The Holden Arboretum is a journey to a living museum.  It was another cool summer day to be drawing; however I managed to get in these sketches,  What really surprised me is the Cedar of Lebanon.  Somehow I was under the impression that they were a wonder of the world never to be seen again, lost in ancient history.  When I was drawing this tree I noticed that it was very different form the fir trees that I have drawn before.  The cones actually sit on top of the branch, I thought they were all birds.  When I went over to check out the name of this species, I gasped in utter awe.

                                             Here I am, still at it, still getting out and playing. 

The Pink Nightmare

The movie "A Christmas Story" is quite a local icon in Cleveland. Not only is the original house and museum located on the near west side of town, now there is also a statue of "The Pink Nightmare" (Ralphie wearing the pink bunny jumpsuit given to him for Christmas by his aunt who thinks that he is a girl) standing on East 40th. By artist Mackenzie Glass, this rabbit is part of the St. Clair Superior Development Corp's annual celebration of the Chinese Zodiac.

Get out and Play #3

#3:  Travel back 50 years to Geneva-on-the-Lake.  The strip is where it is all at.  It comes complete with crusin' up and down the strip on about anything you can imagine, especially motorcycles.  The crowd was friendly when I was there. It was actually warm and sunny (this is Cleveland and we love it).  People watching is at it's max here, imagine beach ware with body piercings and tattoos  on bodies that really need to be covered up.  I think it's a law somewhere.  And a word about the donuts at Madsen's, don't think you can eat just one.

Get out and Play #2

#2:  Order a cone at the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop and take in the stunning falls view.  This little shop is perched directly over the fall. I always wondering how do they build that way. This place is like walking into an old western movie, creaky wooden floors ice cream, popcorn and candy. If they had sarsaparilla I was not aware of it.  Want a view of the falls, look out the back window.  I had one of those ice cream flavors with a made up name. I wonder if anyone gets paid to make up ice cream flavor names (I want that job). 

Get out and Play

The Cleveland Plain Dealer Friday section had an article entitled "As Mom would say GO OUT AND PLAY".  "We need to grab and embrace every moment, concert, game and ice cream we can stand".  They then listed 100  summer activities from Memorial Day thru Labor Day.  I decided to attempt, at least, 25. 

Here is #1, the Chagrin Falls Blossom Time Balloon Festival May 28, 2011.  Although it was overcast (this is Cleveland so get a grip and move on) and the balloons didn't fly, I had a great time drawing, eating, people watching and listening to a great blues band.