Femme Fatale art, Thankful Thursday, and a Memorable Valentine’s Day

I hope you enjoyed the intro music Peter Gunn by Henry Manici this morning.  As you might guess, Rain’s art prompt is ‘Film Noir’ and  I’m going to try to incorporate Art Journal Journey contribution hosted by  Valerie this month into the same artwork.   This is how she describes her theme choice. 

This month with the theme of ‘heavy metal’, which is not so heavy as it sounds!  Your journal pages should contain something related to metal – metallic paints – as I have used here, gilding flakes, rust, perhaps a picture of something made from metal, steampunk elements or a quote about metal – silver, gold, bronze, old iron, rust – the choice is yours.

I rarely join the AJJ meme and I really want to change this but I have too much on my plate as it is.  I think I can make it work by putting together this one and TADwR’s prompts together.  You may need to stretch your imagination a little but I tried to impose some silvery highlights to my film noir illustration of my femme fetale. 

Procreate art sketch ‘Femme Fatale’ God have mercy on the poor man that crosses her!

Last year while preparing for the A to Z Challenge I did a pencil sketch of a dame that could’ve been from a film noir.  I wasn’t satisfied with how the illustration turned out and still not happy with it but I thought I’d play with in Pixelmator to give it a little texture to share with you today.  I have plans to recreate this one using Procreate. 😉

I found a nice jazz Film Noir playlist that runs about 36 minutes if you’d like to hit play and listen to while doing other things today. 

This week’s Thankful Thursday includes all things small which really isn’t small but the human bring thinks that way.   I think of the small things as the basics of life – food, shelter, clothes, … How about our sense – vision or hearing which often fail as we get older.   Sometimes folks are robbed of these senses early.  What about the ability to use our extremities?  I’m grateful at 59 that I function much like I did when I was a young woman in my 30s.  I do notice things aren’t exactly as my younger self but I can still go, go, go!  One think I’m super thankful for is a loving God for not knocking off my feet when I whine about something stupid.  I am truly blessed.  When I hear of someone’s misfortunes it always humbles me and I silently say an extra thank you to my heavenly Father.  What are you thankful for today?

Anne Crosby Gaudet playing a small harp, Sweet Blessings.

I’m winding things up today with Kat’s Writing Workshop.   This week, I’m going with Kat’s prompt to write about a memorable Valentine’s Day.

I’m not sure the year but it was one of the V-Days between 1984 – 1986.  Anything B.C. (before children) my memory is a bit vague, not that motherhood made things any better, but I seem to remember events better with those associated with my children.  Everything else gets lumped into the B.C. years.    Anyway back to my story. 

On this Valentine’s Day many moons ago fell on a week day.  I’m thinking it was a Friday.  My office was having an employee luncheon that day.  I was tasked to bring green beans.  I didn’t have a container with a lock tight lid due to the quantity I made so I was forced to take the green beans in the kettle.  It was very full, too.   The dark morning hour was frigid and it was snowing.  Like  usual, we were late getting out the door so it was hurry, hurry, hurry.   Going the speed limit through one’s subdivision often results in the passenger being tossed a bit and with a heavy clumsy kettle of beans meant disaster.  It was either the first curve or big bump soon after we left causing the liquid to spill out onto my lap.  We didn’t have time to go back, either.  I was upset and cold by the time I got to the office.  DH let me off then away he went racing to get downtown.  I dried my skirt off the best I could and before long it dried.  The snow kept coming down as fellow co-workers made their way into the office.  It was the wet clingy kind of snow that made for messy driving and it was accumulating fast. 

Sometime after morning’s early light, radio stations began announcing businesses and school closings across the area.  My office closed for the day, too.  I called DH to tell him and he said, let’s wait it out until most of the people are off the roads.  From the office I could see Broadway with a long trail of vehicles bumper to bumper.  DH’s call to wait things out sounded like the best plan.   There was nothing better to do but to get back to my desk to do some work.   It was hauntingly quiet in the office with everyone gone but I had the radio to keep me company.  The front door was locked so I knew I was safe.  The hours went by quickly.  DH arrived as usual to pick me up.  Broadway was now desolate, not a car or truck around.  We had no problem making the short trip to our house on the main road.  Worried that we might have trouble going home our normal route, we opted to take the secondary way that doesn’t involve a steep hill but the road does bank the wrong way.  We managed to get home, even up our hilly driveway but that’s only because DH pulled up backwards in our rear-wheel drive shoe box (Ford Fiesta) . 

I couldn’t be happier to finally be home again.  Soon I was in my warm snugly sweats having hot chocolate while the snow continued to fall.   Thinking over the day,  I realized that all the hassle to take that huge pot of green beans and me getting soaked was all for nothing.   The office didn’t have the luncheon since the day was cut short.   In case you’re wondering, I left that kettle of beans at work to get on Monday.   The snow fell through the night.  I have no idea how  much we got but it was several inches.  The good thing is we didn’t have to be anywhere the next day.  Ever since this, when forecasters call for snow near Valentine’s Day, I wonder if we’ll get another blizzard like we did all those years ago.  

The End 🙂

Not all Valentine’s Day stories are of the romantic nature.  This one I probably won’t ever forget.  Thea Gilmore covers  John Lennon’s Listen, the Snow is Falling .

I want to pitch Eugi’s weekly gig for creative writers, especially those who dabble in poetry.  Click on the button below to visit her site for the word prompt and if you’re inspired don’t forget to share a link back on her site in comments to your place.  She’s an awesome friend!

DH has tomorrow off as well President’s Day.  This gives me extra time to spend with my favorite fella!  I have Monday’s Music Moves Me scheduled.  You’re invited to play along with your choice songs about leaders or you can simply boogie with me on the dance floor.   I’m heading over to visit Rain’s Garden now to browse through her gallery of artsy link ups and you’re welcome to come with, if you’d like.😉 

Stay safe, keep warm, be healthy, and have a funtastic weekend! X💋X💋, Cathy

 

Compliments of Bill Watterson creator of Calvin & Hobbes, a little giggle to hold you over til next week’s Friday Sillies return

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23 comments

  3. Hi Cathy 🙂

    I should have added your link to my Linky Widget! That completely slipped my mind! I love your Femme Fatale!! Lovely and yes, the poor man won’t know what hit him. 🙂 Your sexy dame is great too! 🙂 I love that you included a Film Noir playlist! I’m listening to it now! Your Valentine’s story reminds me of our 6 year anniversary where we were out during an ice storm and couldn’t drive up the hill to get home, we kept sliding backwards, it was so scary. We saw many pileups that day and I never felt happier to be home when we made it!

    1. Rain,

      Thanks for adding me to your linky party. That was nice of you. 🙂 We have more problem with ice than snow. In 1984 I was strained on the interstate for several hours because of it. I finally got downtown very late at night to pick up Robin at work. This was all before cell phones, so I imagine he was beside himself with worry not knowing what was going on with me. Knoxville has made national news a few times over the years because of the traffic messes caused by ice storms. Nothing goes in that stuff unless you have chains. We had them but I couldn’t put them on our car and even if I could then it would be very dangerous to try to do so beside the interstate. I saw the craziest, scariest things happen right in front of me and all I can say is God had His hands on me. 🙂

  4. Thank you so much for the mention, Cathy! I love your snowy green bean story and reminds me of when I lived in NJ and went through a blizzard in January 1996. Your Noir picture is fabulous! Have a great day! ❤️

    1. Eugenia,

      I’d saying living in Jersey you saw a number of snow storms. I’m so thankful we don’t get a lot of them here in the Tennessee Valley. Folks closer to the Tennessee/Virginia or Tennessee/Kentucky state line gets more snowy precipitation that leads to accumulation than we do. I’m perfectly happy living in a place where we don’t see a lot of the snowy action.

      1. Yes, I’m happy without a lot of snow, as well. The temps in our area are pretty mild. We get some snow every now and then which is okay with me. And, we’re only an hour away from Blue Ridge! ❤️

  5. Cathy, your film noir drawing is fabulous and so glad you could incorporate it into the AJJ theme. Love the girl and all the black. Your other drawing is very well done as well. Great music. Great story – very well told and often how Valentine’s Days go. We build them all up into dreams of romantic gestures, candlelight, and diamonds, but they are often just regular days with just a bit extra love (at least most of mine have been).

  7. Nice to meet you Cathy. I’m glad you found a way to join us and Valerie’s challenge at Art Journal Journey. Your page with that metallic tipped cigarette is fantastic. Perfect. Thank you. Hope to see you back again.. Hugs-Erika

  10. OMG WHAT A WONDERFUL POST! HI CAT, GUESS WHO? MEEEEEEEEEEEE Did ya miss me? I missed me. Dam, I was so sick. Coughin’ and hacking and coughing and sleeping and sleeping and coughin’ BUT THE BEST thing is………………… I’M GETTING BETTER AND I SHOULD BE FINE BY MONDAY. Could you tell me where we’re at with our Monday’s Music stuff? My head is still a bit foggy, but I plan I resting until then to get my act together. Love you so much and thank you, thank you, thank you for holding down the fort and any time you want to take off feel free. Love you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much and thank you, thank you, thank you. You are definitely the sista I always wanted my friend. HUGS & SMOOCHES, MARIE MORE HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS Off to bed… see you in my dreams we’re going to boogie…….. woo hoo! This weekend I’m going out to buy boots. I haven’t had a pair in years…. it’s time. NO MORE GETTIN’ SICK! HOW HAVE YOU BEEN AND HUBBY TOO! TELL HUBBY HE HAS A WONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNDERFUL WIFE AND HE SHOULD THANK HIS LUCKY STARS HE MET AN ANGEL! HUGS

  12. Hi Kathy, thanks for linking to my challenge at AJJ, much appreciated. Your femme fatale is great, she looks very determined! Have a great day, Valerie

  13. Ohhhh Cathy you did Noir a fabulous tribute. Henery Mancini and his kids use to come to our house. My step dad was the orchestra leader for Sahara Tahoe. We are talking many decades ago. I really had forgotten about Peter Gun. I love harp music and your story is excellent. I just love this entire post. Have a great day.

  14. I love your Noir picture done in black and white with some silver thrown in. You captured the mood.! I like your other picture as well and will look forward til you feel better about your picture here although i think it is quite good. I like your Valentine’s Day story. Since it was my mom’s birthday yesterday, I remember fondly how she would make each holiday special. Valentine’s Day is not a holiday but I remember coming for dinner and there, on my plate, was a heart shaped box of chocolates. I remember thinking how special my mom was to do this.

  15. Gosh if I went to all that trouble to provide green beans for a potluck I think I would have forced everyone to eat them on the next work day. 😉 What an adventure!

  17. Your sketches are so wonderful and I used to watch Peter Gunn all the time. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

  19. You know how I love your sketches and I love both of these. I also enjoyed Peter Gunn.

    Oh the story about your kettle of beans. I love a happy ending and that was a happy ending. Your hubby was right about letting the traffic go away before heading home.

    Have a fabulous Thankful Thursday, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥

  20. Hi, Cathy!

    Happy Thankful Thursday and Art Date with Rain, dear friend!

    I just wanted to let you know that yesterday for me was a bust. I needed to drive halfway across the Florida peninsula in heavy traffic to a vaccination center more than an hour from home to receive my first dose of the COVID vaccine. I will need to return for the second shot in two weeks. Mrs. Shady went along and on the way home dragged me into stores so that she could do some shopping. By the time I got back home all I wanted to do was rest. That’s why I was absent from blogging yesterday.

    Hank Manici’s bold, swaggering “Peter Gunn Theme” was one of the most familiar sounds on radio and TV when I was young. Film noir is one of my favorite genres, and I love your stylish femme fatale with her x-tra large hat pulled down across her face to conceal her identity. I also like the maneating vamp’s long hair and the glow of her cigarette visible in the dimly lit scene with metallic highlights. It’s a great illustration, Cathy! I would also think twice before crossing the dame in your second sketch. She looks like a tough cookie in her stiletto heels and garter belt, and soon she will be armed and extremely dangerous after visiting the gun shop that caught her attention.

    For your fitness at age 59, you have yourself to thank as much as God. From what I have learned about you, you do stay on the go go go, up to your ears in activity or one kind or another, whether it is exploring nearby mountains or the rocky cliffs of Maine. You keep burning off those calories and staying slim. That’s a sweet recipe for good health and longevity, dear friend.

    Thanks for spilling the beans 🙂 about your BC Valentine’s Day. All in all the day worked out nicely. You got half a day off work followed by a snow day the next day with nothing to do except spend quality time with DH. Your kettle of beans did not go to waste and I’m sure your co-workers enjoyed them when you all returned to the office and held the luncheon that was postponed. My most prominent Valentine’s Day memory is a sad one. My mother was rushed to the hospital on V-Day 1995. My dad waited until the next day to notify me because he didn’t want to worry me and didn’t realize until the following day how grave her condition was. Upon receiving the alarming news, Mrs. Shady and I made the drive across the state to the hospital. Heavily medicated, barely coherent and drifting in and out of consciousness, my mother didn’t even recognize Mrs. Shady standing next to me at her bedside. Mom died that night. The saddest part was that my dad had bought mom a large and beautiful Valentine card but never got the chance to give it to her.

    I was struck by the eerie and “chilling” sound of “Listen, The Snow Is Falling” by English singer/songwriter Thea Gilmore, a song from her 2009 album Strange Communion. That recording would work well in a Twin Peaks/David Lynch style film or TV series.

    I wish you a Thankful Thursday, Cathy. I take it there will be no Friday Sillies this week. I notice that next Monday will be BOTB day again as well as 4M Monday. I’ll be here! Have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend Cathy!

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