August TAD illustrations, Thankfuls, and TBT music

For August, I not only felt energetic but inspired to illustrate four new drawings for Rain’s weekly prompts this month.  I was happily taken by surprise, too.  This is a good sign that I’m ready to get back into the saddle to participate more regularly.

When I was small, my folks made periodic trips to visit my great-grandparents.  It seemed so far away for someone young.  I have fleeting memories of my early years spent there but one stand-out memory was the refreshing taste of their well water.  It was ice cold on the hottest summer day and we all drank from the same dipper kept in the water bucket.  I wouldn’t do that today but we all survived sharing the same germs. I guess there’s some truth to “ignorance is bliss”.  I’m glad I didn’t know that drinking after others might make me to get sick or that it’s not sanitary to reuse or to place the drinking dipper in the water bucket.

 

Aug. 5th prompt, “Ditches & Holes”. I thought of the wall at my Great-Grandparents’ farm in south-western Virginia just outside of Bluefield, WV. My parents live on property they bought from G8 Grandpa Payne in the late 70s. They built on a home there with Daddy’s Black Lung settlement after we got married.

I betcha everyone of you have used the phrase “It’s raining cats and dogs” which no doubt someone always finished up the line by saying, “don’t step in a poodle!”. 

Aug. 12th prompt “Weather & Weather Lore”. I immediately thought of the phrase, “It’s raining cats and dogs” and used this as inspiration for my illustration. When I was a kid, I rarely walked or played in the falling rain but I remember how we’d loved to stomp through the rain puddles on summer days that were often hot and sticky after a hard rain.

After my previous post doodle it only seemed the perfect fit to have my little girl that was getting pelted with kitties and doggies to enjoy the sunlight with ‘Reflections in a rain puddle’.  The critters didn’t disappear after the heavy rain fall as you can see. They are also enjoying their reflections.

Aug. 19th prompt, “Reflections & Mirrors”.

For the final art prompt, I thought I would sketch a famous bearded celebrity.  The pandemic has sparked a fad for men to ditch their razors to sport this casual look.  Personally, I don’t like a lot of facial hair on a guy.  Some look nice with a beard but not everyone.  Anyway, I got to thinking about DH who missed a few days using the shaver.  One day feels really scratchy but after four or five days it’s kind of interesting to touch.  I teased him by calling him my little hedgehog. I imagined his short rough beard might feel like a hedgehog’s prickly fur, if that’s what it’s called but I have never seen a real life hedgehog much less touch one.  Do you know?

Aug. 26th prompt, “Rough Textures”. I used a modified version of this sketch on a blank greeting card in my Zazzle store as seen in the upper right side menu. The commission pay-out is small for my artwork but it’s a nice way to put my designs on various products. I’d love to find another way to do this for interested parties to buy directly on my blog. What do you think, would it be best to sell the image on an individual basis then let the customer choice how to use it or to continue using a platform like Zazzle?

A short stubbly beard brought to mind my grandpa tickling me as a kid while rubbing his unshaven face on my cheeks or belly.  It was fun sorta but his face always felt like a Brillo pad. Way too rough for a child’s delicate skin but I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world!

Today, I want to list my thanksgivings.  I’m thankful every day but I like that Brian sets aside a special day for us to bring those things to mind be it small or big.  

Today, I’m thankful I am finally going to a specialist about the numbing/tingling in my right leg.  My appointment is set for this afternoon.  I hope this isn’t just another rabbit hole where the doctor can’t see anything that should be causing the problem.  Obviously, something is amiss.  We’ll see what happens but if a MRI is ordered then it will be still a ways out before I get a verdict.   

I’m thankful that we’re getting some security measures in place for our computer and its data.  I’m using a different browser which is supposed to be better than what I was using and we’ve taken other steps.  Hopefully the things we’ve done will keep hackers and government organizations out of our business.  

Visit Brian’s Home to join the Thankful Thursday community!

 

In our part of the country school is now in session.  When I was a kid one song always came to mind with the start of a new academic year.  I’m not sure why.  Now that August is nearly faded away I can’t help but think again of Terry Jacks “Seasons In The Sun” for today’s TBT tune.

I remember this song being about a dying man but what I either didn’t know or forgot that the dying man was saying goodbye to his best friend and wife who had cheated on him with the same best friend forgiving her for breaking his heart.  One thing I didn’t know is Jacks’ version is a cover of The Kingston Trio (1964) which is also a cover of the original written and performed by Jacques Brel in 1961. Cool, huh?

I got curious as to what Jacks did after his worldwide hit I shared earlier.  I thought you might enjoy my discovery and am going to wrap things up with 40Seasons In The Sun with The Poppy Family featuring Terry Jacks as the lead vocalist.   I’m heading over to Rain’s Garden to browse the gallery of artistry but don’t skip off just yet.  Following this post, I’m joining Kat’s Writing Workshop.  I felt it needed its own space and this may be the way to go for all future workshop dates.   Have a doodletastic day! X💋X💋, Cathy

Eugenia’s passion is poetry and her weekly gig is perfect for creative writers. Each Thursday she offers a word to spark the imagination and if you’re inspired to write a ditty then be sure to let her know by leaving a comment on her site with a direct link to your post.  Now, go visit my girl! 😉

 

 

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