Squirrels 07-04-15

We have never had squirrels where we live in Placentia,  although other people do, but this year there have been three or four running along the fences and over in the park.  Oddly enough, there were at least six squirrels at Mary and Joe's in San Juan Bautista.  Whereas before I had only seen a couple now and then.  They are very brazen and busily chase off the birds and gobble their food. 

 

Here is one on the deck - he started running when I got close to the window to take a picture.

They drink from the bird bath right along with the birds and the deer.  Mary has to refill it in the morning and again at mid-day.  There are not many sources of water during the drought.

I'm surprised that the resident bobcat doesn't have squirrel for a meal.

This is the food she puts out for the jays, both Stellar and Scrub. 

 

#   #   #

Quilt for the Visions Art Museum Challenge 07-03-15

The Challenge topic due this month is "At The Beach" and this is my entry.

"Moon at Sea"  Del Thomas 2015 14" x14"

Batik and printed cotton fabrics, cotton thread.  Fused, machine applique and quilting.

 

The  heavy machine quilting is done with Valdani variegated thread.

 

The Challenge quilts will be shone at Visions Art Museum from July18 through Oct 5 and they are for sale.

#   #   #



Home Again 07-02-15

I drove home from San Juan Bautista today.  Due to the construction on I-5  I decided to drive Hwy 101, but I might as well have gone down I-5, because the traffic was horrendous.  I figured it would be bad tomorrow and Monday, but I was wrong.  I added almost two hours to my trip by stopping in Pacific Grove to visit Back  Porch Fabrics.  Such a jolt of color and texture, it made the trip home worthy.  With that stop I was on the road for almost ten hours and my legs are still twitching.  It was a gorgeous day to  drive down  the coast and the blue Pacific was especially blue today.  It was clear enough to see the Channel Islands off the coast.

Near Mussel Shoals

I believe this island is Santa Rosa, it is probably the same distance at sea as Catalina Island, which, contrary to the popular song is actually 28 miles away not 26 miles.  The structure on the left of the picture is an oil platform.

#   #   #



Wordless Hot Wednesday 07-01-15

Deer sighting

I know that some of you live places where deer are a big problem, but I have never had them in my neighborhood wherever I have lived.   Other than at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, I only see deer occasionally when  I am here at Mary and Joe's house.  Today a female deer with a fawn came up to drink from the birdbath and stayed for a little nap and a grooming session.  She even cleaned her ears with her hind hooves.   Of course, I had to take pictures out the breakfast room window.   Earlier there were six squirrels chasing each other around and eating the bird's seeds, but they didn't stay still long enough for a picture.

She is just beyond the border fence and has her fawn stashed somewhere close by.

There she is right at the bottom of the bird feeder.

Part of the bathing process.

 

It was very hot here today.  Gilroy ,  which is 18 miles by road, set a record with a temp of 113F and I'm pretty sure it was 100F outside here.  80F inside, but it doesn't seem so hot when I can look outside and see green trees and bushes.

 

#   #   #

 

On the road with clouds 06-29-15

I am in San Juan Bautista tonight having driven up mid-day.  Due to construction on I-5 it took me seven hours instead of six.  Both the northbound and southbound traffic was narrowed to one lane  and the backup was interminable.   I took advantage of some of the stops and read some in the novel I am reading, propping the book on the steering wheel so I can see the  tail lights of the cars ahead of me.  One time I read two whole pages before the traffic inched forward a few feet. 

At Kettleman City exit the construction was ended and watch out for people trying to make up  the lost time.  I hit 85 mph and the cars were going past me like missiles.

 

All these wonderful clouds and not a drop of rain.

There is a "thunder boomer" at the V of the mountains.  And then that strange cloud that looks like it was cut with a knife.

And see what happened to it in the next few minutes - slice and dice.

These clouds are birthing tiny baby clouds.

And here is an addition to my photo alphabet - see the H in the lower left corner.  It is laying on its side - a lazy H?

#   #  #

A Sue Dennis quilt from the Fiberlandia auction 06-28-15

Sue Dennis came from Australia for the Fiberlandia conference and I was glad for a chance to talk with  her.  I have one of her quilts in the Collection and admire her talent. 

For her leaf quilts she collects leaves on walks trough the Toohey Forest not far from where she lives.  She is attracted by the patterns of the insect eaten holes.   

 

"A Leaf" Sue Dennis - Brisbane, Australia  2015 8" x 6"

She uses Permaset Textile Ink which is used for screen printing, but it works well for her printing.  She uses Supercover white on the black fabric and then applies Misty Fuse to the black fabric, cuts around the margin and appliques with a zigzag machine stitch letting the zigzag fall into the background for a feathered look. 

 

She uses a zigzag stitch to free motion quilt around the background.  She calls this the "organic shuffle".  It is what I have heard referred to as "herky-jerky quilting" in the USA. 

The back fabric is an indigenous print and shows a simple but complete label.

 

Sue has a 12" square leaf quilt in the SAQA auction this fall.

 

www.suedennisartquilts.blogspot.com

www.suedennis.com