A Redneck Thanksgiving in Oklahoma

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
– Ursula K. Le Guin

Williamson Thanksgiving 2012

A Redneck Thanksgiving in Oklahoma

Yes… that is a car lift that Thanksgiving dinner was served on.  I just love it!  We have been eating Thanksgiving dinner with Jerry & Teresa Williamson for 9 years.  The last 6 or so have been served from this car lift in Jerry’s Boat repair business.  Behind me (as I was taking the photo) is a bunch of tables and chairs where we eat.  That wooden platform you see in the lower left corner is the stage for the permanently installed  stripper pole.  he he he 

About Ursula K. Le Guin

American writer Ursula K. Le Guin’s beautifully crafted, lyrical novels transcend the science fiction and fantasy genres; her books have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize and have won the National Book Award and the Pushcart Prize, among many other honors. She was born in Berkeley in 1929, met her husband in Paris, and settled in Oregon to raise her family. Her best known novels include The Dispossessed, The Left Hand of Darkness, and The Earthsea Trilogy.

Gallery Wrapped Canvas Edges

Love doesn’t just sit there like a stone: it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.
–Ursula K. Le Guin

 Everyone could use a new batch of love every day. Way too often, we forget to make a new batch. Then we end up eating hard, old, crumbly stuff that doesn’t even taste good. We forget to talk with the people we love. We tell ourselves that they should “know” we love them, even if we haven’t called to connect with them for a long time. So we expect them to live off hard, old, dry crumbs too!
 But baking a fresh batch of love is a lot easier than baking bread. All we have to do is make a phone call, write a letter or an email, or stop by our mom’s house. We need to deliver the message that the people we love are important. What could be easier or more rewarding?
–Anonymous

I found these two quotes together and I loved them.   It just makes perfect sense to me!
–Beth

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Uptown Stroll – Gallery Wrapped Canvas Edges – 6″ x 12″ Acrylic

 

Yesterday, I completely forgot to show you the edges of the canvas.   That (to me) is part of the fun and charm of these little paintings.  No frame needed… just follow the frolic around the corners. 

As of 2011, Ursula K. Le Guin has published twenty-one novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. Forthcoming in 2012, Finding My Elegy, New and Selected Poems. She lives in Portland, Oregon. 

Her blog is here.  Her website is here.  Both are really interesting.

Thank You Note from my Beach Series

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
– Ursula K. Le Guin



Thank You Note from my Beach Series
Photoshop CS5 Product Mock Up

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I enjoyed a day with friends and it was great!

Here is another one of my little product mock ups.  It’s a very slow process, from painting each little individual icon, then scanning it in, cleaning it up, removing the background and creating patterns and borders.

I have no prior experience with Photoshop CS5, but Tara Reed has published some great ebooks and videos, which I am using to learn and create these little mock ups.    She uses CS3, but I found the CS5 at a really good price at Buy.com.  I am such a babe in the woods in that program, but I’m trying very hard to enjoy the journey. 

About Ursula K. Le Guin

American writer Ursula K. Le Guin’s beautifully crafted, lyrical novels transcend the science fiction and fantasy genres; her books have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize and have won the National Book Award and the Pushcart Prize, among many other honors. She was born in Berkeley in 1929, met her husband in Paris, and settled in Oregon to raise her family. Her best known novels include The Dispossessed, The Left Hand of Darkness, and The Earthsea Trilogy.

Fishies - July 29, 2009

Love doesn't just sit there like a stone: it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.

--Ursula K. Le Guin

Everyone could use a new batch of love every day.. Way too often, we forget to make a new batch. Then we end up eating hard, old, crumbly stuff that doesn't even taste good. We forget to talk with the people we love. We tell ourselves that they should "know" we love them, even if we haven't called to connect with them for a long time. So we expect them to live off hard, old, dry crumbs too!

But baking a fresh hatch of love is a lot easier than baking bread. All we have to do is make a phone call, write a letter or an email, or stop by our mom's house. We need to deliver the message that the people we love are important. What could be easier or more rewarding?

Today's Action: I will make it a point to make a fresh batch of love today and deliver it - in person or in a phone call, email, or letter.

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Anonymous

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Fishies

Acrylic on 6" x 6" x 1.5" Canvas