Wednesday, December 7, 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

Friday was my annual "Sister Shopping Day" day with WikidKriket.  This year we poked around Ann Arbor, and one of our stops was at Peaceable Kingdom. 

Notice anything unusual about this picture?


Peaceable Kingdom is one of nine establishments in Ann Arbor that has a "Fairy Door" installed!


And let's not forget the local artist who had to add his two cents on the front sidewalk!


You just never know what you will see if you keep your eyes open!

Happy Holiday Shopping!
Elisa


Wednesday, November 30, 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Spent some time this weekend on beautiful Belle Isle (historic island in the middle of the Detroit River).

Took this picture of the newsboy statue with the Detroit skyline in the background.

"Partners" is a statue of a newsboy and his dog. The original statue was dedicated on this spot in 1897 in the presence of over 5,000 Michigan newsboys.

Elisa

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition


Marshall M. Fredericks, sculptor and philanthropist, is a native of nearby Birmingham, MI.  
"One of the most prolific sculptors of the twentieth century, Marshall M. Fredericks is known in America and abroad for his monumental figurative sculpture, public memorials and fountains, portraits, and animal figures.  His sculptures can be found in more than 150 public and corporate locations in Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, DC, Wisconsin, Denmark, England, Freeport Grand Bahama Island, Finland, Japan, Norway and Sweden.  Fredericks' works are located in parks and gardens, government embassies and royal palaces, museums and zoos, universities, hospitals, and libraries.
 Imagine my surprise in tripping over 3 of his Leaping Gazelle statues on my home turf during my recent adventures:

Detroit Zoological Gardens - Royal Oak, MI

Whitcomb Conservatory - Belle Isle, MI

Graves of Marshall and Rosalind Fredericks
Down the street from the Fredericks' former studio
Greenwood Cemetery - Birmingham, MI
Pretty cool, eh?

Elisa

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

Museums Without Walls

My family has simple pleasures: history, travel, art and photography.  You can understand our love of waymarking
Waymarking is an activity where people locate and log interesting locations around the world, usually with a GPS receiver and a digital camera. ~ Wikipedia
One of our favorite categories is cemeteries.  Now, we aren't morbid.  Instead, we appreciate the original purpose of the cemetery: a peaceful park, away from the bustle of the city, to perambulate, to visit with family, and honor the deceased. 

Cemeteries were once considered "museums without walls" with some of the most beautiful monuments and parks created during America's Golden Age.   Cemeteries were also the foundation for our National Park System.

As a former military wife, we have explored Civil War battle & burial grounds, New England parks filled with patriots and poets, and Old West burial grounds with their fabulous epitaphs.

In celebration of Halloween, I thought I'd share some of my favorite local cemeteries and headstones from Southeastern Michigan.


Mausoleum door ornamentation


Mausoleum Door

More doors

Dodge Brothers Mausoleums

Tree headstones are VERY popular in SE Michigan

Joyous Duck in Oakwood Cemetery, Farmington

Zinc headstones (also called "white bronze") were mass produced for about 40 years (1870-1910ish).  They glow light blue, have raised lettering, and the side panels could be installed at will.  They were produced in Detroit and Chicago.

Must visit the fallen heroes.





Another zinc stone

Someone added an ad to this zinc headstone!

Protected grave of Henry Ford.  The grill is called a "mortsafe".  His wife  (not pictured) is buried next to him in an identical grave).



You can see an additional mausoleum and monument, in the background, across Willow Lake.

Willow Lake in Woodlawn Cemetery

If you peek in the mausoleums in Woodlawn Cemetery, you can see some amazing stainglass.

Can't have Ford and Dodge without adding Buick, in the Motor City!
A tree stump normally signifies the person died young (or "in their prime").


Hope you found this interesting.  Happy Halloween!

Elisa
  

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

It's Wednesday again!  Time for more fabulous waymarks encountered in my wanderings.

The Detroit Institute of Arts has a Fall program Inside|Out where they have placed 80 reproductions of their more famous pieces around 10 Greater Detroit locations.  Not only does this bring art to the public, but also brings many visitors to some of the most fabulous historic districts in Southeastern Michigan.

So far, I have made it to 4 of the 10.  Here are quick highlights of my travels so far:

Milford - Woman in an Armchair

Milford - The Flat Iron Building

Franklin - A Woman

Franklin - Shop on Franklin Street

Belleville - Bude Sands at Sunset

Belleville - Boardwalk

Warren - Portrait of a Mughal Prince

Warren - Arch at Civic Center
This program combines so many of my loves: travel, history, Michigan, art, DIA and.... geocaching!  As well as erecting 80 pieces of art, the DIA (in association with the local MIGO group) has planted 1 "puzzle cache" at each location.   

More adventures coming!
Elisa

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

This was my weekend: Huron Meadows and Hudson Mills Metroparks!










Call me biased, but my home state Michigan is gorgeous!

Happy Fall!
Elisa



Wednesday, October 5, 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

It's Wednesday again - time to show off some treasures from my recent travels!

Berry Lake - Commerce Township

Art Prizes - Grand Rapids

Pelican from John Ball Zoo

Tollgate Farm - Farmington

Train Tracks - Traverse City

ME!  Hometown Ferndale

Bridge - Harsen's Island

Lower Huron Metropark

Yates Cider Mill - Rochester
Cider Mills are HUGE here!

Gazebo - Burgh of Southfield

Greasy spoon - Warren

Octagon House - Shelby Township

Detroit Skyline & Ambassador Bridge - Belle Isle

Manoogian Stain Glass - Detroit Institute of Arts

Hope you like the latest tour of my treasures!
Elisa

Not all those who wander are lost ~ J.R.R. Tolkein