Thanksgiving Day Views 11-26/27-10

I didn't realize I had not posted this last evening until I started to do a Blog post for today (Saturday). So, it will serve for both Friday and Saturday.

I have posted pictures very much like these in previous years. The high point anywhere around this area is where Bastanchury Road and State College Blvd cross. When there is little traffic, and therefore less smog, and clear weather one can see a very long way. Click pictures for enlargements.

North about 45 miles from the top of the hill the view is of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains which are snow capped from recent early winter storms. [And more is falling tonight.]

To the west about 25 miles are the towering high rises in Los Angeles.

On the south the road drops off quickly and in the center distance are the towers of South Coast Plaza. Closer on the right are tall buildings in Anaheim. If the air was perfectly clear and my eyesight was excellent, I might be able to see the Pacific Ocean in the distance (about 25 miles).

Looking east Mt. Jacinto (about 50 miles away) can just barely be seen in the center of the picture. On the other side the mountain drops down to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

One of the local TV stations introduces their newscast with: "From the mountains to the sea, to all of Southern California, news from______" It is a great place to live, which is why there are so many people making it a not so great place to live.

Thankful Thanksgiving 11-25-10

Being Thankful

After years of typing letters, keep lists and doing other computer work before the Internet, I was skeptical when everyone started connecting with everyone else, but by the turn of the century I was online with the multitudes. I have always made a class list for the classes I take at Empty Spools/Asilomar and the first time anyone listed an e-mail address was February 1996. In 1997 there were four, in 1998 there were nine, by 2000 more than half (17) of the class members were online. This year all 38 students in the two classes I took listed an e-mail address. Wikipedia says that as of June 30, 2010, the estimated population of Internet users is 1.97 billion . It swamps my brain to think that I could be connected to so many people around the world. And I have connected - to online friends in the USA, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and on around the world. Amazing! This year the Internet tops my list of things that I am thankful for.

A close second is Corky, the Poodle Prince, who adds so much love to my life. It is that unconditional love that dogs give to their caretakers that keeps depression at bay for me. For various reasons I have been without a pet for about 36 years and have said that when I stop traveling I will have a dog or a cat. Meanwhile, Corky fills my heart. And I am thankful for his parents, Sherry and Jim, for sharing the little guy with me and for all their kindnesses.

I am thankful for friends who watch out for me and make time for me in their busy lives. As much as I have lived alone in my lifetime each year makes me more appreciative of the kindness of friends.

I am thankful that I am over the bronchitis which has become an almost chronic condition for me the last few years. I hope I can improve my resistance and not have to suffer another month-long bout - ever again!

Along with the vast majority of Americans I am thankful that I live in this country and have the freedom to live my life as I choose. Today I chose to stay home alone and to sit out in the direct sun for ten minutes which is probably why I am in such a good mood! Sunshine does that! And it is so quiet today without the traffic noise from the two freeways that each run about two miles from the house.

I hope you all are able to enjoy Thanksgiving in the way you like best. Thanks for being a friend. Love, Del-at-home

Wordless Wednesday 11-24-10

Here I am, Prince-less 11-22-10

I took Corky, the Poodle Prince, home to his parents today. They will be going to the desert for Thanksgiving and, of course, Corky will also go. I have opted out because I still don't have a lot of energy and would be more than a bit of a wet blanket. The drive out is long and even longer now that I have to stop and walk around every hour or so. Better that I just give thanks at home.

Lately when Corky and I go for a walk just in the neighborhood he thinks that once he does his business it is time to return home and eat his dinner. He pulls at the lease and won't "heel". So, a month or so ago when we were within one lot of our house I slipped off the lease to see what he would do. Poor little doggie with a bad back took off like a shot and ran, ears flying, for home! The ugly brown Pacific Bell box on the right of the sidewalk is the corner of our yard. the driveway just beyond.

He makes it to the door long before I arrive and impatiently waits. What a guy! Of course, he thinks this is the way it should always be and the only way to avoid this dash for home is to take him walking somewhere away from the neighborhood. What have I set in motion?

Sheila Rauen quilt in TCQC 11-21-10

Fund raising online auctions are a good way to help an organization you support and add some quilts to your collection. The Alliance for American Quilts leans toward the traditional, but there are some great 'contemporary' traditional quilts in their auction and a few 'art' quilts also. This one appealed to me because it is a great cat and has very nice quilting.

"Taking a Break" Sheila H. Rauen 2010 Knoxville, TN 16" x 16"

Commercial cotton, polished cotton, machine applique and machine quilting

Sheila had this to say about her quilt, part of the "New from Old" challenge: "The background is made from the first blocks I ever pieced about 25 years ago. I was happy to find a good use for them as the "old" part of my design. They make a perfect "rug" or "tile floor" for the new cat and his toy mouse - a colorful place to relax or play. The [1/2"] border and binding fabric came from a skirt I used to wear in the 80's."

Sheila has done fine stitching around the cat and the mousie. And very even machine quilting on the background - it shows beautifully on the dark blue polished cotton.

She has added straight machine stitching to further define the face of the cat.

Another view of the quilting and her machine stitched signature.

The plain back shows up the quilting very well.

Showing the label Sheila applied and the label from The Alliance for American Quilts.
Sheila doesn't have a website, but is part of the Southern Highland Guild. http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/sheilarauen/