Our LIttle Town's Annual Fall Pow Wow

 

Every Fall, our little town comes alive with one of its most beloved traditions.  The Annual Pow Wow!

This is an event that has been taking place each Fall, for as long as I can remember.  

We went this year, and even LUCY, our four legged sidekick, tagged along. 

Lucy sat proudly by Mylee during the parade with her tail wagging, and sharing a few howls with us as the fire trucks passed by....sirens going!  

I think the marching band and the fire trucks were a little too much for her.  

There were a few times when Kisses was all she was interested in.

The parade rolled through town with decorated floats and a lot of smiling faces from the kids riding the decorated trailers. 

This particular float really brought a lot of smiles to the kids faces...

And who do you recognize on this float.  Could it be my neighbor and friend Dotta?  Yes!!  She is on this float with her bible study group.

The parade ended at the city park and this is where the real fun begins.  Food vendors lined the paths, and they were tempting everyone with homemade pies, roasted corn, BBQ, Egg Rolls, and all kinds of fried delights that you could think of.  

Booths overflowed with handmade crafts, fall decorations and all kinds of treasures that make you say...."I don't NEED this, but I really think it is cute and ......"  So guess what?  you come home with something new!!

Pumpkins, mums and all kinds of Fall colors decorated the city park and even though it was 90 degrees, it did look as if Fall had fallen from the skies.  

The Pow Wow lasts all day, with music, games, dunking booth, fun things to do for the little ones, and a whole lot of hometown pride.  One of my favorite things about the POW WOW is seeing family and friends that no longer live in our little area. Its kinda like having a huge reunion!

By the end of the day, Lucy was tired and ready for her nap!  Our hearts were full and guess what?  My bag was empty...  I did not make a single purchase!!   

At the heart of it all, the Pow Wow isn't just a festival so to speak....It is a day where you realize  the best parts of life can be found in the simple places of this Country.  

Friends, Laughter and the "Already" excitement  that is in your heart in wating for Next year's Pow Wow event.  

Waiting for the parade...

Trista, Shanda and Mylee..

This may have been my favorite 

ride in the parade...  These two were enjoying all the people waving at them as they passed by!!

Happy Sunday!

Shug. 💛

Pumpkins and Fall Porch Lights

LOL....  Our air almost feels like Fall (if you stand in the shade long enough).   

This past weekend, I visited the Christmas Store out in Midland with my granddaughter-in-love and baby William...  Oh goodness y'all, it was like stepping into a winter wonderland that had accidentally collided with a haunted house.  

One side of the store was twinkling with ornaments, all kinds of sparkly garlands and plenty of Red and Green to make Santa super proud. 

The other side?

Pure Halloween chaos! Big glowing skeletons, crackling witches, a giant pink spider and plenty of pumpkins. 

I really deviate from the Halloween decorations....it's just not my thing!

But, I will admit, that the creativity and imagination behind those displays were something to see. 

Very Colorful for sure....

and...this wreath ↓↓↓

 

This really was a very nice store and I would go back if ever I have the opportunity.  

Back home in out little town, there are several homes dressed in pumpkins and lights.  I like to think of it like this....a pumpkin on a porch says, "we're grateful."  A porch light glowing says, "You are welcome here."

I do love lights (ALL YEAR LONG) and I love decorating, so this little visit to the Christmas/Fall/Halloween store was right up my alley!!

Here is my prayer for the season!

May our hearts be as warm as our front porches, May our homes be filled with laughter and cinnamon, And may we all take a deep breath of this changing season and say,

"Thank you, Lord, for another turning of the year."

PUMPKINS AND PORCH LIGHTS HAVE A WAY OF BRINGING US A KIND OF PEACE THAT SOOTHES OUR HEARTS.  

Shug....🎃 

The Beachside Lineup and my Adventure.

 

My friend and her daughter are soaking up the Florida Sunshine this week, and yesterday, she sent me this perfect beach photo. A lineup of seagulls all standing in a row like they are waiting for a staff meeting to begin.

Don't they look organized?  Every one of them facing the same direction, calm, collected, and clearly living their best beach life.  I imagine one of them saying, "alright team, wings up, sand between the 'toes', and remember ..... no stealing snacks until after the photo."

While my friends were enjoying that peaceful ocean view on Thursday, my day was a little less tranquil. I went to Sam's Club, filled my cart with all the important things.....(I did scan and go)....went outside and loaded my car.  I then headed home which is about 8 miles away.  

Halfway home, I "thought" I heard my phone ring.  NOPE!! I DID NOT!! Not even close to hearing it ring.  

This is when it hit me....I had left my phone in the buggy and my buggy was in the outside return bin.  My heart sank faster than a beach umbrella that had just fallen into the ocean. 

I turned my car around and raced back to the parking lot of Sam's Club.   I may have looked as if I were in a NASCAR race..  One of the kind Sam's Club guys who rounds up the cars had found my phone and turned it in!!  Talk about divine intervention and good people in this world...I had both on my side.  

When I went inside, the little guy, I suppose, noticed the stress on my face. He said: "Are you looking for a pink phone?"  How in the world did he know?  Right there at the front desk was my beautiful pink phone.  "Thank you Lord" and I repeated this over and over!! Once again, God's favor was upon me.  

So while those beach birds were enjoying a calm day by the waves, I was living my own adventure in the parking lot jungle.  But...All's well that ends well.  

Here is to Friday fun!!  a day to laugh and to be thankful.  I am enjoying the small Blessings of life...  Hoping your day is as calm as those seagulls.

Shug...💛 

Forever Neighbor

 

My Favorite Neighbor and Forever Friend...

Joining Michelle 

Here

I feel very Blessed to have a forever friend as my neighbor. Some people move into a neighborhood and barely learn thier neighbors' names.  Not me!

I have known my precious neighbor for a very, very long time.  Dorothy aka..Dotta was my 5th grade teacher and my all-time favorite!

Dorothy and her husband Bill.  Bill passed away 3 years ago.  I loved him as much as I love Dorothy.  

I went from raising my hand in her classroom to borrowing sugar from her kitchen..... Life has a funny way of circling back, doesn't it?  

We have been neighbors for years now and honestly, I think God knew I needed her close by....and she needed me.  

We are like two peas in a pod.  We both love turning our homes into cozy, Pinterest-worthy spaces (though her home always seems just a little more magazine ready.)  We get giddy over holiday decorating....Pumpkins, Garland, Twinkling Lights, Christmas everything!  

You name it, and we have probably hot-glued it together....at midnight... while trying to decide what we would be creating  next.  

She tells me if something doesn't look right, and I do the same at her place.  

I am so very thankful for her friendship that feels more like family..I'm thankful for the comfort of knowing there is someone just across the street who truly knows me well.  One thing I must share about my Dorothy is that she gets up early everyday, and before 7:00 am....she is fully dressed in the cutest outfits!!  Hair is done, jewelry is in place (earrings, bracelets, necklaces...rings) and she has on the cutest outfits around...shoes matching.  Speaking of shoes, when I was in her class at school, she always wore the most gorgeous high heels.  She would let a few of us girls in her class wear her shoes for a while in the classroom.  We really thought we were big!! 

How old is my friend?  She is 86!!

I am thankful for her.....for her kindness, her humor, her big heart and for the way she always seems to know when to pop in for a chat.  She is living proof that the best neighbors are not just close in distance, they're close in heart.  

I love lifelong connections, and I must say that it is pretty sweet when your favorite teacher becomes your favorite neighbor.....

This is an A+ blessing!!

Happy Thursday....

Shug 💛