Artful tour of Cincinnati

After Chicago, we stayed in Cincinnati. My first time there! Dave has heard of the Museum Hotel, so we stayed there. Two floors of art. I was in heaven!

This floor changed when people walked on it. 

A skull made of wire. 

Body parts in the bathroom tile! Notice the black fixtures and the rubber ducky. 

These little plastic men were sandwiched between glass at the check-in desk. 

Can't forget this cool sculpture, carved from books!

Last view of Cincinnati as we got outta town. 

Pre Christmas, artful buildup

I am drowning in photos. All I can do is take a stab at sharing them. This post is just the beginning. 

Frances Holliday Alford sent me this collage postcard, as a thank you for sending her a quilt block for her 60th birthday. 

 Santa medley, newly framed turtle mola. 

I made these for my granddaughters. Pattern by Ann Wood Handmade, Forest Folk. 

The Cooks are here. Sammy asleep by the fire. 

Sammy was a great helper for walking the dog. Christmas Eve morning: the festivities are about to begin!

Artful Walk on the Venta Spur trail

I took a great walk today on the path right near my house. It's one of the things I like about Irvine: lots of beautiful walking trails. 

There are lots of gates along this path, but I think this is the most artful. 

Salvia, right? 

The trail ends at Jeffrey Road and is about 50 minute walk around trip from my house. It also goes in the other direction all the way to the 134. The space used to have a minor railway, when we moved here in 1978. It became this lovely, narrow park in the 90's, as I recall. 

I saw several squirrels on this walk. Not a rabbit in sight! They used to multiple like, you know what, but the coyotes have been getting them. 

One of many Irvine trails, but it is lovely, shaded, and convenient. 

Tour of Pittsburgh

We spent a couple nights in Pittsburgh recently. Here are some random photos. 

It started pouring just after our arrival. We had sun and showers throughout our stay. 

This strange cluster of buildings was built by a plate glass company. 

We saw some killer views of the city from Mount Washington. More like a hill from where I come from, lol. But the views were wonderful. 

Here in Pittsburgh is the confluence of three rivers: the Allegheny, Nangahila (I know I spelled that wrong) and the Ohio. 

We took a funicular ride at the Duquesne Slide (pronounced ducane) with Tom and Nancy, friends we hadn't seen in ages.

My first attempt at a pano photo on iPhone turned out a little screwy! It added a curve in the road that wasn't there. 

A goofy infrared image of us taken at the Carnegie Science Center!

We enjoyed our stay in Pittsburgh - the food was fab - but had to leave in a hurry because the Rolling Stones were about to take over the city!

Happy Diwali

A sighting, on the front steps of one of our neighbor's house.

Note the dinosaurs on the bottom step. I'll bet the little boy who lives there put them there. There were also candles, lit up at night.

Artful Tour of Yountville

We stayed in Healdsburg the second night, at H2. Yes, that's the name of a hotel. It's close to the plaza, cool and modern. I forgot to take photos there.

The next night we stayed in Yountville, where I did an artful tour along the maim drag. This unassuming building you see above is the world famous French Laundry restaurant. We were lucky enough to eat there once, maybe 10 years ago, with my dear Aunt Jean. She died a year ago December. She was fun, unflaggingly cheerful and upbeat. I thought she was the least likely person to get Alzheimer's, but alas, she did. Through it all she was still sweet and good natured to us.

Anyhoo, they had all this wonderful public art along the main street in town. Excuse the errant fingertips!

These are just a few of my favorite works of art. We stayed at the Napa Valley Lodge, by the way. Great place. We had a dynamite view of some vineyards right outside our window. I think I've posted photos of those previously.

Cool little "mushroom" garden.

We had a delicious Italian dinner at Reddwood Pizzeria,  a short walk from our hotel. I had artfully made pizza, and Dave had lasagna. The same chef has a fancier restaurant at the other end of town, called Redd, I think.

in the studio and out and about

I've been busy up in my studio. My granddaughter's butterfly wings are almost finished - they just need a little tweaking and means of attachment. (the directions I've seen are vague) I can't wait to show you! I'm also working on a small art quilt that I can't elaborate on yet. Both projects are fun.

In the meantime, I have a few more photos to share from our trip to NY. Have you ever heard of ground cherries? This is what they look like with their hulls on. I bought some at the Hamilton farmers market.

They look a little like a yellow tomato and taste a little like a cherry. A very healthy munchy!

We stayed a couple nights in Saratoga Springs, NY. Sammy is standing by one of the many fountains in the town. She was a real trooper, walking all over with us.

She got to ride on a carousel horse for the first time.

After our visit with them, we went to the Wentworth Inn in New Hampshire for one night.

I took a walk on the grounds and was inspired to take these photos. Does this qualify as an artful tour?

An Artful Tour of NYC, 2012

After visiting the kids, we stayed in NYC for a few days, not far from Times Square. Too touristy! I doubt we'll stay in this area again.

Here is the detritus from the trip, mostly from NYC. We went to MOMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Art and Design (formerly the Craft Museum), and the Art Quilt Gallery on 25th. We even saw a Broadway play, The Book of Mormon.

Art that caught my eye at MOMA (forgot my camera at the Met).

I like this photo!

Kind of a blurry photo of me in front of a Jackson Pollack.

We saw the Empire State Building. We would have taken the tour if the line weren't so darned long. 

We found the Art Quilt Gallery on a sketchy street. There was a terrific Sue Benner exhibit going on, and a great quilt shop in the back.

I really enjoyed the Museum of Art and Design, in Columbus Circle near Central Park. I took a couple photos of quilt-like pieces.

They had some very unique jewelry!

Seen at Rockefeller Plaza.

Sorry, out of order. Detail of jewelry.