Getting Things Done!

A six part series starts tomorrow night on PBS. It s called - Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies. Though I know the subject can be depressing, there are also things to be hopeful about. I believe from my reading that a cure is around the corner. Look  for this program in your guide. 

Simon is a crafts man. 

 I had the television on and heard Angie's List come on. I normally don't hear ads because I record it, but it was on and I have lots of issues around my home which need to be dealt with- Mostly electrical.  So I looked them up and the cost to join, if they were helpful was okay. So I joined and immediately looked  for an electrician. It lists how many reviews each got and the grade given to them.   You can also read all the reviews. I made a list of all my electrical problems and sent it off to the one with the most and highest reviews- Rankin Electric.   I got a response by the end of the day. They could do all of them except one.  The one they couldn't do requires an appliance repair person. The electrician came and fixed the electrical problems which all turned out to be relatively simple so it was just one hour of labor ($70), plus I got a gift card for Dewar's Ice Cream and Candy.  This is a local specialty which had been praised on Huell Howser's show called California's Gold.

The baking element in my built-in oven broke. I emailed a supply business through Angie's List, AppliancePartsPros.Com, having taken a picture of the element in the oven and the metal tag with the information on this oven. They did a search and found the part in less than an hour.  Though I thought the part fairly expensive ($146), I know that something built in 1960 wouldn’t be everywhere therefore more expensive. In addition, since it is a built-in, I cannot afford to do the cabinetry, which would be required because ovens are not this small anymore.  So,  really, I am pleased.  Problem solved.  These are the two pictures I sent to make it easier for them to see the problem and get the right part.  It does wonders to have a camera built into the phone!  I received the part yesterday and now I will call an appliance repairperson to put the new one in.

Element Broke off on the Right Side

The Tag in the Oven

                                                                                                                 
My great-grandson Conner is walking a lot now.  I cannot show videos because my granddaughter-in-law has them blocked beyond those who have permission to view her page.  I'll show a picture of him standing when she puts it up.

In my healing art class, we did intuitive art. Everyone else's pictures had a lighter touch than mine. We used acrylic paint doing a Mandala and one free form. Then we did a picture using our fingers with a moon reflection in water, boats, clouds and birds. You use your favorite color and white paint. I used green. That was interesting. I also ordered a book on intuitive painting because there are only two more of these classes.  I think exploring this area sounds good.

Mandala

Free Form

Moon with Reflection on Water, Sail Boats, Clouds and Birds

Our class with Carol Bradshaw went well. We worked on our flat wash and also the graduated wash. I'm showing Carol's pictures because it is very clear what the difference is.   The lines are for trees I'll put on shortly.

Carol Bradshaw's Layers of Five Flat Washes

Carol Bradshaw's Layers of Five Gradated Washes

Carol Bradshaw's Two Tinted Gradated Washes Started on Each Side

                                                   

My Five Layers of Flat Washes Trees Not In

My Five Layers of Gradated Washes  Trees Not In
(I really have to work on this one!)

I finished my tax return and got it in the mail. I used Taxact.com.  It is designed to give you as much guidance as you need. Phew!  I'm so glad to have that done!

My friend Barbara had her house tented for termites.  She spent two nights here. She had a heavy schedule but we carved out some time during the first day and had dinner at Rosa's.

I went to see my friend Annemarie and then we drove up to see a mutual friend Lynette and her husband Simon.   We stayed in their guest room. I brought my cot and bedding. Annmarie got the bed.  Lynette is a psychologist as is Annemarie.  I used to work with them and we still hold on to our friendship.  Lynette's husband Simon is a master craftsman.  He does wonderful things with wood.  He wants the wood to be the star so he is into simplicity to allow this to show.  He is great with floors, cabinets and furniture.  I'm sure he does other things too.  His work is high end, so he cannot afford many of the items he makes for others.  While we were out at this restaurant in Fresno called Five, the word got around that he had designed a dining room at another restaurant which I understand is gorgeous.   Several people wanted to shake his hand.  They thought I must be a part of this and turned to me and I said, "Oh, I'm just his substitute mom."  Don't know why I said that, but I did.   I hope on a future visit we can have dinner in this dining room.  I would be willing to pay a little more to just try this out.  The only part I don't think I can afford would be the wine.  I would be willing to drink most of the wine before going there and split a bottle there.  Maybe I can afford that.  Simon has done wonderful things with their home using his woodworking skills- Really makes their home special.

When we drove back to Annmarie's home, we went to the art gallery in Hanford where two of her pictures were displayed.  That was lots of fun!  Such talent.  We are looking at her coming on a Saturday and spending the night here.  We saw some beautiful work with mosaic tiles.  So we are thinking that each of use might do that.  Mine will be for my patio.

The change in my pain medications has made it easier to do the things I want to do.  I am much more comfortable.  In May, I will get cortisone injections around my spine where the discs are slipping and where it is compressed.  No guarantees, but if it lessens the pain, I will be doing even better.

I've mentioned Brain Pickings Weekly before.  It is really excellent.  They review books you might want to consider getting.   Well one of the articles is "7 Unusual Children's Books that Help Kids Make Sense of Death."  I was trying to put an attachment but couldn't make it work.  They would appreciate a donation, so if you go there, think of the quality of the information you are getting.  This comes to my email.  Check it out.

Well that is it for the week.  I have quite a bit scheduled next week as well.  I enjoy it.  I think the smoothies I am drinking are increasing my stamina.  It is worth it!  Tastes good too!  One of my friends Jody found an article in The New York Times about adding grains to give it staying power.  I do that.  I have been adding, flax seed, chia seed, wheat germ and a cereal  that you would usually have with milk.  One of these days I'm going to cook up quinoa and put some in.  My friend Barbara thought the texture would not be pleasant.  Well I put ice in it and it seems somewhat like a shake which is okay with me.

See you next Sunday.  Have a good week.           Rachel

A Change of Plans Regarding the Wedding

Well there is a change of plans regarding the wedding.  My grandson Billy contacted me right after I posted the plans and asked me if they could do their wedding at the beach.  "This is not my wedding.  You can do this however you please" .  He informs me that they have decided to do it at Pismo Beach.  The time went from seven to four in the evening.  Four is much better.  I made a reservation at a hotel because I don't think I can hang in there to drive home.  I didn't know you could make late arrangements for a wedding at the coast.  I suppose maybe it can just be a park setting, though I wonder if they can get into a restaurant.  I say a picnic instead, but it isn't my choice.  I'm really okay that it isn't at my home.  I understand the group was continuing to grow.

The plan was to meet three friends, Janet, Charmaine and Lisa at Muertos.   Lisa called Janet the day before and wanted to change it to Thursday.  I understand she wanted to get her vegetable garden in before getting together.  I understand that, but I couldn't do the change.  I can't eat out two times in a day. I felt bad, but I schedule gatherings so I don't overwhelm myself in a day.  I am learning to set limits, but it is hard.  I know some of my friends would think that couldn't be true because I'm so outspoken, but maybe it depends on the issue.   I still met with Janet that day. Always great getting together.

Had a session on drawing flowers with Norma Neil. I drew an incredibly huge and oddly shaped sunflower one of the women brought in. I kept smearing it, even when I put a barrier between my arm and the paper. I was using charcoal and pastels. Now I think I'll use a workable fixative that you can draw on for each layer. Below if the photo of the huge, misshapen sunflower.  From the back it looked like two sunflowers that joined together.  Lots of fun and relaxing.  One drawing class left.  I have gotten the notice for jury duty starting that Monday, but when I called this weekend, I got a reprieve.  I'm to call Monday night.

My beach scene in Carol Bradshaw's class is coming along.  Carol likes it, but wants me to soften the lines around the ball, and, I need to put more values (shades), particularly darker.  I have done the contour drawing of it several times. I tried sandpaper and put it under my drawing paper to give the sense of roughness for the sand. My plan was to draw the footprints and ball to not be affected by this. My fellow student Wayne and I message each other and I told him about it. He thought that was cleaver.  It didn't come through on the drawing paper like it did the tracing paper.  I let Wayne know and he suggested turning over the tracing paper to transfer the rough surface on the tracing paper to the drawing paper.  I had already finished my picture, so I didn't do it, but I will do that next time for that affect. Carol Bradshaw said she thought a lot during the week about my pine cone and she feels I should mat and frame it. Kind of stunned me. I don't think of what I do as being that good, but okay. I like that. She describes my drawing as having "attitude".  She wants me to erase around it and add just a piece at the bottom to not be so flat, so I'll do that and I will frame it.   I like that too!    At this time I don't know if I will be able to go to class this week or not because of Jury Duty.  I won't know until Monday night.  We have no class the following week.  Carol said to find a picture of a barn that we each could draw.  Deb, another member in our class but quite beyond us in expertise sent me several pictures.  I'm using the last one.  Good to work on a really weathered surface.

I saw this incredibly interesting pen that let's you copy a color exactly for hefty price of $150.  I'm not sure they are making it yet, but if not, it's coming out soon.  I'd wait to see what other people do with this.

Copy any Color in the World



Stella Young is a Disability Activist.  She feels that all too common compliment is actually an insult in disguise- the idea that just being handicapped makes you special.  She does not think so.  Well stated. It's siimilar to someone with a terminal diagnosis.  That does not make someone a hero.  I'm not a hero. At least not because I'm dying.  We are all going to die.  If anything, and really I don't think it is so spectacular, it would be talking openly about it.  I really just want to take it out of the closet.  Anyway, she really states it well in a TED talk.  I don't think people mean to be insulting.  They are just not in that position and so they can't imagine coping with what that person is coping with.  Those who have gone through it, don't see it the same way.

I'm Not Special


Jennifer offered for me to come over for dinner, but I had already gone out with Janet and I declined. Later I get a call from Kayla that the pipes backed up and they couldn't stay there and could they come over. Sure. Picked up things they needed from home and went to the store to get a couple additional food items  It ended up being two nights.  My cats were in hiding during this time.  I felt somewhat displaced.  I'm so used to being alone now.  I worry that family want to move in and take care of me.  I certainly don't want that.  The plumbing problem is still not fixed as far as I know.  My grandson Devin came over yesterday for a shower.  I hope they fix this soon.  If anyone knows, if it ends up being covered by insurance, and let's say they have to go through the floor to pipes and the floor is destroyed, wouldn't they take responsibility to fix this so the house is whole again?  Really do need to know.  I'll pass the info on if you have something to share.

I found this wonderful saying on Facebook.  It came from The Mind Unleashed, but I have no idea who was the specific person who said it, but it is wonderful.

LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT

TO ARRIVE AT THE

GRAVE SAFELY IN A 

WELL PRESERVED BODY,

BUT RATHER TO SKID IN

SIDEWAYS TOTALLY

WORN OUT, SHOUTING

"HOLY SHIT...WHAT A

RIDE!"

This is a wonderful article "How We Grieve" by Maria Popova and a review of the book "The Long Goodbye" by Meghan O'Rourke written in 2011.  I have not read the book but I did order it.  It is not available on Kindle.

How We Grieve


By the way, Brain Pickings is a wonderful site to find some excellent thoughtful writing. They would love donations for the hundreds of hours of research they do for us.  You'll see when you check it out.

Today my friends Sherry and Valerie came over for a late lunch.  I made an asparagus quiche and a toma basil salad.  We had  a great Pinot Noir with it. It was wonderful sharing and laughing the way we used to be.  I talked about getting all of us together again and doing a barbecue, perhaps salmon.  I have wonderful memories of doing this.  I also thought it would be great to share the pictures we may have taken during that time.  I would love that.  We are old time friends from over 30 years ago.  There are a couple of other women who were a part of this group.  We worked on writing a paper requesting a grant to start a half-way home for older women dealing with alcoholism that wanted and needed help to stop. Our grant was not approved, though we only submitted it to one place, so I don't think we gave it enough of a try.  But that experience, which was about a year, bonded us together and is a meaningful part of my life.   This is one of those group friendships you don't want to lose.  I hope we can get together with the other two in the near future.

My granddaughter Kayla and a girlfriend of hers are going with me next Saturday to my friend Martha's home which abuts a river.   We are going to camp there and partake in the food, people and festivities.  It was wonderful last year.  I think the girls will get a kick out of this.

Well, that's it for the week.  I hope you share this with people who might be interested.  I'm happy you read it.  Any thoughts on what to include, or not to include are appreciated.  I'll see you next Sunday.        Rachel