Rain's Thursday Art Date: You are a super hero (and happy Thanksgiving)

Today is Thursday and that means we're meeting at Rain's for her Thursday Art Date.  This week, the theme is You are a super hero.

In my opinion, Abraham Lincoln was a super hero.  He was President during the Civil War between the North and South, pro-slavery vs. anti-slavery.   He helped free the slaves, a black mark (no pun intended) on our country.

I believe Barack Obama, the 44th U.S. president is a hero.  He won a Nobel peace prize and a Profile in Courage award.  He repealed the law that originally restricted, but now allows gays and lesbians to openly serve in the military.  He was instrumental in initiating the same-sex marriage act.  Many economists credit Obama's stimulus plan for economic growth that was in place when the next president took over.

I have no photos of him, but I believe "Sully" Sullenberger is a hero.  His heroism is best known when he landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan after both engines became disabled by a bird strike.  All 155 crew and passengers survived thanks to his quick and heroic efforts to save the plane and everyone on board.  I was lucky enough to see the movie in IMAX.

Another hero is President Eisenhower.  He was loved and respected by people the world over.

Although I have no personal art, I believe all first responders are heroes and I do have a few photos honoring a few of them.  Everyone from doctors, nurses, janitors, EMTs, fire fighters, grocery store workers, teachers, and garbage collectors are heroes.  They go above and beyond to serve their communities and even more so during this time of COVID-19.

I did find a few photos of fire fighters and police officers when they fought a fire in my neighborhood.

Sorry these were taken with my old worthless camera, but you can see the fire department and police working in unison to put out a fire and control traffic in the neighborhood.

 

For several years, I organized a "National Night Out," event.  For those of you who don't know what it is, it's an event where police, fire, and citizens of a community come together.  The citizens can learn about what each of these entities do and the different entities become acquainted with the citizens they represent in their community.

 

In my community, they have a horse patrol, fire, police, and a police helicopter, all of which came to one of my planned events.  There were even police officers who investigated crime scenes, which I was most interested in.

 

At another Neighborhood Night Out event, the party was just getting started when I took this photo.  National Night Out is the first Tuesday in August, but needless to say, there was none this year.

 

My neighborhood association also has an annual clean-up.  I have always been the co-chair of that event, too.  Needless to say, the event was cancelled this year.

Although I am more than willing to help pick up the items left at the curb, 

the packer drivers always wanted someone from the community to navigate

through the community and tell the driver where they needed to go next.  That may have seemed like a cushy job, but we only had use of the packer trucks and drivers for four hours, so the routes had to be determined by which streets had the most (or any) trash and which ones could be avoided.  Believe me, it was far more stressful demanding than simply grabbing trash and throwing it in the packer truck.  Yes, these are two different years and two different trucks, but my same lousy camera.

 

No trash was ever left behind, though.  These volunteers are also heroes.

 

Switching gears, here is the only art I could find that met the criteria.

I'm not sure how much of a hero Andrew Jackson is, but he was our seventh president.  To his credit, he was able to keep several southern states from seceding from the union, was the first president to pay off the national debt, and initiated a few reforms to eliminate corruption and waste, but he had faults, too, the worst of which was his signing of the Indian Removal Act.  He was directly responsible for forcibly relocating members of several Native American tribes and moving them to what was then called "Indian Territory."  Most historians believe the good he did for the nation outweighed the bad, but I doubt there are many Native American historians who would agree.  His statue sits in Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA).

Back in October, 2008, I was in yet another Artist Trading Card swap.  This one is all about men being heroes.  Although it is subtle, if you look closely, you can see the vintage sheet music I used to back the men I sewed in place.

She's not exactly a super hero, but she's my alter ego right down to her short hair and long bangs that usually hang in her eyes.  In case you've never met her, she is WOYWWendy, or Wendy for short.

Although there isn't much to see this week, all art created by me and all photos taken by me.  Bleubeard says he'll be my SUPER hero.  How can I possibly say no to that offer?

Thank you ever so much for your visit today.  I am truly grateful to you, my friends, followers, readers, and lurkers for visiting.  Please also join me at Rain's Thursday Art Date. 

I'm also joining AEDM and today is Day 26 where I joined a link-up group and shared photos and art related to Superheroes. 

And for all my friends who live in the states,

Bleubeard, Squiggles, and I want to wish each of you a very happy Thanksgiving.

Give thanks when you sit down to eat your meal today, dear friends.

Pumped

 

Let's join Wendy, our host this month at Art Journal Journey, with her Birds theme. 

As you can see, today I made a simple entry in my Scraps altered book.

It's easy to tell where I got the title, which is Pumped.

 

For this page, which I created in my Scraps altered book, I started with the back of a yearly calendar to which I sewed the title of the computer generated sentiment.  For this, I used left-over copier/printer paper from a previous entry.  I used variegated thread on the title.  I really love the summertime look to this page and the vintage feel to this painting. 

 

Thanks so very much for visiting Bleubeard and me today.  We sincerely hope to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own take on Birds.  

I'm also joining AEDM.  Today is Day 25 and I created a journal page for Art Journal Journey.

T Stands For Thanksgiving

 

For those of you who live in the states, this Thursday is Thanksgiving.  It is my very favorite holiday of the year for several reasons.  First, you don't have to wrap any gifts.  Second, you get to cook all your favorite foods, and third, you get to spend time with friends and family you don't normally get to see.  However, this year, I fear all that has gone out the window.  I'll still fix all my favorite foods, I just won't be sharing them with anyone.  As I do every day since March 13, I'll spend it in isolation. 

Many of you who have visited before know I bring out this set I use every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year.  The set was collected by my Grandmother (grandparents raised me from birth) and she also used it between those two dates each year.

The set is called Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe and I think it reminded my grandmother of her roots in Great Britain.

I used to set formal dining tables, but it's been awhile, 

and I have forgotten which bowl, dish, and plate goes where.

I believe I even have the water and wine glass (which for me will be juice) turned around.  And of course, I still have the silverware placement to look forward to, also.

One thing I know is, I have every piece of china I will need for this meal.  On the back left is the soup bowl, which is small compared to a normal soup bowl.  I won't need a big one, though.  Once the soup has been cleared, a bread plate will take the place of where the soup bowl now sits.  There will be no fish course, so I will go straight to the entree.  Once it is cleared, I will have my salad, which is another small bowl.  Unlike most who live in the states, I prefer my salad after the entree, which comes from my British roots.  Finally, I'll have dessert which will be served on the small plate on the right, along with my coffee and water.

 

Now it's your turn to share a drink related post.  In case you don't know the rules, please link any post below that involves some form of drink.   That drink could be made from art, sketched, digital, hybrid, or traditional.  It can be a time when you were out and about, or a drink you had at home.  It could be in the form of a book you read, a postcard you received, scrapbook page you created, or a movie you watched.   It doesn't matter as long as you can, in some way, tie it back to a drink.  After linking your post below (direct links only, please), Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit and enjoy whatever you choose to share.  And remember, as Bleubeard would say, your photos may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday.

I would also like to remind you it's time to dig out your Second on the 2nd, a post that you want to bring back to share with others.  It may be any length or any genre, as long as it has been published sometime in the past.

This is also Day 24 of AEDM.  Today I created and hosted a link up party where fellow participants shared a drink related post.

Winter on the farm

 

Since I have a few hours between Monday Murals and T Tuesday, I'm once again joining Wendy, our host this month at Art Journal Journey, with her Birds theme. 
 

As you can see from the title on this post, I've named this Winter on the farm.

I was surprised to see my images have loaded backward.

Thankfully, it doesn't matter that much for this simple and quick post.

For this spread I created in my Challenges altered book, I began by gluing this lovely image that was a piece of junk mail art I received a few days ago.  I was so pleasantly surprised, I knew I had to use it in some way in my art.  The computer generated text I printed on orange copier/printer paper was sewn in place using variegated thread that I tried to match to the sentiment and the lovely cardinals on the page.  I really love the vintage feel of this painting.

Thanks so very much for visiting Bleubeard and me today.  We sincerely hope to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own take on Birds.  

I'm also joining AEDM.  Today is Day 23 and I created a journal page for Art Journal Journey in my Challenges Altered Book.

Monday Murals: Birds (Untitled)

It's time once again to join Sami at Sami's Colourful World and her Monday Murals.  Even though it's still Sunday in my world, please be aware that Sami's mural link goes live at 10:01 a.m. my time today.

One day when I was downtown looking for murals, I found this beauty.

It was so big, I couldn't get it all in one photo.

This is one of several artists who worked on this mural.

 

It was too bad I couldn't see the important information hidden behind the cars.  First, it's an Avenue Art Days mural, second, it was painted in 2015, and third

it's Untitled by ICT Army of Artists.  I found this view on the internet.  This mural is found at 129 North Ohio in Wichita, Kansas (USA).

If you enjoy murals from around the world, please don't forget to visit Monday Murals at Sami's Colourful World.

I am glad I found this because it goes so well with Wendy's bird theme at Art Journal Journey this month, too.

Today is Day 22 of AEDM and I shared a mural I photographed in my home town.