NOVEMBER MEMORIES

It seems November arrived only yesterday and tomorrow we say goodbye to this one of my favorite months. The month of December is so busy I scarcely have time to enjoy it, but November is a lovely time of cooler weather, changing colors and getting ready for what the South calls winter. Some reminders of November..

We saw the leaves go to glory,

Then almost migratory

Go part way down the lane,

And then to end the story

Get beaten down and pasted

In one wild day of rain.

We heard "Tis over" roaring.

A year of leaves was wasted.

                              Robert Frost

Mums brought from Grandma Fox's yard in York, AL over 35 years ago.

I am always a little sad on the one hand this time of year, to see this season come to an end. On the other hand, it means we are on our way to spring, another one of my favorite seasons! Farewell, sweet November.
Aunt C

THANKFUL

A few things to be thankful for this week:

Faith always first, then Family

I could not imagine life without Friends!

FOOD, of course!

I always look forward to pecans this time of year (thanks Gracie!)

And Pumpkin Pie, oh my!

and last, but not necessarily least, Flowers.

I took a vacation day yesterday and spent the day working outdoors. My yard and flower beds were in desperate need of attention and I needed a day of nature therapy! When I finished, the leaves were mulched, the sweet gum balls were raked and burned and muscles I didn't even remember having ached, but oh the joy of being outside! There is a satisfaction in a job well done, in being able to look around and see the results of your labor. The yard looked beautiful.... until .... I woke up this morning and saw all the leaves that had fallen during the night! Oh well, at least the therapy is still working. Once again, God's world has restored balance to my life, putting things into proper perspective, reminding me that when the irritations of life come, to continually keep asking myself, "in the light of eternity, just how important is this anyway?"

I am thankful for and looking forward to being with family around the table next week. What are you thankful for today?

Aunt C

LOVELY CHARLESTON

Our time in the Carolinas was cut short by a look at the weather channel on Wednesday. We saw what looked like the perfect storm headed straight toward our home in Louisiana. We left Thursday morning but had to take at least a drive through old Charleston. We stopped at the park and stretched our legs a bit and I was able to get a few pictures. Karen you are so right. This is a lovely place!

Beautiful ironwork.

Beautiful Grand Ladies

Did I mention beautiful ironwork??? (sorry my photography doesn't do this justice!)

Awesome architecture. This home was majestic, but had fallen into disrepair. So heartbreaking to see such a grand old lady in need of an uplift. The courtyard to this particular house had light gray marble and dark gray marble squares laid out in a checkerboard pattern. I could just imagine her in her youth!

There is just something about a gate that beckons one to open it and step into the garden for a stroll. But, alas, this one was locked and had no welcome sign.

And of course, no trip, no matter how fast, is complete with out remembering the part this lovely old city played in our history. Here is DH with guns and ammo (way cooler than having his picture made in front of an old house :)

And finally, just a glimpse of the flora! We must go back for an extended visit to this wonderful, old southern city! So much history and I didn't even touch on the painted ladies who were so very lovely and stately. (houses, I am talking about)  So ends our vacation memories in pictures. Ashley, how about sharing some of yours?????

BROOKGREEN GARDENS

As promised, a few more pictures of Brookgreen Gardens.

This is the only gold statue we found. I love the way the shades of green compliment the art.

This one was so lifelike, sorta like we could be eavesdropping on his conversation.

My favorite, Don Quixote. The detail on this one is amazing.

Sweet little girl among the flowers.

A bit of whimsey.

Lovely place to spend time, we just didn't have enough of it! I can understand why life began in a garden. There is no more beautiful, peaceful, restful place than surrounded by God's creation. A garden has a way of putting all of life's busyness in perspective. Thank you, Ashley, for suggesting we take time to smell the roses in this wonderful place!

ON THE BEACH

A few more pictures of the beach. Ashley will be proud that I figured out how to do a collage all by my lonesome! Some of my favorites, still a little washed out because of the clouds, but you get the gist.

Vacation

Sunrise on North Myrtle Beach

The good thing about a vacation is getting away from the daily routine of life. The bad thing about vacation is when it ends, it's back to the daily routine of life. We had a great time in South Carolina on the beach with family and a few new friends. Me and Jonathan Livingston.....best buds.

My favorite place: Brookgreen Gardens. They were breathtaking. Unfortunately, it was cloudy all week and the pictures don't do justice to the beauty of the beach or gardens.

The gardens were located on  9000 acres of old rice plantations. There were dozens of garden rooms, each with beautiful statues, poetry, fountains, old oaks covered with moss, flowers, wildlife, walking paths through the old rice fields and much, much more. It was one of those places that made my heart hurt with its beauty.

I only took about 250 pictures this week....don't worry, I won't post them all! I will give a peek at Wilmington, NC, and Charleston, SC on another day. Tomorrow it is back to the daily routine, but refreshed with the memories of the past week.