Threads

Last 2012 Book Catch U

2012-02-09T17:15:00.000-05:00

I am almost embarrassed to say that I picked this book up to read since it was about the Princess Diana accident. In fact - I put it down a couple times at the library before I took it out. I have always been turned off by the obsession of people about the fatal accident and the aftermath of the accident to a bystander is the topic of the book.

That said - I liked the book and glad I picked it up. I had read a book by the author Laurence Cosse previously, titled "The Novel Bookstore" which I LOVED.

This book is a fictional portrayal of someone who was in the tunnel during the accident, left the scene and what happens to her after. The writing is lovely and the book really holds you.

That said - I had wished the book cover looked less like a photograph and was more of a sketch. But now that I write this - maybe the photo is more appropriate since the paparazzi was part of the problem.

American vs UK Versions

2012-02-08T09:50:00.000-05:00

Last night I finished "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand". I would describe it as a "cute" book.

After reading the book - the picture at the left which was from the American paperback edition fits the book much better than the one from the UK edition - though it is a "cute" picture but much too modern for the shy love affair the book is about.

UK edition

She Was - I Am Not - Ice Bound

2012-02-07T10:08:00.002-05:00

Thought January was a good month to read a book about Antarctica even though we had a relatively mild January. Antarctica does not sound like a pleasant place to spend the winter.

I found the book very interesting but the cover not so. I found the earlier cover much more interesting but once it became a best seller it changed to play up the person versus the cold.

Earlier cover

Breakfast

2012-02-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

The second book I read this year was "Breakfast at Tiffany's". I was very surprised at how different it was from the movie version we all know and love.

Much better cover than the first edition cover.

First Edition Cover

Book Cover Review #1: A "Pip" of a Cover

2012-02-05T18:44:00.001-05:00

In the Design for Print and Web class on Saturday - he spent some time showing us pictures of various book covers which he considers good places to look at both good and bad design.

I decided to look back at the book covers of those books that I have read so far this year. The first book was "Mister Pip" by Lloyd Jones. In looking on the internet, I found lots of different covers before I found the one on the edition that I read.

I found a blog that looked at three different versions below of the books cover and rated which they preferred. I agree with the author in preferring the British edition.

British Edition

Canadian Edition

American Editon

New Printmaking Class

2012-01-22T12:34:00.001-05:00

I signed up for a repeat of the printmaking class I took in the fall. I really liked the instructor and loved the class. On the first day I was informed that the instructor was no longer teaching since her mother was ill and they weren't sure who was taking over the class. At that point I switched to the Thursday afternoon class called "Painterly Prints". This instructor uses primarily water colors versus printing ink which is a different approach. The two prints are my first approach at monotypes with painting with watercolors on the plexiglass base.

Arizona Picture Review

2012-01-18T11:55:00.001-05:00

Going through my pictures that I took when I was in Arizona last month to visit my brothers family. Thought I would share a few of the nature pictures I took. As you can see it was not always sunny there....

Rain - and Cross Borders Meeting

2012-01-17T15:43:00.000-05:00

Way too much rain for January. It is supposed to be snowing, not pouring rain. This must be because I received a pair of snowshoes for Christmas. I want to try them out in the park next to our house before I trek up to the what should be deeper snow up north.

The rain made be pull out the photos I took last Thursday which was another rainy day. Had a great day prior to the massacre via my car engine (for those who did not hear - a furry animal got into my engine and resulted in $600 worth of repairs.)

Prior to that I had gone to the Cross Borders Weavers group meeting held in Dexter, MI. This is a study group of weavers in Michigan and Ontario. After the meeting and lunch - a small group of us went to the house of one of the weavers. Besides her three looms (including a mechanical industrial dobby sample loom) she has a number of old industrial braiding machines. She has gotten most of them working and was able to show us how they work. It is amazing that there were such variety. One of the things I love about this group is the passion they have for their interest.

Special Delivery to Phoenix

2011-12-18T16:05:00.000-05:00

Decided to hand deliver two of my most recent weaving project instead of sending them through the mail. At least that was the excuse I used to go out to visit my brother and his family in Phoenix.

Table Runner for Jacki & Jeff

The first was promised as a wedding gift to my niece Jacki and her husband Jeff. They were married last October. OK - I know I am very late but this turned out to be the most difficult weaving pattern that I have ever done. I was pleased at how it turned out.

The second was a baby blanket for their expected baby boy. I did get this done before he was due. Chesney is expected to be born on 12/28.

Chesney's Blanket

I was able to deliver it on my first night in Arizona when the entire family that is out there met for dinner.

A very pregnant Jacki

From Winter to Desert

2011-12-06T15:46:00.000-05:00

No sitting outside today - enjoying the sun.

Hopefully tomorrow - I leave for Phoenix to visit with my brother and family.

Good Work

2011-12-04T10:54:00.000-05:00

Cleaning up old "piles" in my office at home and came across this quote from Bob Woodward regarding the Post, that I had written down.

"All good work is done in defiance of management."

What are your thoughts?

Intro to Photoshop Assignment #4

2011-12-01T15:30:00.000-05:00

For the last assignment - we were to create a poster in Photoshop. I decided to make one for the race walk group. I plan to use parts of it for the redo of the Pegasus A.C. website that I need to start working on after the holidays.

Intro to Photoshop Assignment #3

2011-11-30T12:55:00.000-05:00

Our third assignment was to create a collage. I picked pictures that I took in Sicily (all except the Sicily symbol which I got off the internet. I think I got a bit carried away.

Intro to Photoshop Assignment #2

2011-11-29T12:58:00.000-05:00

Our second assignment was to repair an old photo or to "beautify" a picture. We were encouraged to use one of our own photos instead of one that he supplied. He kept talking about his definition of beautify - which was not to take all the pounds off, eliminate the wrinkles or make someone look like a "Barbie Doll", but to do small cosmetic clean-ups.

In todays New York Times there was the following article:

Photoshopped or Not? A Tool to Tell

I was amazed as some of the examples they had. They talked about trying to establish a standard as to how much retouching was done. In my example I would say it was kept to a 1 or 2. I decided to use a picture I had taken of my dad. I just cleaned up is face a little. The biggest change I made was to eliminate the sling he had on since that was not a permanent feature but a temporary one.

Original

Digitally Altered

Intro to Photoshop Assignment #1

2011-11-28T18:17:00.000-05:00

Our last class is on Thursday. Our first assignment was to do a color correction. I never realized such a thing was possible. Can't see a big difference but the snow is less blue so it should be truer to real life.

Color Corrected

Origional

Falling Trees versus Falling Leaves

2011-11-15T12:25:00.000-05:00

Supposed to be the season for falling leaves - instead we had falling tree.

Sunday evening we heard an explosion and looked out side to see a close up of the tree that fell due to the high winds onto our house and garage. We were lucky - house is still livable - no hole in the roof. Our awning and frame is ruined and there is damage to the gutters and shingles. The garage roof and siding, were also hit.

SpiderMan Bandaids

2011-11-02T21:08:00.000-04:00

OK - what does spiderman bandaids have to do with anything?

I attended the workshop sponsored by the Michigan Weavers Guild that was given by Diane Totten titled "Crimp and Create". One of the items on the supply list was bandaids. Of course I had to throw the spiderman bandaids into the bag. The bandaids - which I ended up sharing with others, was for the blisters one developed from crimping on the pull threads to create the permanent pleats that was part of the technique we learned.

I read the instructions incorrectly so I was not able to experiment as much as others with various "patterns" of crimping. So I was left with color experimentation.

But I loved the technique. So crimped scarfs are now on my list for future weaving projects.

Some of Diane's Samples

Examples of Diane Tottens Weaving

Some of my samples

86 Years Old

2011-10-17T17:54:00.002-04:00

Today is my dad's 86th birthday. Had him and some family and friends over yesterday for a big pot of chili and two wonderful desserts.

You can see pictures at this link: http://gallery.me.com/susanlolli#100270

The Red Chair

2011-10-12T17:46:00.000-04:00

In my Photoshop class last week, we were playing with "masks" to change part of a picture. So this week I decided to take one of my old pictures (as you can see by the snow) and really change it to be sure I understood the concept. Of course, in the exercise he had us do little tweaks. I decided to take it farther to be somewhat unnatural but still look like the original.

Origional

Unnatural

Evening Views

2011-10-09T12:01:00.000-04:00

Monotypes Class 2

2011-09-25T20:24:00.000-04:00

In Fridays printmaking class we continued with monotypes but layering more transparent colored inks in successive printings. I was not as happy with this round but I am learning what doesn't work. Below are my two most successful attempts.

Newest Endeavor

2011-09-17T16:36:00.000-04:00

A former colleague of my husband's has taught Printmaking at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center for many years. I always told her that I would take the class once I was not longer working. Since that has occurred I signed up for her Introduction to Printmaking. The first class was on Friday and we are covering Monotypes for the first two weeks. The following were my first attempts.

- A reduction technique where you paint the ink on a plate then scrape off. The second image is called a ghost image and is taken as a second run with the remaining ink.

I was much happier with the second set where you inked the plate then added supplemental items to the plate.

2011-09-13T09:29:00.001-04:00

Snaps of an old t-shirt that I am getting rid of since it is now a dingy grey:

To:

I love playing with my new phone! I start my photoshop class next Thursday but I know we will learn more controlled techniques than the almost random techniques from the iPhone software.

WebSite Version 2

2011-09-10T18:37:00.000-04:00

Announcing edition 2 of my web site. The first edition was put out using the iWeb software on my Mac.

This summer I took the Intro to Web Design course at the College of Creative Studies. Our project was to put out a portfolio site using the Dreamweaver software and we were not to use any of the standard templates. You can go to www.susanlolli.com to see my project. While not as fancy from a design point of view as others in the class (they were all graphic designers), I spent most of my time learning different techniques to show my photos. If you go to the weaving page you will see a different technique than my photo page.

Edition 2.5 will have my blog added to the site..... but I am already thinking of redesigning the home page (edition 3).

More Altered Photos - Margarets House

2011-09-04T09:55:00.000-04:00

2011-08-31T18:11:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday - we went drove by our former house in Detroit. It was good to see the two trees we put in doing well. I used the picture taken from the car as my latest playground.

Flowerly Purse

2011-08-30T19:04:00.000-04:00

Todays altered picture - two versions from the same origional

Vibrance Bowl

2011-08-28T20:05:00.000-04:00

Todays edition of altered photos....

Todays Newest Altered Photo

2011-08-27T13:06:00.000-04:00

With a program called - Percolator. Makes it look like a comic.

My Newest Fun Toy of the Week

2011-08-26T14:01:00.000-04:00

End of June I bought my self an iPhone as my retirement present. This week my niece Katie posted a photo she had taken with a smart phone then altered via an app. Looked around and found a free program called Pixiromatic which I immediately loaded. Then - Thursday's New York Times had an article regarding using iphone apps to alter photos. While I have not yet downloaded the apps they listed - I thought I would share my first attempt at altered photos.

TECHNOLOGY | August 25, 2011
Strolling Artists, Bearing iPhones
By TODD LAPPIN
Gather a throng of iPhone enthusiasts, add a sampling of photo-editing apps and a cocktail bar, and the result is an "Instawalk" followed by art.

Note: Have not yet added the "cocktail bar"

Mistaken for a Flower

2011-08-24T19:39:00.000-04:00

At our recent trip to the butterfly house at the Detroit Zoo - one of the butterflies decided to rest on my arm. It was very hard to get this picture without scaring it away (and also hard to hold my camera steady with one arm!)

Zoo Plants versus Animals

2011-08-18T19:52:00.000-04:00

Went to the Detroit Zoo on Tuesday. They have some beautiful gardens and I believe I took more pictures of flowers than animals.

But had to include the picture of the giraffe - my favorite animal.

Who Hates My Birds?

2011-08-09T16:46:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was not a good day. (At least today is going better!) Woke up not feeling well. We received a phone call from my sister-in-law who lives in Rhode Island that she had taken the train in the day before and was in town (If you know her you would not be surprised even though we were). When she called the day she had arrived we were in Port Huron so she ended up at a motel. After changing our plans and taking her around to look at apartments (she is considering moving here), we went out on the deck for a drink and I noticed that someone had taken both my bird feeders from the back yard. Out of all the things to steel in my yard - why those. I love to sit out on the deck or at my dining room table watching the birds.
Looks like I will need to go my replacements.

Unusual Vine

2011-07-29T19:56:00.000-04:00

Does anyone know what kind of flowers this is? Saw them in the yard at an estate sale I went to. I brought home two books to add to my stash of future reading along with these pictures.

Another Two Books Finished

2011-07-28T13:35:00.001-04:00

Been doing much more reading in the evenings. Finished two more books, one a collection of short stories "Servants of the Map" by Andrea Barrett and a memoir, "Are You Somebody" by Nualoa O'Faolain. Both were my thrift store finds.

I usually do not read short stories but I do read them if they are by Alice Munro and I had read a collection by Barrett. I was attracted by the name since I am in love with maps. The first story was wonderful, about a group who is mapping the Himalayas in the 1800's.

I was intrigued with the second because of the title. The author was in love with literature and the best part of the book was about her early reading. "If there were nothing else, reading would--obviously--be worth living for." She lists a number of Irish and English authors I will be looking up. She talks about being in boarding school and not being allowed to read fiction there. Much too rigid for me.

Flowers and Foliage

2011-07-27T12:31:00.003-04:00

So Far Enjoying

2011-07-08T16:19:00.002-04:00

Though it still seems like a vacation. Have already finished one book, have been to two are museums (the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Toledo Museum of Art and have started a new weaving project.

And have exercised every day (except today but there is still time). I think I may like this retirement.

Retirement Day - from Red to Pink

2011-07-01T14:40:00.000-04:00

Thursday, June 30th was my last day of work at Comerica after 34 years. Last Sunday at the Y, Joan, one of my friends from weaving suggested I dye my hair red for my last day. I was intrigued enough that I looked at the hair dye and the drugstore that day but wasn't sure what shade and everything said it was permanent - not ready for that kind of commitment.

Frank saw her at the stretch class on Wednesday and when I came home from work on Wednesday Frank said that she had suggested it to him. I said why not - might as well go out with a bang. A trip to another drug store had the usual permanent hair dye but temporary spray on dye in purple, blue, pink, silver and glitter. I picked pink as the closest to red as I could get.

The next morning - I sprayed a little in my hair then wiped allot of it out - I was being timid. When Frank got up he said it wasn't enough and proceeded to take the can and spray away.

I must say I did cause a stir. It succeeded in making most people laugh or at lease smile. It was a great way to go out.

Additional pics will be put out later.

Theatre of the Greeks and Romans

2011-05-21T20:04:00.001-04:00

A rainy tour of the theatre at Taormina but a beautiful setting overlooking the sea. The following is the description from Wikipedia.

"But by far the most remarkable monument remaining at Taormina is the Ancient theatre, which is one of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily, on account both of its remarkable preservation and of the surpassing beauty of its situation. It is built for the most part of brick, and is therefore probably of Roman date, though the plan and arrangement are in accordance with those of Greek, rather than Roman, theatres; whence it is supposed that the present structure was rebuilt upon the foundations of an older theatre of the Greek period. With a diameter of 109 metres (after an expansion in the 2nd century), this theatre is the second largest of its kind in Sicily (after that of Syracuse); it is frequently used for operatic and theatrical performances and for concerts. The greater part of the original seats have disappeared, but the wall which surrounded the whole cavea is preserved, and the proscenium with the back wall of the scena and its appendages, of which only traces remain in most ancient theatres, are here preserved in singular integrity, and contribute much to the picturesque effect, as well as to the interest, of the ruin. "

Catania and the Fish Market

2011-05-18T20:13:00.000-04:00

The diet in Sicily is heavily fished based. While in Catania we visited the fish market. Primarily fish but also other fresh items.

My Favorite Place In Sicily

2011-05-17T19:45:00.001-04:00

On Sunday we visited the Valley of the Temples.

The following is from Wikipedia:

"The Valle dei Templi (English: Valley of the Temples, Sicilian: Vaddi di li Tempri) is an archaeological site in Agrigento (ancient GreekAkragas), Sicily, southern Italy. It is one of the most outstanding examples of Greater Greece art and architecture, and is one of the main attractions of Sicily as well as a national monument of Italy. The area was included in the UNESCO Heritage Site list in 1997. Much of the excavation and restoration of the temples was due to the efforts of archaeologist Domenico Antonio Lo Faso Pietrasanta (1783-1863), who was the Duke of Serradifalco from 1809 through 1812.

The term "valley" is a misnomer, the site being located on a ridge outside the town of Agrigento."

What I found most interesting what the fact that they are currently showing some of the works of the Polish sculpture Igor Mitoraj of figures from Greek mythology. I loved the combination of the old with the new.

Western Shore of SIcily

2011-05-16T19:41:00.000-04:00

Erice is a town on the western shore of Sicily that we visited. Erice is a mediaeval town located on top of Mount Erice, about 750m above sea level, overlooking the city of Trapani. Trapani is where one of my grandfathers was born and the parents of one of my grandmothers.

Here are some pictures of the main church of that town along with the Norman castle and other town views.

Palermo Surroundings

2011-05-15T12:50:00.001-04:00

Day 1 in Sicily was a tour of the area around Palermo. Here are a couple of the pictures from the seaside.

A Sicilian Adventure

2011-05-14T22:08:00.000-04:00

Just got home from our tour of Sicily - a day later than planned. Took a tour that was titled "Sicilian Adventure". We had more adventure than was on the itinerary.

One of the highlights of the trip was our visit to Mt. Etna. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe at 3,329 meters or 10,922 feet. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. This was the view of Mt Etna from the balcony of our hotel.

On Monday 05/09, we were on the mountain at the highest point that you can take a bus. It is above the tree line and it was great fun walking around on the pumice. I have always been fascinated with volcanoes. Here is one of the pictures from on the mountain.

On Thursday 05/12 we left early (4:30am) for the airport in Catania for our flight to Rome. We were rewarding with a spectacular view of significant volcanic activity on the mountain. Here is one of the pictures I was able to capture. See the attached link for video from the BBC web site.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13381243

We all thought we were lucky to have an opportunity to see this spectacular site. The payment was that they ended up closing the airport for 24 hours. There was considerable ash in the street and that began our adventure.

Since there is only one flight per day to Rome from that airport - the group decided to rent a bus to take us to Palermo and catch one of their flights. That got us to Rome in the early evening. Our attempt to get to the hotel that we had rented a block of rooms did not work... some spent the night sleeping on the floor of the airport. Others of us spent a ridiculous amount for a night at the Rome Hilton at the airport. We were able to get on the flight from Rome the next day and flew stand-by from JFK to Detroit. Even thought it was a painful way home - we heard that those that stayed in Catania were not booked on flights until Sunday.

Definitely a memorable end to a good vacation!

Its Official

2011-05-01T17:37:00.001-04:00

I am retiring from the bank. It was announced at work on Wednesday. My last day is June 30. I have thought it over the last year and determined it is time. I have been there 34 years which is a very long time. It hasn't felt like it has been that long until recently.

So what is next? I started a program at the College of Creative Studies on Web Development. What is different from that program than others is that is is very art based. Learning how to use many of the programs in the Adobe Suite such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and DreamWeaver. May not do anything with it other that use in for personal use.

Want to spend more time with my weaving and plan to look into the Jacquard Weaving program at Eastern Michigan.

Target is to take a year for myself - this decide if I want to go back to work part time or due some consulting.

But for now - its time to take care of myself and some of the projects around the house.

(The picture is of the wild turkey that lives near work. It is pretty fearless.)

Estate Sale Pictures

2011-04-15T16:26:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I go to estate sales that sound interesting - just to take some pictures. Here are some from this afternoons sale. It includes a cabinet I would have loved to purchase but no need, no space and too much money. Only the picture of it came home with me.

No School so Back To Reading

2011-04-09T15:00:00.001-04:00

Now that we are between semesters I have returned to reading. Just finished "Hold the Enlightenment" by TIm Cahill. It is a collection of his articles from magazines such Outside. He is into adventure type travel - many of the times into war zones which is not something I would be interested in.

I found two items that really hit home.

In Professor Cahill's Travel 101 he states:

Rule 19 - corollary 3 - "The worse the experience, the better the story. Therefore...
Rule 20: There are no bad experiences.

A great way to approach travel. I know I still tell the story of the overnight train from Poland - sitting on the floor with two young guys who had hid "something" in the trash as the military is tearing the train apart as we crossed the Czechoslovakian border. I was certain they would get caught and we would have all been kept for questioning.

In the second - he is talking about a sea kayak trip in Puget Sound. "Paddling sometimes feels like a religious chant, a prayer offered to sea. It's tiring and repetitive, so that the mind often turns itself off to the clatter of the merely external. In this trancelike state, it's sometimes possible to feel the soul spiral inward upon itself."

That is how I feel about rowing. I haven't seriously rowed in over 10 years but keep thinking of going back to it. The masters women's rowing program at the Detroit Boat club has is practically non-existant but I found another group that rows in Detroit. I am in rotten shape but I am hoping to get back into it. We shall see.

Way too much time on this assignment

2011-03-17T21:11:00.000-04:00

In the Intro to Digital Design course we had to come up with a poster design for the Acme Entertainment Software company. Had to have have the them Pure Entertainment in it. This was the fourth attempt. The first and second were two busy. The third I liked and didn't save it and this is what I am turning in. We had to use the Adobe Illustrator program. I didn't do well on using it for drawing like I expect he wanted but decided to play with fonts which is what I like doing.

Intertwined Pictures

2011-02-17T20:44:00.001-05:00

One of the exercises we did last Saturday in the Intro to Digital Design class I am, was to make a quick collage of photos using photoshop. I decided to use some of the photos that I took at the last exhibit that my weaving guild held. This is what a came up with.

Franks Women

2011-02-12T21:29:00.000-05:00

Just finished the book I was given for Christmas. It is "The Women" by T.C. Boyle. It is the novel based on f Frank Lloyd Wrights wives.

He might have been a great architect, but he does not seem like someone I would have liked to have known.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/books/review/Scott-t.html Is the NY TImes review of the book. They seemed to have liked it...I did not really care for many of the techniques he used in the novel. Not sure I would pick up another by him.

Learning To Color At My Age

2011-02-06T16:08:00.000-05:00

Taking an Introduction to Digital Design as College for Creative Studies this winter. One of the activities we did this past Saturday to learn to use a number of the functions of Adobe Photoshop was to color a cartoon. This is a JPEG image of the TIF file I colored. The variety of colors from everyones was interesting to see.

Maybe I am going back to my childhood but then again maybe not ---- we didn't have PCs when I was a child.

Learning to Spit

2011-01-26T19:44:00.000-05:00

It was suggested that I stop trying to behave all the time and the book "When I am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple" was brought up to me.

Turns out I had purchased that book many years ago so I went into the basement and brought it up.

The first poem is titled "Warning" and some phrases are:

When I am an old woman I hall wear purple
...
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
...
And learn to spit.

Not great at spitting (yet) but I love to wear purple.

So tomorrow I will wear the purple scarf I wove and dyed.

Edgy Home

2011-01-23T16:08:00.000-05:00

There is a very modern house on Pierce in Birmingham that has always caught my eye. This weekend they were having a moving sale so I went to take a look. While you couldn't see every room it was quite interesting. Lots of very different furniture and sculpture. Striking but it looked like an uncomfortable house to live in do to the layout and predominance of metal. Here are a couple of the pictures that I took.

2011-01-21T22:23:00.000-05:00

1:00-1:45 p.m. Comerica Bank
Comerica Bank, Auburn Hills Operational Center 3701 Hamlin Road, Auburn Hills

ALBURQUERQUE, ALLEN, AVILA (ALEX), BELOW, CABRERA, CIRIACO, DOMBROWSKI, IMPEMBA, JACKSON, LAMONT, LEYLAND, McCLENDON, OLIVER, ORDOÑEZ, PERALTA, SANTIAGO, SCHERZER, SIZEMORE, VALVERDE, VERLANDER, WEINHARDT, PAWS
Tigers headline employee rally including an interactive question and answer session and prizes
Employees are encouraged to donate new children's and adult winter mittens or gloves to benefit Mittens for Detroit

The above is from the Tigers web site for the rally held today at work. A good time was had by all. Here are a couple of the pictures - I will try to put out more later

Upcoming Sicilian Adventure

2011-01-18T20:13:00.000-05:00

Just booked our next trip. Another tour through the same group we went to the Tuscany area of Italy this past November. We will be going in May.

Short description: Fly direct to Rome, and on to Palmero. 2 nights in Palermo, Hotel Garibaldi, 1 night Agrigento, Hotel Kaos 4 nights Taormina, Hotel Sant'Alphio Garden. We will motorcoach through the countryside to marsala, Donna Fugata winery, tasting Sicilian specialties, Visit Valley of the Temples, Mount Etna, Catania, Syracuse plus Ortigia Island. An optional trip to Lipari. (Eolian Islands) Return flight Catania/Rome/Detroit.

I can't wait -----

Cold

2011-01-08T20:34:00.000-05:00

The scene is a cold winter day in Chicago. The quote "..... trudging past one another as if speech hadn't been invented yet."

The above is a quote from the book I am reading that stuck in my mind as I read it. Not sure why it stuck - coldness both outside and to others.

Woke up to a dusting of snow and sun -

2011-01-08T18:57:00.000-05:00

A beautiful day....

A Year of Books

2011-01-01T21:41:00.001-05:00

Do many of you keep a list of the books that you read? If so - how many books do you read in a year? I started to do that in 1998. I find it interesting at the end of the year to see how many books I read.

I have been averaging about 15 books a year which is the number I read in 2010. By many peoples standards that is not very many - but I am sure it is more than most. Looking at my log, I have had a low of 9 books in one year and a high of 23 books.

The last book finished in 2010 was "Load and Clear" which is a collection of the newspaper columns of Anna Quindlen. One of her columns was on reading. Is reading really at the rising? She quotes a survey from 1952 that states only 18% of Americans were reading a book or novel, less than half in 1963 and 84% in 1999. Are that many people really reading? I hope so but maybe it means that people were more ready to admit they were not reading then versus now.

What are you currently reading?

Christmas is Almost Here

2010-12-23T17:41:00.000-05:00

My friend from DC sent me this modern technological take on the Nativity. Someone went to some trouble putting this together. I enjoyed it and I hope you will.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA&feature=player_embedded

Córdoba, Argentina.

Essays to Blogging - Reading to Forget

2010-12-18T17:44:00.000-05:00

Todays New York Times had an interesting article about a women, Sara Bakewell, who wrote a book titled "How to Life" which is a biography tying things back to the essayist Michel Eyquem de Montaigne. He is considered the first essayist and the article talks about how he inspired a significant number of writers and in some ways could be the inspiration for blogging even though he was from the 16th century.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/books/18montaigne.html

What I found most interesting about the article though was one of her favorite of her 20 items on how to live. It was "Read a log, forget most of what you read and be slow-witted".

That definitely resonated with me since I love to read but forget most of it.

Bakewell writes that Montaigne always complained about his "monstrously deficient memory and that reading and forgetting "let him follow his own thoughts wherever they led".

Perhaps why I love to read.

Through the Portholes in Sienna

2010-12-16T09:43:00.001-05:00

Lost Detroit

2010-12-06T18:07:00.000-05:00

Lost Detroit is the theme of at least one of two recent photo books of some of the ruins of Detroit. This Friday I decided to go down to the Boston Edison district to an estate sale. The area has some beautiful houses but many of these large houses are under serious disrepair. This house was advertised as being under three generations of hoarders. I am sure their were many treasures there but it was so crowded with people and books that it was hard to look. I did buy an old ring they said was from Italy and a plaster lion that is on my porch. The people who lived there were readers, loved movies and were amateur painters. But it was very sad to see a house that had fallen into such disrepair.

The first picture is of the house next door, the second is what used to be the gutters on the house, the third the walls up to the attic and the fourth the basement window,

Vacation Book #1

2010-11-23T19:50:00.001-05:00

One of the things I love about vacations - is spending the time in the plane or in the evenings reading.

The first of the books I read in Italy this month was "The Cellist of Sarajevo" by Steven Galloway. I thought the book was very good. I do believe you can learn allot from novels. Premise was how people stay human in inhumane circumstances. You can read a review at this link http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=hardcover:sale:9781594489860:15.36

I was taken by a quote since I am a pessimist and at work they say they only want optimists. I say that there is nothing wrong with pessimism as long as you have drive for results. Pessimists tend to be realists and address how to make things better.

"Do you know the difference between an optimist and a pessimist?...A pessimist says "O dear, things can't possibly get any worse. And an optimist says "Don't be so sad. Things can always get worse".

Maybe it is better to be a pessimist - you tend to do things about the situation.

Sunday in Florence

2010-11-14T16:19:00.001-05:00

Since it is Sunday - I thought I would share one of the MANY pictures of the cathedral in Florence (which we visited last Saturday). Very impressive. Many of the facades of the churches in that part of the country are multi-colored. This picture doesn't show that as well as others I took since it was a grey, misty day.

Under the Tuscan Rain

2010-11-13T17:19:00.001-05:00

Just got back last night from a week long tour of the Tuscany region in Italy. All the tour guides laughed and welcomed us to the "Tuscan Sun". November is their rainy session and we had rain most days. But it was still one of the best vacations I have had. I loved the area. I really felt like I belonged there.

I am still sorting though pictures but the one here is from region around San Gimignano. Some very subtle fall colors.

Halloween Faces

2010-10-31T11:23:00.000-04:00

A face that stands to greet those who come trick or treating to my door. No pumpkins but a face in keeping with the Halloween tradition. It is part of a metal candleholder on my porch.

In keeping with that tradition, the last book I finished reading is called "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" by Katherine Howe. Not my normal type of book since it is a novel about the study of witches in Massachusetts in the 1680s but it was recommended to me at the "Bookbeat" where I usually go book shopping.

The author is working on her PhD is American and New England Studies and is a descendant of the people who were involved in the with trials.

It reminded me that women who were different or knew how to treat people with plants and herbs were frequently labelled as witches. Not so sure today that we don't label those women who are different by todays standards as crazy, mad or call them witches.

Not all Fall Leaves - Some Flowers Hang On

2010-10-30T21:40:00.000-04:00

Hadn't had the camera out in a while. Took a few snaps in the back yard. Not all fallen leaves - still some remains of the flowers

Both ends of the rainbow

2010-10-21T21:08:00.000-04:00

I don't believe anyone really sees the ends of rainbows (always trees or houses in the way in this area). But did see a full, gorgeous, brighter than I remember ever seeing, rainbow this evening on the way home from work. Sun shining on the rain covered trees on the way to work - a full rainbow on the way home.

Can't ask for a better day.

10 10 10

2010-10-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

I was reminded today that today is a 10 day. It certainly is weather wise. Sun is out - a bit cool but no wind.

Finished another book (I had 4 going at one time - now down to 2). Another thrift store find by Jane Goodall titled "Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey". It is a memoir about her life from the time she was a little girl to how she ended up studying chimpanzees to her current work. She seems like a gentle person who I would like to know. One of the quotes: "Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other."

Red Bugs

2010-10-08T20:21:00.000-04:00

I was telling someone about the natural dye workshop I took this summer when I was in Albuquerque at the weavers conference. I mentioned we started from the original substance instead of the extract. That included grinding bark and "bugs". I women I know said she had a book that I might like so she brought it in to work and lent it to me. The title is "A Perfect Red" by Amy Butler Greenfield. It is the history red dye - primarily from cochineal. For those who do not know what cochineal is - it is a snail like bug that grows one type of cactus. It was a fascinating book. I enjoy reading about history in this way - how one factor influences history.

The picture is from one of my trips to Mexico. A demo was given with the person just squishing some of the bugs and applying it to the envelope.

Windy Wedding

2010-10-04T21:39:00.000-04:00

Just went through my pictures from my niece Jacki's wedding in Arizona. Beautiful wedding. I think it's best to have something to be able to talk about that didn't go as planned. In this case - it was the sand storm that started just before dinner. But it appeared that everyone had a good time.

I liked this picture brother Jim and Carol with the Jacki & Jeff.

You can see some of my pictures from the rehearsal at this link http://gallery.me.com/susanlolli#100201

....and the wedding at this link http://gallery.me.com/susanlolli#100193

The gallery is set up so you can download pictures from it.

Wealth

2010-09-14T20:16:00.000-04:00

I get daily emails from a weaving list and one of the quotes after a respondents name is:

Wealth consists not in having great possessions
But in having few wants.
E. De Waal

An interesting quote. What do you think wealth is? I know my view is changing lately.

Gorgeous Day

2010-09-05T19:32:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the week, 90s and humid. Yesterday, cold and windy. Today, a glorious day. Went out on my bike and took some pictures near the west branch of the Rouge River.

Psychedelic Weekend

2010-08-24T19:52:00.000-04:00

Had two weeks of ridiculous hours at work that is not over yet. So for the weekend, decided to get a way with a trip to Toledo to the art museum then to a early dinner at Tony Packo's. The art museum had an exhibit of Psychedelic Posters from the 60s.

http://www.toledomuseum.org/exhibitions/the-psychedelic-60s-posters-from-the-rock-era

If you get a chance - go there for the exhibit.

Both Frank and I really enjoyed it. You could view the exhibit on many levels. Since I had just finished a design class at CCS I was interested in how they used pattern, lettering, color and balance to convey a message. Heard lots of comments from people "I remember that group....". They had a room of black light posters (remember those!!!), along with video playing of concerts from the 60s.

I particularly liked the posters by Victor Moscoso --- primarily the one for The Doors http://www.victormoscoso.com/doors.html

He had studied with Josef Albers who was an expert in color theory and I loved his use of old photos in many of his posters.

I also loved the posters of Bonnie MacLean who was one of the few female artist included. She always had a "disconnected" face in her posters.

Great nostalgic trip!

Day 1 Convergence in Albuquerque, N.M.

2010-07-24T10:33:00.000-04:00

OK - it is now day 5 but I finally have internet connection. Here are my notes.

Convergence is the bi-annual conference of the Handweavers Guild of America.

Plane left Detroit 50 minutes late but managed to make my connecting flight in Minneapolis. After arriving at the hotel and picking up my conference packet I wandered around the downtown area. From the convention center it looked like an old train station in the distance and that is what it turned out to be. It is now the transportation hub with Amtrak, Greyhound and the local bus system.

From there I walked down Central, which is part of the old Route 66 route. Had a quick afternoon meal and found the hat store that Frank and I bought Kris and Chris cowboy hats when they were little.

After a short swim, went down to the hotel bar for a light meal. While I was deciding where to sit, another lady asked me what I thought of the menu. I indicated that the bar had a light menu and when she said that sounded good, I invited her to join me for dinner.

She was enjoyable company. She owns the Folkways Pattern company and had previously owned a local wool shop and worked at Fiber Arts before her current job.

Buried in Homework

2010-07-11T09:46:00.000-04:00

Just saw that it has been almost a month since I posted to this. Between work and the homework from the Design Class as CCS I have had no time.

But over the 4th of July weekend I tried to relax and do some reading and weaving.

On the Friday I finished the book "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz. I had given it to Frank for Christmas and he enjoyed it. It had won the Pulitzer Prize and I did like it - but I am sure he enjoyed it more understanding the Spanish that was heavily sprinkled about.

On Saturday I started "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch. I went on a reading marathon and finished it on Monday. Compelling writing though I felt it could have used a few less different foster home horror stories as she moved from one to another. A good story though about how her mother, who was in prison, still has such a strong hold on her and who she is.

DPChallenge #3

2010-06-18T21:31:00.000-04:00

Going downhill on scores. Last weeks challenge was "Take a photo in which two similar subjects are captured at once."

I titled the picture "My Eye is Fuller than my Vase" which is from a poem by Emily Dickenson.

Received my lowest score of 20%.

Two comments:
1) Nice Composition harmonious use of color. The on camera flash is a big detraction.
2) You got hit because the items weren't similar enough - but this is an exquisite shot. Beautifully done!

But despite the score - two people gave me a 10. So I was pleased.
(and no you cannot vote for your own)

DPChallenge #2

2010-06-09T20:18:00.000-04:00

Did better on my second attempt at the DPChallenge. This time the topic was "Family". The instructions were "take a photograph that conveys the idea of family. Your photo need not contain a person."

This time I managed to get in the top 50% (barely - with a 53%). The last time was a 15% (or they rated 85% of the other photos better than yours). I feel pretty good about it.

I titled the picture "Fading Immortality" and it is below:

Some of you may recognize who this is -- the snapshot is an old picture of my grandparents (my dad's parents). The picture on the left is part of an encaustic collage I had made in a workshop I had attended. It is a collage technique using colored wax. The family tree on the left if from a copy of the Lolli family tree that my dad had done.

So far - I am having fun with this. I have another picture I submitted yesterday for this weeks challenge - looking forward to see how I come out. Looking at the other pictures - I don't think I will make the 50% goal.

More Views from the Back Yard

2010-06-07T18:43:00.000-04:00

DPChallenge #1

2010-06-02T18:31:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine talked me into entering the DPChallenge which is a web site that has a weekly photography contest based on a topic. Last weeks topic was "Other Art Forms". You needed to take a picture of another piece of art that you do. I entered a picture of one of the scarfs I wove. Ended up 125 of 146 with an average score of 4.8 (out of 10). Why I really entered is to start trying to get more creative with my photos and also to get ideas about how to improve. I received three comments and two were constructive (the third was a pat on the back).

One person suggested I crop it differently to concentrate more on the fringe against the black. I tend to agree.

The other comment was "Looks just a bit low in contrast: there could be brighter color in your image to display those colors". Now I have to figure out what she/he means and how to do that! Life is a learning experience.

May Be Changing My Favorite Flower

2010-06-01T20:31:00.000-04:00

I have always loved lily of the valley. Those of who have seen my bathroom you would see that I have a lily of the valley them going. But I find I have not learned how to photograph them very well. My pictures always turn out to be fairly blah.

But I love how iris's come out. I have printed up one of my iris pictures from last year and hung it in my other bathroom. Here are a couple of my latest pictures from my yard.

Not Allot Of Light

2010-05-18T20:55:00.000-04:00

I have been on a reading kick. I just finished "By the Light of My Father's Smile" by Alice Walker. Another of my thrift store books. I had high hopes for this book since Walker won awards for "The Color Purple." One site on the internet called it a stunning, original work. But I checked out the NY Times review and they seemed to agree with me.

http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/10/04/reviews/981004.04proset.html

Now I know why the book looked almost new, including the dust jacket, when it was over ten years old.

Glass Castle

2010-05-13T21:45:00.000-04:00

Frank has been giving me a hard time that I haven't been reading when I picked up two books at the thrift shop last week. He couldn't understand why I needed to add more books to my pile. It is not that I have not been reading - I had three different books going but none of them were grabbing me.

So to show him I started reading one of the new books, "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/books/review/013COVERPROSE.html

Interesting book. It is a memoir of growing up with very unconventional parents. A very nomadic existence with not enough food but being positively influenced despite an alcoholic father and a mother who pretty much ignored the kids.

Tulips are Still Out

2010-05-01T17:02:00.001-04:00

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine looked out on my web site and commented that I hadn't been out much with my camera. She was right. So I have been trying to get out a little more. The second group of tulips have recently come out in my garden.

I Just Finished Registered for School

2010-04-29T20:02:00.000-04:00

I am taking the plunge. I want to attempt to get into the certificate program for Web Development and Design at College for Creative Studies (CCS). This program is less about the tools and has a significant design emphasis. Before you can get into the program - you need to have taken a college level design class. I decided to try to understand the competition by signing up for the design class at CCS. Starts in June on Wednesdays. Back to homework. I now the class with be a stretch but it should be interesting.

Nature and Hallucinogens

2010-04-16T11:02:00.000-04:00

Monday there was an article in the NY Times titled "Seeking Medical Uses, Doctors Tune Back In to Hallucinogens". http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/science/12psychedelics.html?scp=1&sq=hallucinogens&st=cse

No I am not going to try to sign myself up for the study - but I did like some of the comments made by one of the psychologists who participated in the study.

"...an improved outlook on life after an experience in which the boundaries between the self and others disappear......I wasn't any longer attached to my performance and trying to control things. I could see that the really good things in life will happen if you just show up and shar you natural enthusiasms with people. You have a feeling of attunement with other people."

Wonder if you can get the same experience from smelling the blossoms that are flowering currently?

Where is the Soul

2010-04-14T21:49:00.000-04:00

I am currently reading the book, "The Hero's Journey" by Joseph Campbell. I now know he was very popular in the 70's and 80's but I had never heard of him. I am finding the book quite insightful and starting yesterday - I began underlining passages in it. Now I NEVER underline in books, just like I never write notes in books. But there were quite a few comments I wanted to refer back to. So today, as I read I see the passage

"Joe, what kind of meditation do you do?" I said, "I underline sentences."

I guess I am following in his footsteps as a type of meditation.

The next paragraph has the following quote: The seat of the soul is there where the inner and the outer worlds meet. The outer world is what you get in scholarship, the inner world is your response to it.

I don't think about the soul much but to read two passages about it in one evening is a coincidence. The other book (my purse book) that I am reading is "The View from Castle Rock" which is stories by Alice Munro. In the story recounting her ancestors coming to Canada from Scotland, the character is asking where the soul leaves the body at the time of death. Most say it hides in the lungs and leaves with the last breath. The joke is that one character was so dirty it emerged from his "arsehole" with a large explosion as he died.

That definitely made me laugh and you have to laugh when you start thinking about the where is the soul - what is it that makes you who you are and what is important to you.

Finally Getting Out with My Camera

2010-04-12T20:35:00.000-04:00

Trying to get pictures of the tulips before the rabbits get them. This one was whole in the morning - my the afternoon the rabbits had destroyed it.

MidTown Saturday

2010-04-12T16:07:00.000-04:00

After the club walking practice on Saturday - Frank wanted to go down to the Detroit Public Library main branch to look for a specific book he couldn't find at the local library. After that - a trip to the DIA. I was surprised to see a weaving demo at the library. I knew one of the weavers. It was good to see so many people stopping and asking questions.

Took a few pictures at the library which is a beautiful building with great ceilings and stained glass windows.

Then across the street to the DIA. A very interesting photo exhibit from the 50s of pictures taken in Detroit.

Scarf of Many Colors

2010-03-21T20:41:00.000-04:00

On Friday I attended the second day of the two part workshop given by Debbie Cooper for the Michigan Weavers Guild on woven shibori. I missed the first part on the weaving when I was in Ohio for a funeral. One of the others in the workshop was nice enough to weave my samples for me. Between the January workshop and Friday - we were to complete our scarf and then learn Debbie's dying techniques. I had no particular colors I was interested in so decided to do I multi colored scarf in the jewel tones I gravitate to. A bit colorful but a great reference for some future combinations. Weave structure was monks belt supplemental warps with 10/2 mercerized cotton.

Day 3 Indoor-Outdoor

2010-03-16T19:52:00.000-04:00

New tree on side of house - believe it is witch hazel but need to look at my landscape plan. I decided to use my small camera and then crop it since I cant get as close as I wanted. The "indoor" picture was without cropping when Frank suggested I take a picture of the "dead dog"

Day 2

2010-03-15T20:27:00.000-04:00

Thought I would try a picture of the day for a while. Today is day 2. I am not happy with either one of them. The outdoor one is a house they are demolishing in Birmingham. I need to look at it closer once I take it - I cut of the top of the window and the others I took of the house were not very interesting. The indoor picture is of a scarf I like the pattern on. I need to learn how to photograph material better. It is good to have goals.

Indoor/Outdoor Pictures of the Day

2010-03-14T21:25:00.000-04:00

Haven't gotten the camera out in a while so thought I would get it out and try an outdoor picture of the day and an indoor picture of the day. Of course to get one picture to post you need to take more than one. The outdoor picture shows what kind of weekend we have add. The picture is from the "pond" in the street in front of the house. The indoor picture is from a basket I purchased at an estate sale a month or two ago.

The State Champion!

2010-03-10T20:11:00.001-05:00

I am the official Michigan Indoor 3KM Racewalk Champion for 2010. Of course it was very easy - I was the only one racing that distance. The race is usually a 3KM but this year they added a 5KM Regional Championship. Everyone else did that distance. Frank suggested I walk that race since it was a "bigger medal". Too much work and since I am usually last I decided I didn't want to be out there so long. So.....
I was able to be the winner. You can see the results here.... http://www.pegasusac.org/Pegasus_Walkers_AC/2010_Race_Results.html

Another Encaustic Monotype Workshop

2010-03-06T18:55:00.000-05:00

Took another workshop in encaustic monotypes with Leslie Sobel. I believe I like this technique better than the other type. I found the following description on the internet.

The Encaustic Monotype is an innovative, contemporary process and a painterly approach to printmaking. This process is experimental, freeing, and has been used successfully with a range of imagery and styles. The encaustic monotype combines the ancient painting medium of encaustic with the popular monotype process. Encaustic sticks (beeswax and pigment in solid form) are used to draw on a heated metal plate. The wax melts instantly and is manipulated with brushes and other tools. Absorbent paper is laid on the plate, the back is rubbed, and the image is transferred to the paper by hand.

I decided to try a couple pieces with color combinations that I do not usually use. You can see a sample of what I did.

If I Can't Travel - At Least Read

2010-03-05T21:24:00.000-05:00

Just finished "The Best American Travel Writing". It is my "purse" book which is one I carry around in my purse for when I go somewhere and am waiting, stuck stopped on the freeway with the car stopped (that has happened to me), or at a restaurant by my self.

It can never be a novel - it may not be opened for a month and that to long for me to remember what has been happening. So it is usually essays, and once and a while short stories (which I am not a great fan off but I do read a few authors.

The two stories I found most interesting were one about a delivery in Antarctica and the one with the best title "A Keilbasa Too Far", about being sick on you travels. May you never experience it.

What if You Were a WPA Artist Today?

2010-02-26T19:32:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday Frank needed to go down to the library at Wayne State to check out a book he wanted for his class. I decided to go with him and he ended up not checking out the book he wanted and I ended up checking out two books to use to research weaving from Guatemala.

Afterwords - we walked to the Detroit Institute of Arts for lunch and a which visit. Their current exhibit is:

Government Support for the Arts: WPA Prints from the 1930s

I realize they plan these exhibits many years in advance but I find the topic interesting during this time. During that depression the government wanted to put people to work including artists so funded this project to provide them work. Seems like we could use that type of project now.

To try to make their exhibits more relevant, the DIA has taken to providing postcards with a challenge that the ask you to reply to. This one stated:
"WHAT IF YOU WERE A WPA ARTIST TODAY? You'd be paid to capture the "everyday American Experiences" of your own time. On the back of this card, draw or write about the kinds of images you would create." They had pictures of some of the examples. What would you draw or write? I am still thinking about it but you can see some of the examples at this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroitinstituteofarts/sets/72157622901746919/

A Bright Day

2010-02-18T20:13:00.000-05:00

Woke up this morning to the sun - finally. Seems like it has been grey for too many days in a row. I broke out the camera to try to capture something other than grey skies.

From there I went to the Michigan Weavers Guild meeting. It was one of the better meetings we have had in a long time. One of our members, Lois Bryant, gave a talk on inspiration. It was interesting to see some of the early art work she did in grade school and college and how she has come back to themes or a look she had 30 years before.

After her presentation she did an exercise with us where she had us cut blocks out of magazines then mount them. She uses them as a starting point to spark an idea - whether it is a shape or a color palette. It was interesting how each of our "cut-outs" were so different. An interesting exercise would be to do it in another color pallet that you normally are not attracted in.

Disappointing Olympics

2010-02-17T22:03:00.000-05:00

I am an Olympic junky - but it is hard this year.

I was shocked when I turned on the TV for the opening ceremonies and it was not on my faithful channel 9. I am used to the Canadian station covering the Olympics. How can they not cover the Olympics in their own country???? Turns out it is on a Canadian station we don't get.

So instead of my fix of cross country skiing, biathlon and other sports you don't usually get to see (yes - even curling!), we get too much snow-boarding, too much short track skating and not enough long track skating. And also - all the interviews instead of just covering the sports.

Did get to see one cross-country race (probably only because a US guy was supposed to get a medal which he did). So I sit here with my computer, with the TV on - as I troll the web trying to find what I want to watch.

May just have to try to go to London for the next Olympics if I can't get Canadian coverage.

Grey with Warmth

2010-02-15T20:48:00.000-05:00

The day was grey but kept to my plans to break out the camera on my day off and go to Belle Isle. I was hoping that the Belle Isle Conservatory would not be closed for the holiday and it was not. Very damp and cold day but I soon had to take the coat off as I took my pictures. You can also check my web page to see some of todays pictures.