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 

Breaking Out of the Fog - My Friend Janet is Coming Around

I worked on the head of a horse.  The same one as last week, but I think this one is better.  When I was visiting my step-mom Kate who is an artist, made some recommendations and copied some pages to help me in the sketching.  It helped.  My teacher Carol had surgery and is getting physical therapy.  She is communicating with us by email and wants to hear of our progress until she gets back in mid March.  I'll send her this.

My horse improved!

Barbara, Janet and I went to a wonderful concert put on by the Bakersfield Concert Association. The group was the Valinor Quartet. There was another violinist this group knew who was in Bakersfield. They asked him to join in with some of the pieces.   This was all instrumental, no singing.  Excellent!  They were an international group which brought the music of their regions to this concert. Their site describes their playing as a unique hybrid of jazz and classical.   These pictures are from their site.  A wonderful group!

While Janet and I went out for dinner, she told me she was thinking about tutoring children in reading. She said "I don't know what happened, but it is like a fog has been lifting."  Her husband Ron died almost four years ago. "I'm bored".  This is good news to hear. She has not been willing to do much, but this year she is going out with Barb and me to the Bakersfield Concert Series which we include going out to eat.   We also went to a concert she had invited me to at Bakersfield College put on by the choir her granddaughter was singing in.   I have also invited her to join my Red Hat group and she finally has agreed to do that and will go to our next one at the Woolgrowers.  She is gradually coming around. She thinks this volunteering to teach children to read  is a commitment of one day a week.  So gradually she is filling her calendar with activities she likes, or at least wants to find out if it is a good match for her.  She also got me a Gwee Gym like she got herself. She is trying to be more active (though she does walk) and is encouraging me to do the same.  It is simple and portable. 

I remember when I was in that fog. When you are in it, it is about impossible seeing yourself feeling better.  It is an experience that someone telling you that you will feel better does not work. We need that time to grieve and each of us are on different timetables. 

There is this wonderful site where a woman reads some great books, shares from them and gives her input.  The site is Brainpickings.org  

When Breath Becomes Air: A Young Neurosurgeon Examines the Meaning of Life as He Faces His Death

The book is by Paul Kalanithi who died in 2013.    The woman who writes Brainpickings.org does a wonderful job of reviewing books.  She does many.  Anyway, I have downloaded this book to my Kindle and I am anxious to read it.  The problem is that I have three books I am in the process of reading and I think I should just wait a bit to give more of my time to this.  Though you can read her material at Brainpickings.org, she would really appreciate a donation, if you are able to.  I say she provides a wonderful service in what she does and she is well worth it.  Tapping on the title above will take you directly to her article.  She also recommends other reading if you liked this book.

Barbara and I went to see  Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the theater at Valley Plaza. They have one theater converted to an IMAX screen and we also received glasses for a 3D movie. The special affects were awesome. It felt like we were in the middle of the scene. Though it isn't the sort of movie I was interested in, I can appreciate all the work that went into making it. 

Afterwards we went for dinner at the Great Castle.  A while back, I had lunch with my friend Vic here which was not up to their standards. Vic made it clear he never wanted to eat there again. Well, I'm glad I returned, because our dinner was excellent and reasonably priced.  I don't believe I would do lunch again though.

My granddaughter Crystal posted more pictures of my great-granddaughter Nylah. She is so cute!

Crystal and Nylah

Crystal and Nylah

Nylah with her Eyes Open!

My great-grandsons Conner and Kason look great. Both are growing like weeds!  They are so obviously well loved.  Their expressions are playful and happy.

Conner

Kason

Kason

Conner

Conner and Kason

I feel so fortunate for the family I have.  It makes it easier to deal with difficult issues when they come up.
So that is it for the week.  All is well here.  I rested a lot.  I don't know if I can bank it or not.  I have some activities happening in the near future.  It would be nice if the rest I had helped for that.  We will see.  I also know that if I take breaks between events, I do a whole lot better.

I hope your week end well and I will see you next Sunday.                          Rachel

A New Member to the Family and Holiday Gatherings

From the weekend before, My daughter Shelley sent me a message that when I had called her to pick up some items at my home,  I asked her to set the alarm which I had forgotten to do before I went to Three Rivers to celebrate Marc's birthday.  She found I left the front door unlocked. She said "you were really discombobulated!"

On a rainy Tuesday morning, the first day of winter, I woke up to messages that my granddaughter Crystal was in the hospital in labor. She was at 3 cm. The excitement level in the family was high.  She finally delivered close to 8:30 in the evening. She was admitted to the hospital at 1:30 AM.  I waited until the next morning to call and come out to see her and Nylah. What a beautiful baby girl. She has lots of hair.  Jennifer, Crystal's mom was sound asleep and didn't wake until I was leaving.  Lorence, Nylah's father came before I left. For all Crystal had been through, she looked great!

Nylah already shows character!

The hospital provided a fancier cap than I have seen!

Great-Grandmother Rachel with Nylah

Showing off Nylah

Isn't she cute?

Crystal, my granddaughter after a long labor

Jennifer, Nylah's grandmother, out for the count!

So Cute!

Crystal holding her daughter Nylah in the hospital

Aunt Heather holding her niece Nylah

Crystal looking gorgeous holding Nylah

Lorence holding his daughter Nylah

I went to a potluck at my teacher Carol's home in the mountains. I was so worried going because it rained for several hours in Bakersfield the day before that I was concerned about rocks and boulders coming down to the road driving up the canyon. It was chilly and overcast in Bakersfield giving the impression that snow might fall. Amazing, the drive in the canyon was non-eventful. When I got up to the two lanes each way, the sky continued to clear.  There were few clouds at the top. It was 45 degrees and sunshine.  On Tuesday morning the day after returning, they closed the canyon road due to rock slides. I was very fortunate! 

I met Carol's friends who live in the same area- Sue, Rita and Rita's daughter Stephanie in a tucked away area up a dirt road.  I enjoyed all of them. Each of us brought something for the buffet. Carol makes great soups and everyone else supplements the meal. I brought a salad.  Carol had Christmas music playing in the background. Carol's dog is named Sofie. Rita brought Buster and Sue brought Gabby. The dogs seem to be aware when it is potluck night each week and look forward to seeing each other. They trade off hosting the potluck in their homes.

Her guest room and bed were very comfortable. Carol was a wonderful hostess.  Now she needs to focus on herself for knee surgery and recovery. I'll contact her to find out her progress.  She has become a friend through our contact. 

The next morning I couldn't find my phone. I drove back up the hill from the main road because I was going to listen to a book I had already been following- Seveneves, by Neal Stephenson,  a very interesting science fiction book. I couldn't find it at Carol's home. So it had to be in my car.  Carol also told me the Vons in Lake Isabella had a Starbucks in the store where I stopped to get a coffee. I had oatmeal and hot chocolate at Carol's home before leaving. When I got home, I called my cell phone which was on vibrate and found it was in my car having slid under the front passenger seat.

No art classes with Carol until mid-March.  I will be visiting friends out of the area, so I decided not to sign up for a class during this period.  I will focus on pictures I have done that need more work.  This is another version of the horse.  I think it is improving.

It is improving, though I want to try a portrait
and another horse that is dark.

Christmas at Shelley's home was so nice.  She made a lovely dinner. We had Shelley's and Jennifer's families. Our newcomer Nylah Marie Garcia, now 3 days old was there. Crystal was sore and not quite ready to do so much, but you couldn't tell looking at her. Shelley's husband and I talked a lot.  Alyssa's boyfriend Issac was there and took the group shot of us. Wes, Heather's boyfriend was there and so was Lorence, Crystal's boyfriend and Nylah Marie's father.   What a lovely time we had!

Nylah the newcomer of the family

Kayla, Alyssa, Shelley, and Issac

Lorene and Crystal

Jennifer, Grandma is holding Nylah, Devin and Kevin

Devin, Kevin and Michael.  Shelley, wayyyy is the back

Michael, Kevin and Shelley

Devin holding Nylah, Kevin and Shelley photobombing them.

Wes and Heather

Shelley, Great Aunt holding Nylah

Kaylah, Shelley and Nylah

Kayla, Shelley and Nylah

Heather and Alyssa with their mom Shelley trying out the iPhone extender

Front row- Alyssa, Kayla and Jennifer
Back row- Kevin, Michael, Shelley, Devin, Heather, Wes and Me

I am heading to visit high school friends. It has been over 48 years since we graduated and that long since I have seen Linda and Toni. I saw Barb a while longer after high school. I have good memories of them.  This was what we looked like for pictures in our high school senior album in 1967.   Our high school class is going to have a 50 year reunion in 2017.  I hope I can go.  But, as we get older, it doesn't always work out the way we want it to.

Linda, Toni and Barbara are at the top
I am at the bottom
These are our pictures from our Senior Year Album  1967

Here is such a sweet picture of Billy with his sons Kason and Carson.  Billy's birthday, age 25 was Christmas day.  I saw him the day after Christmas and gave him what I had for him and his family.

Billy with, my Great-Grandsons Kason and Conner

And two more of this family:

Conner and Kason are the front boys
Gavin, Leigh, Coco and Alyssa

Kason looks so happy!

They got a trampoline!  How neat is that?!

It was a very nice week and as long as I rest in-between each event, I do okay.  The shot of cortisone I had in my hip has really helped!

This wood plaque is being sold on The Grief Toolbox for about $15.00. I believe recognition of these feelings we survivors feel help in coping with grief.     thegrieftoolbox.com

David Kessler founder of  grief.com  has much to share with us who are grieving.  He worked with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D.  Go to his site.  He has also written many books on grief and bereavement.  He wrote this below.

What is Grief?
Grief is the internal part of loss, how we feel. The internal work of grief is a process, a journey. It does not end on a certain day or date. It is as individual as each of us. Grief is real because loss is real. Each grief has its own imprint, as distinctive and as unique as the person we lost. The pain of loss is so intense, so heartbreaking, because in loving we deeply connect with another human being, and grief is the reflection of the connection that has been lost.

When does Grief end?
Grief is not just a series of events, or stages or timelines. Our Society places enormous pressure on us to get over loss, to get through the grief. But how long do you grieve for a husband of fifty years? A teenager killed in a car accident? A four-year-old child? A year? Five years? Forever? The loss happens in time, in fact in a moment, but its aftermath lasts a lifetime.

"You will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it.  You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered.  You will be whole again but you will never be the same.  Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to."    

I hope your holidays went well and you took care of yourself, whatever that would be. It was a good week for me and I wish you the same.  See you next Sunday.  My husband Paul and I worked at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.  He was a Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer.  I was the Director of Social Services.  It is interesting how we stay connected to this hospital for so long with Crystal, my granddaughter having her daughter, Nylah Marie and Meagan my granddaughter-in-law also having her son Kason here.                   Rachel

Holiday Lights, Potlucks and a Christmas Puppet Show

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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