Tales of the Traveling Tote #41 and Giveaway

Hello, readers, and welcome to Panoply! Today marks the 41st instalment of the Tales of the Traveling Tote, can you believe it? That's over 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. 

Our fall has been a hectic one! Mr. P. and I took just a couple of small trips - one day trip and one overnight - during September and October. September was our day trip, to enjoy the fall landscape in West Virginia. We are the only state entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range. One of our favorite places to go is the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

After a brunch at the Cathedral Cafe in Fayetteville, WV - a church-turned-restaurant - Mr. P., my brothe,r and his companion headed out for a hike to view the New River Bridge from up high.

The day was cool and the hike invigorating.

The Old Grist Mill at nearby Babcock State Park is always a picturesque location, and gives reason to the state's motto:  Almost Heaven, West Virginia.

In October, Mr. P. and I traveled to Morgantown, WV to watch WVU play my alma mater, the University of Charleston (WV), in an exhibition game at the basketball coliseum.

In mid-October, my girlfriend and I went to our Capital Market to shop juried artisans' wares at FestivALL Fall. I picked a favorite photographer's shot he had taken of the New River Gorge Bridge under the light of the Aurora Borealis just a few days prior to the fair.

In late October, we planned an outing to our Light Opera Guild's production of Beauty and the Beast. Unfortunately, Jacqueline's mama contracted walking pneumonia and was too sick to go, but Jacqueline had so much fun with her newest friend, C. They were extremely attentive the entire show!

Of course, Halloween followed a few short days later. I was home. passing out candy, while J and her friends had a blast trick-or-treating. 

Pretty much every day is costume day with J.

November has been a total blitz for me. My local sister Marcie and I worked almost the entire month, preparing for moving another sister from South Carolina back to West Virginia after her 28 year residency there. First we readied her apartment here at home. We then spent a week in South Carolina, purging and packing, and hired one-way movers to transport all her things, including her car, while she rode back with Marcie and me.

Suffice it to say it was a loooong road traveled to get from there to here, but the task is complete, for the most part. We are still organizing her in her new apartment, but our focus will shift back to our own households through the holidays.  

Back in September, I had reserved a slot with my oldest daughter for a sell-out wreath-making workshop at the Capitol Market. The next evening upon returning from South Carolina, I participated in that, running on fumes. First, we had dinner, where J and her mama joined us.

Then, onto the workshop with my other daughter and her girlfriend. 

We had a lot of fun, and it definitely was the shot of holiday spirit I needed after the monumental move.

So yea, this is pretty much my only Christmas decoration (besides a fun tablescape that's coming to you on Tuesday!) that I have set in my home and garden right now.

Imagine, if you will, a Christmas tree in this corner of my home.

NOW, ONTO THE GIVEAWAY!

The Traveling Totes Tribe is offering another giveaway and Linda at Life and Linda is our giveaway sponsor this time. One lucky reader who leaves a comment on Linda'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 autumn 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

Diana @ Nana Diana Takes a Break

Join us again on March 1, 2025 for another edition of Tales of the Traveling Tote.

Thanks so much for your visit. I love reading your comments, and be sure to leave one on Linda's blog for a chance to win our token gift. Stay safe, and Happy December (and soon-to-be winter 💨❄️in the Northern Hemisphere).

Rita C. at Panoply