A stupa (literally meaning heap) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics, typically the remains of Buddhist monks, and is used as a place for meditation. These stupas are made from porcelain crockery, bowls, plates, cups and the like. After this summer’s lantern festival is over, all of the displays, except for this one will be auctioned off. These hundreds of commonly used household items can’t be sold, because they are not safe to eat off of. I don’t know exactly what is wrong with this porcelain (probably heavy metals), but the garden doesn’t want to take the liability risk and so will ship all of this beautiful, but tainted porcelain back to China.
Tag Archives: Chinese lantern festival
The Whole Mispocha
We are looking forward to the gathering of the clan. Bubs and Harry, their issue, their grandchildren, a couple of other guys and a new guy will all be in attendance at the cabin this summer. Our children will be there, Dan who we have not seen since Christmas and Dave who we have not seen since Easter. Jay and Carl will be there, along with Rey and Ashlan and Ashlan’s boyfriend, poor guy. I know, I’ve been there, where he will be. Maybe even Jane will be there too, I hope. Twelve people in one cabin, with one bathroom, plus an outhouse. Even though the outhouse is a two-seater, I’ll be sure to pack plenty of patience. We have too big wedding anniversaries to celebrate, for Anne and I it will be our 35th and for Jay and Carl it will be their 30th. It will be good to see everyone again and I’m sure that we can work through any lavatory issues.
Bridge Birthday Bash
Saturday night, we made it to the botanical gardens for the second iteration of the Chinese lantern festival. I liked these dandelion sculptures when I first saw them during the day, but they are positively glowing at night. We both took plenty of photographs at the festival, so expect to see more of them.
Today was another big bike riding day, with Trailnet’s Bridge Birthday Bash, held at the old Chain of Rocks Bridge. We did the long route for 53 miles. I am finally beginning to believe that we will be able to do our big Michigan bicycle ride this summer, without dying. The Mississippi River is in full flood, but we crossed it, twice. A number of the trails along the river were flooded, but we were able to detour around them. It rained and we got wet, but we persevered. At ten minutes to three, we were the last two riders to finish, but we finished and Anne is happy, so I’m happy too. It’s just that my butt isn’t very happy right now, but it will get over it.
Giant Dandelions
Normally, on a Monday, I’m back at work by now, but what with this being Memorial Day weekend I’ll just have to soldier on. After the previous two days of bicycling, both Strife and I were ready for a little cross-training, anything to not get back on the bike again. I don’t know what I’ll do when I retire and I don’t have five days of sitting around to fall back on. I learned this week that the Spanish word for retirement is jubilación, which sounds like a heck of a lot more fun than retirement. Maybe, I’ll have to retire to south of the border? OBTW, Strife has informed me that if I continue to refer to her like that she will come up with an equally dubious nickname for me. Do I dare challenge a woman whose vocabulary accessorizes itself with sharp-tongued witticisms? In the words of that great president, George W Bush, “Bring it on!”
The weatherman lied to us this weekend, having predicted rain for most of it, but it has been dry for almost all of it, except for last night. Anne and Joanie were at their dance concert and I was at the movies when it rained, so we all missed it. I wanted to see “Mad Max – Fury Road”, but it was sold out. Instead, I saw “Pitch Perfect 2” (meh). Which is a shame, because the first one was so good. This one did have moments though, like during the Key and Peele substitute teacher scene.
Today, was another beautiful day, but like I said, we weren’t up for another bicycle ride, instead just to get out and enjoy the day, we went to the gardens. The second iteration of the Chinese lantern festival kicked off this weekend. During the day, it is still free to members, but at night there is an additional fee. Still there is a lot to see and admire in the daylight, like the dandelions pictured above, and there are also of course all of the usual flowers, plants and trees.
After the gardens, we headed over to South Grand and the City Diner. On the way there, we bumped into this guy with his twin bearded dragons. Daenerys of Westeros has nothing on him. Well, she did have three dragons. These two are only three months old and when full grown will reach two feet in length. He let us hold them, which was special, especially when afterwards I learned that they are linked to the spread of salmonella. We both wished that we had washed our hands afterwards. Still, he was a nice guy. The big one is the female, named Liz. Neither of us could remember what the smaller male’s name was. At the City Diner, Anne had brunch and I had lunch. Afterwards, when we were back out on Grand, I overheard one guy describe the diner to another guy as a “hipster Denney’s”, which seems pretty apt to me.




