Friday, October 26, 2012

Vulture Fest!

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Vulture Fest!
 What an interesting little place Makanda is! Population, 450.
And probably at least that many dogs...
We didn't see one single kitty, but maybe (hopefully) they were all indoors...
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That's our little pop-up gazebo on the left...
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Here's the "Boardwalk"...
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I love willow furniture, but I've never seen anything like this...
it looked like a little throne!
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This is my face-painting sign!
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And here are my little okra-pod vultures...
I sold out!
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Check out the license plate... I couldn't resist taking a picture!
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Great-niece Jaylen having her hair braided by my sister-in-law, her "Grandma Berby"...
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This man's studio was the cornerstone of the boardwalk shops...
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A sign from the first festival, years ago...
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Inside Dave's studio...he works in glass and metal...
I could see me painting in here, though!
Photos don't do it justice...
There was art, and stuff, and more stuff....everywhere!
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This was way overhead...I don't even know what to call it ~
It looked like part of a stage coach...or a pirate ship...
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In a glass case...I think this arrangement has been there since the 70s...;^)
And oh, my...look at the okra-pod hair!
(The wheels are turning!)
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Dave did lots and lots and LOTS of these little brass figures... (Love the two carrying the leaf!)  ~ They are about an inch tall...another large floor piece (that I didn't get a photo of, unfortunately ~ too crowded in his studio to get a shot) had literally hundreds of figures climbing a big piece of driftwood...
(Isn't the face carved in this piece wonderful?...)
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What is really interesting though, is the "garden" out back...
There is a stage for performers...
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And art...like this pottery vulture...
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And this HUGE brass insect (about 4 feet long)...
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...and mazes, mazes, everywhere, through the ivy...
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Little bridges and boardwalks...
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At the very top of this photo, you can see the stage...
there was a magician performing for a handful of people while I was taking pictures...
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I could have spent the afternoon here with a book...;^) ~ ♥
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Little twisty paths everywhere....
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...And everything is covered in English ivy...goodness, if we had had something like this when I was little, I would have never come indoors... never!...:^)
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Along about dusk, a few vultures started coming closer...
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A few minutes later, there were dozens...
Then they dwindled down to just a few in the air, then none.
They had settled down to roost for the night.
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And that is Vulture Fest! We didn't really know what to expect, but we definitely want to go back...
They have another festival in May, and we hope to attend!
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26 comments:

  1. Oh, I would love to visit here! What a magical place, so much to look at. I love everything. And your photographs are wonderful. Very jealous! Love those little vultures and the giant insect, and is that a bat? Minerva x

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  2. WOW! This place looks wonderful. I love that quirky-vibe. We have turkey vultures here, but no festival. lol! Thanks for sharing these pics! xo

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  3. Such great places! I love the studio shot, it reminds me of a wizard's lab! :)

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  4. What a delightful place! Looks like a great time for all.
    BTW, I marvel every time I think of YOUR talent!

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  5. I love it all. Amazing images..I would love to come and injoy the fun and magic.

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  6. This sounds like quite an undertaking for a small town! Your face painting is wonderful! I would want to be a tiger.:)

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  7. What a fun day to share. I had no idea there was such a place. Thanks for all the photos. So many talented people. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Wow! Never heard of this festival or the little town. Thanks for sharing. Your little Jaylen is adorable. Love how you do the face painting. xo

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  9. WOW! I loved this! Okra hair...very inspiring-but I just LOVE your okra vultures. We have the vultures all spring and summer, then they migrate. It's funny, they have picked out a certain old building in town, and just hang out by the dozens on the roof top. You can see the sky full of them just hovering-we always joke about dead stuff in THAT town, but not in ours!
    Loved your post!

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  10. Amazing!
    Looks like a great place to celebrate and have a blast! Neat old buildings. That studio is awesome!!
    My dad would have loved, loved seeing it too.
    He was an artist.

    Wonderful that you sold out of your vultures.. of course it's no surprise.

    Thanks for sharing such a fun place with us!!

    {{hugs}}
    K.

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  11. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - what a great festival this looks like...and the little town reminds me of downtown St. Charles - just wonderful, Anne...Happy weekend - XOXO - Tanya

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  12. Dear Anne - these are lovely photos and thank you for showing your face painting. How cute is that - can I come have you paint a kitty face on me?? - Your vultures are so cute - no wonder you sold out. I am with you - if I would have had a place like that back garden I would have stayed out all night to play. Take care and as always God Bless - xo xo Pixie

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  13. Oh lordie, what an adventure! I love little towns like this, they have so much soul and what a neat idea a vulture fest is! :) Love your little vultures too, they just look so perfect and the okra pod idea is brilliant!No wonder you sold out! Your niece looks like a little angel :)
    And Im right with you on the ivy!! I would NEVER have come home if I had something like this around my house, enchanting!
    Thank you for sharing this with us! :)

    Hugs,

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  14. wow i so much wanted to come and visit here.looks like a magical land..
    hugs xxx

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  15. What fun! Oh and that okra hair; wild!

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  16. Amazing...what a grand festival and a unique town. Love all the pictures...especially the orange pumpkin car and sculptures. Your sign is cute for the face painting and I am not the least bit surprised you sold out your okra pod vultures.:)

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  17. This looks like so much fun!!! I would plan to go again too, because I have a feeling this festival is one where you just never know what you'll get to see or even buy! Your vultures really were perfect, and I'm glad you had time to have some fun too!!

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  18. I love that place...I would love to visit it. I grew up in a small place like that...about 650 permanent residents.

    Your vultures are so cute:)

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  19. Absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed my visit ... love the vulture sign w/the young man standing in the vulture pose and the punkin car (awesome) and the face paint and ... just a great post.
    Thanks, Jenn

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  20. Vulture Fest looks as if it was quite an adventure and lots of fun. Your little okra pod vultures are super fun and I can see how they sold out. Quaint little town that is staying alive in this tough economy. Creative Bliss...

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  21. I was thinking maybe this might be a little weird. It was and I liked it ... a lot. Looks like a fun event and town.

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  22. Hi Anne..It is just so ironic that you should post about the festival. I have a friend that just moved down there and they bought a trailer with a barn on it and are having someone work on moving the trailer out and they are moving a double wide in and hooking it up to where there was an addition that was on the trailer. She also emailed me some pictures from the festival and of all things she is looking around for a place for us to relocate with our 4 dogs. It would be so cool if you coud meet up with her and tell her Nancy sent you. You can message me through my blog or on FB, My name on FB is Nancy Huggins. I would love to talk to you more about your area. We live about 2+ hours North of you just above Effingham. Ya just never know who you will meet in blogland :)
    Hugs
    Nancy

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  23. Tried to email you through your email link and it didn't do anything :(
    Hugs
    Nancy

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  24. Looks like great fun..Love your header..

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  25. Oh, this is my kinda adventure---love these sweet little towns, and again your photos are stunning...how the heck do I subscribe to your blog? I couldn't find a link...Im totally enchanted! Thanks for a great glimpse ...

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