Friday, January 22, 2016

One Block at a Time

Thought for the day:  During darkened conditions a bare foot can serve quite well as an inexpensive device for finding every missing LEGO®  left lying on the floor. 


[morguefile]
When we were kids, we played with erector sets and Tinkertoys, which are both probably considered far too dangerous for children to have in today's world. Too many sharp edges, I suppose. As opposed to LEGOs®, which are definitely more colorful, and allegedly much safer. (Ever step on one of them? They feel pretty darned sharp to me...)

At any rate, they're a lot of fun for kids of all ages. (Just between you and me, Smarticus and I may or may not have been known to remain on the floor assembling some of those brightly-colored marvels long after the grandchildren have lost interest and moved onto something else.)

When we visited the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in 2014, I shared some pictures of the fabulous  mosaicultures they had on exhibit. Well, towards the end of last year, we visited the new branch of the Gardens, located in Gainesville, where a LEGO® exhibit was on display. Let's just say the stuff they had there is a heckuva lot more sophisticated than I ever imagined anyone building with those blocks. Wanta see...?




This first one is rather simple. (Albeit, beyond my skill level.) It shows a couple squirrels and birds at a feeder.













Here's a closer look at a couple of the birds.














A gardener tending a plant.
















A true-to-life sized roto-tiller.














A sundial.The bushes surrounding the dial had clocks hanging from them. (Yes, that's my shadow... time for me to pay more attention...)











A hummingbird and trumpet plant.















A mallard duck and his babies... and an egg.














Praying mantis.














A woodpecker on a tree that's wrapped in a web of red yarn.














A majestic bald eagle.
















A corn snake... according to the sign at the gardens. According to my brother, who KNOWS his snakes, it's actually a milk snake.















And a monarch butterfly.

Pretty cool, huh? The gardens in Gainesville are considerable smaller than the ones in Atlanta, but they're still quite lovely, and feature lots of walking trails through the surrounding woods, too. It made for a terrific way to spend a beautiful day in the great outdoors.

[morguefile]
Oh, and check out this picture. This most impressive LEGO® knight and dragon weren't at the gardens; I found this pic on morguefile. The things some talented people can make out of these simple, but ingenious, blocks, is nothing short of amazing. Seems to me, there must be some sort of lesson to be learned from this...

There is strength in numbers. When the bricks stick together, great things can be accomplished. [Steve Klusmeyer]

And that's all from this brick... or more like blockhead... for now.

                            Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.


68 comments:

  1. This brings the concept of creativity to new levels. With each photo, I kept saying "This is my favorite" - - and then an even better one would come along.

    Hey, I can sure use that roto-tiller - - perhaps I should get some Legos and construct one?
    The sundial, the snake, the hummingbird....

    Wow! Knight and dragon! All are truly amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! The skill and patience it requires to build these things is astounding. Patience, I've got. The skill? Not so much.

      Sure, get yourself some Legos and build that roto-tiller, but if your skills are as "good" as mine, the odds of an actual tiller magically appearing in front of you might be greater than the odds of creating one from blocks. (Besides, even if you built it, I bet it'd do a really lousy job creating furrows...)

      Delete
  2. My daughter used to make amazing things out of Legos. When she was in high school, we stopped by a Lego store in Chicago. They had a "man" made of Legos. He sat on a bench. My daughter sat next to him and made goo-goo eyes and put out her hand to touch his knee. I got a photo of it. It was hilarious. The store also had a Lego dinosaur with an open mouth. My daughter put her hand in the mouth and acted as if the dinosaur were biting her. Good times.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like you and your daughter had a lot of fun. I sure hope you post those two pictures sometime... :)

      Delete
    2. I don't have them. When I moved to Florida, I left some things in Illinois. I needed to find out what I had room for. X said I could store things there, and he'd send them to me as soon as I knew what I could have. It wasn't in writing. I got nothing I left behind, including some gifts my mom gave me. It still feels like a little stab with a knife when I think of all I've lost.

      Delete
    3. Such a shame. PHOOEY on your ex. You're well rid of him.

      Delete
  3. The diversity and skills in those constructions is truly amazing.
    Did I ever tell you about my mum's solution to scattered lego? A king sized bedsheet, hemmed all around with a drawstring inserted, the toddlers had to play on the sheet, no legos allowed outside those edges. After play was over, she'd lift up the sides, pull the drawstring tight and hang the whole shebang on the back of the door.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your mother was a brilliant lady! She could probably have made a lot of money marketing her idea.

      Delete
  4. Terrific photos of creative craftpersonship. This humble Danish invention has gradually endeared itself to the world. Few people outside California know this, but the mayor of Sacramento is actually made of Legos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know much about your mayor, but I can think of quite a few other politicians who would be much more likable if they were made of blocks.

      Delete
  5. Our family adores Legos. And they are very sharp; I can attest to that fact!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can attest... I'll second their sharpness. My husband used to have a unique talent for finding them in his bare feet.

      Delete
  6. Wow, that has to take some skill indeed. Yeah, they are sharp indeed when you step on them. The cat tries to eat them haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HA! We've got one of those cats, too. She tries to eat EVERYTHING.

      Delete
  7. I want to go to this park immediately. You find the coolest places. Legos are awesome fun. Have a great weekend. I assume you are dodging any snow - don't think it started that far south.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Um, it might be a little nippy... and a LOT wet... to go to that park right now. Not sure if we're going to get any snow or ice from that storm or not. Depends on which weather prognosticator is talking. The rain might change to snow and ice this evening. Even if it does, our ground is supersaturated with rain. (Our yard is so wet, it looks like we have lakefront property... on all sides!)

      You have a super weekend, too. If we get snow, I'll make a snowman. (An itty bitty snowman...) If you get snow, you have to make one, too!

      Delete
  8. Gosh I've stepped on too many of the little buggers, but they were a lot of fun. (We played with them too) And it is an industry isn't it. Lego land exists in California. But I really love the colorful gardening statues. Got to get me a few of those.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's a big Legoland in Florida, too, but we've never visited it. One of the more exclusive malls in Atlanta has a smaller version of Legoland, too, but it costs an arm and a leg just to walk in the door. On the other hand, admission to the botanical garden was quite reasonable. :)

      Delete
  9. Correction Sis, that's a Milksnake not a Cornsnake. But they are all amazing likenesses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correction duly noted. I just repeated what the sign said at the gardens.

      Delete
  10. I think Legos are THE most painful things to step on (besides a rusty nail, and I'm not even sure about that).

    I can't get over the hummingbird and butterfly sculptures! The balance on them must be so precise!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, at least if you step on a Lego, you don't have to wonder when you got your last tetanus shot...

      Delete
  11. These creations are amazing. I don't have the patience to build things like this. That makes me appreciate all the more the talents of those who do. Great pictures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't they? Oh, I have patience out the wazoo... it's the talent I'm missing. (I can't look at a chunk of wood and "see" what kind of sculpture is hiding inside, either...)

      Delete
  12. There's an AMAZING artist named Nathan Sawaya who works with Legos!! I wrote a post about him. http://fishducky.blogspot.com/2015/03/lego-man.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. We just had Legos at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
    Thirteen sculptures with butterflies, hanging corn spiders, Galapagos Tortoise and huge dragonflies. I only was able to see it online I was too sick to visit.
    It was a traveling show so I wonder if it was the same one ?
    Only stepped once on a leftover toy once and it wasn't a lego thank goodness.
    Loved your Thought Of The Day and the ending photo.

    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It doesn't sound like the same exact show, but maybe it was done by the same company, and the sculptures are built specifically to best suit various individual gardens. I'm sorry you missed out on seeing it when it was in town.

      Cheers back atcha. Have a super weekend.

      Delete
  14. Oh my goodness.. these are wonderful! My husband and kiddo love Legos. They build stuff together all the time. I've taken her to this Lego amusement park about an hour from my place. She was too young to do half the stuff, which was a huge disappointment for the price, but seeing all the cool stuff they made with the Legos was really impressive!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, the entrance price on most of those amusement parks is ridiculous, but since your family loves Legos, I reckon you'll just have to go back again when your daughter is a little older, so she can truly appreciate it.

      Delete
  15. I love these, especially the butterfly. I enjoyed Legos as a kid, but I never became elaborate with them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our kids enjoyed Legos when they were growing up, too, especially our boys. They weren't all that elaborate with them then, but it sure is fun to watch them build with their own kids now.

      Delete
  16. I have stepped on a piece of Lego... One reason why I am so glad my children are older now. :-)
    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HA! Not sure which was tougher... stepping on Legos, or worrying about teenagers when they went out in the evening. :)

      Greetings back atcha.

      Delete
  17. Those models are unbelievable! I've never seen Legos used in that way. That is truly a work of art!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! They're incredible. And here I thought they were just for building little buildings and vehicles...

      Delete
  18. I loved Legos as a kid, and I love them as a parent! Of course my boys are grown now, but we still have a huge Rubbermaid tote full of Legos stashed away in a closet.

    Can you believe we live just 15 miles or so from Legoland and have never been? It's on the list...

    I think I like the Lego snake the most.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, you'd better hang onto those old Legos. Some day, your boys may want to play with them again... with their own children.

      I knew you lived fairly close to Legoland, and we drove past it many times when we were down that-a-way. In my opinion, the entrance price is ridiculously high.

      Delete
  19. There's a huge bag of multi coloured Lego sitting right behind me. My newest grandson, Boo Boo, loves building giant structures, then giving it a good whack so that the pieces go everywhere. He's away in Australia at the moment, so our feet are safe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Something tells me you'd rather have Boo Boo right there next to you playing with those blocks than away in Australia. (You can always wear boots to protect your feet...)

      Delete
  20. I feel like a kid again! I love Lego sculptures. And Legos. I still have all of mine (no, I don't play with them, but I just can't bear to throw them away).

    Fun fact: when I was 8 years old I built a 2 foot tall Bugs Bunny snacking on a carrot, made out of Legos, and was featured as the builder of the month in Lego magazine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What an awesome fun fact! I sure hope you kept some copies of that magazine. That is totally cool.

      No, by all means, don't throw those blocks away! Some day, you may have the fun of teaching your own kids how to create amazing things with them.

      Delete
  21. Hi Susan - lego is amazing .. and it's fascinating to see what can be made from it ... I too posted on Lego and the creations that can be made ... there's an American occupational therapist, who created a video of herself making a prosthetic leg?!

    They came into our household, when I was too old .. and sadly not of the creative type! But love seeing what can be made now .. I can see you and Smarticus enjoying yourselves after the Grandkids have moved on to other toys ...

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! A prosthetic leg built with Legos? THAT I've gotta see!

      Heck yeah, Legos weren't around when Smarticus and I were kids, so we might as well enjoy them now!

      Cheers back atcha.

      Delete
  22. Whoa! Those are so incredibly impressive. I doubt I'd ever have the patience to put Legos together that ingeniously!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you like 'em, too. I thought they were totally impressive. And far beyond my level of building ability.

      Delete
  23. The grandson loves his Lego...keeps him amused for hours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If Legos keep your grandson happy for hours, my guess is, you love them, too. :)

      Delete
  24. Lego has been a staple in our house forever. The Great Dane is...well......a Dane. We have been to Legoland in Denmark more times than I can remember and are looking forward to making a trip with the oldest grandchildren one day. Lego is the best toy!
    Do you know, there are, online, slippers made especially for those who fear walking over Lego pieces. My son sent me the link. They are, in my opinion, for those who don't want to live dangerously!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, wow, I imagine Denmark's Legoland must put the ones here in the states to shame. It's very cool that you've been there so many times, but taking your grandchildren with you will make it like seeing it for the first time all over again.:)

      HA! No, I didn't know there were slippers made specifically for people who are afraid of stepping on Legos, but it kinda cracks me up that there is.

      Delete
  25. Lego used to be one of my favorites, and my son still plays with it. He uses more of the technical pieces to make amazing engineering creations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think maybe EVERYONE must love Legos. I'm kinda intrigued as to the pieces your engineer son creates with them.

      Delete
  26. Wow to the creativity of some people Susan... I only built a small Lego house when I was younger. Oh and does Lego ever hurt to step on... I've done that a couple of times xox

    As far as dangerous toys, remember clacker balls? I loved them even if they were dangerous. ... and tell small hoop on your ankle with the attached rope and ball.... I spent hours mastering that. The knock offs they make now are lame.. lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, I don't remember clacker balls. I don't think they were around when I was growing up, and I can't remember any of my kids playing with them, either. Judging from your description and my high level of klutziness, they sound like something that would have led me to a broken bone or two. :)

      Delete
  27. Oh my gosh, these sculptures are amazing! I think the woodpecker in the tree is my favorite. But all of them are so cool. People are so talented!
    I laughed about the Legos in the dark. I have stepped on them with bare feet and I also consider them sharp. And since I am the biggest klutz on earth even the smallest lego is enough to send me tumbling to the floor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Falling to the floor after stepping on a Lego could be even more dangerous. Just think how one of them would feel embedded in your cheek! :)

      Delete
  28. Amazing. I love the hummingbird. And yes, bare feet and Legos are a lethal combination. Yeow!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like the hummingbird, too.

      Stepping on Legos in one's bare feet can definitely kill polite conversation, anyway.

      Delete
  29. Lego is incredible. Keeps my sons busy for hours. Unfortunately the Lego-foot is a painful by-product.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, Legos really are great. If it makes you feel any better, stepping on a metal piece of an erector set was even more painful. :)

      Delete
  30. The butterfly is my favorite. I love the idea of a display like this in gardens, where the discovery and surprise adds to the experience. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely! Exhibits like this in an already beautiful garden are like the cherries and whipped topping on an ice cream sundae. :)

      Delete
  31. This is my 9 year old's favorite subject of all time. We have so many legos it's scary, but they're a great learning toy. We're no lego architects though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree about Legos being a great learning toy. It's always great to see a child building and using his imagination. Hey! No need to be architects... you just have to have fun!

      Delete
  32. We used to play with legos all the time...but no small ones now at home unfortunately.

    Great pics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, you don't HAVE to have little ones around to play with Legos... :)

      Delete
  33. A time when there was quiet in the house was when my kids were playing Legos. They did not have the ones that my grandchildren have today, they cost less, and except for the small boxes for specific cars, their's were about using your imagination and creating their own project. When I see these wonderful toys being made into these works of art, I think what fun these people must have had as children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not only how much fun they had as children, but how much fun they're still having NOW. That's even better yet. (We're never too old to play!)

      Delete