Friday, June 17, 2022

Rain's Thursday Art Date: A Vegas Separation and More ~ June 17, 2022

Vegas, Baby!
That's where Terry and I are today.

This week I am participating in my friend Rain's Thursday Art Date.
The theme is Colourful June: Red for June 16, 2022,
and I actually had my post ready before I hopped on Southwest Airlines.

I ❤️ Southwest Airlines
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
March 26, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved


Under serious time pressure, I rapidly scrolled through my out-of-control photo collection,
and every time I spotted a flash of red, I stopped and pulled the photo unto my desktop.
I stopped racing when I realized I had more photos than belonged in any post.
So now I'm picking my favorites from those randomly chosen photos.
I'm sure I missed a few in my spinning that were awesome, but it is what it is.

So here we go!  Red, Baby!

Vegas Vickie Under the Canopy
Fremont Street
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
February 24, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved

Vegas Vickie arrived to reign over the Girls of Glitter Gulch strip club in 1980.
With twenty-five feet of vibrant neon,
Vickie quickly became a popular and famous cowgirl.

In 2017 a number of Fremont Street icons were demolished to make way for Circa,
the first casino built from the ground up in Las Vegas in over forty years.
The demolitions included the Girls of Glitter Gulch,
Mermaids Casino, and the Las Vegas Club.
Circa Sign
Circa Resort & Casino
LasVegas, Nevada, USA
February 24, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved


I have no personal experience of the GGG myself (nor does Terry, just clarifying), 
but I've read that its seductive atmosphere and gorgeous girls 
are fondly remembered by former patrons. 

Vegas Vickie returned for the opening of Circa on October 28, 2020.
She's alive and kicking in Circa's hotel lobby. 
after being carefully restored with smoothed over dents, 
a fresh coat of paint, adjusted lights for indoors, 
and a new leg motor to power her signature kick.

Vegas Vickie in Her New Digs
Circa Resort & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
March 30, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved


She was "married" to Vegas Vic in 1994 to celebrate the opening of
the Fremont Street Experience, a pedestrian-only zone under a lighted canopy.
Sadly, they are now separated, as Vegas Vic remains outside under the canopy.
It's hard to maintain a marriage if you're geographically separated for a long time.
It's looking dicey for this Vegas couple.

Vegas Vic Under the Canopy
Fremont Street
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
October 10, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved



Here are my favorite Red Photos from my spinning randomly through my photos:


A Red Shack in Peggy's Cove
Nova Scotia, Canada
July 27, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Hula Dancers in a Parade
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
March 8, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






London Buses
London, England, United Kingdom
May 29, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






The Stars and Stripes, The Washington Monument, and Terry
Washington, D.C., USA
September 3, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






My Sister Donnie and My Brother Roy Relaxing 
in the Glow of a Bonfire and Sunset
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 16, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Afternoon Snack
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 27, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Hibiscus
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
April 21, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Point Prim Lighthouse
Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 3, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






My Sweet Little Sister Donnie
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
1960-61
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Stained Glass Window in Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Paris, France
May 26, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






A Sculpture of a Balled-up Volkswagen Beetle
Resorts World Las Vegas 
LasVegas, Nevada, USA
August 12, 2021
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Totem Pole
Somewhere in Alaska, USA
June 30, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Window Display on Waikiki
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
February 4, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






The Butchart Gardens
Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada
July 12, 2012
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved





  
A Feast of Lobsters for the MacBeath Clan
Smith's Cove Nova Scotia, Canada
August 7, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






London Icons
London, England, United Kingdom
May 29, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Poppies In Remembrance ~ On Behalf of Britain's Armed Forces
London, England, United Kingdom
June 1,  2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved





Skálholt 1550
by Friðrik Briddle 
Oil:  150 X 200 cm.
The Beheadings of the Last Roman Catholic Bishop of Iceland and His Two Sons
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre
Reykjavík, Iceland
June 1,  2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved



And just to remind myself never to take myself too seriously,
here I am in all my fashion-challenged glory timidly feeding an elephant in Thailand:

Me, Feeding an Elephant 
After a Long Jungle Ride to Sairung Falls!
Sairung Elephant Camp
Outside of Khao Lak, Thailand
December 14, 2008
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved






Our Glow in the Dark Honeymoon Photo
Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic Peninsula 
Washington State, USA
September 4, 1984
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved



And thanks to Kathy at hummingbirdwoodlandstudio.blogspot.com 
who reminded me that I do have some art to share.
In her post Kathy shared a photo of the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls
her grandmother made for her about sixty years ago.

I made them too as a project for Home Economics in 1965-1966,
possibly from the same pattern.
I didn't have the traditionally-colored fabrics for the dolls. 
I was living in rural Nova Scotia, and I could only use
what was available in our small general store.
Their faces look mottled, because the only stuffing to be had was black and white.

I sewed these with my Grandmother MacDonald's foot-treadle powered,
chain-stitching Singer sewing machine from the late 1800s.
I was so upset when I realized I'd sewed Ann's nose on crookedly. 
I was too tired and pulling an all-nighter to finish the project.
I think my all-nighter nights are finally behind me!


Raggedy Andy and Ann Dolls
Aurora, Colorado, USA
June 10, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved








On Monday morning Terry came in from the deck and said,
"Honey, there's a bird nest."

"WHAT?  Where?"

"On the far side of the far speaker."

"Damn!" I said as ran out and looked up at a tiny nest
squeezed in between a scrub brush and a plastic container.
Sometimes all you can do is laugh!
Since we're using opposite ends of the deck, I'm sure we'll get through this ~ lol!   



You Win Some, You Lose Some ~ LOL!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
June 12, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved


On Tuesday morning I tippy-toed over to the nest,
and there she was sitting on her eggs!
"Yo, Mama Finch!  Good luck!
You stay at your end of our duplex deck, and I'll stay at mine!"

I told the story of my Bird Wars here last week.

Next week's theme is Colourful June: Purple for June 23, 2022.

Stay colorful and creative! 






Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

  My next post will be on 
Friday, June 30, 2022, as I'm traveling.



On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved




 

Friday, June 10, 2022

Rain's Thursday Art Date: Location, Location, Location~ June 10, 2022

Last Friday I was sitting at the kitchen counter working on my computer,
when suddenly I heard an unusual bird cry I'd never heard before.
I swiveled around on my chair and looked out on our deck.

A swallow was perched in a cranny above our outdoor table,
and I didn't need a translator to know what that cry meant!
"Honey, come quick!  I've found the perfect location for our new nest!"

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica) 

"Oh, no you don't!" I roared, jumping off my chair and bursting onto the desk
with my biggest and baddest King Kong imitation.
Terry and I have been through too much bird drama and trauma
with nesting birds on our deck and front porch in the past decade.
They can nest anywhere they want,
except on the deck area we use or on top of the front door light.

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved

                                                                                           We have                                a little house finch mama sitting on a nest under the floor of our high deck right now.  Of course, she was awol when I tried to get the shot.

I went back to work at the kitchen counter, confident Mr. Swallow wouldn't be back.

Two years ago, when a Cooper's hawk killed a mother dove, leaving broken eggs
in a smear of her blood on the deck floor, I was done!
While a distraught Terry cleaned up the mess,
I summoned my inner Newfoundlander
and began to erect some bird nest blockers.

Forget things like a fake owl sitting on your deck to discourage birds.
I've seen pigeons and doves sitting on them in the neighborhood and laughing.


No More Sneaking a Nest on Top of This Speaker
When We're Not Looking!
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved



It took some experimenting with different materials
to find a mix of objects that stopped the urgent nest builders.
Forget to block one side, in squeezes a robin.
Leave a small space, in wiggles a house finch.

A Goldfinch Pair Scouting Locations from the Tree by Our Deck!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 23, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved




You Don't Fool Me!  I Know You're looking Sideways!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 23, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved




Busted!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 23, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved


The birds don't like fluttery things, so I stuck up dangles of painter tape.
This has been very effective for the past two years,
I haven't had to replace the streamers
come heat, blizzards, hail, downpours, or strong winds.


No More Sneaking a Nest on Top of This Speaker
When We're Not Looking!
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved





Bird Defenses!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 21, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved


Even more than constructing a nest on a musical rest,
the pesky birds like a spot with a good roof and sheltering walls.


Primo Location!
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved


I quickly learned two years ago that they don't like chopsticks, emery boards, 
bamboo florist twigs, or humpy, lumpy metamorphic rocks,
particularly in tight spaces.  
I had to figure out what worked in each nook and cranny.

Yes, I was foolishly resting on my laurels when I heard that strange cry again:
"Look, Honey!  An Open House!  Let's check it out!"  
And there was the swallow nestling down in the left corner above the table again.
King Kong charges out the door roaring!

That damn swallow wouldn't give up!
He'd fly away and soon circle back, encouraging his mate with his excited cries.

"Honey!  Location, location, location!"
King Kong!

"Honey!  If we don't get moving, someone else is going to nab this!"
King Kong!

"Honey!  We've got to get an offer in, before this one gets away!"
King Kong!

Okay.  Time for action!  
Obviously King Kong was sliding into the definition of insanity.

I dragged the ladder from the garage, through the house, and onto the deck.
Then I stuffed a plastic container into the cranny
to block the direction the swallow was flying in from.

Wow, those swallows have impressive flying skills!
Mr. Swallow went into a full hovering reverse when he neared the plastic.
I didn't know they could do that.



Things went quiet, and I went back to work.
I looked out a while later, and that wily swallow had silently slipped in
from the opposite direction and was snuggled into a tiny, tiny spot.
And optimistic me had returned the ladder to the garage.

Out to the garage, grab the ladder, drag it through the house, and onto the deck.
Back to the garage, dig through the recycling, 
find the perfectly-sized, no-sodium-added, petite-diced tomato can, 
and stuff it into the remaining hole.
Duct tape it all in place with white duct tape, because I couldn't find the gray.
Take that Mr. Swallow!  You can't squeeze a beak into that cranny!

Take That, Mr. Swallow!
Aurora, Colorado, USA
June 6, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved



The swallow retreated in defeat, and no bird has so much
as stuffed a twig in the four prime locations on our deck since then.

But what, made this last spot the perfect location of all? I wondered.
I went out on the deck and looked around at each corner.

Oh, that festive front door upgrade!
A splash of indestructible yellow ribbon that has been gracing 
the front of the cranny for over two years.
There's nothing like a grand entrance for curb appeal.

Curb Appeal
Aurora, Colorado, USA
June 6, 2022
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved


This week, my friend Rain's Thursday Art Date theme is 
Colourful June: Yellow for June 9, 2022.
There is still time to join in the fun and creativity!

Next week's theme is Colourful June: Red for June 16, 2022.
People in different time zones around the world participate,
so the link gadget where you can join in is open for a number of days. 

And since we all need to laugh during these challenging times,
here are a some bird funnies:


























Stay colorful and creative! 

Rocking the Park Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
April 7, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue  
All Rights Reserved








Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

  My next post will be on 
Friday, June 17, 2022.



On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved







I was planning to use this video for next Friday's post,
for reasons that will become apparent.
But when I watched it for the first time this morning,
I realized it was full of yellow, deadpan funny, and even featured some birds.
"I get high like Colorado."
Some things are just meant to be!


Milky Chance - Colorado (Official Video)
8,288,349 views Premiered Jun 17, 2021


Lyrics for Colorado (Google)
I get high like Colorado
We had it all but what do I know?
I try to push away the sorrow
But today, it's too late, I try tomorrow
(Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah)

I think that you were kind of mean (kind of mean, kind of mean)
You just replaced me in the scene (in the scene, in the scene)
I thought that we were evergreen (evergreen, evergreen)
Like a never-ending dream

Never been on the TV
Scratched me off of your CV
Out of your mind
Out of your mind
Never been so uneasy
Jealousy got me freaky
Out of my mind

So I get high like Colorado
We had it all but what do I know?
I try to push away the sorrow
But today, it's too late, I try tomorrow
(Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah)

I'm losing sleep all by myself
I'm wide awake and I just wonder how
You put my heart back on the shelf (back on the shelf)
Well, I'ma be a loner now

Never been on the TV
Scratched me off of your CV
Out of your mind
Out of your mind
Never been so uneasy
Jealousy got me freaky
Out of my mind

So I get high like Colorado
We had it all but what do I know?
I try to push away the sorrow
But today, it's too late, I try tomorrow
(Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah)

Drownin' in my sofa with my blood shot red eyes (ooh)
Ridin' rollercoaster 'til I see the sunrise
I get high like Colorado (I get high, I get high)
We had it all but what do I know?
I try to push away the sorrow (I get high, I get high)
But today, it's too late, I try tomorrow
(Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah)

I get high like Colorado
Colorado (yeah), Colorado (yeah), Colorado
I get high like Colorado
Colorado (yeah), Colorado (yeah), Colorado

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Joacim Bo Persson / Clemens Rehbein / Sebastian Arman / Philipp Maximilian Dausch
Colorado lyrics © Edition Rehbein, Edition Dausch, Wasted Talent Publishing Gmbh, Hippo Legend Publishing, Favorite Song Publishing Ug