I wasn't going to go to the Pecan Festival. It's the sixth one and i've never been. It is held in "old downtown" Florence and if you've ever been to downtown Florence you would understand why I was reluctant to go!
However I am pleased to report I was wrong about it. Very wrong. It was a very nicely organized festival. Lots of police presence eased my mind as one was stationed right by where I parked my car. We got there promptly at 10 when it started and by the time we left it was VERY crowded so I reccomend you start at 10.
Madison was raring to go as they had talked about the festival at her school during the week. She asked if we were going earlier in the week and I said "No" so when we got there it was a nice surprise for her!
See - she looks quite pleased doesn't she?!

First she met up with a friendly "Pig" (the mascot for our local grocery store Piggly Wiggly that I love!)

Then a friendly "Cow" (the mascot for a regional chain, Chik-Fil-A - which I also love!) Is anyone else noticing a correalation between a love of food and myself? LOL

Then it's doooowwwnnnn a big slide. They had an area set up with this slide and about four other "bouncy" items that was completely free. A nice and unusual change!

Waiting to go in the "bouncy obstacle course" a few times in this one would wear even the hardiest kid out!

Spinning in the Strawberries! The little boys she rode with had never been on this ride but she quickly showed them the ropes and they were the only ones who had theirs spinning madly!

Then she got paired up with this little fellow and they had a blast on this ride too.I loved how they were both rocking their cool shades!

I was reluctant to let her ride the swings as it seemed a "big kid" ride!

She absolutely loved it! She is definitely a thrill-seeker and takes after me and my Daddy!

The local Army Reserves had a free rock climbing wall so of course she had to give that a try! All buckled up and ready to go!

She did it too!!! Something her Mamma (who is afraid of heights) won't EVER do!

All in all it was a nice way to spend a beautiful Saturday. Definitely plan on going next year!

Witches fingers RULE!

I vant to suck your blood!

Arrrrrr!!!!!!! Pirate Bloody Maddie at your service mateys!

Madison aka Ladybug and Reilly aka Bumblebee!

Maddie & Mommy

Eeek!!! Run Little Red Riding Hood - the Big Bad Wolf is after you!

Madison and her "boyfriend" Caleb, he lives across the street from us!

I couldn't belive Maddie wasn't afraid of this big guy!

My Mom and Maddie

My Mom & Dad and Juliana (my sis-in-laws daughter who lives in Charlotte,NC), Madison & Gavin (their great grandson)


Stacy and I had a blast dressing up this year!

Happy Belated Halloween from....

Our family church, St. Mary's. We lived just a block away and walked to church on Sunday's. You go behind the church, down the alley and down through their backyard to my Aunt Barb's house. We walked to church when we visited and stayed with her too!

This is my elementary school, Andrew Jackson Elementary. It's still in use and still looks exactly the same. I'm sure the kids who were outside thought I was nuts! A middle-aged lady standing up in a sunroof taking pictures!

The road leading to Jackson Elementary is still made of brick and still well maintained. It made me very nostalgic! I used to walk to school in my little jumpers and saddle shoes *sniff*

The leaves definitely decked themselves out in their best colors! They were much appreciated. I don't know when i've saw such beautiful fall sights......

The beautiful Appalachian Mountains!

I got to see my nephew Rob and meet his little girl Hannah. I was his surrogate mother when he was in elementary and middle school. I always went to his school functions and took him trick-or-treating, made easter baskets etc. He cried when we left.

The "Switzer girls" and our beloved Dad whom we call "Pop". That's me, Gail, Bonnie and Kathy and that is in chronological age order also. Anybody care to guess which on drives the *snort* LUXURY Chrysler 300? Hehehe.....

Despite going up for such a sad reason we sure did enjoy ourselves and had some awesome family time.
Aunt Barb looked as good as a dead person could look. She suffered at the end and I was so glad she was finally, finally not suffering anymore. Still it broke my heart to see her laying in the casket. I kept expecting her to sit up and yell "OH Hell you don't REALLY think i'm DEAD do you?". She was something else. Something special. They played Elvis songs at her funeral and she was buried in her pajamas. That should tell you something about her right there!
I can't tell you how many shopping hours we logged together. If my Mom would nix something I wanted (usually because it was too expensive and this was before I was old enough to have a job) Aunt Barb would always sneak back and buy it for me saying "It's our secret" - as if my Mom wouldn't notice but she never said a word.

Even when she was diagnosed with cancer she'd grab her oxygen tank and they'd come down to South Carolina. She didn't let anything stop her. She saw Madison more than some people who live right down here did! She loved Stacy too, got the biggest kick out of him and she would make "whoopie pies" for him. A very labor-intensive treat originating with the amish people. She was just so so so special. I know she knew how much she meant to me - I was never shy about telling her and i'm so glad I did. I never missed a chance to give her as many hugs and kisses as I could. She was last down here before Christmas last year, she wore a crazy pink hat because she had lost her hair to chemo but she nevet let it get her down. She never said "Why me?", never complained. Ever. Ever.
I hope I can be half the woman she was.
Aunt Barb, I love you and I will miss you like crazy the rest of my life......

We had a wonderful visit in Beaufort, SC. Here I am before we took the Haunted Trolley Ride.

A bottle tree over on St. Helena Island. I saw one of these in Southern Living Magazine years ago and I loved seeing one in real life! It is an old gullah tradition - meant to keep away the 'haints and hags!

The Beaufort river, we were drooling over the beds of oysters!

The front door of the Old Point Inn where we stayed. I can't reccomend this place enough. I have more pictures on F@cebook. The innkeepers Paul and Julie were awesome.

This is their slogan, they gave me two coffee mugs and a fancy pen for my birthday. I loved it! The Inn was fabulous. So comfortable and I felt so at peace there, something I desperately needed.

Just out goofing around a little bit!

Sadly after we came in from taking this picture I received a call from my sister that my beloved Aunt Barb had passed away in Pennsylvania. She has been battling cancer for so long and took a turn for the worse before Labor Day but still I wasn't ready for this news. We cut our visit short and they even refunded us a night's stay which was unexpectedly kind of them. We headed to Summerville to pick up Madison, visited with my MIL for a little while and then headed home to Darlington. I packed, got about three hours sleep and we were up and headed for Pennsylvania. I was terrified of bad weather (they had snow the preceding week) but we were blessed with wonderful weather and the foliage was gorgeous. I know Aunt Barb probably ordered it up especially for me. I was her pet. I will blog more about that trip this week.
Peace and Blessings from...

Five years ago this was the happiest day of my life
(well a toss-up to my wedding day) and God blessed me with the most wonderful little girl imaginable!

Thank you Daisy & Man for sending her a surprise in the mail, that will be a seperate blog post but she was so excited and I really appreciate it! It helped occupy her while her Mamma was gone.
We had a party on Saturday at Top Hat Special Teas Tearoom, all the pics are on f@cebook but here are a few...

Mommy, Maddie & Daddy before the big event!

Madison & her cousin "J" peer into the window

Getting make-up done - I LOVE her in that hat!!!

Walking the run-way - supermodel!

Alas the Vikings lost yesterday but she did love her shirt!!!

blowing out the candles & making a wish!

This cake is not only pretty - it was yummy too!

Happy Birthday Madison Moore Tindal from your Mommy....
aka.......

Okay.... I know this won't exactly SHOCK many of you... but I accidently DELETED the whole video of Madison's routine. Yep. This is the only picture I have. She broke her original fan even before her dance recital so this was a sub we bought. It was huge, she looks like she's hiding behind it but she wasn't. She is NOT a shy child in public!
None of the kids were enthusiastic at all during the numbers. They didn't like these routines when they did their dance recital last May and didnt' like them now.
She may not like it but i'm going to strongly suggest to Miss Patsy that she have much better costumes this year and peppier songs. Otherwise it will be our last year because the "Around The World" was CRAP.

Moving along........ her and Daddy observing the "jump thing". I have no idea what it was I just know we paid $7 for her to do it and it was all she wanted to do.


This child has waited all year to do this! All hooked up and raring to go!

Up - UP - and AWAY! She loved it. Best $7 I - er, her Daddy - ever spent!

Okay, for me this was the worst Sweet Potato Festival I have ever been too.
It was chaos trying to get her ready, WAY too many people milling about the area we were getting ready in. It was BEASTLY sickeningly HOT. I didn't even walk around and look at anything. I hope next year is about 15-20 degrees cooler. I also might go to the Catfish Festival in Society Hill in November just so I can walk around and enjoy it because thankfully we are not dancing in that one.
At any rate i'm still glad my baby had fun and she did well and that's what really matters! If I can get through tomorrow i'm off to spend some special time with my honey!