Now we’ve been taking these photos for a couple of decades and have not run into an abundance of Big Things like this. It’s like eating all the chocolate you want. Almost an overdose of Big Stuff. Before we finished we had “battle fatigue.” Mel tested our stamina with his assortment. (In fact, I’m feeling fatigue just trying to post all of these.)
The Baltimore Harbor Visitors Center is home to this big poodle. I don’t know the story behind it (I think it was used in some type of parade) but we spotted it when visiting. Actually we were just going through the visitor motions in order to have crab cakes at Phillips for lunch. What we do for good seafood when you live in the middle of the country.
Baltimore Harbor Poodle
It was Christmas in New Jersey and we went to the movies to see Avatar in 3D, my first experience with 3D since Jaws 3D. I’ve stayed away from 3D ever since (if you saw Jaws 3D you understand.) We spotted these Chipmunks in the lobby and I had my photo taken with them. Naturally, after some children saw me climb over the roping they followed suit and had their parents take their photo as well. I guess I am not a good example of citizenship.
Christmas Chipmunks
Vandalia, Indiana gave us a couple of unexpected Big Things, a Big Muffler and then this Big Fire Breathing Dragon – no kidding! I saw the propane tank and all. It’s out in front of the Vandalia location of the Kaskaskia Supply and Rental store. It’s such a delight to run into these unexpected Big Things. There are lots of people out there with a good sense of humor.
Fire Breathing Dragon
Halloween has gotten to be a bigger event then I remember as a kid. Oh, we dressed up, went begging, maybe even soaped a window or too, but I don’t rememeber all the temporary shops that spring up. So many in fact they look like Starbucks. On Keystone and Ruth Drive in Indianapolis there are two shops across the street from each other (one of them next to a Starbucks, by the way.) Anyway after getting a Grande Pumpkin Latte low fat, etc coffee we stopped to grap this inflatable.
Keystone Golilla
Well I had this turtle placed entirely in the wrong location. I previously thought I found it on the way back from New Harmony in Southern Indiana. Actually it stands at the entrance of the Churubusco Community Park, on Rte. 33, the Lincoln Hwy, near Churubusco, Indiana. I’m not sure I could find this one again, but once is probably enough.
Churubusco Park Turtle
We were in Southwest Indiana on the way to New Harmony, an Intentional Community founded to wait for the Second Coming. A very serene and holy place – you need to go there! Just north in Haubstadt, at the junction of I-64 and US-41 is the Jim Hipp Nursery. Believe me, this a “Target Rich” environment. I am pictured here with the buffalo that greets visitors.
Jim Hipp Buffalo
Another image ‘found’ from 2005 during the website transfer. Deb and I were in DC for Parents Weekend at Maryland. The three of us drove up to Baltimore to meet Ben and Annie and visit the Baltimore Aquarium. We had timed tickets and ran into a lot of traffic. I somehow managed to drive through the tunnel without paying the toll. Later I received a reminder from National Car Rental of the oversight (and also a charge of $35.00.) After the aquarium we went to the Inner Harbor for a crab lunch at Phillips. The Big Crabs were all over the city.
Baltimore Crab
We were off to an early start to capture some Big Things “Down the Shore” in Seaside Heights, NJ. We spotted this unique guy(?) holding a pepsi can. Of course we had to get this, but the attraction was not yet open. Not to be deterred the Chief Photographer talked our way in and we were able to get this image. A pretty good one-of-a kind.
Seaside Heights Pepsi
We were at the Davidsons and were getting ready to go Up North when we spotted this inflatable out with a GTO show. Not exactly one of my best finds but I am addicted to Things Big and couldn’t pass up the shot. We blocked the parking lot at the Starbucks while getting the shot. I was humming a Jan & Dean tune.
GTO Tiger
My first trip to the new Comerica Park in Detroit and here were some Big Tigers and Baseball Bats. 2 hours before the game and there were all these people. I may have to come back in February (brrrr!) to get a photo without the fans. The Tigers lost to the Bronx Bombers 5-1 who had 5 hits and 5 home runs. I miss Tiger Stadium where you were so close to the field but I liked the rest of the new ballpark.
Detroit Tiger
For Crying Out Loud is the title for this Field Art as we call it in Indiana. My best Birddog, Melynda told me about this Hippo a while ago but I didn’t get it until recently. It’s on a field belonging to a now retired auctioneer. We pulled into the muddy field and finally I found a reason for the 4-wheel drive on my Cherokee. I don’t know if this is larger than life but it’s pretty camp.
For Crying Out Load
We had just started out on our drive to Michigan for some vacation time when we spotted the Sirius Satellite Radio Dog being set up in front of hh gregg on 96th Street. We pulled into the parking lot and got this image. The fellows setting this up asked if I knew the ex-RCA crowd now at Sirius, it wasn’t until later that I wondered how he knew I was an RCA guy.
Sirius Dog
Muncie Indiana seems to have more Big Things per capita than most cities that I’ve visited. This Big Frog outside Dick Carnel’s Ceramics, Tiles and Carpets at 2001 Cranville Ave is an example. Time your visit here right and you can go across the street to Miss Kitty’s for karaoke on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Thanks to Steph for this sighting.
Muncie Frog
Sometimes it takes the cooperation of other people to get the special Big Picture. I owe the sighting for this big Terrapin to Julia since she sighted it at a Univ of Maryland football game. She saved it for me until Parents Weekend. Then Deb talked to a couple of special people who were the ushers that allowed us to go onto the field in the endzone to get this image. Thanks Sid, you guys showed a great sense of humor! Update: I received a nice note from Sid a little after I originally posted the image.
Maryland Terrapin
Julia and Deb were on their way from Maryland to Indy when Julia eyed this beauty at Exit 62 on I-70 (which just happens to be US-40, the National Highway. Rainbow Industries rents inflatables, tents, etc and this gorilla stood out front. We got this image on the way back after dropping Julia off at UMD.
National Highway Gorilla
We were on our way from Indy to Prudenville along I-69. Right after I told Deb and Julia they had to keep an eye out for Big Things, Deb spotted this inflatable at the “Huge Car Sale” near the US127 exit in Ithaca, MI. We got off at the next exit and circled back for this photo opportunity.
Car sale Gorilla
I really don’t know why it’s taken so long to have an image of Nipper and me on this web site. I’ve been surrounded by Nippers for years, many of them BIG but I never had my picture taken with one, must be taking for granted what you have. Trust me, don’t take what you have for granted. I would like to have one of these BIG nippers at home but don’t know where I would keep him. Maybe Julia’s room.
Nipper!
Walking through the Minneapolis airport after we photographed the “double up” of Indians outside the Thunderbird Motel Mark spotted this Big Moose. “Hey, ” he said,” you need this for your photo collection.” I agreed and here it is.
MSP Moose
We were visiting Benjamin in November during Parents Weekend at JMU and were on our way to pick something up at the mall, when I innocently asked him if he had seen anything “Big” lately. He got quite excited and said that he had just spotted a big dinosaur in front of a car dealership. The rest was history. Now you see the photo.
JMU Dragon