POPOTILLO and FORT SHERIDAN FOREST PRESERVE and OPENLANDS SHORELINE - MyShadowProductions #183

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying the last weeks of Summer?

I recently asked an artist near Mexico City to do a Popotillo from another one of my photos, this one from the Beach near Loma de Luz in Balfate, Honduras. I volunteered there in November/December of 2021. Click Here to view my Posts during that time.

Beach near Loma de Luz in Balfate, Honduras

Popotillo from MyShadow photo

Enlarged Section to Show Detail

The following Popotillos are from my “collection” to date:

MyShadow at Boca de Tomatlán, Mx

Purchased in Puerto Vallarta, Mx

Flea Market find in Springfield, IL

Sculpture Exhibit at Denver Botanic Gardens from my photo.

Popotillo is also called Straw Painting, Straw Art, Straw Marquetry and Popote.

CLICK HERE for Wikipedia’s history of the Art. I think it is a very cool

type of Art and adaptable to any type of sights, not just Mexican. 

This Link also gives info on the Art, Artist and his family.

On Friday, August 23, 2024, I went to the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve

and Openlands Lakeshore Shoreline which are about 30 miles 

north of Downtown Chicago.

My trip involved the Metra BNSF train from Aurora to Chicago Union Station, a 15 minute walk to the Ogilvie Transportation Center and about an hour train ride north to the Fort Sheridan stop on the Union Pacific North line to Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The Forest Preserve entrance is a short 5 minute walk from the Fort Sheridan station and is a very nice way to get access to the Lake Michigan Shoreline and the restored/protected Bluffs, Ravines and Lakeshore. My hike included trails on the Bluffs with restored prairie as well as hiking along the shoreline eventually connecting with the Openlands Preserve and ultimately walking to the Highwood Metra Stop for the return to Chicago/Aurora.

I took a lot of photos and as a result I have created 3 Videos to pass along the very cool views and landscapes in this part of Illinois along Lake Michigan. One of them includes a rare timed “selfie”, every once in a while it seems ok to do one :) The one below didn’t make the Videos and yes, (when you see the other) I had 2 different hats with me on the hike :)

Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

I still haven’t figured out how to fade the music at the end of the videos, maybe someday :)

The wind was mainly from the south and it was cool to see the waves run along the shoreline. Maybe you noticed it in the Videos? The weather was great with highs around 80 but my mind kept thinking what winter will/would be like, guess I will have to return then and find out :) I can hear you now, “It will be COLD!!”

Meanwhile, it has been a waiting game but I recently learned about a volunteer shift at Morton Arboretum that fit my schedule and didn’t involve working at events as a parking lot monitor or being a wayfinder or a wandering question taker (some people enjoy that and kudos to them, just not for me). The shift that I joined is once a week on Thursday morning from 8-11 at the Gateway to Tree Science area and involves weeding, pruning, cleaning and a little planting. It will last until mid-October so I am hoping it will be a good way to get my “foot in the door” at Morton Arboretum volunteer world.

Here is a map for an idea of where it is located in the Arboretum.

This Short Video shows the walk to and from that I will get to enjoy :) The early fall colors in a few spots most likely signal some stress in the particular tree based on some articles I have read.

Ok, if you have been kind enough to make it to the end of this Post, here are some Bonus Photos from Garfield Park Conservatory where the “Riot of Colors” continues :)

Adios for now !!

ART WALK and WEST SIDE TRAILS Morton Arboretum - MyShadowProductions #182

Hello everyone !!

Well, September is here, right on schedule, it arrived the day after August 31 :) That also means Labor Day has arrived too. I am so grateful that I do not have white shoes or white pants, one very big decision/“rule” I do not have to worry about :)

I still have a couple of “blogs” that I want to share on little adventures I have taken in August.

I feel awkward at times when I list the date of a day trip or photos but I feel like the date can give it more context, as we all know things can change fast :)

On Sunday August 18, 2024 I went to the Morton Arboretum for their Art Walk and to venture over to the West side of the Arboretum to see what nature was doing over there.

Click Here for a Video created from my photos along the way that day :)

The Sculpture in the Video/Photos is called ONA by Olga Ziemska and it is one of five different sculptures by her in the “OF THE EARTH” Sculpture Exhibition.

Here is a Video of all 5 as I have “found” them during my visits to the Arboretum. Note to self: I hope the Sculptures are still there when we have some snow, I want to see how the snow enhances them :) This Video even has a SURPRISE ENDING with Special Guests from Denver’s Botanic Garden :)

For more information and to hear from the Artist click this Link. “Behind the Build” is a good little summary along with the other sections.

When trying to edit my photos and “clean them up”, I always notice the “Filters” option in iPhotos but have never really felt/found a place to use them.

I thought of an Idea/Video as a way to look at one photo with each of the “Filters” applied, CLICK HERE and see what you think. (I chose two different photos to demonstrate).

TRY THIS ONE of the Artist’s Garden at Garfield Park Conservatory with Filters applied.

I realize the “musical ending” of those 2 videos (and others:) is rather abrupt :) Please remember, I am a “work in progress” :)

I “found” a couple more Chicago Public Art sculptures:

More on those later though, because “You/I have things we need to be doing, right?”

Until Next Time, Enjoy !!

A teaser photo for my next Post :)