♪ Chemistry like apple and cinnamon ♫

♫ Started out so simple and innocent
So simple and innocent, so simple and innocent, so simple and innocent
Chemistry like apple and cinnamon ♪

With the day of Thanksgiving creeping upon us it conjures ideas of gluttony, warm fires, and laughing with family. This is also the time of year where we have a lot of birthdays packed into this same time. My brother Spud and Savannah's birthday is only one day apart. Usually Thanksgiving is around that time and it makes it difficult for them because of it. People forget or get caught up combining those birthdays and holidays.

I understand this completely because my birthday falls very close to Christmas. So I always try to keep birthdays special and focused solely on the celebration of the person. They deserve a day celebrating who they are.

Unfortunately, Spud will be in KY when his birthday comes around but he knows we will be thinking of him. :D


I have more pictures to share from this summer. Another discovery-drive led us to discover this interesting little park tucked away. We didn't get to explore as much as we would have liked due to the mosquitoes being to fierce and a lack of bug spray to defend ourselves.


It felt so private. We were the only people there. There was hardly a sound of other people being around.


A spring bubbled up from the ground and then spilled down a small waterfall. It smelled so wonderfully crisp and clean.


A large tree's hole was filled in. I thought this was an interesting way of protecting the tree.


Steam from the lake rose eerily and slowly moved in the wind.


Still being summer; the flowers and plants were flourishing. A storm had recently picked up their spirits and brightened all of the colors.


A dead tree out in the lake was a strange juxtaposition to all of the thriving, living things surrounding it.


The feeling in the air was quite haunting.


We were losing light but it didn't stop us from trying to at least explore as much as we can before retreating from the mosquito hoards.


A drinking fountain must have been tapped into the spring close by. The water tasted so fresh and clean.


I'm trying to get plans all set for Thanksgiving and Savannah's birthday. I'm trying to hash things together and make them come to fruition.

Sadly, today I'm lacking in the energy department. I'm having a difficult time motivating myself to do much of anything. I'm currently heating water for tea but I'm hoping this will provide a pick-me-up.

♪ How they dance in the courtyard,

sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget. ♫

I want to be able to share music with you ever day that I blog. I'm having a hard time finding a reliable site to use. Ah well. I'll find something even if I have to host them myself.

More pictures from our wanderings...


"We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way." -Gloria Gaither











“I haven't a clue as to how my story will end. But that's all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, you don't conclude the road has vanished. And how else could we discover the stars?”

Oh, a rinky dinky, dinky.

When I was younger, now not too much younger though, I used to watch all the 'Disney Sing-A-Long Songs' videos. I still, to this day, remember all the songs because of how many times I watched them. In fact, I do believe I wore out a lot of those tapes. The songs will trigger something in me and I can't help the songs coming out of my mouth!

The video above was one of the songs that I used to love to sing. In all honesty, I didn't like the style Disney had for that time frame. The animation was too rough-draft looking and dirty feeling. I love the movies like Jungle Book through the Rescuers but I honestly was bothered by the unclean lines. Not only that, I found many, many times where they were, perhaps, lazy and reused animation frames. You'll see it in The Jungle Book and Winnie the Pooh.


You will see it often in fact!

I'm not sure why they thought this was acceptable!? I know it was cheaper and it saved time but I guess that's the whole rushed, unfinished look that bothers me.

You can see why Disney during that time went through a big depression and the studios almost shut down. It was thanks to Oliver and Company but mostly because of The Little Mermaid that they were pulled out of that dark abyss.

I love cartoons! I love animated movies and would still go see them in theaters even if I didn't have a kid. That's one part of me that you could see that is the kid in me. Still, isn't it mature to admit that you can be an adult and still enjoy things that, even though they are geared at kids, bring you happiness?

I still draw fanart for cartoons long gone. In fact, looking at my DeviantArt Account you can clearly see that. I haven't had much time this year to draw as much as I would like to. I know once it starts getting colder; I will be on track with that again.

So, in the meantime, I will post pictures of my life because it makes me happy.


During the summer one of our favorite things is to drive and explore new areas. We will purposely get lost because you never know what you will find. Here is what looks to be the Bee Balm flower.


One of my favorite trees, besides the mighty Oak, is the Weeping Willow. Growing up, my grandmother lived by a lake; by her house was a giant Willow who's branches would sway in the wind making the most beautiful sound. I would tangle myself up in her branches and pretend I was hidden while feeling "one" with the tree. It's branches were so long that they would soak into the water below like fingers playing in the waves.

This picture was taken while we were going 60mph. Haha.


Summer wasn't complete without the arrival of the Red Winged Blackbird. Their trill song makes me smile and feel like things are right in the world because it's truly summer. They are such an expressive bird and so much fun to watch as they try to attract a potential mate.


Cold, sterile, granary storage units await a train to unload it's feed; it was a big contrast to the warm summery feel in the air that night.


The setting sun played with the wispy clouds leaving a beautiful painting in the sky. It set the mood for excellent pictures.


Ponds, in the middle of corn fields, made for great reflective mirrors to enhance the sky's beauty.


Wisconsin is known for a few things. Barns scattered throughout the country, many in disrepair, house dairy cows. It give's fodder to the joke "Smell the fresh Dairy Air"; playing on the word derrière. ;)


Time seems to go quickly on these drives, not that I mind! The winter is fun to drive too but sometimes it's too dangerous. So, summer time will continue to be my favorite driving season.

But, give me a good thunderstorm and that makes for one beautiful ride too.

Lemonade summer dreams...

Another song to share. It's one of those songs you just have to sing along to. ;)

More pictures for today to share. Taking you back to summer once again; dreaming of those cool ice cream moments, sun warming, a comforting breeze and the smell of freshly cut grass.


Once again, Josh and I, cuddling up on the picnic bench.


Leif and I. We've been great friends for 20 plus years. Wow, it's something when I put it like that. Haha.


Josh always help make my days brighter with just his smile.


Leif and I being silly!


Walking home that day was very nice.


All of those moments, the summer, was captured and kept away to be enjoyed on chilly days like today.


So, I've been thinking: I want to share more with you; more about me, about my life, my experiences. So, I've been looking for interesting memes, surveys or questionnaires to post here. Does anyone have anything? I know they are cheesy, teeny-bopper-esque but they are a great way to share and get to know others.(At least to me.)

Here's a quick one I found. How about you? I'd love to see your answers.

favorite animal: Corvids & Cephalopods
favorite drink: Tea straight up.
favorite singer: Billie Holliday
favorite show: Destination Truth
favorite website: I don't have one favorite.
favorite place to shop: I usually shop where I need to go to get a certain item. Though, I'd love to shop at Hot Topic if I could afford it.
favorite color: Red, bright orange and black.
lake or pond? Lake
A, B or C? C, though I don't know how this is relative to anything.
Outside or inside? Outside
foil or plastic wrap? Both serve their purpose.
hamburger or taco? Depending on my mood because I like them both.
meal or snack? I like meals because it's great to share that time with others.
Wii or xbox? Both, again they both have their own benefits.
Love or hate? ♥ Love ♥
1 or 2? Um, 2?
summer or winter? SUMMER!!
hairspray or hair gel? Neither, please and thank you.
yogurt or pudding? Greek yogurt with honey and fresh fruit or granola.
flip flops or sneakers? Bare feet! Though, if I have to choose, flip-flops but I call them thongs.
Soda or water? Agua, por favor.
funny or sad? Funny
goo or clay? Clay. There is more you can do with clay than the amorphic goo. It conjures up the thought of a scene in Ghostbusters 3: "Vhy am I covered in goo?".
shiny or sparkly? Sparkly I guess.
small or big? Both are nice.
happy or sad? HAPPY!!!!
fiction or non-fiction? Both again.
bright or dull? Bright.
cat or dog? Cat but I do like all animals.
fish or snake? Fishies but I LOVE Snakes too.
odd or even? Odd.
smooth or bumpy? Smooth.
awake or asleep? Awake but I love to sleep.
fruit or vegetables? BOTH!!!!!
car or bus? Car. I love to travel.
old or young? Both.
never or always? Always.
interesting survey or weird survey? I'll take both.

♫ The man of a thousand faces

Sits down at the table
Eats a small lump of sugar
And smiles at the moon like he knows her ♪




The time of transitions are here. Yes, we have had the leaves change but today you could really feel it. Winter is sending her gentle reminder in the smell of the wind. We are to officially have the coldest night, so far, this fall. (I wonder if this will scare away the robins who have been lingering?)

So, I couldn't procrastinate any longer! I had to bring in my plants that wouldn't fair well in the winter. Many of the outdoor plants can be brought in to bring summer joy throughout the winter. I brought in my geraniums, a decorative lily, basil, petunias and my marigolds. This will also save me money next year; I wont have to buy new plants to replace them.

I find happiness in my home that is filled with love, music, plants and Halloween goodness. My dream home is actually the A-Typical classic in the country "haunted house" style.


Want to come in for tea, dear?

Here's to the hope of being able to build or find something like this! :D

Savannah is out of school for the next couple of days. She's currently outside finishing up the decorations. She's going to be staking the tombstones, that we made, down into the ground. Hopefully they wont blow away! She's just as excited about Halloween as I am. She starts planning her costumes quite a few months before October! This year she is going as Sheik from Zelda's, Ocarina of Time.

I love making costumes. I'll either make them from scratch; creating my own patterns, or making/altering from a pattern. It's so much fun for me! The feeling of transforming yourself, dressing up any chance I can get, is a real high for me. So, I'll Cosplay, I'll do Renaissance, and costume parties!


What do you mean this isn't appropriate for Easter?




As I said yesterday; the adventure didn't end for us once we got home and it was dark. We decided to load up into the car and take Allison for a drive out to a lake and take pictures!



The sky was so clear and full of stars. There was a slight breeze coming off the lake but it didn't make it unbearably cold.


It looks like it could be a setting for a horror film.


It was so peaceful. The sound of the leaves rustling in the wind and fish jumping out of the water was the only sound to be heard.


It's moments like this that will be memories that wont be forgotten.


Allison and Josh leaned back on the boat rental building while I made a small dash to the rudimentary bathrooms. They were glorified port-a-potties but I was thankful not to have to find a dark corner and bush.


Shouldn't everyone take moments like these? Do something out of the ordinary to break routine!


Josh looked preoccupied with his phone but Allison and I were talking about many things. She looks so cute here!!!


The glare from the different light sources gave this a vintage feel. I love how it turned out.

Annnnnd, yes, there will be the final batch of these photos tomorrow.

♫ Her kiss is a vampire grin

The moon lights her way while she’s howlin’ at him.♪

Yesterday was so blustery that I had to drive to get Savannah from school. While sitting in the car the wind was so strong that it actually felt like the car wanted to topple over! It was fun watching the kids overreact to sharp gusts. Some girls would scream and others were completely charged by the wind's energy.

Some of my Halloween decorations fell over and I've yet to fix them due to it still being a bit windy. I'll probably fix it later today and hopefully the strong winds will calm down.

I heard from other people that there was snowfall in some of the states! I know it shouldn't be a surprise; we usually get snow around this time and usually on Halloween. In fact, many times I remember the first snow fall to start on Halloween. That's why I usually plan Halloween costumes for the cold. I'll make fleece cloaks or warmer fabrics to help block that biting wind.

Speaking of costumes, Savannah's is half-way done. I'll be trying to finish it up today so I can go to the fabric store to get supplies to make a tutu-like skirt for Nahdene. It'll be the colors of a flame! That's going to be a a fun little project.


So, now, here are the new pictures for today that continues our bike ride with Allison.


I love how Allison looks like she's stalking her prey with her camera.


I think Josh had fun too!


The colors of fall always make me feel happy.


The sunlight was dimming where we were since we were further down along the river bank. Our path darkened but we made our way up to the light.


We have to cross over the train tracks in order to get back on the path. So many things are discarded along the tracks. Rope, haphazardly thrown along the side, conjures strange and macabre thoughts and scenarios.


The breeze muffled the sounds around me; my hair whipping around and into my eyes, still didn't stop the cacophony of birdsongs. Geese flew low, honking all the way, heading to their next destination.


With that, the sun set and we made our way home. But, no, the adventure didn't end there...


More for tomorrow.

Nonstop...

Things have been rather non-stop here. It's always like this around Halloween though. I've either been running around or working on costumes. It leaves me with little time for much else. It's okay though. I think the only disadvantage is I don't have time to clean the house and it really falls behind. That's where the November clean-up comes in.

I really don't want to think of that right now though.

Since this morning we've had some really powerful winds. I love the sound of it but I'm not looking forward to the walk to get Savannah. I should be thankful that it's not so cold out that it's snowing though.

I hope the weather Gods are nice to us for Halloween! :)

I'll post the pictures now and then I got to get busy once again. I haven't had much time online like I would like but it's enough to post here.


When on the bike trail you can find some neat little discoveries.


There are some old ruins along the river and we had fun trying to figure out what it was.


We mostly came to the conclusion that it must have been some sort of factory or storage area.


We will have to check the historical logs to find out for sure.


There was also evidence that someone, not too long ago, was living there. There was a make-shift fire pit, sleeping area and bag that was full of trash. Boxes that once held beer were scattered around as well.


It brings up thoughts of time travelling and being able to see these sort of buildings in their former glory.


Sadly, now it's just old bricks and stones that are being consumed back into the earth. Graffiti now mar the site and it makes me sad to see.


It makes me think it would be great for a photo shoot for portraits though! I think perhaps in the winter it may be nice. I'll have to keep that in mind.