Cool Snap

With the sudden change in temperatures, I decided it was time for a change in decor, too. Nothing like a cool snap to put me in the mood for Fall! (last night I strung these pom-poms I found in the $1 bins at Michael's).

From Mommy's Treasures

Moonlight Madness

I spent most of last weekend in bed with some sort of allergy/infection or whatever, so it's nice to be feeling good again this weekend. Here's what I did last night:

Candy
+ Popcorn
+ Slushies

+ a full moon
= Outdoor movie night with Callie's youth!
Thanks to some great friends who own an outdoor movie screen, she hosted a late-night event for the kids at her church and the neighborhood surrounding the church. I helped with the snacks. This was the first time they'd ever tried something like this, and there were several competing events, but the kids that came seemed to have fun! That big screen with Kung Fu Panda was pretty cool!!

Nocturnal

After work yesterday, I went outside to see what in the world Emmi was barking at so incessantly. For the past couple of days, she had been obsessed with a spot on the deck and I hadn't been able to figure out why---had a cat been sitting there just before I came out or what?
Well, yesterday, I began REALLY looking at that spot. Was that a kitten under there? No. . . .wait . . . it has a long nose with whiskers and a long tail.

A little possum was stuck under the deck!!
I called my friend/handyman Ron who brought down a live trap and we baited it with an apple.
This morning, here's what I found:
I think this little guy will be much happier in the woods down by the river!

Round Robin - Fenced In

This time the Round Robin Photo Challenge is based on a topic that I suggested---Fenced In. The instructions were to show us fences, or things contained within fences, or half-hidden behind fences. Show us a white picket fence or barbed wire, rough-hewn logs or aluminum slats. Or perhaps you'd rather go metaphorical on us, and show us something that is trapped in some other way. You may even want to show people dueling with foils or épées! What ever works for you, we'll be glad to see it.

Be sure to take a peek at the photos taken by all the other Robins. There's a list over here.
I spent Labor Day weekend in Charleston, SC with my daughters. Talk about a great place for fences!! Everywhere we looked, there were amazing ironwork fences and gates. Here are couple of my favorites:

This fence is located near Baton Rouge, LA at the Bocage Plantation.
And if we're talking about "fenced in", this cat sitting behind my neighbor's fence certainly fits the bill:

Charleston Highlights

Labor Day Weekend was a wonderful get-away for me. Callie and I flew out to meet Jana in Charleston, SC. Hurricane Earl steered clear of the area and we had tons of fun with great weather! We walked and walked and walked some more. I think we saw just about everything we could possibly squeeze into a long weekend. Some of the highlights:

The Artisan market
Sweetgrass baskets
ironwork gates---LOTS of them!

wondering through old graveyards
Rainbow Row
great food-this photos was taken at Poe's Tavern on Sullivan's Island (we even had Lowcountry Mexican one night!!)
historic Fort Sumter
the Tea Plantation
Drayton Hall
beaches
and silliness on beaches
a pretty nice sunset
a Ghost Carriage tour (not so spooky, but still fun!)

and plenty of photos

Awesome Individuals

After spending another amazing weekend with Jana and Callie, I am reminded once again of how incredibly lucky I am to have the 2 daughters that I have.
They've been through some really rough things in their lifetime and yet have come through them with such amazing strength and insight and compassion for others. And they are still able to have fun and be silly and laugh and play.
People that don't know us very well often get them confused or think they are twins. Some even think that their personalities are just alike. But, if you get to know them, you find that while they are each wonderful, they are also very different and unique. I love to listen to them talk to each other-sharing problems, bouncing off ideas or brainstorming for a project.
I'm always inspired after being with them--to learn more, to think more, to do more.
My youngest awesome daughter is now a youth director. Her blog post today was great and I hope that she doesn't mind if I share it with you. You can read it over here.

I Won!

Ever since I found Rebecca Sower's blog, I have enjoyed her beautiful embroidery and hearing about her travels to Haiti. A few days ago, she offered this great giveaway--
a stitched heart sketchbook.
On a whim, I entered and guess what . . . I won! Beautiful stitching, pretty lace and linen and a place for sketching----it just doesn't get much better than that! Thanks, Rebecca!