neighbors had Hichiya persimmon trees in their yards. We made persimmon bread, cookies and muffins. Also, when they were very, very ripe and very squishy we would scrape out the inside and eat it with vanilla ice cream. Not until I was an adult in California did I know about Fuyu persimmons, which are eaten hard, like an apple. Great in fruit salad and great just "plain so" as my mother-in-law would say.

Last year the crop must not have been great because I saw few in the market and only received a few from friends with Fuyu trees.

This almost perfect fuyu w/two pears was a still life I took last year. Unfortunately, I couldn't find perfect pears, these are organic from the Farmer's Market - as is the fuyu.

A couple of days ago I met my friend Nancy at Borders in Brea, just so she could pass on an abundance of fuyus from our friends Sumi and Tomi who both have trees in their yards. I think they are extra beautiful in this red basket - orange and red, not a combo I would normally choose, but perhaps the addition of green makes it more palatable.

About this same time of December in 2005 I took this picture of a Hichiya tree near San Juan Bautista. I was so tempted to go knock on the door and ask if I could have some of the fruit. But I wasn't going home for a number of days and what would I do with the fruit in the meantime. Last year I checked to see what the crop was and the tree had been removed. So, I am especially happy that I have a picture to remember the load it carried.

Birds of Desert and Water 12-10-08

Here is that saucy Roadrunner who visits the house in Lake Havasu City. I keep meaning to ask the neighbors if he is always around or I just luck out during Thanksgiving visits. I'm fascinated by his fuzzy little beard. By-the-way, they do run very fast, but probably not as fast as the cartoon one.

This Great Blue Heron was hanging out on the shore of Los Alamitos Bay just as the sun was going down. I see them in the area a lot during the winter. In England and in Australia there is a Great Grey Heron that is very similar.

You can see the heron in the lower left corner of this sunset view of the Bay. I was amazed when the blimp came into view as I was getting ready to click the picture. I image they are getting ready for the Rose Bowl Game.

Fire Devastation 12-09-08

This past weekend Corky and I drove out along the foothills on Carbon Canyon Road where the wildfires raged in Yorba Linda. "Scorched Earth" is the most apt description. We are still living with the lingering odor of smoke, especially in the morning before the dew dries off.

The fire came down to the back fences of these houses, I don't know if any were damaged or lost. I believe all these pictures are click able for a better image.

Just beyond the houses and on the opposite side of Carbon Cyn Rd, the fire jumped the road and burned down toward some industrial buildings. Bank of America has a large office facility about two blocks away - I bet they were concerned. This oil pumper was not pumping when we saw it, but there are a lot that are non functioning, I don't know if this is one of those.

This is a new (probably temporary) fence along the road. I can't imagine there is anything to be kept in, so it must be to keep people in four wheel drive vehicles from driving onto the property.

The fire also burned across Carbon Cyn Rd further east. This is looking toward the east and there are few vehicles, but it is a major commuting route so during morning and evening rush hours it is packed.

Bamboo grows very quickly, as you can see in this burned out grove. The firemen pouring water on it and the tiny bit of rain just before Thanksgiving helped to start it sprouting,

This picture shows one of the major problems in the aftermath of the "Scorched Earth" situation. The slope is probably as steep as it can be and still maintain cohesiveness - in other words, the angle of repose. It doesn't take much rain to cause this adobe soil to start sliding. Anywhere there are houses at the bottom of the slopes there is a serious threat of flash floods and mudslides.

One nice thing about the Santa Ana winds is that when they stop our air is very clear and the sky turns this wonderful clear blue. Gorgeous.

The first of the year 12-08-08

When I kept a journal I always recorded the first sightings of birds and plants. The Journal is long in the past, but I still notice the firsts. There were two for me this past week.

When Corky and I walked in the big park (Tri-Cities) there were two white pelicans who have come back to spend the winter with us. I have seen them here in previous years, but there is always a larger flock at Anaheim Lakes which is a much larger body of water - about 2-1/2 miles SE. By-the-way, the gold squiggles are reflections from the setting sun - the white at the top of the image are geese and ducks.

The first Oxalis blossom of the season, soon my back slope will be awash with this limey yellow. I am posting three photos of the same plant. The reason there are three is none of them is completely in focus, but the background is. How does one take a picture with the foreground in focus?

I held the blossom thinking maybe a midpoint to focus on would help.

It seems to me that nothing is in focus in this shot. If anyone has a suggestion I would appreciate hearing it.

Corky is home with his parents and I don't expect I will have him again until after the holidays. I may drive out to the desert between Xmas and New Year's to take care of him while his parents travel for a few days.

Quilt from TCQC 12-07-08

Reflection #9 Caryl Bryer Fallert 1993 36"W x 26"L

Five years ago someone alerted me to art quilts being offered on eBay. Of course, I had to look! There were a number of quilts, plus paintings and, if I remember correctly, some sculpture, all from a corporate collection and all up for auction. I checked with Caryl, who had not been advised of the sale and she confirmed that some of the quilts on the listing were those she had made in 1993 for the corporate client. Now the corporation was closing one of their locations and was selling the art. The starting prices were ridiculous - this quilt started at $25. Low prices like this are bad for the artist and bad for the market because they warp the value of art quilts. I ended up with three of her quilts. This one uses the 3-D tucks that, as far as I know, she invented.

If you have not been to Caryl's website, put aside a day to wander through it. She offers more information than any other quilt maker/artist - it is a great website.

http://www.bryerpatch.com/

Coffee w/Liz 12-06-08

Corky and I had coffee with Liz this morning. It was a little cool, so we chose a table in the sun and soon we were almost too hot. The sky was so clear and blue - a gorgeous morning.

The Starbucks where we usually meet is on the corner of a shopping area and shares the 'patio' with a Corner Bakery and several small food places. There are always people dining and visiting (but NOT loitering) and at least a dog or two behaving themselves. Various types of palms and trees give shade and house a large flock of house sparrows (AKA: the birds that eat at McDonalds)

and a few children who take at least one trip to look into the fountain. This little girl's mommy is casting a shadow and keeping a keen eye for her safety. The bright wall is on the Corner Bakery - handy if Starbucks isn't offering any munchies of interest. The only downside to this location is the heavy traffic on Imperial Hwy on the south and Brea Blvd on the east - sometimes too loud for quiet conversation. However, most Starbucks are located on busy roads - don't think they will close this one. We hope not because it is handsdown our favorite and convenient to both of us.