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

Family Has A Lot Going On!

I listened to this book called Mars by Ben Boba, who actually worked for NASA. It is the  story of an international crew that went to Mars. They end up having a crisis, but they were more supportive of each other after it.  The story is a little old, because they talked about floppy discs, but it does not take away from the story.   

My niece Kerri posted this cartoon on Facebook which fit the sentiment i have been sharing about colored pencils and stress. I love it!

My daughters Shelley and Jennifer went to see their Uncle Brian (my husband's brother). He told them about working with a friend of his on a pit crew for car racing , loving the experience. We are hoping to get together at Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Perhaps Jeff and his wife Stephanie will join us. I also hope they bring their daughters Cassadie and Meagan.

Jennifer, Brian and Shelley

I let Shelley take my car and she got this great picture of my grandson Kevin.

Kevin Enjoying the Ride

We are anticipating the arrival of Alyssa's son any day now.  I'm sure Alyssa's ready too!

A sweet picture of my granddaughter Crystal and great granddaughter Nylah.

Nylah with her mother Crystal

I took the picture of the hearts from last week and added designs throughout the picture. All the colors used are Tertiary. Primary colors are yellow, blue and red, secondary colors come from these and tertiary colors come from mixing secondary.   I did some blending.  The hearts were burnished to give them some shine. 

My brother sent me an email saying he was heading to Eastern Europe. I think he is going on his own. Paul and I took a tour.  Ben took classes in Polish and Swedish, so perhaps he can do it without being on a tour.  He left yesterday. I look forward to hearing about it. 

Yesterday was my daughter Ronda's birthday. She is 46 now.  Her family took her out to eat.  They got some beautiful pictures of her with her daughter Kathryn. So lovely!

My Granddaughter Kathryn and My Daughter Ronda

A good week!  I hope yours was goods and the next one better!  I'll see you next Sunday!       Rachel

Learning More about Using Colored Pencils

There were 5 students in Carol Bradshaw's class.  A couple of them got very creative in how they did their flip-flops. So Carol said we can do more with our pictures such as filling in the white space with designs. It was fun seeing what others had done. This week we are doing a picture of hearts. She stated we could add more, put in a design, but this time with tertiary colors. These are colors using secondary and primary. So these are going to be softer colors. She told us which colors we could buy rather than mixing them. I went to Michael's and Aaron Brothers, but I was only able to get two of the colors.  So what I will have to do is mix them directly on the color wheel and on the hearts picture.   I sent an email to Carol about not getting the colors she asked us to get.  She will not be here this next week and said she would pick them up at another art store when visiting her daughter in Nevada.

When I did the color wheel, I used three colors to do the whole thing.  I did not use a blender.  Of course, the colors would have been truer if I just used one pencil which was already blended.  With the picture of hearts,  I had several of the tertiary  colors I needed (it is all done in tertiary colors).  I did use a blending pencil and a blending marker on some of it.  My plan is to do a design around the hearts.  I am also working on laying at the colors down on a color chart that I can refer to later with it in light, medium and dark.  That one is a work in progress.  I have to say that doing this is relaxing.  It really helps me deal with stress.

Color Wheel Using Individual Colors and Layering

A way to practice drawing flat color with tertiary colors

I met Janet at Mexcali's.  I had found a coloring book with owls in it last week and gave it to Janet. Janet loves owls and collects them, so I thought she would enjoy it. I just bought a 12 pack of colored pencils so she could get started.  Then, because our teacher Carol has told us of other tools to use, I went through what I had and was able to give her duplicates of most of what I had.  She had not started coloring yet, but I hold out high hopes for her doing it and enjoying it. 

I'm sure there are other sites that do this, but I found Memoryglass.com and their Facebook site. I have a girlfriend who said she wanted something on a necklace. She said it would be giving a little piece of me to her.  Here they put human or pet ashes in art and jewelry.  I also like the idea of pet ashes going here.

Memory glass.com

A wonderful saying I found on Facebook. I don't know who to give credit to, but it is true.  

Here are a couple of pictures of two of my great-grandchildren, Conner who is two and Nylah about 9 months old.

Conner, age 2, Meagan's and Billy's son

Nylah is about 9 months.  She just woke up!

Well, that is it for the week.  I hope your week went well and that next week will be good too!  See you next Sunday!            Rachel

Bad Air

My niece Shannon contacted me about her daughter Erica who is in a mountain area where a raging fire is going on. If she heads this way, would I be able to take in her, her grandmother and daughter. Of course I would take her in until she could return. My daughter-in-law Stephanie had a situation like this as did my daughter Shelley. I can't imagine saying no in a situation like that with fire edging up the front door. It is so scary. I do worry when they stall in making the move that life is also at stake.  Then my friend Janet's daughter Lori's family were to evacuate on Thursday afternoon. Her husband's boss was expanding their home for all the extra time he has put in to the boss's business.  As far as I know,  Lori's house has not been hit yet.  These fires are not just in one location. These are all in the mountains.  There is a question that at least one of them may have been started by an arsonist.  It makes it  less stressful if they know they have a place to go to when they are in a bad place.   There is so much smoke in the air that the air quality is very bad!  I am staying inside as much as I can.  My friend Barbara has not being feeling well, which she thinks is linked to the smoke.

Janet, Barbara and I went to see Florence Foster Jenkins (played by Meryl Streep- an excellent actor) a true story of a woman who saw herself as an opera singer. Those close to her hide the truth from her that she was a poor singer  which caused an amazing situation where the audience saw this as comedy. It reminded me of the beginning parts of the season on American Idol, when people who have been told they were wonderful singers by family and friends, but with the feedback, especially from Simon Cowl who is so blunt and often times cruel that they need to do their singing in a basement alone so no one else has to put up with it.  I find it so painful to watch and hear the comments, that I have to leave the room.  I have a hard time seeing people make fools of themselves. 

At my art class, Carol critiqued our drawings. She gives such useful feedback that I am anxious for her to see what I do. Linda, my classmate feels similar. Linda did say I could show the picture she did of a lizard's eye. She also sent a picture of a snake that is also excellent, so it is here also.  We also discussed changing to color pencils which will start in September.    We won't have class for two weeks and Carol said we really have to get down shading with colored pencils. So I will work on that. The pictures are Linda's.  I still need to work further on my peacock and snake.  I'm ready to frame the lizard and peacock feather I did.

Linda's Lizard Eye

Linda's Snake

I had been talking with the social worker Robin at Kaiser where I get my chemotherapy telling her how I found coloring in the adult coloring books to be stress reducing and very relaxing.  I had so many coloring books, I donated them to her to use for the chemotherapy patients.  Some of them are also in a lot of pain, and this can be helpful in reducing it.  So this last Thursday at Chemotherapy, I took in the coloring books.  I had some color pencils.  They still need pencil sharpeners and perhaps even erasers.  I have several of the little pencil sharpeners and a couple of erasers I will take next time. 

Janet and I got together catching up on the week's events.  She spent several days there with a friend. I would enjoy that, especially because of the heat and smoke here. 

Here are a couple of pictures of my great grandchildren, Conner, Kason and Nylah. Two more are on the way, one in September and one in January.  They expect boys. 

Conner holding Kason.  They are about a year apart.

Nylah is a very happy baby.  She will be a year in December 

So that is my week. I have spent a lot of time drawing in adult coloring books. It is very relaxing.  I hope your week went well and this next week is good too.     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 

Good Results on Echocardiogram, Seeing Some Friends I Haven't Seen in Years, and, Dinner with my Daughter

I have a correction to make in my last blog.  I was talking about the rate of blood going through my heart and I said ejection rate. It is ejection fraction rate. My friend Janet who was a nuclear medicine technologist caught that one. So we met at Mexicali. Since I got there early, I was checking my iPhone and she pounded on the driver side window. That scared me!  So as I was telling her how that upset me as she handed me a gift bag that I threw in the car.  Then I asked if she would take a picture of me wearing this top.  When we got in the restaurant it dawned on me that she had given me a gift. She said "I couldn't believe you did that". I couldn't either!  How odd!  She had gotten me a battery operated jar opener. I have no strength anymore and I must use gadgets to open things. It was a nice and thoughtful gift. 

There is this site called  The Rainforest Site. They were selling blouses as part of their fundraising. I support such a cause, the price was right and I also liked the look.    It has a point in the middle of the front and the back.  The back does not have a design, so a picture of the back blends in with my pants.   It is very comfortable, but not good for 107 degree day.  We headed straight in after doing this.   Here is the pictures Janet took at Mexicali's. 

On the day I had chemo, I forgot about it, sitting casually having my coffee, checking my email, sitting in my pajamas. A text alert began. it was time to leave at 15 minutes before my appointment. I ran around getting what I needed, getting dressed slapping water on my hair to get it to lie down. I usually arrive 15 minutes before my appointment.  I got there 5 minutes after. Though I was anxious, they felt it was okay.   While working out when I would see my oncologist, I brought up about having the echocardiogram two weeks earlier.  The results were good.  The ejection fraction was 65 percent. Any other issues are age related. And, I really do have a normal aortic valve which is tricuspid.  That was all a relief. 

I have a cousin who had heart surgery last year. It turned out he had a bicuspid valve. His siblings went to have their hearts checked out since this could be hereditary. They were okay. 

So at my art class, I showed what I had drawn of a peacock and feathers.  I had the feathers wrong going around the eye in the feathers. The picture of my peacock was off because the head and neck of the peacock were much lighter than the eyes on the feathers.  I worked on both of these factors and the pictures improved.  I also picked out a lizard to draw and a small peacock feather. This is what I have. One more week to work on the lizard. My classmate Linda does very well on her shading.  She has also became interested in drawing eyes. Both of us feel the critiques we get from Carol are so helpful. 

My Peacock

My Lizard

A Peacock Feather.

There are many ways people get to my blog and they all work. I don't think I've written anything offensive, but if your privacy is important, note this. If you go to my blog through this, you have more privacy:

   https://racheljerdin.blogspot.com

All my posts are here.  They come out once a week, on Sundays unless for some reason I'm too sick, in the hospital or having problems with my computer.  At least those have been what has happened already. 

I met with three friends that were a part of a group with our husbands.  I stopped meeting with them after moving and then Paul dying. I just couldn't get together with couples which reminded me of my loss, though they were all special to me.  I couldn't get past my loss and, my cancer and returned than, a stage IV.  Now that it is nine years later, there is enough time and grieving that I am happy to see them.  Three of us stopped coloring out hair, and it looks very good.  We met at Little Italy in town. I had not eaten there, but I really liked it. Food was very tasty. The ambiance was comforting.  So Stephanie, I see in our Red Hat group.  Karen and Becky I haven't seen in at least eight years.  One other woman of this group couldn't make it.  Lana will join us next month.  Anyway, it was really nice to touch base with them and catch up.  It was a lost part of my life. 

My daughter Shelley and I celebrated both of our birthdays late. We had dinner at Mama Roomba. It is a wonderful Caribbean restaurant.  I think it was initially noted to be a Cuban restaurant. It is the same food. Excellent!   I hadn't seen Shelley in about a month. It feels too long to me but I know she has a lot on her own late. Her oldest daughter will have a baby shower this next month. So she is actively involved in doing this.  In addition, she is waiting to hear when the exam for her realty license will be held. 

It was a full week for me.  I continue to make sure I have time to sleep in between these activities, otherwise, I really fade.  So I hope your week was good.  I look forward to seeing you next week.                Rachel

Seeing Friends in Visalia! Great Time as Always!

I had an echocardiogram. Most of the tests I have had are invasive, requiring radioactive material be put in my blood. This just required gel on a pad that she moved around to look at my heart. What I found out while I was there is that I don't have a bicuspid valve. It is a normal tricuspid.  I think it was over 30 years ago that a cardiologist did tests and told me it was bicuspid.  I could actually see the valve and I told Lori, the Sonographer that It looked tricuspid to me and she affirmed that I was correct. I have to wait for a doctor to read it and, if something else needs to be done or all is okay that Dr. Tun will inform me.  This test was done to see if my heart is leaking because my refraction rate is 80% and normal is 60%  Dr. Tun has never seen anyone with the results I have had.  Hopefully, all is okay.  We will see.

Hart Park has an area that peacocks like to hang out.  I went looking for peacock feathers for my teacher Carol Bradshaw. We have been working on peacocks for two weeks now. Well, it was easier said than done. There were several cars there when I arrived around 11 am. So people could have already picked up feathers. I did go to the opposite side of where people were and I found a couple of feathers.  Then I saw two within the gate where the peacocks tend to stay. It was too far to reach. I used the umbrella handle but I seemed to be pushing it further. Then I started looking for a long thin branch to reach it. I eventually did get two more feathers.  It turned into a bigger deal than I expected. I do have some peacock feathers from a stay at Martha's home, but I didn't find the bag I put it in.   

Peacock in Hart Park.  I don't think anyone lives in this house which has a gate around it.
That is where the Peacocks like to hang out.

Linda has joined us in class. Carol noted things I didn't get in the drawing of the peacock, so below is another stab at it. Carol also asked us to find a picture of a lizard to draw.  Below also is a picture taken from the feathers I collected, that Carol laid out and that I took the picture.  She said the focus of these recent drawings - peacock, lizard and snake are on patterns. I am not done with the peacock, but I will get it done tomorrow

Three Peacock Feathers.

Peacock - Still being worked on

Last summer I had lots of plumbing work done. It is not finished. My shower and bath are leaking and it has become ridiculous. So I had the same guy Trevor for part of the work then. Shower is fixed but the bathtub needs a lot more done. We settled on $650 for all of it.   Ugh!   But I really don't have a choice. I'm not doing work to make it prettier (though I would like to). I am focused on keeping it whole. If you wait too long, problems can get worse and you put out a lot more money at one time.   I am relieved though to have the repairs I had done completed.  He thinks it is time to replace the galvanized pipes in the house, but he did give me a guesstimate of $7,500 to replace those in the house. Way too overwhelming!  I don't have that sort of money. 

I gave a form to my doctor to get a handicap placard for parking. I do fine for most parking, but big events with hug parking lots are very difficult for me to handle because of the distance to get in. My doctor signed this and I will mail it to the Department of Motor Vehicles.   I have stalled on this a long time, but I really don't want to lessen my activities as much as I can. 

I told my friend Janet when we were at Mexicali’s about the results of the echocardiogram.  She was an nuclear medicine technician.  She said that the work when I had it done then, like at least 30 years ago is like comparing caveman times to now.  Pictures are much clear now.  I’m glad I have friends in the know to check with.

To top off the week, I met with friends I worked with in Corcoran. There were seven of us- Marc, Lynette and her husband Simon,  Bill and his wife Jana, Jody and me. We met at The Vintage Press which was delicious.  

Some of us talked about another restaurant called Craw Daddy's. When Paul and I lived in Visalia, we went there several times. It had just been built and opened.  Simon had heard a lot of ads on it recently.  We were wondering if it was a new owner and wondered if they had changed the menu some. Anyway, we thought it might be worth checking it out.   I did speak with Lynette after this and we are going to see if the restaurants in Visalia have been reviewed and perhaps go by that.  

We stayed at the Marriott which is being remodeled. Lynette and Simon were on the seventh floor (it has eight floors).  Jody and I each had a room on the second floor. There was nothing obviously changed on the second floor, but I did see my friends' room on the seventh floor. I liked it.  It had what looked like a very dark wood-slatted floor,  a sophisticated sofa, special lighting in the mirror, wide screen oversized television, and a wonderful large picture of the sequoias. The entire hotel is being redecorated.   I like to stay at that hotel when I visit, however,  prices are getting a lot higher and depending on if I can get a deal or not,  i would stay there less frequently.  There are less expensive hotels in the area and I could stay there.  

 Bill looked good as did Jana. Jana is more of a Facebook friend, but I have met her at several gatherings. Of course Lynette and Simon looked great. Simon gave me a jar of canned lemons he brined.  He asked "Do you like Middle Eastern food?"  I do, but I had to order a couple of books so I could make some dishes. I'm really hoping there is a big section on vegetables. I've been to Turkey twice and I fell in love with the vegetables!  If we had it like that in the United States, I would easily eat all my veggies.  Marc looked very good. I believe that he really enjoys not working (like me).   I have not had a problem of thinking I had nothing to do. His life runs a little slower (as mine does). And he really takes his time having his coffee in the morning, then walking his dog (in the foothills of Sequoia) before driving to Visalia to work out at the gym.  I think it is over two years ago since I have seen Jody.  I can’t be sure, but it was great seeing her.  It is such a long drive for her to come and she can hit very heavy traffic, so she left for home early in the morning. We will look at getting together in the Fall.  I realized after I got home that I had not taken any pictures!  And, I don't think anyone else did either!  

Below is from another blog about a funeral procession on its way to the cemetery.  We need to think beyond ourselves when other people are hurting.  This is worth reading. 

https://pastorcindym.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/stopping-traffic/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email

So that was a loaded week.  I got lots of sleep in-between events, so I did okay.  I really hope your week went well and I will 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