Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Raccoons, Texas Moonshine and Bourbon, A New Secretary Desk, Treasures, AND a Santa Claus plus a Pic of Bandit!

We packed a lot into this Tuesday!!!
Ruth Ann and I ditched since we had a movie today since we had seen all the good ones! I picked her up around noon and headed across the river. Trinity River, that is. Louis Dean has been hacking and coughing and it was especially bad this morning. WE were alarmed thinking he was having a relapse but Ruth Ann (who is very familiar with asthma herself!) said it was a sign he was actually improving. Good to know. I have been making him a hot buttered rum every evening using a Cold Season herbal tea bag. I only had a few of these teabags to start with and was down to one so I decided to go to the liquor store - which is why we went across the river to Dallas as Irving sells only beer and wine - to get a whiskey/honey/lemon liquor.

Ruth Ann and I seldom go to a liquor store but we knew where this one was and decided to have lunch at Mercardo Juarez right down the street afterwards. Win! WIN!!


As we started up to the door, we noticed several raccoons!
They seemed quite tame and were eating at a large bowl.
A worker noticed us out there taking pictures. Come to find out, SHE is the one who sets out feed for them and has counted 26 raccoons! The Trinity is just beyond and there's a lot of wildlife back there.
Ruth Ann and I noticed the water is still standing deep in areas that are normally dry. The whole area is lush and green - a strange sight here in Texas during the middle of July!!


We finally went in to find what we were looking for and came up on THIS!!
'Texas Shine!' That would be MOON shine!!!
It came in all sorts of fruity flavors!!
We left THAT alone!


THIS is what I bought! 1835 Bourbon!
Honey whiskey liquor with the 1835 saying 'come and take it!' from the Battle of Gonzales.
Made right here in Texas!
This should cure what ails Louis Dean - or at least help it!!


We went on down the road to have lunch. The plates were so big, we talked of taking to go boxes back to the house before we went on our rounds.
No need! As much food as there was - we managed to eat nearly every bite!!

Our first treasure was found at The Union Gospel Mission!


Ruth Ann spied it first and showed it to me. 
She said she would LOVE to buy it, but they are scaling down.
It was $229.00 less 30%.
There was another buyer looking at it; a young college age girl who had called her granddad to see if he would finance it. I told the sales guy if SHE didn't buy it - I would!


Her grandfather was in a meeting so she offered it to me and I whipped out my credit card and BOUGHT it!! $162!!! This will replace one of the bookcases in the den that has seen water damage - several times!!


I also bought this chair cover......


and three tablecloths! The red and green are big round ones and a green runner to boot!


The white one is actually plastic! Soft, pliable and very pretty!


The cute sign is heavy and I think it's coated metal.
I will hang this up on a wall outside tomorrow!
Yes, I decorate ALL the walls - inside the house and out!
It is a sickness, I know.....


Other finds:
A clear acrylic pitcher which held the tea for art class this evening!
A Dream Catcher Candle and another richly scented one made locally here in Texas.
FIVE heavy blown glasses - $0.95 each.


Pill keeper - not that we take pills 4 times a day - yet!


A beautiful and intricate wooden manger scene.


Small heavy copper clad saucepan - perfect for when you cook for two!


Two fall goblets - which I am going to use just as soon as they come out of the dishwasher in the morning!

By the time I unloaded all my treasures it was time for art class!!!


I had some fresh fruit and a pasta salad and Sabrina brought a salad sampler.
Put that together with some crackers - we had a ladies' meal served on pretty white plates - which I found in my cupboard and had forgotten all about!!


Only a few touches needed next week to finish this Santa up!!
He looks a little tired, don't you think? Possibly he caught MY tired!
I'll see what I can do to put a twinkle in his eye and cheer him up next session!
Still have one more to paint just like him!

We cleaned up the art table, the ladies left and I packed my bag and laptop to come over to Quadville so I will be here in the morning to help Amber get the kids up and fed and will be taking them home with me for the day! Amber and I will just trade vehicles! It will be my first time to drive them anywhere by myself. Taking them to my house doesn't really count as an outing - but I can call it a practice run!


Bandit has been my writing companion tonight.
The house was quiet when I came in and Amber was just going up to bed.
No staying up late and watching movies like we usually do!
She's improving but is still far from being well.

We left the secretary desk in the back of the truck and will take it in Thursday.
We have a full day planned for Quad Wednesday!!


19 comments:

Aloha Acres said...

Wow. You get more done in a day than I do all week. I need your energy and motivation, lady.

Jutta said...

That piece of furniture, the secretary desk, is a gem!! A true treasure for that price.

Small Kucing said...

The bookcase is lovely . Can double up as writing table too. Reminds me of agatha christie stories where she always place her heroine writing missive on such table

Stacey said...

That sounds like a fun day! You crack me up talking about the liquor store. My husband likes his nightly little shot of bourbon and he doesn't drive (he's legally blind). So I drive him to the liquor store periodically so he can get it.

Cross the Trinity over to Trinity Groves and eat some time. We went to The Cake Bar one night a few weeks ago and had the best time. Aren't you just amazed at the way Dallas has transformed that area?

You hit the jackpot at that store! That's an awesome piece of furniture.

Not so sure about the lady feeding the raccoons. They shouldn't be around all the people and cars...they'll get hurt. That's my two cents. ;)

Have a great day!

Susie said...

Linda, I really like the desk. You and Ruth get around..I laughed about the liquor run. I pray that Amber and LD get well soon. Don't forget to take care of yourself too. The children's cat looks so sweet. Blessings to all, Love, Susie

HoundDogMom said...

Love that desk and what a steal. What I find funny is that every time I go into a Goodwill know I immediately think of you and all the wonderful treasures you would find. Also, I believe that bottle of bourbon will definitely clear up Louis Dean's alignments for sure. Have a great day today with the Quads. Sherri

Kathy said...

Even though I haven't been commenting lately, you know I've been reading all your posts. Hope LD and Amber are feeling better each day. Now don't YOU be getting sick. One of you has to be well.

I love that desk/bookcase you got. So pretty. And a great price!

Little Bandit is so sweet. I know the quads must be enjoying him.

Estelle's said...

OK..you won the prize for finding that gorgeous secretary....amazing! What a treasure....and I am going to look for that Bourbon! Let us know if it helps LD as the love of my life suffers with asthma also! I love your Santa painting...so talented!

Arlene G said...

I love that secretary...I have on that is similar and it is one of my favorite pieces of furniture in my home!! I am glad you are staying well Linda with all the sickness swirling about your family! And that manger scene...I collect those and that one is so unique!! Christmas will be here before we know it.

MadSnapper said...

bandit looks happy and i like that pic of the raccoon bandits.. beautiful desk and you found a whole lot of DEALS.. sorry LD and Amber are still sick. hope they both get better soon.

Mummers AKA Summer said...

Great blog! Glad you are finding new furniture for the den. Love ya!

Vee said...

You pack so much into a day that it would stagger one such as I. LOL! Your enthusiasm and zest for living comes through so clearly. Keeping Amber in prayer and Louis Dean, too. Love that Secretary and look forward to its being all set up and decked out and I look forward to hearing how Quad day is going.

Changes in the wind said...

Love that little pot for two:) and the desk is beautiful. The Santa is looking great too.

Kelly said...

Oh my goodness. Somehow I can't picture you in a liquor store buying bourbon. LOL! I would be a little afraid of those raccoons. I hope that lady knows that by feeding them she is luring them closer to people and sometimes they carry diseases. Just saying. They certainly are cute though. I love the beautiful secretary you bought! That was a steal too!

Wanda said...

What a great day... I got tired just following you two around. HaHa. What a beautiful desk. I got my roll top dest at our Thrift Store years ago. It was a bargain too, but not as good as yours.
Glad Amber is getting better...You are the best MeMaw ever!!!!

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

great finds! especially that bookcase/desk. What a great price.

Penny said...

Oh ! That desk! It is absolutely beautiful, you did the right thing to snap it up! X

Nonnie said...

Santa ... the day after Christmas, maybe? He's very good. You pack so much into a day! If adults had report cards, I would say yours would always be checked excellent on makes good use of time, money, and materials!
My husband has a cough thing going, so I bought a bottle of apple cider vinegar which I'm going to see if I can get him to take some of it every day.

Carla said...

I really like the secretary desk