More from the drive home 02-22-10 02-26-10Post

Some parts of the landscape remind me of Wyoming with the rolling hills and the straight highway, but I doubt there is ever this much traffic in WY. This hay hauling semi made me very nervous and I went around swiftly. How far can hay lean without falling off?

I exited the highway so I could take pictures from an overpass. This is the best of the lot and gives an idea of the scope of the almond trees in bloom. In the foreground there are some piles of tumbleweeds - sometimes CalTrans will burn the piles before they escape again.

I like to stop at Harris Ranch to use their very clean and charming bathroom. The ceramic tiles have little bunches of violets painted on them. This lady didn't bat an eye when I took a picture just as she came in. Maybe more people than I realize take pictures in bathrooms.

It is rare that there aren't ladies using the facilities, sometimes there is even a line although there are quite a number of stalls. The flush and the faucets are motion sensitive, so one hardly needs to touch anything except the door in and out.

Pattern at the doctor's office 02-25-10

Today was another doctoring day and as I sat in the waiting room I tried to figure out this display box. I was sitting across the room and could only think of dog biscuits, of all things. When I could, I looked closer and was delighted at the imagination of the designer. There was one hand lotion sample bottle left, which the nurse gave to me. I asked if I could also have the box - after so many years they are accustomed to my odd ways.

I collapsed the box to take this picture.

And I took a closeup without the lettering, etc. Can't you just see the stack of men all piled up on their sides with their fists lined up for the picture? Must have been terribly uncomfortable.

My glasses appeared on the floor between the clothes hamper and the door frame into the garage. I guess I did put them where they belonged - in my purse - but they fell out somehow and slipped down the narrow space to hide in the darkness. Now I can see again and have an appointment for later in the month to get new glasses. I stayed with Corky in LBeach for a few hours this evening. He was very welcoming and I was glad I had a chance to see him before I am gone for three weeks. His parents and I have set up Skype with cameras, so maybe we can have a visit whilst I am gone.

Wordless Wednesday 02-24-10

Growing along the highway 02-23-10

Yesterday (Feb 22) was a beautiful day to drive I-5 from San Juan Bautista to Placentia. The traffic was not heavy and I took advantage of having the time to stop along the way to take photos. I won't make you suffer through more almond blossoms, although they were everywhere - for miles and miles along both sides of the highway, up into the foothills to the west and far out into the central valley on the east. Very beautiful.

This is an acacia tree - commonly known as wattle and sometimes as mimosa. I don't know what variety is, there hundreds that are native to Australia and Africa. They are one of the first trees to come into full bloom, much to the distress of many people who suffer from allergies.

The wild mustard is blooming everywhere. It is very common in orchards, vineyards, along roadsides and in fallow fields. One story has it that the friars moving north to establish missions spread the seeds to mark the trail to the land of gold. Which isn't quite true - probably the seeds were unintentionally carried in the fur, hair and excrement of the animals they brought with them.

Depending on the nutritional value of the soil the individual plants can grow 3 - 4 feel tall, but they are usually about a foot high.

The flowers are all at the end of the stems so fields of plants look almost solid yellow.

This is a large patch of Malva neglecta, a weed which grows all over the US and Europe. It is an edible weed - leaves, stems, flowers and seed pods (or fruit as they are sometimes called).

The palmated leaves when picked young taste a bit like spinach, but stronger flavored and sort of slimy like cooked okra.

The flowers are white to mauve (a word that derives from this plant) and are hardly noticeable because they sprout right next to the main stem and are covered by the large leaves. The flowers develop into small seed pods which resemble little cheese wheels tied with string and have a nutty flavor when eaten. [http://tinyurl.com/yax.225y] They are an interesting addition to a salad.

Frequently along the fences separating the orchards from the highway verge there are beavertail cactus growing. The fruit of the beavertail is eaten in Mexico and SAmerica and the US Southwest raw or stewed. The 'apples' are harvested from these fence rows to sell to markets and to processors for the 'cactus jelly' seen especially in tourist shops. I don't think they have much flavor.

This is an enlargement of the photo above showing fruit that is ripening to the rich red color ready for harvest. Heavy gloves must be worn because the cactus and the fruit have sharp thorns.

I don't know what this plant is, but it grows in wild places and blooms about the same time as the wild mustard. It has a very tiny bloom, so it takes a lot to make a showing.

It grows in clumps to about a foot tall.

Down very close to the ground in the same area I found these tiny flowers with four or five petals. The color is much brighter and more red-violet. They cannot be seen from the highway as they grow so deep under the taller plants. I don't know the name.

Joan Schulze 40-year Retrospective 02-22-10

I am not very satisfied with my new Canon camera. Most of the pictures I took on this trip were fuzzy and not the sharp, focused images I expected. Could it be a camera operator error? I will have to read further in the book to see if I can do better.

This is a fuzzy picture of Joan Schulze and her artistic granddaughter at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. Yesterday I went to the opening event for this great exhibit of Joan's work over the last four decades. If you are anywhere near San Jose between now and May 9th, you should go and enjoy the results of her searching vision. There is also a small exhibit of Navajo rugs by a mother and daughter Begay - beautiful. The opening was well attended and Joan's PPoint presentation was fascinating to me - her first workspace was the laundry room of their home. Sound familiar to some of you? Now she has a studio in San Francisco with a wide view of the city. She enjoys experimenting with new and unusual materials and processes which make her quilts very different and surprising. I did pick up a price list and will think about a purchase when I go back in two weeks. Joan has two websites: http://www.joan-of-arts.com/ http://www.joan-schulze.com

It rained most of the hour it took to drive from San Juan Bautista to San Jose and, apparently, most of the time I was inside the museum. Still sprinkling periodically on the way home and throughout the night. This picture, taken on Hwy 156 just west of SJB, shows that the wild mustard is indeed starting to bloom and today I even saw half a dozen clumps of California poppies with a few early blossoms. I drove home today and will post some pictures tomorrow - it was a gorgeous day of blue sky; small white, fluffy clouds; bright green grass; miles of almond trees in bloom. And light traffic most of the way. Great trip.

Class "sample" by Mary Leakey 02-21-10

This quilt is NOT part of the TCQC, it isn't for sale, but I covet it every time I am in Mary's dining room. She started this in a Sylvia Einstein class at Empty Spools several years ago and I do admire it greatly. So much so that I am going to take Sylvia's class in a few weeks. I'm sure I can't do anything this great, but I'll give it my best. .

"There Are No Zebras in Costa Rica" Mary Leakey 2001 45"W x 45"L

The block is a variation of double wedding ring created by Sylvia Einstein. http://www.sheinstein.addr.com/

This is Sassy, the Sussex Spaniel, thinking I am going to give her a tummy rub. She is the sweetest dog I have ever met - very mellow and friendly. Her bed is right here next to where I work at my computer when I am in San Juan Bautista, so we are good friends. The problem is I am allergic to her, so when I can't resist petting her I must go wash my hands and be careful not to touch my face. It is a pain in the ..............!