I'm Back After A Few Weeks Off!

I took a several week hiatus and I am ready to restart my blog again. 

One of my friends, Mike had a stroke recently. He has had complications.  We are anxious that he have a positive outcome from all of this!  He is being weened off the oxygen and that is a plus and got moved out of the Intensive Care Unit.  It is anxiety provoking and I am 5 or 6 hours from there.  His wife Marykay was the first friendship I developed when I moved to Bakersfield.  We have known each other about 40 years. I contacted them a day or two before this happened to arrange when I should come up which we set up toward the end  of February.  I have been willing to come up sooner if she wants me, but she had Mike's daughter and granddaughter at the house.  We have been texting each other, but then we graduated to messaging but with a camera, so it is like we are visiting.  Mike has been improving and they are both hoping he will be home at the time of my scheduled visit,   We did discuss that and it is still a plan. He is a wonderful man and he urged me to start doing my blog again. He also worked on my family tree which added a lot of information I did not have.  Marykay is very special to me. Ours is a  very strong bond.  We have always been so busy and get together one time a year these days, but it always feels like we have been together all along.  These people are so important to me that how they do affects how I feel!

Last time I had written, I was contacted by my solar company that they would send someone out to repair what records my usage.   When that man came, he said the company needs to replace the unit. He also said the company he works with was going out of business.  I received a call from another man a month later stating when he would be out to replace the unit. Then I got another call from a different company saying that solar company went out of business and they were  arranging another date that someone from this company would be out next week. He insisted they are doing fine and not about to go out of business. So they did make it out. This took three months, but it was not something that affected my service.  I'm so glad it didn't affect getting to use my solar power!

My friend Annmarie did make her move to Nebraska.  She hired a Handiman to help her in getting repairs done on the house she bought in Omaha and to make it more livable.  She invited me to come visit when there will be a total eclipse of the sun.  We will drive 5 hours from her home to see it. She is going to arrange a stay at an Airbnb in that area so we will be fresh when we see it.  That will be a once in a lifetime experience and I'll be seeing her after her being many months away. 

I started having food delivered by a program called Blue Apron recommended by one of my sisters. It is delivered once a week three recipes with the food to prepare it, except olive oil, salt and pepper.   There are two servings per recipe, so I get six meals out of this.  But I sometimes have my daughter Shelley over or a friend. I rave about the food because it is tasty.  It is also healthy. They also make a weekly delivery,  that serves four for three meals for $10 more a week- $70.  The one I have is $60 a week. 

Here is a list of companies doing this on the mainland USA.  I say mainland because one of my friends lives in Hawaii and she does not know of this program.    I have no idea if other countries or Hawaii have something like this.  Some offer more variations in diet  and the prices are about the same.  So, I'm listing others I am aware of.  They may taste better or have more choices.  Like I said,  I am using Blue Apron.

MEAL DELIVERY PROGRAMS 

                             Hellofresh.com

                             BlueApron.com

                             SunBasket.com

                             Homechef.com

                             MagicKitchen.com

                             FitPantry.com

                             Chefd.com

                             Emeals.com

I still get a box every two weeks from Hopeful Harvest of organic fruits and vegetables. They include recipes, but the fruit I can eat daily and sometimes the veggies make a great addition to a hearty soup. 

Since I last wrote, two of my granddaughters, Alyssa and Meagan (granddaughter-in-law) have had babies. Surprisingly, they both named their sons Bentley. One was premature but did so well he was able to go home after a week!  That is five great-grandchildren.  They are both darling!

This Alyssa's son Bentley - Shelley is Grandma

This is Meagan and Billy's son Bentley.
He was premature, but doing very well,
born 6 days before Christmas, (Billy's birthday!)
Meagan's hand gives an idea how little he was!

In October my friend Janet and my daughter Shelley went to a barbecue held at Robby's Nursery and Calico Garden once a year. A chef showed us how to use fresh herbs with all the food prepared. It was wonderful. We got to enjoy wonderful food and we picked up some great ideas. You need to go there to pay and register for it before the event. A fabulous evening that is very reasonably priced.  

Thanksgiving and Christmas are always pleasant. I like that we have tasty food and gather together.  Thanksgiving is at my home and Christmas has been at Shelley's home.

My daughter Shelley, got her Real Estate License. I think this was a good move for her so she can be more independent. 

My daughter Ronda sent me homemade jams, lemon bars, Divinity and a butter cream with nuts in it.  Though one jar broke and the lemon bars were crumbs, it still was delicious!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are always pleasant. I like that we have tasty food and gather together. So after Christmas, I went to see my step-mom, Kate for a couple of days and then down to Seal Beach to see my friend Barbara. We met with two other friends from high school days, Linda and Toni for lunch. We graduated  almost 50 years ago!  Here is a picture of us. 

From Left to Right, Linda, Rachel, Barbara and Toni

My friend Barbara and I are going to go to the 50th reunion. Both Linda and Toni hedged on going to the reunion. I will pick Barbara up when we go. 

It is amazing that while I'm gone, I can keep myself going. As soon as I get home, I crash.  My friend Janet said that did seem to be my pattern. She said, "you need to plan not to do anything for at least 48 hours after you get home."   She is right. I forget this, so it helps for a friend to remind me of what is going on. 

The other thing I have done during this time is with my friend Barbara (I have several friends named Barbara and Linda), who is also a retired social worker and I got a room close to Universal Studios so we could go to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood.  This area did look like areas that would be in Harry Potter. We ate lunch there and I had a frozen Butter Beer, which I really enjoyed.  It is non-alcoholic.  We also went on this ride that gave you the sense of playing Quidich with Harry Potter. I haven't been on a roller coaster since high school, since I was so dizzy and disoriented then.  I closed my eyes to get my bearings and would peek periodically to see what was happening. It was interesting and that was the only way for me to look without getting sick. 

So I have had Art Classes with Carol Bradshaw.  We have been using colored pencils which has been fun. I have a lot of the same problems, but I have enjoyed them. My step-mom Kate gave me a 36 pencil set of Faber-Castells. She said the professional artists use this brand. I'll try it to see if there is a difference.  So all of these are colored pencil drawings.

Coloring Flip-Flops

Heart Design 

Added more to Hearts, Framed for Alyssa

  

Pumpkin in Front of Spider Web
(My Step-Mom Kate thought it was Interesting
to have the Pumpkin in the Web.  I
Thought it was in Front of Web!)

Butterflies Settled on a Wood Fence

Bananas on a Counter.  My Friend Linda (another one) Gave
me a Palette of Eye Shadow to use in my art.  I used for Wall Paper Design.
Carol Bradshaw Our Teacher did not know if it Would Last
Life the Colored Pencils.

Two Pears

Leaf with Three Drops of Rain

Someone was calling me, but I was suspicious because it wasn't from in the United States. It was 3-175-067-3676. I looked it up on the internet and found that many people have been called by this number.  Some have answered and were told there was a problem with their computer. I responded to something like this, but it was a USA phone number and foolishly gave them my credit card info and access to my computer. I freaked when I realized what I had done. My bank helped me to untangle myself from them.  My computer was acting up even though I took it in to be cleaned up. I ended up buying MAC products to cut down on my vulnerability and I'm so glad I did!  I never answer the phone now unless a person I know is calling.  My feeling is that they can leave a message. It is much safer handling it that way. 

The last time our Red Hat group met, we talked about private issues. You normally would not discuss some of this, but if one of us gets brave enough to bring it up, we find that several of us have been dealing with it.  So I brought up piddling.  I mean, I used to have a good stream, but no longer!  Sometimes I think I should sit a while longer because more might come.  Ugh!  Though my daughter Shelley is not at that point yet, she hears about issues that will be hers when she becomes our age.  It does help to have other people around who know what you are talking about.

I read a list of what people have said to this young man, Ryan Hamner who has survived four bouts with cancer.  It is initially a stunner when you first hear it.  He started this site 2Survive, a site for cancer survivors in 2011. He is a singer and songwriter encouraging others to tell their stories.   His site is 2Surviveonline.com 2Surviveonline.com.   I had a similar experience of people saying very odd things to me.   I didn't feel people were trying to be cruel.  My thought is that they just didn't think. So this was Ryan's experience:

Some HILARIOUSLY Dumb Things People have Said to Me!

So I will do my blog once a month.  I felt like I had a full time job doing it weekly. It became particularly hard when I traveled. I did it, but I had to set aside time to do this.  I appreciate that you are curious, interested in what I write. Though I have breast cancer which became a stage IV in 2007, I'm still here and it is 17 years from my first diagnosis in January 2000, then a stage II. In April of 2007 is when my husband died of cancer and my cancer had spread to my neck. Comfort measures were the words used with me then, but I think it is more than comfort measures.  I take Herceptin now because they found I was also HER2 Positive then. I refused the other chemotherapy because they had really made me sick. Why do this if I have to do it for the rest of my life?  It doesn't make sense to me.  So I'm looking for ways to live my life fully until it is my time to go. Psychologically, I'm doing okay.  I had worked through a lot of issues before, so I'm taking it day to day now.  I have some great family members and friends which can make all the difference in the world!   I love going to art classes and I'm seeing how I can do better. I've given several of my pieces away, because I have no room to put more on my walls. I see it as I'll live on through the pieces I created. It is a good feeling!  If you want to understand a little more about my background, read my intro. I have done well over 100 issues of my blog which varied a lot depending on what was going on. So thank you for reading and I will see you next month. And, if you have any thoughts on what I share or what you would like to hear, I would appreciate hearing from you!

Rachel

Seeming to Get the Idea about Shading

My ex-neighbor Celeste called. The house she owned sold and the people who bought it are doing work on it before they move in.

 During our conversation, she brought up about a cat that may have been dropped off by her home.  Celeste said the cat is declawed.  She thinks it might be past youth. It is a male but he is not Neutered.  She calls him Clancy. He is white and black. He is not aggressive.  He has personality and needs to be an indoor cat and probably do better in a one cat home. She asked me to share this thinking maybe a person in Kern County might be interested. She lives near Tehachapi. 

Carol my art teacher could see how I'd grown in doing my art.  In particular, I really am doing better at shading.  She still had suggestions which were good and obvious as we looked at each one. So helpful!  I really appreciate it. Fellow student Linda also finds this so helpful.   So I worked on the pictures I posted last week. Next week I'll bring in pictures of snakes to choose my subject. 

More detail added and corrected the shading

Worked more on getting the eye on the feather corrected and
the downy feathers at the bottom, by showing some of the detail in the barbs.

Worked more on the head, the eye feathers and the shading.

I am considering cropping the picture also

Janet and I went to the Red Pepper.   She had told me of a rib eye steak that was very good. I don't eat meat the way I used to (daily or even weekly) but periodically it seems appealing. It was pretty good. Not the best, but better than I've had for a long time.  There were a couple of other choices and she thinks it may have been another way. 

I read everyday. I think I've been reading more this last week. Linda, who I have known since elementary school and is the main person planning our 50th reunion for our high school calls periodically . Linda calls me  and we talk about what we are reading. Linda recommended a series of books by C. J. Box, about a game warden Joe Pickett.  I think there are around 15 books. I'm starting book 9.  I can picture the mountains with his description. He is married and has two daughters. The females are strong. He loves his family and work and has had problems with some people especially in his work who are controlling and try to keep him out of things.  I've been enjoying it and in addition, there is some issue that you learn in each book. Fascinating. 

So that's my week. Temperatures are dropping some this week to the 90's. That may sound bad, but when it has been approaching 110, this sounds much better. I hope your week was good. I hope the next week is good for you.  I'll see you next Sunday.                   Rachel 

First Friday for the Student Artists

I started the week incredibly tired, sleeping many hours.  I didn't get anything done except reading then, because I felt a strong need to lie down.  I finally took my pain pills and felt my energy return.   I have been taking my pain pills, but I try to stall in taking them.  I think I shouldn't be doing that.  I can't get in to to the doctor in the pain clinic until September, but they will renew my meds until then unless I try to cancel or change my appointment date until later.

I called Shelley to let her know I had her birthday present. She came by after work, having a glass of wine and opening the odds and ends of things I thought she would appreciate. She has done so much for me, that what I gave her was a small token of my gratitude for all she has done to help me. 

First Friday was special because Carol Bradshaw had her students' pictures on the wall, including mine. It really was nice too see it framed and on the wall. I actually thought I have had art lessons longer this I have had. This coming September it will be three years. I have come a long ways.  Before the class, I could do stick figures, and, I'm not exaggerating!  So my thought is, all of us can improve in art and I think I'm a good example of this. My daughter Shelley and her husband Michael came by and  two of my friends Janet and Barbara also dropped by. We had wine, punch and appetizers. We also had a married couple playing guitar, Dave  and violin, Brenda.  It really was lovely.   I didn't get a picture of Janet!  My pictures are the top left -"river rocks", third from the top left, my toad, titled "Why Exercise" and the third one is second row, third from the right, "Old Lion".  I like the people at The Art Center.  Warm and encouraging people who are artists themselves.  Most, much further than me, but that is okay.  

The Display of Carol Bradshaw's Students -  Some topnotch art here!

Pointing toward my rocks.

Pointing at my my toad, titled "Why Exercise/"
A man loaned me his cane to  point.

Pointing toward my  "Old Lion"

The instructor for the students' display,
Carol Bradshaw

Deb and Linda, fellow classmates

Dave and Brenda found a good place to set up

Performers, Husband and Wife team, Dave and Brenda

Rolene also in my class

My daughter Shelley and son-in-law Michael

My friend Barbara came to see

Carol sitting, Wayne and Deb holding Carol's quilt (almost done!)
Wayne and Deb have been classmates of mine

Toni our Manager with her puppy, I think her name is Trixey

Appetizers and Drink

  

This week I worked on a mother rhinoceros and her baby.  Last time I did it, it looked more robot like.  This time it looks more solid and more real.  No class this next week either.  So,  next week, I am going to work on two toads that didn't get in the exhibit.

Mother and Baby Rhinoceros

My friend Barbara and I saw "Free State of Jones" with Matthew McConaughey.  Painful story. I didn't realize there were areas in the south that did not want to fight with the Confederacy against the Union. The blacks and whites joined together in the area to fight to be free.  A powerful movie. We were going to go to this relatively new Thai restaurant in town, but Barbara dropped by the night of First Friday and found one fan in the entire restaurant and no air conditioning. There were a lot of people there, but with the heat over 100 degrees, we are not willing to be so warm.  So we went to the Tofu House. There were few people there but the food is delicious. Barbara and I believe the title should be Korean Barbecue.  We think the name is probably a turn off for many people who would think the main course f food would be tofu. More people would gravitate to Korean Barbecue than Tofu House.

This is worth reading. My daughter Shelley sent it to me. From PBS, What to Say to Someone Who is Dying:

https://www.facebook.com/pbs/posts/10153804408872169

That is it for the week.  I hope your week went well.  I think I will lie down and read.  I'll see you next Sunday.                        

Rachel

Visiting Barbara in Seal Beach

I've slept a lot this week. It seems when I've done a lot (at least to me),  I find myself so exhausted!  Ugh. At least I'm not working. I sleep In between events and I regenerate my energy level. 

Dainette, Meagan's mom sent this to Billy (my grandson) on Facebook:

"Although you are Uncle Billy I want to thank you for stepping in to the parental role with us to raise these 4 other kids. AlyssaBeth, MeLeigha, Gavin and CoCo. You are here for them, you sacrifice your time for them, whether it be baseball, cheer or just hanging out with them in the yard. You've stepped in and I'm thankful for that. Happy Father's Day to you."

Meagan and Billy have two sons, Conner and Kason. They have another child on the way due in January. Billy has been very responsible, working full time and also going to school. I am so proud of him.  I don't think I could handle so much!

My friend Lynn responded about the ridiculous prices for seeing Hamilton in Los Angeles ($439). She said PBS is going to film it and show it on TV.  I think that is great. That charge for tickets leaves it out of reach for the majority of people. And I thought it was just Los Angeles, but tickets in New York are $845 each according to Lynn!  That is just incredible!

At art class with Carol Bradshaw this week, I brought in what I had done on a rhinoceros. I got the idea, but mine looked like a robot. I didn't work on it further this week and I'm not willing to show what I did. But I will next week. She wants me to have the two frogs I was working on and the rhino done when we have class in two weeks. 

There is a major fire going on the south side of Lake Isabella. My teacher Carol lives on the north-west side of the lake.  I feel bad for the people affected by this.  200 homes were destroyed by this fire and a lot of buildings were damaged.  It is not contained much, so there will likely be more destroyed and damaged. It is so early for this to happen. I think this summer will be bad. 

I went to Seal Beach to visit my high school friend Barbara. She lives in Leisure World. To get in, you must be approved (Barbara gave my name to the gate). It was so good to spend time with her. She has a wonderful caregiver Debbie who lives with her. Barbara has dementia. And as she says "that does not mean I am dumb."  She certainly is not.  She was one of the smartest students in high school and she became an RN working in hospice (I did too- working in hospice as a social worker) She reads around 4 books a week. We can have a conversation, but she forgets new facts I share with her. I wrote them down for her to look at.  I also loaned her my Imagaga, my senior yearbook from high school. She remembers people and their names from this period very well. She is much better than me from this time.  We went to Main Street in Seal Beach to have lunch and went to this very nice shell store she introduced me to. I drove and Barbara gave directions. We had no problems. She volunteers at a meal program done by a Catholic group in Los Angeles once a week.  I feel bad because we didn't go on Saturday, but it was the day I had to go home.  She has agreed to go to our 50th Reunion for our high school but she doesn't believe she will be alive then. Well, I also have problems and may not be able to go, but we are going to plan on it now and see what happens. If we go, we will share a room and I will stay by Barbara's side.   Here are a few pictures we took of each other or had taken.

This is from IFL Science and it is fascinating:

5 Laws about the Dead may Spook You 

http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/five-laws-about-the-dead-that-may-spook-you/all/

This Friday is Carol Bradshaw's student showing from 5 to 8 pm. I will have three framed pictures in it. I'm going to find this sheet I drew on about 4 weeks before I started these lessons believe me, I've improved so much. You might think I am kidding when you see it, but I'm not.  I don't think I was even kindergarten level.  So I have grown a lot doing this. So if you think you cannot learn, you are wrong.  I didn't think I could do so well.  It will be at the Bakersfield Art Center, 1607 19th Street. Please come. But this will be up for the month of July if you can't make it that night. 

That is it for my week. I hope you are doing well.  See you next Sunday.                   Rachel

A Featured Artist, Wildflowers and Work on Ancestry

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!

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!

Cheri Moats Sperl, Featured Artist at the Bakersfield Arts Center and Association

Oil Painting by Cheri Moats Sperl

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.

. 

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!

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. 

Riven Weinstein, brother of my grandmother
Fannie.  Both he and his son died in
the Holocaust.

My dad with his parents,
Julius and Fannie

My dad and his brother Milt, unknown age

Me in first grade - I see my dad
in my face

Me in second grade - I see my
dad even more in this picture.

My Grandfather Julius with his sister.
I don't know her name.

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

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