Weekend of the 4th, feet up and fingerprint

- Having the opportunity for a long weekend, via the 4th of July holiday in the US, I decided to spend it at my sister's vacation home in the North Carolina mountains.  I arrived in the rain on Thursday night and left in the rain on Sunday afternoon.  It rained the whole time, except for a few breaks here and there.  I slogged around in the wet grass on Sunday morning and got this photo.

- Feet up, with book in hand, and looking as if I didn't mind that rain on Friday morning.  (I didn't.)  The river was up the whole time, which was good for the kayakers, who didn't seem to mind getting rained on.

- These blooming Hosta plants were planted many years ago by my sister's late mother-in-law.  I love that her fingerprint is still around - inside the house and outdoors.  If you click to enlarge, you can barely see some bees enjoying the nectar of the flowers.

- A fourth photo today:  I love visiting the local shops and contributing a bit to the local economy.  Sweetpea at Green Willow Gifts welcomed me (sort of) at the front porch of the shop.  I  imagine her thinking:  "Yes - I know I am beautiful.  You may pet me.  Now move along."  Sweetpea was rescued by the sisters who own the place - I always enjoy seeing her.  And I am delighted with one of my shop purchases!  Fodder for another post.

Labor Day weekend, shopping and party over here

I spent some time on Saturday morning in Hayesville, North Carolina visiting a few shops, including a new  favorite - Green Willow gifts, run by two women who are funny as heck.  This is the shop with the rescue cat I posted about here in July.  

 - I walked in with four other women right behind me (they were sisters and friends) - the other one offered us a glass of sparkling wine.  It was 11am and I thought about it for a second before saying yes.  :)  It turned into a party when almost everyone said yes.  

- My thought is - they get you slightly buzzed and you decide you can't live without the stuff you browse while sipping.  I did not want that cap though.  :) 

- When I turned from taking the photo of the plant in the boot planter on the front porch, the kitty, referred to above, wanted to go inside and waited with practiced patience for me to open the door before I left.  She immediately plopped down inside the foyer and stre-e-e-tched out.

- My box of purchases, guarded by a couple of frogs in the flowerbed.  The blonde one helpfully sprinkled confetti over everything.  Sigh.  My favorite - those scissors there on the left that are for cutting herbs.  I sat the box down to take a photo of a chair nestled in the flowerbed, but the photo needs some work at home.  Maybe you'll see it Friday.  Thanks for coming to the party!

Front porch view, joyous running and mama cat

- Neighbor Rhonda put a hummingbird feeder out front so we could all enjoy them.  She was sitting in a chair out there Sunday morning when she spotted the first visitor, who then came over and had a look at her.  She says it hovered there for a moment as if to say, "thank you."

- I wish this photo could capture the all out exuberant running of the young man pictured above.  He threw up his hand with a smile as he passed me.  We looked like the tortoise and the hare, except in this case the tortoise never caught up.  :)

- At the antiques shop near the park, the owner was cooing at something through the window to the back porch.  It was mama cat and her brood.  I love the sleepy eyed look she gave us as she nursed her babies.  The owner brings them all in at night, to protect them.

Whiskers in the morning, flowers from a friend and Hallelujah

- My favorite shop cat, Whiskers, this time sporting a bejeweled collar for the jewel he is, takes in some morning sun from the front windows.  I had cuddled him earlier, and noticed him later, being carried around by a man who was browsing, who he had persistently followed throughout the shop.

-  Friend Janice (who is married) was so interested in my kitchen flowers that I always buy for myself.  I told her that I learned a long time ago not to wait for flowers.  So when I pick her up for an afternoon tea we are both attending, she presents me with a pot of purple orchids.  Lovely.

- An encounter with a young man with Down's Syndrome, who doesn't often interact with the world, always seemingly deep within himself.  It was my turn to greet at the front door of the church before the service yesterday.  When he came in with his mother, I greeted her and then him by name, and he responded (much to my delight) with, "Hallelujah."