I have transformed into the most ghastly of beasts; can you even recognize me in this dastardly form?
My huge ears pick up the smallest of crinkly noises
My silent wings glide through the night air
Sometimes at terrifying speeds
I am a master hunter, known to all as the Deadly Candy Bat
I prowl the neighborhood for unattended sweets
The candy never had a chance. Truly, I am a monster!
Tiny Hippos are always on the lookout for interesting new types of fauna. We love the excitement of the hunt, plants are the most stealthy of all game, so silent. While I was visiting Governor Dodge State Park, in Wisconsin, I discovered some great specimens.
I started my exploration at Stephens Falls Trail
Stephen Falls is a mossy waterfall that is so very peaceful
First off, a relaxing nap with some lovely ferns was in order
I found this unique Walking Fern that was very difficult to track, I had to don some camouflage so as to not startle it
Yet, this tiny fern was not afraid of a wee hippo like me
Hmm… These berries look so good, but mom always told me not to eat mystery berries and I am not sure what these are. Does that mean they are mysterious?
If you look closely, you will find all sorts of tiny mushroom friends in the forest
These little fellas are Gem Studded Puffball mushrooms, must be very valuable
You must always keep an eye out for wee mushrooms, they are around every turn
While must mushrooms are very shy, this group was just bursting to meet me
Lost Canyon Trail follows a small stream and as all Tiny Hippos know, streams are the best places to find fabulous fauna
Like this Field Horsetail, a silly, ancient plant, that thinks it looks like a field of horse tails
When dealing with streams, one must be prepared to cross them
Easy does it…
Always be careful not to crush the fauna you are seeking
There was no way I would accidentally tread on this big boy
These mushrooms looked like stairs, but remember, no trampling the fungi
Sometimes, the best way to view them is to climb a nearby branch
I like these mushrooms, they look like turkey tails
While on your adventure, don’t forget to look up once and a while, enjoy the view
Small streams always bring me peace
I hope you get a chance to go fauna exploring this fall. I know that I had a wonderful time and I am sure you will too.
Sisters Garden and Bloom in Kalona, Iowa, are two wonderful shops in rural Iowa that always contain treasures for the avid hunter of old and new curiosities.
Driving up to these stores you know you are in for something different
A line of vintage bikes decorated with fairy lights
Of the two shops, Sisters Garden has more vintage and antique items than Bloom
Mirrors are a key element to the decorating of the shop, they add depth and wonder to the space
A wonderful old cabinet with many layers of peeling paint is reflected in another mirror
The stores themselves, are old, happily distressed, farm houses.
Sisters Garden uses many soft light sources to add a sense of drama and fantasy to each room
Never mind that man in the mirror, just my assistant, ignore him
The Bloom shop is very eclectic
Bloom is a brighter, more retro, version of Sisters Garden
I just love all the layers to look at in the shop; though, I seemed to have wondered into this shot
The upstairs of the shop is even more whimsical than the ground floor…
The upstairs is devoted to new and old children’s toys!
My husband may have squealed when he saw this Erector Set, don’t tell anyone
The view from the loft is great
My favorite part of Sisters Garden and Bloom is this greenhouse built from old windows and doors
Sisters Garden and Bloom are two great shops that are always changing.
I took these sunset pictures from an outlook at Mississippi Palisades State Park.
Mississippi Palisades at sunset
Mississippi Palisades with railroad tracks
Recently, I took a week-long course at the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies in Mount Carrol, Illinois. Not only was the course highly informative, I also had a blast exploring the early 20th century campus. One evening we were able to go into the old gymnasium that hadn’t been used since the seventies.
The gym is not very exciting from the outside but wait until you see inside!
The old pool in the basement of the gym is in remarkably good condition, don’t worry about the mold in the corners, it adds character
The bathrooms were not so well-preserved
The dilapidated bathroom stalls
I am not sure what this room was used for, maybe it was a locker room?
The basketball court, complete with basketball
There was even a theater at the end of the basketball court, painted on the wall were the names of the crew of “The Silver Whistle” performed in 1959
This was taken from a small room overlooking the basketball court
A Ping Pong table in the room overlooking the basketball court
This was the old shower room
I took this picture by sticking my arm around the corner because I could not walk into this room due to all the rubble
I was not able to explore all of the rooms because the light was fading quickly, I pretty much just shot these last two photos on the fly while I was finding my way out of the gym
One last glimpse of the old gym
I loved being able to explore this old building, what a rare treat!
Meanderings Abound 