House

Still going strong drawing every day, still working my fingers to the bone trying to fill up my Sketchbook Project sketchbook. :) I'm not sticking to my theme of "jackets, blankets, and sheets" as closely as I had hoped, but ah well, I'd rather fill it with work I'm happy with than lame stuff that follows the theme. Here's a bad webcam photo of today's sketch, a doodle of a gorgeous house we found while in Marinette for Jamie and Chris's wedding this past September.

House on the Rock

The womens' bathroom was so neat we had to investigate the guys'.

*via Marisa.

Shedd Aquarium

*taken by Marisa

There and Back Again: A House on the Rock Tale

Though it happened over a week ago, I would still like to document our ill-fated mini-road-trip across the grand old state of Wisconsin to see (see, not visit) House on the Rock. It started around noon and we were off to a great start! There were lots of farms, and lots of other farms, and lots of big houses between even more farms. There were also a few wrong turns and a couple frantic gas station stops that had less to do with having full bladders and more to do with needing a map, but things were still light and fluffy and fun. We even stopped to get ice cream! (and look at a map >.>)

I was the entrusted ice cream-holder as Marisa was forking over the dough for her cold treat, so of course I sampled the product. (Just to make sure she wasn't going to get poisoned or something, you know. I'm a good friend like that.) And well, it tasted... a bit like gasoline. I sniffed the ice cream. I sniffed the cone. The cashier gave me a look, so I stopped sniffing and handed it back to Marisa. Unfortunately, I wasn't crazy. Word to the wise: If you're ever between Madison and Spring Green and you stop at a gas station that has soft serve ice cream in a waffle cone, don't eat it! It's tainted.

For the record, we did make it Spring Green (only two hours later than we'd meant to). We even made it to House on the Rock, dammit. At 5:15. The last tickets are sold one hour before closing, at 6:00. So we pulled up, said hello, took photographic evidence, and then turned right back around.
The ride back was significantly better. (Well, perhaps not for Marisa, who got sick and vomited on the side of the freeway. I blame the gasoline-ice-cream, not the inordinate amount of Pancake Puppies she consumed at Denny's.) On the way home there was less swearing, less U-turns, and less "why are you in the navigator's seat if you can't read maps?"

There was plenty of time for stops on our leisurely trip back, which included:

A. The pathetic little adorable church where I now want to get married.

(Note the tiny angry person standing on the side of the highway- we drove off without Marisa, lol. That was before she ralphed- I promise we're not that mean! <3)

B. A ferocious/cuddly bear. These pictures weren't on my camera.

C. A petting zoo!

Quack.

Please No Dogs Near Deer.

Deer says hallo.