Dogs and Cats 05-22-10

Most of you know that I greatly enjoy the pictures of dogs and cats and other animals that circulate online. I call this sort of thing "E-lint" - it is like dust bunnies and pocket lint, you either ignore it or deal with it. And I send the interesting things on to my "E-lint List". This time I am posting two animal pictures here because they both made me laugh out loud!

Do you suppose this little guy could smell something his doggie friend had for dinner? Or is he tempting doggie friend to have him for dinner? Looks like someone has been tasting the kittens tail, doesn't it?

And I think I can't find Corky sometimes! Wonder which came first - does the dog match the carpet or did they match the carpet to the dog?

Hummingbirds 05-21-10

On 05-14-10 I posted the URL for a webcam of a hummingbird's nest. The camera is in Huntington Beach, CA, and shows an Allen's Hummingbird nest in a rose bush. It is quite amazing to check in every day and see how much the two little hummers have grown.

This is an Allen's Hummingbird picture that I ripped off of Google Images. The babies are showing some of the iridescent color and are exercising their wings. They will fledge sometime in the first week of June. Check it out: http://www.ustream.tv/hummingbirdnestcam

Red Flowers 05-20-10

I picked up Corky, the Poodle Prince, in LBeach this afternoon. I arrived there just in time to take him for his walk. The grounds in his neighborhood are lush and full of flowers.

This is a hedge type of Bougainvillea and it is very RED.

The tiny white flower is inconspicous in this sea of red bracts.

Petunias are very popular as summer annuals - these are growing around a small tree in the middle of a lawn.

They are planted with yellow 'globe' marigolds, which makes an eyecatching pile of color.

Wordless Wednesday 05-19-10

Lovely San Clemente 05-18-10

I drove down to San Clemente this morning for the Surfside Quilters Guild Board Meeting. We meet at the home of a member who lives in a very nice hillside development and right now the landscaping is at its best.

This house sits where one street Ts into another and it is always interesting. The Thumbergia alta, or Black-eyed Susan vine, has bright yellow flowers with chocolate brown throats. I didn't realize it grew so vigorously - if they don't trim it soon it will completely cover the house like Kudzu! But it is colorful and matches the truck.

They already must have a hard time getting into the front door!

Around the corner and a little further up the hill this walking path starts out with a severe warning - and walkers need to take it to heart. I don't suppose mountain lions would be this close to the houses, but it is always possible. I have had coyotes on my patio and I live a lot deeper in civilization than this.

Within a block there is an open space, like a tiny park, with a path and a bench to rest upon. Looking out over the open spaces spread with wild mustard I could see the hillsides covered with fairly new developments. Forty years ago people would say, "some day there will be solid houses from Los Angeles to the Mexican border." I now believe that is possible within my lifetime. The possible exception would be Camp Pendleton just to the south of San Clemente.

Visions Art Quilt Gallery and Julia 05-17-10

I drove down to San Diego today to attend a program by Julia Zgliniec, Certified Appraiser, at the Visions Art Quilt Gallery. I haven't been down there for at least a year and had forgotten what a buzz that place gives me. It is such a great space and Beth Smith, the new Director, and all the volunteers were very helpful and friendly.

Julie Zgliniec, Appraiser, at the door into the Gallery. Julia is the appraiser I use for the TCQC, so we are well acquainted after all the years she has been looking at the Collection. After ten years it is past time to have some of the quilts reappraised - the market changes and the values change either up (hopefully) or down. She had a lot of information to share about the process of appraising and the audience asked intelligent questions that seem to be of interest to everyone. She does do programs for quilt guilds - for more information check: http://www.quilthistory.com/teachers/zgliniec.htm

The current exhibit includes quilts by three quiltmakers with very different styles and techniques: Valerie Goodwin, Katherine K. Allen, and Kent Williams. I am most familiar with Valerie's work since one of her very early pieces is in the TCQC - nothing like what she is creating today. But I still enjoy it and can see a continuity in the work she is showing at the Gallery.

Displayed in the entrance 'hall' are the entries in the "Exotic Flowers" the 12" x 12" challenge done by Quilt Visions members . The quality of the work is quite good and there is a great range of styles and motifs. This is a fund raiser for the Gallery, so if you should visit be sure to take your check book or your credit card - there are some real treasures available.

The picture of Julia I took today, but the picture of the exterior and the view of the gorgeous front desk were taken on previous visits.

Linda Colsh quilt from TCQC 05-16-10

Almost every quilt in the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection has been posted on this blog. There are a few that I don't have decent pictures of and I have been meaning to set aside time to do that. Soon, perhaps!

I will feature a few "reruns" over the next few weeks.

"Gentle Reminder" Linda Colsh 2008 12" square

This is from the SAQA 2008 auction. I especially like it because it has many colors in addition to the black and white that Linda frequently uses. And, of course, I like the little twisty trees - my fondness for trees shows in what I select for the Collection and in my own work.

Linda is an American living in Belgium who visits the States infrequently. I was very disappointed that I wasn't able to see her when she was in San Diego to judge quilts for the Visions exhibit that takes place this coming fall and winter. Nor did I make it to San Francisco for the SAQA/SDA conference, so I didn't see her there either. Maybe the next time she visits here our paths will cross.

http://www.lindacolsh.com/index.html