Friday, February 5, 2010

Thinking Big


Things in Texas are so much bigger, so I've heard. This roadrunner sculpture is supposedly the largest roadrunner in the world. It measures 22 feet long, 11 feet tall, and 800 pounds. That's big.

When I read about this big roadrunner, I just had to go see it. Well because it's the biggest. Apparently the world is full of big sculptures, even in small towns. I also had get a photo thinking my friend Cindy Shake would appreciate this big sculpture. Cindy makes the most extraordinary and sometimes very big metal sculptures, and being from Alaska, the state that is the biggest, even bigger than Texas, I was sure Cindy would appreciate this big roadrunner.


Paisano Pete, as this roadrunner is affectionately called by the community of Fort Stockton, Texas, is made of fiberglass, is painted, and coated with a glossy coating to help preserve the bird. Roadrunners can fly, but are most often seen running. Unlike most birds, roadrunners have two toes pointing forward and two backward. This foot configuration is said to aid the bird in running faster. Roadrunners can reach speeds up to 20 miles per hour.

As I was doing research for this post, I came across an article saying that Las Cruces has the largest roadrunner. I was just in Las Cruces and somehow I missed seeing their roadrunner made of recycled parts. I was thinking to myself last night, darn I might have missed seeing the biggest roadrunner. How about your town or area, are there any big pieces of public art. Of course big doesn't necessarily have to big in size.

The more I see the more I realize just how big the world is, people are thinking big, doing big, making big; big in size, big on ideas, big in art, big in life. Even if something isn't the biggest, it's the thinking big and the doing that makes it big even if it isn't the biggest. Heck it could even be the smallest, it's still the biggest in my book. Here's to thinking big.

12 comments:

  1. Thanks for thinking of me Linda!! If I made a big Roadrunner for up here in Alaskaland one of my fiber friends would have to felt him a warm scarf!! Are you guys on the road now?? I'm lovin' your photos and the armchair travel I can do through your posts!!

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  2. Darn, I just missed you. If you went from Las Cruces to Ft. Stockton you went right by my house in El Paso. Next time, stop by! I've been to Ft. Stockton a million times and I've never seen the roadrunner. I'll actually have to look next time.

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  3. Luv the Roadrunner...he's got that Don't Mess With Texas look in his eye...and, huge or not, adorable...thank you, thank you for bright and beautiful day-dreaming photos on a snowy day.

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  4. Hi Cindy, thanks, a roadrunner with a hand knit scarf would be just the ticket I think.

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  5. Hi Cindy, thanks, we could have definitely used you today. I got on your etsy page, what beautiful pendants you make, the feeling of the southwest is definitely stored within them.

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  6. Hi Kitty, welcome and thank you. There is so much to see even it he desert and what seem like barren waste lands.

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  7. What fun you are having on your travels.. thinking big.I know we have some 'world's largests' here in Alberta, so I googled that and Wow..I was surprised to find: the world's largest Easter Egg 'the Pysanka' in Vegreville, the perogy (pyrogy) complete with fork at Glendon, at Vulcan the official Star Trek capital of Canada, dinosaur at Drumheller and even a beaver at Beaverlodge..:) plus many more.(things you can see if you venture north of the 49th:) Think I'd better play tourist in my own province soon to catch up on these attractions..
    Thanks for your interesting posts, Linda.
    ..and I have read your 'holy smoke' posts for my upcoming firing.. thanks :)..T.

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  8. Goodness Linda, I'm thinking what a sight a road runner would be getting airborne (especially one that size!!!), I wonder if they have to run at 20 miles per hour just to leave the ground!

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  9. Use to love the roadrunner till I found that the two that visited my yard regulaly were using my property like a fast food restaurant.
    I found one beating a red wind black bird to death at my feeder.
    Still think they are cool, just not in my yard.
    One that size is scary. Awesome pictures.

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  10. hate to be the one to point this out but there's something comical about that sculpture. it looks like it just had an argument with its spouse and it's storming out of the house.

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  11. great that you're in texas... that means you're getting closer to NC!

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  12. Hi Trish, thanks, seems like there are unusual sculptures all over the world, good luck with your barrel firings.

    Hi Peter, thanks, I think they only fly short distances due to their size and weight.

    Hi Patti, thanks, I think they eat lizards too and the lizards eat bugs so they can be detrimental in that respect. I've yet to see a real one around here.

    Hi Jim, thanks, yes the eyes are strange looking, probably in real life they rely upon the eye to see their prey and quickly apprehend them.

    Hi Amy, thanks, yes we'll be here for a few more days and then eastward.

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