Dear Reader:
Yesterday was my day to do nothing…nada. I stayed in my pj’s for a long time, read, ate a late breakfast and finished putting up some left-overs… getting the rest of the pots and pans in the dishwasher.( Thank the Lord for dishwashers after holiday meals!) My only outing was to Affordables for their sale…found a pretty light-weight (orange/red) coat to wear during the upcoming holidays.
It was on the way home…turning into my neighborhood (Country Club Blvd) that I noticed these trees in the title photo and knew I needed to stop, back up and take a picture of this beauty nestled in the corner of the front yard. It took my breath away.
It got me thinking…what if I ride around Miler and take pictures of all the beautiful Bradford Pears and Maples and any other foliage with gorgeous colors beaming in the afternoon sun. Like Abigail, the Reluctant Leaf discovered, leaves dress up in their finest before they get ready to let go and become part of a new celebration of life.
So it was time to catch photos of the leaves while they remained on the trees… dressed in their finest…and so I did… on an unusually warm Friday after Thanksgiving.
I could have continued taking more and more photos…but the lesson was clear…I am so blessed to live in one of the old neighborhoods still in existence in Summerville where beauty reigns on every street, neighbors always wave and greet…my Miler…my home…it just can’t be beat!
So until tomorrow….Take time to walk, bicycle or ride slowly around your neighborhood and then perhaps drive into more of Summerville… admiring the beauty of the town we call home.
“When the trees their summer splendor
Change to raiment red and gold,
When the summer moon turns mellow,
And the nights are getting cold;
When the squirrels hide their acorns,
And the woodchucks disappear;
Then we know that it is autumn,
Loveliest season of the year.”
– Carol L. Riser, Autumn
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
Both John and Mandy and Walsh and Mollie are taking their children to see Santa over the weekend.
John and Mandy returned to Santa’s Village in Huntsville, Al last night… dressed in all their Christmas attire. Photos with Santa will come later when Santa gives his nod…
Walsh, Mollie, the boys and family/cousins/grandparents are going to ride the Polar Express tonight for their grand finale from their trip. I am thinking in Baltimore Maryland but not completely sure.
Can hardly wait to see the pictures of all the fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ho Ho Ho!
***Characters from this award-winning book come to life through this magical holiday journey. The conductor punches your golden ticket as you board THE POLAR EXPRESS ™. Chefs serve you hot chocolate and cookies on board the train and during the train ride you listen to THE POLAR EXPRESS ™ story. Santa’s helpers provide holiday cheer and every child personally receives from Santa, the first gift of Christmas – a silver sleigh bell. Children of all ages will BELIEVE!
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Good Saturday morning, Becky!
Beautiful photos of all the colors of Nature in your neighborhood! Ours is very similar up here in the western NC mountains, as is our experience of driving up or down our street: neighbors wave and greet you with a smile, and even though the beautiful mountains are pretty much devoid of their glorious autumn colors, our neighborhood trees are still beautiful. We love it so!
My heart procedure went well; I’m still combating the after-effects of the anesthesia, feeling sluggish and tiring easily, but each day is getting better, and we won’t know for sure if the procedure was totally successful until around February. Yesterday, we drove down to Spruce Pine (about 40 minutes south of us) and did a little unplanned Christmas shopping, eating lunch in a lovely little Mexican/Guatemalan restaurant. We have doctor appointments Monday and Tuesday and will hopefully be able to go back to Fuquay-Varina on either Tuesday or Wednesday! Then, on Friday, the entire family (!!!) is going to ride the Polar Express out of Spencer, NC (where the NC Museum of Transportation is located). Looking forward to that, as well as to getting fully ready for Christmas! Advent 1 is this Sunday; we await with love and anticipation!
Have a blessed day!
Much love,
Sis
Sis….It is so wonderful to hear from you and so happy your surgery is over! Isn’t it always a wonderful feeling to say this is now and that was when….I had surgery back when….Does Spruce Pine still have their store around the book “The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree”? It makes me sad to know that I sent a gift to Gloria Houston last Christmas while she was battling cancer and this year she is gone…she died last March. We emailed back and forth for over three years…what a “glorious” experience that was.
I can’t believe you are doing the Polar Express too! I would love to do it…please take pictures and share with all of us….maybe one day…if I get a golden ticket!
I know you can hardly wait to get back home….Your health report will be good…can just feel it in my bones. Now relax and enjoy life during the holidays!
Becky, I know exactly what you mean about the trees. I drove up Wednesday, well actually Paul drove me up and we got to catch up (I had my son all my myself for 2 hours) and I didn’t notice the trees at all (and I know why now b/c as I am typing this I just realized that I was focused on my son), but yesterday driving back, oh my goodness the sun was shining so beautifully and the trees were gorgeous all the way up I26 especially right before Columbia. I just kept smiling, praising God, smiling, etc. It was absolutely breathtaking and a worship experience. I have found that the older I get the more I crave silence and solitude…and being with God in nature. I can worship so much better that being in a crowd of people. I hope that it is ok b/c I have always loved being in church and participating, but somehow the one on one experience is so holy. I think that it is part of the life process because I watched my Mother through the years sitting quietly alone in my old bedroom reading her Bible and at the end of her life she couldn’t go to church except on special occasions, (she did convince a young friend of hers to teach Sunday School at the facility she was at), but she would just marvel at all of God’s creations when we would go for rides, etc. It was like God’s world was her new sanctuary. Love you…,
You nailed it exactly….”God’s World became her new sanctuary”….that is me, too, Gin-g and sometimes I do feel guilty when I miss some many Sunday services…but just writing this blog, reading articles, watching the beauty of God’s gift to us, fills me with more spiritual bonding than a church service filled with people…even though I love the people and wouldn’t want to lose their presence in my lives…another balancing act as we grow older.