T'was the Night Before the Night Before.... 12-23-23

We had to do some  errands today and, so it seems, did most of the people in Orange County. The traffic was heavy and the hotshots were in a tizzy - saw two near accidents when cars  ran obvious red lights and about  half a dozen sailing through yellows.  It was a  bit of a mad house.  But PetCo had a 25% off sale and KoKo's canister is almost empty. I'd used up my gas driving to Oceanside on Thursday. And I needed some cash. So, we braved the Road Wars.  KoKo was happy to go to PetCo and get some attention from dog lovers. There are always customers who are attracted to his good looks and friendly manner.  He is hard to resist.   Kisses all around and a treat at checkout.

Here I am in  my seasonal attire. Beth took this picture when we had lunch in Oceanside on Thursday.  

The boys gave KoKo a long, skinny elephant toy with squeaker and he abandoned Froggy for the rest of the day.  Time for bed? He curls up with Froggy!

The  neighbors on the next street have again left their giant skeleton up, switching his clothes from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas. 

Last year I slipped a hat on the cold bald head of the little guy and this year I found a glitzy necktie for his cold bare chest.   

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Friday Food - a few days late 02-28-21

Eating out!  What a thrill it was.  On Friday I drove down to Oceanside to pick up my "Palms" quilt at OMA and meet friends for lunch.  We went to Rosewood Kitchen located on Mission St just past Ditmar St.   We have eaten there previously and the food is always excellent.  They have a covered patio on the sidewalk, so there is traffic noise, but the food is worth it!  

One of us ordered the white pizza which she has eaten here before and it was, as usual, excellent. 

Another of us ordered the tuna cake, like a crab cake made with tuna instead.  She said it was also excellent.  Nice presentation. 

She also ordered the Brussels Sprouts. "Sauteed with Smoked Bacon, Balsamic Reduction, Pistachio Nuts".  And she let me take home her leftovers.  M-M-M-M, good. 

I had the salmon.  My usual choice when I eat out, but I had not had it here on past visits.  It was one of the specials so I can't quote from the menu, but it came on a bed of rice and black beans with veggies and a lovely silky sauce.  I did bring half of it home to eat (with the Brussels Sprouts) for dinner tonight.  It held up well.  I added half an avocado which was ready.  

I know that many of you long to go out to eat, so if you are in Oceanside I recommend Rosewood Kitchen. 

 

KoKo seems to be doing okay.  He has not thrown up again, but he has only eaten Tbls of the special canned food from the vet.  Only half of the can has been eaten.  I know he must be hungry as he goes to his placemat every time I walk into the kitchen, but the vet said not to give him anything else.  He is not drinking water regularly as he usually does.  I have given him the medications as the vet directed and I think they make him a little lethargic.  We have spent most of today in my chair, he sleeps and I have read a whole book.  The Goddess knows I have a million other things I should do, but KoKo deserves every minute I can give him and right now that means rest. I did do my one hour of daily sewing and my PTherapy exercises and we went for a walk this evening.  It has been terribly windy almost all day so we skipped the morning walk.  

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Time off 12-14-20

I didn't mean to take a week off and I am sorry I caused some of you to worry, but  I have been struggling with keeping on my feet and trying to get back to "normal".   Couldn't do PTherapy because I was running a temp.  Seems to have been the UTI that has been haunting me off and on for the last few months.  Just generally feeling rotten on top of my sciatica problems.  I did see the orthopedist again last Friday and he thinks I should have another epidural.  I doubt that will happen until after the first of the new year.  I am waiting for a call back from the injection doc.  If I continue to feel better each day I will probably pass on that.    KoKo and I continue to walk twice a day and sometimes, like today, we do the loop both times.  I do think it makes an improvement in my aches and pains, but sometimes I don't have the energy.  I continue to do the exercises at home.  

I have been driving locally, to the market, the drugstore, takeout food, Starbuck's, but last Thursday I drove to Oceanside to have lunch with my friend Beth.  Oceanside is about halfway between us, an hour from San Diego and an hour from Placentia.  We each take our own lunch, park next to each other in the OMA lot,  roll down our windows and have a lovely visit while we eat.  Not the same as sitting in a restaurant and hugging on arrival/departure, but better than not seeing each other at all.  The traffic was mostly light, but I was whipped when I got home.  KoKo had stayed with Cherie and Jim overnight and I picked him up on the way home.  Needless to say I needed a nap and he joined me, as usual.  

Two special cards in the mail today.  I have always been fascinated by the 3-D folding cards and this is a very nice Snowman.  Also a quilled bluebird (of happiness) which was accompanied by a nice long letter HANDWRITTEN!  Haven't had one of those in years.  I will respond, but it will have to be typed as I can not even read my own cursive anymore.  

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Oceanside, CA drive 07-23-20

Today I drove to Oceanside to deliver a quilt for the "Southern California Contemporary Quilts" exhibit at Oceanside Museum of Art that opens August 1st (through Oct 25).  They will hang the quilts and then post them on a video on their website.  If it can be arranged there will be a way to make a reservation to go to the museum with a limited number of visitors for a limited amount of time.  Something similar to what Visions is currently offering.  All the makers are in Southern California and the "theme" is our "view" of Southern California.  Mine is "Palms", to me the symbol of the area.  More on the exhibit later.  

I dropped KoKo for a visit with Nancy Ota in San Clemente, which is about an hour from my house and half an hour north of Oceanside.  Amazingly, it sprinkled on the way down and it was very overcast.  But by noon the sun was out and there were many people walking the huge Thursday farmer's market one block off of Mission. I turned in my quilt at OMA and found the crepe "booth" for a bacon/cheese/avocado/egg crepe which I ate sitting in my car, parked next to my friend Beth in her car, while we had a nice visit.  It did seem strange, but it worked rather well.  Then home again, stopping to pick up KoKo, and just in time for a ZOOM meeting with an art quilt group I belong to.  After which we required a nap!  

The Pacific Ocean on a grey overcast morning.

Don't know where the circle came from, it isn't part of the picture!

A military ship off of Camp Pendleton. 

The front of Oceanside Museum of Art with the current art piece displayed. 

And a close up!

We parked under the palm trees behind the museum to have our lunch. 

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Drive to San Diego 06-26-20

The 100 mile drive to San Diego from Placentia seems to get longer every time I do it!  Since the Virus came along the traffic has been light, but when I drove down yesterday it was moderate to heavy.  Of course, it was a Friday and I arrived home about 4pm, so some of the traffic was people commuting home, or away, for the weekend.   But I never know exactly how long it will take to drive down or back.  It has taken one hour and forty-five minutes and it has taken over three hours.  Depends on traffic, accidents, weather, the stage of the moon for all I know!   Yesterday we had the low clouds that we call June Glooms, so I never did get a glimpse of the ocean.  

Just below the town of San Clemente I-5 goes into San Diego County, passing San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant and into Camp Pendleton Marine Air Station which stretches to Oceanside.  

Looking out to the west one usually gets glimpses of the ocean and occasionally an Amtrak train will go by (the tracks switch from one side of the highway to the other, so it could be on either side of the roadway).  

There is quite a stretch of land between the highway and the ocean, although in some places it seems that there is just a drop off to the surf.  But that isn't ever the way it is. The ocean is out there, way beyond the higway guardrail.

But on a clear day, like this one on March 12, 2020, the sky is bright blue and the blue Pacific stretches to the horizon.   In this image there is a rare bank of clouds over the water. 

The San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant is no longer in operation, but the wires still stretch over the highway and the domes still reflect the light.  I haven't read anything for a long time about dismantling it. 

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Another KoKo post 06-15-20

Blogger seems to be getting worse and worse.  They keep telling me to try the NEW Blogger because it will be in operation by the end of June.  But I can't figure out how to post on the NEW Blogger, so am still on the old.  Tonight it won't let me post any pictures. Turned it off.  Turned off laptop.  Restarted everything.  No luck.  I will try again.  

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, June 16th from 7pm to 8pm (Pacific Daylight Saving Time), Oceanside Museum of Art is featuring a tour of Charlotte Bird's studio in San Diego.  Charlotte has been creating for a lot of years and does many different techniques, including dyeing, painting, stitching, quilting, etc..  There are several of her pieces in the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection as well as in collections all over the country.  Check it out. 

Oceansidemuseumofart.org

12:10am..   Finally am able to post pictures after going off and on twice.  I really need the Geek Squad. . 

KoKo and Froggy are still the best of buddies.  Froggy is very durable and with his regular surgeries he keeps going... and going... ad going! 

This is the OTHER side of KoKo.  He is upside down in my lap (you can see my foot in the top left corner of the image).  Only his back is black, the rest is all tan, now with a little grey. 

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Still isolating 05-24-20

I have completed 66 Little House blocks and set three aside to provide space for the palm trees.  I still think two more trees are needed.  Although they are displayed here in a horizonal arrangement the finished piece will be vertical. And there will probably be a minimal border.  I am moving the blocks around to get a better distribution of color. 

Little Striped Houses - in progress. 

With the bag of scraps open on the floor by the cutting table I couldn't help but notice all the green pieces and I was inspired to create a fused background for some future quilt. It is only 14" square and I am picturing a spreading tree fused to the background.   The method I use is to cut a backing piece of fabric and fuse on a layer of WonderUnder.  I peel off the paper and lay the strips on the fusible, pinning as necessary to keep them in place.  After a few rows I heat up the dry iron and fuse what I have done, then continue to add pieces and fusing sections until all the backing piece is covered.  There are some very skinny pieces to cover what might show of the backing fabric.   It is sort of like doing a jigsaw puzzle and since it is on my cutting table which I pass whenever I go to the bathroom I can't help but stop and add a piece or two.  It is very addicting for me.  

Yesterday I met a friend in Oceanside for lunch!!  It was a momentous occasion since neither of us has been out for lunch since the Virus appeared in February.  We went to the Rosewood on Mission just west of Ditmer.  They are not seating inside, but have an area fenced off in front with tables and chairs.  Our food came in takeout boxes, but was just a delicious as the last time we ate there - inside on actual plates.   I recommend this for a lunch in Oceanside.  

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Friday Food 03-13-20

My friend and I had such a nice lunch at Rosewood restaurant in Oceanside on Wednesday.  This is a place that just reading the menu makes you want to go back to try more of the tempting dishes.  We both had the Carbonara because it is both of our favorites.  And it was very good.  The noodles were a little more al dente than I prefer, but they were fat and thick and coated with sauce.

It was the first time I have been served Carbonara with a raw egg yolk that the diner mixes in. Very creamy and tasty. 

Before I broke the yolk I accepted several spoonsful of grated Parmesan cheese.

The servings were not large so we felt we could indulge in dessert.

I had the Almond Semifreddo which was filled with toasted almonds.

A decoration on the huge plate - caramel with chocolate sauce made into a star.  Nice touch. 

My lunch partner had the Expresso gelato.  Very tasty, but not as good as Talenti coffee with chocolate bits. 

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Beautiful drive to Oceanside 03-11-20

The drive to Oceanside today was a joy.  The traffic was light and there weren't very many of those drivers that have to get in front of everyone else - weaving between lanes and trying to intimidate other drivers by climbing their tailpipe.  It was an hour and 15 minutes each way, no stress.  Lunch was very good - more about that on Friday.  

The blue sky meets the very blue Pacific Ocean. 

That pile of clouds is over Catalina Island and to the right is the non-operating nuclear station at San Onofre. .  

Going north on I-5 near Camp Pendleton, headed for that pile of clouds over Orange County. 

And off to the east are clouds over the hills behind Camp Pendleton.  No rain today.  Temp about 70F.

Empty Spools has canceled Sessions II and III because Asilomar is closed for four weeks.  I read that the virus affected passengers from a cruise ship will be housed there.  Hope they can disinfect it sufficiently because I am planning to transfer my class to the Independent Study class the last week of April.  Can't go a year without Empty Spools.  

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Drive to Oceanside, CA today 07-02-19

On the inland side of I-5 near Camp Pendleton.

There it is again, the Pacific Ocean with some fog out in the distance.  

And between I-5 and the ocean are lots of wild plants looking much better than they have in years due to the copious rain we had this past year.  

It was an easy drive down to Oceanside to have lunch with a friend who drove up from San Diego.  But a long slog back in heavy traffic.  Oh, well.  The visit and the lunch were worth the drive and the traffic. 

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Friday Food 11-09-18

When I went into the restaurant yesterday I took my camera out of my purse and set it on the table so I would remember to take pictures.  And I forgot!!  Hard to believe since the camera was right there next to my plate.  Well, instead, I took pictures of their fabulous dessert/quiche display case. 

The case faces the door, so the reflection is impossible. 

Looks good for breakfast or brunch or morning coffee break. 

And really tempting desserts.  We shared the one with the whipped cream in the lower right hand corner.  It was perfection. 

I didn't consider the quiche, which look tasty, maybe next time. 

This is their welcome mat.  There are two other locations - Encinitas (CORRECTION - NOT Escondido.  Sorry!)   and Carlsbad.

https://sttbistro.com/

There is limited parking in the back.  Take the driveway off Pacific Coast Highway just to the south side of the building and turn left on the alley.  When you walk through the hedge you will have this charming view, which may belong to the business next door, but it gives access to St. Tropez. 

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California Fibers exhibit in Oceanside 06-28-16

Saturday evening I went to the opening of the California Fibers exhibit at Oceanside Museum of Art.  There are some beautiful pieces on the walls, but there was also a mob of people, so I only have these five examples. 

 

The paper clips are what hold the ends of the cord to the overhead "base".

 

I expected they would tinkle like wind chimes, but the figures are soft - no tinkling.

 

Some of the walls were painted black which gives this piece a sort of glow.

Kathy's work is so different - unique.

 

I messed up the signs on these next two so have typed in the text.

Ashley V. Blalock "Keeping Up Appearances" 2016

Cotton Yarn   [Crocheted]

This is hung in a corner and goes from floor to ceiling.

 Linda Anderson  "Waiting" 2015

100% cotton, hand painted, Jacquard textile paints, bamboo batt, Machine stitched.

 

 

These are three artists' husbands waiting during an opening.  I met the fellow on the left, nice guy with a good sense of humor.

 

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