D-Day Squadron Flyover - 25 May 2020

I learned a D-Day Squadron of historic aircraft would be participating in a 'SoCal Strong' Memorial Day Flyover to honor veterans and health care workers. The route would start with Loma Linda Medical Center at noon and ended a hour later at Chino Airport. They would covered 20 key spots including two national cemeteries, four airports, six hospitals, several beaches, the Queen Mary and San Pedro's own Battleship USS Iowa. I was planning on seeing it from Beacon Street where I first saw the USNS Mercy leaving port; but when I got there it seemed too far away, was congested with people, and had too many trees in the way. I went north of the Iowa, parking by the Fanfare Fountains (now under renovations) and walk south half way to the Iowa. When the first set of planes passed over, I realized there were too many trees in the way as they passed directly overhead, not over the Iowa. Adjusting my position, I was able to get a few shots of the next two batches of planes.

The Squadron contained the C-53 D-Day Doll of the Commemorative Air Force's Inland Empire Wing, leading C-47 Flabob Express, C-47 Betsy's Biscuit Bomber and C-53 Spirit of Benovia. There were other WWII-era aircraft including C-47 What's Up Doc from the Palm Springs Air Museum and Condor Squadron's T-6s.

As stated on their website (warbirdsnews.com): "Our mission flying WWII aircraft over parts of Southern California for Memorial Day is to salute our veterans who sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy today. In addition, we will acknowledge the many medical personnel, first responders, and citizens who have provided unwavering support in caring for the local populace during this pandemic."

Of course the news plane flying alongside, got the best shot.

 Thank you everyone, for your service!

USNS Mercy - 15 May 2020

This morning I took my cup of coffee to the couch and turned on the television, which has been off for weeks as I find pandemic news, too depressing. But at 7:00AM today, the news was all about the USNS Mercy leaving the Port of Los Angeles.

Dress for the Occasion

In normal days, I would have grabbed my brother, our dogs and drive down the street (only two blocks) to catch the action. With my brother now in hospice care, I felt I needed to honor his love of San Pedro and go check out the action.

This 1,000 bed hospital was brought into the port on March 24th, from a Naval Base in San Diego to offer support to local hospitals by taking in overflow patients, not suffering from the coronavirus.

The crew only treated 77 patients and unfortunately experienced their own outbreak when 7 crew members tested positive for COVID-19.

Until I saw the Mercy leaving, I really had no idea just how large and impressive she is.

Images from ABC Eyewitness News

During its short stay, we even had our share of "Crazies" as an engineer tried to crash a train into the ship believing it was part of a government takeover.

I headed over to Warehouse One, for a different view.

There were more people here, during a "stay-at-home" order, than I've ever seen at this picture perfect location (including the sail of Tall Ships).

People were cheering and waving flags to thank the crew for their service.

The police were only turning away anyone without a face mask.

Next, I headed over to the SS Lane Victory for a view with the Angels Gate Lighthouse. Since all public places are still closed (including the parking lot which has the best view of San Pedro Harbor), I had to settle for a quick shot along the pier.

Of course the local paper was out in the water, getting the best shot of all. 

Image from Daily Breeze

Rare White Prairie Dogs

I was reading Geek Trivia and it had this question:
"Which of these North American mammals has a sophisticated language system?" 
Elk, Prairie Dogs, Raccoons, or Coyotes
I choose prairie dogs and learned:
Recent research indicates that prairie dog calls, which were long believed to just be simple barks and chirps intended to sound a general alarm, are actually a language system that can communicate a high degree of detail about what is going on in the prairie dog community...specific calls for coyotes and wild dogs, unarmed men and armed men, and they even indicate if a predator is on the ground or in the air. The prairie dogs can communicate not just what the threat is, but what direction it is coming from and at what speed. Plus their vocal nature doesn't increase the risk of getting killed as they project their voices like a ventriloquist and when multiple prairie dogs are repeating the call, it becomes impossible to use your ear to narrow down the location of the animals.

Wow! Then I remembered Tinky Winky and I visiting The Prairie Homestead, Badlands, South Dakota in September of 2002. (Note small white animal, right of center.)

They had many rare white prairie dogs.

They are not albino, they are leucistic, which means their skin and fur lack basic color pigmentation.

And, this area had lots of them.

Here are some additional images I captured on that trip: 

Love those wagon wheels...

Ruby Celebration Quilt Show - 15 FEB 2020

The South Bay Quilters Guild celebrated their 40th anniversary with a festive quilt show. With over 160 items on display, I only captured those that caught my eye or fit my tastes. Their featured quilter, Lois Pio had 19 items on display:

Hand in Hand by Lois Pio

Scrappy Hearts for Kelsey by Lois Pio

There were nine categories. Under "Applique":

A Yo Yo Study by Roberta Tom

Blooming Beauties by Mary Jane Jewell

Close-up Blooming Beauties

Flower Power Bear by Nancy Payne

Simple Gifts by Eileen Rossick
First Time Blue Ribbon

Close-up Simple Gifts

Under "Art Quilts":

Artichoke 3 Ways by Alexandera Tsubota

Emerging Eccentric Elltiptical Eods by Stephania Bommarito

Close-up Emerging Eccentric Elltiptical Eods

Under "Modern":

Amish with a Modern Twist by Pam Overton

Bright Beads on a String by Patricia Kytlica
First Time Blue Ribbon

Skyline Reflected by Pam Overton

Smile by Sally Fasteau
First Time Blue Ribbon

Tangled Geese by Fanny Tsao

Wonky Log Cabin BOM by LaVerne Owen-Barakat

The above quilt caught my eye because Log Cabin is my favorite pattern and the only one I've ever made. Here's one of my panels made from antique men's ties and turned into a pillow:

My Log Cabin

Under "Mixed Techniques": 

Boo Boo's Kitties by Rain Burch

Fly with Me by Patricia Kytlica

Mariner's Star:Passage to Japan by Nadine Kirk

Peaceful Galaxy by Rose Ornoto

Pineapple Punch! by Kimberly Einmo
First Time Blue Ribbon

Spring Dresden Garden by Carol Rigg

Sew in Love by Linda Flynn

Close-up Sew in Love

The "Potpourri" category had odds and ends such as a table runner, a vest and these wonderful cushions made by different people:

 Crazy Cushion by Sally Fasteau, Karen Rakita

My Crazy Cushion by Pat Bryan, Pam Overton

And this item:

Is it Halloween Yet? by Joanne English

In the "Pieced - Large" category:

Caution: Blue Tongue Crossing by Vivian Ruddy

Wicked Wisdom by Angele Ryan

Close-up Wicked Wisdom

My Dyslexic Kaffe Quilt by Eileen Rossick

I didn't capture any items from "Pieced - Medium" but here's one from "Pieced - Small":

Twister Bunny by Wendy Petri

Back side of Twister Bunny

The last category was "Ruby Challenge" where the quilters made a 24" x 24" piece using the color Ruby (anything from pink to deep red) and had to include 40 in some fashion such as 40 stitched, 40 squares, 40 buttons, the number 40 (which could be Roman numeral):

Ruby Sparkler by Nancy Valencia
First Time Blue Ribbon

40 Rubious Hexangular Jubile-oons

by Stephania Bommarito

A Dresden Sewing Billage by Patricia Kytlica
First Time Blue Ribbon

Forty Rubys by Ethie Wilson

Ruby Flamingo by Jenifer Briggs

Times Have Changed by Gini Ozenne

Close-up of Times Have Changed

Ruby Mandala by Kellie Rollo-Fireman

40 Spools by Fanny Tsao

They had several volunteers with gloves who could turn a quilt corner up to view the underside; I enjoyed their cleaver "Don't Touch" signs as much as the display quilts: