A "Santa" Message

A message from Connie Stanley that she posted on facebook today.  I think Santa would be pleased if we took her message to heart.

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Tree up, Wreath up, A few snow people have made their way out of storage, more to come.  Ponsettias placed around the W, starting to plot and plan today for Christmas.  Making a list of the things that need to be done.  I hope to take a day or two off work before the big day.  Love this photo... if you believe, too, continue to do a little something as often as you can to be  "Santa" this season.  I think it is most fun when done anonymously.  It can be something as simple as helping someone struggling with a door, packages, etc.  Paying for someone's coffee or lunch.  A kind word to a harried parent with a misbehaving child.  Just be "present" and observe others and you will find your "Santa" moments.  It will be the best "present" you ever received.

Squirrel Feast

Pumpkins that were the stars of my Autumn outdoor decor.  I've piled them out back where the squirrels will have their annual Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving Day 2014

 Natural Bridge Hotel

 View from the porch of the Natural Bridge Hotel

 Casey in his Pilot Jacket ~ a special gift from his Father-in-Law

Casey and Amanda are staying with Amanda's parents over the Thanksgiving Holiday and they will spend Christmas with us.  What a wonderful surprise we received yesterday ~ an invitation to join them at the Natural Bridge Hotel for Thanksgiving Dinner today.  It was just a 45 minute drive with beautiful mountain views and excitement to spend the afternoon with them.

The Hotel is beautiful and it was decorated in Holiday splendor.  The buffet was outstanding and with two huge dining rooms full of people celebrating the day, we were blessed to have a large table in the Red Fox Tavern just off one of the dining rooms.  It was a beautiful room that was quiet and gave us a chance to visit.  Thank you, Debbie and John, for the invite.  It was a Thanksgiving Day I will not forget.

May your Thanksgiving Day be Blessed and Beautiful !!

On this day of giving thanks, I want to say one thing to my family and friends ~ I LOVE YOU!

♥

First Snow

Our first snow of the season!

I was out running errands at 5:30 this evening when the sun set and didn't have my camera.  My phone doesn't take very good pictures, so this was the best I could get.  We had a spectacular sunset.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Pam !!

Wishing you the best kind of day with surprises, love, fun, and CAKE!!  I hope the weather holds out before the bad stuff hits tomorrow.

It's been a crazy year.  I hope today and the next year will be your best ever and I hope to see many new skellies in your future.

♥

Photo by Eya Floyd, Etsy

Outside My Window

Outside my window this morning.  The heavy fog is burning off and the tip of the mountain out back is reappearing.  It is supposed to reach 70* today with snow on Wednesday.  Weather games!

Happy Birthday

Our ROANOKE STAR is 65 years old today!

Throwback Thursday

1969 - KSU ~ I lived in this old house off-campus with 9 other girls for the last couple of years I was at Kent.  It was convenient - directly down the street from the campus library.  This was my little corner on the third floor, where 4 of us shared the room.  I later moved down to the 2nd floor and shared a room with my good friend, Shar.  It's amazing how little we needed at that time in our lives.  Now, our homes are filled with "stuff".  I've been working on minimizing - been putting a lot of "stuff" in my consignment booth. 

Photo by Audrey

"If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet;  how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of.  There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person."

~Fred Rogers

Patrick's Rose Bush

This rose (photo taken just last week) is from our rose bush that Patrick planted in Mom's garden on one of his last visits.  It is our "Memory of Patrick Rose Bush".  It was filled with roses most of the year and gave us so much enjoyment.  This week's bitter cold took a toll and the roses are done for another year.  

Outside My Window

I am looking at this beauty out my back windows right now ~ 5:15 Monday evening.  The clouds are putting on a show.

CCHS   1966

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Susie !!

With each year that goes by, you surprise me with how much you remember from our childhood days.  We came from the BEST neighborhood in Canton!!!  If I ever decide to write a book about those days, you will be the one I come to for help.  YOU should write a book.  You're an excellent writer and you have SO much to offer.  I love your most recent quote that you sent to me just yesterday: 

"Wherever we happen to land after our beginnings, we carry the memory of that time and move forward, as though we never left it behind.  It is the history of our youth that informs the molding of our future.  As we were, forever we shall be, putting forth the best of our original selves." 

~Susan Spear Bruhn, 2014

It is profound, Susie, and I love it!  I thank you for sharing it and I hope you don't mind that I've shared it on my Blog.

Have a wonderful, happy, and blessed Birthday!

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It's COLD Out There

My fountain today!

Throwback Thursday

October, 1951 ~ I don't remember this dog but Mom said he was my dad's hunting dog.  I don't even know what his name was, but he must have been friendly. After all, he let me sit on his roof ~ I guess that's just something 3-1/2 year olds do. 

One Year

It has been one year already since Mom left us.  I'm finding I miss her more as time goes by.  She is in my heart and my love for her will never cease, but there are SO many memories that bring tears to my eyes.  It makes me happy to envision her sitting in a field of violets, smiling, surrounded by the scent of her favorite flower, filled with a happiness we can only imagine.  So, that is where I will keep her in my mind's eye.

♥ MOM ♥

We have NOT spoiled Jake since his accident.  Don't ALL dogs eat every meal from a porcelain dish on a beautiful towel laid out on the living room carpet?

Outside My Window

Outside my window this morning!!  

It is looking rather bland across the street ~ but this beautiful pop of red and oranges is right in the middle of the greys and browns.  The color in the valley was outstanding this past week.  I will post photos soon.  Sister and Brother-in-law just left to go back to Ohio.  The week zoomed by, but we accomplished a lot and enjoyed visiting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jim !!

When it comes to brothers-in-law, you are at the top of the list. The best!  I'm happy you are part of our family.  I hope the coming year holds good health and good times for you.  Jake thinks you're pretty great, too, and says "Woof Woof, Uncle Jim."

First Sign of Winter

We had our first hard frost last night, but the sun is shining bright this morning and some of the red trees are sparkling in that sun.  My sister has been here from Ohio this week helping fill my booths with Christmas items ~ this morning we are off to an estate sale and then to Buy The Season consignment shop for the Holiday Open House!

Throwback Thursday

This has to be 1948 ~ Patrick would have been 4 in this photo and he is holding me.  How dear!  He must have loved me right from the start ~ always watched over me.  He had a tender heart and I miss having him in my daily life. 

Happy Day

Tricia and I drove up to Floyd, Virginia, on this beautiful Fall day to pick up our paintings that have been hanging in Oddfella's Cantina during September and October.  I was very happy to find that two of my paintings had sold.  I will be listing some of the remaining paintings in my Etsy shop soon.  We then had a lovely salad bar lunch in Roanoke.  I am excited to get back to my paintings in progress.  It has been a Happy Day ~ paintings sold and time spent with my sweet friend!!!

november

Photo and poem by Audrey

november

uninvited greys and browns
have boldly crept in
covering the landscape dull
autumn fades with each new morning
i walk through the cool air
across a carpet of wet leaves
i stop
i remember how your mouth turned down
you always looked sad
unless you were smiling
your smile was beautiful
i can see it
i can feel your love
a gust of wind hurls leaves into my face
bringing me back to now
i know it was you, mom
urging me to move on
telling me you are ok

All Souls' Day

ALL SOULS' DAY (Nov. 2) is a day of prayer for the dead, particularly but not exclusively one's relatives.  This annual celebration is held on November 2 and is associated with ALL SAINTS' DAY (November 1) and its vigil, HALLOWEEN (October 31).

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 Halloween - "hallow" means holy

"een" means evening

HALLOWEEN (Oct. 31) is the eve of All Hallows, the night before the Christian holy day that honors saintly people of the past.  A common custom of Christians was to come together on the eve of the feast of All Hallows Day to ask for God's blessing and protection from evil in the world.  Often, they would dress in costumes of saints or evil spirits and act out the battle between good and evil around bonfires.  This is the source of the modern observance of Halloween.

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ALL SAINTS' DAY (Nov. 1) is a call to live as saints, to remind us how we are supposed to live.  All Saints' Day originates from early Christian celebrations of martyrs.  It is a celebration of the communion of saints, those people we believe are in Heaven, through good works and God's grace.

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Dia de los Muertos or "day of the dead",  keeps alive some of the tradition of honoring souls of the dead.