Happy Halloween

And a Happy Birthday to my special girl.  OK, this doesn't look anything like you because you were much cuter, and I would never have put you IN a pumpkin, but it seemed appropriate.  Rotten luck that you're sick on your Bday, but we'll celebrate the Apfel girls' birthdays this weekend.  Love you.

Seattle Sunset and Vote Yes on Measure A

Kathy picked us up and took us out to Golden Gardens beach in Ballard where we had a nice walk on the beach, a beautiful sunset and a peak at the Olympic mountains.  We had a good red wine (disguised in an aluminum container, good bread with a salad Kathy made from the previous night's salmon and lots of salad.  I love picnics.  Afterwards we went to a cupcake place and had hot drinks and shared a Tiramisu cupcake.  We went to see 50/50 at the Majestic theatre in Ballard.  Kathy works for a Neurology clinic, so it was a particularly good movie for me to see with a neuro nurse on one side and a family practice doc on the other.  They both agreed it was a "cute cancer movie".  Of course, there were many inaccuracies, especially at the end, and the doctors and nurses were depicted as unfeeling and insensitive, but it was a good pick, nonetheless.

This chilly, but sunny morning I'm sitting in the new and beautiful Seattle public library.  It is modern and stunning with free wifi in the whole building.  The 2nd floor has a 'living room' with a small coffee kiosk and comfortable chairs and desks.  It is a haven for the homeless and we certainly saw many on our walks around this city, as everywhere.  You can see the Living Room in the first photo, but in the second one, look at that carpeting.  I love it.

And while I'm mentioning libraries, please please, all you Mendocino county residents, vote yes on Measure A to increase the sales tax by 1/8¢.  If we don't get this money, the Willits library will close and Ukiah and Ft. Bragg will cut even more hours.  We all need the libraries, so be sure to vote early and often, or at least make sure all your friends and family get their votes in.

Seattle

We were so glad we found a flight out of Santa Rosa, which saves us at least 1-1/2 hours.  Unfortunately, our flight on Saturday was delayed by 4 hours.  But a nice lunch and glass of wine helped to pass the time.  Mark is at a conference, but I have the run of the city, so to speak.  Actually walk of the city - good for the calf muscles, with all the hills here. 

Yesterday was Aquarium day for me, as well as Pike Place Market.  I can't resist markets and this is well known as one of the best.  The display of seafood is so incredible.  I only wish we had that kind of selection available to us in California.  But Seattle is an even bigger water city than San Francisco.  It seems one can hardly go a few blocks without water coming into view, either the bay or the lake.  We even had a tiny glimpse of Mt. Rainier yesterday, floating above the clouds.  Although the day started overcast, it turned into a beautiful day.  On Saturday night, we ate at a friend's brother's restaurant, St. Cloud's in the Madrona area of the city.  It was a good choice with great food.

Sunday, after my day at the aquarium and market and Mark's day at the conference we met relatives Josh and Jen and had a tour of their new home.  It's a great house built in the late 40's with a nice view of the lake, a large backyard, and a perfect place to raise a family.  We went with them to SeaStar restaurant in Bellevue, and had delicious oysters on the half shell, scallops (one of my favs) and halibut.  I could definitely eat seafood most of the week, and it would be weeks before I tired of it. 
Alas, not possible for us at home.

Can you guess what these are?

Earlier today Mark had a break and we walked to the market and watched those fishmongers throw fish around. They love to play up to the tourists.   Now we are soon off for a picnic on the beach to watch the sunset, then to a movie with Kathy, Josh's Mom, who utilizes all that this area has to offer and is a great tour guide and suggester of Things To Do.  She and I had a lovely breakfast together followed by a long walk along the lake and it was another gorgeous day after a little rain, just to remind you, you are in Seattle after all.  Later.....

And more tomatoes

With several big storms predicted starting Monday and continuing for several days, it was time to get all the ripe tomatoes off the vines.  I couldn't even carry all of them and had to resort to the garden cart to get them all here.  Rosie helped by keeping a sharp eye on me.  Later I'll take some photos of the processed tomatoes.  I have my work cut out for me.  Luckily I have several books on CD to listen to.

Cow Roundup

Tomato Time

Rain is predicted tomorrow, so today was Pick All Ripe Tomatoes Day.   It's been on my list for several days, but more urgent with rain in sight.  Since these tomatoes have been pretty much dry farmed, rain really can destroy the ripe ones, causing the skins to burst and tomatoes to rot.  Now I must deal with them.  I think I'll do a lot of whole tomatoes this year as I still have lots of sauce from last year.  Every year I tell myself that next year I won't plant so many, but I will.  Most of them are heirloom varieties and I save the seeds.  I start my own plants and can only give away so many plants.  My favorite eating tomato is Brandywine.  Sungold I also love as it comes in earlier than any others, but because it's a cherry type, it's a pain to pick.  And not to be forgotten, the Cuor Di Bue, an Italian oxheart.  I was given a few seeds years ago from someone who brought them back from Italy.  I've been saving the seeds ever since.

Enjoy the garden photos.

Molokai

We had an uneventful flight here and were met by our friend Norman, whisked back to their fabulous Papohaku Beach House house for lunch on the back lawn.  Heaven.

We go out to the beach every night with our wine and beach chairs and watch, exclaim over and generally discuss the sunset.  Usually, Sarah has started some amazing hors d'oeuvres, which we pounce on while helping prepare the rest of the night's feast.  Our first night was ahi with huge organic salad and pesto pasta.  Yesterday we stopped at a local place that sells local grass fed beef and bought filet mignons.  They were incredible - also big salad, roasted root vegetables and grilled eggplant.  Norman and susan's guests were people they met through kumu farms, a beautiful organic farm.  Another lovely evening amid tropical breezes, plentiful vino and great conversations.  Don is our official Molokai photographer.  I can't wait to see some of the amazing sunset photos he has taken.  His blog is here   http://donprichard.com/

Here is the view from the back porch, looking out to Papohaku Beach.

And this is a view of the back of the house from the beach.  This house is large enough for 12 people, with 6 bedrooms and 6 baths and three living rooms, with a large dining room, back porch and of course, the views!!

This is the path to the beach.   In other words, from where I took the photo above, turn around and this what you see.

While we were there, the caretakers had to rescue one of their lambs.  She was one of three and when we found her, she was barely getting enough milk.  The other two lambs were much bigger and stronger.  Liana bottle fed her, but their sweet dog Iliana took over other mothering chores, as you can see.

Salt pans near Maki Horse Beach

 

 

 

Breadfruit

Got glass of wine, ready to watch the sunset

Sunset looking south

Open Studios Aftermath

The weather was not cooperative on Memorial weekend.  It was cold and rainy part of the time, and just chilly and windy the rest of the time.  Despite that, we had at least 25 people a day come by.  I felt that most of what I did was educate people about art quilts.  Most were expecting more traditional pieced quilts.  I think I'll do the tour again next year, but if I don't sell anything, that will be the end of it.  It's amazing how exhausting it is to be 'on' all day long for 3 days.  Judy Nelson was set up in the carport with her jewelry and glass bead making equipment.  She sold a good amount of jewelry and got an order for her cute little glass mushrooms, but she told me she sells more in one day at the annual Holiday bazaar here in the valley.

This is one of the small quilts I made for Open Studios.

Anderson Valley Studio Tour, Memorial Weekend

The AV Open Studio Tour dates are Memorial weekend, May 28-30 and June 4-5.  This is a great opportunity to view art and studios all around Anderson Valley.  You can get more details from the AV Artist Guild website here.

Here is a tiny peek at some new work of mine.  I don't want to show the whole quilt as I may want to enter it in some quilt shows, so can't post it online yet.  And yes, I have been  busy at my photoshop class and learned many new tricks.  Yes, the sign is sideways in this part of the quilt, but it is repeated upright elsewhere. 

Danger Sheer Cliff

 

 

 

This quilt and more will be on display at my studio.  I have several more photoshopped quilts and other new work.  Also, local jewelry and glass bead artist, Judy Nelson, will be demonstrating her glass technique and selling her fabulous jewelry at my studio as well.  So make us a stop on the Anderson Valley Open Studio Art Tour.

Vancouver photos

Downtown Vancouver with snowy mountains in background









Haida artifacts from the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver







One of my favorite totems from the MOA









These sea gulls squabbled over this apple. First one would pick it up, but be unable to do anything with it and would drop it, and it would roll to the side of the pier, which luckily had sides. Then the other one would get it, then drop it. I first saw them from a distance and thought they had a red ball and were playing. I watched for a while, then helped by stepping on the apple and they were both able to enjoy the snack.

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Vancouver

Vancouver

  We arrived 3 hours late from SFO Wednesday night due to excess of hail covering the plane!  Just after we boarded, thee was a sudden and excessive downpour of hail which completely covered the wind I could see, to a depth of at least an inch.  The pilot came on and said they had to figure out how to get it off.  SFO does not have de-icing equipment.  3 hours later and rain and brooms used by ground crew, we could take off.  We were tired puppies the next morning, but I could sleep in.  Mark is attending a conference of the American Assn. Of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  He is working with the palliative care team at ukiah valley medical center, and I get to come along and be a tourist.

Vancouver is a gorgeous city, and so clean.  Hey, no homeless here that I can see.  Oh yes, i have to take that back.  I guess they are more visible at night, but its not as bad as SF.  Beautiful skyline, snowcapped mountains visible from downtown, and of course, water water everywhere.  Yesterday I went to the Museum of Anthropology on the University of BC campus.  Spectacular building and setting and amazing Haida totem poles and carvings, as well as silver jewelry and baskets.  There was an amazing collection of textiles, clothing, rugs, jewelry,etc, from countries all over the world.  Too many to mention and too confusing to take in.  Rather like an antique store, but with better displays.   I'm looking forward to going to the Anthropology museum in Victoria.  Photos were allowed so I'll post some so you can get an idea of this amazing artwork.

Today I walked  through Yaletown and took a False Creek ferry to Granville Island where the public market is located.  This is a modest market compared to Pike Place in Seattle, but still worth a visit.  And unlike yesterday's cold and wet day, today was bright and sunny and I grabbed some Indian curry and naan and sat outside in the sun and watched seagulls snatch food and listened to a very good singer and guitar player while soaking up the sun and watching  people.  After lunch I took the ferry back and stopped to watch these two. Gulls fight over an apple.  Eventually I helped them out by crushing the apple so they could actually eat rather than take it away from each and drop it and watch it roll.

Then I walked to chinatown, but was pretty footsore by then, and unimpressed by this small version of SF Chinatown, so took a quick look and headed back to our excellent hotel, L'Hermitage, picking up a coffee and sweet, wheee I spent a pleasant hour or two with my book Just Kids.  Mark arrived at 5 with a bottle of wine and we had lovely discussing each other's day.