Holiday Lights, Potlucks and a Christmas Puppet Show

BLOG

I went with my friend Barb to an Audubon potluck and auction.   They did a nice puppet show. 

There were nine puppets with two women controlling them.
They presented different holiday situations told in poetry.
Lovely!

It occurred to me we are the generation of casseroles.   I make a salad of some kind to break up the starchiness of the casseroles.  I brought a green salad and it was almost all eaten.  What variety of food.  In the silent auction there was a used electric Yamaha organ. I bid on it and got it. I used to play the piano, so this is exciting. Then they had a auction caller. Barb and I checked out what they had and we were interested a tour of Tejon Ranch Conservancy. Including us, we can have 6 people. I picked my daughter Shelley and friend Janet. By Barbara and I splitting the cost of this, we were able to go higher and win the bid. Now Barb needs to pick two people. We want to wait until the weather is milder. We will pack a gourmet lunch and wine. 

This is the Yamaha I got sitting on my dining room table.

If you are interested in what we will see when we do the tour of the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, go here.  There are pictures, a blog, a write up on what they want to accomplish. and other information.

Tejon Ranch Conservancy

Wayne came back to art class!  Yeah!  I enjoyed him and he is very talented so that is good. Linda was also there, so we actually had a "class". We started on lions and next week is our last class until sometime in March.  Carol will have surgery, then have rehabilitation. My plan is to work on transferring  drawings from tracing to  drawing paper by measuring and blocking it.  I've never fully understood this, but in class, we used this technique in drawing lions.  We have done this before, but I think I'm just beginning to get this.  Linda picked up on the problem with my deer.  I thought it was the bent back leg, but she felt I needed to put a little angle on the front back leg.  That solved the problem.  I showed them my horse, but I was embarrassed by it.  They felt just a little work would do it.  So, I re-did it.  It looks better, but something is still off.  While Carol is off, I'm going to work on the pictures that I have.  And finally, I did a lion.  Though, it may be a little off, I like him.  He is sitting on his haunches, somewhat to the side.  I can't seem to show all the skin that is wrinkled, but I got the idea.  Also, he had a lot of hair, not just in front, but underneath and to the sides of his belly.  I never noticed that before.

My deer continues to improve!

She is improving, no longer a cartoon, but she is still off on
proportion.  I think it is the legs mostly.

I like him!  He has character!

Janet and I went to the Holiday Lights at the California Living Museum (CALM).  We really enjoyed it!  It wasn't quite as cold as last year. I bought these Hot packs to attach to my socks at my toes and to also place in my pockets.  The Christmas lights were timed with the Christmas music.   It was all so lovely. After, we went to The Red Pepper to top the evening off. 

Janet at The Holiday Lights at CALM

Me at The Holiday Lights at Calm

So here is another picture of Conner and Kason.  They are a year apart, and they look like twins to me!

My great grandsons Conner and Kason

My granddaughter Crystal is ready to deliver Nylah Marie this month.  She is more than ready.  She feels fat and ugly, though none of us feel she is.  She is just a beautiful young pregnant woman.  She is running out of clothes to wear and feels very unattractive.  I have heard this from others, so I think this is common.  She and Lorence got an apartment.  She came to borrow money to get cleaning supplies, but I had a lot here and gave it to her.  I think things will be so much better after Nylah arrives.

I did see my primary Doctor, Doctor Quiogue. She had breast cancer and chemo and recently returned.  She used to have long straight hair. Now it is short and curly. She looks lovely the way it is, but my friends whose hair did this eventually returned to how it looks before chemo. She said she will leave it short because there is little to do when leaving the house. It saves a lot of time. So I told her my right hip joint was really hurting for about six weeks. She felt it and told me I had bursitis. She gave me a cortisone injection in that point and now it feels a lot better. She gave me instructions on exercises which will help with this. She also had me get lab work done. I'm so glad I saw her.

Here is an excellent description of grieving. This is how it has been for me. 

http://www.thatericalper.com/2015/08/16/person-is-asking-for-advice-hn-how-to-deal-with-grief-this-reply-is-incredible/

So, I liked the week.  It was not completely filled, which is the way I need it.  I have events scheduled this next week that I am looking forward to.  I really hope your week went well and I will see you next Sunday.    Rachel