Going to the Mall is more of an event, an adventure than it is a shopping experience. No, a trip to the Mall involves more than just shopping. It's a sensory-loaded experience and, with all the excitement of Christmas, it's becomes much more intense.
So I was looking forward to our little jaunt to the Mall today. You see, I had bought my new camera there, at Tall's Cameras, and I wanted to go back and talk to them about the Lens Adapter I want to buy.
So there we were, waltzing through the Mall and absorbing all the sights, sounds and smells of the Tuwila Southcenter Mall at Christmas. Heading on over to Tall's we happened to pass this fun sign.
Yeah, pretty much.
I get a kick out of the window displays, they really put some thought and effort into them.
For being just 13 days before Christmas, it wasn't all that busy. No, really, it was kinda pleasant. But we made it to Tall's and I did get my question answered . . . actually, it was more like I had my answer confirmed. Seems that the lens adapter Canon designed for this camera is a 49.5mm and the filter for it is 67mm.
I just couldn't reconcile that camera taking such a large filter. Well, evidently, it does. So, it's settled, now all I have to do is order it because no one stocks them.
Ahhhh, thanks, Canon!!
It was still pretty early in the afternoon and so we went for a walk after Tall's.
I do like the Christmas decorations. Some really nice stuff going on.
And some of the small details in the larger displays.
Ho, ho, ho!!
We walked on into Sears. I've been wanting to get some casual shirts and thought I'd check out the selection. We got in and I saw some sweaters on sale for just $19 and then it was looking at the plaid flannel shirts and then . . . BOOM!! I mentioned I didn't think I could carry off a sweater with horizontal stripes and the guy said it was one of the best sellers and . . .POW!! We were off to the races!!
Pretty soon there were four of us and we covered a wide range of topics. I personally remember talking about Letterman Sweaters . . . he lettered but didn't get a jacket and she lettered and her Dad had the jacket all ready for her. Oh, and high school rings and cardigans and . . . Oh, we covered a lot of ground.
It was fun, striking up spontaneous conversations with strangers and getting along like we've known each other a while. Seems to happen a lot when I am with Carol.
Anyway, I was able to get this shot and to give them my brand-new business card.
After a bit of looking for clothes we drifted on up to Electronics. Hahahaha, which one to get? Then I've got to find someone under 30 who can put it up and make it work.
And then, and this would be the hardest part of the whole operation, he'd have to explain it to me so that I could understand it and make the whole thing work.
That'll be the toughest part of the set-up.
Theres Santa's Elves . . . and, if things get dicey, there's some Military Elves ready to take control.
#whattheheck
We passed this small stall, it was like a small shop inside the Sears and found this woman who sold and repaired clocks. I got this shot of an interesting clock there. It's got everything . . . a cute, cuddly Teddy Bear and a Harley Hawg!!
It works on so many levels and, it works for me.
For Frosty, the Snowman,
had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye sayin'
"Don't you cry, I'll be back again some day!"
Fun Facts: Frosty the Snowman was recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950. It was recorded after the success of Autry's recording of 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' the previous year. Like 'Rudolph' 'Frosty' was subsequently adapted to other media including a popular television special. The song supposedly takes place in White Plains, New York, or Armonk, New York. Armonk has a parade dedicated to Frosty every year.
Dance, Ballerina, Dance.
Hahaha, we're both suckers for snow globes. However, and this is the most important part, just not at home. They're nice to look at but . . . we really don't need any. Really!!
Fun Facts: No one knows when the first snow globe was made but it appears it was in early 19th Century France. Snow globes appeared at the Paris Universal Expo of 1878 and by 1879, at least five or more companies were producing snow globes. They were sold as a successor to the glass paperweight, which had become popular just a few years earlier.
In 1889, a snow globe containing a model of the newly built Eiffel Tower was made to note the International Exposition in Paris. Snow globes became popular in England during the Victorian Era and, in the early 20s, crossed the Atlantic to the U.S. where they became popular collector items. Many of these early globes were made by Atlas Crystal works with factories in Germany and the U.S.
At the end of the 19th Century, Erwin Perzy, a producer of surgical instruments, invented the so-called Schneekugel, the first real snow globe and got a patent for it. Originally, his goal was to develop an extra bright light source for use as a surgical lamp. As he tried to intensify the candlepower of a so-called Schusterkugel (a water filled flask used to focus light since the Middle Ages) with particles made out of different materials for reflection purpose, the effect reminded him of a snowfall and it's here where he got the idea for a snow globe.
He then built his first actual globe with the basilica of Mariazell as a model. Because of the popularity of his snow globes, Perzy, along with this brother, Ludwig, opened a shop in Vienna, where the production continues today as a family business. Today his globes get exported throughtout the world; the material out of which the 'snow' is made is handed down from generation to generation as a production secret (it should float as long as possible in the water before sinking down).
In the U.S., the first snow globe-related patent was granted in 1927 to Joseph Garaja of Pittsburgh, PA. In 1929, Garaja convinced Novelty Pool Ornaments to manufacture a fish version.
In America, during the 40s, snow globes were often used for advertising. In Europe, during the 40s and 50s, religious snow globes were common gifts for Catholic children. Snow globes have appeared in a number of films, the most famous of which is the opening of the 1941 classic, Citizen Kane.
In the 50s, the globes, which were previously made of glass, became available in plastic. Currently, there are many different types of snow globes available. They range from mass-produced versions to the finely crafted types still made in Austria.
They feature many, diverse, scenes ranging form holiday souvenirs to the more eclectic collectibles featuring Christmas scenes, Disney characters, pop icons, animals, military figures, historical scenes, etc. Snow globes have even been used for election campaigns.
And we're suckers for Christmas Trees, too. Really, the Mall has done a bang-up job on decorating for Christmas.
And a more modern version of a Christmas Tree.
Wait!! Oh, wow!!
There's SANTA!!
How cool!! They really did a great job on setting this up for the Kiddoes!!
It was getting later in the afternoon and the foot traffic was picking up.
A lot of money is being spent here, y'all.
A lot!!
Carol had me stop and get this picture.
Mmmmmm, Mint Chocolate Chip . . .
Fun Facts: Did you know that Burton "Burt" Baskin and Irvine "Irv" Robbins, the founders of the store, were brothers-in-law? Yeah, Burt married Irv's sister, Shirley way back in 1942. The boys combined their stores to create Baskin-Robbins in 1953.
And there were plenty of temptations along the way. Plenty!! Like this, Pinka Bella Cupcakes.
And there were pretzels and ginormous cookies and yogurt and candy and Orange Julius and on and on and on . . . I couldn't work here. I'd spend half my paycheck on lunch every day!!
Another Snow Globe!! This one is sorta cool, but . . .
. . . his BIG Brother is even cooler!!
Yes, you're right. Some people ARE worth melting for!!
And this creche. Nicely done.
Oh, Ho, another Christmas Tree!! And sports. Can't get away from the Sports Teams.
Or is he rooting for Senator Ted Cruz!?! Maybe . . . it could happen in Seattle.
Hahahahahahah!!!
The Christmas Tree at the SeaFood Market.
Wow!!
And we battled past the allure of Valerio's . . . a bakery with some delicious smells!!
Artsy-Fartsy Alert!!
As we were leaving, we saw this dramatic sky to the south and east. Layered clouds. So I gambled and took some handheld shots.
Happy Accident!!
And they came out sorta OK!
Using the zoom, I moved in a bit closer on the same formation and it gave the scene a different flavor. Carol saw an eagle in it. Me? I saw a duck. Hahaha, we see what we see, right?
Then I turned a bit and got this shot to the southwest. I particularly like the way the cars in the foreground came out. No flash, just a handheld gamble.
On the way home, we pulled into our park just to enjoy the quiet of the evening and see what was happening.
It was a dark evening with the cloud cover.
I got this shot of the Trailer Park Marina with the lights of Seattle illuminating the clouds. Woo, woo, another Happy Accident. I think it'd do better presented with a more neutral background. The white is too much of a contrast.
But the big excitement was Coulon Park. They've put up their Christmas lights in the Park.
There's Ivar's, just a bit left of center.
And farther along the park were these.
Guess where we're going to tomorrow night?
Hahaha, you betcha!!
With a tripod, too!!
Great day. I got some nice shirts and met some nice people. Carol got a great looking plaid scarf and some shirts, too.
The big surprises were the great skies we saw as we were leaving the Mall. That was cool. And Coulon. It's a particular favorite of ours and we're both looking forward to taking the stroll tonight.
Hahaha, don't worry, it'll be in the next blog. Fer sure!!
The simple things are sometimes the best things.
Life is good.
Hooah!!
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