Out in the World - Part 2 07-27-22

 I have never been much of a shopper, usually just find what I am looking for, buy it, and leave.  Even before the pandemic a trip to the mall was rare.  Of course, in my much younger days I shopped with the best of them, haunting South Coast Plaza whenever I could.  Anyway, my exposure to current retail trends is almost not existent.  Groceries, pharmacy, See's, and the Farmer's Market are about it for me.  So, going with Carol to the Brea Mall was an EXPERIENCE.  She went on to the shop she needed, leaving me in front of See's (not the one I usually visit).  When I was done there I walked along and two doors down was a shop that sells socks - ONLY socks.  I remember decades ago when I discovered shops that sold only sunglasses and I was amazed then.  But SOCKS?  Quite a small space, but they must have thousands of socks, but no plain ones. 

Pick a subject, they have a sock for it.  

Some are pretty sassy.

But I suppose children these days are exposed to just everything.  In my sheltered old age I think sass has gotten completely out of hand. 

What, I wondered, are shoe charms?  There were several tables covered with plastic bins full of little cartoon characters and different motifs.  They fit in the holes of Crocs shoes,

On the back of each charm is a raised black button to fit the holes. 

Here is a shoe showing how to use the charms.  

I suppose I may be the last person in the world to know this, but I find it fascinating to discover such a finely tuned shop selling one product. 

They do actually sell something else - strange puffy slippers that look like athletic shoes. 

And notice the display cubes made of interlocking floor tiles.  Interesting adaptation. 

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Surfside Quilters Guild 01-11-22

Second Tuesday of the month, time for Surfside Quilters Guild meeting.  

 Our new meeting place is St. Matthews by the Sea United Methodist Church in San Clemente.  Not far from the Presbyterian church we met at for our first ten years.  This is the view of the Pacific Ocean from the parking lot.  WOW! 

Turning a little to the left we have a view through the cyclone fence of the I-5 wending its way south.  Ocean is off to right. 

 So many of us are old and afraid of Covid there were not very many in attendance.  Before Covid we would have at least 100 at most meetings.  Today I don't think there were more than fifty.  I was very hesitant to go, but since I am the photographer I really need to be there.  Wore double masks and thought good thoughts. 

Our Philanthropic Committee is very active and does a quilt parade of quilts that have been made and donate by members.  These quilts are distributed to many different agencies. One big effort is for the new babies at the military hospital's big Baby Shower event where every new baby receives a quilt.  I don't know where this one might go, but isn't it cute? 

And here is a huge quilt made by Karen Wendel using 2-1/2" scrap squares.  

Nice slippers!  When I arrived at the parking lot I got out of the car and looked down to see that I had failed to change from slippers to shoes!!  They have hard soles and just feel like shoes.  Poor old lady slip(pered) up!  I don't know that anyone even noticed, or maybe they just considered the source.

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Another tree 02-19-21

Here is a tree at another Starbuck's.  Do they have a tree policy to plant exotic specimens?  I'll do some research on that.  This is at my local drive thru and has not only yellow flowers in the summer, but attracts yellow butterflies.  I think it is a type of locust.  Fabulous seed pods, eh? 

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A funny about those nice warm new slippers I showed the other day.  This morning when I rushed out the door to PTherapy I forgot to change into my outdoor shoes.  Didn't notice it until I exited my car!  My therapist noticed, but didn't realize they are slippers until I told her.  She says she has noticed that there are few colored shoes in their facility, except for athletic shoes.  Everyone seems to wear black shoes these days.  Including me. 

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Friday Feet 03-25-16

My friend bought these plain white shoes on sale and proceeded to decorate them with fabric markers.  Then she sprayed them with alcohol to create the bleeding effect.

She didn't even try to make them a matching pair.

It would be fun to have a decorate your shoes party!

 

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