A Taste of Spring For the Winter-Weary

         Like many other people, I was starting to get a case of cabin fever. I need fresh air as much as I need food and water. The winter gray skies were starting to get old. I also needed a new adventure for my collection (I keep a folder on my computer called “Photo Adventures” in which I organize all my most memorable photos). So last week I talked my dad into going to Belle Isle to check out the conservatory.

The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle in Detroit is America’s oldest conservatory (built in 1904). It is home to an incredible collection of rare orchids.  In fact, during the WWII bombings in Great Britain, many rare orchids were saved and brought to the conservatory on Belle Isle.  

 

 

 

The Green Show

Starting on January 15th (my dad’s birthday), Madonna University in Livonia will be hosting an art exhibition with the “green” theme. Works from eleven different artists (including myself and my dad) will reflect on environmental issues and will be hanging in the gallery above the Kresge Auditorium.  Protecting the environment is an issue that I feel strongly about. I am never happier than when I am outside, enjoying nature.  When I have my camera with me, I try to capture the beauty of the natural world and save it to look at when I can’t enjoy the fresh air. I think that’s why I spend so much time editing my pictures when I am sick or after surgeries – they remind me of what nature can do for the soul. I can’t imagine life without the chance to explore the outdoors.

Nancy Paton, the curator of the Green Show, was inspired to plan the exhibition after hearing about the massive conglomeration of plastic garbage which floats in a “toxic stew” in between currents in the Pacific Ocean known as “The North Pacific Gyre”.  All this plastic cannot biodegrade and stays in the oceans for decades, leaking toxic chemicals into the water. It’s really sad that we are SO dependant on plastic and never think about where it goes.

 

                        

  The Green Show will run from January 15 – February 22 at Madonna University on Schoolcraft Road in Livonia.  The opening reception will be on Saturday, January 23rd from 5-7pm. Singer/songwriter J.D. Lamb will performing along with poet John Jeffire. Participating visual artists include: Karen Clawson, me, Donald Getschman, Marat Paransky, Judy Enright, Maralena Howard, Anthony Bacon, Tina Marie Carter, Fremont Thompson, Janel Dziesinski, and Dolores Carlson. The exhibit is free and open to the public. If you live in the Metro-Detroit area and are interested in art, please check it out!

Still in the Christmas Spirit

 

 

   This is a really old picture, but I like it : )

Merry Christmas

Every year since I was very small, my family spends an evening at Crossroads Village, a group of old buildings, similar to Mill Race, that they decorate for Christmas. There are little shops with candy, Christmas crafts, German Roasted Almonds, and even Santa. My favorite part has always been the 1912 Parker Carousel and the “Superior Wheel”, a ferris wheel that gives a grand view of the village and Mott Lake.

No visit to the village is complete without a ride on the Huckleberry Railroad which gives 40-minute tours through the forest with Christmas light displays nestled among the trees.

 

♫The Prettiest Sight to See…Is The Holly That Will Be…On Your Own Front Door♫

Exactly six years ago (wow), my dad was walking into the building on his last day of work before Christmas when he was greeted at the door by a tiny kitten. It was a cold day and the kitten was wet and sick. She was so friendly that he called us to come pick her up. Since it was so close to Christmas, we named her Holly.  It took months to nurse her back to health, but ever since then she has been like my shadow, following me around the house. These pictures are probably from her second Christmas with us.

Holiday Dreamin’

Once again I havent been very good at keeping up with this blog. Maybe that will be my new year’s resolution – to update more. Props to Sarcastica for keeping up with her blog for four years now. Well school is out for the holiday – so I’m free from final exams (which didnt go too badly – even my spoken exam in German, which I was terrified of).

 I’ve been thinking alot about my future lately - where I’m going to go next fall. At the moment my top choice is Grand Valley State University where I can study photography. From what I have read, their program is just what I am looking for. I’ll learn the different formats, learn how to set up studio lights, and basically be prepared for any career I could think of in photography.

I still dont know what career that would be – a studio would be nice, but I would miss natural lighting and fresh air. I could be a wedding photographer – I already have some practice in that. I could work for a newspaper. Working for a newspaper had never appealed to me – I didnt like the sound of deadlines and I am a tad shy. At the beginning of the semester, though, I made myself step out of my comfort zone and joined the Schoolcraft Connection. My dad was a photographer with the college’s newspaper back in the 70s when it was called The Campus Globe.  I still have to check the archives in the library to see some of his photos. But working at the paper has been good for me – I have gotten past my shyness (mostly) and gotten to meet many great people.  Hopefully I’ll get some more opportunities next semester.

Since this winter will be my last semester at Schoolcraft, I figured I should start looking at other schools. So far Grand Valley is the only one I have actually applied to, but I have also been considering either Eastern Michigan University (which is only about a half hour from my house) or Madonna University (which is about ten minutes from my house and offers a decent scholarship to Catholics). Neither of those schools has a very good photography program, but they do offer excellent teaching courses, which wouldnt be bad. I would love to teach art or something, but teaching just wouldnt be the same to me as photography.

Last week I visited Grand Valley. The drive there takes about 2.5 hours – except during the Grand Rapid’s area lake-effect snowstorms. The area got about a foot of snow and the roads were a nightmare. So many cars were spun out. When we finally got to the campus, it was difficult to get around on the tour. The sidewalks were icy and the wind was bitter cold. But the campus was as beautiful as I have heard – there are trees and all the buildings are super new. It was perfect. Everybody seemed really nice and the school has tons of clubs (even a Harry Potter club that hosts a yearly “Yule Ball”!). Everything about the school is great – even the snow. The only problem is the distance. I’ve never really been away from my family and with my health it kinda terrifies me. I’ll have to see if I can find an orthopedic oncologist near Grand Rapids. But I suppose the change will be good, once I can wrap my head around it.

After visiting Grand Valley, my mom, little sister, my friend Jenny, and I spent the night in Holland. That weekend was part of their “Dutch Winterfest” complete with an authentic holiday kerstmarkt and Sinterklaas parade.

So we had a pleasant evening walking around town looking at all the Christmas displays. All of these photos were taken around downtown Holland.

Happy Thanksgiving

(I know its a bit late – but I hope all my American visitors had a great Thanksgiving and aren’t too exhausted from all that Black Friday shopping!)

 

Sunflower Fields Forever

    

 

Happy Halloween!

Well, I guess I’m a little late for Halloween, so happy daylight savings/All Saints Day. Enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

The Ominous Eve

                                            This is near the entrance of Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan