And it is still raining!! 03-21-23

Yep, we are having one of the wettest winter/spring in a very long time.  This morning  when it was time to drive down to Dana Point for the meeting I just couldn't face it and called to let them know I wasn't coming.   I hate  to miss a  Board Meeting because I am so nosy and want to know what is going on.   I think it was a wise decision to stay home and make some progress on getting ready to leave on Thursday.  Not that I accomplished a lot, but some anyway.  It rained off and on all day.  A clearing spot about 10am so we did our walk and again around 7pm for the evening walk.  Had a few drops, but the wind was cold and pushed us along to get home and get warm.  

Water collects in this area adjacent to the front porch  even though we put in special drainage when we first moved in over 30 years ago.   This is at 10am.

 

When we went out to walk about 7pm it was almost lapping onto the porch, which is only a couple inches high.  The soil is so saturated it can't absorb very quickly.  

This is KoKo's favorite position, I think.  I had done some surgery on Froggy and KoKo was protecting him from me.  He always licks Froggy extensively after I have been sewing on him.  Right now Froggy is in the washer so he will be all bright and clean to go to the KoKo keeper.  And KoKo will have a bath in the morning so he won't be a stinky dog.  

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Still Procrastinating!! 03-20-23

 

We walked in the rain again this morning.  But the weekend was quite nice.  The chalk painting the kids in the cul de sac did yesterday turned into a watercolor.  KoKo pays no attention.  

I did make some progress today, but seem to jump from one job to another and nothing is completed.  Had one very short conversation with a neighbor while walking, but it was just KoKo and me the rest of the time.  Still have bills to take care of tonight and put out my clothes to go to Surfside QGuild Board Meeting tomorrow.  I just remembered I will need to get gas, better get up half an hour earlier.  Don't seem to plan ahead well for anything these days.  I'll keep trying.

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Procrastinating - as usual 03-18-23

I have yet to find a new gardener (mow and blow guy) so my yard is once again deep in weeds.  My good neighbor,Mark to the South, weed whacked front and back , but since we have had more rain and more lovely sunshine the weeds have taken advantage.  It will have to stay like this until after I return from Empty Spools. 

Looking north.

Looking south. 

 

I have made several lists and add to them each day, but I don't seem to make any progress to get packed.  I did the laundry this morning, picked up my glasses with the new lens (WOW, what a different that makes), went to Petsmart for KoKo supplies - even a new leash and collar.  Nothing like sending him to stay with someone else to notice how worn his accessories are.  Of course, he needed to stock up on treats also. 

Don't know if I will be blogging this coming week, I'll try, but not much to say except about getting ready to go. Rain is predicted for Thursday, my traveling day.  Groan, not fun on I-5 north.  Or south either!  

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Wordless Wednesday 03-15-23

 

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Does it always rain on the 2nd Tuesday? 03-14-23

Yes, all  of California has received exceptional rain, but I do resent the fact that it rains on the Tuesday that I drive to San Clemente for the Surfside Quilters Guild meeting!   Today it was fine going down I-5, slightly less than an hour's drive.  But coming home it was light rain, heavy rain, light traffic, heavy traffic and took about 80 minutes.  Rain has continued through the afternoon and evening, we even walked in it.  Changed my clothes and dried KoKo off with the little bathroom heater.  Guess he didn't enjoy the rain as he did his business rather quickly.  

The meeting was good, but some stayed home with the threat of rain.  Our speaker was Karen Brow-Meier who has the pattern company "Java House Quilts" javahousequilts.com  

She has an interesting presentation about how to make your quilts "sing" and a rather different look at choosing fabric colors.  She presents a nice program.   All of her quilts include animals but also have pieced sections.  If you get a chance do see her presentation.  

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Iris blooming - it must be SPRING 03-13-23

Oh, dear!  I am in panic mode because ten days from now I go to Empty Spools Seminar in Pacific Grove, CA.  and I have done very little to get ready.  Unfortunately I have a heavy schedule between now and then with four different meetings and multiple tasks to do before I go.  It isn't like I haven't known about this since last May!  I am just a champion procrastinator.  I do have a KoKo  Keeper lined up, but also need to pack for him.  Froggy needs to go with him and needs the foot surgery, so  that  will take time.  I have an old washcloth with a very short nap and will make four "mittens" to slip over Froggy's feet and hand stitch down.  Now when am I going to get that done.  Woe is me!   

Some neighbors have iris blooming and there are daffodils here and there.  But most of us are growing lots of bright green weeds!  I haven't located a gardner yet.  Guess I should also do that before I go.  I will be gone for seven days.  

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Carol Taylor Quilt from Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 03-12-23

This is a "reprint" from a blog post done on October 26, 2008.   I cannot find a current website for Carol and  her old site has been taken over by somebody else.  I came across a post done by a lady who a year ago went to an estate sale of Carol's fabric and quilts and read that Carol had a stroke which caused her to move to Florida and clean out her studio.   I wish I had known about the sale and might have added one of her prize winning quilts to the Collection.  I will try to find a way of contacting her, there is always the possibility!

                       "Ripples on the Pond" Carol Taylor 2000 35.5"W x 18.5"L

I know, it doesn't look like what Carol is doing now, but eight years ago she was experimenting with dyeing and discharging and used the fabrics to make a few quilts. I saw "Ripples in the Pond" in a special exhibit at PIQF and contacted Carol to see if it was for sale. I think she was a little startled to have an e-mail from an unknown lady in California, but she was happy to sell the quilt to me. I like the way the ripples, flames and crossing lines go in all different directions between the calm flat hand-dyed pieces. They give the quilt dynamic action. I like a lot of the quilts Carol has made in the last eight years and took a class with her at Asilomar to see how she goes about her quilt making. I hope some day soon I will be "in the money" again and be able to add another Carol Taylor quilt to the TCQC.

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