It is a KoKo day! 01-14-21

On a very rainy night we did go out for a short walk.  It isn't cold, 53F right now.  This is the first day of a predicted three day rain.  I hope it comes with breaks in the showers.  There is a slope at the back of our yard and I worry about slippage when the rain is heavy and continuous. 

Not staying up for New Years Eve.  Dec 31st. 

In bed with Froggy.  

When I dropped KoKo off with Nancy Ota on my way to SDiego she had her friendship group meeting there.  When Suzanne Stanton showed her teddy bear KoKo decided he wanted it and Nancy had to restrain him.

 

He was sure the bear was for him.

When she let him down on the floor he was determined to have it. So they put it up where he couldn't see it.  He can be VERY determined.  

You can see he is pretty shaggy in this picture. 

But after his appointment with the new groomer he looks like a puppy!

Look at those tidy little toes! 

And his hair out of his eyes.

What a great doggy he is. 

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Too much for one day! 01-13-23

This is the view from the church parking lot in San Clemente LAST year on Jan 11th.  Compare to the same view I posted on Wednesday.  The darker blue in the middle is the Pacific Ocean.  

I had too much of a day today - walk KoKo, deliver him to groomer at 8am (groan), pick him up at 10am, brunch at 11am with Carol at Toast for their fantastic Benedicts, and PTherapy at 1pm.  I admit that I then took a nap when I I got home!  And now it is after eleven and I am completely wiped out and will have to post tomorrow.  G'night. 

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Surfside QGuild meeting 01-11-23

Surfside Quilters Guild meeting in San Clemente yesterday.  I enjoy being with my quilting friends and seeing the quilts they have produced.  This month we were asked to bring the first quilt we made; a bit of a stretch for me, but I do have a wedding ring quilt from about 1948 when I was helping my maternal grandmother and her quilt group at the Grange in Clackamas, Oregon.   I was only ten, but they were teaching me how to hand quilt on a frame and allowing me to thread their needles.  I wish it was so easy for me now-a-days.  Anyway, the quilt is completely scrap with a pale yellow background and depression green backing.  One fabric has completely deteriorated so I can no longer launder the quilt unless I mend all those pieces.   But I have cuddled in it all my life as it is one of the first quilts I worked on.  The very first quilt I made when I was about seven and sat on grandmother's front porch hand-sewing together about three inch squares to make a quilt for my dolly - it is long gone.  

Back is Depression Green - very faded now.

Del wins the refreshment table decoration from Jaine Culbertson, Hospitality Chair.  One must remember to put one's name in the basket when they provide refreshments, usually I forget.  But I had the box of Dewar's taffy that the financial people send every year.  It is delicious, but much more than I can enjoy.   One member kindly took home the leftovers.  

I was wearing the beautiful hand-dyed rayon indigo scarf that friend Deb McKay gave me Saturday.  She did a workday with some friends to learn about indigo and experiment with the technique.  I think she made a beautiful piece.  Thanks, Deb. 

Our speaker this month was Tina Curran  who told us about her Design Process.

www.tinacurran.com   She is a local quilt designer with a line of patterns using her method for freezer paper piecing.  Her presentation was professional and interesting.  

SCalifornia had a huge rain event yesterday and I had a hard time driving in it,  Fortunately many drivers listened to the warnings and stayed off the roads.  so even at reduced speed I was there in an hour.

Missed the usual view of I-5 and the ocean beyond.  My car on the right, the drop off about five feet beyond the fence.  Slow drive home, but the rain wasn't as heavy.  The soil is saturated now and more storms coming, but how can we complain after so many years of draught.  

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Amaryllis 01-09-23

I love these fabulous amaryllis bulbs growing in a wax coating and buy them for myself and as gifts every Christmas.   Even though I know what they look like they are always a surprise.  The red are the most common, but this year I found a white one in a pot that I gave as a gift.  

Some grow tall and blossom and some can hardly wait to get out of the bulb!

And here is Ruth B. McDowell's rendition of a pink amaryllis which is part of the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.   one of my most favorites.

 "Amaryllis" Ruth B. McDowell (2014)   43"W x 39.5"L

Cotton Fabrics, batting, thread.  Machine pieced and quilted. 

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Went down to San Diego 01-08-23

Had a great trip to San Diego and a very successful meeting of the art quilt group.  But I over-did everything and am really dragging my tail.  Napped several times today and have things to do tomorrow.  However, I hope to settle at the computer for some updating and will try to blog earlier in the day/evening.  

We have enjoyed several good rains and the hills are now GREEN instead of tawny.  Traffic was light both ways, I suppose because school is still out for a lot of districts.  It was almost like driving in the 60s, but that was before the I-5 was thorough all the way.  Pacific Coast Highway (101) could be a rough drive back then.  It is still 100 miles or so and about two hours unless you are one of those that drive 90 - 100 mph.  Gotta watch out for those drivers!!

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