PRINTERS AND BLACKSMITHS, PEOPLE YOU MEET

Paul Quyle, left, brought his printer friend, Mark, from Campbell, CA. as his guest to meet us last night while we hashed over some CCTV business. Mark is a modern printer and Paul has a printing press from 1899. Paul gathered his type set and molds and showed how it was done in three videos. One of the videos can be seen on the link below, the next two will follow on the same website.

http://tinyurl.com/24p6jub 

 Paul is a fascinating person from so many angles its hard to choose one. He is a blacksmith, a master potter, printer, and retired teacher. 

He studied Marine Biology, art, he took welding classes, saddle making, veterinary medicine. He has a woodworking shop, orchards and gardens.
He entered the printing trade from necessity, to print labels for his clay business instead of tediously hand stamping them. Now, he is a master printer and  has over 120 printers in his collection. But, the 1899 press, one of only 12 in the world, rarely gets used.
Paul, at 82, remembers the days when trade secrets were jealously guarded. If he couldn't get into a guild, he'd figure out how to do the task himself, whether it was printing, making clay that didn't explode, building a house or a kiln, he would do it. You forge something, fix something, make your own tools, a philosophy that today seems arcane in a throw-away, assembly line style of doing things. Self sufficiency is as ancient as the rocks where passing on skills to the next generation is the natural order of things. It works for the Quyles where a new generation of family artisans now run the ranch,  a winery, the pottery and continue what Paul started while he still plays with printing and blacksmithing.

 People drop in all the time to see the works on Highway 4, just above Murphys, along with the pottery, paintings, glass work, and wine tasting from Bryce Station Winery.

Here students of Paul's work in his blacksmith shop.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Today, last minute chores, a drive to Sacramento and I leave again. The refrigerator is nearly empty. The sprinkler clock got changed 3 times, still isn't working. But, luckily for me, Karen is house sitting and can hand  water from the valves.

the left behind items have been reduced to blue sunglasses, a blue toy car, a Squatters Beer T-shirt, and a pedometer. Looking much better.

When I left Calaveras County in May, the Obama Reinvestment Act had only funded grants in our county. It was nice to see actual jobs on our road.

And, I'm told, the prices for real estate in the county have risen.
 I haven't gotten the local papers, but heard a lot of headlines after the fact from friends.
I lost my prescription glasses while working in the yard.
And, didn't get half as much done as I expected. Computer is still putt-putting and the printer won't print. So, back on the road tomorrow and some kind of regularity. See you there!

SUGARLAND, DINNER, BREAKFAST

My time in Murphys is short.  The computer is making funny motor-boat noises and blogging has to be quick until its fixed, or until I can get a signal on my old desktop machine. (Not happening.) Who would have thought that just three years ago I had never even seen a blog?
Pam Quyle and I talked about  having dinner in town. It was loaded with tourists; not a parking spot in sight. Besides, after my huge party, it was time to clean out the food in the frig. She helped me but she also brought marinated cheese balls, sushi and Skinny Dip beer to add to my over abundance. We ate muffalato sandwiches made with ground turkey, seasoned with cumin, onion granules and basil flakes. Add to that shrimp cocktails, California rolls, the cheese balls and beer with the appetizers.
I rolled into bed about 11 p.m. Couldn't sleep and read until 1 a.m.

This morning, Michal Houston and I had bloody Marys for openers, at Grounds, then eventually went inside to get away from some pesky insects.

This couple were all excited about having seen the concert at Kautz Vineyards last night. Part of that crowd who came up to see Sugarland and over ran the meager parking.
"The best", they said. Sugarland is a Country and Western Band with a very popular singing duo.
Murphys is a nice getaway from Sacramento, San Jose, Fremont, San Francisco, Stockton, Modesto and surrounds. I'm glad I don't have to make the drive. 
The refrigerator, unfortunately, doesn't look much emptier but I'm working on it.

FEAST AND FUN

 Early in the day,Son Doug prepared the shish-ke-bob and marinated tri-tips and chicken with Hoagie keeping him company. Hoagie, a former neighbor came with his 14 year old daughter.

 By one o'clock, everyone had moved to the flume for a pleasant float.

  Clark stayed behind and did the barbecuing.

 Wet and cool and hungry, it was time for some serious feasting and games.

The food, contributed by all was outstanding.  We gathered 44 family members, relatives and friends for this yearly event in Murphys.

  Then the games began. There were horseshoe players and the watchers. A bit of volley ball on the side. The kids played on the trampoline, had squirt gun wars, and in general kept themselves happily occupied.

Adopted Daughter Karen has been the Bocce Queen for many years and lost her title this year. (That's Karen in the middle.)

A new champ emerged among the younger set. Grandson Owen did 368 double bounces on the trampoline.

By nightfall, five tents were up, the house was wall to wall bags and shoes. Ice chests took up large portions of the decks. Everyone comfortably fed and worn out, was up for a small display of fireworks.
Kris reminded us it was Independence Day, and sang a patriotic song.

For an album of more pictures, click on the following link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/1579penn/7310FeastAndFun#

FRAZZLED AND FRAGRANT

I flew from Hartford, Connecticut Airport on Tuesday. Tried to get a picture of the Hartford skyline as we whipped through since I'd never been there before.

I always look for art work when I encounter a new airport.  Seattle and Sacramento have a river running through them in the floor tiles. Here the river floats high over head on a banner as though you are flying over the landscape. Okay!

The plane was late, little Sacramento Airport was jammed with folks streaming around baggage claim looking lost and bewildered. Daughter Virginia picked me up and brought me to her "new" house 45  minutes later than expected. She was frazzled because it was moving day for them. Some empty boxes, but mostly full ones, a hasty dinner.

Back to Murphys Wednesday morning.  Karen, who house sits for me while I'm gone, adheres to my Certified Wildlife Habitat Designation, which means we kill NOTHING, we spray NOTHING, we supply water for critters and its been soooo much fun to witness the increase in wildlife about the place. Except the skunk that got into the house and left a bit of fragrance.

Here she is pointing to two dots on her arm from a bee stinging. "I killed it dead," she told me. If the little sucker had stung me just once, I would have let him go, but he got me twice." 

FREE SPEECH AND YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Sue, my CPA's assistant, handed back my tax  package and told me that when she first moved to California, she picked a California Wild Poppy and a friend told her it was against the law to pick that flower since it is the California State flower. We both chuckled because I had had the exact same experience when I first moved to California. I've yet to hear of anyone getting arrested, but given what has happened to Michigan's arbutus, Florida's corals, Louisiana's Cypress and thousands of other natural treasures, maybe our law makers had the right idea. We respect this beauty.

 

 I don't know what flower covers these hillsides on the grapevine, but how can one not be thrilled at this gorgeous show of tiny plants so numerous they form acres of carpet. Obviously, someone is tired of wild flowers in my blog since I received a sarcastic anonymous comment. I'm a true believer in free speech and I might have published it if the writer had had guts enough to leave a name. 

 Spectacular wild flowers are a treat that make us temporarily forget those long, wet, cold days of rain it took to bring them out. I saw the desert in bloom for the first time, but in my own backyard, there is plenty of beauty. On the way home from my tax appointment I took pictures of  the redbuds that put on a show every year on the side of the road. 

Lupines in some places were much thicker than this patch, but these were closer to the road. They are tall and full this year.

The white ceanothus is often referred to as wild white lilac around here. It contrasts beautifully with the redbud and is plentiful right now.

Poppies and deep purple vetch make a good show from a distance even in this snarl of grass. Filieree blooms, bright yellow monkey flowers, some indian paint brush and  another bright orange plant scaling the steep canyon walls where the road was too narrow to stop, made my drive such pleasure. I hope this inspires you drive slowly and enjoy the show instead of hurrying by without appreciating the beauty in your own back yard.

"I WAS BORN IN A SMALL TOWN"

"I Was Born In A Small Town..." I don't know the rest of the words to the song, but in my case, the words are true. I'm sure there is a deep seated reason that our family migrated away from old familiar places to settle in a small town. We are considered rural by the U.S. Census.
Then, every once in awhile, some incident reminds me of why I love to live in a place like Murphys.
When Richard Olson goes to the local bank, his dog Chico comes with him. Richard does his banking, but Chico steps up to the counter at El Dorado Savings and is handed a dog biscuit and then he patiently sits while his master finishes his paperwork.
You can see he and Chico riding around town in a bright red Jeep.
Yep! That's just one of the reasons I love living in Murphys. You'll also note the lack of long lines in the bank on a Friday.
If you discover you've forgotten your checkbook at the grocery store? They'll put a note in the cash register that you'll be back to pay later. If you've been sick, your doctor is likely to call you after a couple days and ask how you are doing.
In small towns you get personal service and most of the business people know you by name.
I'm still humming..."I was born in a small town.." Its a great place to be.

TOILETS AND MORE

It rained, a little, for my out of town guests. In Murphys you can be a tourist in your own back yard. We walked the Main St. and visited the wall of ovations, the museum, Tea and Tiques, the famous Murphys Hotel bar, etc. but, the big hit was the toilet store. Better known as IDEA BATHROOM MACHINERIES. Hey, we locals know the good spots.

Mid-Westerners had never heard of a gold flume, and we visited one flowing nearby. I was surprised at myself and how much I knew about gold mining and hydraulic hosing, and panning.
The famous gold nugget at Kautz Ironstone Winery gave Pat a slight case of gold fever. (A pair of earrings worth, anyway.
The old goldrush Murphys Pokey was used to hold drunks, mainly. Luckily, it only had room for two.
Here we are, doing the "say cheese" photo at the famous Murphys Hotel. (I think one of us looks like an idiot tourist and she lives in Murphys.)