Toys I Found at ArtPad and YouTube

I am getting very sleeeeepy…..even with a nap! I found out how this blog looks on another computer and the text was so very very small. Besides that, all the goodies on the right side of the page weren’t even there! (I must note, however, this computer had the neatest screensaver of tropical scenes. For me, this is WAY more hypnotic than swirly red stripes)
I feel like I gotta start all over. Well, maybe ‘start over’ is a little strong. Maybe I just make adjustments. a bit of remodeling. Is this font too Big?
The research I did tonight gave me several things. I found a beautiful song called ‘Silent Moon’ by Jia Peng Fang who is Chinese. When I heard the song, it reminded me of one of my favorite Japanese anime series ‘Inuyasha’. It is very soothing.

I also found a ‘toy’ I have played with before and forgot. You can go to Art.com where there is a link to ArtPad. There at ArtPad you can pick brushes and paint and make stuff like you did when you were knee-high-to-a-grasshopper. Since your tool is really your mouse, it’s like drawing with a bar of soap. The point (or lack thereof) is to have fun. Now, go play. If this link works, you can see MINE.

(Clicking on the LINKS will take you away from Pinkinklingz, so come back soon!)

The Queen of the Radishes

(as promised): THE QUEEN OF THE RADISHES

A Story to Relish

Mom loved to set a beautiful table, from the linens and tableware, to the presentation of the food itself. Garnishes were one way to delight the eye, as well as the palette. Her favorite way to attend to this detail was “radish roses”.

The dinner table was a place where she commanded respect. We were expected to practice good table manners, and our conversations were to be pleasant exchanges. Dad was unfortunate to err in this domain, and his punishment was swift.Not being one to raise her voice at the table, instead Mom raised her hand.

In her grasp, she held the only weapon at her disposal: a radish. Her aim was true; the missile was shot, landing squarely on Dad's forehead. Justice was delivered when the radish rebounded off Dad's astonished face, back across the table to Mom's awaiting hand.

The event became legendary, and the story has been repeated many times. It is chronicled here to honor Mom's memory as a gracious hostess, matriarch of a genteel dinner table, and one heck of a shot.

In loving memory of Dorothy Jane Oestreich ( April 29, 1928 - June 27, 2000 ) by her daughter © Susy Thompson 2000

Reflections

Albert Einstein said: ’Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.’ So how does that relate to the deaths of two American icons in one day? Everyone seems to have an opinion, good or bad, on these two people. I think that at one time, Michael Jackson was a talented and electrifying performer, but he became a victim of his own fame. I think Farah Fawcett was a beautiful actress but her tumultuous relationships took a large toll on her life. Both of these people lived in celebrity fish bowls, hounded by paparazzi with their lives defined by hype and media speculation. But quoting the ever brilliant Einstein again, ‘Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish. ‘
It may just be Divine Intervention that neither funeral will be attended by ALL the press. It may still be a circus but the media will have to divide their camps, thereby affording each family a little more space for their grief.

My little space is not going to be too focused on either. I am going to be pondering my Mom, who left us 9 years ago this weekend. I still miss her. Grief never really goes away (how could it? the Love doesn’t go away), you just learn how to manage it better. I know she is with God, and by staying close to Him, I can still stay close to her.
Tomorrow I will post a story about her called ‘The Queen of the Radishes’, with a painting I did in her memory. Stay tuned….

Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella

The Big Gig starts today! Weather could include rain, but I’ve never known it to stop any true Summerfest fan. Maybe I’ll be web savvy again today, and put in a link that really does work. The art pictured here was inspired by such summertime festivities and is entirely imaginary. It's called 'Resort'
I’ve been pondering FUN as something we all need, ie: sayings like ‘laughter is good medicine’ and the like.

Then I remembered this quote I had tucked away. It was a page on one of those quote-of-the-day business calenders. It was Wednesday, May 2, 1990…in a galaxy far far away (before the web gave you more quotes than you can even imagine counting).

'Business should be fun. Without fun people are left wearing emotional raincoats most of their working lives. Building fun into business is vital; it brings life into our daily being. Fun is a powerful motive for most of our activities and should be a direct part of our livelihood. We should not relegate it to something we buy after work with money we earn.' Michael Phillips, Academy Award winning film producer.

Yes!

Women in Art on Wednesday

As a kid, if it was ‘Anything Can Happen Day’, I always hoped it meant cartoons. To this day, I am drawn to anything animated (no pun intended). I guess I saw cartoons as drawings that had come to life. More than anything I loved to draw and hoped I would be able to make my own cartoons-or just draw anything I wanted to. My Mom gave me this little example for me to study. Two dots for eyes, two smaller dots for a nose. It was always in a sort of half oval shape, sort of like the letter U. So I would practice, and practice some more.
If things go as I hope to for today, there will be a YouTube video in this post. It is called Women In Art. If I am not able to embed it here, then just an example of my Mom’s little doodle U face will be here.

Just for today

Busy Busy Busy! No post today…be a dear and feed the fish for me? (The red and blue fish are further down on the right…)

Thanx!

PS:

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A Sweet Day

What wears glasses, loves the water, is pink and fun? Well, if you guessed this flamingo, you could be right. I was thinking, however, of someone else. She is very smart, was on Student Council and plays the flute. She also plays softball. She loves dolphins and other ocean life, something important to both of us. She is in the Girl Scouts where she is a great cookie seller. In fact, she was top seller in another fundraiser for her school this year. Yes, she’s fun but she’s also deeply spiritual. She so reminds me of her mother at that age; which is probably not unusual for a granddaughter. Her age, in fact, changes today because it is her birthday. A celebration is in order and I plan to share in it. Then again, just being with her is a celebration no matter what day it is. Who else is gonna sing ‘I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy’ with me?
Happy Birthday my Sweet!
(Have fun feedin' the fish...I had 'em brought in just for you!)

PS: She's creative too! There's a piece of her art called 'It's A Wave' down on the side...

Father's Day

Today is Father’s Day. My father is a teacher, a veritable fountain of knowledge, now retired. Way back in the day, I attempted to ‘sing his praises’ with a hand-painted plaque. Perhaps it was a Father’s Day present…

Despite being retired for some time now, Dad continues to learn. He recently enrolled in a course of independent study on cosmology. Before that it was a course about Egypt.

But the lessons I’ve appreciated the most are
1.) the ones about prejudice not being a good thing; it has taught me about tolerance and acceptance.
2.) the ones about using all one’s resources; it has taught me to always keep looking for answers.
3.) the ones about being able to make the very worst puns possible at any given moment. It has taught me the power of laughter.

Thanks Dad, and Happy Father’s Day!

JUNETEENTH DAY

This 19th day of June is celebrated all over the USA and even the world as JUNETEENTH DAY. A description is included in Evan Rytlewski's Expressmilwaukee.com blog: Although the Emancipation Proclamation called for the liberation of confederate slaves, its effects weren’t immediate. The final slaves in Texas didn’t learn of their freedom until June 19, 1865, a full year and a half after the emancipation took effect, when the Union army rode into Galveston to enforce Abraham Lincoln’s executive order. The anniversary of June 19, or Juneteenth, has been sporadically celebrated in the south as a black independence day ever since, but the tradition never had a presence in the northern states before Margaret Hennsingsen brought it to Milwaukee in the early 1970s. More history is available from TIME. I think it is great that some communities are including Abraham Lincoln's Bicentennial as part of their celebrations. Honest Abe is one of my heroes.
I have never understood slavery. I have never understood the concept of thinking one can 'own' another human being. I have never understood racial prejudice either. Probably because I was never taught to. For this, I am eternally grateful to my parents. It is something I'll thank my Dad for on Father's Day.

One Week to Go!

Here's my BIG GIG pin from 1997, and now it is only one week to go until Summerfest! It is billed as Milwaukee's 11-day music festival featuring everything from alternative to zydeco on 11 different stages. It has something for everybody. There is a main stage headliner with a different big name every night. Then there's all the side stages, with many different performers all day and night. For someone like me with many different musical tastes, this is wonderful. Music is an important element of my creative life. (I will be coming back to this topic in future posts.) I love just wandering around listening to all the great sounds... Grabbing a brat and a beer and strolling along with my husband is always a great date. Maybe we'll see ya there!

Serendipity in Pink Ink, and Green, and Aqua...

Wednesday is supposed to be (if I remember correctly) Anything Can Happen Day. I'm thinking perhaps this should be reinstated. This little doodle just sort of happened one day-I don't even remember when. It was done with different colored ballpoint pens, and is entirely made of dots. the technique is called pointillism (gotta spell check that). It is not what I usually do, but I am fascinated by what a bunch of little points can come to. I'll have to add Georges Seurat to my list of favorite artists. His piece "Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte" circa 1884 is just a delight. the play of light and shadow, color and form is something I would really like to see in person some day. Yum.

Scrollin' along

I am new to this blogging thing...I haven't figured out how things work yet. There are so many different things to make it look cool; I am learning as it builds. I heard a quote somewhere that said 'Rome wasn't built in a day-if it was we'd have hired the contractor'. I can relate...

As I am new to writing these, you may be just a new to reading them. So here is a tip. Keep scrolling down. There are more things to look at, links to other persons, places and things I've found interesting. There are archives of earlier posts. Since the newest stuff is at the top, scrolling down is like going back in time. You'll may even feel refreshed and younger!

This young man here is Feety Pete. He does not like to wear shoes. Barefootin' makes him feel connected to the good earth.

A Rose

A thought for the day....

There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.
~ Henri Matisse

You're A Grand Old Flag

TODAY IS FLAG DAY! Celebrating the 232nd Anniversary of The Flag Resolution of 1777
On June 14, 1777, the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
Waubeka, Wisconsin, 1885 Bernard John Cigrand a nineteen year old school teacher in a one room school placed a 10” 38 star flag in an inkwell and had his students write essays on what the flag meant to them. He called June 14th the flag’s birthday.
The anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. On August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

Lake Beulah means...

You can go sailing on Lake Beulah, and many people do...

but for my husband it's for fishing. He came home early Friday for an assortment of reasons. Then he realized that fishing was an option and off he went in his (not for sailing) boat.

Some time later he returned and uttered his oft repeated phrase: Lake Beulah is an old Native American name for 'Lake With-no-fish-in-it'.

I do not know the etymology of the word Beulah, but I strongly suspect it is not of Native American origin. It is ironic, considering that many of Wisconsin's waterways do have Native American names.

There is even a song about it, called:
'Ye Say They Have All Passed Away' from the Big Top Chautauqua production of '30th Star'. It was written by Warren Nelson for the 1998 Wisconsin Sesquicentennial. The lyrics point to all the many tribes that are now gone, but their 'names are still on our waters' . Lake Winnebago, Kickapoo River, Mukwonago River all have that spiritual link to the past. It is my favorite track on the '30th Star' CD. The Big Top Chautauqua site still has it in their store at http://bigtop.org

12:30PM---THIS JUST IN---

This morning my husband did catch (and release)* a 14 inch bass on Lake Beulah. This thereby proves that Lake Beulah does not mean Lake With-no-fish-in-it.
*That man of mine is an avid angler, and by choice a Catch and Release fisherman. He has requested that I issue the following disclaimer: No fish were harmed in the posting of this blog. Thank you.

Wedding Belles and Beaus 2

'Tis the season...

Today is my son and daughter-in-law's anniversary. It being a Friday, I can think of no better way to kick off a weekend than celebrating with loved ones. There is a rambuncious little one in their lives now; the growing demands of parenthood often limit time for being a 'couple'. It was good to see them at the other grandson's graduation this week. It is good to share all these special occasions. But I hope they find a quiet, rose petal strewn path of their own today. May they each find a sunrise in their hearts that brings a new warmth and light to their lives.

Wedding Belles and Beaus

Today is my parent's 60th wedding anniversary. Mom was here for the first 51, and then she was called away to the Sweet By and By. In my opinion, God took a liking to her way too early-there is, of course, a strong probability that God knows more than I do. Her spirit is now more free to be in more than 2 places at once; I'm sure she's puttering around the house with my Dad, even as I write this.

There was a quote about marriage in a movie, just last night. It was attributed to Bishop Jeremy Taylor(circa 1600), "Marriage hath in it less of beauty but more of safety, than the single life; it hath more care, but less danger, it is more merry, and more sad; it is fuller of sorrows, and fuller of joys; it lies under more burdens, but it is supported by all the strengths of love and charity, and those burdens are delightful"

Nicely put, Bishop Taylor.

Shameless Self-agrandizing Promotion

Behold at evening's darkened hour, in serendipity bloomed a flower.

This little poem greets visitors at my website:

http://moonflowerstudio.net

There's more pictures there, but it is out of date and in need of a makeover. This whole blog idea was started as a sort of boot camp/basic training exercise. How am I doin?

The Stars

Rumor has it that today is the 80th birthday of a close family friend. She is a retired teacher, so it’s important to get the math right.
Becoming an Octogenarian is good cause for celebration. So many decades to reflect on is enchanting. It’s like the setting for a multifaceted jewel. This woman’s light sparkles as it dances across the cuts made by a Master Jeweler. She’s a true gem, our Rachel is.
An additional rite of passage will happen today for another important family member, my grandson Andy. A stage in a small town will be the platform for a new generation of brilliance. It’s just as important that these graduates get their math right. We’re gonna be counting on them.
Happy Birthday Rachel!
Congratulations Andy!
Here’s looking at you, kids!

Weather (or not)

I am currently in Oz. According to the National Weather service, a tornado just went over my house. I'm confused. Am I in Kansas now? There's no dog named Toto-just my cat named Ohana. There's no yellow brick road (except for the yellow bud covers all over the place) My weather radio never went off-and just yesterday I changed the batteries (AND plugged it in correctly too) I wanted to post that TV footage of the tornado chase, but haven't figured out how yet. My daughter loves that stuff. The photo shown at left is hers ©Shannon Jepson 2009.I did try to email her a link yesterday.
Which begs the question: should I just abandon this post and go watch the WISN CH12 news? .........

Quotable

Thoughts for the day:

'I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.' –Jennifer Unlimited

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. –Catherine

Today is the anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy. Let us pause and reflect on this historic day. Let us give thanks to the veterans who served and sacrificed then.
Let us give thanks for those who serve and sacrifice now.
Let us say a prayer for the families and loved ones of all the men and women protecting our freedoms then and now.

**Freedom isn't free**
Please support our troops!

Saturday!

This is a morning for

(a) sleeping late

(b) watching Heckel and Jeckel cartoons or

(c) shopping the Early Bird Power Hours sale at Kohl's (expect great things). As it is already 2:56AM, I think I'm gonna go for (a)

Z Z z z z z . .

Credit Where Credit Is Due

I mentioned earlier that all images were ©Süsy Kysely Thompson unless otherwise noted. Then I went and added a profile picture that (obviously) had to be taken by someone else! Mea Culpa. The picture in the arch was taken by hubby Mike in 1999. We were at the El Dorado Resort attending the wedding of dear friend Lori to new friend Pat. (Congrats on your 10th anniversary Lori & Pat)The resort is on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. I will post more stories from travel in the Caribbean in the future; this time is just to clear up the 'credit' issue.

Credit for the image included today really is mine. It is titled "Pitcher of Myself" and really is...look carefully!

I have learned that I do not have to add the date. I have not learned how to get this image into the header. Hmmm. 'Tis a puzzlement. I did manage to start editing my profile. This should all help in my training when I rebuild my website (...I hope!)

June 3, 2009

Day 3 has me thinking twice about Day 2. I appear to have overlooked some important details…and well, I’m still learning some of the technical stuff.
PinkInklingz™ is a work in progress and a trademarked division of Sűsy Kysely Thompson’s Moonflower Studio™. The creative musings shared here, be they literary, sketches, finished art or photography are ©Sűsy Kysely Thompson unless otherwise noted. As in this quote by Suzanne K. Langer:

· “An artist, then, expresses feelings, but not in the way a politician blows off steam or a baby laughs or cries. He formulates that elusive aspect of reality that is commonly taken to be amorphous or chaotic, that is, he objectifies the subjective realm” from “PHILOSOPHY IN A NEW KEY” 1942

June 2, 2009

It's day 2 of my 365 day trip around the sun. that's for me and my moonflowers. This is the great experiment, adventure, or...feeble attempt at being web savvy. We shall see.