Cotton Candy Road Trip Swag Store to Open SOON!!!

Cafe Press stores are easy to open.  But crazy-confusing to assemble.  Except when they're easy.  This easy/difficult teeter-totter keeps yanking me back and forth and I'm getting dizzy!

Pals, let me tell you - I've been working for hours and hours in the last few days on harvesting the best/oddest/most unique photos from my Road Trip, images that will be used on a variety of items you'll be able to purchase from my store.  But Cafe Press keeps being difficult.  But then simple.  And my brain is having a hard time wrapping itself around it all.  Until I get it and then I go, "Huh.  How 'bout that?  That was easy enough - a child of four could've figured THAT one out.  Dang."

Anywho, in about a week or so, all will be revealed.  Suffice it to say, I think you'll be pleased and intrigued with the outcome.  The item I'm most jazzed about is the 2013 calendar, which will feature some of my most prized images from the Road Trip, including a number from our beloved Kiddieland and Storybook Gardens parks, now a sad memory.

I'll keep you all posted.

Until then, here's a little something to make you go, "What the heck IS that thing?"

Well, I'll tell you he's from Arnolds Park.  I'll also let you in on the fact that he's part of the month of October ...

Pretty Much a Continuation of my Last Post.

Mom said, "It always rains on Good Friday." Now, if you look at that logically, you can blow a big hole in that statement because it's impossible to be raining everywhere in the world on one day, even if it's just a small smattering of rain. But it IS odd that most Good Fridays do have at least a soupcon of precipitation.

Today's no exception. And sadly, it's also not the exception of most of this week's weather, with the exception of yesterday which was divinely sunny. I visited my Dad at the Arms and we colored and decorated Easter eggs. I walked the dog. No, we didn't walk, we scampered. And eventually broke into a full-out trot.

But today is ultra-gloomy and dank, probably the worst day of the whole week weather-wise. Maybe that's because it's also Good Friday, which is a somber, contemplative day. But, as positive as I try to be, I must also be realistic.

This. weather. sucks.

I've had several park trips get dampened by rain. Let's see: Nelis' Dutch Village, Storybook Gardens, Waldameer, Conneaut Lake (2nd visit), Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Santa Monica Pier. But I still did manage to enjoy our time there and get some good writing done. So it's not all bad.

But it could be a whole lot better right now.

Nutria... for those who like them

At Storybook Gardens and Timbavati Park in Wisconsin Dells, WI, you can get up close and personal to some nutria. I've always liked these little rodents. I came upon my first nutria at the Berlin Zoo when my friend Marie squealed, "Look! Nutria!" and I thought she was hungry and saw a snack stand for the creamy yogurt-covered Nutria bars sold in Germany (Note: there are no such things as creamy yogurt-covered Nutria snack bars, nor are they sold in Germany).

Anyway, I just learned that these seemingly gentle creatures are a blight on the Gulf Coast, eating crops and generally getting in the way.

Doesn't seem fair; they are so darned adorable.

Brrrrrr....chill.....rain....

Just came back in from taking Ivy, our dainty beaglette, for a walk. It's cold and blowy, with a northeastern wind whipping at my unscarved neck. Brrrr....

Reminded me of my visit to Storybook Gardens in the Dells. That day was also cold and blowy, with an intermittent, unrepentant rain. Here's a photo of me taking refuge with the Three Bears. I guess that makes me the honorary fourth bear (kinda like the fifth Beatle). In any case, their place was a warmish port in the tiny storm.

While in the San Fran area...

another park I hope to visit is Children's Fairyland, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary! I must now include a photo from its website which I find particuarly charming:



It's a shame there aren't many places like Fairyland still around. I'm glad I've visited Storybook Gardens in Wisconsin Dells, which I believe has a similar vibe. And then there's the storybook section of Idlewild, but we unfortunately got there just as they closed the section for the day. I actually saw Little Bo Peep walking away...and then it started to rain.

Sunday on the Blog with Photos -- Monday Edition!

Pondering the pondering nutria at Storybook Gardens, Wisconsin Dells, WI.

Sunday on the Blog with Photos!!

One of the joys of Cotton Candying is finding the hidden treasures in each vintage park. Pictured above is the base of a sundial I came across at Wisconsin Dells' Storybook Gardens. Surprises await around every corner... you just have to be alert and present to find them. That's true for everything, including bright, crisp Sundays.

Enjoy your day!

Hippity Hopping Alice is on her way...

Years ago when Storybook Gardens in Wisconsin Dells first opened, this giant-sized watering can was decorated with a Peter Cottontail theme. In the ensuing years, Peter hopped on down the bunny trail and was replaced by the White Rabbit.

Right now this is the closest thing I have from my Cotton Candying that approaches anything Easterish. Hey -- I tried.

Sunday on the Blog with Photos!

My last post was four days ago -- I apologize for the absence, which had a lot to do with some disconcerting aspects of my Dad's physical condition. Those have been addressed and he's much better. I also took some downtime for myself, reflecting on the loss of my Mom nine years ago yesterday.

So I wasn't as focused on the fun-fun.

Now I'll get the ball re-rolling with this photo of yours truly at Storybook Gardens in the Wisconsin Dells. The story of "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" plays on a small speaker while you visit the Bears in their humble cottage. I firmly believe these are the exact same bears that sat around this table over forty years ago when my parents took me to visit the Gardens the first time. Sure hope the Bears are enjoying themselves. Cuz otherwise, that's way too much time sitting around waiting for something to happen...

Mystic crystal revelations...

It's January 21, the first day this year that the Sun is in the sign of Aquarius, ruled by Uranus (stop snickering), the bringer of all that's wacky, unexpected, humanitarian, innovative, off-kilter, rebellious, enigmatic, and quixotic. Aquarians are a misfit lot of visionaries, vagrants, vagabonds and wunderkinds. To even tap the surface of those who are Aquarians (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,Oprah Winfrey, and Emo Philips. Now that's variety!)is to astonish you with the aurora borealis of characters who've woven themselves into the tapestry of the ages as creators, geniuses, and philantropists, all possessing vibrant personalities and often the complete inability to sit still for more than five minutes.

I proudly stand alongside the likes of "Monty Python"'s Terry Jones, Christopher Guest, Eartha Kitt and Alice Cooper, as your uniquely Aquarian guide through vintage amusement parks across the country, not just your garden-variety travel tip book.

Expect the cow to actually jump over the moon.

(Photo: Storybook Gardens, Wisconsin Dells, WI)