Leannderthal

This is a stamp I carved for a book swap, I did a water meter cover from New Orleans.  Though the rubber I used was difficult to carve, I’m happy with the way the print turned out.

Yesterday was a very busy day.  It started in Eastern market, then down to the Riverfront, where there is a map of Detroit in the pavement.  The map doesn’t quite make it out to Plymouth, Mark and I had to settle for Livonia.

First stop was Eastern Market, where we met up with friends and relatives, bought produce, and had an enormous breakfast at the Farmer’s Restaurant.  We would need that food/fuel later.

Then on to a long architectural bike tour of Detroit.  This tour was 15 miles, and took about 3.5 hours.  I would tell you of all the sights we saw, the majestic buildings, the different styles, but every time our guide stopped to talk my thoughts turned from architecture to “how did I get into this and how do I get out of it?”  I am not good on a bike.  I am awful on a bike.  I was having thoughts like “If I were to pull out in front of a slow moving car could he hit me hard enough to get me off the tour but gentle enough not to cause any permanent damage?”  I should add that of the six of us that went on the tour together, five of us enjoyed it very much.  If you want to talk about how wonderful the tour was, talk to Mark, his brother and sister-in-law, and their friends.  If you want to know how much my butt hurts, talk to me.

Then on to the Heidelberg Project, where they were having a big party. 

They were celebrating the art of Tyree Guyton.

I love Heidelberg street!  You can walk it easy, no bicycle needed.

Every place you look is more interesting than the last.

Though this house is covered with polka dots, it wasn’t the polka they were doing.

It was Michael Jackson’s dance from Thriller, by a group of very pretty zombies who invited us all to join in!

After this, an elegant dinner in Detroit, then on to the Bizarre Bazaar hosted by Theatre Bizarre!

Entertainment, artwork, and exceptional people watching.

We didn’t get home until after 1 in the morning, a very full day!  I’m gonna take it easy today.

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places Lynn Krawczyk spends her life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you’d like to join her by posting a photo on Sunday of places you’ve been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on her Sunday posts telling her where she can find you/your photo and she’ll add a link to her sidebar so others can find you. I am one of those that Lynn has badgered into joining her, I have changed it to “where I stood”, because right now I’m sitting in front of the computer, not standing anywhere.

I did tell you we saw Dangerous Liaisons at Stratford this week, but I couldn’t show you pictures.  Well, a lovely gentleman from the Stratford festival named Aaron Kropf commented on my last blogpost and invited me to use some of the professional pictures in my blog if I’d like.  I can’t convey how wonderful it is to sit in the audience and watch Dangerous Liaisons, I hope these photographs give you a bit of the feeling.

As much fun as it was to try on costumes, it is always more fun to watch the actors make the costumes come alive.  Dangerous Liaisons is a bawdy play that takes place before the French Revolution.  It is a sort of sexual chess game, an absolute delight!

Tom McCamus as Le Vicomte de Valmont and Sara Topham as La Presidente du Tourvel

Photo by:  David Hou

Seana McKenna asLa Marquise de Merteul and Tom McCamus as Le Vicomte de Valmont

Photo by:  David Hou

Foreground Yanna McIntosh  at Mme de Volanges (left), Seana McKenna as La Marquise de Merteuil (center)  and Martha Henry as Mme de Rosemonde (right) with members of the company

photo by :  David Hou

Never turn down a chance to see a play at Stratford!

Yesterday, mom, Jane and I went to Stratford, Ontario, to see Dangerous Liaisons.   It was a hugely fun day, we saw a great and exciting play, beautifully acted.  I couldn’t take pictures, you’ll have to trust me.  But, before we went to the play, Jane arranged for us to go on the Costume and Prop Warehouse Tour.  There, you can take all the pictures you want.  You can’t imagine all the costumes!  It an assault to the eyes, all the vivid color and beautiful designs.  Everyone leaves there thinking how dull we all dress, and how can we spiff up our wardrobes?

There are racks upon racks of costumes, beautiful to look at, but we’re not allowed to touch!

Just a few of the capes and cloaks.

Most costumes are hanging on racks, but many are displayed to get a closer look.

They do rent some of the costumes for small productions.  I’m wondering if they would rent them for everyday use.

I’m thinking perhaps this Samuri outfit for a job interview.

The detail is much more than I expected.  Many of the costumes are very heavy. 

They also have tons of props, I liked this corpse.

The best part is at the end of the tour, where they have several racks of costumes you can not only touch, but try on!

A couple of the women getting ready for that big date.

Jane, resplendent in purple, showing off the beautiful lining.  You wouldn’t believe how heavy these things are!  How can the actors act, with all this hanging on them?

I chose a beautiful white robe, to offset the blue hair.

A good hat for a bad hair day.

If you ever get a chance to catch a play at the Stratford Festival, do it.  It’s a great time.

Our theme for the latest set of artists’ trading cards is nature, and boy did I have a hard time with it.  I’ve made two sets, I’m not real thrilled with either of them.

The first set is called Ode to Eva Gabor:

Text taken from Green Acres theme song written by Vic Mizzy.

The second set I call Everything Dies:

I’m happier with the second set, though they are very simple, rubber stamps on mulberry paper.

Loving the way geraniums bloom all summer long, hating the way my socks and Chuck Taylor hi-tops leave me with tan legs and white feet.

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places Lynn Krawczyk spends her life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you’d like to join her by posting a photo on Sunday of places you’ve been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on her Sunday posts telling her where she can find you/your photo and she’ll add a link to her sidebar so others can find you. I am one of those that Lynn has badgered into joining her, I have changed it to “where I stood”, because right now I’m sitting in front of the computer, not standing anywhere.

beets and broccoli

yellow pear and beet leaves

Today I took a walk in the woods.

I came across this in my path, it depresses me but I know it will make Lynn happy.

I also came across a squirrel having a picnic.

Interesting variety of feet, no?  Four of these feet belong to a couple of wedding heads, Kari and Patrick.  They finally tied the knot on Thursday!  Kari and Patrick threw this wedding together in three weeks, and it could not have been more perfect if they had spent a year planning it.

I knew they were planning on a small wedding, mostly family with a few close friends, so I figured inviting the landlords was probably not high on the list.  But then, Kari and Patrick did me a huge honor.  They asked me to officiate!!  Kari had done her research,  and with her help I became a minister in the Universal Life Church.  Kari got to know the very kind gentleman behind the counter at the local branch of the county clerk’s office, and everything is official, Patrick and Kari are married!

Don’t they look elegant?  Fortunately, I already owned the robe.  It was a beautiful day, and every detail went off without a hitch.  Can you say “without a hitch” when two people get hitched?

We did the ceremony beside the Detroit River.  Don’t you just love this photo?

Everyone who knows Kari and Patrick knows they belong together, and they figured out the most perfect way to do it!

Afterwords, a beautiful reception at Le Petit Zinc, a lovely and very small restaurant in Detroit.  If you ever get a chance, check out this tiny restaurant, the food is wonderful!

Congratulations, Kari and Patrick!!

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places Lynn Krawczyk spends her life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you’d like to join her by posting a photo on Sunday of places you’ve been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on her Sunday posts telling her where she can find you/your photo and she’ll add a link to her sidebar so others can find you. I am one of those that Lynn has badgered into joining her, I have changed it to “where I stood”, because right now I’m sitting in front of the computer, not standing anywhere.