Rocco The Raccoon

I laid awake at midnight the other night as I heard noises coming from my carport. It was too dark to catch a glimpse, but from the sounds I imagined that Rocco the Raccoon was having a party going in and out of the trash can and  drinking the last drops he could get out of the cans in the recycling bin. I'm pretty sure I heard him texting his other raccoon friends to come, Lady Gaga playing in the background. And it's true, raccoons will eat anything. ANYTHING. Even month or so leftovers that you find in the back of the refrigerator.

As I left for work yesterday, I drove past a raccoon that had been hit by a car. I thought maybe it was Rocco. (We previously thought he might have died in the great Hurricane Irene Tree Incident). As I took out the trash last night, I thought about poor Rocco and his potential demise.

Luckily, Rocco is still alive and kicking. How do I know?

Well I heard Paige pull up in the driveway just after 8. A minute later, I heard screaming. My-life-is-in-danger, running away kind of screaming. I peeked my head out the door  and saw nothing. I waited. Looked. And then Paige ran back out of the house to get her son from the car. She was in such a rush and panic. She had attempted to take out the trash and Rocco was IN the trash can!

He was unphased. Paige ran off screaming while he got back to work foraging for food. I was on the phone with Paige when she watched him leisurely climb out of the trash can off into the unknown about 15 minutes later.

So Rocco is alive and kicking, and apparently not as afraid of us as we are of him.

I Don't Think I'll Ever Get Tired of Seeing This

(Look, I managed to make attack helicopters look girly!)

Over The Hump

Fall is in the air here, and I'm pretty sure everyone couldn't be happier about it. Fall means, another season down and one to go. It means 5 months in, 5 months more. It means holidays and school and football. It means the countdown is getting smaller and we are that much closer to our husbands being home. 

Oh my word, I need my husband to be home. 

When you walk through the water I will be with you
When you pass through the river the waves they will not overtake you
When you walk on the fire the flames will not touch you
You are mine, you are mine

Isaiah 43:1b-7

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; 
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 
² When you pass through the waters, 
   I will be with you; 
and when you pass through the rivers, 
   they will not sweep over you. 
When you walk through the fire, 
   you will not be burned; 
   the flames will not set you ablaze. 
³ For I am the LORD your God, 
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; 
I give Egypt for your ransom, 
   Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead. 
⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight, 
   and because I love you, 
I will give people in exchange for you, 
   nations in exchange for your life. 
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you; 
   I will bring your children from the east 
   and gather you from the west. 
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ 
   and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ 
Bring my sons from afar 
   and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 
⁷ everyone who is called by my name, 
   whom I created for my glory, 
   whom I formed and made.”

A Saturday Adventure

On Saturday I needed an adventure.

So I decided to take a hike at Raven Rock State Park. I packed a lunch and my camera and headed off.

(Near Campbell University. I thought of you Val!)

Beautiful day. Beautiful weather. Beautiful hike. Totally worth another visit.

On My Camera Lately

 I took a drive to get out of Jacksonville. I was hoping to find some neat new places or scenery. Turns out there's nothing between here and the middle of nowhere that's interesting. Mostly small towns consisting of fast food and gas stations, or roads and trees. Lots of trees. I did happen upon this barn though.

I think the last three look a little eerie and haunted. Just in time for Fall. 

I'm thankful that my garden is still thriving despite the summer drought and hornworm attack. 

Photoshop is amazing.