Gazebos, like bridges and boxes, have a bit of magic about them. I always feel transported to a slightly more graceful world when I’m inside.

Today was my second shot. In a couple weeks, I shall be fearless! Maybe.

This greeted me on my visit to the local cultural arts center today. I am a sucker for these things.

We sun the lizard in a little enclosure on the driveway. Then we lounge as we supervise. So nice.

I was so thrilled to discover we have several resident five-lined skinks in residence. Here is one of them, having a bask on the front porch.

When I move to a new area, one of the first things I do is tour the local thrift stores. I still have several to go. This is at Class and Trash, which is more antique/hybrid than thrift. Great furniture. The portrait looks like a guy from Tiktok.

It’s yard sale season! They’re early in Richmond–8am to 12pm. My haul was not large. I spent $1 on solar Halloween dancers. But fun was had.

Vintage Halloween die cuts have such a happy quality. I especially love the old German ones, like the lovely witch in the bottom photo who arrived yesterday.

Spook shows were live scare shows that usually came on before other entertainment, like a movie. Old codgers may remember costumed monsters running around before a drive-in movie began. They were around for about 100 years, beginning with phantasmagoria in the 18th century, and phasing out in the 1970s with midnight spook shows.

Spook shows were primarily a magician’s trade, and though I’m not a big fan of magic shows, I love spook shows and wish they’d come back.

Bet you didn’t expect a game from me. I admit it, I’ve been playing every day for almost a year. I’m even in a good guild. What at first seems to be a match three game turns out to be highly strategic and complex. Big learning curve. Much fun.