San Diego — Page 2

Just What Were the Reasons?

January 13, 2015 at 9:27 am by Claudia

This winter has been a different animal than last winter. We haven’t had a lot of snow, usually just an inch or two. You’re saying: Hey Claudia, that’s good! Remember last year?

The problem lies with the snow changing to sleet and then changing to rain and then freezing. That’s what happened yesterday. We ended up getting lots of rain on top of the snow and despite our bests efforts to stay on top of the slush, this morning everything has turned to ice. The driveway, the dog corrals – both big and small; everything.

This has happened several times this winter. I would almost rather have a big, clean snow fall. Don hasn’t been able to use the snowblower – the amount of snow doesn’t warrant it. This crappy mess that keeps hitting us is dangerous and a pain in the tush. It’s not making me happy.

And it’s very, very cold. It went down into the teens last night and isn’t supposed to get much warmer during the day today.

Let’s take a minute to gaze upon this photo of the happy couple that hangs above the desk:

onthebeach

Or this one, written about in a Valentine’s Day post a few years back:

onthebeach2

We’re on the beach.

The beach that was just a few miles from our home.

In San Diego.

And I’m much skinnier, but that’s beside the point.

This is the time of year, after the first charming snow fall has come and gone, when I wonder what the heck we’re doing here. Why did we move East? Just what were the reasons?

Oh, I know what they were. And are. And most of the year, we like living here.

Just not now. In the winter.

Or when deer ticks give us lyme disease.

How is the weather where you are? Is it cold? Is it frigid and snowy? Or are you sitting under a palm tree somewhere?

Happy Tuesday.

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Ready to Begin

January 8, 2013 at 9:39 am by Claudia

I had one of those strange early morning dreams in which I was trying to get somewhere and was terribly late (I have this one a lot) and every decision I made further delayed my arrival. I was sleeping so deeply that I felt like I had to push my way to wakefulness. An hour and a half later, I still haven’t woken up and the whole thing left me feeling off and slightly edgy. Do not like.

quiltsupplies

The quilt is sitting on my little desk in the corner of the den. I’m ready to begin the hand quilting process. I had to finish a special Obsession Scarf order first, which I did last night. I know it will take a little time to get back into the rhythm of hand quilting. It always does.

quiltingsuppliesclose

Luckily, I had a lot of my supplies in a drawer here in the den from the time I started hand quilting a little throw I made (at the same time I made this quilt top) but never finished. Note to Claudia: Finish it. I had to gather up my hoops and decide what color quilting thread I wanted to use. I’ve had this thread a long time. I can tell from the price tag that I bought it at Rosie’s Calico Cupboard in San Diego, my favorite quilting shop in the world. I miss that shop every day. I used to spend hours there. It’s huge and they have everything. I was so lucky to have that shop within spitting distance of my home when I lived in San Diego. The nearest quilt shop to me now (that I like) is over an hour away. Years ago, when I mentioned to Don that I would like to learn to quilt, Don went to Rosie’s and in his charming way, asked the staff to recommend all the tools a beginning quilter might need. Those tools, along with a beginner’s class, were my Christmas present that year.

quiltbackpattern

This is the fabric I decided to use for the quilt back. I’ve only done 2 queen size quilts and both times I ordered special quilt backing fabric that was either 108 or 110 inches wide. I know a lot of quilters like to hand piece the backing and I so admire them for that, but by the time I get to the backing I’m in no mood to piece anything. I decided on this rich paisley pattern which I ordered from Keepsake Quilting.

Maybe I’ll do a little hand quilting this evening.

We, and by that I mean Scout and I, are getting ready for our little adventure tomorrow. She doesn’t know about it, but tomorrow is the day we travel to Hartford. Keep your fingers crossed for us. It will be strange and challenging for her since this girl is nothing if not a creature of routine. I have arranged to have two apprentices sit with her in the evenings while I’m at the theater. That doesn’t cover the afternoons, when I might have to be at rehearsal for a while. My aim is to walk her in the park for a long time so that she’s simply so tired that she zonks out. I wonder if it will work? I feel like a mom who has to pack up all the things a baby needs. In this case: a bed, her favorite pillow, her food, her treats, her bowls, her leash, some chopped-up carrots for her evening snack…..and that doesn’t include my stuff!

Happy Tuesday.

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The Story of the Valentine’s Day Surprise

February 15, 2012 at 10:19 am by Claudia

See that (youngish) couple on the beach? There’s a Valentine’s Day story to this photo so I thought I’d share it with you.

Many moons ago, 1995 to be exact, when Don and I were courting, one January day we took one of our walks together on a local beach in San Diego. This particular beach was special to us because we’d met there. I was about to leave on a two week trip to audition prospective students for the theater program.

We had only known each other about 6 months. But we were in love, that we knew.

A man approached us, camera in hand, and introduced himself. He was a photographer for the San Diego Union Tribune and had been taking photos of us from the pier. Could he use one of them in a story slated for Valentine’s Day?

We were both surprised by the whole thing and after hesitating a bit, said yes.

He took down our information and gave us his card.

Almost immediately, I regretted saying yes. You see, we both worked at the same theater. I had students that also worked there. We were keeping our courtship very quiet because I didn’t want everyone, especially my students, to know about my personal life. At least not until we saw where this new relationship was going.

I panicked. I had visions of everyone at the theater talking about our photo being in the paper. Of someone ripping it out of the paper and posting it on one of the bulletin boards at the theater. Since I had to leave, I begged Don to call the photographer and say we had changed our minds. He did. We still wanted a copy of the photo if at all possible so Don asked him if we might be able to get a copy. We’d be happy to pay for it. No, the photographer said, it was against the policies of the newspaper to give a copy of a photo to anyone who was not willing to be credited in print. Ah well.

I left town. I came down with the flu while I was away and arrived home on Valentine’s Day eve, sicker than a dog. The morning of Valentine’s Day, Don knocked on my door with flowers, chocolate and a wrapped package in hand. Still sick, I unwrapped the package to find this framed photo.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

How did he do it? Well, Don has his ways. He pursued the photographer, told him our story, charmed and cajoled him until that lovely man said he’d make a copy for us. No charge. I had no idea any of this had been going on. I just sat there, framed photo in hand, and cried.

You do understand why I fell in love with him, don’t you?

This remains one of our most cherished possessions.

I hope you were surrounded by love yesterday and every day.

Just What Were the Reasons?

Ready to Begin

The Story of the Valentine’s Day Surprise

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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