And more flowers 04-10-21

As I have said earlier, for flowers I need to look to my neighbors since I don't garden anymore.  I especially enjoy this front yard planted by a lady who was a florist and did wedding flowers until a few years ago.  I do like her combinations. 

She has not divided these white iris for a number of years and they resemble a flock of white birds.

Nearby is this wisteria which is only about three feet tall, but spreads out into the other plantings. 

Lovely roses are tucked in here and there, hanging over the low brick edging. 

Among the "traditional" flowers she has planted succulents, including this red shaded Aeonium.  

Today I enjoyed watching the ZOOM Meet the Teachers meeting from the Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds.  It is, of course, usually a live event which is very exciting with about thirty teachers speaking for about three minutes and showing their work.  Same format on ZOOM, but not seeing the quilts in-the-fabric is a little disappointing.  They presented some new techniques and styles and were mostly very articulate and organized.  Some technical problems but the moderators dealt with aplomb.  The Northern California Council of Quilt Guilds is presenting their Meet the Teachers on April 14th.  Check their website if you are interested.  

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Flowers 04-09-21

Lots of flowers blooming, lots of pollen in the air!  Some yards have the "old fashioned" flowers such as iris, roses, ranunculus, etc.  But many of the newer yard scapes are desert or native plants.  These are planted in the strip between the street and sidewalk and last year they looked almost dead.  But now they have come into their own and are blooming heavily. 

It is a succulent, but I don't know what kind.  Maybe a Crassula.

This shows the flat leaves that are 10 to 14 inches long and lay almost flat on the ground. And the seed pods buried under the flowers.  

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Miscellaneous 04-08-21

While KoKo had pancreatitis the vet didn't want him going to the groomer, so he went for almost two months without a trim, although I give him a bath at home a couple times a month, so he was clean, but shaggy. 

I did have to trim his top knot a bit just so he could see.  I also put a little gel on and brushed it back. 

The groomer does such a good job and he is a smaller dog without all the extra hair. 

KoKo doesn't discriminate, if there is a lap available he will take it over.  I took him with me to Carol and Dick's house when Dick was helping me with my laptop.  Carol was watching a basketball game, so KoKo just kept her company.  The cat was lurking under a chair. 

 

Some of my neighbors decorate for every holiday.  These propped up letters have been popular this past year for holidays and for birthdays.  

Our house, on the other hand is very plain, no decorations and very few flowers.

This VW Bug parked next to me in a lot and I had to take a picture! 

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Back on my laptop again. 04-07-21

It has been a struggle, but after much gnashing of teeth and many hours of hither and yon and lots of phone calls, I finally (I hope) have my laptop up and running.  I haven't tried everything, but the e-mail works and I seem to be able to access all the pictures.  I wish I could find someone who works with people who don't understand computers and is available most of the time.  I have had several "computer gurus" over the years, but they all go on to other jobs and don't "consult" anymore.  Now I go to Micro Center in Tustin, as I did this time, or make an appointment with the Geek Squad.  It is all so frustrating.  

Our art quilt group met "in the flesh" in SDiego on March 30th.  The first meeting since last February, although we have been ZOOMING weekly since the summer.  It was so exciting to see our friends and everyone did Show & Tell with work they have accomplished in the past year.  We have shared at our ZOOM meetings, but everything is so much better "in the fabric".  Ellen was the champion with her exacting work and everything bound and labeled.  I took the quilts I have purchased from the SAQA auction and website. I have been working on a 12X12 quilt made from scraps, but it isn't quite ready for posting.  KoKo stayed with Cherie, his lovely keeper, because I couldn't leave him alone for the eight hours I was gone.  

If that wasn't enough excitement I went out to lunch on Friday with my friend Carol.  First time since last February at one of our favorite spots, Fitness Grill in Yorba Linda.  In celebration we had dessert - chocolate "volcano" cake for Carol and limoncello cake for me -MMMMM! We enjoyed it so much we have a date for this Friday at a different place.  We have both had two vaccines, but wear our masks coming and going.  I have seen very few people without masks, guess they are wising up.

On Saturday I picked up my friend Verna so we could visit a quilt shop in Garden Grove, about a 20 minute drive.  We thought it was new, but they told us they have been there for three years!  It is a very tiny shop - five people would be crowded!   A small selection of unusual fabrics and lots of accessories and doodads.  They have two long arms which apparently keep them quite busy.  I did buy a yard of fabric and some tiny brushes to clean a machine.  It is called The Sewing Escape and is on Garden Grove Blvd, just off the 22Fwy.  

Soooo glad to be back and I have a stock of images to share.  Hope you are all well and busy and vaccinated so you can get out and about. 

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