Sights of Edinburgh

This picture was taken on the day we arrived.  Husband is standing in front of the Edinburgh Castle.  The blue bleachers over his shoulder are a tiny indication of the stadium set up for the Tattoo.  We spent a few hours exploring the castle, then ate dinner and walked back up the hill to watch the Tattoo.

 The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an amazing experience.  I had no idea what to expect, other than the most pipers in one place that I would ever see.  In addition, there were guest performers, including The Citadel, and The USAF Precision Honor Guard Drill Team.  It was spectacular, and impossible to get great photos of.

 The Grand Finale included a tribute to Battle Over Britain, with outstanding fireworks, launched from the castle.  oooh.  aaah.  If you ever have the opportunity to go to Edinburgh during the Tattoo, make sure you get tickets and attend.  It was very affordable, and one of the most memorable parts of our trip.

 The Fringe Festival was also in full swing, but I'm not much into that.  Street performers were everywhere.  This fellow made incredible music with this instrument.  It doesn't look like much, but WOW.  He was good!

 Ever seen a life-sized balloon animal Ninja Turtle?  I have.

And I think that's about it for this installment.  We spent the first night in Edinburgh, then rented a car, and headed for the Highlands.  Stay tuned, for more on Scotland.

Far, Far Away

On August 25, my husband and I drove to San Francisco.  On the 26th, we boarded a plane, and on the 27th - which coincidentally was his birthday - we stepped off our plane into Wonderland.  I mean Scotland.

But if you are from Central California, where the air is brown, the dirt is brown, and the grass and trees are dying, well, Scotland just blows the senses.  Wet, green, cool, wet...did I say wet?  It was a 180 from what we have come back to.  And with the Rough Fire still burning aggressively, well, the air today  is chewable, and we're being warned not to breathe it.  Like I said, Scotland was a Wonderland.

I have about 3000 pictures, and it's hard to know what to share and what to keep to myself.  I mean, really, you DO want to see a pretty, green place, don't you?  I've posted a few pics on Facebook, but mostly I've kept them to myself.  Each day I look at about 200 or so.  They bring a smile to my face.

We stayed until we had to board a plane on Sept 5, back to SFO, and now, back to home.  It's a memory that's quickly fading in the hustle bustle of home life.  But I'll share a story with you, if you're not already bored.

We retraced many of our steps from a family trip taken in 1996.  One of the places that we visited was Linlithgow Palace, in Linlithgow.  A story I've often told, is of the patchwork shop that I spotted as we were running up the hill to catch our train.  They had closed 5 minutes before we ran by.  It was the only patchwork shop I'd seen on that trip.

This time, we again traveled to Linlithgow.  On our way to the palace, I stopped to admire the architecture of a particularly intriguing building.  When I walked to the front of it, it was the very same patchwork shop from 19 years ago.

 Look at that!  A quilt store!

 We went inside, and I found some tartan-printed cotton yardage.  (Or is it metre-age?  They sell it by the metre.)

 It is a cute little shop, and under new ownership (compared to 1996).

 My husband was pleased to buy fabric for me.  (He'd almost left me behind at the train station, with my tickets in his pocket...but I'm not supposed to talk about that.)

Fabric in hand, we walked to the palace.

Palaces are where the monarchs live.  Castles are defensive structures.  There are no cannons in Linlithgow.  I'll probably get this wrong, but I think it was the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.  My husband is the Scot-o-phile, and can quote dates and names for just about everything.  Me, I prefer poking around, exploring, and enjoying how it is now.

I'll leave you with this last castle picture.  Do you recognize it?  Think, think hard.  Doesn't it look familiar?  Didn't you see it in a movie once?  Weren't there Frenchmen in it?

It's Castle Stalker, a privately owned residence that played a memorable part of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  I really got a kick out of it.  Hubby was excited about seeing it, I looked at it and said, "That's it?!!"  But when he gave me the Monty Python connection, I started laughing, and this is one of my favorite memories of that particular day.  Can't you just imagine the cow in the trebuchet?

And with that, I'd better hit "publish."  Hope you enjoyed the narrative!

Nuts to You

So far the water is holding out.  I'm not sure if you can tell, but it's very sandy.  We now have streaks of sand, running through the orchard.  We're about 20' from the bottom of our well.  Good thing we're to turn off the water in three days.  Then, it's time to prep, because it's almost harvest time.

 This year's crop is bountiful, plentiful, loaded with nuts, nuts, and more nuts.

 Look at all of those nuts!

The downside of a large crop (our first) is the constantly breaking branches.  Or maybe I should say limbs.  Huge, big, decades old limbs, that are LOADED with food, all are creaking and cracking with the weight.

Today we were told that most of our phone line issues are related to those nut-loaded limbs.  The power company comes out every year, to trim the branches away from the power line.  But the phone line?  It's hanging about 4' lower, and now has sagging limbs pulling it down.  We have a few options.  We can cut the limbs (which we'll probably have to do anyway), but if we do that, we'll lose that many more nuts.  Or we can ask/beg/grovel and try to get them to restring the line.  Or, we can see if we can get them to bury the line.  The repairman told me if we choose option 3, we'll have to pay for it.  yikes.

Just thought you might like some behind the scenes.  While folks wait for this year's crop to hit the store shelves, we're dealing with low water levels, breaking limbs, and even interference on the phone line.  I've said it before, and I'm guessing I'll say it again.  This farming stuff is not for the faint of heart.

Shh! It's a Secret!

I feel like this poor blog has been neglected, but really?  It hasn't been any more neglected than my quilting in general.  Finding time to stitch?  It's just not happening.  I used to MAKE time to stitch, but even this unseasonably cool summer (less that 100, for longer than normal) has not been enough to prompt me to regularly pick up needle and thread.  Thank goodness a friend has forwarded information about this challenge more than once.  Though now that I look at the website, I wonder once again, if I bought the right fabric.   This calls it "American Made," but I'm pretty sure that the bolt end read "Made in USA."  Is it the same stuff?  oh dear.

See, I bought fabric for the challenge several months ago, but never got around to cutting it up.  I needed more colors, so I went shopping.  When I chatted with the clerk, she said, "I don't think we had any of those fabrics cut into fat quarters.  You might have purchased RJR!"  I ran home, got the fat quarters and brought them back to the shop.

 They may be beautiful, but they are also RJR.  oh, dear.  Time for more shopping.  I picked out more than a dozen Made in USA fabrics, and bought a half yard of each.  Then I shlepped them home, tossed them in the washer (yes, they bleed.  Use color-catchers!) and hung them on the line.  Here they are, dried, and waiting for the iron.

I started the little quilt on Thursday morning, and finished the quilting last night.  Today I hope to attach the facing and finish it.  Goals are good.

And that's what I've been up to lately.  I think the quilt will measure around 14" square, so when I say, "I haven't done much," really...I haven't done much.

Maybe I can get something done that I'm actually able to show you.  Goals are good, and all that.  Summer's wasting, and I'm still looking for my motivation.  crazy, that.

Happy Quilting!

Accepted!

My quilt was accepted into the SAQA "Oasis" exhibit in Palm Springs.  If you are attending, you can look for my little sail boat, sailing in the deep blue sea.  :)

My miniature has been shipped to Houston.  The show isn't until late October, but the judging will be done by mid-Sept.  They have quite the time line.

Other than that, I haven't done much that is quilt-related this week.  oh wait.  Yes I did.  I went to a couple of estate sales, and picked up more treasure.  I love this little marble table.  It's the perfect size for an afternoon of lounging by the pool with a book and something cool to drink.  The top is marble, the base is heavy metal.  (Not the radioactive kind.)

 This little rabbit is also metal.  He was so cute, I had to bring him home.

 I found two of these calla lily stepping stones.  They add sparkle to my shade garden.

 I couldn't resist this chair, with the carved roses in the back.  I don't know what I'll do with it, other than stroke the carvings.  yeah, I'm kind of odd like that.

This was my favorite purchase yesterday - if I had a favorite.  I bought too many things, and I've put almost all of them to use already.  It's a giant clamshell.

 I scrubbed it after taking the picture.  I thought you might get an idea of its size, with the pint glass and the 4" tiles.

 Today I bought this utensil sorter for $1.  I wasn't sure what to do with it, until I remembered my box of Masterpiece thread.

 It's not very easy to pick a color when they're stored in the box.  In fact, I never use this thread, because I never remember that I have it available.

 The utensil holder is the perfect size.  Look at that!  It even holds the rest of my Masterpiece thread, that didn't fit in the box.  I'm guessing that I will use it a lot more, now that I can actually see it!  Best dollar I spent today!  :)

And I guess that's about it.  I stitched out a label, and have a dozen more that need to be stitched.  Oh!  And I promised a picture of that old quilt top that is now bound.  I'll have to take that picture tomorrow, and then post it.  Something to look forward to.  Goals are good.  :)

Finished!

whew!  Nothing like a deadline to get one motivated, eh?  It usually works for me, and this one was no exception.  The quilt isn't all that I imagined, but just maybe, it's enough.  Two weeks ago I thought it might have beading and embellishment.  Today?  It's fabric only, and that's final.  for now.

 I didn't hear anything about not allowing images ahead of time.  But once again Blogger strikes.  If you'd like to see the entire quilt, tilt your head 90 degrees.  :(

We were to include an Artist's Statement regarding this "oasis."  Mine read as follows:

My favorite escape is a view of the ocean.  When I consider its vast expanse, my problems sail away as though they are nothing.  God is bigger than my worries, and contemplating the details of His creation does much to soothe my soul.

The entry is now in the hands (computer) of the jury, and I patiently await their decision.  Whatever the jury says, I know that I'm pretty happy with this little piece.  "By the Sea" measures 17.75" x 39.25"  Not quite the 18 x 40" required size, but close enough.

And with that, it's on to the next thing.  Carry on!

Dawdling

I haven't been working on the projects with deadlines.  Finding my focus is an elusive proposition.  Instead, I've made and sent off a couple of birthday cards.  Maybe today I'll get back to work?  Goals are good.

And that's a wrap.

Designing

I've been trying to come up with an entry for a challenge with an August 1 deadline.  Try as I might, fitting the 18" x 40" format is a real bear.  On the right is Attempt #1.  I sliced off the bottom 10" and it suddenly improved.  On the left is Attempt #2.  Too boring.  I laid a piece of Hawaiian print across it to see if it added interest.  In the center is the beginning of Attempt #3.

At this rate, I may use up all of my beachy ocean fabric, but I'm probably not going to have a finished quilt by August 1.

Then again, stranger things have happened.  Thanks for stopping by.

HOUSTON!

ahem.  Sorry for shouting.  I got a bit carried away there.  But according to the contestants list on quilts.org, BLACKEYED BEAUTY IS GOING TO HOUSTON!!  Oh, there I went and did it again.  Sorry about that.

I'm just really really really thrilled.   This is the second time I've had a quilt accepted into the judged show.  I believe the first was in 2011.  Maybe it wasn't just a fluke.

And that's my big news for the day.  Other than that, I've been madly cutting/sewing/creating on my design wall.  I'm trying to hit an August 1 deadline, but it's going to be touch and go as to whether or not I'll have something.  I'll share later, when I've got more than pieces on the wall.

In the meantime, I've got to get back to my happy dance.  Thanks for visiting!

Blackeyed Beauty in progress - April 2015

Susan Brubaker Knapp seminar at Empty Spools, Asilomar

A Handful

of postcards went into the mailbox this morning

 This is my latest batch of cards for Postmark'd Art.

 The theme is Sunrise/Sunset.

 I've taken dozens (hundreds?) of photos of ocean sunsets/sunrises.  In all of them, my favorite contrast is the silhouette of palm trees with the spectacular backgrounds.  These cards don't even begin to capture the beauty of God's paintbrush.

See what I mean?

There isn't much quilting happening yet, but oh, do I have my work ready for my attention.  Big plans are brewing, just you wait and see!  :)

Ahhh

My camera was never far from my eye.

 

 

And that's a wrap.

More Impressions

We saw a pod - is it a pod? - of dolphins yesterday, as we were eating breakfast on the pier.  Digital cameras are disappointing, when they're trying to catch some action.

 I may have figured out how to capture the sunset.

 I found this at a thrift marketplace for $15.  I love it!

 The colors were repeated in this sunset at the harbor.

Friends seem to like my impression of the lighthouse.  It flashes every night, accompanied by the moan of the fog horn.

 I never grow tired of watching the boats sailing by...

And believe it or not, I've pulled out some handwork and hope to make a lot of progress before heading home in the morning.  This week has been a fabulous break since the weather has been hovering over 100 at home.  yikes.  I'm enjoying every minute.