Courage, Curtains and Campfire....Thursday at the Ranch

I read every day from The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie and have for over 15 years.

I just about have it memorized.

I added another book of hers to my daily reading - MORE Language of Letting Go.

These meditations are for those recovering from co-dependency....and I think there are more of us than you might image.

Between the Bible, a devotional reading and these meditations - I find I can keep a fairly good balance in my life. I have learned to be brave. To take chances. To truly experience and live life.

It's been a very long journey and I am so grateful to be where I am today.

And I intend to do everything I can to stay emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually healthy.

The weather has continued to be mild in Texas!

I went this entire day without thinking once, "I am HOT!"

We kept the windows open again last night and still covered up!

This afternoon, I turned the AC on but turned it off this evening.

At home I prefer darkened rooms while here at the ranch I love the light.

The front room is always bright with the sunlight and a whole wall of windows.

I've never once thought about covering them up.

But the camper is like a tin can and we do what we can to keep it cool.

I stuffed a pillow in the bathroom skylight.

That blocked a lot of sun - and heat!

The girl bunk window faces west and you can feel such fierce heat coming in.

I have black out fabric to block that and today I added another layer of insulation.

I cut up a flannel lined pair of men's jeans someone had given me.

I made a valance for the top using the waistband.

Then I turned the cut up leg sections upside down with the hem at the top.

I cut slits in the jeans and black out fabric and used pine cone shaped shower hooks to hang on the old hardware that is so attached to the wall I can't get it off.

I can still pull the curtains back at night or in cool weather.

When it is truly hot - I have a piece of plywood cut out to fit and I slide that over the opening under the curtains.

The window at the table is layered in blinds, black out fabric, denim and an old broomstick skirt.

This window is dressed with a heavy ticking jumper I used to wear - back in the 80's.

Above the sofa I use blinds, a broomstick skirt slit up one side and stretched out as well as two heavy pillow shams. During the intense heat, I slide the windshield reflector up behind the blinds. It stays behind the sofa when I want to open this window. I just pull the curtains up and stuff them in the little cabinets over them. We can look out at the garden, duck pen and pond from this window.

In the bedroom we have room darkening curtains lined with heavy black out fabric.

In the fall and spring we open up all the windows but not when it's much above 70 degrees.

Louis Dean has been working today on who knows what but he's stayed busy.

I opened up my book that I'm writing to the last chapter I've written - chapter 17.

The last time I wrote anything was in April.

I typed in some notes to remind me where to start and a few lines to help me get started.

Then I closed it up and will pick up writing tomorrow.

Louis Dean and I sat out admiring that 'Golden Hour' - which does last about an hour from start to finish. Sherry came up and sat with us after she got off work.

We had the campfire going and watched it while we visited and made plans for dinner.

This donkey belongs to Mr. Jackson and he was letting the horses know they were getting too close to his property!

I had gone out there to take pictures and the horses thought I had treats.

So I ran in and got a handful of carrots!

Everything looks pretty in this golden light.

Sherry had gone home to get the food ready.

She brought a platter of mozzarella cheese and sliced fresh tomatoes straight out of her garden.

Drizzled with this Balsamic Vinegar......delicious!!!

I made a salad of watermelon, cantaloupe and feta cheese and used a bottle of White Balsamic Citrus Basil dressing I picked up at Aldi. It was surprisingly GOOD!! I would have used chopped mint leaves had I been home but  it was delicious as is.

Sherry brought onion rolls and BBQ pork loin slices, pinto beans and pepper poppers.

We LOVE those pepper poppers and both of us make them all the time.

Tonight's batch was unexpectedly HOT. At least some of them were.

Louis Dean was the first one to get a HOT pepper.

I ended up with my eyeballs sweating!

I bought a Loaded Baked Potato Salad from Sam's and served it for lunch yesterday.

Louis Dean was not impressed.

Sherry took it home with her, added some chopped onion, brought it back and he was gobbling it up!

My all time favorite wine!

From New Zealand where my friend Carole of Carole's Chatter lives.

Cheers, Carole!

Thursday are like a Friday to Sherry since she works 4 long full days a week.

So we just had the best time kicking back and eating and visiting.

We topped the night off with fireworks!!

I can't wait to see what all we do tomorrow.

Every day is something different and special.

I'm thinking it is time to set up the art table and start painting.

Right after I write awhile in my book.

Have I mentioned that the Ranch is like a Summer Camp for Seniors???