Mosaic and Macro Monday - Metal Art

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In Norton Commons, a "boutique" community near Louisville, I spotted this wonderful collection of metal art  for sale at a local shop.  Several pieces, such as the horse head and fleur de lis, would make great decorations for the Kentucky Derby which runs the first Saturday in May.  The other pieces would look wonderful as garden or exterior art any time.

Here are a few more examples of some of best and most classic designs--curlicues, rosettes, arches, panels:

And then some macro/closeup shots of other pieces:

Hope you take in the Kentucky Derby next Saturday whether visiting Louisville or watching the festivities on your wide screen.  It's a beautiful time in this city and some of this metal art would look really great in some Louisville gardens.

Linking to: Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday.

InSPIREd Sunday - Holy Spirit Louisville

Holy Spirit Louisville (est. 1936) - in the Seneca Park neighborhood.  Here, I shot the classic bell tower and spire silhouetted against the night sky.  The 2000 lb. bell in the tower is inscribed with the prayer "Venis Sancte Spiritus", translated "Come Holy Spirit".  A fitting prayer for each time the bell rings.

Linking to InSPIREd Sunday , a new meme celebrating places of worship and their unique architecture and history.  Thanks to Sally and Beth for hosting.

 

Friday Fences - Old Stink Eye

What could this be staring at the photographer between the fence pickets?

While she got the stink eye, here's what the photographer was trying to capture: an all-time favorite spring combo of lilacs blooms and Japanese bloodgood maple leaves.

Edits:  PicMonkey special effect Dark Edge.  Linking to Friday Fences at Life According to Jan and Jer .

Wild Bird Wednesday - Robins, Cardinals and Dogwoods

This past week we're into "dogwood" winter -- cool days and nights, some rainy days, and dogwoods in full bloom.  Took these two photos of a robin and female cardinal in the tree in my front yard.  They look good together, don't you think?

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday .

Barn Charm - Horses on a Spring Day

I spotted this riding stable and horse barn in eastern Jefferson County, not 20 minutes drive time from downtown Louisville.  It was a windy, sunny spring day and the horses were enjoying the weather as much as I.  Here are a few more views:

Linking to Barn Charm at Bluff Area Daily .

Mosaic and Macro Monday - Kentucky Horses

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Here are some up close and personal shots of some very friendly horses at a riding stable in eastern Jefferson County, a short drive from Louisville.  The spotted pony was especially photogenic:

And how about this handsome horse's rear?  Not something you expect to say very often!

And here the wind makes for a really bad hair day:

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Linking to: Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday

Friday Fences and a Spotted Pony

Yesterday I took a break from a very stressful week of care giving for a very high maintenance older sister--sound familiar?--and did a quick photo shoot at a local riding stable.  It was sunny and windy and the horses were enjoying the day too.  This spotted baby was my favorite.  Here at the fence flirting with the camera:

Just hanging over the fence chatting with me:

Fences, spring trees against a bright blue sky:

Linking to Friday Fences at Life According to Jan and Jer . Thanks to all of you who continue to visit Summit Musings and leave such nice comments even though I haven't returned the favor so much lately. I'll see you this weekend for sure!

Barn Charm - Abandoned

You know how you sometimes spot just glimpses of barns from the interstate--especially if you're a Barn Charmer?  There are a few that I've had my eyes on from driving I-64 just outside Louisville.  This is one that I could just barely see the silo and part of the roof.  So, I figured out where it might be and, sure enough, found it on some neglected property just off a road running behind some housing developments.  Doubt that it will be around for long because of the prime location and land.

Here are a couple more views:

And finally, a little collage highlighting some of its more interesting details (and no, have no idea about the bright green paint):

Linking to Barn Charm at Bluff Area Daily .

Macro and Mosaic Monday - Chet Warhol

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I thought about calling this post "Chet PicMonkeyed", but then decided that "Chet Warhol" was a better fit for the mosaic.  Anyway!  I played around a bit with PicMonkey special effects to zero in on some of the Wild Man's best qualities--wedgey ears, soft brown eyes, hound dog snout, speckles, and that telltale rim of mud around his nose left over from his favorite pasttime, digging.  This is PicMonkey special effect HDR.

Then I went a little crazy and tried out the Warhol special effect and thought he looked almost as good as Andy Warhol's psychedelic Marilyn Monroes--remember them?

Then a Facebook friend suggested that he would look good in an arrangement of 3s like Warhol's famous Coke bottles or Marilyns.  I didn't, however, think the world needed a painting of 32 Chets like the famous Campbell's soup cans by Warhol. :-)

Linking to: Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday

Friday Fences - Willows Say Spring

A sure sign of spring - the willow tree in the park is soft green, almost leaving (leafing?) out.  And there's just enough fence in this photo to qualify for Friday Fences, I hope. Since our host Janis at Life According to Jan and Jer is so fond of wagon wheels, maybe she'll let me pass this week. :-)

Wild Bird Wednesday - Louisville Cardinals

Dug back in photo archives to January 2011 to find my best shot of a red cardinal.  Posting it in honor of the Cardinals, University of Louisville men's basketball team, winning the national tournament Sunday night in Atlanta.

After last night in New Orleans was hoping to congratulate the U of L Lady Cards on winning the women's NCAA tournament.  Unfortunately, they didn't prevail against UCONN, but what a season they've had where--as their warmups proclaimed--they Rise to the Occasion.  They've certainly done that all season and Louisville can be proud of two champion Cardinal teams.

Finally, just for fun, I caught these His 'n Her tails yesterday.  The Lady Cardinal is a bit challenging to photograph, unlike the male who seems a bit calmer.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

Macro and Mosaic Monday - Spring Yellow

The neighbor's forsythia blooms over my fence.  Hello Spring!

Linking to: Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday

Friday Skywatch and Fences - Spring Dawn

A welcome sight earlier this week.  After the first two weeks of spring bringing only cold, rainy, snowy weather, finally a promise of sunshine in the dawn sky.

Also glad to see that my neighbor's forsythia blooms have survived the cold temps.  However, those boards, blocks, and logs crammed under the fence do not make me nearly as happy.  The entire perimeter of the fence looks like this--all due to Chet the Digger's winter's work.  Right now the only remedy I can think of is a "pawectomy".  Your suggestions?

Linking to Skywatch Friday and Friday Fences .

Barn Charm - in Pen and Ink & Watercolor

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A different take on Barn Charm this week - I bought this pen and ink drawing with watercolor wash by Kentucky artist Robert S. McCorrum several years ago at the Kentucky Crafted Market.  Looking at it recently thinking about how to frame it and was reminded of how much much I love this style of drawing/painting.

Here are a few full photos so you can really appreciate the great detail: