Monday, June 25, 2018

Our Last Day Here for June......

It was about 10:00 this morning when I woke up to the rolling sound of thunder.
Last night before I went to bed I looked at the weather on my iPad  - you know Country Folk are ALWAYS looking at the weather forecast - there was 0% chance of rain.
So this thunder was a big surprise!
Louis Dean was still asleep so I slipped out to the front room and - sure enough - it was raining!
I was so excited!
I turned the coffee pots on - his and hers - and settled down with my first cup right smack in front of the open door so I could watch the rain coming down.


I am easily entertained.
Louis Dean says that I like to have the cow with my coffee because I use so much cream!
I was about to pick up the spoon to stir the dab of coffee into my cup of cream when.......


I noticed this!
A big beautiful wolf spider!
They got its name because they are hunters and do not make webs.
Instead they chase their prey and are pretty fast.
This one came out of nowhere and was not there just a few seconds earlier because I had just looked down to see if I had remembered to bring my spoon out.
The wolf spider is venomous and the bite can be painful - but not nearly as bad as a black widow or a brown recluse. Normally, a wolf spider will not bite you unless he is provoked.
They eat a ton of insects and are one of the 'good' spiders!
I relocated him back outside - the rain had slacked up and I figured he could find some shelter elsewhere!
Then I went in and washed my spoon!


The weather said 100% chance of rain during the morning and it did rain off and on.


The heavy rain didn't last long but we were grateful to get any!
By 1:00 it was all over! But the day was cooler than predicted so I decided to stay here at the ranch instead of going into Waco. I will be back in the city tomorrow.

There's nothing better than reading on a rainy day!


I finished this book and it was a good read!
I would be delighted to pass it on to you if you are interested.
Just let me know and I can drop it in the mail on our way through Mart tomorrow.

Louis Dean and I read aloud every morning and we have plowed our way through many a book over the last dozen years.


He bought this current one we are reading at an antique store in Glenview, Texas when we met up with Roy and Ruth Ann for a county wide antique sale early this spring.
It is quite a collection of works.
The first one was The Split Second by Daphne du Maurier.
This was a weird one - as to be expected by this author -and  Louis Dean had a hard time following it but we pressed on.
It was just 38 pages.

We have read The Theft of the Mona Lisa and The Soldiers Peaches.
A Night to Remember was an extract from the book about the Titanic.
Louis Dean said that was a poor choice since we are going on a cruise in September.
The Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie was great! We kept trying to guess who did it but neither one of us got it right.
Now we are reading the 11th story - The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford and we are certainly enjoying it! 
I love that Louis Dean likes to do this. I developed a love for out loud reading back in the years I homeschooled. After lunch we played a game and then read in our current book. Amber and Benjamin would read aloud while I did needlework or simply rested. We read so many great books and also listened to audio ones when we were in the car.


I get such a thrill when I start a new one.
This time I'm reading Catherine Coulter's FBI thriller Backfire.

Louis Dean took a nap and I made a quick lunch for one and ate it at the table here in the front room with an open book beside me.


My friend, Megan, sent me a link for this tomato/saltine/mayo salad.
It is super easy and super quick and I loved it!
A homegrown tomato would be even more wonderful than the one I had from HEB!
Cut up a tomato, add salt and pepper - and I added a dash or two of HEB's Steak Seasoning - and a spoon of mayo. Coat the tomatoes and add a handful of crumbled up saltines.
This salad doesn't keep so only make what you will eat and eat it as quick as you make it.
It.was.delicious.
Thank you, Megan, for thinking of me!


The rain stopped and the sun came out and dried it all up!


Dean was able to make some good progress on the new duck and geese pen.
It will sit close by the small tank - which is at this moment bone dry even with the recent rains.
Sherry has been using her tractor to dig it deeper.
I asked Dean if this area might perhaps possibly flood IF we ever get a real gully washer of a rain.
He laughed and said, "Well, they are ducks!! It won't matter!"

The arriving here is far more exciting than the leaving. 
Still, I have enjoyed feathering my nest for when we return next month.
I cleaned all the refrigerators and consolidated everything from the two mini fridges to the big one. Clean sheets are on the beds and a big container of hummingbird nectar is cooling and will be ready to fill the feeders in the morning.

Louis Dean has organized some of his tools and cleaned up some of the storage areas.
My art is packed and in the truck.
Tomorrow, after our coffee, Bible and reading, I will pack up a few things from the pantry that would be stale if left for two weeks and load up the ice chest.

We were sitting out on the porch with a celebratory campfire tonight recounting our time here.


Louis Dean has accomplished much this trip.
We did Critter Chores for a weekend!
He finished his utility room, put in the window, roofing felt and tin.
He had to rebuild that window wall!
He insulated and put up the wall in the front room and added two more outlets.
The red chair had its broken leg repaired. The list goes on....
However the main accomplishments every time we come here are the hours spent watching the stars, gazing into the campfire, talking with Dean and Sherry and this time a bonus visit with Crystal.
It's the time spent feeding the goats and the horses and gathering eggs and cooking country meals that are so special to us.

Life is good in the country!
We have listened to the birds and the roosters and heard the coyotes howling at night.
Still, it's time to go home.
I think by going back and forth, we get to enjoy both the city life and the country and neither one gets old.


I think we should stop and pick some sunflowers to take home with us tomorrow!


21 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

You two make me dizzy with all you do! And I'm so glad you got that rain, it really is pretty and calming to watch, snow, too.

I'm not a big fan of spiders although we really don't get a huge variety in the city. The lake is a little different. I don't know my spiders either, so if it has a pretty design, its gone. My daughter in law's father died from complications after a bite from a brown recluse. I'm sorry...

I read to hubby when we are driving. He reads almost all non-fiction, so its nice to get him hooked on a novel I'm reading. He does like audio books, I should get him started again . He's a thinker, an overworked business man who thinks watching CNN is relaxing!!

So happy LD accomplished so much during this stay. He's a keeper, Linda...but you know that!!! :)

Jane

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Lovely time at the ranch. Good drive home. Hugs.
Joy

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the climate! Nice to see and know about the wolf spider:)
Yummy dish:)

Bluebird49 said...

Another good trip for everyone, and you all got so much done! Be safe on the road to home!
xoxo

Carol said...

Be safe on your travels home! I am thankful that you get to enjoy both places.

Vee said...

Oh you were so calm about the wolf spider...I would have freaked.

Glad that you had the surprise gift of rain...so much for the weather frogs!

Happy last day at the ranch for this trip...I know that you’ll be back soon.

(Having such commenting issues across Blogdom that my zeal to post comments
has been tempered. 🙃 Nevertheless, I am still reading!)

Arlene G said...

I saw the recipe for the tomato salad and it looks yummy. I am going to try it. I also enjoy reading aloud. I just finished a good book, The Woman on the Orient Express. It is about Agatha Christie. Witness for the Prosecution is a masterpiece in my opinion.

Susie said...

Linda, When I saw that spider, my hair stood straight up !! You know they creep me out. LOL Glad you enjoyed such a successful trip to the ranch. I would love to see inside LD's noggin...as you drive away, I bet he is thinking of another project for your return. LOL We are going to have rain for two days...hope not too much, I always worry with our basement, even though there are sump pumps. I love reading but rarely do any more...cataracts. Boy I have just got to get that surgery...but you know how we are..we are on the back burner of life. Maybe after the 4th. Take care, get your rest. Blessings, love you guys, xoxo, Susie

MadSnapper said...

I love Catherine Coulter and have read all the series with Dillon Savich, I just checked the kindle library and they don't have it yet. Backfire I mean. it is book 16.. thanks for letting me know it is out there. how did you get the spider outside? it would be dead in my house, just killed 2 this past week. I rather have a snake in the house than a spider.... I like to read but not listen. I can't listen to audio books like my friend does. she drives a lot and keeps audios to listen to. for some reason I can't concentrate on the story line... it may have something to do with being bossy and a control freak. LOL

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

It sounds like you are already for the trip home. Hope you a have a safe and happy trip. Knowing that so much got done on this visit mush leave you both with a very good feeling. Hard to believe that June is almost over already and July will soon be here. Hope you get a big bunch of sunflowers to take home. They are such cheerful flowers !

Tina said...

Oh my gosh that spider made me jump seeing it on the computer screen! I wasn't expecting that one at all! So glad you got some rain down your way -- you can have some of ours too! We've had more than enough and are supposed to get more this afternoon! As you said it is good weather for reading though! I wouldn't mind reading the book you're offering ... if no one else has asked yet. I'm happy you and Louis Dean have had a relaxing and productive time on the ranch! Safe travels today!

Linda said...

Tina, please email your address to me ( my email is on the side bar on the right ) and I will get t n the mail!
I’m replying to Tina.....what happened to the reply button?

jujupage1 said...

People I the UK complain about tiny spiders that are not venomous. It seems pretty pathetic to me especially when you're so calm about handling a fairly large venomous spider!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

You are both a wonder! Louis Dean got so much accomplished and you have too! Critter care, art, meals, stargazing...all important things!

Pam said...

Okay, first of all ~ YIKES on the spider. I have a fear of them big time. I am surprised that that one was not caring a mess of babes on its body, isn't it the time of yr for that? Daphne du Maurier ~ in high school, oh many, many years ago I read that. Still have it but have not read anymore by that author. I loved that book though. Looks like you have had your reading laid out and ready to go. Good for you. By the way found you via Sandra's blog.

The Feminine Energy said...

I so look forward to your blog entries, Linda. They make my day! I was wondering.... could you make a blog post explaining what your arrangement is with going back-and-forth between homes? I don't know if you've made a blog entry about that or not but... I've caught bits and pieces of where you live and the going back-and-forth but still I don't quite understand. Maybe there are others like me too. Maybe show pictures of the outside of both homes and explain why you go back-and-forth as you do. Thank you. Lovingly, Andrea xoxo

Rain said...

The sunflower is so pretty...I can't grow those here because of our short season, but hopefully one day I will when we move! I LOVE that you read aloud, I love that...Alex and I are big readers too, but we are more solo readers. He's on his hammock while I'm on my porch swing. :) But we do play trivial pursuit, not with the board game itself, but reading trivia questions aloud to each other. We can do that for hours on a rainy night! :)

Oh my Linda...that spider, I would have ran for the hills lol!

Judy said...

I agree...that life is good in the country. And yes...country folk always check the weather forecast. Several times each day!

As for that spider...Yikes!!! Enjoy your time back in the city.

Carole said...

Linda - you are so brave with spiders! We only have one poisonous sort (and it is rare - I've never seen one) and absolutely no snakes, crocs or alligators - so we are not used to critters that can harm you... Have a safe transfer to your city life! Cheers

R's Rue said...

Great.

Pilar said...

It looks like you had a nice trip! That spider looks so scary lol!