A Christmas Surprise!

Thursday, made my way back up to the Smokies to help Carol pack the car and get the dogs ready for their trip back to Virginia.  It took double the time, two hours, because of dense fog, not a fun drive through the mountains.

Colin will be tethered for six weeks.  In two weeks the bandage will come off.

The rescue raised $5,000 for his amputation, and Bob bought him the stroller.

Heading back home, this is a familiar scene along the way.

I decided since I would be passing through Asheville to stop at my favorite nursery, and to my surprise, they already had it decorated for Christmas.  Even though Halloween has not even come and gone, I have no problem with it!

All with a nature theme, always my favorite.

Bought my first Christmas present, it's for my mom.

Back at home, the garden is fading.  This will be the last Glamis Castle rose.  Bob found a book on Glamis Castle that I have been reading.

Magnolia pods are dropping and I am drying them to be sold on Ebay.

I have so many fall items to get in my Etsy shop and on Ebay.  I didn't realize I had picked up so many "weird wood" nut bowls, and lined up together they make such a neat collection.  I may just have to keep a few.

First this week, humidity permitting, I am going to oil the kitchen floor.  Bob finished sanding the edges yesterday, so that will be my project for this week.

Frankie, my goat girl, gave me this Linda McCartney rose which is intoxicating.  I am definitely adding this to my garden come spring.

Saturday we found ourselves in Saluda, the next town up, and just walked through the neat little shops.

First time to go into the mineral store, it was beautiful!

Very nice pottery in the next little shop.

In rescue, this is Bishop, another amputee that had been in a TN shelter since July and a chow friend in MN adopted him and we got him on the road to her on Saturday.

Debra contacted me Friday night frantic that this 13 year old chow mix had been dumped by his owner and they were only giving him until 3 pm on Saturday to get out or die.  We did it!  My friend who does senior rescue, Jackie Lane, took him into his rescue for us.  $800 was raised in that short time that we had to save him.  Just another weekend in rescue!

Paws Prayers and Promises

Saturday night fundraiser for my friends' rescue at the old train depot in Landrum.

Photo contest and raffle to raise money.

Local vets were the judges for the photo contest.

I met Kelly and Yvonne at P3 Consignments, a shop they run in town, buying the eggs that they raise as a hobby.  Even though they are in cat rescue, we became friends having rescue in common.

They had a beautiful buffet set up.

Bob caught in action at the buffet!

Bob got this photo, but no others!!  Yes, I was captive in the kitchen serving drinks.

Kelly bringing out a birthday cake for Dana, another rescue friend.  She just turned 65.

Dana in pink.  She is such a tomboy, I'm surprised she is wearing pink!

Dana, Kelly and Yvonne with two ladies I don't know.

Next day we were off to the Smoky Mountains to help Carol, another rescue friend.  She lives in Virginia, but was coming to Asheville with Colin for a re-do on his botched amputation.

Colin

Liam

Rowdy

Nice buildings and views along the way.

Tomorrow I'm on my way back to the Smokies to help Carol load the car and dogs.  She has a cracked rib and black eye from a fall, so no photos of Carol.  I thought she was in her 70s, but found out today she is only a few months older than me!  I guess all those decades of eating right and working hard has paid off, they all think I'm a lot younger than I am and need my help.  LOL