Flowers and bargain buys 03-24-12

Today was a resting day.  One I really needed, I was too tired yesterday and don't even remember everything we did!  I actually slept for nine hours, with only two short potty trips - it was wonderful.  One thing is the quiet here.  My house is in a quiet suburb, but nothing like here in the oak tree wooded hills.  This is deep silence.   Rain has been promised all day so this morning I photographed the lovely flowers Mary always has in her deck boxes when I am here in Feb/Mar.  About nine tonight it started to sprinkle.  Hope it isn't raining tomorrow when we are trying to unpack our cars at Asilomar.  Been there, done that, no fun.

 
These ranunculus with darker edges on the petals look like they have a little lamp inside to make them glow.  More flower pictures later in the week.

 
Yesterday we stopped by St. Vincent de Paul where I found these treasures.  In the back is a flat moire pillow that I hope will work on my chair at Empty Spools, the one I brought from home will be too thick, I think.  The silly bunny is, of course, an Easter decoration that will appear on some one's work table on Easter morning.  I've seen bobble head dolls, but this bunny seems to be a bobble butt bunny as she has a spring inside to make her wiggle.  Silly, but cute!  And the clock - it is a windup clock!  No battery or electricity required - what a great invention!  I could take it with me to a deserted island - it is keeping good time.  It looks like it is new, never used.  How can that be?

 
See - there is the windup key on the left and instructions molded in the plastic so I can never lose them.  A great addition to the necessary stuff I take with me when I travel. 

I wish you could all be checking in with me at Asilomar tomorrow.  I don't know who reads my Blog that might be there - except for dear Dolores who I have "known" for years, but only became acquainted with last year in Ruth McDowell's class.   So, if you are at either session one or two, do look for me.  Short, fat, wearing a hat!  Please say hello.

Chartreuse! 03-22-12

Usually I am in Pacific Grove earlier in the year - early to mid February.  I don't know if that is why there aren't so many flowers, or if it has been the weather conditions this year.  But the succulents are outstanding.  On Forest Street by the market is a ladies clothing shop named  "Chartreuse" which has a planter box across the front filled with succulents and ornamental grasses. 

 
A single speciman looks greener against the blue painted planter box.

 
Here is a large one in bloom, hanging out over the sidewalk.
 

 
In the market parking lot is a variety of eucalyptus tree that one doesn't usually notice.

 
But it is currently covered with red flowers and white seed pods.  I've never notice one like this before.  Brenda in Australia commented that this is a pohutukawa, native to New Zealand. 
 We had an lovely day in Pacific Grove with lunch at the Red House, several hours drooling on the fabric at Back Porch, and a visit to St. Vincent de Paul, also just down from the market.  They are the only charity shop that I know of that takes fabric and they did have several boxes with a couple choice pieces.  However, most of it was furnishing fabric of not very good quality.  I didn't buy any, but I did find a few items that I couldn't pass up (I'll share with you later).  I passed on the brimless red felt hat that made me look a little like a cardinal - the Catholic kind, not the bird!!  I need a brim on my hats - that is the whole point, to keep the sun off my face so the Rosacea doesn't "bloom".   Tomorrow is a "catch up" day and then the first session of Empty Spools at Asilomar starts on Sunday afternoon.   I gotta rest up tomorrow!

On the Road Again - Placentia -SJB 03-22-12

The first obstacle in driving anywhere is getting out of civilization!  Leaving at 2pm it took two hours to drive through the traffic and construction to hit the "open road".  And there is open road in SCalifornia.  These pictures were taken along I-5 where today the traffic and the wind were both light and the pavement not too bad.  Someone recently wrote that driving I-5 is like driving on cobblestones!  There are places like that and some even worse - like driving on a dry creek bed.  One would think with the high price of gas ($4.35/gal) and the extra tax we pay for highway maintenance that the road surfaces would be perfect. 

Gorman is a small community close to where the highway goes "over the top", but it is just what we once would have called a "wide spot in the road".  Gas, fast food, auto repair, a couple motels.  These black trees have been standing for years, leftover from a wildfire, I believe.  But is the sky blue, or what?

High up on the west and north facing slopes there are still a few swaths of flowers - not sure what these are, the wrong shade for poppies, maybe they are Goldfields. 

A few more areas closer to the highway.

A double load of oranges going south - probably to become orange juice.  

On the other side of Tejon Pass the highway drops down into the central valley - the blue sky was behind me and beautiful clouds sailed the sky.  Here is a lady floating in front of the sun  - she is heading north with me, her arms are stretched out a la Superman and her long dress floats behind her to the left of the image.   Nice touch with the snaggly fence posts right on the horizon.

Further north the clouds were darker and lower.  The southbound lanes are about a third of the way from the bottom of the picture, quite a distance from the northbound.  And nary a car in sight.  It was an easy six hour drive and Mary fed me roast chicken with roasted vegetables and GRAVY!   First I have eaten since Thanksgiving - it was Divine! 

Wordless Wednesday - Fuchsia 03-21-12

 

Monday Browsing 03-19-12

 

On the Road in Colorado  05-17-11

Tutorials to make tiny houses:
http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2008/09/wee-houses-35-templates-tutorials.html

Here is another video about paying attention: http://viscog.beckman.illinois.edu/flashmovie/15.php

Cow Crazy from Road to California 2011 - http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d6a6b334f5459314d544d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link

Selected quilts from the Charlotte, NC, Quilt Show: http://fiberartoptions.blogspot.com/2012/03/2012-charlotte-quilt-show.html

http://seamlessexpressions.blogspot.com/2012/03/few-of-my-favorite-quilts-from.html

The members of the group http://twelveby12.org/  are working on the theme “Maps” (reveal day is May 1st) and suddenly I see maps everywhere. Here are two sites that surprised me:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/softmaps-by-emily-fischer-desi-94573

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80901558/origin-of-the-unit-4-vintage-map-figures

A thought provoking 3.08 minute video about handwoven fabric. http://iouproject.com/

Mid- Atlantic Quilt Festival http://www.allthingsquilty.blogspot.com/

Need cheering up?  Take a trip to Mary Lou (Weidman) and Whimsy, Too. http://marylouweidman-marylou.blogspot.com/

This Australia shop offers an amazing variety of “stuff” for textile minded people. I have not ordered from them, but just browsing their offerings is an education. http://www.thethreadstudio.com/index.htm

                                                                               

Visions Art Museum - San Diego 03-18-12

The weather didn't look promising for a drive to San Diego today, but my friends Teresa and Carol and I had a hard time finding a day we were all available for a visit to the exhibits at VAM.  However, the day turned out to be mostly sunny and when it did rain we were inside.  We each had an umbrella and perhaps that was enough to ward off the rain!  Driving home it was very windy, but the traffic was light and we made the trip in less than two hours - record time.  The blue Pacific was anything but pacific and a picture would have been nice, but I needed to keep both hands on the wheel due to the wind.  Next time - when I don't have precious passengers with me.

Teresa Malinowski, Del Thomas, Carol Bednar. 
Karen Cunagin was "sitting" the gallery and was willing to take this picture for us.

We had lunch at the Tin Roof, just a block from the Museum - Crab Benedict and 
Grilled Shrimp Sandwiches with delicious cold German Cole Slaw (that is the one made with vinegar/sugar dressing - no mayo).  We had a lovely day together.