Southern Exposure: Beauty and a Hanging Herb Basket

I'm not sure what is better than visiting Southern Exposure for a workshop in the spring. Possibly visiting in the fall, but after all these years, I'm still not sure. In spring, especially this spring, it is so sorely needed!

We arrived on a gorgeous early evening for our European Basket workshop. The first thing we saw were cows!

The cows were new and so were some of their babies, laying peacefully in the pastoral beauty of the back field.

Even the bull had chilled out and was enjoying one of the few warm and sunny days we've had here in mid-Michigan.

From there, a walk through the gardens, stopping first at our favorite spot, the Greenhouse.

This tiny room was packed with more lovely things -- and oh! It smelled so good -- like pansies and fresh dirt with a hint of herbs.

Then we headed toward the gazebo. Wouldn't this be the best spot for an intimate wedding?

One of my favorite spring blooms is the bleeding heart. They were on display in full force today.

And not just the pink ones. The white ones are gorgeous too.

Some of these plants came as high as my waist!

Of course, the bird baths are always a favorite!

The tulips were in bloom, too. I love these shaggy tulips.

Here's another view.

The backlighting on some of these made them feel almost magical.

And of course, there were pansies!

Southern Exposure always does a beautiful job with fountains. I liked this one with the roses...

...and this one, too.

There are so many little spots where you just want to sit and "be."

We're beginning to see lilacs, too. These weren't quite full, but oh, what a beautiful bush it will be in a week or so. Maybe even by now!

We knew we'd have a bit of time to walk some more after the workshop, so we headed to the Milking Parlor for dinner. As always, the tables were beautifully set.

And, as always, the dinner, a gently curried chicken, salad, zucchini mix and mashed potatoes mixed with butter-sauteed leeks, was fabulous.

And isn't the dessert pretty? Strawberry Rhubarb pie.

On the way to our workshop, Scott took a photo of the three of us. Jan, the birthday girl, is in the middle. Isn't it a great way to spend your birthday -- in a garden, good food and then making something?

Our workshop was to make a hanging basket filled with herbs. We had six different varieties -- basil, rosemary, dianthus, kale, spring onions and beet.

Here we are with the finished product!

I just adore Daylight Saving Time -- I wish it was that way all year! And during this season it provided some beautiful mood lighting for another short garden walk after the workshop. I always love this bunny.

It made for a good photo op for all of us! And we all see it just slightly differently!

I just expect Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail to run out, too!

More bleeding hearts. My grandma would have loved these!

I leave you with a last look at my Happy Place.

Definitely twilight in the garden.

Monday Mural: Greg Oberle's Look at Lansing's Transportation Heritage

Four years ago I wrote THIS POST about a mural our Number One kid, Greg, was doing in Lansing's REO Town, an area that has been in revitalization in recent years. At the time Greg did the original mural, he was 29.

In the intervening years, the building has changed tenants and the new law firm in the space, McClellan and Anderson, wanted some touch-ups and additions to the mural.

Greg was happy to oblige!

The mural covers what was once the side wall of a local grocery store. Its later tenants subdivided the floor space for offices.  Here's a look at it when Greg was starting several years ago. It doesn't show the entire wall but you get the idea. It's big!

Since the earlier tenants were tech-based, the overall theme of the mural included a good deal related to tech.

Greg also focused on one of Michigan's (and Lansing's) key pioneers, R.E. Olds, who invented the Oldsmobile. His other company was REO Motors, which was located in this part of town, a section of Lansing now known as REO Town, which is in the process of revitalization.

 Olds was the first person to use a stationary assembly line in the automotive industry. Henry Ford later used the idea of a moving assembly line to manufacture cars.

So, Olds also played a key part in the mural, as well as the topic of transportation, its past and future.

In the mural, we see a woman in her carriage next to an astronaut, the space traveler.

We note the words of "Back to the Future" character, Doc Brown.

R.E. Olds was also a local philanthropist and a founder of several companies, including one of the area's best-known banks for many years called Michigan National Bank. It was housed in the Olds Tower (1931), still the tallest office building in Lansing (now Boji Tower). Olds was the primary financier of the tower. When completed in 1931 it was, and remains, the tallest office building in Lansing. In Greg's work, an unsightly wall fixture becomes the head of a robot, who is popping out of the top of Boji Tower.

Some detail.

New portions of the mural done this past month include a live look out from the window to capture the new power plant building and towers.

He said he worked "live" for this one, drawing as he looked out the adjacent window.

Over the doorway, Greg added this piece of art done from an original REO advertisement.

The building also has a brick arch that was covered over. Greg added the train roaring through, as though it is a tunnel.

This part was still a bit unfinished when I took the photos. You can see the lines for where the smoke and additional detail is to be added.

Here's a bit of detail, more "head on."

I have to say, that when we take a look at this mural, we're pretty darned proud of this guy!

He's off to L.A. to find life in the art world there. So, if you know anyone who might need a mural (or smaller work!) please pass the word! His portfolio includes several restaurants, CD covers, posters, and more! He's willing to travel to the work, too so don't let location be the issue! You can check out more of Greg's art or follow him on Instagram HERE.

After all, we do want him to be able to eat!

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Cork Poppers Go South of the Border!

It's time to go South of the Border with Cork Poppers and check out some wines from South America. (Actually, our theme included wines from Mexico but no one could find one!) We gathered at Bob's house with wine and food in hand for a delicious and tasty tasting day!

Our first wine was from Roger, a Lolea Frizzante White Sangria, No. 2. Comments ranged from "It smells great" to "I can see why this is a summer beach wine.

Many of us thought it was too sweet, though it was a sangria and super cold would indeed be tasty on a beach. I thought it was too sweet for just sipping a glass of wine but on a hot day at the lake, I'd like it! Anne called it "Very tasty" and Bob said "I think it is very good," but I think many of us agreed with Roger who said, "I was first attracted to the bottle." Cost: $15.99 at World Market.

Cheryl was next with a Gouguenheim Valle Escondido Torrontes 2016, a white wine from the Mendoza Valley in Argentina. This was a nice and quite dry white. Kate called it "The red wine drinker's white." Cheryl, our white wine fan, said she didn't "enjoy it as much as I hoped to." Cost: $16 at Vine and Brew, a local wine store.

At this time, hostess Heather, Bob's daughter, said, "I'm a cheap wine drinker" and then said, "I have to behave." Mike M. reassured her. "Only for about a half hour or so."

Bob was up next with a Long Country 2018 Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. This one the budget price of the day -- $5 at Meijer stores. Cheryl, Mike S. and I liked this one better than the white before us (at $16!). Barb and Kate liked the second wine better.

In any event, it makes for an excellent Neti pot and sinus cleaner, which I discovered when I was laughing so hard -- well, you get the idea.

Dick offered our first red -- Echeverria Family Wines' Gran Reserve Syrah 2014 from Chile. This group was named as Chile's Producer of the Year and the description described it as as "deep red with violet gleams." None of us knew what violet gleams were and in any event, most of us heard it as "violent greens," which was equaly confusing.

Rick said, "I might get addicted to it," and Bob added "Even if you don't like red, you'd like this." Heather said she liked "any wine you don't have to pay for" but Kate smelled "new cars and plastic" when she sipped it. It was a little light for me. $15 at the local Vine and Brew.

Kate was up next with Colome Vineyard Autentico Malbec 2017 from the Mendoza region of Argentina. Barb said, "It has a little barnyard in it," (referring to its earthy quality, not aroma). Kate and Barb agreed it had a gorgeous color and was very earthy with a lot of body. This one was $24.85 at Vine and Brew.

Around this time Barb realized that the towel Dick was using to pour looked like a Rorschach test and decided it was a man walking an English setter.

Clayton offered a Cantina Malbec 2016 from Argendina's Mendozea by Bodea y Vinedos Cardena. It's a high mountain wine and he found it at Meijer stores but I forgot to write down the price. Barb called it "soft" and I thought it more fruity than the one before. Clayton said it had notes of "leather and cinnamon" which Barb heard as "liver and cinnamon." Kate said that at this point, she was past intelligent comment.

This and the one before it were both malbecs. I thought the first one would be better with food, this one for just enjoying a glass of wine.

Barb and Mike offered up a Pirca 2015 Carmenere from Vina Marty in Chile. This was $10.

My notes say "Buy this now!" I thought it was very good and Kate said, "I love it! I love this!" It also smelled wonderful and I called it my favorite so far. And yes, it would be delish with a cheese toastie and a bag of Doritos.

Rick was last with Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Carmenere 2017 from Chile. This cost $20 at Tiffany wine shop in Kalamazoo.

This one was quite good too. Indeed, there was none left in the bottle as it was passed around after the first tasting. To be honest, I didn't really have a preference between this Carmenere and the one before -- they were slightly different but both good.

Well, after all that merriment, it was time to hang out and chat, and eventually move upstairs for dinner! Bob and Heather had made wonderful floral table decorations for our South of the Border theme!

I loved these!

And the food was to die for. There were tacos, beans, rice, two wonderful salads, a Topopo and a taco salad.

All this was topped off by Meredith's fabulous Mexican Chocolate Cake and tons of equally delicious conversation!

It was like being in a field of beautiful flowers with your friends taking all the time in the world to just enjoy one another's company.

Because really, that's what it's all about!

If you enjoy wine and want to check out some of the other Cork Popper tastings, check the tab on the menu at the top of this page. Wines are organized by category and theme.

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