Halloween Door

 Skeletons and blow up lawn decorations are all the rage these days. But it’s refreshing to see this collage of old-style Halloween cutouts. Many of them look near-vintage, the types of colorful printed holiday motifs that elementary school teachers would use to brighten up their classrooms. I love the exuberance, and the way it all spills right out beyond the door frame.

Daytime Jack-O-Lanterns

 They were hard to miss, smiling and leering in the sunshine. The jack-o-lanterns sat on a wall that stretches for nearly a block in front of a stately home. Their colors varied and so did some of their expressions. The proximity of so many plastic smiles along a street lined with grand historic homes was a happy surprise. They were strictly Daytime Jacks, glowing only from the power of the sun. I wonder, where do they keep all of them during the rest of the year...?

Drum Circle On the Beach

 As the sun began to set, another sound joined the calls of the gulls and terns swooping along the edge of Florida's Venice Beach. It came from the drum circle, a low, deep vibration. The drummers attracted sunburned teenagers and small children who had lost interest in their sand castles. Elderly residents set up lawn chairs around the edge of the circle. The drumming continued until the sun dipped below the ocean. Clouds flared with orange and blue-violet, then faded along with the drumming, marking the end of another fine day.

The Cars Ride In Here

 If you live somewhere along the East Coast, you have the option of taking Amtrak’s Auto Train to or from Florida. A train goes in each direction once a day. Instead of the endless highway that is I-95, passengers doze overnight in seats or roomettes then wake to find themselves in either Sanford, Florida or Lorton, Virginia. Children love to watch the automobiles being driven up the ramps into auto cars that get hooked to the back of the passenger train. Just remember to take that special stuffed animal or blankie out of the family car, or it will have to ride in darkness until everyone reaches their destination.

Through The Veil

 At the Sarasota Museum of Art, viewers can immerse themselves in the glowing colors of Lillian Blades’ artwork. Textured assemblages hang on the walls, inviting a closer look to puzzle out all the repurposed objects that form them. The free-hanging "veils" are mesmerizing, with units cut from mirror, transparent plastic and fabric-covered wood. They are wired together into fabric-like veils that cast complicated shadows. It’s a magical environment.

Tending The Water Gardens

 Volunteers in hip waders moved quietly among the lilies and reeds at the Denver Botanical Gardens. They removed spent foliage, trimming and tidying. The detritus went into a kiddie-sized floaty tethered to each worker. The water is colored with plant-safe dye that makes it harder for unwanted plants to get enough light to grow. It transforms the surface into a dark mirror, reflecting the clouds scudding across a bright Colorado sky.

Pyramid of Preserves

 The current exhibit at the Renwick Gallery focuses on the wide variety of crafts that are displayed and celebrated at state fairs all across the country. Most are based on the skills necessary to sustain a farm and a family: sewing, knitting, producing crops and raising animals. A pyramid of preserves highlights the necessity of making sure families have food all year. Rod Zeitler has won hundreds of prizes for his pickles, jams and jellies. Now, colors glowing, they rise almost to the ceiling on a brightly lit ziggurat. It’s magnificently impressive and also a reminder of how much easier it is to obtain food these days.