(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

So, what did YOU see on YOUR way to Easter dinner?

Driving down M-1 (Woodward Avenue) and I glanced over to see.... a dragon!

It was done by a local artist, but the information tube was empty.

As I drove past it several times, I could see small groups of children in their Easter finery posing for their Facebook updates!  

Elisa

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Geocaching Edition

I've been yelled at by a friend because it's been awhile since my last post.  Life has been so busy.  But I did get a chance to sneak away last Saturday to Belle Isle, a jewel located on the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor.  It was the Belle Isle Geo-event 2012.

Ok, what's geocaching?  I talk about it all the time.  It's a high-tech treasure hunt.  The joke is we use multi-hundred dollar GPS units connected to billion-dollar satellites to find Tupperware in the woods…  Or, in my picture above taken on Belle Isle Saturday.... coffee cans.

A Geocacher will hide a container called a geocache (pronounced geo-cash) anywhere (the woods, downtown, scenic overlooks, South Pole, etc).  They will include a visitors log to sign as well as some goodies to exchange (called swag).  They will then upload the coordinates to Geocaching.com and normally include a description to entice other cachers to explore the area.  At that point, other cachers will download the coordinates and go looking for this treasure.  There are over 1.7M geocaches hidden an all the continents of the world and over 5M geocachers looking for them.  Don't worry - we leave the planet in better shape (we practice CITO - Cache In Trash Out).

There's much more to this, but you get the idea.

Why do I cache?  Because it gets me outdoor soaking in the Vitamin D and burning off calories.  I spend quality time with all members of my family (our caching team "Free Range Lobsters' range from 3 years to 74 years).  I've explored areas I've never seen before (Michigan has some stunning metroparks).  It's social.  It's spiritual. It stimulates the brain.  It gives your brain a rest from reality.

Ok, up to date?  So, Saturday was the annual Belle Isle event.  The Belle Isle cachers introduce 45 new caches to the Isle and, for one day only, leave last year's out too.  Hundreds of cachers from all over show up, load up our GPS's, load up our bellies (did I mention it was a potluck?) and off we go.  Here are some of my favorite pictures:

For years I've wanted to photograph this bridge and Saturday was my chance!

My sister took this one - there are weeping willows all over the island!

We made tehse amazing Pinwheels and they were gobbled up quickly!

Members of the Free Range Lobsters:
Scrapcat, Hockeyman40, WikidKriket and 3inaTree

Need fuel to burn more calories!

In order of appearance:
Windsor (left) - Ambassador Bridge - Detroit (right)



Little Tree and Hockeyman40 leading the way



Scott Fountain

The "3" as in "3inaTree".... but they weren't in a tree

Don't mess with Auntie!
Wikid Kriket teaching Lil Tree a lesson
You can't tell but Lil Tree was having a blast!

Thank you for following along on our journey!

Happy caching!
Elisa

Guardian Building - Detroit, MI

Have you seen the "Import from Detroit" - Eminem commercial?  Aired on the Super Bowl last year?  As Eminem is cruising around Detroit, he passes in front of a concierge standing at the entranceway of the Guardian Building.

The Art Deco Guardian Building was originally called the Union Trust Building

The concierge is Christopher - he gives free tours of the amazing Guardian Building Monday through Friday from 10-12.  How do I know this?  Two weeks ago my sister treated me to a day in Detroit to experience this.

Thought it was about time I shared some of my favorite pics.

This was formerly the bank area - it had 80 teller windows!

Close-up of the Michigan mural

Stairway leading up to the "bank" area.  Christopher can tell you where all the marble comes from!

Mural in the lobby was created by an artist from Traverse City

He takes you up to the 32nd floor - Look!  The Ambassador Bridge!

Jefferson Avenue (left) - Belle Isle (background) - Ren Cen (right)

There are only 5 of these Tiffany clocks in existence and the Guardian Building owns two!  The  other one is behind this one.

Fabulous Art Deco elevator bank with Tiffany window called "Prosperity".

Look for me!  I always have a camera (and a gps) in hand!
Next few pictures are from Lorna's camera!

Better view of elevator bank

This is Christopher!

Did I mention we tour the bank vaults in the basement?

I love Detroit, and my sister & I will be seen out and about its wondrous streets over the next few weeks.

We're volunteering to plant 1000 seedlings in one of its parks.

Then it's the Belle Isle geocache event/potluck.

Moving of the Koi for the Belle Isle Aquarium

Cleanup and potluck on Belle Isle

Distributing books to promote literacy.

PHEW!  Now I just need to find time to quilt!
Hope you like my picture journey!

Elisa

Wednesday Funny!

It's mid-60's in March in Michigan.  So, instead of quilting, I've been playing hooky on this sunny Wednesday afternoon!

The funniest thing happened to me during my adventures today.

I was signing a log at a geocache in Farmington's Heritage Park (geocaching is kind of like a treasure hunt using a gps played by MILLIONS of users all over the world).  The geocache was called, "Are The Dear Watching You Too?"  And....

THEY WERE!

Five of them were quietly watching me and wondering (just like you), "What is she up to?"

Had to share!

Well... (lack of) Status Update

Sigh... I don't know about the rest of you, but in Michigan we've been experiencing 50-60 degree days in Winter!  Having the HARDEST time staying in and stitching!  Too much to do! Too much to see!

I took this picture at the West Bloomfield Parks & Rec.  Not sure if the sign refers to the turtle or my quilt progress lately!

Instead of stitching, I've been.....

Geocaching.  We have several amazing nature trails nearby and the wildlife & birds have been out to play! This little fellow (and two more of her friends) decided to keep me company on one trip.

Reading.  I've been selected to distribute books as part of the World Book Night (April 23rd) near my home town.  Thousands of ambassadors all over the world will be handing out free books to light- or non- readers to promote literacy.  My book is a toughee - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.  Not an easy read to promote to non-readers so I'm re-reading it right now.

Adopting.  Nope, not as it sounds.  As some of you may remember, I'm part of an International stitching group working on a project called Some Kind of Wonderful (SKoW).  This group consists of a 100+ women around the globe working on the same project - we post our status monthly.  Hanne is a quilter from Denmark who wished to join but the blog site only allows 100 "users" at a time. So, I adopted her!  She'll send her posts to me and I'll post them for her.  Check out her newest post here. 

Journaling.  Ok, I know this new project is 10 days old, but I think I lead a boring life.  Each night I sign my daily square and wonder if anyone is going to be interested in this.  Take, for an example, today.  Unless I leave right now and do something amazing, the highlight for today's square will be a 9-year old's birthday party! LOL.

I have made a personal decision not to stress over my penmanship - it is what it is!  I've also decided, for the rest of the rows, to gear towards more solid fabrics - my journal entries seem to get lost in the background sometimes.

Family.  We have three birthdays in two weeks, plus my sister and I have been doing a lot of exploring and charity work.  Last month we worked at Gleaner's Food bank.  This month we're planting trees at 7 Mile and Outer Drive in Detroit.  Next month is the Belle Isle Cleanup and, I think, the Belle Isle Aquarium "moving of the Koi". 

Other people's quilts.  Oh, yes.  Did I mention I've agreed to make 4 commission quilts this season? 

So, knowing all this and knowing the lack of progress on my own quilts.  What do you think I'm going to do on this very bright, very warm March day?  Yep.  Go out and explore.

Happy Sunday everyone!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

Thought you'd enjoy some of the local sites from my trip to Maine.



Eartha - World's Largest Globe - at DeLorme Map Store, Freeport



L.L.Bean and a XXXXXXXL Boot!

 

View from Fort Halifax Park

Portland Headlight - taken with my Hipstamatic App

Waterville, ME - view from the training room

Hanging out with the locals.  We were geocaching, of course!

Portland Headlight - 9 degrees and a wind coming off the ocean

Everyone wants to see a moose in Maine - here's 320 lbs of chocolate!

View from Portland Eastern Promenade

Finished at Bug Light - South Portland

I lived in Maine for 3 years - I miss it and my friends.  The trip really revived me... and it wasn't just the brisk breeze off the ocean!

Hugs, Elisa



(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

First real snow of the year hit, and I made it to Belle Isle on Saturday.  Thought I'd share some beauties from the Isle and the Detroit skyline.

Windsor, Ontario (left) - Detroit Skyline (right)

Some very cold ducks

It is as cold as it looks.

Conservatory and Peacock Sundial

Ice Tree

Hope everyone has a warm and sunny week!
Elisa