Dear Reader:

One book that I keep right under the ledge that holds my desktop computer is one of my favorite all-time books…Archibald Rutledge’s little book on Life’s Extras. (This book was once given by Henry Ford to all twenty-five thousand of his employees.)

It is a sweet little (thin) book on the reverie of the blessings of God’s nature that provides us, with not just the necessities of life, food, clothing, shelter, sunlight, air and water but, also, the extras …moonlight, starlight, music through breezes in pine trees, natural art in colors of flowers and leaves and the perfumes from flowers.

Why did God add the extras…not just the necessities to our lives? Rutledge declares:

“Who put them here, and for what purpose? Furthermore, shall we not find, through some stories of personal experience, that the curious see more deeply. I do not presume that my actual living this mortal life has in any way been unique, especially as regards this matter of life’s extras; yet, if I can tell what they have meant to me, I shall perhaps be voicing the experience and the hope of many.”

……………………………….

I pray each day that my voice strikes a chord in others’ conscious state of awareness…enough to be reassured that we are all one and we all entertain, at different intervals, the disappointments, hopes, faith and love that comprise this state of being we call life.

Yesterday morning I decided to grab my Iphone and walk around my neighborhood taking pictures of examples of “Life’s Extras.”

My Boston fern is actually happy for the cooler weather…many of its brown spots (from over exposure to the brutal summer sun’s rays) have faded- wish I could find that magic formula to remove brown spots from my hands. I love this little special spot by my driveway…it makes me smile when I pull in each day.

What a great idea to create a hybrid (Encore) azalea that blooms in two seasons…early spring and later fall. Another smile at its longevity!

I only had one lantana bloom left on my whole “patch” of lantana in the front yard but that is all it took to give nourishment to this one small beautiful butterfly…(reiteration of the lesson on the “little things in life” that create good for the greater things.)

One of my neighbors, Jack, was cleaning up under his gigantic magnolia tree while I was strolling by. We stopped to chat and catch up….haven’t seen him in a long time. His wife, Jean, taught science at Alston Middle School, with me for years.

This magnolia tree is simply magnanimous! I couldn’t even get my head back far enough to take the picture. Jack said it was about six feet tall when he and Jean moved into the neighborhood the same year our family did…1982. And look now….It is the most popular hiding place for their six grandchildren! Case-in-point of life’s little extras becoming life’s greatest extras! We decided to name it “Perpetually Prissy!”

It is always fascinating to me when creativity meets with life’s extras to create another level of fun and enjoyment. Here are some examples: The first two photos were taken at the Sea Cow Eatery on Edisto Island…I stopped by there on my way out last Friday to pick up a barbecue sandwich…love them. They had decorated for their diner and the fall season… everything was so cute and creative!

More neighborhood fall wreaths and fun Halloween ideas for front doors.

My friend Cindy discovered zombies while shopping…some peer educators said they must be retired teachers…I told her…”Old teachers never die… they just zombie away!” (A little historical paraphrase… with apologizes to Gen. Douglas McArthur!)

(Now for my afternoon “life extras” while riding with Vickie on the golf cart to our “neighboring” neighborhood- Tea Farm!) Boo! Who did we see but Mary, our wonderful previous mail lady…she still gets to leave mail for Tea Farm but not for us a neighborhood away at Miler. So sad…but was so happy to see her! Now Mary is a treasured “Life’s Extra!” This “Life’s Extra” can get down ladies and gentleman…she’s got the moves!

Will show some more beautiful images tomorrow and fun decorations that need to be “shot” as darkness falls…but upon returning home from our golf cart tour… Luke, my amazingly wonderful neighbor across the street, asked if I would like him to pressure wash my middle walk-way leading to the front porch.

He had offered a couple of other times and he was serious…he said he was bored and wanted a project. So I told him to “Go for it!” (And he did….Look at before and after! (L to R) * I haven’t seen the walk-way that white and clean since we originally moved in…or even then come to think about it? )

It is like night and day….and Luke didn’t stop there. He climbed up on my roof and blew off tons of  pine straw…and then blew off all the pine straw on my back deck from cleaning the roof. He said he did it because he was bored…but I know better…He did it because he is an amazing young man who likes to help people. That he landed right across the street from me is truly a miracle! I owe you one God. Best Neighbor Award!!!!

So until tomorrow…Luke, it will be a long time before I forget your generosity of time and talents today. You are the epitome of unequaled kindness!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

This afternoon Doodle, Lassie, and I are heading over to Daniel Island to prepare for tomorrow’s Race for the Cure!  We are camping out inside the condo…a girls’ sleep-over. Fun memories will be created and saved in our memory ledgers no doubt! Thanks Walsh and Mollie!

Legally Pink walks for the next generation – our hope…to have no survivors because we have no disease known as breast cancer. Nil, None…Gone! That is our hope for Eva Cate and soon Eloise and all who follow in family and friendship legacy.

We would love to go out with a BANG! So if you would like to donate to our team or myself please use the follow link. Let’s end with a flourish! Thank you for giving and giving and then giving some more.

Link: http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/CHS_SouthCarolinaAffiliate?pg=entry&fr_id=6930