in sand two

If you caught the post I did last summer about the amazing sand sculpture that was here at the Carefree plaza, you'll remember it was this gigantic elephant playing chess with a mouse.

You can read the whole post about it here if you'd like. I was so enthralled by the whole thing and kept reminding myself not to mis it this year. I only saw it finished last year and hoped to see it earlier in the process this time. So, when I saw the signs go up, I went as soon as I could. 

Here it was the first day I stopped by. I found out they had already been working on it about two weeks.

 Ray Villafane is the artists name. He is the same guy that does the pumpkin sculptures in October. He had a friend along with him this year. His name is Nikolai and he is from Russia. Ray met him along his travels with sand sculpting and invited him to come to Arizona to work with him. I stopped every few days, as often as I could, to watch them work this spring. It was so interesting!  They have the sand brought in packed into this big block with supports around it. By the way, it is the same sand from the elephant last year. They re-use it over and over. It is compressed so tightly as you can see...supporting Ray as he sat on top working on the first figures. Ray is in the green beret.

Once they took the supports off the shape came together pretty quickly. In fact, you can tell I missed a few days because it got to this stage between visits.

They had plastic tubing tied to a band around their neck. They would blow in one end to gently blow the loose sand off the spot they were working on.

Nikolai would concentrate very quietly. He didn't chat with the visitors as much as Ray would. Of course he had a pretty heavy accent and was a little shy most of the time. And he was very conscientious with his work.

                                  So, you can tell that this was a "circus" stack of turtles.

                                       The detail is unbelievable. So dang cute too.

Here is momma looking over at her children. (This was before they did the eye detail).

By the way...did I mention that I have a whole bunch of photos to share? Get ready....

                                          Look at the wrinkles around her mouth even.

                                       Look closely at the top shell. Notice something?

                                    Here is the embarrassed face of the little guy....

                                         He's hiding some of his exposed parts...

 Both guys had a supply of tools that they would use. A different one for different techniques.

Periodically, they will spray the area they are working on to wet the sand a little more. It does dry out here pretty quickly.

And then they finished it. I believe it took about 6-8 weeks.

                                                                         So cute.

 They use a mixture of Elmers glue and water and spray a light coating over it when they are finished. It puts a 'crust' over it to protect it from eroding in the wind. It is protected under the canopy, somewhat, from rain. Believe it or not, it will last until August when they take it down and start preparing for the fall pumpkin display. I just love these sand sculptures and feel pretty lucky that this world renown artist lives right here in the area. What a treat to see these sculptures!!

                                                      I meant to take a shelfie with it.

                                                               The end.

quote monday

                        I will reach for the stars 
                     no matter how hard it seems, 
                          and fly like a bird 
                         with the knowledge 
                              this journey brings. 
                                                                         Semetra C. Vanison 

Happy Monday!
~norma~

Happy college graduation to our youngest. Way to go Leah!!  You worked hard and did well. Now, we will watch you spread your wings throughout your next endeavor! 

She is in the second row from the back about the fourth one in from the left, looking up at her family with a smile on her face! We were smiling back and in Manak style... waving like crazy. A little hooting and hollering happened also. 

the biggest boss of the yard

Last time I checked, which was just now...you are a woodpecker and you should be pecking wood. However, I scoured all the bird websites for Arizona loving birds and I really didn't find what I think to be an exact match. So, since you like to hang from this hummingbird feeder and make yourself giddy on sugary sweet nectar water, perhaps you're a bird-type all your own. Bird.

I took these photos about two weeks ago and as of today this bird has drained the bottle of juice to nearly empty. This afternoon, as I walked past it, I noticed there is some spillage (of sorts) all down the bbq grill and brick wall below it...even a little puddle on the tile floor. It doesn't look like the red stuff directly out of the feeder...more like...oops...well...shoot....er hiccup...I think I drank a little too much and now-I've-made-a-mess-of-things kind of puddle.

                                                Nope, not gonna share at all.

                                  I mean, look how hard he is working on getting his big beak
                          into those those tiny holes meant for the dainty little hummingbirds.

                                        And nope...he hasn't left any for the hummingbirds.
                       In fact...all-out bar room brawls have taken place around the old water cooler.

                  I believe, this red-headed bully will try to be the boss of the feeders this summer.
           And, I believe, we won't be filling this one again any time soon. We have another one that is in a spot that isn't as easy to get to that I hope the hummingbirds will enjoy... alone.

What I do like about these woodpeckers? I collect the little feathers that they loose. Many of them are actually polka dotted, which are a nice addition to bottles or abandoned nests that I have collected. Sometimes, I enjoy hearing them chirp and tweet. They can actually sound somewhat melodic at times.                    

Mostly after sipping the sweet I think !
     update: Chuck says it is a Flicker of some kind. I still can't find an exact match. Anyone have an idea?


 Gigantor update: 
                                                                 It is still gigantic.  
  

                                                         It is leaning a bit further.

It will be a problem if it falls.

   
                                                          It is awesome looking.
                          Actually, rather than the sipping bird, I think this is the boss of the yard.

                            Ummm. nope.... I think this problem is the real boss right now.

Well, I had a short video here of a swarm of bees but for some reason it disappears as soon as I hit 'publish' on my post. So, I ve up trying. Here is the swarm after they partially vacated their hidey hole. The big dark spot on the brick wall back there. That's the swarm after they had clumped onto the tree and then moved to the wall. The video is really impressive because you can hear the loud buzzing. It even had a sweet musty odor that would drift over now and then.  We have a group in the back and another in the front. We are encouraging them to move to a new home. Wish us luck.

Our yard  is pretty darn fun!

quote monday

                                                                 When 
                                                        someone you love 
                                                       becomes a memory,
                                                             the memory 
                                                        becomes a treasure. 

Happy Monday.
~norma~

Last week was one for treasured memories.  Remembering them is nice.

gigantor

This giant agave cactus grows along the path to the studio. It's huge! And this year, for the first time, it is blooming. You can see the stalk stretching up from the middle of the plant.

 I asked Austin to stand next to it to get a sense of how big this thing is and to see how tall it is       growing. Austin is 6 foot tall.  We took these first photos on March twenty first.

                                   This was the first day that I noticed it was sending up a blossom.

                                                        A couple of days later.

                                                      From a different angle.

                                        Four days later it is already taller than he is.

                                                    Three more days of growth.

    And then...just one week later. Yes, these stalks look like giant asparagus. When you drive around and see these massive stalks you just want to look over your shoulder for the Jolly Green Giant because, wouldn't he enjoy these ginormous fit-for-a-giant asparagus?

Time got away from us, with busy days, out of town company and many trips up to Flagstaff to see Leah, that we didn't coordinate a photo together. So, by the time I got Austin out there again 2 1/2 weeks had passed.  A lot can happen in two weeks!

                                       The top started to open which is its "flower".

                                                             My real view looking up!

You can't really appreciate the enormity of this thing in pictures. It is so solid and massive feeling.                        Literally like a tree trunk. It's not a surprise that they usually pull the whole plant out of the ground as they lean and most often topple over.  It is said that the base plant usually dies once it blooms. I've read that that is a bit of a misnomer. It said that they don't necessarily die because they bloom, but rather they die because the weight ends up tipping it over and pulls the plant from the ground, causing it to then die. I know of someone who has their landscape company cut the bloom out before it gets very tall, thus saving the plant.

 Ours was getting so big and overtaking the walk path, that if it does topple we won't be devastated. And the good news, there are many small baby plants underneath that will then have the space to grow. We have harvested many of the offspring and put them in other areas of our yard. I will, however, hope to keep the stalk and let it dry. They make great yard decorations and the birds love to use them as a perch.

Five days later this is the top where the blooms are appearing.

                                                         Just a couple of days ago.

                               More arms with the blossoms are stretching out.

                     And now...just about 6 weeks since I first noticed it sprouting.

The morning light.

                         They are pretty impressive in their grandness. Fittingly named Gigantor.