Attending The Johnny Appleseed Event

Over the weekend my boyfriend, daughter and I attended the an event called "Johnny Appleseed" at the historical Auglaize village. Located in Defiance, Ohio. What is so special about the Auglaize village, well everything. It is run by volunteers. Nobody who works there gets paid. How many places can you say do that?

One of the first things we did after looking through the small flea market are was ride the train for a small fee. The train drives you around the Auglaize Village.

My daughter was ecstatic like a two year old getting ice cream. This was her first time riding a train. She said it was rather bumpy. I laughed as my boyfriend and I explained that back in the olden days the only means of transportation was walking or riding a horse.

We were able to explore the train yard. By climbing on different parts of the train. From the engine to the caboose. Each piece had different information displayed telling about it. From the time it was made til it was donated to Auglaize Village.

From there we went and looked at the Post Office and other historical building. Don't I look cute dressed up as a person who works at the Post Office?

Receiving packages at the post office is a little different today. We no longer wrap the outside in brown paper. Our packages still get weighed before we can send them off. 

Schools back then was comprised as a one room building. Where one teacher taught all students. Some things are similar in the classroom's today. Such as maps hanging on the wall and the teacher's desk is at the front of the classroom.

Walking into Dr. Cameron doctors office was a sight to behold. My daughter said it was like walking into a horror movie. You seen old equipment, medicine bottles, and tools the doctor used.

There wasn't much wildlife except the spiders hanging around in various places. I snapped this picture quickly. as this spider was big. When he moved a leg, I moved quickly away. Spiders scare me. Yet they can take awesoem photos.

One of the reasons for visiting the "Johnny Appleseed" event was to purchase some fo the amazing homemade products. We took home  one mason jar of homemade apple butter for $5.00.

We were able to see live demonstrations on how things were made from scratch. These fellows were making homemade apple cider.

I took a jug home for $6.00. Boy, did the apple cider taste delicious! This apple cider beats in taste any kind you can find in your local grocery store.

Another demonstration we seen was the production of sugar cane in to molasses. I didn't buy any jars of molasses. I did explain to my daughter it was a type of sugar made back in the olden days. That many people still use today.

One of the last places we visited before leaving was the general store. I bought a few old fashion candy sticks. Plus a bag of old fashioned penny candy. The candy was being sold today for one cent a piece. the flavors were horehound, cinnamon, pineapple, lemon, lime, root beer, and sour apple.

Outside the general store you had the chance to bob for apples. I would of done it but I don't have enough to grab any apples. I do remember doing this as a child. I had a lot of fun doing it.

I was able to get a photo taken with my daughter. Plus, one with my boyfriend outside of the doctor's office. 

There was many building we did not explore. The miniature railroad building, the outdoor equipment and many more. One day I hope to be able to explore all the building on the land. 

The last thing I want to share is the amazing apple dumplings sold for $3.00 a piece. They were delicious. If you get a chance to visit the Auglaize Village, please don't miss it. It is an amazing opportunity to learn about the area's history, see live demonstrations, try good food and meet the people who generously volunteer their time

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photos taken by and © belong to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

If you liked this post, you might enjoy reading yesterday's post of "Forecast Calling For Snow"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have challenged myself to write every day something that is related to Halloween. As Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, next to Christmas. I also decided to join the "Ultimate Blog Challenge" I created a post called 

"October 2016 Writing Challenges", it is where I am getting my ideas to write the entire month.

Forecast Calling For Snow

The weather in my area (NW OH) has been crazy. We have had rain all week. Now we have a leak above the front door. I do have a bucket and towels catching the rain. If the front door is closed and it rains. The rain will leak in under the front door.

Taken by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty

The landlord is aware of the leak. He did ask my boyfriend to see if there is a hole, missing shingles or if he could see any damage. He says he has to let it dry out before fixing it.

My boyfriend climbed up a ladder and noticed a hole in the roof about two feet wide. Tomorrow, he plans on calling the landlord about the hole in the roof.

Taken by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty

To make matters worse, the forecast is calling for snow already. I am not ready for snow. Or the cold temperatures that come with snow. It makes me wonder if we will be able to make snowman for Halloween or if the jack o lanterns will be froze. I recently turned my AC's off from the high temperatures. I don't want heat bill already. I would love to have one month with pleasant temperatures where I don't need an AC to keep cool or the heat turned on to stay warm.

The weather has been super crazy in my area. Last month there was twelve tornadoes sighted in the sky. One touched down. It makes me wonder if two days from now or next week if the temperatures will rise again. I can't tell from one day to next what season it is. As the weather is always changing.

What is the weather like in your area?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you like this blog post, you want to read the last post I created called "What October means to me".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Photos from Pixabay a free use photo website. Unless otherwise stated.

I have challenged myself to write every day something that is related to Halloween. As Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, next to Christmas. I also decided to join the "Ultimate Blog Challenge" I created a post called 

"October 2016 Writing Challenges", it is where I am getting my ideas to write the entire month.

What October Means To Me

October has many special meanings to me. As I was growing up it meant trick or treating was near when the weather turned colder and the leaves started turning colors.

As I grew older october meant my favorite fall flavors were becoming available again. Pumpkin, turkey, vanilla are a few.

When I started having children of my own, October meant I was able to go trick or treating once again. Now my kids are too old to go trick or treating I look forward to passing out candy  to trick or treaters. I love seeing the different costumes and smiles on the faces when they realize they get to grab a handful of candy. Instead of one piece.

October also means the celebration of my teens son's birth. This year on the eighth he will be turning eighteen. The day after my family will celebrate my great nieces birthday. Two week later we celebrate another nieces birthday.

Talking about celebrations, Halloween Eve is the my family celebrates my Chug's fifth birthday. I can remember the day he was born. As I had no clue his momma was pregnant when I rescued her from a flipper. 

October is also the month my boyfriend and I celebrate being together for five years. We got together in August but couldn't remember the day. We choose to celebrate on a day we both enjoy and love.

What does October mean to you?

I have challenged myself to write every day something that is related to Halloween. As Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, next to Christmas. I created a post called 

"October 2016 Writing Challenges". The first thing listed is to write about what October means to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first two photos are from Pixabay a free use photo website. The rest of the photos were taken by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

October 2016 Writing Challenges

I am going to compile a list of different ideas or themes to write about in the month of October. I am doing this to help out those who need help in coming up with different ideas to write about. You may use as many or as little of the ideas and writing themes as you would like. 

October 2016 Writing Challenges

1. What does October mean for you?

2. What is the weather like in your area? (I ask because it is calling for snow in a couple days in my area already.)

3. Write about October festivals and fairs

4. Write about the scariest movie you ever seen.

5. Write about Halloween animals & insect

6. Write about a prank you want to play on someone or has played on you.

7. What did you dress up for Halloween in past Halloweens?

8. Talk about decorating for Halloween

9. Do you paint or carve pumpkins?

10. If you could create your very own monster, what would it look like? What would it be called?  Describe and tell me everything there is to know about your monster.

11. Talk about a haunted house

12. Write about food and drink ideas for a Halloween party or feast.
13. What's your favorite Halloween treat?

14. Write a spooky story to tell around a campfire. 

15. You heard a noise in your home, everyone is asleep, what was that noise?

16. The mayor of your town wants to ban Halloween. Write  a letter to the mayor telling why you agree or disagree with him.

17. Share a Halloween poem
18. Share safety rules for Halloween. Whether it be trick or treating or eating candy.

19. What Halloween songs come to mind.

20. What is  something that use to scare you but no longer does?

21. Give a vampire an interview
22. How much money would you take for spending the night in a graveyard? Why or why not?

23. Tell a story on the side of view of a Jack O lantern or scarecrow. What do you think they are thinking on Halloween?

24. Share a story of a Halloween creature who goes trick or treating like kids. Does the creature get found out?

25. Create a recipe for a magic potion. What is the potion for? How does it work?
26. Finish the sentence..............The ghost was chasing me...........

27. Pumpkin patch. Write about choosing a pumpkin.

28. What is it like to ride on a witches broom?
29. What is Halloween? How did it get started? is it the same as not, if not how has it changed?

30. Write about Hallow's Eve or all Saints Eve.

31. Talk about how you celebrated in the past compared to what you do now.

I hope you enjoy this month's list of Halloween related writing challenges.

Photo from Pixabay a free use photo website.

Let’s Talk About Terms Of Use And Copyright

Do you know what "terms of use" means? Do you know what copyright means? 

Terms of use: Is the rules or regulations set up for the way something is done or how it is used. The short version for terms of use is T.O.U. Whenever you see these words, read them and abide by them. Or you can find yourself in a case of copyright violation.

Whenever you see a graphic or photo you like on a website. Read the terms of use to see if you can snag it. Or how you can use it. A lot of places will allow you to use the graphic or photo as long as you link the graphic or photo. Linking is easy to do. It can be done very quickly. Linking is providing the website Url where you found the graphic or the website of the creator url. If you don't know how to give proper credit, don't take the content.

 Copyright is the law of the USA that protects the works of authors, artists, composers, and others from being used or sold without permission. Many people earn a living by making, writing, or selling their images and writings. When you steal an image and use it elsewhere without permission, you are taking money from the creators pockets.

Awhile back some creators from Zazzle were having issues. As people were stealing their designs and selling them for much lower prices on Amazon. The seller had to catch the person stealing their content and fight with Amazon to make them stop. Instead of producing more designs to earn from. That hurt the seller pockets because they could not reduce their product as low as Amazon. Or catch them fast enough before the next one did it.

Remember just because a page or whatever doesn’t have the © sign. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t have copyright. Get permission first.

As for copyrighting, all you have to do is type in the word copyright in any search engine to read what that is all about. Copyright is the ownership of something. © is the symbol for copyright.

My Pixel tags and blog posts are clearly marked with ©Minipin Pixels, ©SkS or ©Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty on them. If my tags have the copyright removed or the tag alter in any way. I can pursue legal matters. In other words I can sue the person for a lot of money. It is not worth doing something when someone has terms of use just because you think something is cute.

Awhile back, I created a tag that was grabbed by someone and altered. I found out. Trust me, the creator always does. The top photo is one I made for someone who paid me. Having my copyright did not deter the thief from taking my tag and alternating it. The thief made it look like crap. I have since learned to place the © info somewhere on the tag where it can be seen but hard to remove. I tried being nice and contacting the person who altered and took my copyright info off my tag. The person would not respond to me. Instead they ignored me and blocked me through email. Nor would they respond to anyone else trying to help me. I contacted the person's ISP provider. Which was easy to find out over a computer. I am sure when this person talked to their ISP provider and Yahoo about all this they were not happy about. Just because you don’t know or don’t think it will happen to you. Doesn’t mean you won’t get caught. In the end, the person removed everything they had stole from me. I decided not to pursue a court case. 

This is why it is very important for you to read any terms of use/ copyright information. Before doing a tutorial or using an outline. Not everyone's terms of use are the same. Some creators allow you to claim the finish image as your own. Others allow you to alter to it but must link back to them. While, some yet will allow you to display it but must have their copyright and link attached to the imagine. I bet there are more I am not familiar with. Remember unpublished imagine, song, paper or whatever can have a copyright to it. Get permission before using. It is not only the polite thing to do. It is showing you respect the person work enough by asking first.

If you have questions please ask. Let’s clear up any misconceptions or questions you may have in this area.

All pixel signature tags were created by me ©SkS ©Minpin Pixels ©Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty. They are not to used or reproduced by anyone else in any manner without permission. This means if your name is Sandy, you can't use them. Nor snag them for someone else with the name Sandy without written permission from me. 

Quality Connections - Are They important To Bloggers?

I want to discuss if having quality connections are important to bloggers or not. As I believe they are important if you want to have a successful blog. Some people can handle one or two blogs before they get overwhelmed. While you have other bloggers who can run several blogs successfully. I think having quality connections are very important for bloggers to have. No matter how blogs a blogger has.

I tested a few ways to do run a blog. One way was where I didn't click on the commenters to see what they were writing on their blogs. That hurt me. As it looked like I wanted to write a blog but didn't want to put the work in. It looked like I was keeping an online diary for my thoughts. Not to make connections or grow my blog. Afterwhile people stopped coming to my blog.

Another way, I wrote a blog post and read other blogs but didn't promote my blog at all. That was a big mistake. Why? How are others going to find my blog if I did not share it over social media? The answer is, they weren't. I had to push my blogs in order to get people to come view or leave a comment.

I would visit blogs but forget to leave my blog link. As some blogs give you the option to leave your blog link. So, they can come read your blog to. To remedy this, I made a little note I keep on my computer of all my blogs links. I also keep one for my referral links, social media links and how many connections I have on each. That way if I need the information it is at my fingertips.

Another thing I do is find bloggers who are wanting the same thing, help and support in blogging. I run a small Facebook group where members can leave any writing or blog links each day. Only thing required is to promote another blogger link for each link you leave. You can choose which social media you wish to promote on. You choose who you wish to promote. That simply means if you leave three blog links, you must promote three links of someone else's in the group. The group has a versatile group of bloggers writing on many different subjects. many will leave a comment when visiting. Yet a comment is not required. 

This helps tremulously to get the word out about our writings and blogs. It is writers and bloggers coming together to help each other.

If you connect with someone who is willing to read your blog, comment and share on social media. You have a quality connection. Your blog will start to grow.

Have you made any of these mistakes in blogging? If so, how did you remedy the situation?

How do you go about getting quality connections?

Give Yourself An Interview

I was reading where a blogger asked their readers to interview themselves as a start of the New Year. To give yourself an interview. I thought that sounds like fun. I don't want to wait til thebegining of the year. As I know I will forget all about it. So, I am taking it on myself to do it now. I want to add more to this interview by asking my readers to ask me anything in the comments area. I will answer honestly.

Interviewing Myself : If I was being interviewed. I would like to be asked the following questions :

What is your #1 goal for 2016? 

My Goal for 2016 would be to write something every day. Unless I am sick.

Are you content in your writing life? 

To be honest, as of right now, no. I would like to earn more online than what I do. I plan to write daily on this blog. Right now I am only earning anywhere. I have started writing a little bit on Niume. I have not been paid. Nor do I know if the website does pay. I was writing regurly on BlogBourne til they changed the rules and added two hundred words to the orginal word count. I am trying to post once a week til October 1st to if the website is going to pay like they claim. Plus, see how much they are willing to pay. Or if it is even worth to stay on the website. If I don't think so, I plan to pull all my post and put somewhere I can earn from them. I am starting to post more on Mylot. I need to start posting daily. Not do anything but commenting like I have been.

What are your writing niche(s)? 

I have several niches. They are all based around my lifestyle being a disabled blogger living on a budget while traveling and being able to take care of my family and pets.

What is your best memory of 2015? 

My best memory would include all of them I have with my family. My family would include : My three kids. My grandson and my boyfriend.

What is your worst memory of 2015? 

That would have to be when my teenage son was arrested for stealing at Wal-Mart. My heart broke. As it seems like he is following in his big brothers footstep.

What item could you not live without? 

I would have to say my camera. I feel naked it I don't have a camera in some form on me. Whether it is my camera or my smart phone with a camera.

What is the newest thing you are doing online?

I have bought an Amazon prime membership at the end of last year. I have joined multiple websites to reviewed items for free or a deep discount in exchange for an honest review. I have been doing it for almost a year now. It is about time to renew my Amazon prime membership. As much as I have saved over the course of the year. It has been well worth the price I paid for Amazon prime.

What advice can you give to someone discouraged in the writing world? 

My advice would be to encourage that writer or blogger to keep going. That everyone has down days. Let them know how their content has encouraged you to stay motivated. Sometimes a writer needs to read or hear they are making an impact on others. I would let them know they are as worthy as anyone else in the writing world. I would try to lift their spirit.

Over the course of the year, I have learned all bloggers have the fear of saying the wrong thing and offending another blogger to the point they loose readers. I am not immuned. I learned there will be others jealous of what I am accomplishing in the blogging world. There will be always others who will stop at nothing to try to upset me or feed me false information to watch me fail. As long as I hold my head up high and not let the nay sayers get to me or fall for the bad advice to make me fail, I will be okay. If I do fail, I will pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over. I will use it as a learning curve to improve. Not as a failure.


Challenge : Give yourself an interview.

Photo from Pixabay, a free use photo website.

10 Things To Think About When Crossing Bridges

When it comes to something personal happening in your life, you must choose which bridge to cross. It may not be what you want or even like. Either way a decision has to be made.

You can’t teeter by standing in the middle or the at one end and hoping for the best outcome. Otherwise nothing will change. It really doesn’t matter what the issue is. All personal issues seem to come to ahead where you must make the decision to cross or not.

When crossing bridges you need to :
1. Think about what is best for you
2. Think what is best for your family
3. Think how the issue has affected your life
4. Think how it has affected your family’s life
5. Think about how life will be when you cross that bridge – Are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices?
6. Think how things will turn out if you continue the way things are – Is it stressful? Is it harmful?
7. Think of how things will affect you after crossing the bridge
8. Think of how crossing that bridge will affect or harm your family
9. Think of how you will feel, react when seeing this person again after crossing the bridge
10. Think of how you will handle things when people try to get you in the same room with the person after you have crossed the bridge.

If you can answer all of these, than you have a good understanding of what you need to do. It may be easy to walk away. It may be hard to stay away. Either way you must decide on how you want your life to turn out. Do you want the drama? If so, stay on your course. If you don’t want drama, walk away and be prepared to never look back.

Things to write about : Write about a time you have had to cross a bridge.

Is This A Genie’s Lamp?

I was walking along the canal trail with a couple of friends. As we were talking, joking, having a good time. I stopped when I noticed something half sticking out of the dirt, along the water. With leaves all around.

I grabbed a hold and pulled it from the ground. It has dirt, mud and leaves all over it. It was some type of metal. My friends noticed I stopped and turned around to see what I was doing. Jaycee noticed I had something in my hand. This drew her curiosity as she walked closer to investigate.

Jason is annoyed, when he noticed I had stopped. First thing he said was,”Stop playing in the mud. Your always picking up some kind of junk.”

I ignored his comment as I used my sleeve to help clear off the debris on the thing I picked up. I knew it was a piece of metal. Maybe an old lamp or something. I’ll see if it works. If not, I will add it to my scrap pile. Either way it is a win for me.

Jaycee being her comical self had to say it. She said,”Maybe you found a Genie’s lamp.” This made us all laugh.

It got me thinking what if it was a Genie’s lamp. As I continued cleaning the piece of metal off. Once I cleaned it off I held it up into the sun to get a better look.

It did indeed look like an old lamp. I used my sleeve to help polish the lamp. As it looked dull. As I was polishing the lamp. Smoke or something starting coming out of the tip of the lamp. I dropped it on the ground. As we all stood froze in our spot.

The smoke forms into half a man. the bottom half still in smoke form. The figure announces,”Thank you for releasing me from my prison. My name is Frances. Trapped in that lamp for over 100 years, for releasing me I will do a favor. I will grant three wishes to the one who released me. Make sure you choose wisely. As this is not a game.”

I asked,”Are there any rules in choosing.” Frances replied,”Yes, you can not ask for anything or anyone to be harmed. As those wishes would can turn on you. When you gain something, someone loses something. That is all I am allowed to say. Be careful or you can wind up as the Genie in the lamp.”

What do you think the three wishes are? Be aware of the rules. Or you might be the next Genie in the lamp.

Photo from Pixabay.com

4 Free Kindle Books

Today, you can get four of the following Kindle books free. Grab them all while you can. After today, you will have to buy them. Click on each photo of the book you want to go straight to Amazon to download. or use the buy button feature that is available under the books cover.

When Ren Miller mother dies, she searches for her estranged father. She discovers he owns a boxing studio and a mystery fighter named Ash!

Rebel biker, a lady at a gentlemen's club, and a rouge wolf on the loose, what move suspense could you ask for?

This is an historical romance lady Katherine proposes to a Duke as she tries to get out of an arranged marriage.

Jessica cares for her ailing aunt as she tries to mend her broken heart. Can she do that at the same time her ex-fiance is working on the house? Upon finding a box in the attic filled with family secrets, Jessica starts to question everything she knows. 

I hope you enjoy reading these books.