Wordless Wednesday 06-19-13

 

Satisfying Dinner 06-18-13

I am such a sushi fan that I always look for sushi restaurants when I travel, but I long for the favorites close to home.  Saturday night after the Visions Art Museum reception Beth and I went to dinner at Ikiru, which is just a bit more than block away from the Museum.  We have eaten there many times in the past.


It is interesting to sit at the bar and watch the sushi chefs at their work.  Every table was occupied and there were several groups of ten or more, so these two guys were working very hard to keep up. 
 

 
The fish is always kept cold and taken out quickly, the door closed, the sushi sliced and the remainder popped back in the refrigerated case.  It must be as fresh as they can possibly keep it. 
 

I ordered the Combo #1 which comes with a little tray of  palate fresheners - pickled seaweed, wasabi and pickled ginger.  The sea weed on the left of the bottom tray isn't served everywhere and Ikiru's offering is extra good.   From the left the larger tray has "Crunchy Shrimp", "Ahi Ahi" w/spicy tuna center, "Pink" w/salmon outside, and "Tuna Blossom".  DELICIOUS.
 

The rolls are cut into "bite sized" pieces, but they are usually a little too big for my bite.  However, I manage to eat them.
 

Beth ordered this artfully arranged combo which was equally as delicious as my combo.  We always share bites so we will know what to order next time.
 

This artful bite is wrapped in a thin layer of edible "rice paper".  Beth noticed that it looks like a charming little city with tall buildings backed by palm trees.  But she still ate it.
 

On the menu that evening was uni (sea urchin).  It is an awesome presentation with the spines still moving.  The inside is what is eaten - it is the bright yellow pile in the top left hand corner.  I used to love uni - until I had some that was not so fresh.  I never want to be that sick again.  So, as much as I have fond memories I no longer eat it. 
 

 
One of the groups of ten, mostly guys, ordered several different items, including this tray with sea urchin included - it is the bright gold pile in the front right.  I just walked over to their table and asked if I could take a picture.  They said I would have to pay, but I just laughed and took my picture.  They were having a great time with saki shooters (at least, I think that is what they were drinking). 
 

"The party's over."  I just couldn't manage that last little bite.  As it was, I didn't think I could even walk to my car.  Stuffed - happily.

Monday Browsing 06-17-13

This is for quilt artists and quilt artist wannabes.   Thoughtful info for promoting your work online:
http://emptyeasel.com/2013/06/12/the-trouble-with-artwork-titles-3-common-mistakes-that-many-artists-make/

This is for people who love dogs – especially Golden Retrievers.   And outrageous poodles.  http://amisimms.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/dog-bowl-2013/

And here is one for people who love crazy cats:
https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=110445319161968

You might be interested in whatthe members of Postmark’d Art have been up to.  Studio tours, techniques, wonderful fiber art postcards:    http://postmarkdart.com/

Summer ice cream flavors.  I tried B&J Pina Colada and wasn’t impressed, but you might be!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/14/the-best-summer-ice-cream_n_3417468.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D329265#slide=2562807



A portal in San Diego.

The First Quilt -6-16-13

I don't have a quilt to post tonight.  Here is the URL for the first quilt I purchased - way back when!  It looks very traditional, but it was the beginning of the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.

http://www.delquilts.blogspot.com/2009/04/quilt-that-started-it-all-04-06-09.html

VAM - Fashion Exhibit Reception 06-15-13

I drove to San Diego this morning and am staying overnight at Homewood Suites.  It took me almost three hours to make the two hour drive - the traffic was horrendous, both south and north , on I-5.  May have been a combination of factors - Father's Day, graduations, weddings, County Fair at Del Mar.  I'll never know the reason, but I did not see any accidents or construction.  One of the mysteries of SCalifornia traffic.
  
 This evening three new exhibits opened at Visions Art Museum in San Diego.  In the main gallery is "Second Time Around : Fashion Recycled" showing new garments made from discarded garments.  In the small gallery is " Supporting Roles: Fiber & Photography" an exhibit of works combining quilt art and photographic art.  And in the foyer gallery there are 28 12"x12" quilts by members "Tops & Bottoms".  All are worth a visit to the Museum - check the website for more information: www.visionsartmuseum.org       



Before I even drove out of my neighborhood I spotted this unicyclist pedaling along on the sidewalk past the golf course.  Isn't he amazing?  That huge pack on his back must make balancing even more challenging.
 

I saw this lady at the bakery/restaurant catty-corner from the museum.  She has made her shoes into "wedgies" by merely breaking down the heels.  But what really caught my eye is the decoration she chose to wear on her shorts.
 

As I said yesterday my aversion to glitter in the daytime has grown less with the years.  But this is just beyond my comprehension.  Why?

The fashions in the exhibit are generally amazing.  How do the designers think of these things?   Osbaldo has shown work in previous fashion exhibits and I think he does just awesome fashions. 

 

This is the professional photograph with the garment worn by a professional model.
 

And here is Osbaldo with his creation on a manikin in the exhibit.  From this angle it looks like a big white fish with arms and legs!   Notice that Osbaldo is wearing a sweater made from "leftover" socks!   

Friday Feet 06-14-13

I may have gotten over my aversion to "sparkly things" in the daytime.  Something I inherited from my mother who thought it was cheap and ugly - she didn't like gypsies and they frequently wore sparkly things just any old time.  When I was in high school I wanted to wear rhinestone earrings (clip on, of course) and she threw them away. 


This lady at Starbuck's looked great and I like her sparkly shoes.
 

Unfortunately, I can no longer wear heels or flats.  Too bad.

Kangaroo Paws 06-13-13

I have posted before how much I like the Kangaroo Paw flowers.  I've seen them in yellow, red, pink, and white, but gold is the most common color.  Since they were introducted in SCalifornia at least a decade ago they have become a very popular landscape plant not only in private yards, but shopping strips, resorts, street plantings - I see them everywhere now.  On Tuesday I stopped for lunch at Kappa Kappa Hana on La Paz, just off the I-5 - I think that is Mission Viejo.  And what is blooming like mad in the parking lot? 


Gold Kangaroo Paws!  I took this shot showing my car to demonstrate how tall these plants are.  Over six feet, I believe, the largest I have seen. 
 

I took this image before I got out of the car - a solid wall of golden "paws".
 

Look at the gorgeous red stems - what a wonderful contrast to the bright yellow.  There are several open flowers in this picture.
 

I put a brown bag behind this branch hoping that the flower shapes would stand out a little more.  At the bottom is a unopened bud and at the top a couple that are just opening - this is when they look most like the paws of a kangaroo.  And in the middle is one open flower - green with bright yellow spikes sticking straight up. 

Previous posts on this subject:

http://www.delquilts.blogspot.com/2012/10/more-kangaroo-flower-10-27-12.html

http://www.delquilts.blogspot.com/2011/11/monday-browsing-11-07-11.html

http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2010/05/kangaroo-paw-05-07-10.html