Halloween 2021

We started Halloween with a daybreak walk to Clocktower Hill.

The green-faced princess is in California...

... with her kitty-cat ...

... and pumpkin sisters.

Granny Witch is minding the candy stash...

...at home in Rome, Georgia

.

Halloween Morning on Clocktower Hill

Our iconic city clock was specially lit for Halloween. I took these pics on our before-daylight walk up Clocktower hill this Halloween morning.

 

Gleaning Facebook: Tribefest

 It seemed like all of Floyd County crowded through the upper level of Armuchee's old gym between 10 and 2 today. What fun to get to show off our animals from Arrowhead at Tribefest and to see so many old friends and former students. I love my Armuchee "family". And I am so pleased with our new Arrowhead intern from the Berry College Bonner program, Ali Jakobsen, who was an enormous help on this busy weekend. And after Thea's kindergarten sang for the crowd, she and her mom, Vivian Davis, joined us for the rest of the time. So good to be with them at the Arrowhead booth for this event. Poor Shoestring, the Corn Snake, was her usual imperturbable self as she was held and petted far longer than I should have allowed, to the delight of MANY trick-or-treating kids and their parents.

Gleaning Facebook: Lies & Pies

The old courthouse in Hayesville has been renovated into a museum
and the courtroom itself into an event space.

 I had a great time hearing great stories and music at Lie & Pies in Hayesville, NC last night. There were two great songwriters, a very short written story, and great storytelling from Kanute, Amanda, Tom. Denise, and Melanie. It was a ball getting to tell my tall tale "Yellowtail" to a new audience. The old courtroom floor was spread with tables and was pie and soup and other goodies available on a cool night. Thanks, Kanute Rarey for organizing this event! I cannot believe I did not take a single picture. I was too busy having fun.

Spooky Stories 2021

From Jessica Weaver-Stoll's Facebook page: "Spooky Stories in the garden. Stars of the first story."

I've enjoyed telling some silly "spooky stories" to kids at the Rome-Floyd County Library
during the Halloween season in recent years.
Here's this year's program.

 
 

Songbird Couldn't Wait

 Welcome to our hearts little impatient Songbird. 

I woke up at about four this morning and noticed there was a message from our son-in-law marked 2:17. That woke me up good. Sure enough it was this picture with this message attached:

"Born in Sue's car on the way to the hospital."

We have another beautiful little granddaughter. She was born about 10:45 Pacific time yesterday, October 25, 2021.

I had spoken with Brannon just last night while Clemmie and Ruth joyfully ran around the kitchen and teased me via Facetime. Clemmie even demanded I tell "Ghost With One Black Eye" again, and then demanded that I make her "brave" in the story. 

Princess Clementine is ready for Halloween.

Peanut butter faced Ruth

She had a great time virtually stealing my nose. 

I've got to re-write "Ghost With One Black Eye" to make Clemmie "brave" in her encounter with the ghost.

And while we talked Brannon was dealing with contractions. She thought it might be "false labor"; turned out it wasn't. 

It is hard being a long-distance parent and grandparent. We've had an anxious day as Brannon tried to get some much needed rest between feeding and tending a newborn and putting up with the usual distractions of a hospital stay; she understandably had no time to call Mom and Dad. So we wondered and worried about this new little piece of our heart and her mother 2000 miles away.

Finally this evening another Facetime call and we had a nice long talk with Brannon while she held her new little bundle. There are more details: They almost made it, not to the intended hospital but to a nearer one, as John drove Sue's car and Sue (a wonderful nurse/midwife and dear friend of the Carlins) tended to Brannon in the back seat. But the baby would not wait. John pulled the car off the freeway near the Emerald Drive exit, and our little bright-eyed songbird arrived right there. 

A Facetime screen capture of our little songbird this afternoon.

We think we know what her name will be, but the decision isn't quite final. When I heard what the middle name is likely to be I teared up. You will have to wait a few more hours to learn it. Since her "due-date" had been set at October 31 I had proposed "Morticia". And all day today I have been calling her "Camry" though, in truth, I do not know what make of car Sue drives. Knowing her likely middle name I am nicknaming her "Songbird" for now.

Gleaning Facebook: Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire!

This ol' double Methodist PK (Preacher's Kid) is so proud, despite his Georgian nativity, of his new title as South Carolina's premier liar. My Carolina forebears would share my pride, I'm sure.

Congrats

to Melanie and Denise, two of my favorite fellow storytellers. And I'm thrilled to be scheduled to tell several stories at next years 21st Annual Hagood Mill Storytelling Festival in Pickens, SC.

Gleaning Facebook: Pumpkins!

I wonder how many punkins Sheila and I have passed in these lines over the last three decades. Y'all bring the kids and come enjoy the huge variety of sizes and shapes and colors of punkins, take a few pictures, maybe hear a story, and buy a few punkins to decorate your yard, AND simultaneously support out great youth program at Trinity United Methodist Church.