It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...

....in Dayton, Ohio. The year, 1978. For one terrifying hour that awful night, sweet, loyal dogs rabidly turned on their masters. Oh the humanity! Oh the vile, atrocious, repellent, revolting, deplorable horror! Oh the abhorrent, appalling, ghastly, gruesome, heinous, lurid, unholy, hideous, repulsive mess!

Oh the overly embellished and ridiculously long

sentences! I was but a budding news photographer then and captured the only known image of that event. If you feel you must do so, I have added this oh so repugnant picture for your viewing displeasure...

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Get out the smelling salts...

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You have never seen anythin' like it...

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It's pretty bad ya know...

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I am serious now...

It is THAT bad.

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You better believe me!

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Okay...if you think you can handle it...

Ready?

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Are you sure?

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Here we go...

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BOO!

Happy Halloweenie!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

Fur Baby Friday

The 3 sweeties shown here, who allow the 4 humans to co exist with them at Rabbit Run Cottage, send love to all of you...

And the humans, never to be outdone (outwitted yes, outsmarted you betcha, outdone, NEVER) by their fur babies, wish each one of you a sweet weekend with those you love.

Love and Hugs,

Kipper, Lucy, Henry,

Grace, Dan, Bill and

ol' Susie Q

Harvest Season Living Like The Pioneers...

...for just a few hours last Saturday. Mom, Grace, Bill and I drove over to Caesar Creek near Waynesville, Ohio and the Pioneer Village. They were having an encampment of re-enactors and there were displays and demonstrations aplenty on the grounds. The weather was beautiful and it was such a nice way to spend the afternoon. The village is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and promoting a deeper understanding of the history of Southwestern Ohio Frontier. There is a wonderful collection of log cabins which they maintain, restore and preserve. This past weekend was the Harvest Festival where the harvest season is celebrated as it was in 1800. The participants were *preparing* for winter by making soap, hominy, apple butter, hearth cooking, wood making, blacksmithing candle dipping and so much more.

Before we left the area, we drove over to the gorge park and took a little walk, then let Grace look for fossils in the dry river bed. A simple afternoon but such a lovely one. The weather could not have been more perfect. It has been such a sweet Autumn here.

I hope your Fall season is treating you well...enjoy each day and take a few minutes during your busy schedule to look around and see just how beautiful this world truly is.

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

In Memory Of A Dear Canine Friend

Edited on Thursday, 12:18 am.

Dear blog friend, Meggie, has suffered the loss of a sweet fur friend too. Her beautiful cat, Casper, has left this world. I like to think that Ben met with Casper and helped walk him over to their new home. Please know Meg that I care so much and that almost all of us here in this special bloggy circle of women, know this pain and share your loss with you. Hugs to you.

Today I visited Deb's blog, Posted From Home, and was saddened to learn that they had lost their sweet Ben. Ben was such a dear and gentle soul...a dog among dogs. He became a friend to all of us who stopped by Deb's blog, a beloved and loyal friend. I know that Ben loved the outdoors and watching wildlife. Today I spotted these two lovely creatures in a near by pond

and thought of Ben.

All seasons are beautiful for the one who carries happiness within.

- Horace Friess

And Ben carried such happiness within his heart.

This quotation reminded me of Ben...

~This is a photo collage that Deb made using her images of Ben.~

Is it so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have

lived light in the sky, to have loved, to have thought, to have done?

- Mathew Arnold

We remember you gentle Ben...we send our love to you Deb and to Kate, her daughter, at The French Nest.

I've Got Something To Crow About....

...and I don't mean Russell. But oh isn't he a handsome devil...huh? Oh, I completely lost my train of thought there for a moment. Ahem. Let's see now. Where were we? Oh! Crows. Or, in this case, a lack of crows...all due to the proliferation of scarecrows in a small community near by. Each year, in October, Scarecrow Row appears in Oakwood, Ohio. Would you like to take a stroll down the street and see what we can find? Who knows...maybe old Russell Crow(e) himself will...okay. So Russell Crowe will NOT be here. Sheesh. A girl can dream right? Yeah, yeah, I know he is NO Brian Dennehy but Brian's name had nothing at all to do with those noisy farm field flying (say THAT 10 times fast!) pests. Now, can we get back to our walk? Hmmm....what do we see over there?

Yikes! Oh how I love *Boo York*! She is such a witch... Mmmm....can you say S'mores? Ah, I knew you could! Our recent windstorm left some terribly corny people behind. My favorite grocery has their own scarecrow...and check out the scarecrow-DOG! Now how did they get a picture of ME from which to work? Mmmmm...Krispy Kream Doughnuts... Gee Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...musta been that big windstorm that blew us straight through to Ohio! And look! It even blew poor Toto down! Ladies, let's see if we can help... The Headless Horseman...yikes again! A Headless Horse Race! Triple Crown yikes! Boo Man Group! BOO! Scare ya? Did I? Well Did I? Scabbey Road Grave's Anatomy featuring Dr. McScreamy And who woulda thunk it...the Wright Brothers as scarecrows!

I took this photo as a *Howdy Do* to our Kari, blogger's biggest Star Wars fan!

This was a another nod to our big windstorm last month. This area lost so many beautiful, mature trees. Look at naughty Stevie and Suzy Scarecrow over there having a good old time on that poor tree...

And this is their Mom (Ms. Stephie Scarecrow) planting a new tree to replace the one lost. Go Mom! Now get those ungrateful kids over here to help you!

Remember, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Think Pink and get that mammogram! Thank you for walking along with me today...I was much less *scared* having such sweet company with which to share the afternoon!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q

Sunday in Lebanon

What perfect Fall weather we enjoyed this weekend! Sunday was children's Sabbath at church and the service is always so special on this day. After church we headed down to one of my favorite Ohio towns.

Just 20 minutes from our home lies Lebanon, Ohio.

Shopping has become an art form here in Lebanon, boasting over 80 specialty shops offering one-of-a-kind antiques, furniture, fine art, jewelry, collectables, distinctive clothing and much more. There are several nice restaurants and a wonderful town museum here in this small, old, oh so beautiful town.

Two movies were shot here in Lebanon. In 1979, Harper Valley PTA, starring Barbara Eden,was filmed here and, in 1994, Milk Money with Melanie Griffith and Ed Harris used this charming town as it's backdrop.

The Golden Lamb Inn is located in Lebanon. It is recognized as Ohio's oldest inn and was established in 1803. This inn has been visited by 12 presidents and notables like authors Mark Twain and Charles Dickens. You can still stay at the inn today. The rooms are plain, quaint but filled with charm and rich with history. The restaurant serves a wonderful lunch and dinner and has a wonderful Sunday family style turkey dinner with all the trimmings. It was here that Bill, Grace, Mom and I dined today. The servers are friendly and the food so good. I had a cup of creamy chicken and rice soup as an appetizer and oooh. So good! Just perfect for a cool Fall day.

This is one of my favorites shops here in Lebanon. The William and Mary is such a delightful place to spend a little time and pick up a treat or two...or five. *smile*

Isn't this witch as cute as she can be? Mom and I both fell in love with her. She looked so happy there in her spot by the front window watching the cars roll by.

And oh the antiquing you will find in Lebanon...shop after shop all filled with old treasures.

Today we spent an hour walking up and down the aisles of the Broadway Antique Mall.

I hope your week will bring you lots to smile about. Enjoy every moment of this glorious season...

May the beauty that is Autumn bring color and joy into your life. Many blessings!

Love and Hugs,

Susie Q