It Was A Delight To Meet Both Her And Her Work At the Same Time

It has been hot and humid in St. Louis for what seems forever. But once upon a time it was cold here. Now people complain about the heat. Then they complained about the cold and the lingering ice. In that time of cold and ice on my dark winter night commutes home I would often see lights in a building at the corner of Shenandoah and Compton. It was both comforting and heart warming to know an artist was at work as I worked my way home. Each time I passed I would wonder about who this artist was and about her work. I knew her name was Carol Carter, the building had given me that much. I realized only after I met her that I could have "googled" her name, but I didn't think of it at the time.

Recently, as I rode Billie, me wee chariot, toward home in the long light and heat of a July day I noticed a poster in the window of the studio where I had seen those lights last winter. It announced an Open House on Saturday July 30th from10am to 4pm. I made a commitment to myself to be there.

It was raining as Heather and I made our way to the Open House. The rain was nice enough to let up as we arrived.

I like this building. I think the balloons wilted in the humidity.

We opened the door and walked into a studio both sparse and filled with color. The woman we would soon learn was Carol welcomed us even as she spoke with others already there. We wandered around, and on what I suspect was an inspiration wall I found a very good omen.

Yep, a flamingo.

When we did get to talk with Carol I told her I rode by her studio on my daily commute to work. I told her of seeing her in the studio during the winter as I rode home. I, also, mentioned to her I had a blog and was interested in learning more about her. She went over to a box and looked for something to give me. She handed me a magazine. It was the December 2009 issue of American Artist. She had it open to an article written by Stephen Doherty about a series of portraits she had done of her son as he grew from two weeks after his birth to young adulthood.

People were coming and going. The Studio had a wonderful feel to it. 

Heather took this picture of Carol.

On Carol's blog under the heading Things You Need To Know is this statement: "Painting my whole life--watercolor especially...." From being in her space I sense this is certainly true.

As I watched Carol being a gracious host to strangers and welcoming dear friends, I knew I was having an experience that I'm doubtful would have happened if not for my commuting to work by small motorcycle rather than car. Billie by her nature keeps me off the expressways, places me in neighborhoods, and demands my attentiveness. I by my nature find myself increasingly caring about these neighborhoods and meeting more and more of the folk that give these places life.

I loved Carol's use of color to open up the familiar and make it fresh. I'm very glad she has a  website, but I'm glad I didn't think to search it out before. It was a delight to meet both her and her work at the same time. That said, I hope you take a look. It's really good stuff.

And What Did Heather Think?

Wow, when it comes to blogging it seems I'm only 1-for-May. I'm not exactly sure why. I know it hasn't been because of a lack of experiences. It's true I've been busy, but I'm always busy. Also, I've had an annoying health issue going on, but it hasn't been of the sort to stop me from riding, inline skating some, hiking a lot, and even getting in the season's first land paddle. I do know part of my blogging fall-off has to do with Heather's work load lightening up and her being home more evenings and around on the weekends. It has been good to spend time with her.

Hiking at Castlewood.

Land Paddling on Schoolhouse Trail in Madison County, Illinois.

Just hanging out at Horseshoe Lake.

So, let's begin to catch-up May. But, to do that I've got to go back to the last day of April. Actually, I need go back even a little more in time than that.

Who could that be inside that fullface helmet?

Yep, in early April Heather bought a helmet. She did it in preparation for what we had planned for the last day of April. We went to Spyderfest in Cuba, Missouri. Over two hundred Can-Am Spyders descended on the Mural City during the last week in April. We drove down on Saturday to check it out, eat some barbeque, and . . .

This was before half of the Spyders made it out to Cowtown, the local Spyder dealer, for barbeque. There were bikes there from both coasts and Canada.

. . . to test ride a Spyder.

There were Spyders everywhere.

Sadly, we didn't get any pictures of us on the Spyder. Heather has never been on a motorcycle or an ATV or a trike. So, riding on the Spyder while I piloted it was a big first for her. Zach, the guy in charge of the demos, gave us a quick run down of the controls and how to put into reverse, gave us a few suggestions on where we might like to ride, and sent us on our way. We tested a RT with a semi-automatic transmission. It reminded me of my experience of driving a snowmobile. Of course, the way I ride a snowmobile has very little in common with the way my brother-in-law rides a snowmobile. You see, I have a slow hand and don't drift through the corners while approaching triple digits. That said, the Spyder easily took the curves at ten-plus mph above the posted speed. It did everything I asked of it. I liked the transmission, but I'm sure others would miss the clutch. Would I buy one? Well, definitely not a RT. Both Heather and me think it is butt-ugly. The RS on the other hand could be an interesting year around vehicle for me . . . if it didn't cost so much; and if it didn't get such horrible gas mileage; and if I was convinced I could afford to maintain it.

The guy wearing the helmet with the horns rides his Spyder year around in Minnesota. He tells me with an automobile snow tire on the back and sandbags to add weight over the rear wheel it can handle snow  up to four inches. If there is more snow than that you have to wait for the snowplow to go through first. By the way, when he's really ready to ride the highway he wears a fullface helmet.

A Cow-Am

The orange Spyder is a RS. The blue beast next to it is a RT Touring.  I didn't get any intentional pictures of any RT's. No surprise there.

I really liked this rig.

And, what did Heather think? I'm not exactly sure, but the next weekend we made a trip to Cyclegear and . .

She bought a jacket.

I Am Forever the Optimist

Heather has been wanting to photograph a portion of the Riverlands Migratory  Bird Sanctuary. She wanted to get picture of it frozen. Since it was going to get up to 24F on Saturday it seemed a perfect day to head to the beach.

But, what she was really interested in was an area that has been flooded and only the stumps of trees are left.

This area is very near the Confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. As we were leaving we saw two American Bald Eagles standing on the ice in the river. I'm afraid they turned out to be no more than black specks since neither Heather nor I have the equipment to capture such photos.

There were photographers with tripods and lens as long as my arm working at getting the perfect image. In the background is the Clark Bridge. I'm told it was the subject of a Nova episode on PBS called The Super Bridge.

Here's a better picture of the twin towers of the Bridge. The Bridge connects Highway 367 to Alton, Illinois.

Having gone to the beach on Saturday what could be better than on nice ride on Sunday.

It was 16F when I left the house. I had a twelve mile ride to get to Kirkwood and my customary Sunday morning bagels. Eventually, I made my way down to the buildings I've been watching be rehabbed. I didn't take any pictures of the bagels (or the oatmeal raisin cookie that we won't mention), but I did get some photos of the buildings.

Even from this distance it is obvious the work on the roof of the first building is nearly complete.

When last I took photos the white soffit area was bare wood and not all the tiles were in place.

And the dumpster has returned. I'm suspecting there is a lot of work going on inside, but is hidden.

All told I rode a little over 50 miles today. Eventually, I had to remove a layer as the temperatures flirted with 30F. I wasn't expecting it to warm up so much. I ended up riding in just my Arctiva snowmobile pants, my winter riding coat, and a Columbia Titanium microfleece pullover. The layer I removed was a Champion Puff outer layer jacket.

The forecast for tomorrow is snow. We may get up to four inches of the white stuff between Monday and Tuesday. So, I wanted to get out today. I, also, lubricated the chain, which I'm happy to report is still holding tension.

Finally, a closing treat. Heather and I found this peacock ornament on our walk New Year's Day. I'd hope it was a omen of good things to come in 2011 . . .

and, it may still be. Although it does seem we here in the USA are off to a rocky start with the shooting in Arizona, but I am forever the optimist.

~Circle Blue, Heather and Billie.

. . . But This Was Close

We were told it was coming, but not until late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. So, Heather and I headed out in the rain to visit my friend Cory. She was displaying her wares at the Jewelry to the Third Degree Show at the Third Degree Glass Factory.

Neither Heather or I had ever been to the Third Degree Glass Factory. It describes itself as a, "public-access glass art education center." Years ago I had another friend who learned to blow glass at the Third Degree Glass Factory. I'd been curious, but had never had a good enough reason to stop in until now.

There were at least thirty different metal workers and bead artists involved with the show. I was impressed not only by the quality of the work but at the reasonable prices.

We found Cory.

I love Cory's work. I forget how truly talented she is. She has a website:   http://www.beadsfromfire.com/

After spending some time with Cory and checking out the other artists we went to the History Museum in Forest Park. We spent a couple of hours checking out the exhibit Homelands: How Women Made the West.  http://www.mohistory.org/  I didn't take any pictures inside the Museum. I guess I could have. There was a woman who seemed to be taking pictures of everything and no one said anything. Thankfully, she wasn't using flash.

When we had worked up a good appetite we headed to the Loop in University City and one of our favorite places.

Al Tarboush has great Falafel.

And, the spinach pies was pretty good, too.

Since they said it was coming, we decided to make Saturday our play day. This was a good choice.

When I got up this morning it had arrived.

This is the scene that greeted me as I opened the door to leave the condo.

The snow was very light. It was what I'd call dry snow. It just brushed off the car. No scraping required.

Christmas Card?

Before I left the condo I checked to see how much snow had fallen. At 6:45 am we had 2.8 inches with more expected as the day went on.

When I returned home later the snow had stopped but the blowing was beginning. The Weather Channel was reporting as much as 6 inches in some places. I don't think we got that much here.

Winds with gusts as high as 50 mph were anticipated.

The snow beginning to form drifts

It may get as cold as 5 degrees F tonight. I suspect one will be able to skate on this alley by morning..

Yep, Winter paid a visit to St. Louis. I've lived here over twenty years now and have to say that Winter like I grew up with hasn't come calling very often, but this was close.

Billie is safe in the garage and snuggled up with her Opti-Mate. I suspect she will have a few days before she ventures out again. Pity.

While Billie was in the Shop

Last Saturday while Billie was in the shop Heather and I went for a walk in Forest Park. Forest Park was the site of the 1904 World's Fair here in St. Louis. There are remnants from the Fair still in use in the Park. Some examples are: The giant bird cage in the Zoo, and both the History Museum and the Art Museum use buildings from the World's Fair. I thought I knew Forest Park but we discovered some places I didn't know were there.

Near where we parked we found this sign.

This is Jefferson Lake

When I changed the angle of the above picture there was Barnes Jewish & Childrens Hospitals. One of the largest Hospital Complexes in the United States.

There were cattails and there were.....

...reminders humans were near by.

And there were ducks.

There were lots of scooters in the Park.

 

None of this surprised me, but....

When we crossed this bridge we entered into a part of the park I'd not been in before.

It was very nice.

There were rocks to climb on...

...and to do whatever it is Heather is doing in this picture.

Then came a surprise.

We found ourselves on a boardwalk passing through a wetlands habitat...

...complete with ducks acting like vacuums in the algae.

They left little trails.