After the Tornado -- 2

(A vertical shot)

After the Tornado -- 1

Some of you may remember me talking about the tornados that swept across Southern Wisconsin one night last August. Eighteen funnels were spotted, with sightings only a mile from me and a small community near Stoughton was severely damamaged by an F3 twister. It was a scary night but there were few injuries and only one death due to our alert weathermen.

After the storm a giant wall cloud sat on the eastern horizon and I went out with my camera and managed to get some amazing cloud pictures. Naturally they fail to fully capture the moment, since the cloud was so long (about a mile!) it would not fit in a single frame, not even when I tried switching to panoramic mode (and sorry - the couple I tried did not turn out as well as those I will be sharing this week).

Anyway, here are the first couple I plan to post this week.

Mammoth Site

The Mammoth Site was one of my favorite stops during a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota ten years back. Located just south of where we stayed in Custer, Hot Springs was once reknowned for its warm mineral springs. People journeyed here from around the world to partake in the therapeutic waters, and many of the old bath houses have been revitalized.

The mammoths were discovered in 1974 when a construction crew arrived to level a hill for a new housing developement and hit a giant bone. The site was once a sinkhole that, on the surface, appeared to be a spring-fed pond. Animals would venture down to the water for a drink, only to be trapped in the rich sediment (interesting note: most of the mammoths found are young adult males). Over hundreds of years the pond dried up, preserving the remains under silt and sediment. More than 50 Columbian and woolly mammoth have been found here, as well as a giant short-faced bear, rabbits, fish, assorted invertebrates and other small mammels.

The Mammoth Site is what they call in-situ, because you visit the actual dig site--and yes, they are still doing excavations here, which you can apply to participate in during July--and is the largest Columbian mammoth exhibit in the world. A building has been erected over the site to protect it from the elements, which also allows them to do on-site research year round. After the short tour you are allowed to stroll around the site (there are rails to keep people from walking across or damaging it), learn more about the Pleistocene era, and take photographs. There is also a connected museum and discovery center where various fossils and the replica of a mammoth bone shelter found in the Ukraine are on display.

The pictures look much better than they scanned, but obviously fail to do the site justice. For a better look and to read more about the site click here. This is one place I hope to revisit some day!

Pretending to be Confident

The great and wonderful Shirley Jump sent an article out to her JustWriteIt list this week on how to appear confident at a conference/writing event when you're really terrified to death. She has also now posted it on her website:

Projecting Confidence When You're Terrified

Waterfall

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Don't Be Koi

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

About the Thai Pavilion

I thought I'd tell a bit about the Thai Pavilion located at Olbrich Botanical Gardens here in Madison.

The Thai Pavilion is one of only four outside of Thailand, with the other three being in Hawaii, Germany and Sweden, and the one in Madison is the only one outside Thailand surrounded by a garden. The Pavilion was a gift to the University of Wisconsin-Madison from the Thai Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the government of Thailand through its king. It opened in June 2002 and has quickly become a popular choice for wedding photos.

Open-sided pavilions such as this one, known as a “sala” in Thailand, are a common sight throughout Thailand. Although they are often located on religious sites, they are secular structures commonly used as shelter from rain and heat. They may also be used for weddings, picnics and other celebrations, as well as quiet reflection.

Highly ornate, these pavilions display the craftsmanship of Thai artisans and are constructed without nails, screws or metal fasteners of any kind, and bear the Royal seal of the Thai crown. The pavilion at Olbrich is adorned with gold leaf, red lacquer finish and ornate decoration. Measuring 40 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 30 feet high, the sala is worth between 1.5 and 2 million dollars.

The Thai Pavilion is reached by crossing an arched ornamental bridge spanning Starkweather Creek and a curving path along which grows lush flowers and fauna. There is a reflection pool, three tranquil pools and benches placed around the pavilion. Only lotus flowers, a sacred plant in Thailand, grow in the reflection pools. Pavilions are usually situated in pretty places and, if possible, near flowing water. To the Thai people, access to water has implications for good health and prosperity.

Plants chosen for the garden are similar to those found in Thailand, bearing in mind climatic differences. Since palms and banana trees are out of the question, there is more emphasis on ornamental grasses and textured plants. Thai gardens are generally serene, with more emphasis on texture and form than color. One of the plants being substituted is giant miscanthus, which grows up to 12 feet tall and looks similar to bamboo. There are also potted conifers and sculpted tree art, as well as interesting sculptures located along the serpentine path leading to the sala.

Thai Statue

Statue near the Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Madison WI (2005)

Thai Elephant

Elephant near the Thai Pavilion

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Madison, WI (2005)

Thai Pavilion

Thai Pavilion, Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Looking at the ceiling

Interior of the archways

Purple Orchids

Purple Orchids, Phipps Conservatory (2001)

Got a Life?

I got this from Jana, who borrowed it from April. This movie list is supposed to determine whether or not you need to "get a life" or not. If you've seen over 70, you supposedly have no life. The one's I've seen have an X in the ( ) and the count for each section is at the top of the section. My score and comments to follow.

Section 1: 7
(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease (dozens of times!)
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean (Yum... Johnny Depp.)
( ) Boondock Saints
(x) The Mexican (not intentionally)
( ) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane

Section 2: 3
(x) The Princess Bride
(x) Young Frankenstein
( ) AnchorMan: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Saw
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates (Cute...much better than expected)
( ) Jason X

Section 3: 1 (I don't do scary...or stupid...movies)

( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) American Pie
( ) American Pie 2
() American Wedding
(x) Harry Potter

Section 4: 5

(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil I
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
( ) Donnie Darko
(x) Lilo & Stitch

Section 5: 3
(x) Finding Nemo (Too cute!)
(x) Finding Neverland
( ) 13 Ghosts
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (The original animated cartoon, NOT the Jim Carey ruination)
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) Thirteen Going on 30
( ) I, Robot

Section 6: 3
( ) Dodgeball
( ) Universal Soldier
(x) A Series Of Unfortunate Events (Need to borrow this from kids upstairs)
(x) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
( ) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights

Section 7: 2
( ) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
( ) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumb & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
(x)Halloween (One of the few horror movies I've seen)
( ) The Ring

Section 8: 2
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
(x) Practical magic
(x) Chicago (Liked this more than I thought I would)
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards

Section 9: 2
( ) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
(x) Nightmare on Elm Street (I was young, I was at a slumber party, the vote was against me)
(X) Sixteen Candles (Many times over)
( ) Coach Carter (Really want to see this one)
( ) Bad Boys

section 10: 3
() Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
(x) se7en
(x) Ocean's eleven
( ) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Identity (Very creepy in a psychological thriller kind of way)
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II

Section 11: 5
(x) Independence Day (Why did they have to kill Harry Connick Jr - and so early, too?)
( ) Cujo (NOOOO thank you)
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
(x) Christine (I don't remember if I saw the entire movie as it was a looong time ago)
(x) ET (A friend of mine even had one of the stuffed ones!)
(x) Children of the Corn (Read the book, saw the movie pretty much by accident on HBO)
( ) My Boss' daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan (Cute movie, better than expected)
( ) Frailty

Section 12: 3
( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
(x) Sideways (Unfortunately)
( ) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After (One of my favorites. Like Jana I also liked Dougray Scott (Prince Henry)).
(x) Forrest Gump (Love Tom Hanks.)
( ) Big Trouble in Little China

Section 13: 2
( ) X-Men
( ) X-2
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can (Another good one with Tom Hanks!)
( ) The Others
(x) Freaky Friday (Original yes, remake hell no!)
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) The Hot Chick

Section 14: 5
( ) Swimfan
(x) Miracle (Have it on DVD, vaguely remember watching the Olympic team, Marc Johnson now coaches the Wisconsin Badgers Women's Hockey team who is totally kicking ass this year!)
( ) Old School
(x) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
(x) Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Missed it in the theater, waiting impatiently for it to come to TV)
(x) Walk to Remember
() Boogeyman

Section 15: 6
(x) Hitch
(x) The Fifth Element
(x) Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Episode II Attack of The Clones
(x) Star Wars Episode III Revenge of The Sith
(x) Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Episode VI Return of The Jedi
(x) Troop Beverly Hills
( ) Swimming with Sharks

(I'm not really a HUGE SW fan myself, but have a friend who is so was dragged to the first three with her; the original three we watched many times growing up.)

Section 16: 0
( ) Empire Records
( ) SLC Punk
(x) Meet Joe Black
(x) Nightmare Before Christmas
( ) The Silence of the Lambs (Hell no!)
(x) Sleepy Hollow
( ) I Heart Huckabees
() 24 Hour Party People
( ) Blood In Blood Out
() The Virgin Suicides
( ) Battle Royale

Total seen: 64/160

Guess that means I actually have a life!

Of course, it's very subjective, as no two people have the same tastes in movies anymore than they do books or art. I don't care for horror films and am not very found of science fiction, prefering instead romantic comedy, drama, sometimes a really good action flick or psychological thriller.

Same with books. I read mostly romantic suspense and mystery, but will sometimes pick up a good nonfiction or classic I've been wanting to read.

Books or movies, it all depends on the mood.

Pack Saddle Bridge

Pack Saddle Bridge, Pennsylvania

This bridge in Sommerset County was built in 1870 over Brush Creek and was refurbished in 1998. I think this was where the previously posted creek photo was taken.

Bert & Ernie

Bert & Ernie soar over "Kites on Ice"

Madison, WI (2004)

Glistening Rocks

Creek somewhere in Pennsylvania (2001)

Vintage Circus Wagon

Vintage Circus Wagon (July 2003)

The Great Circus Parade used to be an annual summer event held in Milwaukee in early July. The vintage train wagons are stored and on display at Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the original summer home of the Biggest Show on Earth: the Barnum & Bailey Circus. At the end of June/early July, the wagons would be loaded onto a train that would wind across southern Wisconsin into the northern tip of Illinois, stopping in Madison, Janesville, Rockford and a few small towns along the way, before eventually making Milwaukee. There they would be on display for a week before the big parade.

Sadly, it has become too expensive for the train to make this annual trip, and 2003 saw not only the last Circus Train, but the last parade in Milwaukee. The parade has been held in Baraboo the past two summers, which means less travel expenses, but because they have held it the same weekend as Rhthym & Booms in Madison, turnout has not been as high as expected so sadly there will be no parade in 2006. Of course, parade planners seem oblivious to the fact that, if they want bigger attendence, holding the parade around the 4th of July probably isn't a good idea. Thousands flock to Madison from across southern Wisconsin and surrounding states. I know many here in Madison would love to attend the parade, but are loathe to do so the day of Rhthym & Booms. Sure, you could easily attend both, if you don't mind the traffic from Baraboo to Madison, but most prefer a lazy day at the park, listening to the various bands before the fireworks extravaganza.

Hopefully Circus World Museum will survive and there will one day be a circus train again. It truly is a wonderous site to see!

Jimmy Says....

Happy Groundhogs Day, the day when furry weather prognosticators venture forth from their dens and tell us whether we will see an early spring...or six more weeks of winter.

In Sun Prairie, Wisconsin -- the official Groundhog Capital of the World -- Jimmy the Groundhog exited his burrow early this morning and, the day being a bit gray, decreed that there would be an early spring. Lest some of you be tempted to believe Phoney Phil in Pennsylvania, let it be known that Jimmy the Groundhog has a greater record of accuracy than he (and Phil is saying six more weeks of winter).

If you'd like to learn more about Groundhog's Day, visit Groundhog Central where you'll find history, groundhog facts, photographs and more.

RAKs Repaid

The other day I posted about Random Acts of Kindness, and how the littlest thing can make a person's day. Well, I've had a couple RAKs come full-circle today.

1. A friend overseas emailed to say she had a message from the psot office that a package I sent surface a few weeks ago had arrived. She didn't know I had sent it, so it was a pleasant surprise arriving out of the blue like that. Imagining the smile on her face puts one on mine.

2. I mentioned how I had recently made some 75 cards for troops overseas to send back home to loved ones. This morning an email landed in my inbox from Sue, who was sending on an email she received:

D___ is both a colleague and friend or mine and showed me the beautiful cards that you sent her. We, as well as everyone who has looked at them, were very moved by the work that you and your friends put into them. They are absolutely gorgeous and priceless at the same time -- we have to ensure that the person/people we are sending them to are actually worthy of them!!! We have received, and are very appreciative of, the many packages that the American public has sent us, but for some reason, perhaps because of the intricate work required for each card, were practically speechless when we opened your package.

Again,thanks so much for sending us your "care" package.


How could something like that not make you happy -- or want to rush home and crank out another 50 or more cards?? And yes, 50 would be do-able in one day, if one had nothing else on the agenda and was keeping them "simple." By simple I mean not a lot of coloring in of images, no time-consuming styles or techniques, etc. The dozen I did last night were pretty simple, but with several birthdays approaching, I ended up with only three leftover for my troop supply. Will have to see how many I can whip out over the next month as Sue is requesting general birthday, thinking of you, St Pat's, Easter, and spring by month's end. It's a challenge I know I can meet!

3. I've been "paying it forward" the last few days in the SCS gallery by commenting on as many cards uploaded as possible. That may not seem like much to some, but...the SCS gallery is a wonderful resource where Stampin' Up addicts such as myself can share ideas and challenge each other's creativity. The site offers weekly tutorials for those who like to try new techniques, or need a refresher. I personally love the weekly challenges -- especially the color challenge (Tuesday), sketch challenge (Wednesday) and limited supply challenge (Friday). They're good ways to challenge your own creativity. Last nights cards fit this week's color challenge and last week's sketch and LS challenges. I've already printed off this week's sketch, and also have ideas for the week's technique challenge. I don't usually do the tech ones as I tend not to have the supplies and shy away from anything messy or too time consuming. This week's TC however, is color blocking and I love blocking. It can be a little tricky getting your blocks just right, but I love how the cards look.

I do have one major irritation with some of my fellow stampers on SCS, and that is in regard to gallery comments. I know we all have our favorite stampers...people who are really good at creating stunning creations. People who have been at this a lot longer than even I have...or who have been able to put more time and effort into trying new techniques. What irritates me, though, especially in the challenge galleries, is when you see one card that has 1299 views and 35 comments and the cards on either side of it have only 218 views/5 comments and 351 views and 2 comments. Or less. Yes, I have seen a card with maybe 20 views next to one with thousands.

I know we all ooh and ahh over those that are truly gorgeous, but we shouldn't ignore the ones that maybe aren't as stunning, or aren't by the top stampers at the site. I know what it's like not to get a single comment on a card. I uploaded several cards for challenges last week, four of which have 50 or fewer views and no comments. I uploaded another six last night. One has 99 views and 7 comments, another 86 views and 6 comments. Which is great -- but then there are three others that have had no comments at all. 40+ views and no one had anything to say about them?

This is not to say I expect people to comment on everything I post, I am merely using my personal gallery as an example. My point is that, when people only comment or look at cards by the best stampers and ignore everyone else, it is intimidating and discouraging to new stampers and newcomers to the site. When people see this they are then afraid to post their own work, lest it be rejected or ignored. And that's not what SCS is about.

So if any of my fellow SCS-ers are reading this, start paying it forward! Look for the cards that have few page views or comments and let them know what you like about their card, or what might make it better. If you participat ein one of the challenges, make sure you go back and look for new uploads to the challenge and let the creators know what you think of them. Don't be afraid to make suggestions for improvements. Is it too busy, need a little something? I know there are tons of times I look at one of my own cards and think, "this needs something." Often I can figure out what it's missing -- maybe an embellishment in this corner, or a bit more of that color to ballance it out -- but sometimes you can't. Sometimes people are afraid of coming right out and saying, "what does this card need?" and if you haven't been stamping long it can be frustrating and difficult to figure out that perfect touch. Heck, it can be hard sometimes for those who have been at it a while.

So, if anyone from SCS has found their way over here, go to the gallery, look for cards that have no or few comments and pay it forward. Your random act of kindness will make someone feel good, which in turn will make you feel good.

Butterfly at Lewis Ginter

Yellow butterfly amid orange flowers at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia. I'm amazed at how few pictures I have from our visit there in 1998. I seem only to have a half dozen pics of my own, yet am sure I took more than that. I never use less than a roll of film in a botanical garden, usually at least two!