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Is the same goblin that hides my camera cable to upload pictures every time I want to do so, the same one that eats one of my husband's white socks about every third dryer load?

Top Ten Reasons Socks Disappear from the Dryer

So, there will be no pictures today.

I went to the Road to California last week and took a few photos so I will try to post them. But I do want to mention two of my favorite blogs I have been following:

The first is from the yahoo group "Quilting on a budget". The post today is about free Valentine patterns. Where was this when I was looking for patterns.

I am participating in my first ever block swap, heart blocks. The "Forty year old Virgin" has nothing on me. I took a picture of my fabrics and was going to post my block after the swap, I assume that is proper etiquette. That is what I was looking for the cable. I am also doing a vintage valentine swap. I love Valentine's day. It is such a personal holiday.

Oh , back to good posts. If you have never seen The Daily Coyote website, it is a treat. It is about Charlie the coyote who was adopted by a human and tomcat at 10 days old after his mom was killed. It is a wonderful photo diary. And today's picture is too precious.
I do not have permission to use her photograph but please click here.
Note: on the list of Valentine's projects is a wall hanging which looks suspiciously like the one in Crystal Carter's book Holiday Happenings although there is no credit.

It's Yellow

The color of the moment is Yellow। There has been wide spread speculation about what Michelle Obama would wear for the inauguration? Who would she wear? What color would she wear?

But now the speculation is over. It is Yellow We have been told she has a preference for Jewel Tones. The blog, Mrs. O, Mrs. T reported that she had commissioned a series of outfits in jewel tones from Maria Conejo. We saw the purple from Ms. Conejo on the train trip this past weekend.

But yellow it is. And Isabel Toledo yellow. 

Karen at Living Life at Lee Haven called for a quilt to commemorate the inauguration and to make it a tradition. Agreeing that this was a wonderful idea. So last night I pulled purple, blues from her day of service and kids concert and preemptively started pulling white, as I thought that would be her color of choice today. 

The three designers she has chosen on this most important four days are Narciso Rodriguez, the son of Cuban immigrants who designed the most important dress of 1999, Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress when she wed JFK, Jr., Mario Cornejo, Brooklyn based, Chilean born, by way of London and now Isabel Toledo, Cuban born, Kent State educated. All Americans with Hispanic and circuitous routes to highlight this colorful event. Nothing safe, like Ralph Lauren on Calvin Klein, in the choice. I guess this will not be a safe quilt.

But it is back to the yellow. Oh and touches of green in the gloves and shoes. Yellow is the color I have least of in my stash. Maybe that will have to change to. Yellow is hopeful, sunny, optimistic and will make my quilt more so with the addition of yellow. I plan to donate this quilt, rather than keep it. And I will be making it with "the Audacity of Hope."

And who knows, the inaugural gown is still to come. I may get my white. Alex Anderson once said in a class I took, "Everything looks clearer with white." We need clarity.


Mary

At 12:00 EST today, Americans say "Goodbye, Mr. President". "Hello, Mr. President". It would always strike me as odd as a child to hear the phrase "The King is dead. Long live the King." But this must be the American equivalent. As Americans, we wish them both well.

I participated in a day of service today, packing care packages for soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was a beautiful day here in Southern California, in the eighties. On the other side of the continent, it is bitterly cold for the people taking office, leaving office and all the observers. But half a world away, it is always bitter, so I felt like I made a contribution. A small one, but a contribution.

I read on a blog today, "Don't you love receiving gifts?" If no one is on the other end originating the effort, there would be no gifts. This person would not have that joy. I am not a great giver of gifts on imposed dates nor do I think they are so important to receive, but little reminders that one was thought of spontaneously, now that is a gift worth giving and receiving.

For the gifts we have received and the gifts we will be asked to contribute, I am grateful.