I-5 to Corvallis/Philomath 06-06-09

Beyond the mountains I-5 drops down into the Willamette (Will-AM-it) Valley where there are many streams and small rivers that flow into the Willamette River. It will go north until it dumps into the Columbia River near Portland, OR. So, this view is typical of the many river crossings the roads make. Too bad about the cable - I'm not tall enough to shoot over it!

I stopped in Roseburg hoping that the info I had was wrong and the Art Center wold be open in the weekend. It wasn't. There is a quilt exhibit there from the High Fiber Diet group called "Line Dance". I tried peeking in the windows, but the lights were off inside and I couldn't see a thing. When I left I was trying to get out of the parking lot and was confronted with these signs. I just stopped and laughed out loud - one of those 'you can't get there from here' occasions. I did go straight and finally found a place to make a U-turn and get back on the highway.

I turned off I-5 at Corvallis and continued west to Philomath (which I always thought was
FILL'-o-math, but the tourist center lady says it is Fill-OM'-ath). I felt very welcome when I saw this sign close to the edge of town. Probably a Delbert, but any Del will do.

Karen Miller is a fiber artist who does Katazome dye work in the traditional Japanese manner using authentic materials and tools and methods. I have long admired her work and see her at different large quilt shows vending her panels and squares for quilters to incorporate in their own work. This solo exhibit at the Benton County Historical Society and Museum showed her completed quilts, panels, noren, garments and hangings. I was there alone for some minutes and then I turned to see that these two ladies had joined me. At first I was startled because from the back the lady in the black pants resembled Terry Grant of Portland. But I quickly realized that Terry is taller and her hair is a more silvery color. Too bad, I'd like to meet Terry some day.

Among the quilts depicting fish in the previous picture is "California Golden Trout" which is part of the TCQC. There are so few of these fish still in existence I thought it would be nice to have a lovely katazome depiction of them.

This gorgeous wall quilt is two layers printed with jellies, the top layer is sheer and moves with the air currents. I tried to take a sideways image, but it doesn't look like anything.

Here is a DETAIL of the largest jelly on the sheer layer. The bubbles (or are they strings of conch eggs?) are machine embroidered on the sheer layer only.

"Winter Sunset" is a set of three noren (six panels) so it is quite wide - maybe 90".
Noren are not quilted, just one layer of beautifully printed cloth.
Unfortunately Karen's exhibit ends this weekend, but you can see her work on her website:
www.nautilus-fiberarts.com

Karen teaches classes in Katazome techniques or you can visit when she has an open studio.

I-5 north from Redding 06-05-09

The rain started just north of the town of Williams and was off and on the rest of the way north. I spent the night in Redding because it was raining and I didn't want to drive over the mountains after dark in the rain - I'm getting to be a chicken in my old age. But I did get an early start in the morning - 6am - very unusual for me.

It wasn't exactly raining in the morning, just misting, and the clouds were hanging low on the mountains. That early there was little traffic.

I stopped in Weed for gas and a bite to eat - McD's, of all places, but it was convenient and surprisingly good. However, I did go across the street for my decaf latte. It was extra good (I also stopped on the way home) and the lady at the drive up was very nice.

After going over the top, but still in California, there is a long stretch of road through a high mountain valley. It always reminds me of Montana/Wyoming landscapes. Lots of pasture land and not many houses. It is definitely cattle country.

South of Yreka on the east side of I-5 there is a bull made of metal scrap. I can't find anything that tells how long it has been there, but it is many years.

Nor do I know what its association is with "The State of Jefferson", but it is somehow related.

This is a closeup taken on a previous trip, the bull is very large and easily seen while driving I-5.

This hay barn is close to where the bull stands. For information about this 1940s attempt to add another state to the USA see: www.jeffersonstate.com

I-5 N toward Oregon 06-05-09

North of the small town of Santa Nella the land to the east of I-5 stretches out to the foothills of the Sierra. And throughout the valley snake the aqueducts that bring water from the mountains to the farms and fields in the valley. One of the most common signs one sees is "Food grows where water flows".

Turn around to the other side of I-5 and the land stretches west to the coastal mountains. Dry, hilly land provides grazing for cattle and horses.

After the intense traffic around Sacramento, California's capital city, the views become agricultural again. Planted April to June, the rice fields are now very bright green. The light areas in this picture are the light reflecting on the water. California is second to Arkansas in rice production in the USA.

I continue to be amazed at the things I see hauled on the highways. This very weird contraption was a mystery until I passed it, then I could see it has foot pads inside the ring. I believe it is an arcade feature that holds a person spread eagled and turns round and up and down. I can't find a photo online because I can't figure out what to call it!

On the Road - Placentia to SJB 06-04-09 (Part 1)

Sometimes the problems of life get to be too much and "something has got to give". My life has been that way lately. So, on Thursday, June 4, I threw some things in the car and drove north. I didn't really have a destination, but I did take a list of quilt related events as far as the Canadian border. I knew I wouldn't get that far since I had to be back for today's meeting of the new Surfside Quilters Guild. But I had five days of just driving in almost isolation - except for gas stations, motels, restaurants and my caring good friends Mary and Joe. I spent the first night at their oh-so-welcoming home in San Juan Bautista.

When I drove up in April I was trying to take pictures of the many fully loaded citrus trucks on I-5. This time I managed a shot of one of the trucks hauling garlic. One can always tell if there is a garlic truck ahead because the air is filled with hopping, jumping, floating white pieces of the dry husks. This truck might be headed for Gilroy, self-proclaimed Garlic Capitol of the World.

I was not aware of a water war in the central valley, until I started seeing these yellow signs posted along the roadway, mostly on the edge of unplanted fields which were very dry and sometimes haunted by dust devils. "Congress Created Dust Bowl" is the farmer's reaction to the with holding of water upstream to supply salmon streams with water enough for the salmon to get upstream to spawn. Not much news about this 'war' in the LA media, but it seems to be a hot topic in the north and central parts of the state.

Further north these signs started to appear. I don't know if this is part of the same struggle over water. I can't quite make the connection.

A typical view of the Valley - contrasting dry, waterless acres and those that are still receiving what seems to be adequate water. When I came home I found in my mail a notice from the water district that covers my area - water restrictions on a graded scale down to no outdoor watering at all. We knew this was coming, we just stuck our heads in the sand and kept planting sweeping grass lawns. I just hope they won't outlaw showers!
...Continued tomorrow...

On the Road - Placentia to SJB 06-04-09 (Part 2)

Continued from part 1!

Up the hill into Pacheco Pass on CA-152. Two months ago this was all bright green grass, now it is dry and dangerous. The traffic was stopped about this point when I went back in two days - a fire was charring the hillside, being doused by four fire trucks and about twenty fire fighters. I suspect someone threw out a cigarette. Lots of these black rain clouds around, but no rain.

Further up the road there are fewer clouds, but for this time of year San Luis Reservoir is lacking water, so rain would be welcome.

Over the top of the Pass and down to the valley on the west where the row crops are growing abundantly on the water imported from the Sacramento Delta and the aqueduct system.

Saving the quilt for next Sunday! 06-08-09

Saw lots of this kind of sky with occasional blue patches - there is one in the upper left corner!

Not enough energy in my body nor time in a day! I have been traveling the last five days doing some serious thinking and seeing some Western landscape. Sometimes I just need to be alone and driving with no ultimate goal so that I can figure out some of my life's wartier problems. I think of it as, "when things get tough, Del gets going" and it works wonders for me. Could be just a day, or a night, or five days (as was the case this time). It is a form of isolation, although that becomes problematic with cell phones reaching out to almost anywhere.

I was at Joe and Mary's in San Juan Bautista last night and Blogger wouldn't coordinate with the dial-up. So, I will just save that quilt until next Sunday. Meanwhile, I have my travel story and only so-so photos to share this week. Definitely time to find a new camera; my trusty "quick shot" Nikon is so beat up that the battery door will only stay closed if I tape it. Anyone have a suggestion for what I should buy? Must have changeable lens and not weigh a ton.

It is always nice to come home, but, unfortunately, everything is exactly as I left it. Where are the friendly housekeeping fairies?