It's been a great couple of weeks, Hubby had some time off work and we both got to hang out and do some local exploring in the general Madison area. The Sandman series has been on Netflix and we've been listening to the audiobook adaptations since our drive to Wisconsin. Neil Gaiman is one of our favorite authors, and there is a wild place nearby that is featured in American Gods. House on the Rock--a place where dreams, madness, money, and intrigue combine here and it was one hell of a journey throughout. Hubby and I were shocked, awed, exhausted, and excited to see this place in all it's glory. I didn't fully understand it's place in the novel as well as I do now, having been there. Gaiman was absolutely correct in marking this location as one of the strange but appropriate pillars to America's obsession with material items, a desire to shape the landscape, and therefore change the shape of the world. For better or worse, it truly is one of those magical-feeling places that acts as an altar to American Culture. There is so much to see and experience I can't even begin to detail it here. I will leave it to this site to do a much better job than I can: https://www.fangirlquest.com/travel/house-on-the-rock-wisconsin/
After that, a few days later we journeyed into the earth again, but this time a less intense and shorter jaunt into the Cave of the Mounds. While small and short, this was a neat place to visit as there are some cool features with a black light and seeing some of the bioluminescence in the minerals.
Finally having this chance to explore the local area in more depth and detail with some good company, things were really excellent. I got out to paint a little less this week, but still snuck one in there for good measure. September marks the Strada Easel challenge, paintings/drawings from life everyday this month posted with the proper hashtags and whatnot so that I can enter a drawing to win a free easel and supplies! So far, so good on these "dailies." Here I found a fantastic trail throughout the Arboretum and this location, Big Spring was regarded by the Native Ho-Chunk as being a place that wildlife crossed the veil. I could see how such sentiment would develop. Everything around me vibrates with this feeling of magic and something special happening.
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