Ice festival 2008

Plymouth Mi holds an annual ice festival and has ice carvers from all over the world there to compete. We try to go every year but some years it is too bitter cold to go. This year it was rather warm, 22 degrees. Warm enough to walk around but not too warm as to melt the sculptures. I only took a pic of a few large sculptures and Gary is in the picture to show the scale...really huge. There were not many smaller pieces as the competitions were not yet started and we didn't go back to see them. It was pretty overcast and the pictures are a bit dark but you can get the idea of the ice glistening.

I loved the touch of snow we had the night before. I think it looked awesome.






Here is a close up of the flowers. One of the artists there was talking to a crowd and I got to ask him how they got the colors and what they used. He said they used chisels to gouge the flowers and then a turkey baster filled with Kool-aid to color them. The white tips of the flowers were snow and ice chips. They were amazing.

My brother and I, then and now

For the past few days I have been trying to sort through computer files and am getting ready to burn a few cds in preparation for a new computer. As most know I have a mac and finally convinced my brother a mac was the way to go so he is buying this one from me. It is 5 years old and still running just fine.

I came across some old pictures of the two of us and had to smile. I thought it would be nice to show us them and now.

This first was in 1949. Not sure of the month but as were were both born in September it makes me around 3 and he around 7. (1946 & 1942)

These next two were in June of 2006. We are still cute huh? ROFL

My dream car

This past week a case of cabin fever drove my hubby Gary and I to a local museum. The Henry Ford Museum. Every now and then we do take out a year's membership. It is fun to stroll down memory lane with all the old cars and things they have there.

This Bugatti has always been my favorite. Sorry but these pics were taken a couple years ago but it is still there in the same spot and still a favorite of mine.

While I love the styling of older cars I would prefer they had modern guts...well...engines and transmissions. I don't think I would like driving cars the way they were originally made. But I do dearly love the styling of the older cars.

I find myself liking them more and more each time I go. I do wonder why. But I do know they have style and individuality where todays cars tend to blend all together and even guys who love cars sometimes have a hard time telling them apart.

So now I present you a car with style and pizazz!!!

January paintings

The paintings this month really show how small changes can make the feel of the painting different. Some have a bright day feel and big cove and others feels like an overcast day and small cove. Left to right are Jan's Olga's and mine.

On the left is Gary's and the other is mine.
It still amazes me that everyone's pictures is so different and yet we we all in the ame class with the same teacher doing the same painting.
I still love doing this as I have never been able to paint before this.

More Orchids

Oh ok...this last is not of orchids but it was a pretty shot.

For a few hours it felt like summer and was delightful.

Orchids at Mattaei Conservatory

Some pictures of the orchids they had.

Beating the winter blahs

We got a case of cabin fever and I finally came up with something interesting to go see. About 20 minutes away is Matthaei Conservatory and Gardens. Of course the gardens are not open now but the small conservatory was and it was nice to see live plants and feel the warmth.

This first if Gary in the cactus room. This was really huge and I had to get someone in the shot to show the size of it.



I tried hard to get a good picture of the fish but had lost of glare from the overheard windows. Of course you can see them reflected in the pond but at least I got some fish in shadow.


Here I am with a huge curly ball of green.


I did not get the name of this tree but it was fun to look at.
They had several throught the place.