Great Sale at Okan Arts 05-11-24

Okan Arts sells Japanese fabrics, mostly online, but today they had a sale at their warehouse location in Long Beach.  This location is not open to the public except for their once a year sale.  Check their website  https://okanarts.com   The majority of  their stock is vintage, and some is antique. 

My friend Deb McKay drove up from SDiego to meet me in LBeach so we could heat  up our credit cards and bring home wonderful fabric treasures.  Afterward we went  to Katella Deli in Los Alamitos where we waited almost an hour for a table!  It was worth  it - Deb had wonderful lox and bagels and I ordered my favorite pastrami sandwich.  The place  was really "jumping", along with very loud, raucous   music.  We  had  forgotten  about Mother's  Day, Graduation lunches, and the  glorious sunshine of this weekend.  It was worth all of it.   An all together fun day.  

We  all  needed a bag to take home our treasures.

Some ladies needed TWO!

I couldn't  resist these two children's prints.

Cute puppies and imaginary hieroglyphics.  

Two yard cuts of Blue/White for the quilt I have been collecting fabrics for several decades.  Well, the one on the left is just because it is so beautiful.  

Of course, some stripes, especially orange.  

I can never resist new stripes. 

And the "piece de resistance", this rich crimson print. I had to buy the entire bolt!

A vest?  A scarf?  A bag?  Hang it on the wall?

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A get out of the house day! 07-07-20

I just needed to GO somewhere, so KoKo and I got in the car and drove to Long Beach.  I have been day dreaming about the fabulous carrot cake at Katella Deli & Bakery, and I want to share it with a couple of my neighbors.  Especially the John family that feeds me Indian food.   It is a 30 - 40 minute drive, depending on the traffic.  And there was traffic, which surprised me.  Guess I expected the light traffic that I have seen since the Virus came along.  

The Bakery counter is long and filled with wonderfulness.   But I had order the cake online, along with a loaf of their seeded bread and two bear claws for the freezer. 

Even with ordering ahead I had to stand in line for a bit and I just drooled over all these gorgeous cakes.  

This one was so shiny there is a reflection, but that may be on the glass.  Yummy looking anyway. 

This is the one I drove all the way for.  Directly from the top, still in its box. 

The cake is three layers and about 4" tall.  This was my portion for dinner!  Wicked but delicious. 

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NEW LAPTOP TODAY! 01-19-19

I apologize for the silence, but my laptop died completely and I could not figure out how to blog on my phone.  Today I picked up my new laptop from Micro Center, hopefully with all the programs I need already installed.  But now I must begin the download from my backup provider, Carbonite.  I have had to do this once before, but it has been five or six years ago.  I have not been faithful about deleting files, so the download (or is it upload?) will take at least a few days.  But I don't know how to function with Word 10 anyway, so I probably won't be able to post very soon.  

While all this is going on both of my Pfaff sewing machines broke down and have been in the shop.  If you should need machine repair, I highly recommend Sew n' Vac in Long Beach.  Worth the drive and it is a charming shop that has been there for forty years.  Just put this address in your GPS  1762 Clark Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815  562-498-6684.  And take some time to browse the interesting notions and feel the nice selection of fabric.  

If you need a lunch spot try Katella Deli, 4470 Katella Ave, Los Alamitos, CA 90720

562-594-8611   www.katellabakery.com   It is a very popular spot, so if it is lunchtime you may have to wait for a table, just go browse the fabulous bakery.  It is impossible for me to leave without a Katella Bakery box in hand.  

Once I get Carbonite working I need to set up my repaired/serviced sewing machine and get busy on this quilt.  I have completed the background, not just this sky, and am eager to get quilting.  There is a deadline and with my usual style I am pushing 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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Still Sick! 12-21-16

Can you believe it?  I still have bronchitis - since November 10!  I've done all kinds of pills and some different Inhalation Therapy, but the doctors say that rest is the most important thing.  So, I have been resting.  However, people who are resting have nothing to talk about!  KoKo is good company, but he doesn't say much besides, "Bark, bark, bark."

Here is a photo for Wordless Wednesday, even though I am talking tonight - I needed it.

Long Beach - Marine Stadium - January  2013

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Wordless Wednesday 02-17-16

 

 

 

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Wordless Wednesday 01-06-16

 

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Seagulls 08-29-13

I've taken many photos of birds, gulls among them, but have yet to make a seagull quilt.  I've done a few drawings, but nothing has "sparked" my "muse". 

 
Such a handsome bird against an unbelievable blue sky.  He/she is gathering material for the cursory nests that gulls build.
 

This immature gull on the beach at Monterey Bay almost blends into the background - keeps predators at bay.
 

Herring gull in a parking lot along Hwy 101 in Long Beach.  He looks a bit pigeon-toed!
 

There are always gulls gathered at the Oceanside Civic Center pool - nice water texture in this photo.
 

And here is a quilt that I admire whose maker heard her muse.  Label below.
 

Grandmother's Flower Garden?  Who would have thunk it?

Pink Jasmine 03-28-13

Spring really has come to my neck of the woods.  I was in Long Beach today to pick up the Poodle Prince and it seemed like everything was blooming.  The residents in Corky's neighborhood are much more particular than those in my area, so there are always fresh bedding plants and blooming trees, shrubs and vines in their yards and the common areas. 

 
One of my favorites is pink jasmine which you see here growing on an iron fence.  There was once a vine growing on the fence outside my bedroom window, but when the neighbor wanted to put in a great tall, slump stone wall the vine had to go.  Every spring I wish I had planted another right away so I could enjoy the wonderful fragrance it spreads through the area. Maybe this year I will put one in.  It never seems to bother my breathing or make me sneeze, unlike some other very fragrant vines. 
 

 
When the buds first form they are very pink, but when the flowers open they are only faintly colored.  This wonderful specimen was a couple blocks from Corky's house, but I also saw some beautiful ones when I was in San Diego yesterday. 

Another Trash Can Surprise 03-01-12

What is it with me and trash cans?  It is always a struggle and sometimes a surprise.  Some years ago I posted:
  http://www.delquilts.blogspot.com/2008/03/fairy-in-my-trash-can-03-28-08.html    
I later discovered the fairy comes back at a certain time of year to revisit the can, located in the same spot in the garage.  So the turban on the roof not only lets in air - it also lets in fairies.

Recently I was in LBeach with the Poodle Prince and went out to put something the trash can and nearly had a heart attack when this came popping out at me.  One cannot expect to have something with a shiny red face jump out when the lid of the can is lifted.  Of course, I had not turned on the garage light and was relying on the faint light coming from the door to the inside hall.  I actually struck out at it with my elbow - good training comes back when needed.   

 
I was tempted to deflate this scary thing, but figured "Hey, it isn't my trash can with a red faced thing popping up whenever I open it."

Home again, Home again 09-04-11

I drove directly to LBeach to see Corky whilst his parents went to a dinner party.  Gosh, how I miss him when I'm gone.  He was happy to see me and we went for his walk together.  What a guy!  Total mileage for the trip (including LBeach) was 3408 miles.

White poodle, beige carpet and lots of light reflection from the water in Marine Stadium.  He is fifteen now, but since he is white his grey hairs don't show, so people think he is a puppy. 

There was a spectacular sunset this evening - the water in the foreground is Marine Stadium.

This image is further to the north than the one above - there were more fluffy clouds there.  A few hours later as I was driving home it rained!  For about five miles it really came down - strange for September, but I suppose it was just lingering from the August monsoon season.  No rain at my house - just a lot of mail!

More 4th of July

Corky and I drove down to Long Beach this afternoon because it was too hot to walk at my house and I had a couple things to do there before his parents return tomorrow.  It was the perfect temperature with just a slight breeze and the neighborhood was celebrating with patio parties and cookouts and boating and lots of decorations.  Hanging swags of bunting on the fences that face the water is a popular thing to do.  And I am always a sucker for a red umbrella with the sun shining through.

Remember the "canning buttons" post?  These people like to hang aprons on their palm trees.

We drove back to Placentia and went to visit the block party in Carol and Dick's neighborhood.  There are three or four parties within in a couple blocks - one with a 'bounce house', one with a sign "bike parade", two with barriers to traffic going down the street.  The neighbors on the Bednar's street have been doing this on the 4th for over 25 years.  When there were children at home they had volleyball and baseball and other games, but now mostly it is just the parents sitting around visiting, catching up with the news and .... eating!  I guess I only took pictures of desserts - wonder why?

This is a giant Mrs. Fields' chocolate chip cookie covered with icing.  It takes a super-sized pizza cutter!  It was very good and there is one family with three college students home for the summer.  Guess who took home the leftover cookie?

The trifle was also delicious.  Full of strawberries and blueberries in a bed of rich custard and whipped cream.   I lusted after the entire bowl, but settled for a large serving spoonful. 

 M-m-m-m.

Corky is back to not having his picture taken.  I did five shots and just as I pressed the shutter he turned his head away. 

When I finally was quick enough he looks so bored and disgusted.  He had a red, white and blue neckerchief, a red, white and blue bow under his chin and a flag attached to his stroller.  He could have been in a parade. 

We were back home a little before eight, just in time for evening pills.  Then Corky curled up in his bed and went to sleep, snoring, of course.  When his mommy called at 10:30 I woke him up so he could go out to do his business.  Then he went back to sleep and is again snoring away.  It was an exhausting 4th of July!

The Clivia are Blooming 04-18-11

When I took Corky home to Long Beach last week the patio was awash in orange.  I love it with the bright orange against the palm fronds, grey stone pavers and the dark green strap-like leaves.  Gorgeous.  And very difficult deciding which images to post. 

Blogger seems to have fixed the problem with pictures not showing.  Thanks to Vivian Helene for mentioning it so I could go back to the fast posting method.  Whew!  The "work around" was laborious to the extreme.

Just Another Sunset 02-07-11

 
I took this picture at Corky's house in Long Beach on January 27th.  The only thing that is different about it is the 'arcs' that surround the sun.  I don't think I have ever seen this 'phenomenum' (if that is what it could be called) before.  I didn't see it with my naked eye, so maybe it is something caused by the digital camera.
Whatever the reason, I think it is wonderful. 

Autumn Color 11-12-10

Autumn color in Long Beach. This is a great time to put out bedding plants, especially if we have a little rain and not much dry wind. Nice contrast with the purple recycle can.

But we do have REAL autumn color - these leaves from the liquidamber tree (aka Sweet Gum) are the most common, but there are others. They all have a short color span - right now the fruitless pear trees are dropping leaves of about the same colors as the liquidamber.

My friend Ruth Powers and I have been looking for several years for fabric with leaves in autumn colors on a blue background. No luck!