Peaceable kingdom, my version

A major storm is headed our way just before midnight and I cannot wait. For sure, I will stay up to welcome it to drought ridden northern California.

In the meantime, things are going well. I am really enjoying my drawing class. So far we've been sketching a series of still lifes (lives?) of whatever Teacher sets out.

Here's what I drew today. The birdhouse and potted tree were next to each other so I sketched those in charcoal but didn't put in many of the leaves. During the break I picked up a couple sprigs of wild calendula and drew it on the upper right.

Yesterday I drew the same tulip from a few days ago, but it is much more open now.

I haven't mentioned the girls at Juvenile Hall recently. Yesterday I made simple Japanese stab bound booklets for them and then gave them a choice of activities to begin drawing on the pages.

The girls are not allowed to have anything while in detention, not even a pencil. So to own a journal that they can write in while in the dayroom is appreciated. (They can ask for a 3-inch pencil but it will be collected when they return to their rooms.) They also appreciated that I made the books.

There are many restrictions -- no hardbound covers, no metal -- that's why I sewed them.

Finally, when I walked into the living room this morning, this is the scene that greeted me - Brix, Belle and Parisse - waking up after their post breakfast nap.