I have been a little saddened lately.   My favorite Starbucks is closing at the end of December.   This particular Starbucks is a Cafe design.  There is no Drive-Thru and the atmosphere is a neighborhood friendly cafe.   

This location is also special to me since the General Contractor that I work full-time for built this location in 2006.   Nestled  in the prominent neighborhood in Little Rock known as "The Heights," this cafe brings lots of  happiness to the neighborhood.

Starbucks recently built a new location a couple miles down the road with a drive-thru.  Of course, the sales would be better with a drive-thru because the average American is in a hurry and wants to grab their drink and hurry on.   This isn't a good thing!

I, like many others that visit the Kavanaugh location are there to visit and socialize.  We don't run late to work so we  have time to stop in and socialize with one another.   I wish Starbucks would leave this location and realize that while sales might be lower, this location worked perfectly fine for twelve years!   

Some of my favorite baristas will move to the new location down the hill.  Others will be dispersed throughout the City and suburb areas.   It is sad for the co-workers as well since they will have to separate after this long of time.   This location is where we came up with the perfect smoothie referred to us all as "The Patty."

I have hired two of my favorites to work with me at L. R. Mourning.  I wish we could hire them all!   Maybe another coffee shop will go back into this location and the neighborhood folks will be able to sit, relax and socialize with one another again. What a concept!

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Christmas Hook is a Christmas light hanger that is designed to easily fit into gutters with mesh or perforated gutter guard.  Made from aluminum it, this product will not rust and will last for years.

I have known David Thompson for many years.   He designed this wonderful product and sells and ships them all over the world.   These hooks make hanging your lights so easy!   David has a video you can watch on ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6OTlIwSQ7k to guide you on how to install them.

David has added LED Lights, beautiful decorative Christmas lights, and other decorative Christmas bulbs, along with decorative tree styles available to purchase on his shop at:  https://www.christmashook.com.  

These great products will make your home festive and the products will last for years!   

​I am so excited to show off my beautiful SCOUT bag.    (ad) Thank you #scoutbags for the opportunity for partnering with you on this beautiful tote.  #gotitforfree

This Deano bag is perfect for toting Farrah’s dog treats and favorite blanket to relatives for Holiday meals.  I am thankful that it is an all-weather tote to protect her treats.  It is stylish,
and I love that it was available in my favorite pattern.   I am not surprised that the Original Deano bag is the #1 seller.     

FRIENDS: The Scout Deano bag makes a perfect gift for that hard to buy for person. This great tote comes in lots of patterns and colors to choose from https://www.scoutbags.com.  In fact, I love it so much that I partnered with #SCOUT to share this wonderful promo code SEASONSSCOUTINGS for 15% off orders of $50+.  

The Deano all-weather woven bag dimensions are: 19"W x 15"H x 10"D and it folds flat for easy storage. Large enough to carry groceries, blankets, Christmas gifts to varies holiday
parties, or use it under your tree for storing your favorite gifts!  #seasonsscoutings   - Hurry don’t miss out and grab your 15% off 50+ just use the code:  SEASONSSCOUTINGS
at checkout.  https://www.scoutbags.com

Our beloved Charlie Cat passed early this morning.   This beautiful blue-point Siamese was 13 years old.   Lauren, along with one of her friends, went with me to get him.   We had found an ad in the paper so we decided to go check the cats out.   We wanted to surprise Greg with one for his birthday.

Greg and I had a beautiful seal point Siamese when the kids were little.  His name was Whiskers and we all adored him.   Lauren and I decided to surprise Greg and get him a new Siamese for his birthday.    

Have you heard the stories about crazy cat ladies?   Well, those are true.   Lauren, Olivia and myself went out to this little house in the middle of nowhere.   These little old lady had cats running around all over the place.  The place was a mess inside and out.   Actually, simply nasty!   We asked her about the seal points that she had.   She took us inside and this little runt came running to us.  We couldn't resist him.   For some reason or another, we are fond of the "runt of the litters."   "I have some more down in the basement" says the crazy cat lady.   All of our eyes poked out and so no.....no...thank...you.  We will take this one.  

We got him home and gave him to Greg.  Our older tortoise shell cat (who was five) at the time fell in love with baby Charlie.   She took him in as if he was her baby.   Shelly is still around and we thought that she would be gone way before Charlie.

Yesterday was Greg's birthday.  I went home early from work so that we could go to dinner with the kids.   I walked in the house and he immediately teared up.   He said that Charlie was in the closet and wasn't going to last long.    Cats have a way of hiding or going off when they know they are slipping.   Charlie passed during the late night, early morning.   He didn't complain and went quietly with Shelly by his side.   She was still holding onto him as if he was her baby.

This wonderful petite male Siamese named Charlie will be missed by us and our other little fur babies.  RIP Charlie -- you will always be remembered.

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The Election is coming up on Tuesday, November 6th and we want to make it as easy as possible and make sure you have all of the resources you need to get out and VOTE!  #RockTheVote

Your Vote Truly Matters! You have the ability to decide our country and our communities' futures! 

• Get your Sample Ballot and Look Up your Polling Site: rtvote.com/midterms2018
• If you have any questions or issues at the polls, here's the Election Protection Hotline #: 1-
  866-OUR-VOTE​

SOME FUN HISTORY FACTS:

- This is the largest, most diverse generation in our country’s history
- There are more than 70 million young eligible voters
- By 2020, young people will comprise nearly 40% of the electorate
- One-third of the Senate is up for election.
- ALL 435 House of Representative seats are up for election
- 36 states and two territories are holding elections for Governor
- 87 out of 99 state legislative chambers have elections
- 34 states currently have “trifectas.” This means that one political party holds the governorship, a majority of the state senate, and a majority in the state house.
-Issues such as criminal justice, gerrymandering, environment, minimum wage, women’s reproductive rights, labor laws, voting rights, school funding, sexual assault, animal racing, voter ID laws, and more are on many ballots in the form of ballot measures, referendums, and propositions.