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Is It Over Yet?

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams


The winter of '08-'09 was a doozie, wasn't it?


 From snow in what is usually warm California and Georgia to ice storms blanketing  the northeast I think that we have all had our fill of the ice and snow. In between the storms we had a delightful event in Plymouth, Michigan. Ice Wolf

 

That is the annual ice sculpting festival.
It was just a quick 15 minute drive from Ann Arbor to enjoy the activies and people watching.  Ice sculpture, mooseHundreds of people with kids and pets in tow traipsed  through the city park  sipping steaming hot cups of cocoa or munching on the goodies from a multitude of vendors.


Ice carversThe city had its act together as several hundred hand warming packets were given out (for free) to the visitors during the frozen weekend.
It was especially fun to watch some of the master carvers at work. Child ice carver


Kids lined up to get a good view of the action.

kids watching ice carving 
Pups of assorted sizes were looking for a pat or maybe a bite of your bratwurst!happy,shaggy dog


A great time was had by all.

Maybe we'll see you there next year!

 

Big bird ice

Anonymous
Clare

I was there. It was pretty kewl.

Mar 06, 2009 04:03 PM
#1
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Marian!  WOW!  We have nothing of the sort down here!!  I have always been amazed by ice sculpting though and wonder how in the world they can be so detail oriented on the carvings!

Funny but, we had FREEZING, snow here on Monday and this weekend, we're expecting 70-degrees!  It's just incredibly unpredictable weather!  But, I have to say, I LOVE the 70-degrees--it just gets me itching for working in my gardens!

Debe in Charlotte

Mar 06, 2009 04:10 PM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

It certainly has been a doozie of a winter!  They keep saying our snowpack is normal, yet it has been in the 70's here for a week!  March and April are generally the snowiest months in the mtns, wet sloppy stuff, making it "mud season" instead of Springtime in the Rockies!  The ice sculptures are cool! 

Mar 06, 2009 04:14 PM
Lynn911.com ~ Dallas Real Estate Agent Top Team
Dallas Houses for Rent Dallas Apartment Rentals Lynn911.com - Dallas, TX

These are such great pictures.... love the post. hope you have a great and successful weekend.

Mar 07, 2009 02:30 AM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Ditto on the pictures, Marian - they are beautiful. I've always loved ice sculptures. It seems like the snow is all gone now....we certainly don't need any more of it, that's for sure.

Mar 07, 2009 03:37 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Marion, I've got to add my WOW to everyone elses!  These ice sculptures are simply extraordinary.  Our culinary program in the community college does a nice job with the students during the winter, but I've never seen anything like you're showing here.  Very cool...

Mar 07, 2009 05:45 AM
Marian Gregor-Ann
Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI
Arbor area Real Estate

Hi Debe, Yes. The artists are amazing! They start w/ a chain saw, then move on to chisels and other tools.   Hey, I'm with you on the gardening bug. I have many amarillus that want to go outside whenever spring gets here!

Hi Cheryl, It's been in the 70"s? That is crazy weather for the mountains.

Hi there Lynn, Thanks. I had a lot of fun taking the pics (even 'tho my hands were freezing).

Hi Lola, my friend. There were many culinary students who participated with many walking away with top honors. There were 2 Japanese teams. Their work was the most spectacular.

Mar 07, 2009 10:55 AM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Marian, Now those are sights you don't see here in Florida. Thanks for sharing.

Mar 09, 2009 11:10 AM
Lori Churchill Cofer
Beasley Realty - Pullman, WA
Realtor - 509-330-0086 - Pullman, WA

Marian,

Beautiful ice sculptures...and it looks like everyone had lots of fun too!  Love the idea of handing out hand warmers...

Lori Cofer Realtor Pullman WA

Mar 10, 2009 03:43 AM
Marian Gregor-Ann
Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI
Arbor area Real Estate

Hey Sandy, No warm beach sand here, at least not this month!

Lori, The Chamber of Commerce really had it together for this event.

Mar 10, 2009 03:48 AM
Barb Szabo, CRS
RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH
E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

Great pictures Marian! There was an ice sculpture show in Medina Ohio not too long a go. I did not make it but a friend of mine did and she said it was great.

Mar 11, 2009 10:15 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thanks for sharing. Nice pictures.

Mar 12, 2009 12:11 AM
Kathryn Acciari
Central One Federal Credit Union - Shrewsbury, MA
Mortgage Loan Originator

Leave it to folks in the North to find another way to enjoy the freeze.  Love the creativity in these photos.  Thank you, Marian.

Mar 12, 2009 02:59 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

That looks too cold for me. My idea of a hand-warming packet is my hand turning the heating thermostat up a notche -- LOL.

Mar 13, 2009 09:19 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Hi Marian looks like a good time had by all. Even the dog:)

Mar 14, 2009 11:42 PM
Marian Gregor-Ann
Keller Williams - Ann Arbor, MI
Arbor area Real Estate

Barb, Check out an ice show sometime. It's a blast.  Gita, It was fun to take the pics, although lighting on the ice was tough.   Russel, It was a bitterly cold day w/ wind that would cut right through. Of course the teenagers didn't wear hats. Some were too cool to wear gloves. I'm sure they were sorry after an hour or so!  Bill, There were so many pooches. They were bouncing around having a great time in the crowds.

Mar 15, 2009 02:53 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

I can't say that we have any outdoor ice sculpting events here, but we do have what is billed as the world's largest sand castle building contest in September. Several of the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day buffets have large ice sculptures. Do those count? LOL

Mar 21, 2009 12:36 PM