Let's Give Thanks

Thanksgiving is only days away (here in the USA). I think it is my favorite holiday. No gifts, low-key and pie! I mean, really, what's not to like?
Like I said...pie.
What is your favorite kind? I think the holiday also makes us think about loved ones who we have with us and whose who are gone. My beloved mother-in-law taught me how to make pie crust and pies many years ago, After we lost her, I made many an apple pie for my father-in-law who loved apple pie. (He was the 102 year old fire fighter many of you know about).
So, I can't make a pie without thinking of those two.

I made a Thanksgiving altered book this year....and a matching one for my niece, whom I'm spending the holiday with. I think it will be a nice souvenir of our visit.

I used a bunch of old papers for a lot of the pages....and we will add photos and menus and ephemera from the holiday weekend. Looking forward to a little art time after all the eating.
And a nice long walk too.

Don't you wonder what these two girls did for Thanksgiving back in the day? I wonder how many they got to celebrate.
I invited them along to my celebration this year.

Some French pumpkins to add a little international color. But I doubt you could find a turkey in France! OK, maybe a small one...

This page makes me think of my wonderful mom,. Every Thanksgiving she would set out a bowl of walnuts on the coffee table in the living room where they would sit and get dusty and mostly ignored. I have to do the very same thing myself now....(yes, they still get ignored and dusty...)

So, I am hoping all of you out there who celebrate have a lovely day. Be sure to have some pie and think about your loved ones and what you are thankful for.
I'm sure we all have many things to appreciate and be grateful for and celebrate.
How do you all celebrate?
Do you BBQ a turkey? Go to a movie and get Chinese food? Celebrate with a few or many? Go for a walk on the beach and eat crab? 
I'd love to hear.

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Getting Inked

No, not me......but I did go see a really interesting show recently. I had a couple of free passes to the Jewish Museum here in San Francisco and went to see this show about tattooing...

It was interesting to me to see the old school tattoos...when the tattoo artist were doing these in the 40's and 50's the world was a different place and tattooing was not really accepted in mainstream culture.

I think I liked the old signs the best....

Maybe it was seeing the Asian women tattoos (and, of course, it was all women and not men in the drawings) but I suddenly had an udon craving...

Finding a great bowl of udon or ramen in San Francisco is pretty easy and happens at least once  a week for me....

These old gals also got inked -- but in a slightly different way. I rolled out my brayer and used some stencils my pal Margarete lent me and gave a bunch of old cabinet cards some ink!
By the way, Maragrete's blog is listed on my sidebar to the right (on your laptop -- doesn't show on phones) and I recommend taking a look at her last two delightful posts.
I'm just sayin'.

I think the color really livens things up, don't you? They all needed some cheering up.

And, while I was at it, I made some cards too. Always nice to have a stockpile of cards ready to mail out.

I think a lot of us here in California could use some cheering up. There are wild fires in both Northern and Southern California. The air quality here in San Francisco is terrible which serves to remind us of of all the losses people and the wonderful state of California are suffering. There are many people here who won't be having a happy thanksgiving.

Count your blessings.

I already have another blog post in the works so I'll see you guys soon.

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