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Friday, January 2, 2009

Happy New Year everyone... I am up in North Florida in the middle of the woods and with the air card I have it is VERY bad Internet coverage. It takes forever to do anything on the blog... It is so slow I may only be on off & on for the next week or so... I will try to visit as many as I can... soooooooooo slowwwwwww.... Hope everyone had a safe New Years Eve and your resolutions for the new year are simple enough to stick with them... I know mine are... We spent a quiet New Years Eve with some friends and family watching movies and then Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve Party on the boob tube... We have been exploring up here and I have a lot to show you but it takes forever to make a post... This one I had started before I left home and I hope you find it as entertaining as I did.... Have a safe and funtastic week... Love to all


The world's tallest snowman is no man!!
World's Tallest Snowman Made In Maine
By David Sharp, Associated Press

The "snowwoman" towering over this village features eyelashes created from discarded skis and bright red lips made from painted car tires. She wears a giant red hat and a 100-foot-long scarf, and her blond tresses are made from rope. She gets a little bling from a snowflake pendant that's 6 feet long.


"She's a beauty. Gotta love those eyelashes," said Robin Zinchuk, executive director of the local chamber of commerce and a chief instigator of the town's offbeat project.


With the temperature in single digits, several hundred people including
busloads of schoolchildren turned out for Friday's dedication
of the 122-foot-tall mountain of snow.


This ski town of about 2,400 residents already holds the record for tallest snowman, dedicated in 1999. Since then, they have been waiting for someone else to break the record. When no one rose to the challenge, the folks here decided they'd have to break the record themselves.


Mark Bancroft, who donated the 150-foot crane used during the project, noted that it has been a tough winter with high fuel costs and nasty weather.


"What does Bethel , Maine, do when it gets tough?
We build a snowman!" he said to the muffled applause of mittens

and gloves clapping together.


" Olympia ," named for Maine's senior senator, Olympia Snowe, stands nearly 10 feet taller than "Angus, King of the Mountain," who was dedicated by the town in 1999. That snowman, named for then-Gov. Angus King, was created by the same folks responsible for Olympia .

Last year's Angus King.

Although the snowwoman's namesake was unable to attend Friday's dedication because of her duties in Washington, a statement was read to the crowd.


"I've joked that it's just my luck I'd have a world record-breaking monument named after me -- and it will be gone by summer," the senator said.

It took more than a month, dozens of volunteers and tons of snow to create Olympia. Jim Sysko, a civil engineer, oversaw design and construction.

To get an idea of scale, Olympia is about 30 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty (without the base). Her arms consist of 27-foot-tall evergreens.

Her "carrot" nose, painted by schoolchildren, is 8 feet long.

Her eyes are made from giant wreaths.



She was built with a series of concentric circles. The crane dumped the snow into frames, and volunteers climbed in for long hours shoveling and packing the snow.


"The best part of it is how everyone in town pitched in and made it happen," said volunteer David Lynch. "It got hairy up at the top. I only made it to 80 feet."


The final product is the talk of the town. People especially liked the lashes created from old skis donated from the Sunday River ski resort.



< http://www.wmtw.com/news/15448159/detail.html >
"It's the whimsy of it all. That's what makes it so great," said Iris Roberts, of Jefferson City , Mo. , who watched with her husband on Friday.


Angus was certified as the world's tallest snowman by the Guinness Book of Records. It remains to be seen if Olympia will get the nod as tallest snowman,
or snowwoman. There's currently no separate category for snowwoman, so residents are petitioning for one. There was plenty of snow for the project. Parts of Maine have had more than 100 inches of snow this season, unlike 1999 when Angus was built.

Volunteers started with manmade snow and then used snow piled on the runway of the municipal airport to finish the job.



"People love it. With all this snow, we did something good with it,"

said Darlene Ginsberg, who directed traffic with one hand
while holding a cup of hot coffee in the other.

After the ceremony, local resident Julia Reuter stepped to the microphone and led the crowd in an impromptu sing-along to the classic song, "Winter Wonderland."


In fact, more winter weather was on tap for Friday night. Alex Kaufman from Sunday River credited Olympia for bringing the snowiest winter in 12 years. Then he took a jab at Angus. "Angus didn't bring squat for snow," he quipped. "In this case, it took a woman to get it done."



To watch a live webcam of Olympia, click here <http://www.bethelmainesnowwoman.com/webcam.html



Olympia's eyelashes are made from skis and her bright red lips
are painted tires.


Olympia stands nearly 10 feet taller than "Angus, King
of the Mountain," who was dedicated by the town in 1999.

Her "carrot" nose, painted by schoolchildren, is 8 feet long.-- Mick

Until Later

Hugs And Kisses

40 comments:

Stacey said...

That is amazing. She looks like she could talk. :)

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Donna,
Have a wonderful time!
That is the cutest snowlady ever. ~Melissa ;)

Bo said...

Hi Donna...thinking of you today and came by to say have FUN! ♥ Bo

Akum said...

That must be the largest snow-women i have ever seen...

Anonymous said...

Hope you're having a fun time.

Love Ya,
Chris

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Oh Donna this was a great post girl I just loved reading it..hope you have a great road trip girl...be safe...hugs and smiles Gloria

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Have a great time! Thinking about building that snowwoman makes me cold! laurie

niartist said...

How interesting Donna! Thanks for sharing. I'm sure the engineers have accounted for the melting during the spring/summer. I'd hate to live too close when that happens, in case of an avalanche! LOL! Happy New Year!

Colleen formerly of South Africa said...

Love the pics of the ginormous snow man. Boy you all get around! Happy New years.

Raxx - A day in the life said...

Olympia is too cool! and pretty too! this is wonderful info I may never have seen!

Happy new year Donna!

Kathy said...

WOW Donna this is one tall Snowman and those eyelashes, I want them, Happy New Year, have fun, hugs, Kathy

Sharon said...

What an interesting post!! That's amazing and even more amazing that people were able to volunteer so much time to do that! Hope you have a safe and wonderful trip! Sharon

SmilingSally said...

She's so pretty! Thanks for sharing. That was intresting.

Lin said...

THESE ARE HILARIOUS!!!! MERCY, I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE AROUND FOR THE FLOOD WHENTHAT BABY MELTS!!

HAVE A GRAND TIME IN N FLORIDA!

Lisa (aka) French said...

I think I modeled for this ( lol) In my cold state of mind that is! Just trying to slowly get back to the land of the living and have so much catching up to do!! Hugs French;)

DESIGN BY CATHLEEN said...

Love the Snow-Man!!! :-) Looks like your all having a great time!

xoxo,
Cathleen

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

Olympia is a awesome snowlady. Have a great time.
Hugs, Terrie

SG said...

How fun! I love the skiis for eyelashes!

nikkicrumpet said...

That is the coolest thing ever! I'm so glad you shared the story with us. Have a great time...even if you're sort of internetless!

Buffie said...

WOW! She's amazing!!!

Happy New year to you and yours!

Buffie ;)

Carole Burant said...

Omigosh, what an amazing HUGE snow lady!! WOW! It must be so awesome to see it in person. Like everyone else, I just love her eyelashes! lol

Don't you worry about blogging while you're on vacation...enjoy being in Florida:-) We'll expect lots of pictures, though, when you return! hehe xoxo

Jill said...

Happy New Year! Looks like you are starting it off right!

The Muse said...

i had not heard from you and i was getting worried...ok so now i see! glad you are safe! and well!

wow what a woman! LOL

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, sweet Donna! Now that's some serious snowmanship! lol Hope you're having a marvelous time!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia

Ruthie said...

Very fun and a great snowlady.
Happy New Year. Getting my blog roll back up and running.
Already have 2 reservations for RVing next summer. Hurrah!
Hugs♥
Ruthie

Hootin Anni said...

Hello dear lady!!! Can you hear me? Can you hear me now? [okay, I got that off my mind, I can actually concentrate on commenting]

That snow man is unbelIEVable!!! And I love it. What a concept, and what a feat to have built it. I ♥ the photo of him 'peeking' out of the woods like that [or should I say 'peaking'?]

Fantastic!!!

Hope your first week of the new year has treated you well.

Anonymous said...

I have an awrd for you.Please come by asap and pick it up...Ann

Baba said...

Hi Donna, what a great story about the snowlady!!!Looks like a cool place to visit...love the long eyelashes....

I hate when internet service is slow!!Bugs me to no end!!!

Enjoy your road trip...hugs, Baba

Anonymous said...

Afternoon, Donna!Good to hear from you and hope you're having a great time! You never know, I may just go platinum! or snow white!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Anonymous said...

I love Olympia's eyelashes. She rocks! I'm sorry you are having a trouble with speed from North Florida.

I gave you an award in my latest post. When you are back to normal internet speed stop by and pick it up. Have a good time while you're up north (actually to me you're still south but I digress.) :>)

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

GM Donna..thanks dear friend for coming by to see me!! and you with your limited time with internet that was so kind of you to put me on my list girl!! well is it getting close to cocktail hour yet for you and Chris..I would love to be with you guys..I know we would laugh our heads off. have fun..hugs and smiles Gloria

Sweetie said...

What an amazing post. I have never seen anything like the unique snow lady. And - I thought there was nothing but warmth and sunshine in Florida.
Sweetie

Sweetie said...

I came back for a second look at your fun post. Please stop over to visit. I have something for you.
Hugs,
Sweetie

Justine said...

Holy cow, that's one huge snowwoman!!!!!!!! I hope you're having a great time up here! The weather has been nice and warm... which I hate!

Justine :o )

Anonymous said...

Wow!! Stop by when you can. I know how frustrating it can be with slow internet. Have fun and Happy New Year!
Cheryl

Picket said...

Hey girl...just checking in with you...hope you're have a great start to this New Year. Love this post..that is the most amazing thing I have ever heard of..how awesome that would be to see it in person!!! Take care girl and have a great week!

Anonymous said...

Hi Again,
To answer your question, I wish we owned the winery but we do not :(. I just like to reference it as his winery with all the work he says he does. HeeHee. They do have good wine though!
Have a great day!
Cheryl

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna! I've been missing you! Well, when you do get could internet service, I know you're going to have a lot of beautiful pictures to share with us!
I'm so glad you liked my little song. I think it's just precious.
Thank you for your continued prayers for us and Mother. She is improving a little bit each day!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Ginger said...

Hi Donna:
Haven't heard from you for awhile and I know you are traveling...just want to say hi and hope you are having a great time.
Ginger

The Muse said...

Im not sure how blogger has managed to wipe me off your bloggers follow list...but im still here!

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