Thursday, October 29, 2009

Soul

In the garden, my soul is sunshine.

-author unknown


It's the place we go to smile and laugh without hearing a joke. Just knowing that they are alive and growing is enough. The golden glow, the blushing and pretty pink, the pale, cool blue, they are all capable of swaying our moods. Flower! Make me laugh, make me sing, make me dance.



I am singing. I am laughing. I am dancing.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

mud-liscious

the world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.

-e.e. cummings

Have you ever swam in a mud puddle? Or made mud pies? Have you attempted to dig to China? A sandcastle with a moat? Leaf races during a good rain?

I have.

Friday, October 23, 2009

And nothing is gained by not gathering roses...



Asking For Roses by Robert Frost

A house that lacks, seemingly, mistress and master,
With doors that none but the wind ever closes,
Its floor all littered with glass and with plaster;
It stands in a garden of old-fashioned roses.



I pass by that way in the gloaming with Mary;
I wonder,' I say, 'who the owner of those is.
Oh, no one you know,' she answers me airy,
But one we must ask if we want any roses.



So we must join hands in the dew coming coldly
There in the hush of the wood that reposes,
And turn and go up to the open door boldly,
And knock to the echoes as beggars for roses.



Pray, are you within there, Mistress Who-were-you?
Tis Mary that speaks and our errand discloses.
Pray, are you within there? Bestir you, bestir you!
Tis summer again; there's two come for roses.



A word with you, that of the singer recalling
Old Herrick: a saying that every maid knows is
A flower unplucked is but left to the falling,
And nothing is gained by not gathering roses.



We do not loosen our hands' intertwining
(Not caring so very much what she supposes),
There when she comes on us mistily shining
And grants us by silence the boon of her roses.


I took a stroll through Reynolda Gardens on Thursday.



I found myself getting light headed while wandering through the roses.



I realized I was smelling them way to much.



It's hard to remember to exhale when all you want to do is inhale.



The sweet smells of apples and citrus. Honey and fresh air.



I wanted to gather an armful and take them all home.



Keep them all to myself.



But these are not mine.



So I will share.

Monday, October 19, 2009

A Late Labor Day Post

Over Labor Day weekend we hit the water and did a little boating. Tippy Dam is just four miles from my home in Brethren, MI. Built in 1918, it's known nation wide for it's incredible Salmon and Stealhead fishing (below the dam of course). The new world record Brown Trout was just caught on Sept. 9th in the Manistee River several miles below the dam. Here is a link to the article. click me





This is known as the Tippy Dam back waters. Great camping, fishing and boating are the big attractions.



My boyfriend, Andrew, on the left. His best bud, Jared, on the right, relaxing.


So many beautiful views here. A few islands are dappled throughout the waters. Bald Eagles are abundant here as well. The water is extremely deep and full of old logs and stumps. You have to be pretty careful where you go to avoid smacking into a stump. They are always on the move due to the heavy current.



The water is also home to the prehistoric fish, sturgeon. Living as long as 150 years, they have been over fished in this area so they are quite rare. There has been lots of work done to restore them in the last few years.

A pontoon boat passing by. Quite a few people out today enjoying the perfect Holiday weather.






Careful now!


I grew up exploring and camping here at the Tippy Dam. It has been our favorite place to go since we were little. Bears, whitetail deer, bobcats and the extremely rare mountain lion siting (I've never seen one) help enhance our appreciation of this great and wild state forest.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Very Scary!

Woods of Terror consisted of an hour of trails leading us in and out of themed, horror filled places including many great movies. We walked through the nightmares of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, the Ring, My bloody Valentine, Saw, Jeepers Creepers, Hell Raiser and more.


The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was probably the best. As soon as we aproached the house we new right where we were.  We both staired up at the two story house working up the courage to enter.  The door creeked open revealing the entire family including their screaming victims, covered in blood, being held captive. Eventually to be eaten, I'm sure.

Jeepers Creepers was great as well.  Set in a corn field, fog rolling all around, it was very creepy indeed. Several school buses sat debilitated in the corn field. Climb on board if you dare. Screaming, bloody, soon to be dead victims, beg for our help. An arm grabs at us from the roof of the bus.

I can't count how many times I jumped and screamed. Someone always waiting, hiding, ready to scare us.   Many of the monsters paid special attention to me since I was odviously an easily scared target.  I startle very easily.  With 130 actors in full costume it made for a very scary and fun haunt.

My only complaint is about the teenage girls that were in front of us throughout the trail. Probably around 16 or younger, I actually wanted to slap each one of them. They basically heckled every single performer saying repetitive phrases such as "oh my god! I love your makeup. I’m not even joking!, Oh my god! You are so hot! I'm not even joking!"  They were a complete fun killer. At no point did they shut up. Even the performers, in character, expressed their dislike of those little brats!

Other than that it was really fun and scary! You better go find a haunt in your area. It's almost Halloween!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Woods of Terror

I am so excited!  Andrew and I are going to the Woods of Terror tonight.  It's one of the nations best and certainly the states best haunted forests.  The show starts at 7:30.  Can't wait to scream my sock's off!  I watched some of the videos on the website and immediately became anxious.  I think it's going to be a crazy, scary place.

Go check out the spooky website and watch some of the hair raising videos.  muhahahahaha!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Great googly moogly!

Enlarge to check out the cow to right of the black one. Not that I really need to point'er out!


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Trusty Old Pickup Truck

This old truck is tucked in the woods on the edge a tart cherry orchard that I scout. It's fun to imagine this truck chugging along the roads 40 plus years ago.




Sunday, October 11, 2009

The Dixie Classic Fair

Nothing like a good ol' tractor pull at the local fair. Some of these tractors were heavily modified, complete with roll cages and very loud.



A couple more rides you won't find me on. I used to love the swings when I was a kid but now I'm just to paranoid.


The Agriculture building's were full of wonderful display's and award winning fruit's and veggie's.


The big winners!


The new NC state record.


The gourds on the table are around 4 or 5 feet long. The one strapped to the board leaning against the wall is over 7 feet!


Nice gourd displays.


The amazing versatility they possess.


How would you decorate your spud?


Too darn cute!


A strange type of cow. I should have written down the name. Any guesses?


Adorable sleeping goats.



The historic village. Most of these buildings were donated from historic homesteads around NC. Many dated from the 1700's. This is a recreation of the largest barn found in Forsyth County from that time period.


A structure used for drying tobacco. You can see the fireplace to the bottom left of the hut. I have heard it's hot and humid in there in these hot Carolina summers.


I love this incredible stone work.


The End.