Bad Memories of 9/11/01

This little 14X14 quilt is "New Growth" which I made for Karey Bresenhan's project after 9/11.  It is in her book showing all the quilts made for the project.   My thought was that out of the ashes would come a new strength among all Americans and a surge of patriotism and cooperation.  Guess I am not a psychic, huh?  The towers are pieced and everything else was fused.  It was a hard piece to work on - I kept thinking of all the children who would never again see their parent.  My father died of kidney failure in 1942 when I was four.  Although there were pictures of him my only actual memory is of him sitting with me on my grandparents porch and teaching me how to tie my shoes.  It is hard to grow up without both parents.  

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Weather 09-10-21

The annual monsoon moisture that comes up from Mexico has lingered this year.  Last tnight about 11:30pm it struck with furious lightning, thunder, and RAIN!  The rain was quite heavy at times, but I'm sure we had under an inch.  Poor KoKo was terrified, so I kept him on my lap.  Just stroking and talking and hugging and trying to keep him somewhat calm.  Poor guy.    This morning when we walked all the grass clippings and dead flowers and everything was washed into the gutter and the air was so fresh.  But the 93F temp dried everything out by the end of the day. 

Photo taken on the beach in San Clemente by Matt Larmand who posted it on Next Door. 

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Moon and Stars (planets, actually) 09-09-21

Somehow "Moon and Stars" sounds better than Moon and Planet!  The planet is Venus ("Goddess of Love that you are" for those who were teenagers in the 50s). which has been hiding all summer, but now stays up until after the sun goes down.  

 

This is not the best picture because I couldn't find anything to stabilize my phone and the moon and  Venus both appear fatter from the jiggling.  Maybe I will try again tomorrow night.   When I was a teenager and into poetry I wrote a poem about the California night.  The only line I remember is "A parchment curl of California gold laid on the warm shoulder of the night."   Of course, I have no proof that those are my original words, but I was so taken with my poetic ability that I have never forgotten when I wrote them - and where!   

I have an appointment to see the orthopedist in the morning - or maybe just his PA who is much nicer!  Maybe I will have another spinal injection and it will help with the sciatica pain. Pain is very tiring, isn't it?  I have never experienced prolonged pain and now I know what it is like.  Tiring! 

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It is a KoKo night 09-08-21

I would probably go over the edge if I didn't have KoKo to take care of.  He can be annoying, but usually he is just sweet and loving and makes me laugh.   He has picked up my habits so that in the morning I sometimes have to lift him out the door and then he drags along on our walk.  In the evening he is eager to go and would run the entire way if I could only run!  

I will never be able to train him not to chew up tissues, napkins, paper towels, bookmarks, etc.  I just have tp be sure they are not where he can reach them.  He will grab them from my pocket if a tiny corner sticks out. 

He enjoys his place in front of the west facing window in the hall, even when it is blazing hot in the afternoon.  This storage box is full of UFOs.  Gotta store them somewhere.  Right?  It is the perfect height for him to see over the sill. 

He has generally given up following me to the bathroom every single time.  But if I stay too long he will come to check on me.  

What a guy!

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Labor Day 09-05-21

Labor Day has always been a sort of "beginning" in my life.  It is, of course, close to my Sep 1st birthday when I am beginning another year of living.  It has always been near the beginning of the school year which meant  Floyd and I had to return in time for him to start the new teaching semester.   And all those decades ago it was the beginning of my life in California since I moved from Portland to San Francisco the day after my birthday in 1957.

There has almost always been a flag flying wherever I live, but since I can no longer get up on the ladder to put it up or take it down there hasn't been one.  Bur an Eagle Scout nearby has a project going where he will put up a flag for six patriotic holidays a year for a total of $60.  Seems worth it to me.  He came Friday with his sister and dad to pound about a two foot piece of rebar into the ground and slipped a pvc pipe over it.  The flag is attached and there is a small solar powered lamp at the top so it is lighted at night.  Actually, I don't think the light will come on because there is a street light at the end of the driveway, only about 20 feet away from the flag.   Sometime Tuesday he will come and remove the flag, pole, rebar and return them for the next patriotic holiday which is Veterans Day.  I have not heard of a project like this before, but perhaps it is not uncommon.  I am happy to participate.  

Hope you all have a lovely Labor Day and a new "beginning".  

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