Good Ole Times (Roman)

It seems to me these days that graphic design has lost its way. I don't think it's necessarily the designers' fault. Everyone is upwardly mobile and market- and image-conscious, always trying to stand out and be clever. Well, when you have a room full of clever people, it can get mighty tiresome. So, you have contractor names that look like banks, banks that look like designers, tattoo parlors that look like salons, and so on.

Here's the real deal. I love the graphic design on this. But look! A sign for a car repair place that....



















*GASP* is a car repair place!

Boo's Fire Co: Happy Birthday Mom Edition

Alright. This one. This one from my little Boo-meister, this one I'm not being objective about.

Boo made this for me as my birthday present last week. I love it. I love that the boy that never colors in the lines did, and has colored everything because he knows his oma likes that. I love it that he knows yellow is his mama's favorite color. I love the naive-meets-cubist thing he has going. I love the town on the other side of the street.

I love my little boy loving his momma back right at me.

*

Training

Damsel in Distress

Boo's Fire Co: My Town

Boo's, I mean, not mine. So here you have a church, a house, a hotel and- a fire station to keep everyone safe.

Boo loves church because he feels safe and loved and comfortable. Boo is obsessed with fire stations because, sadly, I think he has a deep fear of fire. Not sure why! Psychologists say children resolve fears through play. Anyway. Notice on the church the man on the facade - that's Jesus! And a clock, cuz I guess every town needs a big clock.

Bubbly

.
Another scene on a back road in Chester County. Not your typical February scene - truly enjoyable and refreshing. Can you hear it?

Arbor

.
Valentine's weekend with the Handsome Hubs . . . meandering through Chester County.

Drunken Tower

.
I can't help but wonder if the inside looks anything like the outside of this water tower. But then, the water probably doesn't need to be real clean when making whiskey or whatever they make at this distillery.

The Original Billboard

.

I wonder how this barnside got this way. It is at an alley that the townspeople use as a shortcut. To where, I'm not sure.

I just found it charming. In that Petticoat Junction kind of way.

I Don't Want to Know

.


*

Boo's Fire Co: Early Lego Firehouse

.
This is one of Boo's earlier Lego fire stations. He saved enough money to buy this gigundous set and refused to follow the instructions. He wanted to figure out how to do it himself.


And, obviously, he did.

*

Boo's Fire Co: His Early Years

Before fire stations, there was his "hospital period." In fact, one of his earliest words was "hapaba."
.


.














.
From the curator:
.














*

Boo's Fire Co: O Worship the King

I hope you've had a restful day.


*

Which Way

Peek-a-Boo

There is something profoundly artful about this found composition, but all I can think of is "Kilroy Was Here." Maybe I am keeping too much company with a first grader.


*

Boo's Fire Co: Sailboat

This is one of Boo's first drawings, right after he turned 5. It is also one of my favorites.

*

Boo's Fire Co: Ralph's Maze*

*Ralph S. Mouse, by Beverly Cleary






*

The Beginning

I hope you will enjoy my new blog. It is made of two parts:
.
The first one is Boo's Fire Co, my currently-six-year-old son's gallery of art. That boy didn't start drawing until he was 4-1/2. I really thought there was something wrong with him. I mean it. Now I can't stop him. When this kid picks something up, it is with INTENSity. He goes through over a hundred sheets a week. When I was little, I used to save up money so I could go across the street to the corner store (gah-gae) and buy sheets of drawing paper. 5 sheets at a time. Ironic that he, without one single of my chromosomes, loves to draw.
.
I try not to teach him "how" to draw because I want him to see the world in his own way. I don't know if that's naive or wrong; it's just what I've done. Both DH and I draw with him, so he sees what we do and picks up a thing or two. I try to encourage him and teach him without being directive.
.
He is also a Legomaniac. Now, Legos? He's done Duplos and Legos ever since ever since. I have taken some of his creations for granted, but some people seem to find them interesting, so I'll share them here, too. Why "Boo's Fire Co?" Well, because if Boo had a studio or gallery, it would be in a fire station, his current obssession: 24/7.
.
The main body of My Exurbia? I'll show you bits of where I live and where I travel. Sometimes it's photography, sometimes it's just a photo. I met this cool, young, urban mom chick who finds the humor, beauty and horror (sometimes all three) in the streets and alleys of Philadelphia. This is my version of her Oh, the urbanity! I don't technically live in Exurbia, but I like the title, and I've always like Cather's wind-swept title My Antonia!

Oh, and even though it's just li'l ole me and my li'l ole blog, please don't download any images for your use without my approval. Thanks.

Now, without further ado . . .


*