16 Sep 2013 – Happy Birthday to a Special Sister-in-law, Ivy!

And also sharing the same birthday is SIN first and former PM who turns 90 today. SIN would not have been what it is today without him. Happy Birthday to Mr LEE KuanYew

Thu: Linn&Jeff’s night out (reception at the USC’s president home) and she is looking as beautiful as ever. Had a blast with the 5 grandchildren, such fun to look after and be with them.

Fri the 13th: a successful shopping day at the sales. Good savings at Old Navy in their clearance section. Needed a swimsuit and lucky to find one and also a wrap both for under US$15 S$19. Good deals. Now no need to pack swimsuit for travelling to USA!

AC Moore, the local craft store here has closed down. For the fist time to Micheals and found nice calendars and packs of greeting cards for 0.99c each, bought US$26 S$33 worth of items! Let’s hope that they will be able to fit into the new luggage, otherwise will have to remain in storage here!

The aurora/Northern lights hit many in the county of Troms /Norway by surprise. First sighting came earlier than expected and looking at the pix posted by various photographers, they also seem more powerful.  Just AMAZING and never fail to grasp my attention. Appreciations to Tor-Ivar Næss and Truls Melbye Tillerfor their photo skills.

The stars are putting on their glittering belts.
They throw around their shoulders cloaks that flash 
Like a great shadow’s last embellishment – Wallace Stevens

Sat: thanks May for a surprise care package. A visitor from the past, Rich was passing thru’ and spent the day with us. A morning trip to Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973, and dates back to the early 19th century with SC’s textile industry and the American Civil War. Located on 170-acre (69 ha) this zoo, aquarium and botanical garden@500 Wildlife Parkway, along the Saluda River is SC largest and leading attraction.

Some of the captive residents do not seem unhappy to be there…  http://www.riverbanks.org

Zip and Zoom is a new feature added a month ago. Also the Sky High Safari, a 4-story vertical ropes challenge has been added since the last visit. Hope to be able to take them all there one early Sat morning. Both Katy and Ellie are tall enough to be on their own, L&J can accompany John and Sophie, and James can be with me to walk around the zoo.

http://amylamsg.com/2011/10/11/riverbanks-zoo/

Katy was at a skating Bday party on the NE side of Columbia, the Village at Sandhill, a 300-acre 1.2 km²  lifestyle center. Took the opportunity to explore the area. Lunched at Red Bowl Asian Bistro***, a ride on the mini train and ice-cream dessert at the Marble Slab. Some shopping in World Market. Grilled salmon at home for dinner and the kids ended this busy day with roast mash mellows. The evenings are now cooler and pleasant to be out. The previous roast mash mellows session had nearly 20 mozzy bites. This time round, no shorts and plenty of mozzy repellent!

Sun: church with the family. The senior pastor Dr Dick Lincoln at Shandon Baptist Church is one of the better pastors who is good enough to get me out of bed on a Sun morning! Today said a silent prayer to the people involved in the recent floods in Colorado where there are death tolls and many are still unaccounted for.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/15/us/colorado-flooding/index.html?hpt=hp_t2