Dear Reader:

The other day as I started out the door something seemed off to me…however, I shook the feeling away and kept going with all my “important” busyness. It was only later, when I returned home, and started to open my glass storm door…I quickly realized what was amiss! My hanging birthday angel with the September sapphire (Marcia gave me) was gone…oh no…where was she…she was my good luck angel for the house and all within…surely she hadn’t “flown the coop.”

Apparently the suction cup that held her had dried up and fallen knocking the rusty hook from the cup and my poor birthday angel had accidentally been stepped on and kicked to one corner of the porch.

With great relief…I realized that the angel was okay…I just needed to purchase another suction cup with a hook attached…which I did. It was than that I noticed how different the angel looked with two diverse backdrops… depending on whether one was entering or leaving the house.

Leaving the house…the  angel is always “flying” over the front yard and fence.

Entering the house…the backdrop picks up some of the mantle, backdoor wreath and outside brick…a very curious “flying” area.

Like Alice in Wonderland (by Lewis Carroll) wrote — ‘Curiouser and curiouser!” cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).’ Alice grew so tall, like a telescope… so much so,  that she could no longer see her feet!

Rutledge has always been a curious child and last night he graduated from Primose Pre-School. Next year he will enter 5 year-old public kindergarten at the new Phillip Simmons Elementary School located closely adjacent to his neighborhood. He is so excited! (So are Walsh and Mollie…can finally save tuition money on one child…hurrah!)

When I asked Mollie for ideas for his “graduation” she replied that he is really interested in basketball now and there is a little basketball game/ alarm clock where you can press a button and try to shoot baskets besides using it to wake up with each morning. Fun! (When I ordered it…Amazon.com said it was for children five and up…but mentioned that it had been one of the most popular men’s stocking stuffers last Christmas. Most men continue to love their toys…shoot baskets at work and watch time fly.)

*It was a huge hit with Rutledge…he loved it…took it out to eat and was finally persuaded to leave it in the car right before graduation time.

However, it is his graduation card that I am most excited about…first just let me show you the card and then I will explain the story behind it!

When Rutledge was about two and attending an earlier pre-school their class apparently was doing an art project one day or perhaps a math lesson with beans. At that time Jakie was attending the same pre-school and I happened to be at Mandy’s that day so we both went to pick up Jake.

There was a lot of commotion going on…several teachers were encircled around one student…it was Rutledge. Being a “curious” child he decided to see if the bean would fit up his nose. With some pushing he got it up there…tightly wedged in…and the teachers were struggling to get it out.

Eventually it all ended well…Rutledge looked puzzled as to why the teachers were so concerned about the bean up his nose. (Thus the card…you’ve come a long way Rutledge!)

My favorite quote of Eleanor Roosevelt’s is:

“I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

We all have curiosity as children, but sadly we  quickly lose it. Curiosity should be the best gift we are given and should never leave our side as we move forward in the time-line of our lives.

If I hadn’t been curious and taken a picture of the gates the other day I would have missed out on so much fun and local history.

*Thanks for all the nice comments about the history of the old Halcyon Inn…I learned a lot from some of the comments back from you… like those of Lisa Bell Boyd:

“I was so excited to see all this! Tommy and I lived there in one of their cottages in the first few years of our marriage!!! We did not know the the history!! We loved the Dions! They were so good to us!!!”

Think about this statement I once read and consider the truth of it:

“Adults who aren’t curious may do well enough in the world, but they rarely influence it.”

So until tomorrow….Rutledge…Boo Boo wants you to always stay curious because if you stay curious…you remain a child at heart…no matter how old you grow. 

If you want to know something Rutledge…like what is over the next hill or around the next bend, don’t let obstacles in your way stop you! Be curious enough to get back up when you stumble or fall and keep climbing until you find your answer…I know you can do it. Love, Boo Boo

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Don’t forget! Today is the first day of June…say “rabbit” first thing today and have a curious month!

It is the ordinary every day facets of life that turn out to be so fascinating if we just stop long enough to let our curiosity lead us on another exciting discovery.

Last night the “discovery” was graduation night for Rutledge.

Graduation pictures….’You know you are getting old(er) when you become emotional at every grandchild’s performance/program.’ It was a night of farewells to teachers and classmates who will be going to several different elementary schools throughout the Charleston area.