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.
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
