Views From the 5th Floor

A photographic journal of life outside my 5th floor apartment

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

SUPERNATURAL: Why so sad?

ME: You know why

SUPERNATURAL: Don't be sad...

ME: ...

SUPERNATURAL: Here's a new character

ME: ...

SUPERNATURAL: Don't you like the new character?

ME: No. I don't want to.

SUPERNATURAL: Why not?

ME: Oh don't pretend you don't know.

SUPERNATURAL: It's not gonna be like last time

ME: Yeah right

SUPERNATURAL: I swear

ME: Whatever

SUPERNATURAL: Come on, it's okay, go ahead and like the new character

ME: I don't think I can go through that a--

SUPERNATURAL: Look at that great personality

SUPERNATURAL: Oh pretty too

SUPERNATURAL: Great chemistry with the boys

ME: Well, I guess I could--

SUPERNATURAL: Oh wow totes kicks ass and totes three-dimensional

SUPERNATURAL: Such great promise for the storyline

ME: OH MY GOD THIS CHARACTER'S GREAT

SUPERNATURAL: Are you in love yet?

ME: Uhh

SUPERNATURAL: Well?

ME: I'm not sure...

SUPERNATURAL: Look at that really touching back story

SUPERNATURAL: Doesn't that make you want to cry but in a good way?

ME: ...yeah

SUPERNATURAL: You can totally relate, huh?

ME: Yes...

SUPERNATURAL: Are you in love yet?

ME: Mhmm

SUPERNATURAL: Say it

SUPERNATURAL: Come on, admit it

SUPERNATURAL: DECLARE IT

ME: OKAY FINE! I LOVE THIS CHARACTER SO MUCH I WANT TO WRAP IT IN A WARM BLANKET AND GIVE IT A CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE!

SUPERNATURAL: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FANTASTIC

ME: YOU'RE BRILLIANT! THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS CHARACTER INTO MY LIFE

SUPERNATURAL: Yeah I'm killing it off

ME: WHAT?

SUPERNATURAL: I'm not even going to give it a proper send off.

ME: YOU'RE JOKING RIGHT?

SUPERNATURAL: Just a quick meaningless death.

ME: NO. YOU CAN'T JUST--

SUPERNATURAL: Yep. It's dead.

SUPERNATURAL: I'm probably not gonna resurrect it, just fyi

[odditiesoflife]

Incredibly Elaborate Miniature Fairy Castle

This elaborate miniature house was created in the 1930s by silent film star Colleen Moore. The Fairy Castle is filled with remarkable miniatures and artifacts and is a timeless reminder of the imagination, ingenuity and craftsmanship of cultures and artisans all over the world. It became a permanent exhibit when it was donated to the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago in 1949. The 9-square-foot castle features about 1,500 miniatures and cost nearly $500,000 at the time it was created. The tiny treasures, include:

A painting done by Walt Disney himself, along with a dozen other pieces of original artwork from various artists

The tiniest Bible ever to be written, dating back to 1840

The dining room contains a replica of King Arthur’s round table

Three statues of the Goddess Isis, more than 4,000 years old, in the Great Hall

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

This is gorgeous!

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December 14, 2012

Not my drawing, found it online years ago.  All credit to whomever the fantastic artist is. Just using it today for the losses in Connecticut.  Such a sad, tragic day, and this is how I've been feeling all afternoon.  My heart is with the families, and I hope the little ones find peace--both those that were lost and those left behind who have to deal with going through such a horrific experience at such a young age.

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

November 5, 2012

If you look in the trees, you will a whole bunch of birds.  I was sitting in the living room looking out the window when I saw them fly in.  There were around a hundred, but not all of them were in my tree--some were in other trees, and some were on the building.  So I ran to grab my camera, of course.

All the pictures I took make it difficult to see what they are, but I did some research, and I am pretty sure they are called Black Rails.  Black Rails like marshlands, and we have a fairly  large area of protected wetlands about 20 minutes or so north of us.  They like to winter over in southern states, so I believe they were leaving the wetlands heading south for the winter.  It suddenly has become winter-cold here lately, when it was at normal temperatures for this time of year.  So some of the late-flyers are suddenly getting the heck out of here, and I don't blame them at all LOL!

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

 October 30, 2012

I am thinking of doing a 4-seasons thing with a few of these shots, but I am missing photos from certain seasons.  In the meantime, I did the three Fall shots yesterday, and here are three more of a different view today.  All of these were taken over the past month, and as you can see from the dates with my signature, two were taken fairly close together!  It's so amazing, watching what the world around us does naturally.  We truly live on a gorgeous planet!

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

October 29, 2012

My view, at various points throughout the month. The most recent--and last--picture taken just a couple of days ago.  If you look in the middle of the trees in that last picture, you see an apartment building with a red door that isn't visible when the trees are full.

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Post for October 28, 2012

Took this yesterday at about  6:30pm (EDT).  The sun was probably set, but just barely, so there was still a fair amount of light.  Just a few patches of clouds like this,  before it clouded over completely.  These are very Autumn-like clouds, almost look like they could turn into snow clouds.

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

October 21, 2012

I have this tree posted from Spring if you look back a couple of months.  At that time, it was covered in white flowers.  I took one of these Monday, and this one Friday.  In that week, it went from just the tops showing hints of red, to almost completely changed.  The trees in the back also went from just starting to change to full changed and losing their leaves.  It's amazing watching Mother Nature at work!

I've stopped putting the words "Daily Post" in the title, because I am not always up to posting daily.  I am still having health issues, they are yet even labeled, so until I am well I may not be able to post a lot.  I do my best though.

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Daily Post October 19, 2012

Some  bushes of purple mums out front. Love mums, and these are a gorgeous, deep purple!

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Daily Post October 18, 2012

A tree from in front of the building, sitting next to one of the parking lots.  It's gorgeous, but unfortunately, it was starting to get darker when I took this.  I tried about an hour earlier, but it was raining then.  Couldn't win for losing lol.

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Daily Post October 17, 2012

This little guy was yelling at something.  I happened to hear him, so I got up to see where he was.  He was in my tree, pretty close to the balcony.  I ran and grabbed the camera, went out there, and took a couple of pictures (my arms were kinda shaky today).  He just sat there watching me!

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Daily Post October 16, 2012

Took this at the same time as yesterdays.  It rained on and off all weekend.  Warmed up from the 50's to the 70's, and then as it cooled again, we had a few thunderstorms move through the area.  None hit us,  but we had some interesting clouds anyway!

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Daily Post October 15, 2012

From the 4th floor, a neighbors apartment, looking out toward Frandor shopping center and the Sears water tower.  Took this yesterday.  We're kinda having an odd Autumn this year.  I wouldn't say we're peaking for colors.  Some have peaked and are already falling.  Others are still green.  Usually they peak within a week of each other, but that hasn't been the case  this year.  Our tree is usually one of the first to change, it's not quite half there.  Just odd!

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Daily Post October 14, 2012

During my walk around the wetlands, I got a treat and saw this female deer.  She stood there as still as can be and let me take two pictures.  I probably could have taken more, but I didn't want to spook her.  She was a good 50+ feet away from me.

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Daily Post October 13, 2012

Another from the now-named Tollgate Wetlands (formerly Wood Wetlands), from my walk earlier this week.  My favorite of the day, this is my desktop picture and my Facebook cover photo lol. 

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Daily Post October 12, 2012

Another from my walk through Tollgate Wetlands.  That tree in the  background was so beautiful.  I am truly amazed by the show Mother Nature puts on for us here in Michigan in the fall!

[viewsfrom5thfloor-blog]

Daily Post October 11, 2012

I took a walk through the wetlands here in Lansing a couple of days ago.  I swear it used to be called Wood Wetlands (after one of the streets it's on).  But now apparently it's called Tollgate Wetlands.  Anyway, it was a beautiful, sunny day, I went just before sunset and got some fantastic pictures.  This is one!