Our Saturday.....

I am still processing things and I think my siblings are doing the same.
Deanie and Nita have shouldered the brunt of the burden in dealing with all the arrangements and the many things to do that you don't think about until the time comes.
We have kept our messenger thread humming the last few days.

Louis Dean and I will be going home tomorrow.
This was our last full day to be here at the ranch this month.

As always, Louis Dean had a job he was doing.

The wind from a few days ago had blown out some of the insulation he had put up along where the camper meets the front room. Today he put it back and then covered that section with 1 X 4's so that won't happen again.

I worked in the front room while he was up on the roof.

I told him that was so I could hear the thud if he fell off but I was only teasing.

I was out there so I could hold the ladder steady as he was going up and down.

It was a beautiful day ....and I find that I continue to watch the sky.

It has been a special weekend because Crystal is here!
That's Dean and Sherry's daughter and she is an awesome young lady.
It's always a treat to get to see her.

We had lunch together......

I roasted some veggies with rosemary I brought from home.

Dean and Sherry cooked up some tasty brisket and we put everything together and had a feast!

After we ate, they went back to work on their projects and we went back to ours.

The work room Louis Dean built has certainly come in handy!

My son, Jesse, gave us the storage system - with the colored tubs there behind him.

Originally used for children's toys, it is just perfect for Louis Dean's plumbing and electrical parts.

While he did his projects, I did mine.

Sine it was a pretty day - although a bit chilly - I took my divider out to the picnic table and worked on the other side. It was getting dark when I was winding up so Louis Dean turned on his flood light with a flick of a switch right by the front door. He is so proud of that light. It is LED!

I used wine themed calendar pages for the other side but it was too dark to take a picture when I finished.

The I started another painting.

Using a good bit of paint and large sweeping strokes to cover the canvas felt good.

Details will come next time I work on it.

We had another great meal together - Louis Dean, Dean, Sherry, Crystal and I - and it was like a party!

This time Dean had cooked ribs and they were delicious!!

Crystal is one of the coolest people ever and it's like we are with a celebrity when she's here.

I don't think Dean realizes just how much I love him.....

he is as good as gold and as loyal a friend as you could ever find.

Being with Dean and Sherry and Crystal this weekend has been a comfort and blessing to my heart and soul.

And guess how we ended the night??

With fireworks!

It was a wonderful celebration of life today.

Celebrating Louis Dean as he was doing work that most 82 year olds aren't usually doing anymore.

Celebrating with family meals and talk and laughter.

Celebrating all the friends and loved ones who have sent messages of love and comfort to me and my siblings this day.

It was a good day.

We will close up the camper and go home tomorrow.

All the arrangements have now been made for Mother.

Her funeral will be Tuesday morning at 11:30 and she will be buried alongside her mother and daddy, her sister and brother in the family plot at Greenwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday evening from 6:00 - 8:00.

All six of Mother's children will be together as we say our final goodbye.

Words fail me as to how to express what I am feeling now.

Somehow I think it is poetic that - even though two of the six of us grew up separately from us and from each other - we will all be together Tuesday.

Only God.....