The Snowbanks Have Eyes! Bangor Man Adds Whimsy And Fun To Snowbanks Around His Home!

Leslie Ricker grew up in Aroostook County. Always a creative youngster, he loved playing outside when he was a kid.

In adulthood, Ricker spent 32 years on MDI working in the outdoors as a landscaper, fisherman, contractor, and basically a jack-of-all-trades. He also spent years as a photographer with a knack for seeing beauty and creativity in the world around him.

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Five years ago, Ricker moved into the city of Bangor, not far from St. John's Catholic Church.

A little different than his surroundings on the coast, or up in the County, Ricker still wanted to get creative with his surroundings, so he started to have a little fun with the blank canvas Mother Nature sent him each winter.

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He decided to create a little neighborhood of sorts, with characters and forts fashioned out of snowbanks.

"I mostly do it for the exercise," Ricker says. That, and he knows it makes the families who attend church services each weekend smile.

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Ricker says he's always gone out and shoveled the walkways and paths in front of his place, to keep them safe for folks who walk along them. During one of his clean-up sessions, he got the idea to take that extra snow and use it artistically, and the rest is history.

He says he'll often spend hours outside, cutting out and painting "cardboard eyes" or "stained glass windows," to add to his creations.

He's put together a huge mural that's positioned on the side of his house, and a cool little fort next to it.

In the yard along the house, there's a huge snow castle with little snow mounds all around it.

In the summer, Ricker says he enjoys planting huge flower gardens for people passing by to enjoy.

With his headphones on as he listens to music, armed with his scissors, some paint, and a head full of creativity, Leslie Ricker is making his little corner of the world just a bit brighter for all.

How cool would it be if we would all look for ways in which to add a little fun and color to the world?

Next time you're down in the area of York Street, take a look at his creations.