Hearts on a Hike

Last week the girls and I went on a hike.  We went to one of my favorite hiking places, Marshall Mesa Trail.  It's a fairly easy, scenic trail head about 20 minutes from our house.  When we're hiking, we look for things, flowers, birds, and animals.  Just for fun, I suggested we look for hearts.  (inspired by another blogger - who posts Random Hearts - I told my girls that we should take photos of all the hearts we see).  A fairly odd thing to look for, but you would be amazed... I am not sure if we see what we want to see or if they are always there.  Call me crazy if you want, but this is what we found that day. (Be prepared - this is a photo heavy post)

 We spent a few minutes making hearts - and then looking for them. I was surprised at how many hearts we actually found on our hike. We looked for hearts in the rock, leaves, shadows, flowers, and sky.

Petal hearts fallen from this wild rose.

  

Look at the top of this mal-formed flower.

The sightings didn't stop there.

Shadow heart.

Lots of hearts in the rocks.

Graffiti heart in the sandstone.

Lichen heart on a rock.

Look between the girls, a heart worn away in the sandstone.

Take a closer look at that heart.

Worn away in the sandstone.

We found too many rocks and pebbles on the trail - here is just a sampling:

And finally, a heart shaped pool or water as we end our hike.

So, we found some hearts on a hike.  A little cheesy, yes.  A little silly, yes.  But, the proof is in the pictures.

Good Finds

I haven't just been lolly gagging around.  Really!  I have found some real treasures this summer.  While I am not a big garage sale shopper, once in a while see something while driving by.  This is what I found down the street.  Let me tell you, it was a steal deal!
I have always wanted a church pew.  I am not sure why.  I am not religious.  But our home was once a church.  This pew fits so nicely on our back porch.  I think I will finish it up a little bit, but I don't want to take off the aged look. The man who sold it to me said it had a nice "pakina" and asked if I knew what he was talking about.  I think he meant patina, but I didn't want to squash his good salesmanship.  It is the perfect vintage decor for the back porch - a great piece for entertaining, too.  I think it's just perfect!

My next find was a post-garage sale facebook photo that a friend put up.  I am not sure why I jumped on these, but they spoke to me. 

Anyone want a vowel?  These came from the sign of the restaurant space he took over.  The previous restaurant was "Mario and Wong's Wok Style Italian"  No wonder half the letters are Asian style; and no wonder the restaurant didn't work out.  My friend's restaurant, on the other hand, is fabulous.  If you like great barbecue and are in Denver, be sure to check out Oinks.  They are fabulous!
I am not sure what to do with them yet.  Perhaps a new focal point in the game room.  Who knows? We'll see, maybe these letters will give me a creative spark!

Art with Hearts - continuing collage

I have been working on collage a lot these days.  I have been exploring texture and combination... using found objects and creating objects to use.  I love incorporating words and quotations in my work, must be my English teacher background.

I recently hung this one in my black and white bathroom.  Although not totally black and white, this piece has undertones of tan and green.  I use a math flashcard, a printed ornament, and a vintage filling station receipt.  The black and white heart is elevated by painted foam core.  The entire piece is mounted on a flat canvas and framed in an old recycled frame.  I love the vintage feel of the piece and the peace that the uniformity of color brings.

Discovering the undiscovered - Vivian Maier

Do you ever go to yard sales?  Sometimes I do.  Do you ever flip through someones forgotten stuff at an estate sale or flea market.  Sometimes I do.  What if you saw this photograph?

What if it was only in a negative?  Or maybe unseen, in a film canister?  And if there were boxes of them?

Would you recognize the quality and talent?  Would you take a second look?  Would you ask who had made these?  Would you want to find out more?

This is the story of the amazing discovery that John Maloof made as he was at an auction one day.  He found some old photos; and he realized they could be important.

He looked for more from the photographer. He has now accumulated over 100,000 photos, negatives, and film canisters from the until now unknown photographer, Vivian Maier. Maier may turn out to be one of the best street photographers of all time.

Working as a nanny and domestic in Chicago in the 1950's, 60's and 70's, Vivian Maier lived a seemingly uneventful life, but took photographs of everything. Her body of work, still being discovered, is being acclaimed as one of the best collections of street photographs ever compiled.
Eccentric, private and quirky, Vivian Maier was an amazing photographer. I am excited to see her story unfold.




What would you do?

(Photos printed with permission of John Maloof)