POSITIVELY FOR HISTORY BUFFS

 by Mauverneen

With a little editing, I can make my photos look the 'real' thing

First of all I apologize for not having a post last week. I completely forgot it was Tuesday! Having a holiday (Labor Day) on a Monday will do that. 

I had a fun and busy weekend. Did a wine walk with friends on Saturday and on Sunday I headed over to 'Military Days' in nearby Lockport. I try to go every year. The park is filled with encampments, vendors of military memorabilia, clothing, medals, books - you name it! And food. Lots and lots of food. And Entertainment. And mock battles, from the Civil War to WWII. All in all, an amazing living history lesson.

If you ever have something like this near you, I recommend checking it out. You might learn something and you might have fun. I certainly did!

Many different camps...

The participants spend the weekend in the encampments, living as they did back in that time.

Displays of the types of equipment that company/country used

Food Glorious Food

You can buy old uniforms

Mock battles - this one WWII

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

                                       However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

  Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com

Positively ...

by Mauverneen 

  "Be joyful / though you have considered all the facts." Wendell Berry

I came across this line the other day - I don't remember where - but it intrigued me and I immediately thought 'Yes! The perfect thought for today's world.' And a good line to remember when things begin to pile up. We all have those seasons of comfort, when life is smooth and everything is hunky-dory, as my mom used to say, and then we have those seasons of grief and pain, when NOTHING goes right and everything hurts. 

"Be joyful / though you have considered all the facts." It doesn't mean to ignore the facts, to pretend the bad things aren't there, it means to keep a brave face, to try to look beyond the current discomfort, to try to keep a positive outlook. Some days, I'll admit, it's harder than others but it helps to have someone in your corner whispering encouragement in your ear. "Be joyful / though you have considered all the facts." 

Wendell Berry is an American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer and may just be my new hero. He is the author of several books, which are now all on my to-read list. In fact, I may have to stop at the library on my way to the dentist for my two root canals. I know something to read will get me through the aftermath of watching my bank account balance go down and that the pain in my jaw is for my eventual good, and thank goodness the weather has cooled off since I have to live on soup for a few days. 

Those are the facts. But see? I'm practicing the joyful part.

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

                                       However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

  Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com

 

Positively Hokusai

 by Mauverneen

Sometimes, when you can't get away, a day trip can almost feel like you've had a short vacation. 

Last week I met a friend at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL to see Hokusai and Ukiyo-E:The Floating World. Billed as a "multi-faceted exhibition experience" it did not disappoint. 

Hokusai is the artist who created "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," more commonly known as "The Great Wave." The first section of the exhibit delves into his life and works, and additional portions of the exhibit contain paintings and woodblock prints by the masters of ukiyo-e, including original works on loan from the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa, Italy.

I learned not just about the artist(s) but also a bit of Japanese history.

Moving through the separate rooms and exhibits takes one through a collection of works of local landmarks done in the ukiyo-e style by local artist Richard Lo, a life size street scene, a fun room of Manga and Anime history and backdrops, a kids area, where one can create Japanese inspired crafts and even a woodblock, some costumes used by Warner Brothers, an outdoor garden, and on weekends, Edo Eats - a taste of Japanese food. And of course a gift shop with all sorts of temptations.

My friend and I spent several hours there, immersed in the beautiful culture. Check the website for times, special rates, and all that good stuff. And if you go, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

                                       However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

  Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com