Does it look cold to you? It was!
So… when my friend Peggy and I were getting lost in Amish land looking for the “perfect Amish photo” I saw this very striking farm and had to take a picture. Let me tell you though, it was so incredibly cold, I could feel my fingers and toes freezing even though I was bundled up to the hilt.
I think it was worth it though!
Grand Haven... just to the left of the lighthouse
The beach in Grand Haven sports this wonderful pier that connects with a pretty red lighthouse, so naturally that’s the photo everyone takes. Last time I was in Grand Haven I just wanted a different shot and this is what I came up with. It was really, really cold out there… can you tell?
I captured this shot of a peaceful red barn, just as the sun was going down.
I was looking for something to do with my friend Sandy and she was game to scope out potential places for photos. She mentioned her grandparents used to live near 10oth Street in the Byron Center area and thought that since it was on high ground, we might find something nice. She was right.
Old barns and farmhouses fascinate me and this one caught my eye. The farmhouse on the site was abandoned with a big “No Trespassing. Trespassers will be prosecuted” sign posted. Luckily, I got my shot anyway!
West Michigan rolling farmland near 100th Street in Byron Center
Christmas is over and the days are getting longer… as far as I’m concerned, we’re on the other side of winter. I know that may be optimistic thinking, but it’s one of the mind games I play with myself to get through the Michigan cold.
I digress, this blog is all about Michigan sweetness and that it is, even during winter. Michigan farmland is abundant here and when it’s not nurturing us in the summer months, it’s resting over the winter. I love driving in the country taking in the old barns, farm animals and rich scenery.
The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is decked out with lighthearted mosiacs that will make you smile.
Not many things are more difficult than an ailing child needing hospitalization. Spectrum Health’s new Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is an amazing place that will surely make things easier for sick children and their loved ones. There’s no way my photos can do it justice so, just trust me when I say that this is a world class hospital with the best of the best of everything. And, West Michigan’s philanthropic community donated much of what makes this place so special.
The floors sparkle, there’s an interactive wall in the lobby, even a rooftop park. Beyond the environment, is of course the actual health care that will be provided here. The facility has the best of the best equipment and providers to make this all come together. This hospital is going to be another place that makes Grand Rapids a destination point, this time in the health care arena.
The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital officially opens on 1/11/11.
Even the waiting room lobby's are full of life. Note the bubble wall in the background.
"Goodness," my latest work over at ArtistThoughts.com
Ever wonder what I do besides take HDR photos and blog about Michigan? For my work that doesn’t fall within the “Michigan” category, I have another blog called Artist Thoughts. I hope you’ll check it out every once in a while to see what else I’m up to.
Where this path leads, I know not.
If you drive around the Leelanau Peninsula for any length of time, you’ll happen upon historic looking little places that make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. I have no idea what is at the end of this trail. I do know that I think this is cool. I want an arch like this over my driveway!
It’s private property and I really wanted to go back there, I’m imagining some big old haunted mansion, what do you think?
Whipping down the road on a Buell motorcycle.
You don’t have to be in Michigan for long to figure out that this is a great place to ride around on a motorcycle. For about 6 months of the year that is. The scenic winding roads, trips to the beach and back country roads all add up to a lot of fun.
This has been a great year for bikers, it seems like the season was longer than usual. And, no, I’m not a biker myself (too afraid of the other drivers on the road). But it sure looks like a blast.
The Hub is a place you will want to get familiar with, fast if you're in town for ArtPrize.
ArtPrize, in Grand Rapids, Michigan officially starts on Wednesday so I decided to go downtown today and see the status of things to come. After roaming around Grand Rapids, I wrapped up the day by visiting “The Hub.” This is a place you will want to know about if you are visiting ArtPrize.
The Hub is decked out with lounges for visitors to interact with each other
Rick and Melissa DeVos were at The Hub today checking out last minute details.
and the artists. It also has an artist lounge, which Rick DeVos, the founder of ArtPrize told me is going to be quite nice. In other words, if you’re an artist, you’re missing out if you don’t spend some time there.
If you want to know what everyone’s talking about, go spend some time at The Hub. It’s located at 155 N. Division in the Center of Grand Rapids (it’s also known as the old Federal Building.) Here’s more about The Hub from the official ArtPrize blog.
Check back often to learn more about my ArtPrize discoveries, I plan to do a lot of blogging about it.
Post & HDR photo by Ann Teliczan
This is my favorite of the 25 Chihuly exhibits at the Frederik Meijer Gardens
Ever since the Chihuly exhibit came to the Frederik Meijer Gardens, I’ve noticed that it seems to eventually come up in conversation with my friends and business associates. The reason everyone is talking about this exhibit is that it’s unique, stunning and beautiful. The exhibit was to end in September and is now being held over until October 31, 2010.
The Chihuly exhibit, titled A New Eden, features 15 sculpture sites with most of them outside and a continuously playing presentation about Chihuly in the Hoffman Family Theater. Dale Chihuly is said to be the most sought after artist in the world, working primarily in glass. This is his 2nd exhibition at the Gardens.
It was hard to pick my favorite from all the sites, but if I had to pick, it would be of the area shown in this HDR photo that I took during my 3rd visit (and I’ll be back for more!).
Frederik Meijer Garden’s hours are:
Mon and Tues: 9 am–9 pm
Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat: 9 am–5 pm
Sun: 12 pm–5 pm
You can learn more at their website by clicking here.
If you can make it, I’d highly recommend this exhibit (just in case you can’t already figure that out!)
Post & HDR photo by Ann Teliczan
