Jody Semper took this gorgeous picture of the wild flowers at Tejon Ranch, perhaps 30 miles away from my home. I wonder if it was in an off road area. So beautiful!
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| It is a very short time when the wildflowers are in bloom. It is so magical, and Jody Semper got a gorgeous shot of them! She posted in Facebook |
First Friday is a regular event in downtown Bakersfield. It is primarily to support the art galleries but there were street venders selling homemade jewelry and other crafts, plus art. It was a balmy 73 degrees at 6:30 pm, a good place to go with girlfriends or a date. The restaurants do a booming business that evening, so if you are planning on dining out, I'd recommend a reservation for that evening. It is a little crowded, but with street musicians and all the activity, it makes a wonderful night out.
I went to an art show of Cheri Moats Sperl at the Bakersfield Arts Association on First Friday. We used to work at the same place, Memorial Hospital, she a dietitian and me a social worker. Then a few months back while I'm in my art class, she walks in. She looks very familiar and I couldn't place her. I asked her name and with my surprise and then telling her my name, it all came back. Well she has become an accomplished artists. She uses oils. She does lots of cat pictures and scenery and people. The people are in very relaxed states. She has three indoor cats and two outdoor cats, so she gets many poses from them. All of her pictures look relaxed and natural. It really is a comfortable position people and animals are in. So Cheri continues as a full time dietitian and has produced a lot of art in a few short months. She tells me she has the essence of cat down. She sure does as she has the essence of people too! Cheri sold several pieces on the first day of her showing! This show will go through March. Cheri started painting four yeas ago. I love what she is doing and she said all feedback she gets improves her work. Well I love it now, so I wonder where she will be in four more years!
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| Cheri Moats Sperl, Featured Artist at the Bakersfield Arts Center and Association |
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| Oil Painting by Cheri Moats Sperl |
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| The Artist, Cheri Moats Sperl |
As I was leaving the art center, I went into Encore Boutique - Chic Resale. It is situated in the building the Art Center vacated on Eye street. A woman, Cath, came up to me saying she felt I hadn't been there before, which was true. She explained that this is a project of The Mission (changed the name from the Rescue Mission four years ago). It is a fundraiser and way for people in their programs to get experience in retail to hopefully become employable. Clothing is either gently used or new. It is set up like any other clothing store around. The most expensive items, at least on the first floor were $12, but if you bought two, the charge would be $20. There were quite a few people browsing and shopping. The second floor was a bridal boutique and men's clothing. I think it is worth checking out.
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| Encore Boutique 1817 Eye Street Bakersfield, CA 93301 |
I went with Barbara to the Board of Supervisors meeting. It was supposed to be the vote to put an 1/8 of a cent increase in the sales tax to be dedicated to the library. When funds are tight, the library loses. It is the least funded library system in California and we have the lowest literacy level at least in the state. Well, they were expecting the results of a poll on the desire for this tax, but it will not be ready until this next Tuesday. It is also the latest date to get this done so it can get on the June ballot. Anxiety is ratcheted up!
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| Kern County Board of Supervisor's Meeting |
My cousin Barrie sent me old pictures of my family which are meaningful. My grandmother's brother and his son also died in the holocaust. I had found out her sister died in the holocaust from the information I got last week. Incredible what humans will do to other humans! It makes me angry and very sad.
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| Riven Weinstein, brother of my grandmother Fannie. Both he and his son died in the Holocaust. |
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| My dad with his parents, Julius and Fannie |
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| My dad and his brother Milt, unknown age |
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| Me in first grade - I see my dad in my face |
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| Me in second grade - I see my dad even more in this picture. |
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| My Grandfather Julius with his sister. I don't know her name. |
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| My grandmother is sitting on the left. She was a dressmaker. |
My friend Barbara and I got together to watch two movies that we missed at the theater, Suffragette and Room. Both so very different. It was a little hard to hear the talk in the movie Suffragette. Thank goodness we can show closed captioning. That really helped. Room was fascinating. The thoughts of the child seemed like the thoughts a child might have. Interesting how it was hard to understand concepts like outside and inside when you have only been inside. Well done.
I have 10% of The Bible left. From what I'm reading, the hatefulness of some people is not what The Bible supports. I saw love, even with people who are not like each other, unless they meant to do harm.
My art classes with Carol Bradshaw starts on Tuesday. That is good, because I need pushing. We are doing rocks, drawing one class, then detail in the second class. I hope to use the pictures I took in the canyon. I got lots of rocks. I would have liked to go closer to the water, but I don't trust myself in being able to walk steadily. And, I went alone. If I ran into trouble I couldn't count on someone seeing or hearing me in a timely manner if I needed it.
So that is in for me. It was a full week in a different way, but good. I like all that I do. I feel very fortunate. I hope you are doing well, and I will see you next Sunday. Rachel
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