Saturday morning drive 11-30-19

It rained during the night and it was cool (48F), but colder at higher elevations.  This morning we were going for coffee when we had our first view of the SNOW on Mt. Baldy (4,393 ft).  It is early this year, or maybe it seems that way since Thanksgiving was later than usual.

So, before coffee we drove up to the top of Bastanchury (Bass'-tan-chur-ee) hill where there is a park dedicated to the terrific view of the area all the way from the towers of Los Angeles to Ontario, if there weren't trees in the way! 

Mt Baldy is the tallest, whitest peak on the left. 

It is an awesome view anytime, but with snow on the mountains it is the best. 

 Then we got in line at our favorite Starbuck's where KoKo can hang out the window and stare to his hearts content. 

This is the Corvette in front of us.  

 The V has to be short for Corvette, but what is DNT? 

 Rick's dented Vet?  Only I don't see any dents.

Don't?  Donut?  Down Time?

It will remain a mystery. 

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Friday Food 11-29-19

With Thanksgiving it has been a food week, hasn't it?  But before the big eating day my friend Liz went with KoKo and me to Tehachapi, just a day trip to deliver some things to a friend.  We enjoyed our day with beautiful clear weather, a stop at Five Stars Quilt Shop, and lunch at the Kohnen's Country Bakery, which is almost across Tehachapi Street from the quilt shop.   The location was once a restaurant with apple in the name and we had enjoyed a lunch there previously. 

We looked at the menu and thought the Poor Boy for two sounded interesting so we ordered it.  However we just read "Sheepherder's" and miss the word "loaf".  I stood in line and placed the order and then returned to our table waiting for my name to be called.  When they announced my name Liz went in to pick up the sandwich.  She came back with a large plate with another plate upturned over the contents. 

It was, indeed, a Sheepherder's LOAF.  For size, compare the sandwich to the individual size bag of potato chips.  We found it so funny we laughed a lot before tackling the thing.

Which was stuffed with everything they promised.

Impossible to get our mouths around it so we each divided one quarter of the loaf into two stacks of bread on the bottom and whatever we could pile on time to take a bite.  And, of course we each took a quarter of the sandwich home.  I finished mine up today and it tasted wonderful.  

I must admit we also split a lemon bar, which was unlike any I have eaten before.  It has a thick shortbread bottom, a layer of lemon curd and a crumb topping.  Different, but tasty. 

I think I will save pictures of my two Thanksgiving plates for latter when we aren't all satiated with turkey and trimmings. 

Hope you all had the Thanksgiving Day you wished for. 

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Nice rain 11-28-19

It was a big storm that came through yesterday and today and it ruined a lot of traveler's plans for Thanksgiving with I-5 closed in several spots and Hwy 58, which Liz and I drove on Tuesday, also closed due to snow in the high elevations.  

KoKo and I had several walks in the rain, but this evening we found a "dry" spot about 8pm.  It is cold for this area, only low 50s in the daytime and low 40s at night.  Tomorrow the sun is supposed to be out and everything will be washed clean.  Hope this is the trend for the coming year, we don't need any more droughts. 

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving.  We had two dinners delivered from two different families and everything was delicious.  I even have leftovers for sandwiches tomorrow. 

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Wordless Wednesday for Thanksgiving Eve. 11-27-19

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Great Day on the Road 11-26-19

Today our friend Liz, KoKo, and I drove up to Tehachapi, CA, to deliver some items to the daughter of a friend.  My GPS gave an estimate of about two and a half hours each direction, but this didn't account for heavy traffic.  So it took us more like three and a half hours.  But we weren't in a hurry and the weather was perfect.  

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One awesome thing about the area around Tehachapi is the widespread wind turbine farms which function well in this location due to that almost constant winds.  This picture was taken in March 2018 when there had been abundant rains.  Now the land is parched and seems almost completely bare of vegetation.  In the lower left corner is glimpse of CA58, which goes from San Luis Obispo to Barstow through vast desert country.  Driving home about sunset the colors were wonderful. 

While in Tehachapi we visited the Five Hearts Quilt and Fabric Shop which seems to specialize in floral fabrics and they have some lovely ones.  Liz was looking for something with a western or outdoor theme and found these place mats that even came in a kit!  I found some nice black on white prints. 

There is another quilt shop in town which we will have to visit some other time. It was well past lunch time and we were all hungry. We went west a block and across the street to Kohnen's Country Bakery.  Since we had KoKo with us we sat on the front patio right on the street and found out what a bustling small town this is.  

It was quite cool 48F and we ended up putting KoKo in the car for a nap.  We both bought bread to bring home and had the most delicious sandwich.  I will save that for the Friday Food this week.  

Total miles were 330 and our average speed was only 40mpg, which isn't bad considering the congestion on the highways.  We enjoyed the day so very much and each other's company even more!  KoKo - not so much, I think after an hour or so he just gets bored, but I think it is better than leaving him home alone for an entire day. 
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Quilts from the SAQA 2019 auction. 11-24-19

Here are four more of the quilts I added to TCQC from the SAQA auction in October. 

Blown by the Wind   Diane Firth - Australia  12"X12"

Viscose felt caught between layers of polyester net and machine stitched.

I find Diane Firth's exploration of see-thru quilts fascinating. 

And here are three more bird quilts for the "Bird Section" of TCQC. 

"Burrowing Owl with Rick Rack"  Linda Frost - Kansas  12"X12"

 Screen print with thread painting on cotton fabric and rick rack. Machine pieced and machine quilted. 

"The Raven Nevermore"  Pamela Burns - Indiana

12"X12"

All the materials were hand dyed or painted. I used rusted cotton fabric for the background. The Raven is hand painted with acrylic paint on cotton. I used a raw edged applique technique and adhered it to the background using fusible web. I machine quilted the piece and added hand embroidery and beading to add interest to the piece.

"Chickadee in Garlic Series"  Doreen Prakshot - Tennesee

12"X12"

Acrylic painted up-cycled bemberg silk, Warm & Natural cotton batting, cotton backing, rayon, cotton and poly threads, free motion stitched.

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