Fishing Hidden Picture

Inspiration for this hidden picture came from Philadelphia's Pennypack Creek. A park I spent many many days exploring and fishing at with friends (and once with my Dad who hated fishing there).

Can you find the following objects?
Pencil, Muffin, Tack, Chicken, Flag, Bell, Glove, Pen, Candy Corn, Banana, Slice of Pie, Carrot, Mitten, Slice of Pizza, and a Toothbrush.

That's Silly, Beach Lake!

... and some Heidi and Zeke hidden pictures.

My latest That's Silly! illustration is in this July's Highlights High Five issue. I took inspiration from many childhood summers spent at Pennsylvania's Promised Land Lake and some more recent memories of Rickett's Glen Sate Park (seriously the most beautiful park in PA).

The Heidi and Zeke hidden pictures are from July's Highlights Eagle Eye Hidden Picture magazine. Unlike regular hidden pictures, short stories accompany the illustration. In the first one Heidi and Zeke help a troubled young girl find her bunny rabbit before her family goes on a long car trip. Second, Heidi and Zeke help the Zamboni operator find his lost keys so he can clean the ice for the kids to get back to skating. 12-14 other objects are also hidden in each of these illustrations but I did them so long ago that I can't remember where they are. Wink!

Funny memories with my Dad.

I am submitting this for IF's Farewell theme this week:

My family and I each made photo collages for my Dad's funeral. I had a little fun with mine, adding some good, funny memories. I'll let this speak for itself....

You may have to right click and open in a new window in order to see it clearly. I would also recommend enlarging it in your browser a bit.

Dad & Me.

I drew this for my Dad when I was in the first grade at the age of 6 (1979). I specifically remember drawing Jesus in the clouds. Although I attended a Catholic School I wasn't instructed to add Jesus in. I can remember Ms. Kersey asking why I drew him there but I wasn't sure why I did at the time. I drew Jesus in jeans and I thought that's what makes him look pretty cool.

Dad.

In true Irish fashion my Dad passed away Sunday morning. The prior Sunday he suffered a massive heart attack. As a result his brain was damaged and, reluctantly, we had no choice but to let him go. After a very long night he finally passed on. It turns out that the last story he needed to tell was that he passed away on Saint Patrick's Day.

My Dad taught me many, many valuable things. Among them his great sense of humor, gift of story telling and love of the outdoors.

He never missed an opportunity to tell someone that I was a "cartoonist"- something he was very proud of and, admittedly, could never quite understand. I can remember many times, at his request, drawing eagles on cocktail napkins for all of his friends- my first art commissions as I was often given quarters or dollars for the drawings. As I was growing up he would take me on fishing trips from the far north of Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, to northern Maine, as close as our own Pennsylvania and, of course, his beloved Delaware River. Those are some of the most cherished memories I have to this day.

Anyone who knew him will miss him dearly. Thank you so very much for all of the prayers and notes of kindness. With Daisy away in Switzerland last week I have no doubt that it was God's answer to your prayers that held me together.

These Highlights illustration clippings are just some of many that I have drawn my Dad in.

The Round Valley Grump

I had quite an adventure today. I just finished a big two month job so I took the day off and went up to Round Valley State Park just north of Flemington, NJ. It was a beautiful day. I arrived to some gray clouds but eventually the sky cleared up and the sun started shining.

Just before I went home I took a walk along the rocky shoreline to get some last shots of the leaves. The following took place during that walk...

*Warning: the following story has not been censored. There is cursing.

As a short person this has happened to me more often then you'd think. However, most situations took place as a child or teenager, not as an adult.