Last Day of the Year

What could be more appropriate for an end-of-the-year post than a photo with my Chinese Zodiac animal? Yes, I am a snake--as are two of my daughters, the ones known on my blog as D1 and D5. Ring out the old year, ring in the new one.


This hasn't been a successful year for my photo blogging ambitions. Kind of hard to take and post pictures when one is flat on her back. However, the back surgery is now behind me (snerk) and I am trying very hard to get back to normal--or more appropriately, get to the new normal.

So, in the spirit of new beginnings, I'm going to declare that for 2012 I will try to post a photo every day. I'm going to allow myself the leeway to maybe post a day or two after the fact, depending on what's going on in my life, but by this time next year (assuming the Mayas just ran out of room for their calculations) there should be 366 pictures on this blog.

I've signed up for a couple of challenges for the year--one is called Take a Stitch Tuesday, and the other is a crazy quilt block challenge. I'll probably post pictures here as well as on my "other blog" but the details will be over there. I reserve the right to make this blog about whatever comes in front of my lens, whether it's my cats, my kids, my grandkids, my flowers, my trees, the skies, clouds, quilts, knitty stuff.

So, for now? Here's wishing you a happy new year, and I'll see you tomorrow!

In she goes...

In she goes..., a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

Love t his picture of Abby going through the "magic" blue door into the Children's Garden at the Huntington, with her auntie Jennie taking a picture!

A Girl and Her Rat

A Girl and Her Rat, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

Halloween props can be fun, when you're too young to have a negative back-story!

Mae, driving!

Mae, driving!, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

Border collies are smart...but Mae thinks she's human! She loves to sit in the driver's seat...

Moonrise

Moonrise, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

Full moon, rising among the clouds. A little hazy but it was that kind of night, too.

Still working on getting acquainted with the new camera. Right now it's a very guarded standoff--I don't think either one of us is exactly sold on the partnership!

HiHi, hiding

HiHi, hiding, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

There's a shelf under my computer desk where I keep shoes etc. Sometimes HiHi feels the need to move some of the shoes off so he can be "close" to me while I'm on the computer.

Rooster

Rooster, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

This guy has a much meaner expression than the one on my dining room table! He's part of the Ai Wei Wei Chinese zodiac installation at LACMA. http://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/ai-weiwei-circle-animalszodiac-heads for the "real" scoop, or check my Flickr page for more of my photos--including a couple of family members with their "year of" critters!

Urban Light installation, LACMA

Urban Light installation, LACMA, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

202 refurbished and refitted light poles. Set up close together but with room to walk between. Now I want to go back and photograph them by night!

Before and Afters

Doing some yard renovations which involved cutting back the "jungle" and taming the formerly-feral rosebushes.

Also took out two trees, which was sad but needed to be done.

Recycling Nan

IMG_8122, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

Misspelled words can drive me crazy. This just amused me!

Yarrrnz

05-2011 002, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

...is serious bidness. Gotta start them early with the Love of Yarn!

Croissant and coffee

Croissant and coffee, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

Chocolate croissant, to be exact. Quite yummy!

Simon, napping

Simon, napping, a photo by marie watterlond on Flickr.

Cats and quilts...what better combo is there?

Attic Window

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Hmmm... wonder if I could design a quilt around this?

Really is the window to the attic. Sometimes, when the light in the attic was on at night, the neighborhood kids would think the house was haunted. Of course, my little darlings did nothing to discourage that thought.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

A contribution from my daughter's uncle-in-law. The one on the table has already been eaten and it was delicious--sweet enough without adding sugar! I don't know if the larger, white ones will be as sweet--but it will be fun to find out!

It's not really spring

It's not really spring
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

even though this tree apparently thinks it is! Yes, Feb. 12 and the trees are blooming. Winter in California!

Frosting Face!

Frosting Face!
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

It was a really good cupcake!!

Sweet

IMG_7915
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

My Valentine quilt, out for its annual airing. And yes, it's supposed to look like that--the idea was to replicate an old love note that's been folded and refolded.

There are love quotes written in the corners. This was made around 1990 or 1991, hand appliqued and hand quilted.

Sitting in the rain...

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

...looking out of the car window while waiting for a friend.

Editorial Comment

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Found a car I wouldn't want to drive--at least, not in that color! Who thought metallic pink with an orange stripe was appealing?

Wondering if the dents are equivalent to comments on the color of this vehicle...

Finished!

IMG_7912
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

If you've been following the progress of the ragg squares, here's the finished piece! All ready to give to my friend and her new little boy!

Anne's Pink Quilt

Anne's Pink Quilt
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Made with some of the 12.5" squares from our current M&Ms project. Anne made the strip-pieced blocks from some of her "strings" and did the setting.

White Camellias

White Camellias
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

...are a bit difficult to photograph, especially when the sun is turning the house next door the same color!

Most of the white varieties bloom at this time of year, which means that by Camellia Festival time (last weekend in Feb.) it's practically impossible to find the white ones for float decorating. This bush will be long past its prime by then!

Maple!

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Any other words necessary? There is nothing quite as good as REAL maple syrup!

(This went on my Sunday brunch French toast. Might have to make some more tomorrow...)

Ragg quilt

Ragg quilt
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

I made two just like this. Actually this is the "back" side of the quilt--raggs typically get snipped and then washed and dried several times to fluff up the fringes, hence "rag" quilt. Because each block is two pieces of fabric with batting in between, and the seams are over an inch wide, it doesn't lay flat at this stage.

Stay tuned for the next exciting installment--after I get my house, myself, and my cats thoroughly covered in threads and lint during the snipping process. Still not quite sure if I want to wash and dry them at home, or in a commercial washer.

I do have to say I'm rather pleased with the layout of these blocks, considering what I had to work with in the way of colors and patterns!

Double-Decker Catboys

Double-Decker Catboys
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

My little computer buddies.

Why yes, I do kick my shoes off and leave them under the desk. Isn't that why it has a shelf? (This is an old hotel desk--I've had it over 30 years and its previous family had it for a long time before that.)

Watch Out World!

IMG_7885
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Here comes the "Termi-N8r" on his new bike! Gotta love that expression as he takes off on two wheels for the first time. (Well, two and stabilizers. After all, he's 3!)

First Pie

IMG_7883
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Finally cranked up my "personal pie" baker tonight and made four little cranberry-apple tarts. Really ambitious project: of course, the baker did have to be seasoned...but the pie crust was ready-made, the pie filling came in a jar from Trader Joe's (thanks for the yummies, Aaron!), so the work involved was minimal.

And now I have a hot pie to enjoy. Excuse me...

Windy Sky

Windy Sky
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Taken from the drive-through at Starbucks in West Covina. Palm trees and windswept clouds, on a very hot and sunny January day.

Baby Jail

Baby Jail
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

An inflatable bouncer is the perfect spot for a baby! She and a same-age buddy had a ball, literally!

Dogpile!

IMG_7854
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Quilting at Sandy's is always fun, but tonight it was enlivened by some of the dogs' antics. Nora-the-iggie (Italian Greyhound) doesn't like to sleep alone so she squeezes in with the pugs--usually just one, but here she's gotten between two of them!

There are other pictures of the dogs on my Flickr page.

Sunset

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Tonight's sunset was absolutely spectacular. This was the best I could do while driving home--although the traffic almost stopped a couple of times, I had to "point and shoot" and not look!

One of those times w hen the 30-mile drive home has entertainment provided, thanks to the changing colors and the strange cloud formations. These clouds really did center on the setting sun. Odd, and oddly beautiful, too!

Work Area

IMG_7834
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

In the process of cutting the strips down into 2-patches. Total yield? 300! They'll make 150 4-patches and 32 (I think!) 16-patches.

Taking big pieces of fabric, cutting them up into little pieces, and then sewing them back together into big pieces. The essence of quiltmaking!

Birthday Cake

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Pretty self explanatory, except for one thing.

How did my little girl get to be 40?

Baby Face!

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Couldn't resist putting up Little Cutie! She'll now smile on cue...

Supervising

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Simon wants to make sure I'm sewing these strips properly.

Quarter-inch seam allowance? Check!

Right sides together? Check!

Thread in the bobbin? oops...

Shrimp!

Shrimp!
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

Tonight's dinner. Quite yummy.

Winter Roses

IMG_7778
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

This picture evokes a phrase from an old country song that has haunted me for years:

"faded love and winter roses"

Don't remember who sang it, or even what came next. But the winter-stricken rosebushes, with a few brave blossoms hanging on and some scarlet rosehips leavening the desolation, tell the story. And the seedling Chinese elm tree reaching over the bushes?

Well, it's doomed. One way or another, it's out of there. My love for it faded before it ever grew this tall!

Edit Note: Looked it up. It's a Hank Williams song:

Faded love and winter roses always bloom in memory
Faded love and winter roses yearning hearts that used to be

Will they meet again tomorrow where we parted yesterday
Give me back the winter roses and the love you took away

Faded love and winter roses sprinkled with a lonely tear
Faded love and winter roses still recall each yesteryear

Will I always be a dreamer dreaming of the used to be
Faded love and winter roses live and die in memory

... and now I remember why I loved to listen to this song!

Winter Sky

IMG_7772
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

This is the top of my camellia bush--the one by the back door. I don't think it's supposed to look like this--or maybe it just needs a haircut.

Since I posted its blossom the other day, I thought it was only fair to give another view.

Mother's Little Helper

2011.1.2 004
Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

One of the hazards they don't warn you about when you learn to quilt!

A New year...

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Originally uploaded by marie watterlond

a new effort to post a picture a day! Made more difficult by the crashing (and burning, one assumes) of my DSL line, leaving me dependent on whimsical wifi for posting purposes.

So starting the year off with this lovely camellia, which is currently blooming just outside my back door. This is the bush that the deck was built around, and I'm so very glad we saved it!