Dear Reader:

When I turned into the neighborhood late yesterday afternoon I caught the magnificence of the waning sun hitting the trees… turning their leaves a subtle but shimmering beauty behind the palm tree’s fronds. (The sheer vision of the startling image looked like an illustration out of a fairy book-*title photo.)

Fall in the lowcountry obviously gets started much later than in Maine and other New England states and the changing of our trees’ colors are not as bright and vivid as the trees and woods I saw throughout Maine. But this doesn’t make fall any less desired or appreciated…just a bit more subtle but still a relatively long-lasting vacuum of beauty.

Thank goodness I hit a lot of red lights in and around town so I could catch several fall sightings with my iPhone before anyone beeped… I found myself smiling as I caught each alluring scene over and over throughout Summerville. Here we go!

This year a new fall attraction at Magnolia Plantation will certainly be luring huge crowds to see the famous sasanqua camellias…but even more than that …for the first time the plantation and grounds will be lit up at night.

(*The collection contains more than 20,000 camellias, including 6,500 sasanquas, the country’s largest heirloom camellia collection and a hybrid collection of reticulates and other hybrids. They are on display from Mid-November to April. Camellia Sasanqua blooms in November and December.)

*Chinese lanterns will glow for four months beginning November 15th at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, illuminating America’s oldest garden at night for the first time in its history!

For Kaitlyn’s upcoming birthday this week…she asked Tommy to take her to this special event next Saturday evening…can hardly wait to hear what they think. The previews look magical!

Tommy and I had brunch yesterday at the Ruby Drum –delicious! I was finally able to see the other side of the (once) duplex that is now being turned into an Air B&B. Tommy, Kaitlyn, and her decorating friend, Bristol, are doing a lot of the work themselves…slowly getting the ‘behind the scenes’ updates done. Soon the fun decorating part will start. (Decided to take some “Before” photos)

It is sitting on a perfect lot off Coleman…close to shops, restaurants, Sullivan’s Island, Shem Creek….I think it will be a popular Air B&B when all the electrical/plumbing is finished…and the decorating begins.

With Kaitlyn gone this weekend and the rainy weather…the dogs hadn’t gotten out much …Tommy and I decided to take the dogs on an excursion …so we  loaded up the four little dogs and went over to Mandy and John’s for a short visit…good to see them…been awhile.

The children love when their canine cousins appear…they are all so cute.

So until tomorrow…Magic really is everywhere if we just take time to open our eyes and look around. Mother Nature never disappoints.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Ever since writing the short story “Arrie and the Friendship Train” I have remembered Betsy (Libby’s daughter) birthday. November 18 was a pivotal day in the true story for sending food to war-torn countries following WWII and also Betsy’s birthday…so Happy Birthday Betsy…our Jr. Ya in training! 🙂