Ten years ago in the desert 01-04-21

Ten years ago I was in Lake Havasu City with Corky, the poodle I took care of.  His "parents" had a lovely home with a view over the lake and always went out for the holidays.  This time of year the sunsets are amazing, so I have a vast collection of pictures.  How can I decide which to delete?  The moon is just a tiny crescent high in the image.  The lights on the other shore are in California, not much of a settlement over there.  .  

Corky went over the Rainbow Bridge just before Thanksgiving in 2013 and soon after everyone's life changed and eventually the desert house was sold.  Partially because it is a very long five to six hour drive out there from Long Beach where the family lives.  

Most of the drive is on I-40.  Sometimes there are other cars and trains (the light streak across the middle of the image) and, of course, big rigs.  There is a line of five big trucks going around the left curve ahead.

But usually there is not a lot of traffic and the barren desert stretches out on all sides.  Not a route to take without A/C in your vehicle.  I remember driving it in a VW Beetle with all the windows rolled down, gallons of water to drink, and wet towels to drape over our heads and necks.  That must have been about 1965.  Such a trip would surely kill me now!  I luxuriate in A/C, Cruise Control, and recorded books.  But now with Covid I am not going anywhere.  There is a huge surge of the virus in SCalifornia so I am really sticking close to home.  Wish I knew when I could be on the road again!  

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Remembering Corky 06-06-20

It is an anniversary of sorts.  On this day in 1997 I started being nanny to Corky Loos, the nicest little poodle I have ever met.   His parents live in Long Beach and had busy lives, so they needed someone who could keep Corky when they had to be gone and to teach him some ways of the doggy world.  This association lasted until November 2013 when Corky went over the Rainbow Bridge.  He is still missed in my life and probably the lives of everyone who knew him.  He was a prince among poodles .

Jim and Sherry Loos, Corky's parents.

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Wordless Wednesday 11-20-19

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We are home! 08-05-19

It was a 490 mile day, leaving from Mary's in San Juan Bautista at 9:15am and arriving at our house at 7:11pm.  I had some things from Mabel to deliver to her daughter in Tehachapi in the high desert, which is a loop east from I-5.  I trusted the GPS and didn't go where I intended to go, so Karen, Mabel's daughter, met me in Mojave and we transferred from our car to hers.  It was 106F and I found the sole spot of shade from a skinny tree in the McDonald's parking lot.  Too hot for KoKo to walk on the asphalt so he had to wait until I found another shady spot for him.  Then we headed east on highway 58 to where it meets I-15 just south of Barstow.  Had a pit stop at Lenwood, which is all fast food places, gas stations, an outlet mall, and a few motels.  We used to stop there on our way to Lake Havasu City when I took care of Corky, the Poodle Prince.  It has grown a lot and now spreads on both sides of the highway.  It was 108F there.  South in heavy traffic on I-15 to the 91 Freeway and then just two miles home.  KoKo had to immediately take a walk.  Poor guy being cooped up in the car all day with just a few rest areas to have a little walk and a piddle.  I don't think he really enjoyed the road trip.  Now he is passed out in his chair and I am about to pass out in my chair.  Emptied the ice chest and brought in the necessary things for both of us, but the car is still packed - all that workshop stuff and clothes (mostly clean since Mabel let me do a load at her house) and my Featherweight which Mabel serviced for me and taught me how to do it, and...  well, the stuff I seem to take on a road trip.  Tomorrow, or even Wednesday, is soon enough to unpack.  

I'll have some more pictures from the road, but too tired tonight.

KoKo observing the people parking at McDonald's.

 This scrawy tree cast the only shade in the parking lot.  I parked on the line, taking up two parking spots, but KoKo deserved it!!

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Looking Back, again 12-01-18

When I was taking care of Corky, the Poodle Prince, I enjoyed the views of Alamitos Bay and Lake Havasu.   I miss them now.  But thanks to computers, digital cameras, and Picasa, I am still able to revisit them when I want to look back.  

Alamitos Bay on December 5, 2003.  Notice that a couple houses on the right have their Christmas lights up. 

Not sure what that planet is high in the sky, might be Mars. 

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Sweet memories, Corky Loos 11-17-18

Corky Loos   07-29-96  -  11-17-13

April 2008 in his stroller

Nov 2010 with a giant sycamore leaf hat

April 2010 with bunny years for Easter

I was Corky's nanny for about 15 years and I miss him still.  He was much more dignified than KoKo, who loves to play with his toys.  Corky wasn't much interested in toys, but he was willing to do "dress up" which KoKo doesn't tolerate well.   Distinctive personalities for each of them, but both loving and well behaved. 

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Dogs Napping 11-10-18

 KoKo usually naps curled up, unlike some other dogs.  

Corky liked to sleep half in and half out of his boat bed.  

The rest of these guys I have saved off the Internet.  They know how to relax. 

"If the shoe fits!"

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Remembering Corky, the Poodle Prince 11-17-17

For sixteen years I was a Poodle Nanny to Corky, the Poodle Prince.  His parents traveled and were involved in their business and didn't want to leave him alone, so he stayed with me (at Camp Del), or I went to their house in Long Beach or the desert house in Havasu City, AZ.  He was a delightful little dog, well trained and well mannered.  

Born 07-29-96. He went over the rainbow bridge 11-17-13

Hard to believe he has been gone for four years. 

 

 

With his polka dot quilt

 

Just home from the groomers.  

An autumn hat.

In his Trojan coat.

Sometimes he helped me sew!

He tolerated dress up - to a point!

With his lamb (no Froggie).

 

I especially loved his delicate little feet.

 

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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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Thursday Threads 09-07-17

This quilt was for Corky, the Poodle Prince, who I nannied for sixteen years.  He went over the rainbow bridge in 2013.  The quilt was for use at my house when he visited and he did use it.  It was made from blocks donated by a friend who made too many for a queen sized quilt!!  I just added the sashing and the squares on each end.  I think I made it in about 1998.  I thought about giving it to KoKo and maybe I will some day. 

 

 

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Looking back 06-10-17

I am one of those people who likes to look back to see what was happening on any given day in the past.  I don't record something every single day, but the advent of computers and digital cameras has given me a photo record on Picasa that stretches back to a few pictures from 2005 and some very old shots that have been scanned in at different times.  I have boxes of photos and slides going back from before I was born, but not the energy or inclination to go through them and scan them into the digital files.    Maybe some day in the future I will find time and interest. 

This is a week with several special memories.  Fifty-five years ago on June 9, 1962, I married my first husband with all the wonderful future stretching out before us.  We were divorced in 1971.  Such mixed memories of those nine years.  In 1991 I took my first class from Ruth McDowell (whose birthday is June 8th), one of many over the years.  A great teacher, a lovely friend, and a large part of the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.   On June 6, 1997 I started being "nanny" to Corky, the Poodle Prince.  He had a great influence on my life and took me on many adventures I wouldn't have had without him.  He wasn't quite a year old and rather a handful at first.  He died in November 2013, leaving me bereft of a lover in my life.   A job taken in August 2016 by KoKo. 

Here I am with my sister, Ellamarie, taken in Portland, OR, sometime in 1941, I think.  Do I look like I am three-something and Ellamarie is six-something?   I had bangs and pigtails because my hair is as straight as hair can be.  Ellamarie has flowing locks because she inherited the natural curly hair gene. 

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Same bed, different dog 05-16-17

It is all about the doggie these days.  He is so active and yet so lazy!  Somewhere I read that dogs sleep 80% of the day and I think KoKo is upholding that idea.  The other day I washed all his bedding and equipment (leash, harness, toys, quilt, etc.) and threw in the cover for one of Corky's old beds which has been in the back of a cupboard for about four years.  Amazingly, KoKo loves the bed and has been sleeping in it during the day.  Also wallowing and rubbing his body all over the textured lining.  So, here are Corky (1996 - 2013) for whom I served as Poodle Nanny, and KoKo (May 20, 2014).

 

Corky Loos

KoKo Thomas

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Friday Feet 05-12-17

For sixteen years,  until he died in November 2013, I was a Poodle Nanny to Corky, the Poodle Prince.  He had the sweetest little feet and I posted them on my Friday Feet blog more than once. 

 

From Feb 2011

Here are the cutest feet I know of! 
 
I have always loved Corky's little feet - so neat and tidy. 

  
And here are all four sweet feet. 

 

 

August 24, 2012

 

 

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Showing quilts 01-18-16

I did a program for a small group today and they loved it.  Since there were so few people they could get up close to the quilts and study the tiny details.  I think the best thing about collecting quilts is sharing them with appreciative quilters - they loved seeing the quilts.  Here is a picture of me holding a little 12X12 inch piece made by Diane Perin Hock of Healdsburg, CA.  This is little Corky dog who went over the rainbow bridge about two years ago.

 

The hostess has an extra large dining room table that made for easy handling of the quilts.

 

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Life and Figs 08-28-15

I still have little KoKo, he goes home tomorrow.  Yesterday was a tour de force for both of us.  I needed to do a written drivers test and couldn't get an appointment in time at the local DMV.  Four years ago I had the same problem, but was driving up to the Monterey area a few days before my birthday, so I made an appointment at the Goleta DMV (just north of Santa Barbara).  That worked out okay, so this time I made an appointment at Bellflower so I could leave little KoKo with Sherry, Corky's mommy in Long Beach.  She takes care of a dog now and then, I suppose it satisfies something in her as Corky (and now KoKo) did for me. 

When I started the car to leave it made a terrible noise, so I drove it around the block to see if it drove okay and it did.  We were off to Long Beach with a lesser noise, but something that obviously needed to be taken care of.  However, I hadn't planned that into my day.  I left KoKo with Sherry and gave her three toys to toss for him.  The drive to DMV and the testing took about an hour and half, it seemed to include an inordinate amount of sitting and waiting for my number to be called.  It was moderately air conditioned, but about 150 bodies give off quite a bit of heat - whew.  I took the test and missed one question which is bugging me because I think I had the right answer, but they didn't and were too busy to explain.   I did the eye test and had my picture taken, it can't possibly be as bad as the last one.  They won't let me wear my hat, even though I tell them nobody recognizes me without it.

Back to Sherry's where I hauled the SAQA Traveling Trunk into the house and went through all the samples, there are 61 in this trunk.  I'll  present them to my art quilt group in SDiego on Sunday and then ship them off to their next destination on Monday.  More on this after the  Sunday meeting.

Sherry took KoKo for a long walk and met some other dogs who wanted to play - KoKo really got a workout and has not been so demanding today.  It was cooler in Long Beach than it has been here.  Today it was 101F in Placentia with a humidity of 22%.  Way too hot for Auntie Del to go for a walk.  So, I'm glad KoKo had a tremendous walk last evening.  We have been out in the backyard half a dozen times today.  Don't want any accidents!

This morning I was at Castner's, the auto repair place, when it opened at 7:30am.  They hoped they could replace the failed part of my power steering before they close today, but here it is 4:20pm and they haven't called to say it is ready.  If not I will rent a car for the weekend, but I would rather be driving my own vehicle. 

I love figs and they have such a short season that I am never satisfied.  Trader Joe's is selling "Tiger Figs" which I had never heard of.  They are quite small, like ping pong balls, but very sweet. Not as sweet as the wonderful honey figs they grow in South Carolina, but a good second place.  Of course, one needs to eat them pretty quickly, so I am having my fill of figs.  If they still have them when I go next week, I will get another box.  Maybe two!

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Thinking about Corky 01-26-15

I've been feeling sentimental these days - missing my Corky dog. He died in November 2013.  I had lunch with Sherry, his mommy, the other day.  We had a Morrocan Salad from California Pizza Kitchen - so good.  And we talked about the Poodle Prince and his antics.  This picture was taken on January 25, 2005, just ten years ago, when he was just nine years old.  He was still a teenager then, but had already learned to control all of his people very well. 

This family isn't planning on having another dog, but they say they will take care of my dog, should I decide to add one to my life.  But I still travel too much - how could I go away for 3 or 4 weeks without my little companion?   

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Doldrums 09-30-14

Yes, I am having a bad attack of the doldrums this week!  Just doing routine tasks and pretty much staying home.  Dinner out on Sunday with Carol and Dick Bednar at the local Greek place.  It was fun to hear about  their recent trip to London, York and Edinburgh.  They enjoy the theatre and concerts and that was a big focus of their trip.  Gilbert and Sullivan, anyone?  

I've made a few runs to Starbuck's and have been sorting out what I need for the Elizabeth Busch workshop week after next.  Of course, I have been working on the SurfsideQG newsletter, but can't work at it in long stretches or my eyes start bothering me.  The new eye  drops help, but they aren't the solution to the problem. 

I always think of Corky when I go to Starbuck's.  He loved having a "puppachino", which is just a small cup about half full of whipped cream.  He would get it all over his fuzzy face and then object when I tried to wipe it off.  They still offer puppachinos at Starbuck's - if you have your pooch with you when you drive through, just ask for one.  They used to give doggie treats, but then those from China were discovered to have bad ingredients and Starbuck's immediately stopped giving them out.  We wouldn't let Corky have them anyway and always carried some from home.

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Thinking of Corky 07-29-14

Corky was born on this day in 1996 and died on November 17, 2013.  I miss him more than I can express, but I look at his pictures frequently and they make me smile and remember him with love.

2003 This always makes me smile - vicious Corky protecting his mommy? 

No, it is just a huge yawn.

His daddy sent this picture.  I would caption it, "The things they make me do are embarrassing."

"Let's go this way." on the 4th of July.

Sometimes he would be asleep and want to stretch out, but was too tired to actually get up and out of his bed.  So, he was half in and half out and sound asleep.

He always loved his stroller which he needed more and more as the years went by. But it made him smile and everyone who saw him in it smiled also.

 Sometimes he would get in a snit because I wouldn't do what he wanted me to. In this case, go to bed and turn out the light.

A vet told me once that sleeping was what dogs do a majority of the time. Corky slept a lot, but always kept track of what everyone else was doing.

This was taken just a year before he died.  He was usually a very happy active dog and this shows him as he ran.  Taken by Stephanie.

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