Blue Moon Blog

“This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four.” ~ Mark Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson, 1894

Welcome back to the blog; thanks for checking in again. We’re still plenty busy, but have posts at the ready for the coming days (I even jumped the gun with a post yesterday about baseball).

A couple years back, I did ten illustrations for Disney’s Family Fun magazine to run in their April Fools’ issue, with ideas suggested from readers of the magazine. Borrow a prank to fool a loved one today and enjoy the laughs.

I was chosen for that particular assignment as they wanted to vary the illustration styles, while still using one artist. Of course, Mary pitched in on the coloring on most. I scanned these from the printed magazine, and they still look all right. For more April Fools tricks, visit the Family Fun site.

We interrupt this blog, because we need a break and have much too much going on. We’ll resume regularly scheduled blog programming on April 1, and just in time to celebrate our 100th post. See you on the 1st, fools!

Our li’l bedbugs have Gone Green for the holiday, in keeping with the Chicago river in our old hometown, which they still colorize each year on this day.

Here in Minnesota today, the falling snow is white. Happy Paddy’s Day from all of us here at Blue Moon!

Happy Valentine’s Day from Picklehead and his li’l pal, Olive! You can read the one-page Picklehead comic strip from which this image is taken in our Toons section of the site. Or check out this Valentine’s illustration or this one in our Gallery.

And here’s our musical playlist that’s helping us get in the mood and celebrate today:

• I’ve Got A Crush On You - Stacey Kent
• Our Love Is Here to Stay - Blossom Dearie
• God Only Knows - The Beach Boys Pet Sounds
• Bleed To Love Her - Fleetwood Mac
• Oh, It Is Love - Hellogoodbye
• Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
• Have You Ever Been In Love - Swan Dive
• I’d Like That - XTC
• I Can’t Give you Anything But Love - Mel Torme
• Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
• Someone To Watch Over Me - Ella Fitzgerald
• My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker
• Gotta Have You - The Weepies
• Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
• Dance Me To The End Of Love - Madeleine Peyroux
• Nobody Knows Me - Lyle Lovett
• Then She Appeared - XTC
• Like a Star - Corinne Bailey Rae

XOXOXOX - The Blue Moon Crew

Maybe this is the baby with the right attitude for this new year?

I figure this sketch took less than 60 seconds. Had to work fast before anybody moved. For a subject like this, where gesture is so crucial, I find a quick sketch captures the moment and memory better than would a photo.

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let yesterday’s rough and tumble pessimism set the wrong tone for the new year now upon us. I’m generally an optimistic sort, so this little cheerful retro baby is more my style. 2007 got a bad rap, I think. For all the sturm und drang, things were not as bad as they may have seemed. There’s a general unease in the zeitgeist (what’s with all the German references today? — 100% German Boy, that’s why!), and no doubt for good reason, but if we can manage to step out of the eye of the hurricane and get a little perspective, maybe we can appreciate better how blessed we are. Here’s hoping!

And so a splendid New Year to you.

I’ve got a feeling it just might be an even rougher ride for the world in ‘08. We’re going to need a tuff little New Year’s Baby who’ll be ready to throw down and get his freak on. Think he looks up to the task? Let’s hope….

Howl at the moon tonight, take a good whack at a SpongeBob piñata and let the silly string fly. Blow it all out then steel yourself for what’s to come. Happy New Year from the Blue Moon Crew!

Squirrels and birds have been showing up for months on our new deck, but we hadn’t seen a dove…’til Christmas day.

Mary really went to town with Photoshop for the official Christmas family photo this year. Even the presidents are getting in on the act!

Emily was awestruck and transfixed when we finished lighting and decorating the tree a week or two ago. We’re still using most of the very same strings and big lights we had for our tree when I was growing up.

We’re spending Christmas day right here at home this year. Gifts and brunch and chocolate and toys and sledding and steak dinner. Yum!

Peace to you this Christmas. Have a great day!