Flowers for Flag Day 06-17-11

At Surfside Quilters Guild anyone who brings refreshments puts their name in a bag and one name is drawn for the bouquet of flowers that decorates the table.  This month the winner decided she didn't want to take them and  gave them to me.   I think the large rose might be Double Delight, but it doesn't have a fragrance.  Doesn't the flag add something special to this arrangement?  I never would have thought of that. 

Lost Blogs! Starbucks 06-16-11

My computer has betrayed me again.  Actually, I think it is AOL that is screwed up, nothing unusual there!  The very worst thing is that I have lost my list of blogs!  All I can think of doing is asking any of you whose Blog I have "followed" to send me your Blog address.  Also anyone who is a regular commenter on my Blog should send their Blog address.  I hope that AOL can replace what is lost, but I'm not holding my breath. 

I know I said I was going to try to kick my Starbucks habit, but realized that on a long trip I was going to need that "Fix" along the way.  Therefore, I am still addicted.  One day last week I stopped at my favorite location (on Tustin Blvd between the 91 Fwy and LaPalma Ave) for a jolt and a "Small Bite" (Tiramisu). I had my current book and sat down to enjoy the coffee, the snack and the book.  Sometimes they serve the small bites-on-a-stick in these little boxes with the stick protruding from the slot.  Cute, but not very "green".  A few days later I stopped for a latte and couldn't find my card.

 
THIS card - which I have been using since 2004 - was not in my purse.  I actually cleaned out everything and checked the tear in the lining - no card.  I went back to my favorite location and asked if someone might have found it and turned it in.  No.  I was so sad - I'd lost a friend of almost seven years standing.
Then yesterday I cleaned everything out of the Lexus before going to the car wash and even got out my oven jack and fished in between the seats where tissues, pills, notes, crumbs, etc. always hide.  Surprise! 
"O Frabjous Day!  Callooh, Callay!  I chortled in my Joy!"
My card was among the debris.  I suppose I stuck it in my pants pocket, which was rather shallow, and it fell out when I sat in the driver's seat.  I used it today after my wonderful aqua therapy session - they all made me feel so good: the therapy, the latte and the card! 
 Simple Pleasures, I suppose.

Wordless Wednesday 06-15-11

A Quilt for the Guild President 06-14-11

In Southern California quilt guilds there is a tradition of presenting the outgoing guild president with a quilt made by the members.  As far as I know, this started with Orange County Quilters Guild in 1982 with the founding president Kaye Rheingans.  All of the quilts are composed of blocks made by members using a design of their choosing.  The past president is usually the organizer and consults with the president about the topic and the size of the quilt (so it will fit on a wall in the past president's house).  Blocks can be 4, 5 or 6 inches - this quilt uses 5" blocks.  The designs, in keeping with the theme, can be something traditional, something about the president,  something about the member who makes the block, or just a motif in support of the theme (obviously the beach, in this case).  Since I always wear a hat, my block for any president's quilt is usually a hat. (top row third from right), this time pieced using Ruth McDowell's techniques.  All members don't make blocks, but may participate by helping with assembly or hand quilting at the various scheduled quilting bees. 

Sharon Whelan's 2010-11 President's Quilt   60"W x 70"L  Made by members of Surfside Quilters Guild under the direction of Nancy Ota.  Appliqued logo (a rearrangement of the newsletter logo) by Nancy Ota and Jan Hirth.

 

Nancy Ota used Seta-color to create an image of Las Brisas on the backing and beach umbrellas and flip flops were appliqued over that.  Everyone who worked on the quilt has signed on one of the umbrellas or flip flops. 

Weird Stuff - Miscellaneous 06-13-11

Here are some things that don't fit anywhere.

First here is a video for fans of the Village People - I think it is funny, anyway.

http://martynorth.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/the-village-people-its-a-riot/

Here is something I don't see often, even on the coast of SCalifornia - a 1946 Woody. I know the year because the license plate is 46WUDE. It was on the freeway and I couldn't drive and get a decent image. Just look at those white wall tires - classy.

When I am drinking and driving I find it awkward to hold my cup with a regular Starbucks' straw up to my lips. Just before I left on my trip I saw these straws at the market and thought they would be the solution to my problem. I could put my cup in the cup holder between the seats, away from the one in front of the air conditioning vent - which cools coffee off very quickly.

Unfortunately, the straws are several inches too short, I still have to lift the cup up to get the straw in my lips. But I think it is still less distracting to the driver.

Of course, the straws don't work in the cup holder in front of the A/C vent at all. I may try plastic tubing from the hardware store. But, then again, I may just get a new car with cup holders that fit my needs.

Ruth and I stopped for gas on I-25 north of Denver and were mystified by this FREE service in a lot nearby. We wondered what he was actually selling, but didn't wonder enough to go ask him.

I have met a "Manual Automatic Door" on a previous trip. That time I just stood there with my brain slowly grinding away. This one doesn't say "manual", but it is the same arrangement. One must look around for the....

....rest of the equation. This time the "switch" happens to be on sight level for someone in a wheelchair, or maybe a six year old. One can either push the button or push the door. These doors may be everywhere, just not places that I usually go, I guess.

In Lincoln, NE, they must have trouble with people missing the no right turn signs, so they go all out and put an "icon" up in neon. Usually there are just signs that say "No right turn on red."

 

My goodness, what a sky! This kind of expansiveness makes me joyful - inside and out - I hope I can go on a road trip again next year. Meanwhile, I will mull over my pictures and daydream.

Diane Bielak quilt from TCQC 06-12-11

Here is another quilt from SAQA 2007 online auction.

"Hanging Out Together"  Diane Bielak - Toano, VA 2007  12" x 12"

Fabrics: cotton, polyester, silk, metalic sheers.  Three of the leaves appear to be ceramic made by the artist.  Couched threads for stems.  Sheer leaves outlined in gold and copper paint (puff paint?).  Machine pieced, appliqued and quilted.

The leaf on the right is one of the ceramic leaves painted with gold.

A simple "label" on the sleeve with not quite enough information.

 
But a lovely sun print of a fern frond. 
Sorry the color on these pictures is not great, but the best my camera could do.

Diane Bielak's website is http://members.cox.net/greatquilts/

Route 66 along I-40 (Part 2) 06-11-11

Another glimpse of Route 66 and a surprise in the midst of a barren landscape.

Coming down from Flagstaff's almost 7000 feet the terrain is more and more high desert - lots of sagebrush and no trees.  About seventy miles west there is the town of Seligman, AZ.which is only visible from the highway as a grove of trees and a few buildings slightly to the north.  It is surreal to find this garish town in the midst of the desert barreness. http://www.route66giftshop.com/seligman.html   I turned off for gas and to see how much it has changed since I last drove through - it has actually grown and is much better maintained.  Maybe a case of "If you build it, they will come."   

I was surprised at the tour buses, but the view going into town hasn't changed much. 

Remember that you can click on the photos to enlarge. Notice how many places there are to sit down.

The place was packed with people walking, sitting, talking, eating and looking at the 'sights'!  One of the buses had a group of Japanese tourists.  What do they think of all this?

There were a dozen or so motorcycles, not as many as I expected considering how many I had seen on the highway. 

Most of these people are not real, just mannequins dressed in clothing from the 50s & 60s.

I wonder how good the business is at the Roadkill Cafe - I think I would not be comfortable.

Are the buildings bright colors to attract business?  Or just to brighten up the desert? The autos here are part of the decor.

There are several gas stations in town.  This place had the cheapest at $4.019.

A nice bright yellow shop with trashcan, bench, "memorabilia" and a totem pole.  Totem pole?  Someone is lost.

"Buffalo Bites"?  Too lame.  It looks like he is standing on a dying lizard, but I think it is supposed to be a rock.

 
I was quickly back on I-40 toward Kingman, AZ and Seligman was like a hallucination.