Drawing Animals is Very Relaxing

I showed Carol what I had done on my friends dogs and my cat.  She recommended more shading on both dogs to get the form better.  So that is what I have been working on.  I also have been working on the hair of my cat Pepper.  She is very distinctive with a mark that makes it look like she has a bowed upper lip.  She also likes to pose while my other cat Daisy is playful like a kitten.  Interesting how different they are.

Patti with more shading

Poopy with more shading and a different pose, needs more work!

My Cat Pepper

That day I left in the afternoon to my friend Martha's home.  Then we went to the Helping One Woman dinner in Visalia.  This time, the group was honoring Mary Beth Tippet who's son committed suicide.  The family had been aware from an early age that he was fighting mental illness, mainly in the form of depression.  Mary Beth tried so hard to make his life as normal as possible, and get him the help he needed, but that cannot always change what is going on.  She is devoting her time to getting teenagers in particular who are suffering from depression and other mental illnesses and/or stating they are suicidal the help they need, by talking about the suicide hotlines and outreach programs for them.  This is the write up they had about her family and their son Jayce.  They have a daughter who has a three year old son.  People can look very normal and also be quite popular and still suffer from this.  So, don't go by looks if someone is saying they really hurt.

Another Helping One Woman group was started in Woodlake.  This next month, we will be going there.  I don't know who is being honored yet, but I'll keep my eyes open.  I stopped by Susan's home on my way home.  She made French toast.  It was so yummy!   We hadn't seen each other in about three months.  I had posted on Facebook about planting some of the left overs of veggies you are cutting.  Well, she planted green onions and what she had growing were so big!  She cuts off pieces when she wants that in her cooking.  Anyway, actually seeing that someone had done that and it worked out so we was very encouraging!

My friend Janet and I went to Mexicali's Tuesday night.  The weather is a little cooler than it has been, but still fairly warm.  I have had the air conditioner off for a few days.  If the temperature is cool enough, I prefer just the outside air.

My friend Vic came Thursday.  We met at a Vietnamese restaurant called Saigon Restaurant.  The food was fresh and flavorful.  I love Asian food, but I recall Vic making dishes like this that he brought to work, so that is why we have been mainly doing Asian.  We are going to Tofu House again next month.  They are really very good.  So I read what Vic writes, and if I have a suggestion, I let him know.  His writing is very good and it is very readable.  I have no suggestions on the topic itself. It is about mental illness, how it was viewed in early times (B.C.) and up to now. I never knew this.  I am learning new information.  I find it fascinating.  I only find minor things to correct.  If I ever did find anything bigger, I of course would let him know, but I don't think I would be the one to find it.

I have been working on my blog to finish it early, because my daughter Shelley and I are going to visit family in Forest Falls, not far from Big Bear.  I think it may be about a year since I've seen Shannon, and I look forward to seeing her and her family.  Now her mother, Kerri, I haven't seen in a few years, though I'm not really sure how long.  I look forward to seeing her so much!

I found this on The Grief Box.  All of us have these issues at all ages, but I think it can be particularly rough on a teenager and then affect them later in life.  She was 17 years old.

http://thegrieftoolbox.com/article/what-losing-parent-young-age-really


 I also recall when I worked in hospice that some people said it was very difficult for them when they were children because people told them their loved one went to sleep. They ended up developing a fear of sleeping, thinking they would disappear.  I have found people, including children always do better when you tell the truth.  You may have to explain it in more basic terms to a child, but they always get it.

Last week I shared what the mudslides did to us in Kern County. A couple of days ago I found an aerial shot of I-5 at the Grapevine which shows how the mud moved over the freeway, both north and south.  Highway 58 really did get it worse, but this was a good picture, so I thought you might like to see it.

I-5 near the Grapevine

Here are two great pictures of Conner, my oldest great grandson.  He is looking less and less like a toddler, and more like a little boy.

Thank you for reading.  I hope you had a good week and that the next week goes as well for you.  I will see you next Sunday.             Rachel