Canstruction Again

Some of you may remember this post from last year, when I shared photos of Canstruction, the most unique food drive in the world.  The local competition is sponsored by the Society for Design Admininstration, and is currently on exhibit at NorthPark Center.

Recently, I was in the area on business, and took a few minutes to tour this year's event.

Dallas architects and engineers come together to build sculptures, using only cans, boxes and bags of non-perishable food.

At the close of the exhibit, all cans, boxes and bags of food will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank.

Once again, I was reminded how fortunate I am there are cans sitting on my pantry shelves, and fresh food waiting in my refrigerator.

There were 24 entries this year, so this is only a small sampling.

Sports were a popular theme -- and especially nods to Dallas pro teams.

This is a replica of the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy won this year by the Dallas Mavericks.

Social media was also represented, as seen in this two-sided FaceBook entry.

An eery coincidence were entries depicting iPods, iPads and iPhones.  There is no way the creators of those sculptures could have predicted the recent passing of Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. 

Designing of the sculptures began months ago, with build-out and installation occurring a week prior to his untimely death.  Unfortunately, those sculptures were in locations difficult to photograph due to sunlight and other mall activities.

It took me awhile to figure out exactly what this sculpture represented.

Can you guess?

The title was E-luminating.  Even with that hint, I was a little puzzled!

It depicts an energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Can you tell I still prefer the old-fashioned type? 

So, that's a quick tour of this year's Canstruction!

Sorry for a few blurry pictures.  I truly was zipping through the mall.  Fast and furious seems to be the theme of my life lately.  The days are flying past.  I am busy, but that to-do-list does not seem to disappear!  Moments to sew have been few and far between.

This weekend, we will be attending a memorial service for a sweet friend.  Monday will bring another funeral service for an elderly family member.  It makes me want to hang onto each day a little longer, and squeeze as much as possible into each one.

May your weekend be filled with joyful moments, crisp autumn smells and flavors, and victory for your favorite football --and baseball -- teams!

A Record Broken

For 31 years, all summers have been compared to the summer of 1980.

It was the hottest on record with 69 days of temperatures over 100 degrees.

Yesterday, the mercury rose to 107 degrees and a new record was set.

We were all too hot and exhausted to care or celebrate.

The first 100 degree day of the year was recorded on June 13.

Each and every day in July was 100 degrees or more.

Last month, the temperatures fell for a couple of days.  With that, we failed to break the record for the number of consecutive days of 100 degrees.  The summer of 1980 will continue to hold that record.

We could easily reach 100 degrees again today, and then cooler temperatures are supposedly on the way.

However, concerns still remain.

The summer brought not only record temperatures, but record drought.

Everything everywhere is dry.

I drove through residual smoke from fires in East Texas on my way to Market.

On the return trip, I drove past still smoldering grass and pine trees just inside the Texas state line.

Yesterday, large fires broke out in nearby counties.

I have given up trying to keep landscape plants alive.  Even with city enforced watering restrictions, our water bill is more than double its normal summer amount.  I won't even discuss the air conditioning bill.

At least we still have a house to cool.  Thousands of homes in nearby areas, and other parts of Texas, have gone up in flames.  Residents have lost everything, and even a few lives have been lost.

When the rains finally come, maybe then there will be cause for celebration.

Cans Can Feed

I mentioned previously that the Dallas Arboretum is one of my favorite places in the city. 

Another favorite is NorthPark Center.

I feel a little guilty admitting that a shopping mall holds such a spot of honor, but it is so much more than a place to shop.

For me, it holds so many memories.  Good memories.

It is a place that my mother and I giggled like school girls.

It is where I would meet my sister when she was a buyer for Neiman Marcus.

It is where I spent hours working a phone bank to raise funds and sell season tickets for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

It is where I, and so many others, picked up packets for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

It is where I pushed a stroller in an attempt to entertain my young son, and assure myself there were people in the world taller than 3 feet with real vocabularies.

It is where that same son first sat on Santa's knee.

It is where I will go in a few weeks and still see the timeless holiday decorations that once filled his eyes with amazement and wonder.

It is a place filled not only with stores, but also wonderful artwork, landscaped gardens and inspiration in many forms.

It is so much more than a shopping mall.

NorthPark constantly gives back to the community, hosting various fundraisers and exhibits throughout the year.

I just happened to be there recently and observe Canstruction, the most unique food drive in the world.

Canstruction is an annual competition of giant structures built completely with canned food.  Competing teams are led by architects and engineers.  Competitions are held throughout the country.  This local competition is organized by the Society for Design Administration, working in tandem with the American Institute of Architects.

This was the 14th annual local competition and featured 23 structures.

Don't Let Hunger Drag-on by Corgan Associates, Inc.

Approximately 6,000 cans

Some sculptures incorporated bags of  beans or packets of soup mix for just the right texture or color.

We Can Turn Hunger Around by Perkins + Will

Approximately 2025 cans

Close up of turntable.  The black color was achieved with plastic lids.

I-CAN-dy by FKP Architects

Approxiimately 3225 cans

Pairing Up to End Hunger by Alliance Architects

Approximately 1182 cans

Due to strong sunlight, I was unable to take a good photograph of the opposite side of the ark.  That side featured pairs of small plastic animals marching up the plank of the ark.

I was able to capture a photograph of the cute couple at the ark's bow!

Souper Bowl by HDR Architects

Approxiimately 5860 cans

A most appropriate sculpture, since the metroplex will be hosting the NFL Super Bowl in January 2011.

Notice it is resting on green turf to resemble a football field.

You can also, just barely, see a spoon handle emerging from the bowl on the opposite side.

Extinguish Hunger by VAI Architects

Approximately 2120 cans

Blowing Away Hunger by Paige-Southerland-Paige

Approximately 4020 cans

Following the competition and exhibit, all food is donated to the North Texas Food Bank.

What was a delightful exhibit and feast for the eyes of many, will become desperately needed nourishment for many bodies.

As I looked at the vast amount of food, I was reminded how very blessed I am.

While my life is not perfect, and some days are difficult, I have never known hunger.

I pray that someday that can be true for all.

Until then, I am thankful for non-profits such as Canstruction, all the teams of architects and engineers that contributed their time and talent, and a shopping mall that is a favorite spot for more reasons than shopping.

Pumpkin Houses

I recently spent a delightful day strolling the grounds of the Dallas Arboretum.  It is truly one of my favorite spots in the city!

Paths and planting beds throughout the grounds are lined with over 40,000 pumpkins and decorative gourds, during the Great Pumpkin Festival.

There are pumpkins here,

there,

and everywhere!

In some places, the pumpkins and gourds fill the entire planting beds.

In other places, they become the plants! 

Surely you are familiar with pumpkin flowers, aren't you?

But, the main attraction is the Storybook Pumpkin Village!

Four walk-through houses are constructed completely of pumpkins and gourds.

I adored the green window trim on this little house!

Each house was unique,

 

and truly a work of art!

The Arboretum is not the only place to find delightful pumpkin houses, though!

This adorable little pumpkin house recently arrived by mail.

I am thinking it might actually have a slight advantage over those at the Arboretum.

The roof opens, and a drawer slides out to reveal yummy chocolates!

Nothing better than a day filled with pumpkin houses!

Dallas Blooms!

The Dallas Arboretum is located on the grounds of the DeGolyer and Camp Estates.

The gardens first opened to the public in 1984.

It is located only a few miles from our previous home, and quickly became a favorite spot of mine.

Overlooking White Rock Lake, the gardens now cover approximately 66 acres.

Dallas Blooms, held each year by the Arboretum, marks the beginning of spring for many of us!

Over 500,000 spring-blooming bulbs burst forth in glorious color.

In addition, there are pansies, azaleas, cherry blossoms and an assortment of other flowering plants and trees.

This year's theme was Fiesta de las Flores.

It featured brighter and warmer colors of blooms, instead of pastel hues.

Ferdinand the Bull, a topiary towering twelve feet tall,

was a highlight of the festival!

But the main focus is still on the massive plantings of tulips!

Yet, some of my most favorite parts of the gardens do not involve flowers at all.

There are many spaces . . .

perfect for resting,

meditating,

and reflecting.

There is also the background which has become a favorite . . .

for many a bridal or other formal photograph.

Could there be a more lovely frame?

By now, these blooms have all faded away. 

I am a little late in sharing them with you.

 I hope they brightened your day as much now, as they did mine on the day I strolled through the gardens of the Dallas Arboretum!