MinkStudios's Photobucket media

I used the rest of this guy for Mr. Brio

MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:52:17 MST

MinkStudios posted a photo

I used the rest of this guy for Mr. Brio - inspiration1.jpg

I used the haunch area from this pic

MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:52:10 MST

MinkStudios posted a photo

I used the haunch area from this pic - inspiration2.jpg

briosoA.jpg

MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:48 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:43 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:40 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:36 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:33 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:30 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:27 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:24 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:20 MST

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MinkStudios — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:43:17 MST

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Captain Alex!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:15:39 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Captain Alex! - alex.jpg

My poor brother, Alex, will probably never hear the end of this one.

"Alex at work"

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:15:31 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

"Alex at work" - alexatwork.jpg

On Friday, we started to head home. Take the ferry to our hotel near the Wilmington airport, then fly home Saturday. I took this shot from the ferry.

plane.jpg

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:26:18 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

plane.jpg

This is a shot from the plane, as we fly over Prescott Valley (we said HI to Uncle Mike and Mary Teresa as we flew over!). We nearly missed our connection to Phoenix, and Ham and I had to run across the Charlotte airport with our 50 lbs backpacks on to get there in time to tell them to hold the plane for Mom and Dad. PHEW. HOLD THE BOAT! Mom and Dad made it by the skin of their teeth!

alex.jpg

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:25:49 MDT

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alexatwork.jpg

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:25:40 MDT

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MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:25:03 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

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MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:24:55 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

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Hello from Bald Head Island!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:23:01 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Hello from Bald Head Island! - beach12.jpg

The beaches were gorgeous!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:54 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The beaches were gorgeous! - beach1.jpg

Another beach shot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:40 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another beach shot - beach10.jpg

I included quite a few beach shots here -- I just couldn't resist.

Even Spock would have a hard time...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:32 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Even Spock would have a hard time... - beach11.jpg

computing the odds of this!

An evening beach view

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:25 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

An evening beach view - beach13.jpg

The walkway from one of "our" houses to the beach

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:17 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The walkway from one of "our" houses to the beach - beach14.jpg

To have a private pathway to the beach -- Heaven on earth to me!

Fishin'!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:09 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Fishin'! - beach15.jpg

Ham and the fam fishing! Besides catching a lot of blue fish, my cousin Susan caught a shark and a flounder! Ham caught four fish in an hour! You can see he's hooked one!

He got a blue fish!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:01 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

He got a blue fish! - beach16.jpg

Beautiful clouds

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:21:55 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Beautiful clouds - beach17.jpg

Diehard fishing into the evening!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:21:49 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Diehard fishing into the evening! - beach19.jpg

Susan called an end to fishing for the day at 7:02. Apparently, there's a golden time right when the sun starts to set that the fish really bite. Once that's over -- it's over.

Another beach shot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:21:41 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another beach shot - beach2.jpg

Those are pelicans in the distance

Another shot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:21:31 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another shot - beach3.jpg

I don't know what kind of bird that is, but it's not a seagull.

beach4.jpg

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:21:23 MDT

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beach4.jpg

I've never seen such pristine beaches. And because this is a private island, there wasn't anyone around! Fabulous!

I think all these beach shots...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:21:15 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

I think all these beach shots... - beach5.jpg

would make great paintings.

The stairs killed me. Really? Stairs?

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:21:08 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The stairs killed me. Really? Stairs? - beach6.jpg

I guess it helps to minimize destruction of the dunes and minimize erosion.

I like how the sky is reflected in the wet sand in this shot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:21:01 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

I like how the sky is reflected in the wet sand in this shot - beach7.jpg

I love sand dunes

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:20:56 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

I love sand dunes - beach8.jpg

An arty shot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:20:39 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

An arty shot - beach9.jpg

Another gigantic dragonfly

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:20:21 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another gigantic dragonfly - dragonfly.jpg

A Ghost Crab!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:20:11 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A Ghost Crab! - ghostcrab.jpg

They had burrows all over the place!

An old, gnarled oak

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:20:04 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

An old, gnarled oak - hike1.jpg

We took a hike through the island's forest. Some unexpected gigantic old oaks were tucked away in there.

The beautiful viney things...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:19:43 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The beautiful viney things... - hike10.jpg

Look at this corkscrew tree trunk!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:19:18 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Look at this corkscrew tree trunk! - hike11.jpg

So many lovely things in this forest

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:19:07 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

So many lovely things in this forest - hike12.jpg

The trees had formed...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:18:40 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The trees had formed... - hike13.jpg

a tunnel canopy over the road! It was like walking in a green, leafy tunnel.

Growing on an island...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:18:26 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Growing on an island... - hike14.jpg

causes the trees to be shaped into wonderful twists and bends.

I've never been on a trail hike...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:18:14 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

I've never been on a trail hike... - hike2.jpg

that had palm fronds! Very exotic to me!

A beautiful old gnarled oak with spanish moss

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:17:58 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A beautiful old gnarled oak with spanish moss - hike3.jpg

The underbrush was rather dense

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:17:44 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The underbrush was rather dense - hike4.jpg

hike5.jpg

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:17:29 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

hike5.jpg

how this tree got its name! YOW.

Such beautiful twists and curves in this old dead branch

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:17:21 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Such beautiful twists and curves in this old dead branch - hike6.jpg

A big knot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:17:02 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A big knot - hike7.jpg

The other side of the big knot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:16:51 MDT

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The other side of the big knot - hike8.jpg

An old stump

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:16:32 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

An old stump - hike9.jpg

I'm curious as to the clean-cut. Jenn -- this pic is for you!

"Old Baldy" lighthouse

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:16:08 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

"Old Baldy" lighthouse - light1.jpg

What a wonderful grand old thing!

I loved the patchwork cement

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:56 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

I loved the patchwork cement - light2.jpg

A little tiny window

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:41 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A little tiny window - light3.jpg

The surface of this guy was so cool! He was encrusted with history.

One of the brick presses...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:20 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

One of the brick presses... - light4.jpg

used to build Baldy!

We hiked up to the top of Baldy...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:12 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

We hiked up to the top of Baldy... - light5.jpg

and it's a looooong way down!

The last part is a tight fit!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:02 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The last part is a tight fit! - light6.jpg

Success!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:14:49 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Success! - light7.jpg

Our reward for the climb up was an incredible panoramic view of Bald Head Island. That's the marina.

Moving off to the marshes...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:14:42 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Moving off to the marshes... - light8.jpg

More of the marshes...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:14:35 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

More of the marshes... - light9.jpg

The view from our house's upstair patio

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:14:27 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The view from our house's upstair patio - porch.jpg

This is the beautiful dawn...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:12:35 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

This is the beautiful dawn... - Wed1.jpg

That greeted us Wednesday morning from our hotel room balcony, on Myrtle Beach.

Another shot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:12:28 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another shot - Wed2.jpg

I like the highlighted rim of clouds along the bottom.

Hush puppies!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:12:20 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Hush puppies! - Wed3.jpg

We had breakfast with Addi and Lesli, said our goodbyes and set off for Bald Head Island (after making a couple of stops at the local Harley Davidson places for t-shirts). While waiting for our ferry, we decided to go out to lunch at a local place, and this is where I had my first hush puppies! SO GOOD! YUM! Anyway, our mission on the mainland was to get fresh shrimp from the street sellers for dinner that night with the family. We bought four pounds of freshly caught head-on giant shrimp before returning our rental car -- phew! Mission accomplished!

Inside the "Surfers Restaurant"

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:12:12 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Inside the "Surfers Restaurant" - Wed4.jpg

The place was loaded with "blue hairs" because they had senior specials. But man -- was the food GOOD! I had an awesome shrimp burger. Yuuuumay! Ham had pulled pork.

Whomp -- there it is.

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:12:04 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Whomp -- there it is. - Wed5.jpg

Hello from Brookgreen Gardens!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:11:05 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Hello from Brookgreen Gardens! - brook105.jpg

I was thrilled...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:10:56 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

I was thrilled... - Brook1.jpg

to see this magnificent sculpture by A.H. Huntington in person! It's cast aluminum!

These splendid sculptures fascinated me

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:10:40 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

These splendid sculptures fascinated me - Brook48.jpg

"Rearing Horses" by Frederick William MacMonnies. They were essentially the same two sculptures reconfigured differently for each one. Note how the hind legs are entwined on the version on the right.

"Crowded"

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:10:33 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

"Crowded" - brook10.jpg

All four of us were quite taken by this piece. A new take on the traditional bust is always exciting!

"Don Quixote" by A.H. Huntington

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:10:25 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

"Don Quixote" by A.H. Huntington - brook100.jpg

A headstudy of the horse -- note the sculpting of the eyes. The detail of this piece was impressive, just the right balance -- and it was a huuuuuge monumental sculpture. On a piece this big, it's easy to get too carried away and allow the detail to distract or get out of scale.

A shot of the grounds

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:10:17 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A shot of the grounds - brook101.jpg

There are over 1,000 acres to Brookgreen Gardens, every inch a delight.

One of our favorite pieces

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:10:03 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

One of our favorite pieces - brook102.jpg

"Into the Unknown" by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, carved in white marble. So haunting.

A foliage feast!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:09:55 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A foliage feast! - brook103.jpg

Lesli said that earlier in the season, the park is a-bloom with flowers everywhere. But I gotta say -- even in autumn, the place is breath-taking. And butterflies everywhere! Of all kinds!

A beautiful poem

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:09:43 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A beautiful poem - brook104.jpg

Throughout the gardens are engraved poems. Very inspiring!

A gorgeous big cat sculpture

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:09:35 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A gorgeous big cat sculpture - brook106.jpg

"Reaching Jaguar" by A.H. Huntington. Clearly, the artist really understands big cats.

Another view

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:09:26 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another view - brook107.jpg

You can just feel the latent power of this animal, and the intent focus in those eyes.

Wolf and Irish Wolfhound

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:09:16 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Wolf and Irish Wolfhound - brook108.jpg

Now there's a stand-off!

Another view

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:09:07 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another view - brook109.jpg

I think the different demeanors and postures between these two enemies is provocative.

A dynamic bronze piece..

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:09:01 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A dynamic bronze piece.. - brook11.jpg

I think it was bronze -- it looked a lot like terra cotta clay! I really liked how you could see the finger and thumb indentions in the base -- you could see how the artist worked. A lot of detail in this piece -- must've been a bugger to cast! We joked about how Joanie would react having to cast this piece in ceramic. I can just imagine her face when considering the prospect of casting those reins and ropes, for starters.

My favorite piece!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:08:56 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

My favorite piece! - brook111.jpg

"Springtime Frolic" by Joseph Lorkowski Boulton. Cast aluminum. I mean really -- was there any doubt?? WELL WELL WELL!!!

Another shot

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:08:48 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another shot - brook112.jpg

I love the combination of the dynamic jumpers and the two others doing other squirrely things. Neat juxtaposition of ideas!

Another shot...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:08:40 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Another shot... - brook113.jpg

"WHAAAAAAAT?!!!!!"

Pretty seeds....

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:08:31 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Pretty seeds.... - brook114.jpg

They reminded me of the kinds of ornaments a Geisha would have in her hair.

Cardinal

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:08:22 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Cardinal - brook115.jpg

We were quite taken by these brilliant red birds. Wow! We don't get those in Idaho!

Southern Fox Squirrel

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:08:17 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Southern Fox Squirrel - brook116.jpg

Joy! Giant Blobs all over the park! They are quite rare and are huge! Much bigger than the grey squirrels I'm used to. That's a lot of goo! They were quite skittish though -- it was hard to get closer than 15-20 feet to them.

Patting down the acorn he just buried

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:08:12 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Patting down the acorn he just buried - brook117.jpg

FOOD! Well well WELL.

Bronze gator

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:08:04 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Bronze gator - brook118.jpg

Ham did a double-take! At first he thought this was a real gator! It's life-size and beautifully sculpted, that it fooled me for a couple of seconds! Especially after we had just seen two real ones not 40 minutes before!

Otter bronze

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:07:53 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Otter bronze - brook119.jpg

What struck me as odd was how the momma otter is holding the fish like a baby, and look at that loving look on her face. She's going to eat her baby?? Strange.

A lovely Native American bronze

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:07:42 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

A lovely Native American bronze - brook11a.jpg

"On the Border of the White Man's Land" by Solon Hannibal Borglum. A lovely piece (the guy is peering through the horse's mane), with a wonderful expression on the horse's face.

Look at all the charmkins!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:07:36 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Look at all the charmkins! - brook12.jpg

"Inspiration of the Story Teller" by Paul Moore. I loved this charming piece -- look at the tortoise sitting upright to listen to the story!

Bright berries!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:07:29 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Bright berries! - brook120.jpg

I wanted to see Spanish Moss...

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:07:18 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

I wanted to see Spanish Moss... - brook121.jpg

and I saw LOTS of Spanish Moss.

The old oaks were off the charts gorgeous

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:07:09 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

The old oaks were off the charts gorgeous - brook122.jpg

I loved the composition of this fountain piece

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:07:00 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

I loved the composition of this fountain piece - brook123.jpg

Still bright flowers in October!

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:06:53 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Still bright flowers in October! - brook124.jpg

Bronze ducks

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:06:40 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Bronze ducks - brook125.jpg

The composition of this piece is so dynamic. I also like the dense patina and the more impressionistic style of sculpting.

Bronze birds in the storage room

MinkStudios — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:06:34 MDT

MinkStudios posted a photo

Bronze birds in the storage room - brook126.jpg

These pieces are sitting in "storage" until they're rotated back out to the Gardens again.