Catching Up

Yes, catching up, yet again. For the past three weeks I've been running around like crazy. After a sudden heatwave, we now have fall temps and the leaves on the trees are starting to change color. My favorite time of year.

So I will start with three weeks ago when I went up north with my friend Kristi and her friend Abbie who is probably my new friend. We started out at Spicer's Cider Mill. Got cider, fresh donuts, apple pie, and wine. Did I mention that this was a ladies getaway? Yeah... Then we went to Ossineke and saw the roadside attraction Jurassic Jesus, the one who protects the dinosaur park.

That's me in the green. And the next pic is of a postcard from the dinosaur park. We also got fudge from Joann's Fudge. Actually, I got truffles.

We then went to a small waterfall and onto Posen. We took a nice walk on the property and got pizza at the town's party store.

The next day we went to Mackinac City. We visited Fort Michilimackinac.

And this poor guy waiting for visitors to come around so he could talk to them. In the back you can see the Mighty Mac aka Mackinac Bridge over the Straights of Mackinac.

There were several large gardens (at the end of their days) that had to feed everyone in the fort.

My new new friend I met. We talked about costumes and costume books.

We left there and I went to Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. It was around closing time and I was part of the last group to go up into the lighthouse. 51 narrow steps and an 11-rung, eight-foot ladder through a narrow hatchway. I did it, I went all the way to the tower. So glad there were only 3 of us. Really got a chance to talk to the guide.

The original Fresnel lens is on display in the light keepers area. I also got a quick look at the Shipwreck Museum. Very interesting and continued my talk with the same guide. He was pleased when I started talking about Michigan shipwrecks and U-boats of WWII. It's really nice to talk to people who love and appreciate history and they don't make you feel bad if you don't know everything they know. I wish I had time to buy him a beer and just talk. So if you're ever up north in the lower peninsula of Michigan, go see the fort and lighthouse. The Mighty Mac and the Straights of Mackinac. The best time is off season. No crowds. A little on the chilly side but still very cool. The last thing we did before heading south was to have pasties for dinner. Yum. Pass-tees. Until next time.

Hello July

A new day, a new month, and a new year for me.  I had fun celebrating my birthday this past weekend.  I was kidnapped again by two friends and a baby.  We went to botanical gardens in Greensboro, and did wine tasting at three vineyards.  The baby got a taste through mom's milk.  We had a small lunch, the weather held out and it was great.  That was Friday.  On Saturday, Maya took me to some towns south of where I live.  Lots of history; saw where Cornwallis' men were buried, part of Daniel Boone's trail, saw the beautiful cemetery where his parents are buried, saw a cemetery for war dead with dates going back to the Revolutionary War.  And the architecture, so wonderful.  Many Victorian homes.  Will have to go back and get some serious photos.  Also learned that President Andrew Jackson got his law degree and passed the Bar Exam here in this state before he went off to do other things and became president.  On Sunday, I recovered by watching Captain America (which I hadn't seen) and The Avengers (which I had seen).  I liked both.

I am going to take a different approach to my life this new year.  I will make a separate post for that.  The past year has been okay.  Not great, not horrid... okay.  I want more than okay.  It's time to ramp things up again and make this continuing journey a bit more interesting.

I'm Still Here

I just don't know where to begin. I do hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I did. I enjoyed good food, conversation, a couple of practical jokes, lights at Tanglewood Park, an after dinner Starbucks run, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the tube, the Purina Dog Show, part of a football game, and a couple of episodes of Shaun the Sheep. It was my first gluten free dinner and it was very tasty. I did re injure my thumb. The pain shot all the way up to my shoulder. It's at about 80% and continues to ache and not want to do what it's supposed to do. But I have got to get busy for the two craft shows I have next month. So I will suck it up and get back to work. I'll keep icing and heating it but it's getting to be a bit annoying.

I was able to make it to the NC Renaissance Festival. Maya, Amanda, and I are trying to make this our tradition. Still didn't dress up but there's always next year. It was the last day of the festival and oh so cold. It was really nice being able to see the village without a sea of heads and bodies. I would love to see the place at first snow. That would be so awesome! I did get to see some men in kilts.

Next year... next year.

I'm way behind on my NaNo this year. I won't hit my 50k words but that's okay. I am going to continue to get in 1000 words a day, edit one page of Map Hunter so I can get it out there, and continue to finish up my screenplays. I also have to work on a commission. Here's the first pic.

I have re purposed a cereal box. These two will become masks. Day of the Dead Masks. I do hope you come back to check out their progress.

Yes, these are styrofoam eggs. They will be turned into ornaments. Alien heads. That's all I'll say right now. Take care all.