It's hard to explain how I feel about zoos sometimes. I wish they didn't exist but I know some creatures and plants have only survived because someone cared enough to put them in a zoo. And of course, there's also the fact that I was taken on four first dates in a row to the zoo when I would tell people I was a vegetarian. So there's that too. The San Antonio Zoo is a place that has been working for animal conservation for a long time. I am glad that there are kind and dedicated people who take care of these wonderful creatures.
To the Land of Make Believe
I love going to the Mn Renaissance Festival. It seems to be getting more and more popular too. People dress up to the nines! I can't believe the shopping there either. It's impossible not to leave with some sort of fun, gorgeous little trinket. It so fun to wander and see what's about.
Happy Birthday!
I am having a birthday very soon and one way to celebrate is to have a coupon code running in my shop. It's 25% off your entire purchase. All you need to do is is enter code: BDAY25 in the coupon field upon checkout and it will be deducted. The offer is good until Oct. 23rd. Thank you Thank you! I love having a birthday, I'm so grateful for so many things!
I would very much appreciate it if you stopped into my shop and had a look around!
~~~~~~Have a Wonderful Day~~~~~~
The Early Days
I’ve taken on the daunting task of organizing my iPhoto library for many reasons, including being able to have an entirely separate library for jewelry photos for my ETSY shop. As I’ve been going through them, all 35,000 + I’ve come across old memories as well as pictures from the start of my jewelry crafting. Little things really. Simple pieces that gave me great joy to create and shipped many off to new homes or gave as gifts to the people I love. It’s fun to see what things have changed or how some of the things are the same except more well defined. I'll say this, I’m so happy that I have better cameras and know more about lighting. I continue to learn to light better and understand photography, especially when I live somewhere like Minnesota where the weather can be very dark for many days, I’m more and more pleased how my things turn out.
Here’s some past pieces. I’ll share more of them on my Facebook page as well. Have a great day!
San Antonio Museum of Art
Going through many, many pictures. Here are some favorites from the art museum from my visit in September.
The SAMA showcases a lot of Hispanic and Latin art. Including lots from the immediate region. I never pass up a chance to go to an art musuem.
San Antonio Botanical Garden
I recently went to Texas and visited many cool places in the city of San Antonio. Starting with the San Antonio Botanical Garden. I took A LOT of pictures because there were so many unusual plants to see, touch and smell. It's a great, well-kept place to visit. I highly recommend it. Now for a whole bunch of pictures!
Being Geek Chic
I was lucky enough to be picked as Lady Geek of the Week over at Being Geek Chic.
I would love it if you stopped by! You should also browse around more of the blog for fashion ideas and Geeky recipes! I'm so glad I have a new fabulous blog to explore!
Batcave!
OK, so the bats weren't really there. I did see one but, they do live there in the winter....oh where? That would probably be a good thing to tell you. In Crystal Cave in Wisconsin. So after hiking in Northern Wisconsin earlier this summer and learning that some of the rocks and land here are the oldest in the world, I made up my mind to explore more. This place is about an hour from my home and offers a tour that goes 70 feet under the surface to show you a bit about the geological wonders that is the midwest! ;o) Plus, it was 50 degrees underground which was a very nice break from the August heat!
Parley Lake Winery
As my exploration of Minnesota Wineries continues, I find that I am surprised how each seems to be a different experience. My visit to Parley Lake Winery included seeing llamas, tractor rides, a band and someone making pizzas in the back of an old fire truck(which I didn't get a picture of...boo!) I might add the Frontenac wine=YUM. I also very much enjoyed all the white wines they made. I seem to like white wine in the summertime quite a bit.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
This past weekend I went and spent the day at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It is in Chanhassen, MN. A little town about 45 minutes from where I live in the city that was recently on the list of best small towns in America. It is a very pretty area with green as far as the eyes can see and it is of course, home to the arboretum. Which is a HUGE and beautiful place. There were no fewer than 6 weddings being set up there on Saturday. Totally understandable as each area is like walking into a different sort of fairy tale. We took a lunch and a camera and ran around the grounds. They are setting up the new scuplture garden and there was also an art crawl. I do like to pretend I am in another world on occasion(that occasion is not really very rare) as that is just the sort of fruit cake I am. But it really is worth a visit. If nothing else you can exhuast your children out there. Bring water and you can mostly certainly get a tremendous work out by walking the grounds. But they also offer tours for those who prefer a more leisurely way.
And on Monday night I was....
BATGIRL!!!
Westwood Hills Nature Center
One of my absolute favorite things about Minnesota is nature is everywhere. You can live in the city but within a mile not feel like you do. Hidden away just a few miles from my home and just off a highway is the Westwood Hills Nature Center. A little green gem in the midst of a busy neighborhood. It's an easy hike around the lake. It's quiet and full of birds and dragonflies. So when you've had "one of those days," you can head over there for a bit of peace.
Random Happy Pictures
Some random shots from my phone of happy things the last week or so!
Cocktails at the Castle
It's something of a secret that Minnesota has lots of old homes and mansions of historical value. There were a lot of business pioneers who took up residency here and built impressive and artistically significant homes throughout the Midwest. One of my favorites is the American Swedish Institute in the Turnblad Mansion. It's even been visited by the King and Queen of Sweden.
Recently, they have been host to monthly parties and I got to attend one. It was pretty great and the night was lovely. They had food, drinks, music, Swedish glass blowing demonstrations as well as the Swedish game Kubb.
Magical Minnesota
When it gets warm in the Twin Cities, people garden like mad. They are fantastic at it here. I think Minnesotans have a special appreciation for growing things since we live without them for so many months out of the year. One of the best examples of the green thumbs that abound is the Lyndale Rose Gardens. This place is magical. The whole area is beautiful most of the year but boy, when those roses bloom there's nothing like it here!
CONVERGENCE!
For 14 years now I've been attending CONvergence. A sci-fi/fantasy convention here in the Twin Cities. It's sort of amazing to look back over the years and reflect upon all the things I've done and seen there. I've hosted huge room parties (I'll have to post about that later), I've seen shows, met writers including Neil Gaiman, Emma Bull and Will Shetterly, gone to panels with fascinating people, danced till the wee hours of the morning. CON is bigger than it's ever been. I'd go as far to say it's outgrown the hotel it's currently in. Which is both wonderful as the acceptance of geekery has really grown and somewhat bittersweet as I am fond of the hotel it's in: DoubleTree, as it holds many happy memories for me. I want to see CON continue to grow. The Geek Scene, as it were, here in the Twin Cities deserves more note then it currently recieves. The cities are filled with writers, artisits, film makers, scientists, gamers, cosplayers, etc...of every imaginable and unimaginable world.
It's always over the Fourth of July weekend. Of course, that meant a British Invasion theme sooner or later.
And since, Dr. Who has never been more popular it seems like it was good to happen this year.
Underwater Adventure
Perhaps the last place you'd think to find sharks and sting rays is probably a mall. And if you did think they might be there you might think they were stuck in some awful, small place. Now, it's true they don't have the whole ocean to be in anymore but, many of these animals are rescues and they are brought to their new home at the Mall of America in Minnesota of all the places in the world! I was taken here for a friend's birthday and was pleasantly surprised by how well-kept and extensive this place is- it was really a cool experience. It sits at the very bottom of the Mall of America. The place, MN Sea Life, offers great deals for exploring too. If you find yourself at the mall which, honestly, when you live here doesn't happen often, you should stop in. Leave yourself about 90 minutes to get through and explore. It was nice to be reminded that even though the mall might seem sort of silly sometimes it still offers some unique places to visit.
Woodland Hill Winery
I've decided to explore all the wineries in Minnesota. I've been to two now. So I'm just at the start as there are over 40 in the state. The one I just went to Woodland Hill Winery out in Delano, Minnesota was a really nice and relaxing experience. We spent a couple of hours out there just tasting and drinking wine as well as wandering around the grounds. It is very well put together and has been open for almost 10 years. They host private events too. They had two dogs running around whom I adored. Syrah spent sometime with me after we made friends.
I have found that I always like the strawberry wines. I'm sure that's not "sophisticated" but well, what are you going to do?
Fairy Tales and Science
I thought I would share with you a few new pieces available in my shop. Please stop by!
Wisconsin Adventure
Something I've learned about myself recently is that I enjoy being in the outdoors quite a bit more than I thought even just 4 years ago. I really like hiking. I like being able to stop and look around where I am and of course, take lots of pictures. I love rocks, trees and flowers. I love the animals and water. A few weeks ago I went into Northern Wisconsin to stay at the Four Seasons Island Resort. A very pretty place that opened in the 20's that has been remodeled. I just loved the Gatsby feel of it. It's on a little island with a one lane bridge in the midst of beautifully forested land. In the few days we were there we hiked to 9 different waterfalls in the area. We saw a black bear, birds, fish, deer(including a fawn), frogs, butterflies and a snake. It was a pretty amazing experience. I learned a lot about the area that is known as the Marinette County Forest. One of my favorite things I learned was that the rocks in the area are some of the oldest in the world because there's been nothing to erode them away. I had no idea! I'd like to also say that the drinks at the bars in the resort are GREAT and the staff was VERY friendly. We had a whirlpool tub in our room and after an eight hour hike, it was wonderful to sit in. NOW for A TON OF PICTURES!
