The 4th of July here in Brevard, NC was  as much fun as always — the town fair, cook-out and fireworks with friends. I love these kinds of old-fashioned holiday celebrations…

 Hal and Alison, Labor Day weekend, 2009

September 3, 2009

Dupont Forest 

Faerie Hut

Faerie Magic

How wonderful to see our neighbor Scott’s vision for the creek come to life! We now have a community garden, picnic and play area, and even tiki torches by the water. Thanks to all the condo neighbors who pitched in with Scott and made this a reality. 

photo credit Alaskan Dude

Tomorrow morning (Sunday) we head to Charlotte, NC and then Brevard. If the weather holds we could be there to tuck in for the night. Yes. 

Izzie in an Easter bonnet

Katie and her “John Lennon glasses”
We were able to celebrate Christmas with our favorite neighbors tonight. The kids were thrilled that Santa made a return trip and it was fun to watch parents Tina and Scott play with the Lincoln Logs and Tinkertoys.

And the sun came out again!

It’s good to get out of Dodge every once in awhile, you know?

When the scenery’s different you just start noticing things. Some of what I’m seeing now wasn’t visible when we were last here in the summer, like the true size and shape of trees. And other stuff I wasn’t paying attention to – the shade of yellow on the bedroom walls, the plaque over the kitchen sink, the books in the stack in my husband’s office. But I’m seeing them now, partly because I made a decision to really pay attention this holiday season and partly because I’m not so distracted by work.

Instead of being annoyed by the three days of rain we’ve had here since our arrival, I’m enjoying the fireplace in the daytime and the delicious pumpkin candle I discovered in the sideboard. I’m playing on the internet and reading Shreve Stockton’s The Daily Coyote. I’m soaking up the peace and quiet before we launch ourselves into travel mode tomorrow.

And then I’ll just be wherever we are. Talk to you from the road!

Lauren and AJ, summer 2008

We’re back in Brevard after an overnight in Chapel Hill to see AJ’s new apartment. How can he be a college senior already?

As we unpack from this trip, we’re repacking for Sedona and trying to remember where we put what. Where are my professional organizing skills when I need them? Actually my first book was mentioned last week in a New York Times article and was referred to as one of the “gospels” of organizing. Maybe I should re-read that one.

Backyard swing

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and we celebrated the weekend with a full house. Lauren and Eric and their friends Jordan and Laura were here, along with my friend, Nancy, who is traveling down the east coast on a book tour for her first release, Unplugged. Roy and I get to extend the season a bit when we head north later this week for some time at the Jersey shore.

My prayers and best wishes go out to the residents of the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.