It's all 'Louis Dean' Pics Tonight!!

Today was a slow day on the ranch and I am not complaining one little bit!

It came a glorious storm in the night complete with a lightning show and a lot of thunder!!!

I parted the curtains in the bedroom so we could get a good view!

I do so love a good storm!

Since we were up in the night admiring the weather, we slept in until almost 10:00!

As I snapped this one of Louis Dean eating his cereal, I quipped, "I may have a slow blogging day!"

It's true. Today WAS slow and how in the world it passed so fast is beyond me!

We ate and read and napped and talked and soon it was time for a late lunch.

Since the rain came in and made MUD, we stayed inside for nearly all of the day.

Actually, now that I think about it, I HAVE been IN all day and I totally enjoyed that!

I cooked a chicken crock pot dish and a pork loin since we have been here so we have had some pretty good meals on it the last few days. Lunch was glorified nachos made with that chicken and cheese, sour cream and hot sauce!

Naps followed. We took turns. He napped and I read. I napped and he sat outside watching the ranch and listening to the birds. They were singing crazy loud all day long! Must be the weather!

The only thing Louis Dean misses about home is the Fox Business Channel.

So after Closing Bell he used my laptop to check on the stock market.

We had good news from home that all was well with our house and it had weathered well the storms of the weekend. We thank God for good neighbors who watch over our property while we are away!

Today was the first time I had turned on our TV.  

We traded out the larger TV we had while we were living in the camper down in Katy for a smaller one that has a built in DVD player we had in our guest room at home.

I played a bit of Thou Shalt Laugh this afternoon......

I liked it. Surprisingly......Louis Dean was not impressed.

Perhaps he didn't want to miss the country sounds outside our open windows and door.

That's right! NO A/C on today at all!! The weather has been that pleasant!

As the day progressed we went from bird song to distant - and not so distant - dogs barking to the frogs and other night sounds.

I do not need my sound machine down here!

Speaking of dogs! Lucy has acted like she LIVES here on the ranch and she's not quite sure who WE are! (Although she CONTINUES to bark at Louis Dean!) This evening Dean went into town to teach his Karate class. Lucy began to feel abandoned and after he was gone several hours, she came down here to the steps of the camper looking all forlorn and pitiful.

I let her in - mind you she has not been in here since we arrived last Wednesday! 

I put her food and water down and after she finished there she turned to go under the table to her dog bed. There was a bit of a stand off! Maddie had claimed the bed as HERS and she was NOT giving it up! At last I spread a bath mat out and that is where Lucy is sleeping tonight!

Louis Dean is already in bed sound asleep and he has been there for a couple of HOURS!

I have enjoyed a bit of 'alone' time which is hard to come by when at home - let alone in a 31 foot camper!

I know it's hard to believe but I have done NO work today AT ALL!!!

No projects. Nada. Nothing. Meals were fashioned from leftovers. I DID make up the bed.

I read. I napped. I read. I did some research for my book. I did some writing. I updated a new address book which includes a section on passwords. THAT'S a job to keep up with - PASSWORDS!!!

After I finish off this journal entry, I will read the last few chapters of this wonderful book!

It won the British Book Awards' 'Best Travel Book of the Year' in 1989.

I have decided it is less expensive and less strenuous and less STRESSFUL to be an armchair traveler than a real life one.

I have traveled just about ALL over the United States including several trips to Hawaii as well as a few vacations in London.  Louis Dean and I spent an entire month in Scotland. That was the trip of a life time! I have seen New England in the fall and Colorado in the fall and winter and San Francisco in all four seasons. I have toured Washington, DC as well as Washington state and all along the western as well as the eastern coastlines. I have enjoyed Cape Cod and hiked in Maine and  loved Vermont. I have visited Niagara Falls and led Amber's synchronized swimming team through a portion of Canada as well as trips in Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, Maryland and more. Louis Dean and I drove to Florida and back going through every state possible. He and I have visited Arkansas, New Mexico and Colorado together. We have enjoyed trips to Galveston.

While I would love to do it all over again - I am tired.

I am crying uncle and will now begin my new adventure - reading travel books!

I hope to 'visit' places I haven't been before - but revisiting old friends is always a good thing to do!