♪ 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.

♪ When the wind blows, Ah, Give me a sign, ♫

♫ Now give me comfort, love and supply me with,
Everything I needed, less I want,
I see the weather changing faster than I thought,♪

I figured today's "Song of the Day" would be appropriate since today the windows in our house are completely put in. The fellows are putting their supplies away and packing up to leave.

Here are a few pictures I got from yesterday.


Some of our old windows were put to the side and waited to be toted away.


Here is the sunroom with the windows taken out. Ignore the mess but you can see how much more open it looks! (Taken with my phone so the quality is lower for the picture.)


The front of the sunroom has it's window put in but not finished.


The stairwell has a new feel to it. (Taken with my phone so the quality is lower for the picture.)


My bedroom doesn't look too different but I'm hoping that the BIG drafts we had in the winter are now gone. I still need to insulate the house though. I'm thinking one room at a time for that project.


Here is the dining room.


The windows unfinished...


The windows finished!


Thirty windows were replaced. I'll miss the wooden windows but not miss how they were all worn down and many were broken.

I just ran out and took a few pictures of it finished.


Here you can see how the sun room looks with the old windows.


Here is the comparison!


Another view of the house.

Finally the front of the house...



Now, to clean the house and put it back together. We had to move everything around and make sure that nothing was in the way of the installers.

So much to do!

♫ Low tide and high tea ♪

♫The oysters are waiting for me♪

I want to gush about my feelings for those around me. I love them all so dearly and cannot find the words to express it properly. I'm so thankful.

Josh and I take time for each other as much as we can. We usually have people around us all the time, so, privacy or private time is almost nonexistent for us. We try to make each time we are together special; because it is.

Here is a small photographic story of one of our date days. It's not a lot but it's still important to me.


Before we left, I took the time to photograph one of my roses that were in bloom before the cold days set in.


Josh and Savannah are one of my favorite test subjects. Here, though, is just because I wanted to take his picture to capture this day.


Tis I in front of the capital building.


Here is a better picture of the capital. There were so many people out that day and it was no wonder; the temperatures hit into the 80s(In October, nonetheless). The sidewalks were packed with Badger fans (must've been a game day) and weddings.


This was a serene scene except the soundtrack was so rambunctious with hooting and yelling from fans.




This was a compilation of many pictures so that I could get as much of the building in as possible. In front of the building was a bride and groom having their portraits taken.


One of the bus stops was completely knitted into a cozy. It was so cute and so colorful.


After a day of delicious gelato, weather and company; the setting sun made a spectacular backdrop for the rising moon reaching over the waters.


It really was a great day. ♥ I'm glad I have this to always remind me.




Today has been quite packed already but there is even more I need to stuff into it still. I'm quite excited because Josh and I are going on a spur of the moment trip down to Kentucky to go see Allison & my bro "Spud". (You should check out her awesome photography.)

We needed to return an item he left here on his previous visit and out of the blue last night he called. It went something like this:
-Abridged version-
Me: "Hello."
Spud: "Hey!"
Me: "Hey Spud! What's up?"
Spud: "Well, I'm not doing anything this weekend..."
Me: *Pause* *repeats his words to Josh*
Josh: "Hmm, I think we can make it then! We can leave after I get out of work."
Me: *Repeats Josh's words to Spud*
Spud: "Great!" *Allison in the background saying hello*
Me: *sends lots o' love to Allison* "We'll see you soon then!"

Yup, easy as pie, we move like the wind. We'll have to budget but we can do it! I can't wait to see them again. I'm going to pack soon enough but first I am going to go visit the wonderfully awesome Nahdene.

OH! Side note. I didn't have a chance to post the last two days because my friend, Valentina, was visiting. :D

♫ Cos it's easier to fly ♪

♪
Than to face another night
In Southern Sun
And your love is all around♫

Yay! Thanks to a suggestion from a friend; I have found a new way to share music with you every day. So far I'm really liking this website.

Last night we went and saw Megamind. I went in not sure what to think and wasn't sure if I'd like it or not. I think the character designs were something off putting to me but I gave it a chance. I'm glad I did! The movie was great. Sure, it was predictable in parts but what movie isn't anymore? I also had another self realization come to me again. Sure I knew this about myself but I was once again reminded by the character Megamind.

I love good-bad guys. I found that through all of my life I've been that way. From toddler to now; I like that type! Even the stingier uptight sorta character that has a soft gooey center to them.

From Oscar the Grouch, The Count & Bert all the way to Beetlejuice, Chip (from chip and dale's rescue rangers) and the like; it's a repeating theme. (Not that I mind.)


So, onto the final pictures of the watermelon eating contest.

You know, on a side note, I love fresh fruit. It can't be cold though! I love fruit at room temperature or sun-warmed in order for me to fully enjoy every savory flavor. That's why I love gardens too! The fruit or veggies taste so good!

In the winter sometimes I'll slightly warm up oranges in the microwave. It's just something I feel brings out certain subtle flavors that aren't there when they are cold.

Okay, pictures, yes!















Another note about today; I was called this morning about my bloodwork results. You see, I had them checked because a few years ago I was on a medication for my skin called Accutane. It made my cholesterol shoot through the roof! It was dangerously high but lucky for me I was finished with "rounds" of pills. I switched meds for my skin but also at the same time my cholesterol came down; not as low as I would like but it came down nonetheless.

During that time I also lost a lot of weight, close to 40/50 pounds, and changed my exercise up a notch. I've always eaten healthier so the issue was cutting down on how much I ate in comparison to how much I burned. I didn't turn hyperfocused but integrated it into my life so it wasn't a BIG change. I still ate what I liked but my portions were smaller. During the summer, Josh and I would take 5 mile walks and during the school-time I would walk to Savannah's school which is a mile away and a mile back.

It's amazing the weight started just coming right off. I learned little tidbits about health like: The human stomach is only as big as your fist. That's how big your meals should be otherwise it stretches out the stomach. The stomach, although it can handle it, shouldn't stretch out like that!

Here's a neat little link explaining it a bit clearer but I've found these things to be true once I changed my eating habits.

So, back to the phone call, they called me personally to let me know my cholesterol/triglycerides were VERY high. I was shocked! They said normal levels are about 150 and mine were ate 350!!!! I asked how this was and they said that birth control I'm on raises those levels in some people and since Accutane did that to me earlier; it was clear that that was the culprit.

They want me to get off my birth control right away and we'll be changing my meds right away.

So, here I am, rethinking things and weighing my options. I think I will see about some medicines to help reduce those levels and see what my doctor will think will help.

I've been wanting to join a gym so I can get back into walking 5 miles every weeknight again. I've slacked on days to walk to Savannah's school but I'm going to crack down on that again. Too bad I don't like being cold at all.

A suprise!

Tonight I'm treating Savannah to a surprise movie and dinner. We found a theater that has $5 any movie Mon-Thursday. So, why not! We will go see Megamind and I'm hoping it's good. I really don't know or have seen much about it but I'm willing to give a go!

In fact, I tend to be the adventurous sort and love to try new things. This summer I did something on a whim and I'm glad I did! Ah, segues, you know I love it!

Savannah and I entered a watermelon eating contest. We were heading to the farmer's market and they just happened to be setting up for the kid's watermelon eating contest. I told Savannah she'd be a shoe-in due to her love of watermelon!

Lucky for us, I brought my camera to document it. After the kid's contest the adult contest was up next. Big farm-hands all gathered around the table and I decided to be in this contest too. So, me against the big farm-hands.

Both Savannah and I won!

















I'll share the rest of these pictures tomorrow!

♪ 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?”