Soaked

I now live on waterfront property because the rain puddle in our street is so deep and wide it resembles a lake. A pair of sandpipers was actually wading around in the yard alongside its shore the other day. * Yes, we had our fair share of rain last week, but we're also thankful that we didn't get as much as some of our neighboring counties. * And thank you, weather gods, for giving us a break from the rain last Saturday so that Artrageous, Big Sweep and all other big events in the county could go on as planned...

I met the nicest family atop Jockey's Ridge last Saturday. (My son needed to work through a Pumpkin Fair-induced sugar buzz.) They had been on vacation for the whole rainy week, but when I commented on their bad luck they said, "NO! We've had the best time!" They had been just about everywhere you can go indoors from Corolla to Frisco and were not daunted by the rain and rip currents. * Just goes to show you can have fun on the Outer Banks no matter what the weather (but we'll take the good stuff this week, please)...

Are you going to the Duck Jazz Festival on Sunday? * I've never actually been but this is the year I hope to go. * It's a free (thanks Town of Duck and sponsors!) day of jazz concerts in the Duck Town Park. From what I hear about the past three years, about 5,000 people bring blankets or beach chairs and picnics and a cooler and have a good old time on the lawn. This year's lineup includes The Roy Muth Big Band featuring Laura Martier at 11 a.m., Big Rick and the Bombers at 12:30 p.m., Adrian Crutchfield at 2 p.m. and Joyce Cooling at 3:45 p.m. * The festival's co-host is Gerald Veasley, who headlined the 2008 event. * To celebrate the festival, businesses throughout the town are hosting special events throughout the weekend. Wine and beer tastings, live music, an oyster roast, tapas tastings, an art show - and did I mention lots of live music? - are being held throughout the weekend. Visit www.duckjazz.com for a list of events and for more about the festival...

The Outer Banks Homebuilders Association is having its 18th Annual Parade of Homes this week (yes, there are homes being built on the Outer Banks). * There are 22 homes on the tour from Corolla to Buxton, ranging in price from the 200s to 2.5 mil, but even if you're not in the market the tour is a great way to get ideas for your own home. * A $10 ticket covers all four days (Thursday through Sunday) and the tour is self-guided. * Call (252) 449-8232 for info...

What's up with the plant sales this weekend? Actually, I just learned, fall is the ideal time for planting new plants. If you plant now, your new plants will develop strong roots to be ready for next spring and summer. * The North Carolina Aquarium has its Native Plant Sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. They're offering more than 1,500 native plants. * I'm going to go and try to find some rain garden plants - to mitigate that puddle, you know. * Elizabethan Gardens is also hosting its Fall Plant Sale on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. All their beautiful plants, flowers and shrubs will be offered at great discounts...

After you hit a plant sale on Roanoke Island, head over to the beach for the First Flight Rotary Club's Oink & Oyster Roast. It's held at Long Board's Grille in Kitty Hawk (MP 4.5) starting at 11 a.m. Sounds like a good time...

And don't miss the open house of the Nellie Myrtle Pridgen's Beachcomber's Collection at the Historic Mattie Midgett's Store at MP 13 in Nags Head on Saturday. I just love wandering around in this little museum looking at all the things Nellie Myrtle found on the beach so many years ago...

If you're in the mood for a little road trip, head to Columbia for the Scuppernong River Festival. They've got a parade at 10 a.m., plus food, entertainment, fireworks and a lot more...

On the arts scene, artist Katy Caroline is having an art show/party at ARTspace in Southern Shores on Saturday to celebrate being the featured artist in Our State magazine in October. You can see her new works all day (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and the reception (art, food, music, wine, chocolate) is from 5 to 8 p.m. * Flat Tops: A New Perspective is a great little art show that's now on exhibit at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head. It's a collection of 75 B&W photographs of the historic one-story flat-top cottages in Southern Shores. They were snapped by 21 art students at Manteo High School, and they're really good. They'll be on display all month. The show's reception is on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. * Dare County Arts Council is bringing nationally recognized watercolor artist Catherine Hillis to the area for a one-day, plein aire watercolor workshop on Saturday. The class is from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and costs $75/$105 for members/nonmembers. Call 473-5558 for info. * On Monday (Oct. 4), illustrator and author Duane Raver and Charles Manooch are discussing their book Fishermans' Guide: Fishes of the Southeastern United States, at Roanoke Island Festival Park at 7 p.m...

On the healing arts scene, here's something very cool: The Soul Loves the Truth: A Soul Coaching Workshop. * Outer Banks Yoga in Kitty Hawk is sponsoring this one. It's on Saturday at 11 a.m. See www.outerbanksyoga.com...

And look around the site. I can't include everything there is to do here, but there is so much more I could tell you about. It's all here in our listings, though. By Day or By Night...

One more little feel-good thing and I'll let you go: For the second year in a row Dare County Schools was recognized as having the best on-time graduation rate in the state. 90.5 percent of kids graduate on time in Dare County!...

OK. Bye. Feel free to make a comment below. We'd love to hear from you...