THAT "DAY" is near!  This bird is getting out of town!!

Red Beauty

Las Vegas

Casey just texted me this photo.  He is in Las Vegas with his lifelong Ohio friends for a few days.  It is SO great that they still get together every year.  What a good photo of Casey and Kevin.  I guess the 3 other guys haven't arrived yet.  Have fun!!!

Madonna Retablo

I received this beautiful Madonna Retablo this week that I purchased from Mary Jane Chadbourne.  I am so very happy with it.  Mary Jane's creations are stunning.

www.desertdreamstudios.weebly.com/blog

Be Kind

Beautiful Mother

You left this earth 3 years ago today, Mom.  It seems like yesterday.  I miss you every day and my love is never ending. Until I see you again, I am hoping that Heaven is everything you loved.  Your faith was SO strong, I know just being with God was your life's goal.  I like to picture you sitting with Him in a field of violets having a cup of tea, surrounded by all your loved ones. What a lovely vision.

Leonard Cohen

Rest in Peace Leonard Cohen

1934 ~ 2016

Poet, Singer, Songwriter, and Buddhist Monk

Oh, that voice! I can listen to Leonard's music for hours on end. You will live on forever Mr. Cohen, leaving us with your glorious music.  Two of my favorites: Dance Me to the End of Love, and Hallelujah!

Poor Jake

Picked up "the baby" this evening from the Vet Hospital where he had dental surgery and cleaning today.  He is looking like a zombie probably till tomorrow.  Poor Jake.

Autumn

A close-up view from my backyard.

"Autumn mornings:  sunshine and crisp air, birds and calmness, year's end and day's beginnings."

~Terri Guillemets

8-Hour slow cooker BBQ chicken!  Mm Mm Good!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jim !!

You are the BEST brother-in-law!  Sending wishes for a warm Autumn day filled with things that make you happy.  Hoping the next year brings only good things to you and those you love.

Witch Doctor

 The "Witch Doctor" I created is in the front window at The Market Gallery on Salem Avenue in downtown Roanoke.  "Critters & Characters ~ A Window Show" will be on display through December 31.

Election Day

It has been a long run ~ Election Day has arrived.  Tomorrow, there will be elated people, sad people, angry people, and hateful people.  Join me in prayer that the people of our nation will be calm, civil, and accepting of the outcome.

The nation is divided.  We need to unite and become one people, under God.  This is our UNITED States.

Unexpected Ohio Trip

Wooster, Ohio

We just returned from an unexpected trip to Ohio.  We received a text letting us know that our longtime dear old friends had a death in the family.  We wanted to be there for them, so off to Ohio we went.  They were happy we were there, and we felt comfort being with them. We stayed with my sister and brother-in-law and it was nice to have quality time with them, as well.  

In spite of the sadness, nature provided us with much beauty. 

 Quailcrest Farm in Wooster, Ohio

West Virginia

Happy Halloween

Monterey House

Haunted House in Virginia, on campus of Roanoke College.

Monterey House is a circa-1850 Greek Revival Mansion that the college uses as a guest house since purchasing it in 2002.  It is on the National Register of Historic Places.  One professor at the college teaches a class called Ghosts and Human Perception and takes his students on tours/ghost hunts at the house every year since 2006.  Over the years, there have been noises, shadows, appearances of a figure, black spheres that float, music, and actual emotional shifts.

I have been drawn to this house since living here and I've driven up the long drive on several occasions.  I knew nothing about the paranormal activity there until reading about it in the newspaper today.  I find it very interesting, but I certainly don't plan to be a guest there anytime soon.

Sunday Happiness!!

I just couldn't come back from Charleston without this lovely 2-piece set ~ found in my favorite antique store down there.

Home Again

As my dear mother used to say ~ "Home again. Home again. Jiggety Jig."

We left SC at 9 this morning and landed in Roanoke at 11:15 with clear skies and smooth sailing all the way.

I took a nice photo of downtown Roanoke as we were approaching the airport.

Ready For Takeoff

We just returned from loading the bird with my things.  We are determined and will leave early in the morning.

A Great Day with My Son

We were going to fly out this morning, but the Roanoke weather did not cooperate ~ low cloud ceiling and rain.  Weather looks good for tomorrow, so we will leave in the morning.

Casey took me to Summerville to a great little Italian restaurant that is in a little old house ~ The Red Pepper.  I had lasagna and it was excellent.  We drove around town and enjoyed the views.  There are some beautiful massive old oaks there.  Also saw some bulls!  A great end to this visit here in the lowcountry.  Thank you, Casey.

Leaving the Lowcountry

Weather permitting, we will be flying back to Virginia tomorrow.  We went out to have drinks and pick up dinner at Sol Southwest Kitchen & Tequila Bar.  These stained glass pieces in the window are amazing!  My Blackberry Margarita!

Isle of Palms

 After I visited several of my favorite shops today, I went to the Isle of Palms and walked the beach, enjoying the beauty of the sea and the gifts it has to offer.  Being alone with that vast body of water in front of you gives a person reason to pause and contemplate.  I took a minute to thank God for giving us the ocean, the shells, the birds, and everything else that the beach has to offer.  I couldn't make a trip here without spending a little time at one of the amazing beaches that are in this area.  

HUGE

We stopped at the grocery store for a minute.  They have HUGE pumpkins in their display for $99. each!  Can you imagine paying $99. for a pumpkin?  I should have put a regular size pumpkin next to this so you could see the size difference.  Nice display, but I think they will still have these giant ones after Autumn has come and gone.

Pumpkins

Strolled through a pumpkin patch on this beautiful Autumn afternoon.

Papa Zuzu

Ate lunch today at Papa Zuzu's (Mediterranean again) with Casey.  Had a Greek Salad Pita that was outstanding!!  So many great restaurants ~ so little time!

Shem Creek Park

This HUGE pelican sculpture is in Shem Creek Park (Mount Pleasant, SC).  It is made entirely from "junk" found in the ocean.

Dinner

I LOVE the peace sign that is painted on this building.  We stopped here at Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale to pick up dinner on the way home.  I don't think I have EVER eaten so much Mexican food while staying at Casey's.  It has all been good, though.

Back Home to Rest

This is the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge that we take out of Charleston to go back to Casey's.  It is an eight-lane cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper River, connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant.  It has two diamond-shaped towers that allows clearance for modern ocean freighters to access the port of Charleston.  The bridge is the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere.  I love crossing over this bridge ~ the views are great! 

We stopped to pick up dinner on the way home.

Charleston

Casey, Amanda, and I had a wonderful breakfast buffet at STARS in downtown Charleston ~ walked quite a bit after and then my legs just couldn't walk anymore.  We then went to Tommy Condon's where I had a wonderful Wild Berry Frozen Daiquiri!  The three young men in the photo (Three Pegs Trio) were playing outside the restaurant and they were very good.