Liam....Upward

Emma...Upward

Tufted Titmouse

Winter Walk

I can't understand why, why, why, the sun won't shine. Just a peek for a few hours is all I ask.

Went for a walk at Lake Erie to try out my new walking poles, which worked very well by the way. Saw a robin who must have decided the flight was too long to migrate and stayed in Michigan for the winter. Otherwise it was a quiet and peaceful hike.

Winter's Art

I'm trying to remember....

Summer is such a distant memory. I thought I'd post a few photos to cheer us up. The weather has been so bleak. We had sun the other day but it was bitter cold. Today it has warmed up into the 30's but it is so gloomy and depressing. I remember the day that I took these pictures at Lake Erie Metropark. It was a gorgeous, hot summer day in June. Someone on my FB page posted that she heard a robin ... I really hope so.

It's Winter in Michigan, let's get together!

A Winter Walk

This is Kensington Metropark. I really had to trudge through the snow on this walk! It was so peaceful and quiet there. I really enjoyed myself and the birds were as friendly as ever. Finally got a great photo of a cardinal. Never did get one last summer of our neighborhood cardinal. Hope he come back this year with his mate.

Winter-Lake Erie Metropark

You can get a chill just looking at these pictures!

Mikey and Sean in front of the eagle nest.

Sean taking pictures of the

ducks and swans.

Thank You Meijers

Thank you Meijers for putting in two convenient charging stations next to your store in Allen Park. Now, if I could only afford a $43,000 Volt.

The Station

Imagine what it was like leaving out of Detroit on a passenger train. Compare it to flying......the bustle at curb side with luggage and goodbyes. It must have been something in it's day. The voices must still echo through that vast lobby of times gone by. Most people see the old station as an eyesore and want it demolished but if we did that, no one would remember.

Cass

Having worked in mental health for many years , I have some understanding of how shelters operate. They open their doors in the evening and have a cut-off as to how many homeless they can hold. In the morning everybody has to leave. That means that there is no where to go for these folks all day. On bitter days like this this they must be pretty hopeless, although it seems that they have some camaraderie. I also know that many have mental health and substance abuse issues. If you gave them each $5 a majority would head for the nearest party store or crack dealer. It's a problem for every big city.

We were trying to be as discreet as possible and also my son was driving a little too fast so my pictures are not the best.
I was out at the park today and found it to be restful (and cold) and as always it gives me a feeling of well-being. I will be glad to post my last Detroit pictures tomorrow.

The City (what does all this mean?)

The Vanity Ballroom

I heard that many are critical of people like me who focus on the old instead of the new.....but really what is new and exciting in Detroit? Someone please show me where.
I love the nostalgia of these old buildings even though they are falling down wrecks.
The Vanity was built in the '20 and was a hopping venue for dances, big bands and later a rock club. From Tommy Dorsey in the 40's to the Stooges in the 70's, they all played here.
I was so lucky to have a good look around in the 80's. My friend's boyfriend was in a metal band called "Ugly But Proud" and they played the ballroom on several occasions. The poor building is in much worse shape now and that is saying something as back then it wasn't pristine that's for sure. It was in good enough shape to envision what it must have been like in it's heyday. The broad staircase leading up to the ballroom was impressive and I could picture couples buying their tickets and ascending up the stairway. The ball room floor "floats" on springs, I guess so you could get more bounce when doing the Lindy Hop. The floor was surrounded by tables and two huge bars. Wish I would have had my camera. I can close my eyes and see so clearly the coat check rooms. All the hangers were still there, each with a tag and number. Despite the dirt and dust, I caught a glimpse of what the Vanity had held.

More Heidelberg!

Heidelberg Project

In 1990, my daughter and I went to see the Heidelberg Project. It was summer and we spent about an hour walking the neighborhood. I was fascinated with the art work everywhere: on the sidewalks, in the street and even in the trees in the boulevard. However, after much controversy, the city of Detroit bulldozed the whole project in the late 90's.

Of course, Tyree Guyton was not to be stopped and began again. Tyree uses once new and useful objects that have been discarded and re purposes them into his art form.(this includes houses) His artwork, in many forms, is displayed in galleries around the world. Even if you disagree if this is "art", you will have to admit that it is interesting and entertaining.

It was a bitter cold the day that we were there so all my photos are taken from the car. I had Mike driving around and around again because there was so much to see....all the details, such fun but also sadness. There is a lot of irony in it all.

Click on my links to the right for more on the artist.

Highland Park Ford Plant

The Highland Park Ford Plant was built in 1910 and set precedent for future production plants because of it's size and design. It is an impressive building even today because it is so huge. We could tell that it was still in use because it has been kept in decent repair. Normally a building like this would not have a window left. According to Wikipedia the building is still use by Ford for storage of documents and by the Henry Ford Museum for artifact storage.

Highland Park

Highland Park sits right in the middle of Detroit. The city has had it's issues in recent years. In 2001 it's municipal building and fire department (which were built in 1917) were abandoned. There is an excellent website with pictures, old and new. detroiturbex.com.