A Rainy Day

We have been –13 inches in our rainfall. Grass has turned brown, bushes and shrubs withered and the colorful fall foliage that we usually have, lacks that punch that fall always brings. It just looked plain dull with a capital D.

This past week we were hit with rain. But not just rain. Severe storms. Thunder. Lightening. Tornadoes. Yep. Tornadoes. Fortunately no one locally was killed. There were a few folks with minor injuries and some moderate damage. Aside from the severe weather, it was marvelous to have the rain. I think it may have perked up the fall colors just a bit.

For Wednesday’s playdate with Cupcake girl, we went to lunch and then her 26 visit to the aquarium. Now let me tell you, that girl was dressed to impress. Her mama did a dang good job. Gave her an umbrella (for the little sprinkles that we were still experiencing) and she was good-to-go! My little retro Cupcake Girl!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She loves the aquarium and always knows exactly where she wants to start. Penguins are usually first, followed by the rays, butterflies, then sharks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course, what would a playdate be without some ice cream? This girl loves her ice cream!! She started with strawberry on a sugar cone that had a stripe of chocolate along the top, then was rolled in sprinkles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then she wanted to “share” with me. So we swapped. Now she indulged in chocolate with peanut butter swirl on a sugar cone rolled in chocolate. YUM!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now THAT’S a happy face! Go enjoy some ice cream this weekend! We will!

Room With a View, Again!

Just a few pictures to showcase our weekend. It was glorious!

Following a marvelous dinner at Suzy Wong’s House of Yum which is the latest creation from Chef Arnold Myint. Chef Myint was a contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef. Our dinner at Suzy Wong’s was amazing and I was delighted to partake in a portion of the menu!

Following dinner we camped out in our hotel room and watched the Vanderbilt vs South Carolina game from our bird’s eye window view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vandy gave it a valiant effort during the first half, but lost steam in the second half. This morning we witnessed the “watering of the field.” Cupcake and I thought it would be big fun to run through those giant sprinklers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cupcake Girl enjoyed her weekend and woke up with this beautiful smile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And for the parting shot…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My oldest (Cupcake’s mama) dropped by the house to pick up something while we were away and left this sweet message. Thank you sweet daughter!

I love all my girls!!

The Dance of the Acorn

The acorn falls from the big proud tree,
He says. "Look mama the wind don't faze me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His downward fall as he says to all,
"Goodbye I'll miss you all."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mama then replies. "Good luck my son, have a joyous ride,"
Though not far away he lands and hides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He falls in the tickle grass and rolls along gaily.
The touch of it rubs him so sweetly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He stops to rest near the tulips and ferns,
Far away for a lesson he must learn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mama tree watches him daily grow
still loving him ever so

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Till one day he stretches his branches out,
Now far bigger than a once small sprout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I thought I was so alone, so long ago,
But here I nest right next to you, as you grow old."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As they talk while the wind blows gently
the acorns from the branches fall freely.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They watch them fall with love and pride,
Together, always wondering the destination of their ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I took this series of photographs, Cupcake Girl began this joyful dance. I asked her what she was doing and she said the Acorn Dance (she had an acorn in her hand the entire time I photographed her).

After a few searches on the internet, I found this poem written by Linda Terrell (September 15, 2009). It is so fitting! Not only for Cupcake’s dance, but for life, parenthood, friendship, love, etc.

What a beautiful day with a beautiful little love!

Of course, we also have a parting shot.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This girl loves her some acorns…..you should have seen my pockets!

Pumpkin Happiness

Here is a little bit of pumpkin happiness…..

Drove by a local church and let Cupcake Girl pick out 2 pumpkins. She said she knew she wanted a white one and as soon as she saw the bumpy one…..well, that was the one! I love the stem on it and all the texture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a bit of rest time, we cleaned out, carved and cleaned up the white pumpkin. We decided to model the pumpkin face after one of the many faces that Cupcake loves to make. Not quite sure how successful I was, but we had a fun time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She didn’t really clean it out all by herself, but she was a bit help!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was privilege to hear a running commentary on the texture of the pumpkin’s insides….wet, dry, gooey, slimy, etc…..

While I was carving, Cupcake decided to color the unusable remnants which turned into a pumpkin stamp. Of course she used her favorite color….black! I was also instructed on the art of stamping. Everyone knows you have to use 2 hands when you press down…….hard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty cool pumpkin impression. The drawing in the upper right is her impression of my sad face. She said, “Let me see your eyes. Now your nose and you big sad face.”

So, here is the final result from the pumpkin carving adventure

Before……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

….and after………except one of his teeth fell out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are the pumpkin buddies….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the parting shot for today. A little ditty of a video………so cute!