Sunday, August 31, 2008

Oh, my

I can't believe it's been almost a month. I frequently compose a blog post in my mind, but that has been as far as it's gotten. I've had internet connection problems lately. Plus working. We have 5 (hopefully a 6th)shows coming up, so there's been a lot of work. Still no viable excuse. So I am just going to be really random.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has been playing on the dvd. We really enjoy watching the movies. The girl they picked to play Luna is fantastic. So far, I have all of the books on cd. I need to start purchasing them from iTunes to listen on the mp3 player. There are just SO many details.

My knitting slump seems to be over. I joined Summer of Socks and Summer of Lace. And then didn't seem to knit a stitch. I've knit one sock (nope, not a pair, just one lonely sock) from the Blue Moon Rockin' Sock Club. And once I had all that stolen, I just drew a big blah. But I was given so much wonderful yarn and I've been petting it all.



I knit a French Market Bag for my Starbucks & Yarn swap partner. I made several extra increase rounds on the bottom and knit it two inches taller. From the Ravelry notes, a lot of people said it was small. Well, I've never knit the size per the pattern, but I think I could have gotten away without knitting the extra rounds on the bottom!



I received a wonderful package from my swap partner. But I can't find the cable to charge the camera. I've NEVER had this problem before, and I'm so frustrated. I kept it in the same drawer all the time. When we left this last time, I put it in the laptop case. It's not in either place right now. blech.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Still Catching Up

We've been back in PA for just over a week now, and I'm still catching up with the trip! Guess that's what happens when you are gone for almost a month and no time to blog.

Our show in Long Beach was over on a Sun night. We knew we didn't want to get into the Los Angeles Mon morning traffic, so drove a few hours Sun night. Right now, I can't remember the name of the town we stayed in. Small town in the middle of nowhere, but conveniently close to LA for those so inclined. We stayed in a small independent hotel. Scrupulously clean. The ac hadn't been turned on all day. Which in most hotels, isn't a big deal. But the giant thermometer outside said the temp was 97 degrees at 11:00 PM!



And I'm not sure I've ever been this close to Death Valley before!



This view reminded me of an old Japanese watercolor.



I think my next post can get us through Colorado and then we're home!

Friday, August 8, 2008

The Beauty of it All

They may do everything bigger in Texas, but they do it prettier in California.



This is another view of Pyramid Lake.



And isn't this pretty! It's the landscaping along the drive up lane at a fast food restaurant. And this pretty tile:



This scene is tiled onto the side of a parking garage....across the street from a W*l-Mart!



The organizers of International Quilt Festival, Long Beach did not want to be left out. In a nod to the California beach scene, this wonderfully restored Woody was at the entrance to the quilts!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Welcome!

Wouldn't it be cool if you lived here?



Again, blurriness due to photo being taken while driving along the highway (I was not the driver, silly!). But this was such fun to see:


This is Pyramid Lake, CA. As you are traveling through the mountains on I-5 heading south, you come across this wonderful sight! And this is our destination:

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Mudslides & Forest Fires

On one side of the canyon, we had this view:



And directly opposite, this view:

Friday, August 1, 2008

Goodbye Denver!

It was a relief to leave Denver. The hotel gave us two free nights stay. While they are not responsible, it was an appreciated gesture. And the show we worked at was wonderful. The promotion group is Rusty Barn and they were wonderful. We'll be back for the same show next year. I sure won't be staying at the same hotel again. I'll pay more for the host hotel next to the Denver Merchandise Mart. And I won't leave a thing in my car.

Leaving Denver, we went to stay with my cousin for a couple of days. It has been many, many years since I was at her house. I've seen her, just not on her own turf. And what a lovely area. Unfortunately, she was close to the wildfires ravaging CA - the day before we arrived, the fires were 45 miles away. And with a wildfire, 45 miles is nothing. But while we were there, no fire danger. The air was full of soot the first day, and we could smell smoke. But we were safe.



Leaving my cousin's, we drove through the "canyon." This shot is obviously through the windshield. This is the (short) traffic line waiting to pass the firefighter's truck. It was a wierd feeling to hear about thousands of wildfires - and then be driving by some of them.



This is not a shot of CA smog. All the haze you see is smoke from the wildfires. Many of the areas you could see the smoke in the distance, but didn't smell it. And then other areas, you could not only smell the smoke, but sorta feel it while breathing. I will never understand why people breath smoke intentionally. And if you're smoker, please do not feel obligated to try explaining.