Growing Food

With the craziness that has been 2011, it's literally been months since I've been out to the walnuts to look around. The men have been out there every weekend, taking advantage of daylight and good weather. Today I finally got over there and brought my camera. wow. Things are really looking good.

#1 Son put in his garden first. Unfortunately his paying job keeps him away from his plants. Weeds are encroaching, and all of the radishes have gone to seed. But there are carrots, turnips, beets, lettuce and spinach that look edible.

He's given me permission to harvest, the next time I get out there. I may pull a few weeds as well.

In contrast, his dad is big on order and control. This is his garden, on the other side of the yard. Whereas Son went for quantity, Dad went for variety. He's got a little bit of everything.

Son waters with a hose, Dad likes the drip system.

Mom likes the volunteer flowers that pop up here and there.

There was even a pink one.

This is the fruit on the mystery tree...we're guessing they're peaches.

We know for sure that THESE are peaches.

The monster grapevine is covered with grapes.

Aren't they cute?

And finally, the walnut trees are covered with leaves...

And walnuts!
wow. It is truly amazing to see the changes that have taken place since early April. Just think. A couple more months, and we'll be feasting. I can hardly wait!

Sacred Threads

I don't think that I've mentioned that my quilt, "More Glorious Than Solomon," has been juried into Sacred Threads, in June. It sounds like they had a record number of entries this year, so I am delighted that this quilt made the cut. You may recognize it, I've used portions of it for my header, as well as my business cards.


The show will be held June 22-July 4, in Herndon, VA. For specifics, click here. If you are on the East Coast, I encourage you to attend. I've never made the trek, but I hear that the show will touch your soul.

Not much else to share around here. I'm trying to put my head down and knock out a stack of quilts-for-hire before I head out to Asilomar for a seminar with Jeanette DeNicolis Meyer.

Oh, and Kim, from Kim's Big Quilting Adventure, has given me instructions on how to get your comments to come directly into my email box. I've been wondering how to do that since I first started blogging. If I did it correctly, I may just start being more responsive to your comments. Wish me luck on that one!!

Time to put my head down and get to work!

Old Cats and Other Things

We have a cat club, that has taken to hanging around our yard. Over the years, they've come through one at a time, slashing and snarling their way through our lives. Visit enough, beat up my cats, and spray my house one too many times, and you get a special spa treatment, free of charge. Twelve hours later, their fight has been removed, they disappear for a week or more, and then they come back. Sometimes they stay.

Yesterday I spotted our surliest clients against the fence, looking oh, so mellow. I don't suppose you can see the one behind the bush? He's stretched out on his back. I only saw him because the tip of his tail was twitching. Like a lion.

Hey! You woke me up! As long as they are not beating up my cats or spraying my house, they are more than welcome to just hang out and even grab a snack or two. They've paid the price for the privilege, believe me. ;)

Malcolm has taken to sneaking outside. I think he's jealous of the visitors. Here he's investigating a feather. He's glaring at the door, wondering why I keep closing him on the outside. He wants it all. He can't have it. ;)

In contrast, Charlie has become Mr. Friendly, deciding that he wants to be my best friend and help me ever-so-much. Of course he only wants to help when I'm trying to work on the computer or do some beading.

Yesterday I went to a bridal shower for one of the girls in our College/Career Fellowship. You may be familiar with the "make a gown out of toilet paper" game, but it was a new one to me. Duct tape would have been useful. ;)

Our group actually won the competition. Here is Naomi, our model, with Amber, the bride-to-be. Amber selected the winner modeling "the dress she might consider wearing." ;) The photo does not show the simple elegance of our design. The top had a layered off-the-shoulder look, set off with a small flower on one side. We also had a big bow in the back. :)

I found more sweet peas at the Farmer's Market. This blue-violet is the color I remembered sweet peas being. I need to take the bouquet back to my stash to do more "shopping" and expand my sweet pea fabric palette.

Too much fun...

Hello Again!

Welcome back, Blogger! I've been denied access and missing posts and all kinds of things today. Glad to see that whatever was ailing it has been resolved! All it took was time and patience, right?

Yesterday I was driving out to the walnuts and did a double-take. In fact, I stopped, and did a u-turn on a narrow road, to go back and see if I was seeing what I thought I saw.

I'm used to seeing flocks of egrets, but black ones? What on earth are these? They were pretty excited. It looks like a farmer just planted his field, and they declared it the newest, most attractive restaurant in town.

I'm not sure how attractive I would have thought the meal. The field was being watered with manure water. How do I know that? How do you think I know that? ;)

I passed along a picture to a friend earlier this morning, and she called to identify the birds. She said they are most likely White-faced Ibis, which are sometimes found in Central California. She thought perhaps they might be Glossy Ibis, but they don't come this far west.

I'm not a birder, but birds do fascinate me. And this flock? Well, they definitely caught my eye! You can click on the pictures to enlarge. I dared not get any closer, because I did not want to frighten them.

My news on the quilt front is that I've finally, finally finished a quilt to submit to Houston. It's currently in the hands of a professional photographer, which will hopefully get me over that last barrier to acceptance. The quilt has lots of beading, and my photographic inadequacies become quite apparent when trying to capture beads. Let's hope he has better success than I. :)

this n that

I walked outside this morning and was greeted by yet another new iris. I believe this one is "Moon River," described as "yellow self, darker beard." I like the maize-colored stripes. :)

Show me your stuff, babe!

I was taking a break from my current project. I've been beading since August. I have this much left to go. I hope, I hope, I hope I finish it tonight.

This morning I went to Fresno, ostensibly to take my son's computer to the Apple Store. I actually spent more time at the quilt store.

And the bead store, which I just heard about on Monday. I think I liked it.

My wallet didn't like it, but I liked it. A lot. A lot, a lot.

Yes, it's hit. The final "whew! The quilt show is over, I have four months to sew!" realization. You don't have to tell me that my brain is creating much faster than my ability to sew it out. I am well aware of my time limitations. I refuse to squash my quilt dreams, sorry. ;)

And with that, I'd better get back to beading. This year's Big Dream is to enter Houston. If I meet the deadline, I will most likely receive a rejection letter, but only one thing is certain: If I DON'T meet the deadline, for sure my quilt won't get in. ;)

Happy Dreaming, everyone!!!

Inspiration

I think I have Sweet Peas on the brain.

As a girl, they were always my favorite flower. Don't ask me why, I think we only grew them once, if that. Maybe it was the mystery of how something that looks like a dried up pea (I do not care for peas, at all) can turn into something so lovely.

In any event, strawberry season is also sweet pea season. One of the strawberry stands that I frequent sells posies alongside the strawberries. I bought some on Sunday, and realized that my stash is quite limited, when it comes to the colors of the sweet pea. Time to go shopping.

I already had the bulk of the mediums to lights, it was the range of darks that was lacking. After taking the picture, I found some more red violet in my purple stash. I'd been looking for it among the pinks. ;)

I'm thinking of taking these with me to Asilomar later this month. What better way to familiarize myself with an unfamiliar palette? If it looks good in sweet peas; hopefully it will look good in a quilt as well.

And speaking of Sweet Peas, here's a cutie...

yep. Needed another baby fix. I wonder if she slept last night?

A Little Bit 'o Shopping

While I was in San Carlos, I took a few minutes to duck into The Laurel Leaf, a few blocks from Penelope's abode. How thoughtful of her to live so close to a quilt shop!!

I didn't find what I had in mind, but I came out toting a bag anyway. Not exactly the "light lights" or "dark dark" that I was looking for, but they might work for another project.

This morning, I spotted yet another new-to-me iris, blooming for the first time. I am guessing, when I identify it as "Inyo." Inyo's description is: deep smoky violet self Beard – violet/blue
Finally, I've had sweet peas on the brain, since visiting Sweet Pea last week. I even went to the Farmer's Market yesterday, looking especially for them. To my dismay, there were sweet peas in every booth, but none were for sale. Apparently all of the farmers bought them from the farmer who actually grew them!

I lucked out this morning at the strawberry stand, and purchased his last two posies.

When I climbed in the car, my husband said, "I thought you were going to get sweet peas?" "yes." "Well, where are they?" ???? "Next to the strawberries." "Where?" "Sweet peas are FLOWERS." OHHH. He thought he was getting an extra veggie for dinner.

ahhhh, isn't that sweet? ;)

And now for my baby fix...I'm almost out of pictures to share!

Sleep tight, little Sweet Pea!

More Penny Pics

Who had more fun? Penny? Or Gramma? It's anyone's guess...

You think I'm cute with the watermelon hat? You should see my whole outfit!

What I really wanted was a nap, not a modeling session...

All too soon it's time to say goodbye...

Bye, Sweet Pea! See you soon!!

Still Playing With Penny...

"Don't break my concentration, I've got business to attend to!"

The dress was only on her for 15 minutes, before it had to go into the laundry. *sigh* She wasn't in the mood for dresses today. The second one didn't last much longer...

Why Am I Not Quilting?

I'm busy making memories...

Sweet dreams, little Penelope!

They Just Keep Blooming

This is Lori Suzanne. She's a space-ager. That means that her beards curl up towards the sky. Can you see them? It's particularly noticeable on the right petal. She came to me from my friend Jeanette. That's the only way I know who she is and what she is.

Likewise, this is her friend, Blue Staccato. She's a plicata. That means that her petals are bi-toned.

She's similar to Tennison Ridge, only he's plum and she's blue violet.

Who knew that if you checked my blog today you'd get a bit of iris education?

I think I've forgotten to mention that the quilt on my blog masthead, "More Glorious Than Solomon," has been juried into the 2011 Sacred Threads exhibit in Virginia this June. For more information on the exhibit, click here.

Last week I snuck in under a couple of entry deadlines, and am hoping to hear favorable results later this month. In the meantime, my quilt life, other than the retreat, has been less than vigorous, but I'm working on it!! I've definitely got a LOT of inspiration!! :)

Zoom, zoom!

I spent the weekend at the Hartland Quilt Retreat. This has to be my favorite quilt retreat, nestled in the mountains near Badger. It's held at a Christian camp, and we have the opportunity for morning devotions, as well as fantastic food and 24 hour sewing, should we so wish. ( I don't, I like to sleep. ;)

The drive up was beautiful. The wildflowers are finally beginning to bloom. There are sporadic bursts of color, scattered among the hills.

Yellow was the predominant flower color, but that purply blue was also out and about.

None of my pictures of lupine or other flowers came out - they're either blurred or green. oh well. You'll have to take my word for it. I did stop, to get this beautiful meadow shot.

The usual residents were everywhere to be seen,
And I LOVED seeing quail, rather than tarantulas cross my path!

I took very few pictures at the retreat. They're the same as before, of women sewing, and fabric and smiles everywhere. The Camp grounds are just beginning to show signs of spring. Daffodils were blooming, and most of the deciduous trees had yet to show their leaves.

I spent my time indoors, sewing. I worked on a quilt for Penelope.

Hmmm...Should I put the blades like this?

Or like this?

Lavender in the center wins.

When I finished the star, I started on my son's College Grad quilt. He graduated in 2007. It's going to take me a while...

Alas, the weekend ended all too quickly. I drove up on Friday, I drove home on Sunday.

Oh, what a gorgeous drive it was! At every turn there's a chance to glimpse the Sierras. Will this be the photo?

On this close-up, I couldn't figure out what the "contrails" in the sky were. It wasn't until I loaded it on the computer that I realized I'd zoomed so much I thought the mountain was the sky and the foothill the mountain!

The trees block the view, and it's really tough to capture the beauty.

Finally! I caught the entire ridge, but it's far away...

Last chance, and bingo! I think I got it!

And I guess that's a wrap. It was good to get some stitching done, however briefly...