Coffee @ Starbucks 12-03 Posted 12-05-09

Here we are having coffee on Thursday morning at a Starbucks in Portland, OR.

From the left - Gerrie Congdon, Del Thomas, Terry Grant

It was such a nice visit - we will have to do it again when June Underwood is home from her artist's residences and I make another trip to Portland.

Gerrie Congdon www.gericondesigns.com www.gericondesigns.com/weblog/

Del Thomas www.DELQUILTS.blogspot.com

Terry Grant blog: www.andsewitgoes.blogspot.com

I am at Mary's in San Juan Bautista for the night. It was only 21 degrees this morning when I left the motel in Yreka - I had to scrap frost off my windshield!! Something I don't remember ever doing before. Other than that and the continuing cold weather, it was an uneventful day. I left Yreka at 8am, made two gas stops and three potty stops and arrived at Mary's at 3:30pm.

Mary had a big pot of delicious soup and soft-as-a-cloud rolls, followed by homemade cookies. What a friend! Now I am off to bed - sooooo tired.

Heading home on I-5 12-04-09

I stopped for one last visit with Aunt Dorothy, picked up a decafe-grande-latte at Starbucks, filled up with gas in Oregon City (261.9/gallon) and headed for I-5 South. It was overcast and dreary in Portland, but in Oregon City the sun was shining, although there was some ground haze. It was very cold today, 31 when I left the motel about 8:30am and there was frost on my windshield. 38 at Noon when I drove onto the freeway. It was pretty much between 30 and 45 all day, but mostly sunshine. The fog was thick north of Medford, but cleared up instantly when I was passing the turnoff for the airport. Then it was on again/off again down into California. For those of you who worried that there would be snow in the Siskyous - I have not seen a drop of moisture this entire trip - so far! Dew in the mornings was about it. However, there are large patches of snow on the north and east facing slopes at higher altitudes. The mountain peaks are covered thickly.

The beginning of the fog.

Thicker and thicker and then a patch of clearing.

Sometimes it hung around overhead, but not down at road level.

As the day grew to a close the road rounded a long curve to the right and a wonderful streaky sunset appeared. Of course, I didn't have the camera ready, so I turned it on and waited to get another view through the trees. By the time I reached this unobstructed view most of the streaks of clouds had lost their red reflection. Even this time of year there is twilight this far north and it lingered for another 40 minutes until I was checking into Holiday Inn Express in Yreka, CA. I have the same room I slept so wonderfully in back in June and hope it will be the same tonight. I have already had a two hour nap - so deep and refreshing. Ah-h-h-h!

More autumn color 12-03-09

Just a few more autumn pictures. I may not post again until I arrive home on Sunday or Monday. But I do want you to know that I met Gerri Congdon and Terry Grant at a Starbucks in what I think is Milwaukee (every town/district runs together just like in SCalifornia) this morning and we had a great visit. They both took photos which they have promised to send to me. I then went over to Aunt Dorothy's and sat by her bed. When she slept I read, when she was awake we talked - until finally she was more asleep than awake. I'll drop in to see her one more time in the morning before I hit the road. Right now I will hit the bed - and be asleep in five minutes.

This is a rice field north of Sacramento. I don't know why some were completely drained and some were still flooded. I think it makes a nice picture. Click to enlarge. [NOTE: I am told that the fields that are still flooded are for the benefit of the migrating water fowl. I'll have to check on that.)

In the rest stop north of Willows CalTrans has planted weeping willows which are just starting to turn yellow. The liquid amber trees are in full autumn dress.

I have read about the Sundial Bridge in Redding, but never seen it before. Here is a website that explains. http://www.visitredding.com/sundial.cfm It is interesting, but I was quite busy enjoying the fall colors.

I believe this is the tallest liquid amber I have ever seen. It must be 40 feet tall. Lovely leaves and lovely filigree pattern they make against the sky.

Unknown landscape shrub near the Turtle Bay visitor center. It is very unusual with the flowers that almost look dried, but they are flexible. Great mix of red and green leaves. Anyone know its name?

Autumn Views 11-29 ~ 12-02-09

I guess I am even more tired than I thought!! I have put the following four pictures in reverse order - toooo tired to start over. Guess it doesn't really matter much.

Pollarded maple trees in East Moreland section of Portland. 12-02-09

Unidentified trees along I-5 south of Portland 12-01-09

Unidentified trees along I-5 south of Portland 12-01-09. Why does this one tree hang on to it's leaves when all the others are bare?

View from my room at the Holiday Inn Express in Roseburg, OR 11-30-09 All of the rooms in this motel have a view over the river. Notice the fog in the background - I sort of stalled a bit so that it would have a chance to lift. I really hate to drive in the fog - stress to the max.

Trip north on I-5 Arrived in Portland 12-01-09

Guess I have gotten behind on my posts, or maybe just confused about the dates! And tonight I am just too tired to caption pictures and write a post. So, here are two pictures of my favorite mountain, which I have not seen much of in my last few visits to Portland.

These pictures were taken at a "Vista Point" on I-205 which diverts from I-5 south of town and goes east and then north to cross the Columbia and then rejoin I-5 in Washington State. Since all my family lives in the SE part of Portland I usually take this route. From the "Vista Point" there is a great view of Mt. Hood (when there is no fog, rain or thick low clouds). In the picture above you can also see Oregon City on the other side of the Willamette River and in the foreground Willamette Falls. Oregon City has many claims to early fame, including being the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains, and there are many interesting historical sites preserved and open to the public.

Here is a long lens photo of Mt. Hood - it will always be the perfect mountain in my heart. I also saw Mt. St. Helens off in the distance and it took me a few minutes to figure out which mountain I was seeing - since it blew it's top it is no longer the shape I remember from my childhood.

I did visit my Aunt Dorothy today. She is coming to the end of her 84 years. The hospice worker (they are called angels, which doesn't appeal to me - I'd rather wait until I leave this earthly coil to meet any angels) was there and I asked her if Dorothy was deteriorating rapidly and she said yes. Dorothy is still able to stand up and change clothes and go to the bathroom with assistance and her mind seems just as sharp as always. She talks very slow and quietly, so I had to concentrate to catch what she was saying. She has lost a great deal of weight since I saw her last, I have never seen her so thin. I will go back to visit some more in the morning.

I hope this post makes sense, I gotta quit and get to bed.

Trip to Portland, Placentia - Williams 11-29-09

It was very windy in some areas when I left home yesterday. After I turned west on Hwy 210 the wind was stronger and I started seeing this dark smokey sky and thought "Oh, no! Not more California burning."

But after a few miles, not hearing any reports on the radio, I figured out it was ash from the station fire that was burning when I drove this way the end of August. The ash complete obliterates the mountains in this picture.

Here you can see the mountains just under the Arroyo Blvd sign and to the right.

The wind kicks the ash up more in some spots. I could see it swirling on the pavement in a few places and, of course, see it in the air.

After I turned north on I-5 there was more traffic - there is always congestion in the area where the 210 dumps into the I-5 and people are trying to get to the left to continue north, while at the same time the people on the I-5 are trying to move right to turn off on Hwy 14 to Lancaster/Palmdale. An overpass is needed. Once past that point the traffic moved pretty well most of the time. It is a long meandering climb up to the summit in the area of Gorman and there was snow up there during the night. These drifts were the first I saw.

But higher still the snow spread out over the tops of the mountain peaks.

The cars mostly just line up and follow each other as the traffic gets thicker. I followed this SUV until after Gorman where I turned off at the Lebec rest stop.

I would imagine that most of this snow was melted by the end of the day as it was rather warm all over SCalifornia. But the snow at Big Bear was enough to open the ski runs - hope it sticks.

Tonight I am in Roseburg, OR., at a Holiday Inn Express, so there will be cinnamon rolls for breakfast - those wonderful fresh darlings are the added treat to get me to stay at these motels. Mostly though, I seek them out because I feel safe, everything is well maintained and the employees are almost always exceedingly polite and kind. Which counts for something when one has been driving all day and is too tired to deal with grumpy desk clerks.

Unusual quilt from Yvonne Porcella 11-29-09

This small quilt is from the Alliance for American Quilts auction "Put a Roof Over Our Heads" which sought to raise funds in 2006 for the new headquarters in Asheville, NC. All of the quilts were to have a peaked "roof" and somehow relate to the roof theme. You can still see all of the quilts on Alliance website http://tinyurl.com/yjxu4kz I was interested in this one because it is such a departure from any of Yvonne's quilts that I have seen in the past. She is a charter member of the organization and still serves on the Advisory Committee. I think it is a great organization - check it out at http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/

"Under One Roof" Yvonne Porcella - Modesto, CA 2006

Hand applique, Machine piecing, hand quilting

Yvonne's statement about this quilt was as follows:

"Preserving quilt history is a goal of the Alliance for American Quilts. I have favorite quilts from every recorded period of quilt history, some seen only in books and many of these images have inspired my own quilts. In 2004 the Alliance raffle quilt featured blocks inspired by hand appliqued Baltimore Album quilts of the 1850s. One block was offered on the website for members to download. I stitched this quilt using 1930s style reproduction fabrics and put my birds and berries all under one roof."

The back of the quilt says "Yvonne Porcella" more clearly to me! It is difficult to hang a quilt with a peak. Just a ring at the top allows the quilt to roll in at the sides, so a rod pocket is also required to make everything hang straight.

Belated post 11-29-09

I am on-the-Road and spent a comfortable night at Ramada Inn in Williams, CA. I was able to access the Internet and started doing this blog when SNATCH, I lost the Internet connection. I tried everything, including calling the desk, to no avail. I was too tired to stay up any longer. Now, when I am ready to hit the road I tried one more time and discovered that it was operator error after all, of course! So, I missed my 8am departure time! I will try posting this evening, wherever I may be. Meanwhile, all is well.