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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Photo of the Day and More

 Today's photo is of the Mackinac Bridge. It connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan and spans the straits where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet. I grew up in St. Ignace on the north side of the bridge and The Mighty Mac, as it is frequently called, is synonymous with home.




I also have a photo of a bird that I have never seen at my house, but I see from time to time at my Mom's. It is, I believe, an Evening Grosbeak.

It is good to be back home, even though I had a good visit up north and saw (and hugged) siblings Mary, Kathy, Molly, Mike, Jane, and Susie (the birthday girl). I also got a couple of hugs from Molly's granddaughter. Isn't she a beauty?



I didn't get much art time because I was busy visiting, watching the Tigers, playing Yahtzee and Cribbage, chauffeuring, cooking - you know how it is when you visit family.

I did make a quick sketch of the old house where my Mom lived as a young girl and hope to make some kind of watercolor painting of it.

It isn't much, but it gives me the information I need to paint from.

I am tutoring a student in Algebra at 10 this morning and hope to grab a bite to eat and then get on the treadmill before she gets here. It is funny how I miss the routine when I am away. I think I need to run some errands later today, but hope to do some watercolor later.

I was supposed to start a watercolor class on Monday evening, but had to be out of town, so will go for the first one next Monday. I can't wait and will tell you all about it afterward.

xoxo

8 comments:

  1. Vicki, I've been to the bridge once and it was so foggy that day we couldn't even see the top of it! Someday I will go back and hope to see it like it is in your photograph. It always amazes me how you take such wonderful pictures of birds. They're so close up and detailed! I've never seen one of these grosbeak's before -- the coloring is very unusual and beautiful. And your iece is beautiful, too!

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  2. I agree with Sandy above on the beauty of your niece----the bridge photo has reach accross perspective that's on the haunting side..

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  3. Molly's daughter is lovely, and your other photos are really nice. The sketch of your mom's old house looks like it'll make a wonderful watercolor. Glad your back!! hugs, nancy

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  4. The bird is indeed and Evening Grosbeak. We don't have this species in NV but their year round range includes all the states surrounding NV. I first saw these birds in CAN/MI when I went on a trip to Pt. Pelee on Lake Erie.
    The ID marks for this bird are the wide white wing patches and the yellow "eyebrows" This bird is either an immature male or a molting male/female...hard to tell at this time of year when they molt out of breeding plumage.

    When I lived in MI in the mid to late 60's this bridge was being worked on. I have a fear of heights, so never wanted to go.

    Before the bridge was built, how did the yuppers get to lower peninsula? Ferry? From St. Ignace to where? Cheboygan? We had friends who lived in Sault Ste Marie and others who lived in Escanaba

    Your niece is model material...you should draw her from this lovely photo.

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  5. Nice sketch and yeah that's about all you need to have to paint =)
    Nice pictures, love that bridge, and your grand-daughter is so adorable with a cute smile ^^ Definitely a good subject to sketch and with that high-contrast picture, you could totally do a portrait there.

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  6. Just fantastic elements to enjoy every moment...Congratulations! :D

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  7. Molly's granddaughter is beautiful! Definitely a great picture to use as a portrait resource! Your photos are lovely and I think you have the start of a very nice watercolor!

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  8. Vicki, I love your way of writing about the things that matter to you. Your visit with your family sounds lovely and the photos and sketches are fun captures of a moment in time.

    We have black headed grosebeaks but have only captured the female's photo at our feeder this year.

    Cheers!

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