Friday, November 30, 2007

The Lost Bridges of Nashua Creek II

Here's another set of bridges of Nashua Creek on Belle Isle in the
heart of Detroit. Blogger has unfortunately changed the way pictures are handled so if you want to see any of these larger without downloading them, click here: 1, 2, 3, 4. Not all change is for the good and I am VERY upset with blogger about this change. It encourages people stealing other people's photos even unintentionally and makes it much harder for the blogger. Multiple extra steps!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

The Lost Bridges of Nashua Creek

I went out in search of Bridges for Theme Day on Saturday. Unfortunately, it was a mostly grey day, low light, and so cold my hands were freezing. But I did take a 45 minutes walk along Nashua Creek to grab some of the deteriorating bridges there. Walking must have been more popular years ago than it is now, or these bridges would be maintained or replaced. Note that most of our foliage is now finally (sadly) gone. The creek is (mostly) frozen! (As always, click images to view larger.)

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

"The Hill"

Last night I took my constitutional at "The Hill." Mind you there are
no Hills in Detroit to speak of. The Hill is the "downtown" area of
Grosse Pointe Farms, which is part of Metro Detroit (a "suburb" of
sorts, but it runs right into Detroit without a break).

1)St James Church. Note the moon on the lower right. I was using a
wide angle lens to get the chuch into the picture, so instead of
looking big like it really did, the moon looks small.
2)The Hill Seasfood and Chop House, named after the nonexistent hill
or shopping area. I've never eaten there.
3)Lights in a little alcove on Kercheval, the street the shopping area is on.
4)Kercheval with lights. The moon is in this picture, too, still
looking small and not very evident. Even less evident. I am quite
unfond of those wretched pale blue lights that have suddenly come into
vogue.

I can walk to "the Hill" from my house in 25 minutes. The pictures
were taken with the lost and found camera, whose name, by the way, is
Giovanna. (My two most often used otehr cameras are Eeyore and
Thyraia--just what you always wanted to know, right?)

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

The Coney Again and Transitions Four

1)The Coney Again. Note the new presence of coats on the coat racks.
(The last one was taken in warmer weather, LOL!)
2)Local Street Scene with (invisible but still present) snow melting
over leaves.
2)On Mack, in snow. It is actively snowing quite hard but because of
the time exposure, the snow all blurred into invisibility. And because
the ground was wet and warm, the snow was melting as it fell. Note
that there are still leaves on the light-decorated tree in front of
Ahee Jewelers (where we got our engagement and wedding rings).

These pictures were all taken with the missing camera which thankfully
is now FOUND! YAY!

Monday, November 26, 2007

Transitions Three

As I noted yesterday, many of our leaves have fallen, but definitely not all. These pictures were all taken last night. After dusk and after dark. (Long exposures at high ISOs.) We still have leaves (which is unusual for us), and over the weekend, people were busy putting up their holiday decorations in our neighborhood. I haven't been down to Lakeshore yet, when people go over the top decorating (hire contractors to decorate their houses.) These are just the local folk. I remember when people waited until Christmas eve to decorate, and then 'tl the week before Christmas. I guess I am giving away my age here. (We haven't started decorating yet, we're all fogified and grinchified, LOL.) As always, click images to view larger. Note my reflection in the wreat picture. LOL!

My lost camera is still missing. :-( It may be genuinely gone. :-( This will be a terrible loss for me.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Transitions 2: Fall-->Winter

Remember that picture from Nashua Creek Wednesday? Some of you commented that we still had a lot of foliage--not any more! We still have some, but it is getting very sparse. We have a hard freeze for several days. The bird bath is frozen solid, the sidewalk had ice that lasted all day for several days, and the leaves all falling like mad. The man is a neighbor (in the way background you can see my car and trash cans--how exciting!) The snow is left-over from what was pushed aside when we had our first real snow. These pix all taken Saturday (yesterday) morning except the first one at the sacred Spiral Grove. Click images to view larger. (My lost camera has not turned up yet! :-( )

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Transitions 1 (and lost camera)

Something to not be Thankful for: Thanksgiving Day, I took lots of
pix for Detroit Daily and somehow lost my camera. It's been three
days and it hasn't turned up. The pix I took were not downloaded.
:-(

Today I took some more (with a different camera). These were all
taken this morning in our neighborhood which is transitioning still
from Halloween to Christmas through Thanksgiving. Click images to
view larger.

Friday, November 23, 2007

fog

When the water is warm and the air is cold, and it is 26 degrees out with snow on the ground, fog rolls out from Lake St. Clair and blankets the world 'til the morning sun burns it off. CLik image to view larger.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Rain and Snow

For those who celebrate today, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

For you and everyone else, have a happy and blessed day, may you have
much to be thankful for.

It's been raining and snowing here, everything is wet and there are
spots of snow and slush--the roofs and cars are white and the fallen
leaves full of snow.

This is actually an art installation at the Stone Quarry Artpark, but
it looks like today.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING and/or HAPPY DAY!

(Photo by Mary Taitt. {all photos by me unless otherwise noted.})

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

The Most Dangerous City in the Country

I just read and heard on NPR that Detroit is the most dangerous city in the county.  These shots from Nashua Creek are taken in Detroit.  There are some homeless shelters in the woods, but none of their residents have yet threatened us.  The mayor said "It's not as dangerous as it seems because it's just criminals killing criminals."  I have yet to have had a reason to feel unsafe and I hope that continues.  I walk alone at night regularly.  I feel safe and I hope I stay safe.  I expect to.

Nashua Creek again.  Another practice shot for December 1st bridge theme.  It is raining like mad right now.  We're supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow overnight.  Hope the roads are clear to get to to Biker Buddy's Mom's for dinner.

I'm going to spend the day cooking.  I hope those of you who celebrate have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Postcards from Niagara and the Westcott Nation

Driving home from NY we cross through Canada and often stop and walk
down. The falls is endlessly impressive--such volumes and power. The little spots on the second one are from the mist coming up from the falls.

I've included two more pix from The Opening, as I've had so many
questions about it. There's one on the day of, last Thursday. The
opening went well; the gallery was crowded with people and we were
talking and yukking it up. Lots of stories, fun, laughter and nice
art. Mick Mather's eggs were great. We had lots of fun. I did not
sell any pictures, but I just got an email from someone who purchased
some of my art at the last opening and wants to buy more. So that's
some consolation. The show runs through December 31st and there will
be another big party on the 12th, but I do not expect to be there.
Driving back and forth is very expensive with gas and tolls.


The first two photos are by me, the second two by Biker Buddy. I am calling them "postcards" simply becasue they are not from Detroit and this is a Detroit photoblog.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Elmwood Cemetery in November

We are home from our various travels but these pix are from the
archives, exactly a year ago. Haven't been out yet since we returned.

Elmwood Cemetery is a very old cemetery near downtown Detroit. (Click images to view larger.)

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Postcard from DeWitt: Ryder Park Again

1)Getting ready for theme-day December 1st: footbridge over the old Erie Canal.
2)Aqueduct over the Erie Canal again.
3)The Butterfly house all prepared for winter with its netting rolled
back so the snow won't sag and tear it. All the butterflies are gone
for now. Too bad.

Click images to view larger.

We will be leaving later to drive more than 400 miles back to Detroit.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

A Postcard from Syracuse: Empire Brewing

We spent the whole day today cooking so I didn't get out for pictures.

Last night, we went to the Empire Brewing Company where they brew
their own beer and have really good food. I had Jambalaya and it was
good. The guys sampled the beer. I had a taste of blueberry wheat.

These are the tanks in which they brew the beer. I like the repetition of form.

I am having trouble getting both internet access and time. But we
will be leaving late in the day tomorrow to drive across Canada back
to Detroit. Hopefully Monday I will be able to get on line a little
longer.