Remembering Things 06-16-18

When driving alone, cross country or just up the length of California, there is a lot of time to think.  And that is one thing I love about driving alone - lots of time to think.  When Liz and I were driving home from San Luis Obispo we talked about the jumble of memory; why do we remember some things forever and yet can't remember what we ate yesterday?   We don't have an answer.  I think that sometimes it is because there is a picture of that event or location that keeps reminding us of a certain person or event.  Here is one of my mother with a group of children in about 1942:

I was four or younger in my California sun dress (front 2nd from right) and my sister, about six in her matching dress stands in front of our mother.  I'm not sure who the other children are, possibly out Palmer cousins from Idaho, they appear to be the right ages.  But my point is that when I think of my mother this image frequently comes to mind.  I can't possibly remember the event, but I have seen this picture over the years and because of that it seems like a memory.  

I just read Anna Quindlen's book "Alternate Side" (which I highly recommend) and marked a sentence that struck me right between the eyes!  "Nora could remember it all so well, better than she remembered what she'd done yesterday, how smooth and warm his skin had felt against hers.  She'd realized that that was how life was, that certain small moments were like billboards forever alongside the highway of your memory."  

But what puts those billboards there?  How can I remember the name of someone I knew in grade school seventy plus years ago and have had no contact with since?  But I sometimes can't remember the name of a dear friend that I see frequently and talk to online and on the phone.   Some of my "billboards" seem to be blank most of the time.  My little California grandmother said her memory was like a bucket, when it was full everything new that went into it fell out and all the old, old memories were still there, way at the bottom, but there.  

Just musing.  
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Friday Food 06-15-18

When I was Corky's Poodle Nanny I sometimes shopped at Whole Foods in Long Beach on 101.   For some unknown reason that store seemed almost magical with an unending assortment of new-to-me foods and old favorites.  I haven't found that the new store in Placentia on Imperial Hwy is all that interesting.  I think, for one thing, it is surely twice as large, making it hard to find anything.  Two of my favorites follow.

Unlike any other olive I have ever tasted.  

And they are beautiful besides. 

Gelato bar at Whole Foods market  - Lemon/Basil top third from left.

Of course, I haven't tried ALL of them, but this one is very good. 

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Once a reader..... 06-14-18

...always a reader!  It is not a habit I have ever tried to break.  I started reading before anyone knew I could read, not books, but cereal boxes, street signs, the words in the comics.  I don't know how I did it, it just happened.  Check the "Reading" tab in the right sidebar to learn more!  

I like series and have my favorites that I save the books for when I am ill and just start reading them again from book one.  I never seem to have a brand new book to read when I end up in bed with bronchitis, which happens far too often.   Anne Perry's series about Thomas and Charlotte Pitt is my most favorite, although I enjoy all of her writings.  Also on my regular list is Elizabeth George, Jacquelyn Winspear, Tony Hillerman, Anne Hillerman (Tony's daughter continues his stories), P.D.James, and... on and on.  Recently I have been reading more and sewing not at all, don't know why, but I'll switch back one of these days. 

I just finished Anna Quindlen's "Alternate Side" - one of the best reads I have enjoyed lately.  I expect to read all of her books that I have not yet read and maybe even re-read some others.  She is a very good writer.   Also recently was "White Houses" by Amy Bloom (which might be more than I wanted to know about the possible lesbian affairs of Eleanor Roosevelt), but it was a good read.  I pulled an old book off my shelves and re-read "Nellie's Story" by Nellie Grant and her daughter, the aviatrix Elspeth Huxley.  I loved it all over again and it made me want to go back and re-read all of the Elspeth Huxley books and those of Isak Dinesen.   One of these days I probably will. 

At the Literary Orange event in April I bought James W. Ziskin's "Heart of Stone" and have just started reading it.  I didn't get very far before ordering the other five books in the series of Ellie Stone mysteries.   I think it is going to be one of those 'can't put it down' series that I have to impose reading limits in order to get anything else done. 

I have found some good book recommendations on blogs and Facebook posts and I hope that others will be interested and read some of my favorites.  

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Wordless Wednesday 06-13-18

Motel Decor 06-12-18

My friend Liz and I spent the last two nights at the Holiday Inn Express (HIE) in San Luis Obispo so that I could give a program about the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection to the members of the San Luis Obispo Quilters.  I find I get too tired to drive for 5-6 hours and then give an evening program.  So, we drove up on Sunday and home today (Tuesday).  I like to stay at HIE because I feel safe at their locations and I LOVE their cinnamon rolls (as do many other travelers).  Currently the San Luis Obispo location is being renovated and I'm not crazy about their new decor.  Here are some pictures from our room.  

Yes, the pictures cover the wall and extend up onto the ceiling. 

The subjects are varied - sports pictures seem to dominate. 

But "Amor"??  On the ceiling? 

These are also on the ceiling.  I found it somewhat disorienting to wake up staring at the ceiling which seemed to be a wall.  Not being used to pictures (or mirrors) on the ceiling I wasn't sure I was laying down or standing up! 

As you can see the pictures on the wall extend down almost to the floor. 

That orange cylinder is a dumb lamp which you have to turn on the bulbs on both sides of the light fixture in order to turn it off; rather annoying if someone is asleep and suddenly the light shines on their face.  

This decor is rather overwhelming when what I want in a motel room is a calm, restful aura to let me calm down before going to bed.  There are not many of these photos I would chose to hang myself, but I find that is general true in any motel/hotel.  They do chose ugly art and frequently disturbing carpeting  

These three hang on the side wall.  We think they are close ups of mechanical equipment. 

Be warned!

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Two nights in San Luis Obispo 06-11-18

Liz and I drove up yesterday to do a program tonight about the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection for the San Luis Obispo Quilters.  There seemed to be about 60 members in attendance.  They are preparing for their quilt show June 23-24 at the Madonna Conference Center at the Madonna Inn.  This is a show presented by six area quilt guilds and will show about 300 quilts.  And all the usual quilt show features.   It is a show I have always wanted to attend, but the timing is never right and I can't drive up here again in a few weeks.  Bummer. 

The program went well and they especially enjoyed Ruth McDowell's "A Rash of Flamingoes"  and Mary Lou Weidman's "Asilomar"  quilts.  They were hanging on quilt racks so the ladies were able to take a really good look at them.  

" Rash of Flamingoes"  Ruth B. McDowell  2000  100"W X 52" L

"Asilomar"  Mary Lou Weidman  2013  77"W X 88"L

(This is the only picture I can find in my Picasa files, it was taken in 2015 when Mary Lou did a workshop for Surfside Quilters Guild.)

On the road home tomorrow, hopefully no more than a four hour drive.  I'll drop Liz off at her house and go on down the I-5 to San Clemente to pick up Koko.  That will make it another two hours minimum on the road.  Good thing I enjoy driving, eh?

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On the road again 06-09-18

Liz will be going with me to San Luis Obispo to do a program about TCQC for the San Luis Obispo Quilters on Monday evening.  I have the quilts all rolled or packaged, with the help of Liz on Thursday, and KoKo is with Nancy Ota (Thanks, Nancy).  I think I will take my laptop with me as we will have all Monday during the day to relax or do whatever comes to mind.  So, perhaps I will be blogging from up there.  

When I search for SLO in my picture files the only thing that comes up is from a drive from SLO to Pacific Grove in September 2013.  I know I have been through there since, but I guess I didn't take any pictures.  I'll do better this trip. 

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