Night sky with a moon playing hide and seek behind the clouds, screeching branches against a house, crows cawing, chilly wind, flickering pumpkins, haunted houses.
Costumed children; witches, pirates, super-heroes or rock stars racing through crunchy, rustling leaves. Whispers of "What was that?" or "Did you hear that?" "Sshhhh!"
It is the Halloween season, my favorite time of year
Boo!
"Pajamas", inspired by all the antics of the real cats who have lived with us.
Our cats include Sugar who always sleeps with us, curled at the top of my pillow. I can tell you now, that doesn't work with the high temperatures and humid conditions. I don't need to sleep with a fur hat on my head. Sugar is tricky, she can turn on you on a dime. You have to watch her eyes carefully, but not too carefully because she doesn't like to be stared down.
Penelope, our shy cat, bats your feet as you walk by. "I need attention," she says, "but not too much." She resides upstairs always and dares you to pass with acknowledging her.
Shadow is a baby still. He came to us as a tiny kitten, dropped off, then apparently he ran up a tree then dropped from a tree, scurried through the leaves and onto the porch. He's a sweetie but he and Princess still have battles over which one owns the family. Baby, who died last year, taught Shadow the art of "catting", how to stalk, wrestle and attack.
Then there is O.J., laid back orange-striped O.J., who wandered onto our porch...a real sweetheart and friend to Princess.
I remember all the cats we've ever had in my life and their personalities and their interaction with us. They are as different as we are to each other.
One of the most memorable fireworks show I've ever seen was from the top of Blue Ball Hill, the tallest peak in Hardin County. We parked on the side of the road, walked into a pasture and looked north toward Louisville. The fireworks began and only the large ones could be seen spraying their color into the air...and because of the distance there was no sound.
"The Patriot" was inspired by a huge helium balloon floating over a car dealership. Happy 4th of July, America!
George Edward Sanford was my father. His birthday was June 20th and often it fell on Father's Day. So Happy Father's Day, Dad and Happy Birthday.
When I was fourteen, Dad, who only had an 8th grade education, got his GED, enrolled and graduated from Austin Peay State University with a BA in art. I remember he sat at the kitchen table and sketched his ideas or just doodled (a habit that I have). Pen and ink was his medium he liked the most.
He then went to Vanderbilt University and got his Doctorate in Theology and became a Methodist minister. He was a minister for over 40 years. His art took on a religious theme.
Dad was more than those two things; he was a poet, a sculptor, an inventor, a store owner, a WWII veteran. He was a great Dad.
If you ask me why I love carnivals then I must ask you to close your eyes and walk the dusty paths of a carnival. Listen...listen to the dings of the bells, the roar and whirr of the ride motors, the barkers hollering for you to come to their booths, the squelas of the kids on the roller coaster or tilt-a-whirl. With your eyes closed smell the cotton candy, the hot dogs, the elephant ears dusted with powdered sugar.
Watch the sun set and magically bring the lights on the rides to life. When I'm at the carnival, either minor or elaborate a sense of joy floods over me.
We celebrated a birthday brunch on Sunday at Ramsi's Cafe on Bardstown Rd. in Louisville. It was hard to keep focused on the food because of the decor. This huge door standing against the wall held my attention during the entire meal.
And then I saw these wonderful little hands as the door pulls.
Einstein loomed behind me.
I spent the whole meal gazing about the room. If you go to Ramsi's Cafe website there is a section called "Decor". Please check that out. I also wanted to photograph several of those subjects in the decor section, but Ramsi's Cafe was so crowded I could barely walk through with my plate of food.
"Massage" is an acrylic painting I did in 2000. In was in the beginning when my subjects only had one eye and no mouths...go figure.
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