Fourth of July 2020 07-04-20

Several years ago when the house was painted the painter didn't put the flag holder back up and I kept forgetting to call him to come back to do that.  I haven't flown the flag since.  But this year it seemed I needed to fly the flag.  There were many more flags and buntings in the neighborhood than usual.  So I rigged up the pole horizontally on my front porch and it looked great. 

In this picture the sun wasn't quite over the top of the roof yet.   KoKo is probably sitting in the bottom center window, it is his spying spot to keep track of everything. 

In the past a Realtor would come by and stick a flag in everyone's lawn, but not this year.  I got out the ten flags I saved from past years, but couldn't stick them in the hard soil.  Instead I poked them in the pittisporum hedge and they flapped festively in the breeze. 

No barbeques or block parties for us.  We went to In-N-Out burger in Orange.  Doesn't it look lonely with no cars parked in the lot?  The drive thru line went out onto Tustin Blvd.  

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Friday Food 07-03-20

My very kind neighbors who are Indian continue to share some meals with me.  This last week there was enough for two dinners and I enjoyed them both!   I will see if they will give me the names of these dishes to share with you. 

I sometimes take Mariam a plate or bowl or a takeout container like this.  She prefers it to sending her dishes that I need to return. 

On the top is a mixture of ground turkey, carrots, herbs, and other ingredients.  At the top in the center is a green leaf that she calls curry leaf.  I have to pick those out as they are tough to chew.  She says they also pick them out.  

The green vegetable on the bottom is, I'm sure, kale cut very small and sauted with onions and....!

This was wonderful and I had not eaten it before.  It is vermicelli with onions, more green leaves, and delicious sauteed small pieces of cauliflower.  I would make this myself and may ask for the recipe.  

I always have plain, unsweetened yogurt to eat with everything, it tones down the spiciness which can bother my aging stomach!  

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Things are pretty dull these days! 07-02-20

I keep hearing the phrase, "We are all in the same boat."  But some of us are in their own boat by themselves!   With only KoKo, the world's cutest Yorkie, for company I seem to spin my wheels more than I usually do.  I just don't seem to have any drive, any interest in creating, or any incentive to finish what I start.   I know I am not the only one who feels this way and I have no suggestions on what to do about it.  So, I plug away - reading, walking, eating, browsing Facebook, and doing a bit of sewing.   Once a week I go for lunch to the home of a couple who are isolating.   She makes a soup and I take a salad.  So, I must go to the farmer's market in my mask to find makings for the salad.   Besides the delicious food and interesting conversation I also enjoy seeing the actual faces of my friends.  Have you noticed that people don't seem to be "real" when you can't see their faces.  Maybe those face shields are a good idea, so you can see if someone is smiling or frowning or crying or.... whatever.  

I will keep blogging.  Writing whatever comes to my head.  And sending good thoughts your way that you are being more successful than I at this isolation situation.  

And I will keep posting pictures of quilts as I can.  

Love, Del & KoKo

Quilts from VAM exhibit 07-01-20

This week I will try to post more of the quilts from the Visions Art Museum exhibit I drove down to San Diego to see last Friday. 

The color is wrong because I was so close to the quilt.  This just shows some of her very intricate FMQ.

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Quilt for the SAQA Auction 06-29-20

I have only made a quilt for the SAQA auction a couple times.  Usually my contribution is to buy up to fifteen of those on offer.   This year I had an idea and started early, but, as is my usual practice, I let it slide until I was up against the deadline.  I mailed my 2020 piece today! 

I  was trying to post pictures I took along the way, but Blogger just won't cooperate tonight, so I can just show the front and the back. And tell you that it is much, much brighter in reality. It is 12" X 12" as are all the quilts in the auction.  

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