Edsel and Eleanor Ford's Island

This island is a pleasant place to walk. Right now, it is abundantly covered with wild and domestic flowers. These are "Virginia Bluebells," Mertensia virginica. This is part of the Ford Estate. The brightness in the background of the first picture is the lake, Lake St. Clair. It was darker in the grove, so the lake was washed out.

And, here is one of my new art pieces, a watercolor a la Tom Jones. (I've been doing lots of art been I've been too busy to post it.)

A Swan on its nest at the Ford House

This swan was sitting on a nest a the Island at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House--its mate was swimming protectively nearby.

Josephine's Playhouse III

These are the last of these for now. I find it so amazing that this one little girl, in addition to her beautiful room in the mansion (and the whole rest of the mansion) would have this house nicer than the house that many people live in.

The porch, some shots from inside and out, the tea set with its cabinet.

The door to Josephine's Playhouse

Like everything else in the house, the door is child-sized. 2/3 normal size. Josephine was Edsel and Eleanor's only daughter, but it was the grandmother that the paid to have the playhouse built.

Josephine's Playhouse II

Walking a little closer to Josephine's playhouse. I will tell more about it soon.

Josephine's Playhouse

At the Ford Estate. I will tell more about it soon.

Designing Cars

Apparently, Edsel Ford developed some equipment that allowed him to transform model cars into full-size models from which actual car parts could be designed.

Skywatch Friday, Contrasting skies

The flowering pears are doing their thing--flowering madly. The leaves are already starting to show up, though, so the flowers will be gone soon.

Not all our skies are as fair as the first pear ones, though. The second set of pears are in darker dreams.

Happy Earth Day!!

I hope we all do what we can and what we must to save the earth. The tulips are from our small patch of earth.

We try to:

• avoid putting toxins on our small portion of earth or using products that will toxify earth, air and water. We do not have Chemlawn spray our lawns.
  
• avoid excess consumption that results in excess landfill, and excess industrial costs etc
• buy local to help cut down on fossil fuels in shipping etc
• buy organic to cut down on toxins added to the earth and eat organic to put fewer toxins in our bodies
• avoid littering and whenever possible, pick up trash left behind by others
• turn off lights and electrical things we aren't using
• not use unnecessary appliances like televisions which pollute not only the earth and air, but also our minds. (BB and I do NOT own a TV--however, GB does have one in his own room.)
  
• do whatever we can to help the earth in every way possible and practical
  

The Eleanor and Edsel Ford House in Spring

This is a wonderful place to visit, walk, explore. The house and grounds are huge and impressive and attractive. You can also see how our spring is progressing.

Here is one of my recent paintings, a sketch of a magnolia tree:

The magnolias are in full flower in Detroit, but going by soon. We stopped to enjoy Sam and Joan's magnolias when we visited them yesterday and I was inspired to paint them.

This was done with three "colors," Windsor Red deep (wc), Hooker's Green Dark (wc) and white (gouache). No other paint.

Shallow Water

Bluegill, carp. People eat the fish they catch in Lake St. Clair.

Detroit's Magnolia's

Everywhere in Detroit, trees are pink, but not for long! The magnolias are glorious, but short lived and already shedding petals like leaves in autumn!

Slow Spring at Pier Park

The lawn is greening up, a few baby leaves are showing on the trees, and 4 more boats have appeared in the slips for a total of 5--but most are still empty. Day by day, small changes.

And here is my latest art piece, a watercolor sketch of ML Liebler, Detroit Poet, reading at the Scarab Club among the art pieces.

Spring Sprung At Pier Park

This young man is fishing at Pier Park, he and a number of others. I asked what they were catching--Rock bass and bluegills. Note the sailboats behind him, in the distance, another sign of spring. It was actually a hot summer-like day yesterday--cooler today. I was away again all day--will try to get caught up soon. I missed my poetry reading though, but I am behind in the Moleskine Exchange group I'm in and need to paint paint paint paint to get caught up with that.

Here are some of my new art pieces:




I did this with a Tom Jones video in my water media class. Click them to view larger.

And here are two tiny little quick sketches:


In my personal small Moleskine

and finally, here is an illo for a new poem I wrote:


"THE SNIPE HUNT" by Mary Stebbins Taitt (click image to view larger.)

The poem is here, if you wish to see it. The illo combines two previous illos in a digital composit.

Spring at our house

I was away all day yesterday and never got on-line to comment--hope to catch up soon. Busy today, too. :-(

So sorry. Will catch up as soon as I can.

This is not a great picture by any means--it is our own front yard. In flower: tulips, daffodils, jonquils, pachysandra and azalea. Also a potted hydrangea.

Spring in Nashua Woods (Belle Isle)

Nashua Woods is carpeted with Fawn Lilies and all the little buds are just bursting open. Spicebush is in flower. It's wonderful

The Secret (abandoned) Garden

I've been coveting the abundant flowers at an abandoned house near mine. Unfortunately, I didn't get many good pictures. I may try again. The place is overrun with flowers and no one is tending them. I won't be taking any, though, since they do not belong to me--but sometimes people dump stuff on top of them and kill them, which seems such a shame and a waste.

Here is a new digital art piece I did yesterday called "Plaid Man":

Click image to view larger.

And here is a sketch for a kid's book:

Hi. My name is Mary. I am eight and a half years old. I want to be
famous. Today I decide to be a famous artist. My Mom lets me use her
paints. I paint a picture of myself. I am looking at a picture my
father took of me, and I am wearing the same green and red bathrobe
over my Pajamas. But you can't see the color in the photo. My
painting doesn't look exactly like me. Mom says it's called "artistic
license."

The little black and white white photo is me when I was 8.

Dodge Park in April

Dodge Park is a wonderful spot to bicycle, walk, hike, rollerblade and look at wildflowers and wildlife.

The third picture is from the conservatory, a close-up of one of the cacti shown from the Xerophyllic room.

The fourth and 5th are two of my recent new quick small sketches.

At the Belle Isle Conservatory

We just love the Belle Isle Conservatory! The first three are from the Xerophyllic room.

A visit to Metrobeach

Glorious Spring is taking hold up at Metrobeach, too, though slowly. The swans have arrived; the frogs and turtles are out, and the people are enjoying the fine weather.