Fresh fruit 10-07-17

At the Placentia Farmers Market last week I bought two Bartlett pears.  I wish I had taken a picture of them as they were the not-so-perfect kind we picked from the trees as children.  Anyway, they were the best Bartlett pears I have eaten in years.  So juicy that I had to eat the first one out of hand over the sink to catch the juices.  And the second went on my Cheerios this morning - so delicious. 

 

Pictures from Google - I couldn't find one that showed "flawed" pears. 

 

It made me think again of the special food I have eaten in my life; some that stands out in my memory.   The year that Buttonwillow, CA, was hit by an earthquake I drove home from San Francisco a month or so later and stopped for gas.  Across the road was a pickup truck with a stake bed piled high with cantaloupes.  They were being sold by two ladies who told us that a farmer had donated the truckload to benefit the Boys & Girls Club (I think) which had been badly damaged in the quake.  I had passengers with me and we bought what we could get in between the bags and suitcases in the car.  I had never been wild about cantaloupe, but the cause was worthy and the melons smelled wonderful.  I think I ended up with three when I got home.  They were terrific melons, juicy, sweet, fragrant, and "lip smacking good" (whose slogan was that?).  Since then I have purchased cantaloupe at groceries and markets, but none have been as good as those from the back of that truck in Buttonwillow. 

 

 

Can you recall some special food you ate years ago that still dwells in your memory?

 

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Friday Feet 10-06-17

Silver shoes with blue jeans!  This wouldn't work in 1956.

Maybe it is a FLOTUS 2017 influence.

 

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Wordless Wednesday 10-04-17

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I should have taken a picture!

This was a special day at my house.  The Salvation Army came and took away a pile of "stuff".  I tend to not put away, give away, throw away, much of anything.  So, there are piles of stuff sitting here and there and occupying drawers and cupboards all over the house.  Not including the "workroom", which is the living room and dining room of my house - it is the biggest mess of all!  And I didn't tackle that - yet.

But last week I called and set up an appointment to have the SArmy truck come.  So, I had to get some boxes and fill them with things I no longer use, but other people might pay money for.  There were several computer bags that I found unsatisfactory, a box of books the 2nd hand bookshop didn't want,  a large box of men's socks that are the last remnant of my late husband's clothing and have remained in his dresser all these years, a box of dishes my aunt sent me because they had originally belonged to my mother (they came from detergent boxes in the 1940s), all sorts of bowls, vases, candle holders, decorative cookie tins, a few clothes I have never worn and a bunch of other "stuff".  I felt so good about it I had to call a friend and tell her.  So proud of myself. 

My mental health has not been great the past year, but I may have started just the right combination of antidepressants and think that I am feeling more positive and active.   If you haven't had Depression you can't understand how it undermines one's daily life.

I hope this is the beginning of a huge "dig out".  At 79 I know that reducing my possessions is an important thing to do.  It might take me years - groan.

 

This is the late Corky who I nannied for 16 years.  He is helping me quilt!

He was very different than KoKo.  I miss him still. 

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A visit with the KoKo dog 10-02-17

Lots of KoKo tonight.  He is such a good dog... when he wants to be.  But he is almost always good company.  We went out for an In-N'-Out burger, French fries. and a chocolate shake tonight.  He has learned to sit calmly when we get to the drive thru window.  No barking or lunging at Starbuck's either.  He is slowly learning these lessons.  Now, if I can just get him to "DROP IT".

 

 

He likes to lay on my lap when I have my feet up in the lounger.

My stocking foot sticking out.

But he gets antsy if I am reading instead of petting him.

Or throwing Froggie.

 

So, he pushes the book down and lays on it.

Green socks this night.  

 

He likes to look out when we are in line at Starbuck's.

Sometimes he will let me read while he stretches out between my legs, which I keep covered with his quilt.  But you can see my two feet sticking out.

When it is really hot - in the high 90's - he wants to go out to pee and then lay on the hot cement.  When I make him come in he drinks a gallon of water.  Too hot for me.

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Re-visit a Ruth McDowell quilt from TCQC 10-01-17

This quilt was on my blog on 09-06-15.  It is so much a Ruth quilt and so bright and happy.  Not Canadian Geese, but seeing them fly over reminded me to hang this quilt to enjoy during the Fall.

 

 

In taking classes with Ruth over the years I tried hard to learn how she selects the fabrics for each piece, but, although I learned a lot, I think one has to be born with an "eye" like hers.  Who else would chose that glorious, bright circle fabric for a border?  It works.

 

Ruth has the ability to make her pieced animals and people look realistic whether she uses straight or curved piecing.

She invents her quilting design as she works.

 

Her signature is on the front....

...and on the label on the back.  She gives the necessary information: Title, name of maker, date, and a way to contact her.  Which is a good thing for me because people who are looking for buyers of Ruth's quilts that she sold long ago call her and she gives me a call.  I have added four of her wonderful early quilts this way. 

She always has interesting backs - this one is elegant.

 

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