By Any Other Name Is Still...

I keep producing these Name Doodles. I like doing them so much that I decided to redo one for my wife, Marylynn. Her's was basically the first one I did. I think that my technique has gotten better, plus the coloring on the first one was just in the computer. I wanted to make one she could hold in her hand. And so, that's what I did.

Her favorite color is yellow and since she's from Texas, she's the yellow rose of Texas in my life. I know, I know... "Oh Gwarsh!"

We decided to "splurge" a bit on our weight loss thing last Friday night and went out for some Chinese. On the way there we swung by the port and I took some quick photos as the fog was rolling in...

What do you think?

Featured Photos

Webshots is a popular web site which host 1,000's of photos that both pro and amateur photographers post there.  I've been posting photos there over the past five years.  Recently I received a comment congratulating me on having one have one of my photos featured in their US Travel section.

It was this photo that I took down in Crescent City, CA of the Battery Point Lighthouse.  Naturally I looked to see where the photo was feature.  When I saw it  I also discovered that another one of my photos was featured as one of the most viewed in the US Travel section.  You can see it posted below the lighthouse pic.

This photo was taken at a state park on the north side of our town—Harris State Beach.

Now I've got to admit that I was pretty proud to see two of my photographs featured there. There has to be thousands posted on that web site, and two of my shots are featured. What do you think about that?

I've often told people that the secret of my photography is that digital camera has made it possible to take tons of photos in one setting.  One of them is bound to turn out.

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A Sneak Peek

I decided to do some- thing different and give you a sneak peek of a carica- ture that I am working on. This is for Terri's husband Bob who will be retiring from being a school principle after 15 years of service.

We decided on a concept which depicts Bob as an old time principle sitting at a roll top desk. This is the pencil sketch. The next step is the pen work. After that the color pencil.

So stay "tooned" to see how it will turn out.

And here is a photo of my youngest laying on the couch while using her itouch to explore the internet. She's too cool for school. I just thought I would throw this in for fun.

Our Travelin' Salvation Road Show

The director of our church choir asked me to do a live painting presentation during two songs of the Easter musical. This is only the second time I've done anything like this. I was nervous, but I wanted to help

I purchased a piece of sign board from the local hardware store and painted it black.

I decided to use an image that I found in a magazine about banners. I copied it on a transparency and put it on an overhead projector. Then I traced the image onto the board with a dark marker before the presentation. So, I can't take full credit for the piece.

Basically I was just filling in the lines while the choir sang. The audience couldn't see my guide lines. I think most of them thought I was painting it totally on my own.

I purchase the overalls at the same hardware store where I bought the board. Somebody said that I looked like Super Mario. Vanity says that it makes me look fat. (Or fatter I should say.)

My wife sang a solo during one of the songs while I painted. She has a great voice. We make a great team. The lady with the nice smile on the left is our choir director. She's nice. You'd like her.

I painted the image in such a way that most people couldn't figure out what I was painting until I was nearly finished.

These photos actually come from the third time I painted this. There was a dress rehearsal, a Saturday evening performance, and then this was Sunday evening performance.

Can you tell what I'm painting yet. It always looks better from further back.

At the end I dipped my finger in yellow to create highlights, and red to represent blood.

It was a lot of fun, and a number of people said nice things about the painting. I sure look like my dad—only with darker hair.

Update: My daughter, Marla, took these photos and she's offended that I didn't give her credit.

Lord, you gave me this child. How am I ever going to get her raised?

Wuv You

I've been slow getting through my list of doodle request lately. One of the reasons is that our middle daughter came in for a quick visit from Oklahoma. On Saturday she offered to take us out to our favorite little greasy spoon in town.

The youngest jumped into the driver's seat and said she was driving. She had the jams pumped up and was acting a little crazy. She gets that from her mother.

It's pronounced "Fee-Lee's." The condition of the sign speaks well to the condition of the interior, but year after year it is voted the best hamburger in town. You'll find it down at the port, right by Sport Haven Beach, on the great big Pacific Ocean. Go ahead and bring your laundry while you're there getting a bite to eat.

Three of my girls just prior to the big feast.

The in-laws met us there. They frequent the joint.

Feeding the gulls. They are always around, looking for a handout. Yes, they're basically rats with feathers. I know what you're thinking... "The Birds!" Alfred could have made a scene for his flick there.

The girls took a run throug the gulls. (Disclaimer: No seagulls were hurt in the preparation of the post.)
We all took a walk out onto the jetty. This is where the Chetco River meets the Pacific Ocean.

Marylynn will probably shoot me for posting this pic—her hair had that ocean breeze effect going. But I like her smile. I'm looking a big strange, but hey! Who am I trying to impress?

I've laid in bed at night and heard this fog horn going off many times. I wouldn't want to be standing there when it does.

Self portrait. The Old Salt himself.

Here's another little quick doodle for your viewing pleasure. It speaks for itself, and it's so true.

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Driving Miss Daisy

Here is another illustration that was on someone's Christmas wish list. Kat wanted an illustration of her husband, George, in his golf cart with their "Soft Coated Wheaten, Miss Daisy."

This was a fun one. There's something about golfers that makes them easy targets for satire. Why is that? You will perhaps notice a number of different little jabs that I included to take aim at George. His driving skills for one, but the brand name of his golf bag is an obvious. If you study the doodle you will probably find several other bits of statire. Golf is comedy, I guess.

Kat entitled the piece, "Driving Miss Daisy." Apparently Miss Daisy enjoys a daily ride on George's cart.

Kat didn't provide a view of the front of the cart and I wanted a better angel of it for the caricature. So I did a bit of blog research on golf carts (there are HUNDREDS of different makes) and I found what I thought was the right kind—an E-Z Go Cart. Thus the name on the front of this particular model.

Kat posted photos on her blog of the unveiling. She said that George "was R-E-A-L-L-Y surprised by the "doodle" I gave him which was drawn by Rick of Organized Doodles. Rick did a great job! Just look at all the fun details! Thanks Rick for helping me surprise George. As you can see, it's already hanging by George's desk in the office."



Thanks Kat. I love the photos. Some how putting a frame around one of my doodles makes them look... I don't know... like real art somehow.

Give George and Daisy my regards. And keep those two off the fairways.

In other news: Thank you for all your prayers for my family and I regarding my BIL's, Jim's, death. It seems impossible that he is gone. I know that my sister Becky and her three girls could continue to use your prayers. The youngest daughter has her 17th birthday on the 16th of this month.

The memorial service went very well. There were probably over 550 people there. I shared a little - got a few laughs - which always makes it easier and Becky seemed to appreciate what I had to share.

On the way home we took time to stop at Multnomah Falls. They're located right on Interstate 84, and it's FREE! Since there has been so much rain lately the falls were particularly... well... wet? I thought I would just share a few pics of God's natural beauty. Copy & Share If You Dare one of the pics. Maybe it's time to update your computer wall paper....




I'm back to doodling. And I have a ton of stuff to post. So stay tooned!!!

Setting Sun

Sorry, no doodle this evening. It's been a full day. I took this photo off my back deck this evening as the sun was setting into the Pacific Ocean.

Yes, I'm bragging, but what good is a blog if you can't do that often every once in a while?

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised." Psalms 113.3

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So You Wanted Pictures?

The rehearsal Friday evening.

The decorations for the reception.

My wife, other family members, and friends spent hours getting this room together. The whole church was very impressed with what we had accomplished in that room.

The cake

Wedding Wall

I painted this wall myself as a backdrop for the reception dinner - and to cover up a bunch of doors and stuff behind. I spent a lot of time putting it all together. I was kind of proud of the way it turned out.

The decorations in the sanctuary.

We had a metal pail with hydrangeas decoration theme going - thus all the hydrangeas drying out in our laundry room all summer. This was something that my daughter (the bride) dreamed up, and my wife, mother-in-law, youngest daughter, and a friend spent a long time putting together. I think that they were proud of the way things turned out.

A close up of the pew decorations

The video screen slide that my youngest daughter put together for display during the wedding ceremony.

I am proud of her computer artistic abilities. She's passed me up, and now I'm asking her questions about how to get stuff done. (Lot's of pride in these photos.)

Banner #1

Banner #2

My middle daughter's boyfriend put together these banners to cover up some bulletin boards in the church foyer. The photo of the hydrangeas was taken by my middle daughter this summer on our front porch in anticipation of getting these banners made. This was something she wanted to do for the big event.

The wedding party.

The flower girl - Alison.

Isn't she cute!?! My daughter had a close friend from college that died in a car accident named Alison. This Alison carried a Gurber Daisie, the favorite flower of the friend, in the wedding. The parents of Alison (the friend), came all the way from Michigan to attend the wedding.

The family - with the new SIL

The ladies bustling the dress before the reception - quite a task.

At the head table at the reception.

Cutting the cake.

Eating the cake.

Tossing the bridal bouquet.

Guess who caught it! My youngest daughter! I understand that her boyfriend ran and hid when he saw her catch it. He'd better! I'm not ready to even think about my youngest getting married.

First dance as husband and wife.

Dance with my daughter - the new Mrs. Warren.

A quick exit surrounded with the sparklers we bought back at the 4th of July. (The wife thinking ahead)

The Warrens

There you go! You wanted photos? Now you have them. But, seriously, thank you all for your kinds words, thoughts, and prayers for the big day. It all came together well, and I was very proud of my family and church friends, the way they all pitched in. You wouldn't believe the crew of people that stayed around to help tear down and clean up after the wedding. I was amazed.

Now life gets back to "normal" (whatever that is) for a while. I've been trying to get some doodling in all along. You should be seeing more very soon.

This is posted with love to my blogging family out there on the internet. Get away from the computer screen and go hug someone.

Now! put the butter on the bread, because this boy is toast!