More Brain Strain? 11-06-09

Even these simple collages made with Picasa 3 are fun to do, but already I find that there are not enough variables available and since I cannot flip I cannot play with symmetry. I suppose I must learn Photoshop, or at least Photoshop Elements, so that I can play to my hearts content. Mary loaned me her books, etc., on Elements, so I will start there. But not this month!

I see there is a sort of four-pointed star in the blue center of this one.

All quiet on a Thursday night 11-05-09

This really has nothing to do with anything - I just think it is such a fascinating image. Who ever thinks about what the Aurora Borealis in a side on view taken from space?

Autumn/Halloween 11-04-09

The week before Halloween was much cooler than it has been in many months, which was exacerbated by strong winds. I was in Long Beach with Corky several times and walking was a challenge. The walkway along the boat slips is more protected, so that is where we walked, but between the houses where there is access to the green belt are little wind tunnels. This is just one of the places we forced our way through. Fortunately there was no permanent damage.

The cold nights brought out more colors in the foliage - these leaves are from sweet gums, one of the few trees that provide fall color. They are on a background of commercial fabric.

Residents of Corky's neighborhood go all out for Halloween - inflatable spiders, ghosts of all shapes and sizes, huge inflatable pumpkins, banners, flags and strings of orange lights. The only picture I took this year was this guy across the street. Corky stopped and looked very hard, then turned his head and trotted on down the sidewalk. We were in Long Beach for Trick or Treat, as we seem to be many years, but there were very few knocks on the door. The Poodle Papa is an orthodontist and the treats are toothbrushes. Some kids derisively ask, "Toothbrushes?" and others excitedly say, "Wow, look - a new toothbrush!" Two views.

Corky wore his new Halloween scarf and the same old batwings. He doesn't mind them one bit and will wear them as long as I leave them on. He no longer gets upset at the knocking and doorbell ringing. I think that once the batwings go on the visitors are just what he expects.

Autumn Color in LBeach 11-03-09

This is a Long Beach version of "autumn color". These are all bedding marigolds backed by purple salvia and yellow day lilies - see that towering giant lily blossom near the mailbox and trash can, too bad the breeder didn't rescue that one so that some day we would have six foot high day lilies. It is actually growing next to the tree but it is twice as tall as any other day lily plant. This is a round-about in one of the cul de sacs, all of them are anchored with palm trees making it look very tropical. But you will notice the white haze at the top of the image - fog. Fog that rolled in yesterday and never quite left - this was about four pm. Fall is truly coming - soon, we hope.

I was taking Corky for his walk this afternoon when I took this picture. His dad had to have an outpatient procedure done, so I went down to stay with the little guy for a few hours. But those hours multiplied into seven hours and I ended up bringing Corky home with me to spend the night. He has a grooming appointment at 8:30am, down there, of course. But both his parents were very tired and dad is quite uncomfortable. Seemed to me they would do better if they didn't have to take care of Corky for this night anyway. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Some odds and ends11-02-09

Quilt artist and friend Kristin La Flamme is doing a fund raising walk in Hawaii to raise money to combat Type 1 Diabetes. If you would like to financially support her effort go to:
http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=extranet.personalpage&confirmid=87579325&sr=facebook My return key is not working - AGAIN! Sorry. If you are interested in more pictures from PIQF check out these blogs:
http://faithquilter.blogspot.com/2009/10/pacific-international-quilt-festival.html Suzanne Kistler

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sewmamagroup/discuss/72157622598417248/

09-14-09 Drive home from San Juan Bautista. 11-02-09

Since October 15th I have been posting pictures from PIQF '09. Now it is time to continue with my life - such as it is.

When I visit Mary and Joe in San Juan Bautista I always try to coax Bud "the sweet cat" into my bed - after more than 30 years I still miss having a furry little sleeping pal. Bud will have no part of it - he doesn't even really like to be petted. Corky is not cuddly and will only stay on my bed for an hour or so - and NEVER on his parent's bed. In this picture Bud has usurped the large round bed of Sassy, the Sussex Spaniel who sleeps in his crate in the master bedroom.

So, I sleep alone in a single bed in "the little girl's room", right next to the window where I can open my eyes and see the dawn reflections. Or the brilliant stars at night. I sleep in this room because it has no carpet and the lovely guest room does. My allergies can really get me down at times, so best avoid those that I can avoid. This picture proves that I have seen the dawn twice in one month - extraordinary!

Along the east side of Hwy 152 there is pasture for these Belted Galloway cattle, commonly referred to as "Belties". The breed originated in Scotland and has been in this country for at least several hundred years. I have only seen them the last few years - the first time I thought they were bandaged around their middle. Belly button surgery??

Curving up to the Pacheco Pass there is a large swath of burned trees, grass and fence posts from a fire that burned here at the end of August. These are live oaks which should be all green, but now they show the fire damage very clearly. The grassy hills are starting to green from the rain that fell on the previous Tuesday.

Over the pass and headed down to the Central Valley there was still water on the road from earlier showers. The wet pavement shines between the yellow line and the grass, but this was all I saw of rain that day. Notice again how the grass is thicker right along the edge of the pavement - it is the rain runoff that is soaked up running off the road, while the area further away does not receive much of anything until the serious rains begin.

I made my usual stop in Santa Nella for a latte at Starbuck's then swung onto I-5 for the four to five hours to Placentia. Not much traffic and I managed to get through Pasadena before the commute traffic slowed everyone to a crawl. That was two weeks ago today.

TCQG Gloria Hansen's "Pink Flowers II" 11-01-09

"Pink Flowers II" Gloria Hansen 2005 16"W x 17"L

Hand painted cotton fabrics, printed image, machine pieced, fused,machine quilted.

Gloria donated this quilt to the Fiberarts For A Cause Invitational Reverse Auction - 2006 and I was the lucky bidder. I don't know how she achieved such a bright, clear photo image on fabric, it is about the best I have seen. Maybe I need to read her book:

"Digital Essentials, the Quilt Makers Must Have Guide to Files, Images, and More"

Gloria's quilting continues the foliage into the wide border, lending even more depth to her printed image.

Here is the very nice label on the back - I like the care instructions and I might start adding that to my labels. Can't hurt - might help someone in the future.
See Gloria's work and books at http://www.gloriahansen.com/