Crocuses at my Front Door

The only flowers in my garden are the crocuses–yellows, whites and purples–but they are lasting a long time. Last year the rabbits gnawed them so there were only bits of stems at ground level. This year I’ve only seen a couple of rabbits, and the winter wasn’t even that harsh, though it was a long haul for sure.

Hoping I won’t have to engage in the rabbit wars and squirrel wars like I did last summer.

These crocuses seem to be melting into space, the result of using the Lens Baby on my Olympus. I’m just beginning to explore this lens with flowers–it was a Christmas gift–and I’m looking forward to lots of experimenting. So far, I’m liking the soft look, and the unexpected results. I never quite know how the photos are going to turn out!

Melting

In Wisconsin, the first sign of spring has nothing to do with flowers popping out of the ground.

It is all about the big melt.

Time for Reflection

Hard to imagine, but not 50 feet from here are the rocky shores of Lake Michigan. I spent nearly three days in this foggy setting, and not once did I see the lake.

Which was a good thing, as I was at this pristine setting for a workshop, and so I didn’t have to fight distractions too much. Once I took my early morning fog photographs, the scenery never changed, and so I was able to focus on the workshop.

The workshop, by the way, was superb. I attended a Marketing Workshop for Artists by Alyson Stanfield, the author of the book I’d Rather Be in the Studio and dispenser of  wisdom on running a business when your business is art. Her Art Biz Blog is packed with great information if you can’t meet this dynamic lady in person.

Now that I have all these new tools and actions, I am committed to putting them into practice, a tiny bit at a time.

How exciting is that!

(BTW, thanks, Alyson!)

Tucson in background

Visited Saguaro National Park at sunset. The low sunlight gave the cacti a glowing cast and contrasted with the purple mountains of Tucson in the background.

at Pendarvis Historical Site

Polperro House is one of six house that are on the interpretative tour at Pendarvis Historical Site in Mineral Point Wisconsin. I love the exterior architectural details on this 150 year old house. Quarried limestone blocks on the first floor, chinked wood on the second and third floors, and quite intricate doors and windows pieced in place.

Mineral Point, Wisconsin

Pendarvis and Trelawny Houses are two of the six featured buildings at the Pendarvis Historical Site in Mineral Point Wisconsin. These homes, originally built in the 1840s,  were restored in the 1940s and are furnished with period pieces. Interpreters offer insights as to how the Cornish miners and their families lived and worked when mining was king in this small south-central Wisconsin community. The historical site is open for interpretive tours and demonstrations May through October, but even when it is closed during the winter season, it’s still lovely to photograph when the snow plays contrast with the tan limestone and white trim on the buildings.

on Michigan Avenue

Paused to do a bit of window shopping on Michigan Avenue, and take a few photographs, too. This store is across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago.

Michigan Avenue in Chicago's Loop

Though I don’t have the urban backbone to live in Chicago – I lived on the near North Side for three years in the late 70s and know that as a true fact – I love visiting the city a few times each year, preferably once each season. On our winter visit, we explored Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park. I took this photograph standing on the stairs that lead into the Art Institute, shooting north up the avenue. The snow cover and chilly temperature added to the overall experience.

I liked how only part of the diamond top of the Smurfit-Stone Building was snow covered. I love that building, and I love its name. I always think I’m going to see little blue cartoon characters hanging around the lobby, but no, so far there have been no Papa Smurf sightings!

Shake Rag Alley

A soul mate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. ~Richard Bach

in Shake Rag Alley

We visited one of my favorite towns in southwestern Wisconsin this weekend – Mineral Point. As one of the oldest settlements in Wisconsin, this is a town filled with much history, and also with many, many old buildings. The photograph is of one of the original cabins in Mineral Point, built about 1828.

See the little concrete elf peeking out the window? Love that elf!

Mining was big in Mineral Point from 1827 until the 1860s and roughly half the citizen’s had their roots in Cornwall. Lead ore was abundant if you were willing to do the work, and at peak, the town’s miners and furnaces were producing nearly 44,000 pounds of lead every day. The original homes of some of these Cornish miners have been restored at one of Wisconsin’s State Historical Sites, Pendarvis.

And this town even comes with its own bit of trivia. Q: What famous TV game show host was born and buried here?  A: Allen Ludden, host of Password in the 1960s and 70s. Remember Allen Ludden on Password? Remember when he and Betty White were married? They were married for nearly 18 years, until his death in 1981.

Ludden ended each show with a password of the day. I loved collecting those words; even as a child I loved to play with words. I wrote the daily passwords in a black and white notebook after every show. He would end the show the same way every day, although the word, of course, was always different.

“And the password of the day is appreciate. So long, see you tomorrow, I hope.”