Flowers, KoKo, Lunch, Doctor! 04-22-21

Quite a busy day for me.  Started out with our walk in the almost drizzly morning.  It was only mid 50s at 9am, but it didn't actually rain.  Then off to see my primary doctor, taking a list of multiple "problems" and "questions" and the BP recordings for the last two months.  I haven't managed every day, but usually remember to do it twice a day.  Doc says they look normal, but also that I need to continue taking the meds (Plavix, Lasix, Amlodipine) for the rest of my life!  I may have to consult a heart doctor one of these days.  She adjusted some of my other meds, told me to take more Vit D and gave me a printed sheet with instructions for "sleep hygiene".  I'll have to read it.  

As is my habit, I did not eat or drink before going to see her, in case blood tests were needed. So, as I frequently do, I ate out.  Haven't done that for a year except for Starbuck's.  This time I went to one of my old favorites, Kimmee's in Orange.  The city has the street blocked to provide outdoor dining for all the restaurants in the block, but it was too chilly to sit out and I enjoyed my old favorite table in the front window which is a tight squeeze for two, but just right for one chubby person.  

These are the condiments on the table with the new addition of a dispenser of hand sanitizer.  Since I haven't been eating out I had not seen that before.  A sign of the times. 

I stopped at the PO and Credit Union so I was gone for almost three hours and KoKo was beside himself.  I suspect he mostly just sleeps when I am gone, except for protecting the house from the mailman, who he actually likes if I let him out on the porch.  But KoKo wants me to sit down and throw Froggy for him.  Here he is upside down in my lap.  Shows his under bite very well. 

Lots of iris still blooming.  This bright yellow one is new.  Very pretty.  My mother would have liked it, she was fond of iris and grew many different colors. 

This was her favorite color, sort of a peach and rust.  This was made from a Ruth B. McDowell pattern in her book "Pieced Flowers".  I machine pieced and quilted it in 2005 in honor of my mother's 100 birthday.  She died in 1972.  

I didn't take pictures of my brunch because it was a big quesadilla and it just looked like a big tortilla on a plate.  Not photogenic at all.  I brought home half of it and had it for dinner with a salad tonight.  Tasty if not exciting!

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Home Economics 04-22-21

 Interesting information of how "Home Economics" came to be.  I think the schools should bring it back and make it a requirement for graduation.  Too many dumb kids around these days!

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/26/did-home-economics-empower-women?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_042221&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5d854683cff06b632443837a&cndid=58699276&hasha=903d31e50d7e79ea6fcb3a49b7bcd9f2&hashb=e26d925f89171d7c5701fdd5cb04974ce7c91a95&hashc=8720934caf62d5b55655bdd22597436b1cf55c5da21a638f0fcfc94d6ec90568&esrc=Auto_Subs&utm_term=TNY_Daily

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Wordless Wednesday 04-21-21

 

Amazing Nature     (From Facebook)

Family!

Just a beautiful placing of stones artistically.

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A bit Scatterbrained! 04-20-21

I don't know if is the pandemic or old age or just losing it in general, but I can't seem to concentrate on anything long enough to finish it.  Of course, KoKo demands attention throughout the day which is one of the effects of being in isolation for so long.  He is accustomed to having me ready for his needs at all times.  I currently have four ongoing projects that I fiddle around with off and on.  And there are those three completed tops that have not be sandwiched or quilted,   And yet I am digging around in my scraps looking for pieces for another idea I have in my head.  I know I am not the only one with this problem, I read what others write on Facebook and Elder Orphans and other groups.  I have always been a last minute finisher, but also decisive about what I am doing or going to do.  I've lost that.  And finally, I am just tired all the time.  I see my primary on Thursday, maybe she will have some answers.

I cannot have KoKo on my lap when I am computing or sewing, but sometimes he insists.  I was working on my calendar with the appointment book open on the keyboard when he decided it was a good place of a nap.  He did actually go to sleep and was indignant when I put him in his bed and insisted he stay there.  

 

On Monday I watched a ZOOM presentation from Okan Arts, a shop in Seattle that specializes in Japanese Yukata fabric.  The interviewee was Kaffe Fassett and it was a really upbeat interview.  I never know what to do with his fabric, but admire it excessively and have some in my fabric library.  The interview was recorded and I think most everyone will enjoy spending an hour with Kaffe at his home in England.  The colors!  The patterns!   The information about his design "ethic".  I came away with such a happy feeling.  Above is one of his quilts which typifies his color explorations.  

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/bJxfG9KqrstvFLRjDJyl-naxS4e6rhXRxvDoRgOXLh2MFO8r-AxjKKh7NxIx_HA3mSjWVi-ck1K7bnaS.AhcbZfLQWDJpAWwL?continueMode=true

Although I shopped at Trader Joe's today to restock my shelves/frig, which were almost bare, I could not say no to my kind neighbors in the cut de sac who frequently share their dinner with me.  Tonight is was turkey with veggies, white rice (I always have to add butter!), and a decoration of sliced cucumbers.  Not too spicy and delicious.  I don't think this is Indian food, but their version of plain old American "what's for dinner" food.  The chicken stir fry from TJ's will be good for tomorrow night.  

And tomorrow our Book Group meets for the first time in over a year.  I have been in this group since the late 70s and although we have ZOOMed I have missed seeing them all "in the flesh".  We will only be seven as one member has been having health problems.  We ALL can understand that.  Only one of us has had Covid, but we are all vaccinated now.  We will still socially distance anyway.  

 

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Dessert Lover 04-19-21

As I have shown previously in this blog, I love dessert!  Yes, I would, and sometimes do, have dessert with every meal.  Usually it is cookies, ice cream, occasionally fruit, but going out for a meal offers so many fancy desserts and I have missed them during the pandemic.  There are a couple bakeries around and Ralph's grocery has a nice bakery with a large refrigerated case.  Sometimes I indulge my sweet tooth and buy something decadent, such as this tiramisu square.  Oh, my goodness, is it ever delicious and I have managed to stretch it over three days.  Twice recently I have gone out for lunch with friend Carol with dessert included.  But I will have to cut that out lest I gain pounds - very quickly.  

 

 

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Mystery in the park 04-17-21

There aren't very many organized events in the park behind our house.  Used to be the Scouts, girl or boy, would do adventures, but not this past year.  And some years ago there was a summer "camp" where the kids would put up tents, play games, and have lunch, only to take everything down in the late afternoon. This is the second time this group has set up back there and I haven't figured out what they are doing.  My guess would be "war games", but surely not with such young children.  There are no weapons in sight.  I see some plastic tubs beside some of the structures, which appear to be filled with air.  There doesn't appear to be any organized activity, just kids running around and arraying themselves near the structures.  About 3pm they had packed up their equipment and left.  Any ideas?

I cannot make out what the lettering says. 

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Looking back 04-16-21

Every now and then I try to think of a way to sort through my thousands of pictures.  As you have read here previously when Picasa sold out to Google all my titles and captions were erased.  I have never been able to get things sorted out.  I need a computer picture guru to hold my hand.  Know anyone like that?  I added Photoshop Elements, but haven't spent the time to figure it all out.  I think I am just getting too old and my brain is not as flexible as it once was.  Anyway, I came across a picture of this piece I did in 2018, but I hardly remember it. And I don't know who owns it now.  

"Camellias"  Del Thomas  2018   Maybe 36" square.

This was a contribution to the Surfside Quilters Guild Monthly Mini where items are donated and tickets sold at the meeting for a drawing at the end of the meeting. I rather liked this one, but it didn't draw as many buyers as I expected.  The background is pieced and the flowers raw edge machine applique.  Machine quilted. 

 

What do you do when at the very last minute you realize you have messed up the label?  Just grin and make a correction!  No time to rip it off and make a new label.  

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