Hello, readers, and welcome to Panoply! Today marks the 40th instalment of the Tales of the Traveling Tote, can you believe it? That's ten years of quarterly tales of ladies connecting friendship and stories of our everyday lives via a MacKenzie-Childs tote we all purchased at one time or another. If you're not familiar with the concept behind this series of posts, you can read how it started here. A link to all my previous tales can be found here.
It's been a summer like no other here in my West Virginia zone 7a region. Our normal rainfall for Jun-Aug is approximately 14 inches, and we've received only 7 inches in these past three months, total. In July 2023, we received 10 inches in that one month alone. In spite of it all, my volunteer crepe myrtle is loving the conditions and is a star in its third year in my landscape garden.
I've been a servant to my landscape garden, watering almost every single day. While we had a slight break in temps in mid-August like much of the nation (still no rain for us), we were back to high temps and severe drought conditions last week (that weather station reading on the left is outdoor, the right is indoor). While my plants are surviving, my grass is dead dormant. Will it come back come in September?? 🤷🏻♀️We shall see. Stay tuned.
I've been walking my neighborhood almost daily for the past 25 years, and recently came upon a pawpaw tree for the first time in the wild, even though they're native to WV. Have you ever tried one? You know the fruit is ripe when you detect a tropical-like smell. The texture is a bit like a banana, but seeds must be removed first. We have an independent ice cream shop that has offered pawpaw ice cream when in season, which is typically the end of August.
Another thing on my walks that's new is an outdoor gym called The Fitness Court, thanks to a donor at the campus near where we live. It was just opened in June. I've been working on my suspended plank, and I'm up to 75 seconds. I'm trying to reach the 'savage' title of 3 minutes like the soccer player who demonstrated it at the ribbon-cutting. Ha!
My local Panoply sister and I traveled to our third Panoply sister's home in Cincinnati in June. We are in our 17th year of operating booth spaces at the South Charleston Antique Mall (WV, not SC). Each time we get together, we do a variety of tasks: shop, haul, divide, price, etc. With the June trip, we hauled back the two pieces of furniture shown below, and styled them in our booth.
We Panoply sisters still love the hunt most of all, and early August had us going to a much anticipated estate sale. Even though we left early to try being the first to enter, there were already 34 people in line when we got there.🙄 Maybe I shouldn't have taken the side trip beforehand for my curbside treasures below! I had a neighbor who was moving into assisted care who took all he and his wife wanted, leaving the rest to a turnkey operation who'd be flipping the house. These items were on the side of the alley adjacent to their home. Once there were two St Francis statutes, but the sanitation truck decimated one last year. I rescued the one with only a broken bowl (with hands attached). I E6000 glued him back together, and he now resides in my landscape.
In mid-July Mr. P. and I took an overnight trip with one of my brothers and his companion for a few stops in eastern WV: Blackwater Falls State Park (the water flow was low); Canaan Valley Ski Resort area, and Elkins for a dinner / music entertainment show. It was a little cooler there vs home.
In mid-August, we celebrated Jacqueline's 3rd birthday at a place called All About Fun. It's a venue that has all sorts of blow up play stations, and private rooms to celebrate the special one. J is into wearing costumes right now, and her princess costuming with crowns, high heels and jewelry were a real hit. On her actual day, she got to wear the sombrero at a local Mexican restaurant.
Mimi was at the party to help set up, but also to join in the fun with the kiddos!
The third week of August was another trip to Cincinnati to work on more inventory for our booths. We took a break one day for lunch on the Ohio River at a fun place called Cabana on the River. 
Our haul we worked on this time was a plethora of Halloween. As retailers, it's definitely time to have these in our booths! We are also working on Thanksgiving and Christmas items as well.
NOW, ONTO THE GIVEAWAY!
The Traveling Totes Tribe is offering another giveaway and Jenna at The Painted Apron is our giveaway sponsor this time. One lucky reader who leaves a comment on Jenna's post will have their name thrown into the hat for an opportunity to win this MacKenzie-Childs "To Go Tote".
PLEASE NOTE: If your comment displays as anonymous, be sure to write your name so that you may be identified!
Be sure to check out my other traveling sisters' posts to see how they spent their summer months.
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
Patti with Miss Kenzie and Miss Taylor @ Pandora's Box
Jenna with Miss Coquille @ The Painted Apron
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply (you are here!)
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie with Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Ricki Jill and Countess de Monet @The Bookish Dilettante
Thanks so much for your visit. I love reading your comments, and be sure to leave one on Jenna's blog for a chance to win our token gift. Stay safe, and Happy June (and soon-to-be 🍂fall🎃 in the Northern Hemisphere).
Rita C. at Panoply
A special thank you to Linda from Life and Linda Love Your Creativity Link Party #269 for featuring all of the traveling tote tribe posts!