MyShadowProductions #84 - Puerto Vallarta Travel Day

 Buenos Dias from Puerto Vallarta !!

It was a pretty snow, pretty cold (12 degrees overnight), pretty icy, pretty deep (not really, only 4 to 6”) and it would have been a better story if it happened Saturday night instead of Friday but I am going with it anyway. Winter is still happening in Denver.

Despite all the “pretty” I decided to still get on the plane and head to Puerto Vallarta, imagine that :)

Well, made it to Puerto Vallarta around 3 pm their time (central time), flight was fine and the weather here is warm :) After a thrilling 20 minute taxi ride I arrived at my hotel (Hotel Hacienda de Vallarta Centro) and have been able to get some food and walk a little.

Here are some random photos for a teaser:

 

No, I didn’t eat it all, got a to go box :) There we’re more tortillas in the wooden bowl.

Impossible to get a shot without people :)

Sunset here is around 7 pm so I am going to stop “blogging” for now and take a walk. Maybe I will see someplace that has the Super Bowl, if not, Wi-Fi is great here and I can check in on ESPN for scores and highlights, all with a Spanish speaking announcer with a lot of energy (like a goal in soccer) :)

Hasta Luego Amigos !!

Found the sunset :)

The “blur” in the sky to the right is a pelican diving towards the water. 

MyShadowProductions #83 - Straw Marquetry/ Popotillo

 Happy February everyone!

For anyone that has ventured to read the “my complete profile” part of my blog site, you may have noted that under “Interests” I listed Straw Marquetry/Popotillo.

My interest began when I purchased the piece of art in the following photo at a “French Flea Market” at The Widow at Windsor Antiques in Springfield, IL in the summer of 2016. The actual size is 5 x 7 inches. +/- $5 ??

Today when I googled Mexico Straw Marquetry Popotillo, a link to an old Journo Post of mine came up. Click here to see it. 

I communicated with an artist in Mexico and asked him if he could do a Popotillo of the following photo that I took at the Denver Botanic Gardens:

After a few messages back and forth on WhatsApp I gave him the go ahead to do an 8 x 10 inch Popotillo :) In a few weeks he was finished and he messaged me the final cost with a shipping receipt and I sent him the payment via Western Union. In less than a week I received the Popotillo via DHL delivery.

Here is the Popotillo:

Pretty amazing was my first thought, second thought was it would be cool to have the talent and resources to create a Popotillo.

Lately I have been thinking about trying to get another Popotillo from one or more of my photos. As you can guess there are a lot to choose from :) I am leaning toward choosing from the Honduras Trip photos. Maybe one of the following?

At the same Flea Market I also purchased this Japanese Silk Embroidered Landscape, actual size 5 x 8 inches +/- $5 ? Similar idea just a different method?

Also, I have this Wood Veneer Marquetry that I purchased in San Gimignano, Italy, actual size 6 x 8 inches:

By the way, the next Post you read will be from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico :)

Leaving February 13 and returning February 24. 

Buenos Dias!

MyShadowProductions #82 - Orchid Showcase at DBG

Hello again!

Mid-January is time for the Orchid Showcase at the Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG). It is a long display of color in the Orangery (Reminiscent of Renaissance European greenhouses, the Orangery showcases year-round color with exotic plants and Italian cypresses ). 

In my opinion the setting makes it challenging to photograph the orchids because of the background of greenhouse windows and frames and random plants? Or, it showcases their uniqueness because they still tend to stand out?

There were several inspirational verses posted along the display of orchids:

Not sure I get this one??

Here is a movie/video created from my photos:

While there, I walked through the Gardens to take in the changes that winter has brought to the scenery.

I noticed that I missed these items in my previous post about Outside Art at DBG:

A subtle suggestion for Life :)

I like the colors and roofline.

You decide??

While walking through the Gardens I noticed that a green wirey vine was “attached” to a lot of trees. Maybe this is the dreaded Christmas light infestation that I have overheard a few horticulturists bemoan as the Holidays approached:)

                 Hope you have a great week!!

MyShadowProductions #81 - Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2022, as close as I will get to a “twos are wild New Year 2222”.

On second thought, February 22 will be closer, 2/22/2022 :)

The new year started with 6+ inches of snow in Denver and some single digit temperatures on New Year’s day.

The sun was out today, January 2, and I decided to take a Sanity Walk to Denver Botanic Gardens and take photos of the Outside Art that sometimes is overlooked when everything is full of flowers and leaves. 

I will start with this photo of a very cool statue that stands tall regardless of the season:

Here is a movie/video created from my photos:

My latest attempt at HAIKU:

Quoting Bob Seger

I’m older now, but still Run-

ning Against the Wind !!

Pardon the poetic liberty but I think it works :)