Graduation Time 06-17-23

The "little" boys I drive to school a couple days a week aren't little any longer!  

Immanuel in the center is 14 and graduated from Middle School on Thursday.  As you see he towers over me now (I have shrunk to 5  feet 2 and a half inches).  Julian on the right is 9 years old and will continue at Golden Elementary School in the fall.  

Here is the John (no s) family at their new front door on graduation day.  Elvis, Immanuel,  Julian, and Mariam.  Mariam is an RN and goes to school to earn a higher degree, so I don't know her at all.  I just deal with the boys and their dad.  They live in the cul-de-sac across the street from me.  :Polite boys, but very quiet.

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Wordless Wednesday 06-14-23

 

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Quilt from Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 06-11-23

 

When David Taylor spoke to the Surfside Quilters Guild in March 2013 I could not resist adding this lovely quilt to the Collection.  David's work is impeccable and this is a perfect example of his work.  

"Hidden Treasures"  David Taylor - CO   32"W X 23.25"L

Hand appliqued, Machine quilted.  Commercial and hand-dyed cottons.

A detail  shot of the intense machine quilting.

David changes the bobbin thread to match the top thread creating  a sort of  "ghost" image on t he back of the quilt.  

And the label giving a contact for artist.  

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Another easy day 06-09-23

Sunshine all day and 70F.  Maybe the morning drizzle is over.  But the weeds are still running amuck and I haven't had any luck with a new gardener.  They just don't show up!   The redbud trees are all  leafed out and some leaves  are almost black. I cannot take a photo that shows how dark they are, but here are a few that I tried to edit. The newer leaves come in red which shine in the sun.  KoKo checking out the possibility of lizards. 

The older leaves are the size of my outstretched hand. 

Soon the small pink  blossoms will appear, but the large leaves rather cover their  glory.  Still a lovely tree, to bad I didn't take a picture of one.  

Not a happy dog because Froggy has been crunched again!  

Sciatica  pain is much less and we did two full walks today.  The nurse did a good job and there is only a small bruise from the puncture in my arm just above the wrist, high enough for my sleeve to cover it.  Not that I am going anywhere!

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Had the epidural today 06-08-23

And KoKo stayed home with Froggy.  He is very good when I leave him alone.  He barks at people who walk by (not very many) and especially at dogs.  But mostly I think he sleeps, with Froggy of course.  This morning we walked before 7am before I had to leave at 7:30am. 

My friend Dick drove me down to Irvine to the Hoag Surgical Center for Dr. Le to do his magic (I hope) again.  The last epidural was in October and the pain did not get bad again until May.  I hope this one lasts as well.  Who knows why some do better than others.  It is always an ordeal to sign in with dozens of papers explaining whatever horrible things might happen, both medically and financially.  I was surprised that nobody was wearing masks, so I didn't either.  Check in time was 8:15am, procedure scheduled for 9am, but happened about 9:45am.  All that laying on a gurney with no book, no phone, no idea when the procedure will start.  It is a drag.  They didn't put me out, just some relaxing drugs and, for the first time, oxygen.  Don't know why.  My age?  Then it was over in about 15 minutes and they hustled me out of there.  When I was home again I ate a small turkey sandwich and took my morning pills and drank an entire bottle of water.   Reclined with KoKo in my lap and slept for four and a half hours.  We did a short walk this evening so KoKo could do his business. 

No luck finding my calendar book.  I think it is gone forever.  I have a wall calendar from AARP and am filling in those little squares as I call to see what appointments I have scheduled.   And Book Groups (2) and Surfside QGuild.  I know there are some ZOOM meetings, but don't know how to figure out when they are.  A friend has almost convinced me that I need to do a calendar on my phone.  She says  that if I lose my phone I can still find my calendar in backup.  Thinking about it. 

Probably more than you wanted to know, but sometimes I just need to "talk" to someone about things in my life.  Love.

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Wordless Wednesday 06-07-23

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Sewing Again 06-06-23

It has been so long since I threaded my machine, the one I have used since about  1977, that I had to try a couple times to thread it correctly!  Gotta get  back in  business here.  

I made this little quilt for a Beach Cities QGuild challenge in 1998, but as much as I love the color, it is too chaotic.  I outlined the USA in red perle cotton, but it hardly shows.  Anyway, it is not a successful quilt.  I named it "Guard Thee" after the text in one of the fabrics. 

Several years ago I took a workshop with Elizabeth Busch which covered what to do with such a piece.  So the other day I cut two mug rugs from the middle of the quilt!!   And today I did the zigzag binding a la Sue Benner.

One has the "Guard Thee" text and a lovely lion's eye. 

The other is sort of fishy with a blue un-named critter in the middle.  

I will leave them on the porch table of Wendy, a neighbor who is undergoing chemo and doesn't get out much - just to the chemo treatments.  Her young adult daughter is living with her now.  I don't really know either of them, but a little surprise on her porch will hopefully bring a some cheer to her day.  I've left flowers, cookies, a plant, and a wonderful almond croissant from the French bakery.  But this is the first time she might know who is leaving her gifts.  Such a nice lady if not very talkative.  

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