I wanted to do more, but...

I started a few more Photoshop projects this week, but I have only one completed work to show in this post.  This is, in part, because I had one fewer day to finish up this past week, due to a teacher furlough at the ABC Unified School District.  In turn, this is an unfortunate consequence of severe cuts in public education funding throughout the state of California.

What I have to share with you is a "photo" from the Barefoot-Johnston County Family Reunion, known informally as the "Handy Jam."  As I posted in this revision last week, the name comes from Handy Barefoot, a common ancestor of the attendees who lived during the 19th century and produced six proud generations of the clan, including all 13 who live in the Barefoot house.  The "Handy Jam" is a one-day event that attracts as many as 150 people, all direct descendants in some way.  Attendees are served two meals and participate in various activities, which - I promise - will be detailed later.

The setting is just before the lunch service, for which the menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, garlic French fries, soda made with natural water (with something like the Sodastream), and fresh fruit.  The picnic basket represents the plate settings.  Also pictured is one of the activities, bunco, which - again as I wrote - Popeye is the family master.  Here, he is being challenged by his wife Annie and "niece-in-law" Jennifer.  I would have tried to finish a companion piece, set at a more formal dinner, but now that will have to wait until at least Tuesday. *sigh*

I also hope to have a "publicity photo" of BMN's newest reality star, Dillon Bowling, next week.  I introduced Bowling in this post last winter (although with a different name at the time).  His new "show," Strikin' Out, is to start next week, but he won't feel like celebrating, and for good reason.  Bowling lives in Oklahoma City, and last Sunday one of his friends lost his house (in Edmond, a suburb at which his "home bowling alley" is located) due to a tornado that was part of an outbreak.  Of course, an even larger tornado hit Moore, which is on the other side of the "OKC" area, on Monday.  It's the latest full-scale disaster to hit the United States, and it fit the same patterns as the others: huge loss of life, a town compared to a war zone, the emergence of heroes, and a symbolic logo of support as shown below.  As always, the American Red Cross is the go-to organization to turn to if you want to help the victims.

Here's a "head shot" (actually college baseball player Cody Dent), and front and back shots of what Bowling would wear while he is, well, bowling.