THE PAWN SHOP SIN

I'm sure at some point in my life, it must have been a sin to go into a pawn shop. At least for a "girl". Kind of like entering the Erotic Museum, or a bar. Heavy religion kind of does things like that to you.

We looked at cheapie bicycles yesterday.  They have them at several places around town. Its sort of a mixed bag, do you buy a good ride? Or do you buy a cheapie in case it gets stolen? Or a second hand junker?
The cheapie new ones didn't appeal to me. Heavy. You have to assemble them from the box. The second hand stores didn't have a one. Jim suggested a pawn shop. Whaa?

At Super Pawn, located in the middle of a respectable shopping center, was a Trek bike sitting in front of the entrance.  Hey!

I entered the place expecting a dim interior with a tough guy wearing diamond rings, a  cigar hanging out of his mouth in front of a counter filled with handguns, rings and watches. I guess the pawn shops I've seen from movies are from days long past. This was a modern building, with well organized items of every sort, generators, electronics, sporting goods, television sets. There were rifles in a case on the wall and a case with jewelry. I didn't see a hand gun. It had a spacious floor with two women helpers and a guy handling the cash register.It didn't feel sinful at all. Dang! I kind of wish it had been the place of my imagination, just for the fun of it.
The bike was a real bargain, but it needed a bit of work that we aren't prepared to do on the road, or wait for a bike shop. So, we passed on it.
 
I got a comment yesterday from a reader who said it appeared to her that my bike was stolen in San Luis. NOT!  For the record, it was here in Yuma where we are parked at the American Legion. Jim attached his severed cable to a post at the Legion warning others about the possibility of theft. This morning we are moving to a friend's driveway for one night before heading back to Las Vegas.

THE THREE M'S DISCOVER FURNITURE JEWELRY

Mary, Madalaine and Michal, the Three M's did Camps.  We M's are long time friends and since Michal and I do a good deal of traveling, we don't have much time together.  We celebrated at Camps last year where they have good food and drinks.  So now, its a tradition. The bartender here is known  for her delicious Bloody Marys.

 

 Her Bloody Marys may require a chemistry degree, but we didn't ask. Yum!

 Every year Camps has a quilt show of local quilters at Greenhorn Creek. Quilts are normally built on straight lines, but this quilt declares it has NO straight lines. It makes an interesting interpretation of Christmas trees in the snow. Its based on the Dr. Seuss story How The Grinch Stole Christmas with Cindy Lou Who. An original by Tamara Leberer.

 A touch of beading and the inventive circular quilting give it cache.

 A Geometric Wonder, designed and quilted by Donna Coll caught everyone's eye draped over the fireplace mantle.

 Cutie Cats have colorful buttons, catty footprints, catty materials and was a fun subject made by Shera Winter.

 Beautifully embroidered with dragonflies, humming birds, flowers and butterflies by Kathy Jayne.

 We M's liked the Hawaiian print wall hanging above, all hand done by Karen Beeding.

 Maddie and Michal don't quilt, but they appreciate them. I understand the work that goes into a cathedral window pattern above, but we all chose as our favorite, the Poppy Wall hanging by Tamara Leberer.

The picture doesn't begin to show what work and creative shading is involved in this piece made from very small square and oblong pieces, most only 1/4 inch wide. Lovely.

Sheryl greeted us at the door and later modeled the shoulder wrap or "furniture jewelry" by Tamara Leberer. I had never heard that term before but realized how apt it is. I do the same thing, drape something pretty over a chair or table.
Tamara is a professional. She does machine quilting for others and many of the quilts in this exhibit were machine worked by Tamara. Quilting is an art and an obsession for some people. Beauty is the result.