YAY!! I can finally share a bit more

[ -- A LOT more -- ]

about the fun we had working with Thomas Dambo 

and his AWESOME team helping Mama Zelda come to life -

Welcome to the Mother Earth Troll Garden!

At the Huntsville Botanical Gardens!

Careful... that dead end got me 

EVERY time I was there to volunteer!

 

Warning - This may be long, because y'all know... 

I love me some Dambo trolls!

And I was so SOOO HAPPY to be a part of the 

volunteer team that helped bring our Mama Zelda to life!

 

So this is what we saw as were walking out to the maze area that first day - 

It was just SO COOL to see that her head was in place on our first day of volunteering!

 [He and his team build these in Denmark and they are shipped to the Troll Site...]

And then they build the troll from the ground up - framing in the arms and legs... and making changes as they go ... I think seeing the team and their creative process [changing things to fit their vision of Mama Zelda] as they built each part of her was one my favorite things - ]

You can see the frames for her legs here...

 

Thomas was on site almost daily  - 

He is a creative genius.

Not only did he design Mama Zelda... he also designed the entire maze garden, and it is as whimsical and fun as you'd expect from him. Just wonderful!

 

The team always took their lunch break nearby 

and encouraged volunteers to bring something and enjoy lunch together. They were a great group and so willing to answer some of the same questions over and over...

We could take as many photos as we wanted, but they did ask that we not share HER until after the grand opening...

And we were there to work, not just admire, lol...

So work, we did.

 

That first day we spent four hours pulling nails out of pallets...

And yes - I was a little achy afterwards.

 

Hundreds of nails...

[in that little box there...] 

But it was SO COOL to see the boards we'd

 pulled nails from become her feet!

 

The next day that we volunteered they let us girls use saws!

And we cut up whiskey barrels to use on her body - or as Thomas says, her fur... 

 

The guys were great to help us get started and 

we created quite the stack of halves and thirds... 

 

Meanwhile, they worked closely with the team to cut 

 branches to a specific measurement to be used for the maze -

and maybe cut into planks for her legs & arms...

 

I think it was 5-7 inches in diameter and 7 feet long... 

And I loved that some parts of her had to be very specific while other parts [like her fur] were trimmed up once she was put together...

They also got to haul them around through the maze a bit to be put in use... and those logs were heavy... often taking 4-5 guys to carry one... 

[That's our whiskey barrel fur in the front there...]

The maze is AWESOME y'all.

I didn't get a lot of photos of it because it was a total work area... but it has the coolest little spots tucked away for kids [and grown-ups!] to enjoy! 

I love the little hidden areas throughout - an alcove with a bench, a swing... and this little walkway behind her where her hair falls down...

[I put some of those limbs in the wall there, just sayin'.]

We did not volunteer on consecutive days...

[and we only did half days... because we're old - ha]

So it was fun to see the creative changes the team made as they went along...

Here they are re-doing her head to make it a bit smaller...

 

Note - that is a watering system in the back to 

help with the plants that will be part of her hair...

You can't EVEN see that now....

That team is a well-oiled machine and they worked so easily with us volunteers so that we could be a support to them [and not a hindrance.]

The next day were were scheduled to 'work' it SNOWED...

so we were told not to come in...

 

However, the NEXT morning when we showed up there was still snow on the ground and it was 22*. Not even kidding!

But look! She has fur!

 

We worked all morning trimming up branches and sorting them by size [and curls] for her hair and the maze - And I got to use a different kind of saw!

 

That warmed us up!

And it was 32* at noon when we left - lol - 

The team was finishing up her hair that day -

 

[Look at them on those crazy tall ladders, 

catching giant limbs as the guys threw them up to them...]

I love that her hair becomes a part of the maze!

 

And then she was finished.

[Well, mostly - there's still some planting to do!]

{Pro Tip: We propped our phone on the maze wall for this photo -}

Isn't she wonderful?!?

For perspective, that's Thomas taking a photo - and he's a tall guy...

They're saying she's about 20 feet tall -

 

EVERY little detail is wonderful!

[...and I cut those boards, y'all!!]

 

I love her necklace.. .

All the little bits and parts that I saw in the work area all week

and it looks FANTASTIC on her!!

I also love that he creates a story for every troll...

But really - he might envision the story

before creating how they look - 

So here she is -- 

Mama Zelda 

 

She opened on April 1st - and is ready to welcome visitors

[but no crawling on her , please!] 

It was cool to be there for the ribbon cutting and to see the 

reactions of people as they saw her for the first time -

 

And y'all know I LOVE THE ARTISTRY OF THE MAZE - 

and how everything is perfectly framed. 

The plantings throughout the maze are already wonderful - and I look forward to seeing it grow in and change throughout the seasons!

 

 But the honest truth is that this is the first of April, y'all,  and even with super duper doses of sinus meds I just can't stay out in this yellow haze of pollen for long - lol.

I've  seen Dambo Trolls in Maine, Kentucky, Tennessee [traveling], 

and Minnesota [plus one of the portals in Fargo, North Dakota] and

I AM THRILLED that we have one right here in my town!

I can't wait to visit her through all the seasons!

 

The Huntsville Botanical Garden is wonderful! 

They gave the community an opportunity to learn more about Thomas Dambo and his art during an Artist Talk at the garden... and they set-up a little Troll Shindig at the conclusion of the build where all the volunteers could have another meet and greet with him. The entire volunteer process was extraordinary!

And it fed my creative soul to be a part of it all! 

I encourage you to get out there and do some troll hunting!

Mama Zelda is #149 so you can find them all over the world!

 BTW - this is one of my FAVORITES!

Long Leif in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

They are worth the walk!

 

Thursday Three

 

Okaaaaaayyyyeeeeee

I know it's Saturday, but here we go!

Thursday Three:

[March 27th edition]

1. Last weekend, we had THE BEST time with 50+ vintage camping friends - yes, there were some old airstreams there... but the real joy is seeing scotties, and holiday ramblers, and streamlines, and boles aeros, etc all together! AND THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT TOO

2. Thank you for your prayers! Craig's mother had a [heart] valve replacement on Tuesday and is doing well! It's amazing how much healthier she looks!

3. I also enjoyed lunch with girlfriends in a newly refurbished part of town [The Foundry -] and creating with my kansas girls over zoom!

A good week -

#HardwickAdventures

Aishling the AIrstream: Update No. 34

 Bledsoe Creek State Park

Gallatin, TN 

We had originally planned to attend a rally in South Mississippi but decided we needed to be a little closer to home right now...

So when a space opened up for this Music City Rally, we decided to join in... 

They are such a great Airstream Club! 

We'd never been to this Tennessee State Park and now we're wondering - WHY NOT?! It's located just outside the adorable town of Gallatin - I'll share more on that in a bit -

 

From their website: "Bledsoe Creek supports an abundance of wildlife and served as hunting grounds for indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee, Chickamauga, Creek, and Shawnee. Nearby Cragfont, Hawthorn Hill, Wynnewood, and Bledsoe’s Fort interpret the diverse history of 18th & 19th century Tennessee. The Bledsoe Creek territory became a Tennessee State Park in 1973. Today this park draws in campers, hikers, and fishers to Old Hickory Lake, a reservoir created by the Corps of Engineers. The park features 68 campsites with amenities, three hammock-only primitive sites and two group campsites. There are more than four miles of scenic hiking trails. The trails meander through the forest and along the lakeshore of the park. One mile of these trails is paved making it accessible to persons with disabilities."

We were the only ones to brave the weather and show up early -  lol -  OF COURSE THIS PHOTO IS EDITED - but the snow was really coming down that much after we had dinner in town. Pretty cool [literally - ha.]

It was fun to catch up with our sweet friends from the Memphis area... 

And, yes - the rally was a French themed

Wally Byum Sidewalk Cafe affair - 

 

We did what we could with thrift-shop attire - lol

Except for our blue berets, of course...

[It's an airstream thing, y'all.] 

 

This is a fun group to be with - 

We love camping with them when we can!

 

Bledsoe Creek State Park is a hidden gem that we honestly knew nothing about before this weekend. There is nothing negative about it -

And we'll definitely be back when we can work it into our schedule!

We can't remember ever spending time in Gallatin before and at night it's like a Hallmark Movie downtown - with festive lights hanging throughout the streets and the best little shops and eateries... 

 

We kinda 'fell in love' with their local Italian Restaurant - LaVinita -

So much so that we actually ate there twice during our time there. 

It was DELICIOUS.

 

The downtown area was wonderful! 

And so cozy at night...

Yes - we'll definitely be back....

#HardwickAdventures

#AishlingtheAirstream