Art and Watermelons! Friday and Saturday

Friday we went to town - as in big town Waco.

A branch of our bank is in the Walmart there and I needed a few art supplies from Hobby Lobby.

I love the country roads and all the critters we see on our way.

Louis Dean decided we would splurge and have a late lunch at Luby's.

The food was every bit delicious!

From the cabbage to the fried okra and corn. He had a smothered steak and I had baked fish.

To top it off we split a strawberry shortcake.

That was our only meal of the day!

We stayed full right up to bedtime.

I picked up two bunches of greenery at Hobby Lobby and cut them apart.

I stuck them in the reclaimed wreath and covered up the ugly leaves.

I think I will use this as a centerpiece on the front room table.

I continued underpainting my Christmas canvases.

Step by step.

It is a process.

Once it's all based in -

I let them dry. 

Then it's easier to paint in the real picture details.

I've only done one nativity in the past and that was several years ago.

I am going to be winging it on these.

I say a prayer before I do art......

'May God bless the work of my hands.....'

This was Friday night's sunset.

Today I based in the last of my canvases.

It's a 16X20 of the smaller nativity.

One to keep and one to give away.

I went out to the garden this late afternoon to cut a few more of the okra pods.

Sherry's daughter is here visiting this weekend and that means extra special meals.

Our watermelons are getting bigger and riper every day.

We have four like this one.....

and this one big beauty!

I don't know what this 'weed' or wildflower is called but it sure does smell good!

Dean's roasting ears are growing!

Our tomato plants still have lots of green tomatoes on them.

The peas and now the okra are pretty much done.

Our cucumbers didn't do well at all and our pepper plants have bit the dust.

But we can't complain. The garden has been a good adventure!

Louis Dean has been working hard today on the bathroom sink.

He's put the flooring down (under and around the sink area) and should be able to hook the water up tomorrow.

He's had his eye on some other projects he likes better than plumbing. Electrical, building, fencing, he likes any chore better than plumbing. But we made a deal that he will get the bathroom fully functioning before starting on another project. Or FINISHING one he's already started. There are many. So my chant has been of late - sink!sink!sink!SINK!!

He finished what he could do for the day and then proceeded to fry up a batch of okra - fresh from the garden! Dean, Sherry and Crystal brought all the rest of the meal down and we had a feast tonight!!

Sherry made pepper poppers and we literally pop them in our mouths!

They are SO good!!

Louis Dean's fried okra!

He fried it in a skillet using a hot plate and then we put it in the toaster oven to finish.

You just can't fry well on a hot plate. We need to bring a Fry Daddy down here! Remember those?

Good green beans.

And Dean's special melt-in-your-mouth, drop-off-the-bone ribs!

It was a wonderful evening!

Family, Food, Fellowship.

And to top it off - FUN!!!

I get so excited about the fireworks that I take awful pictures.

So I mostly watched tonight without even trying to take any.

I held a couple of rocket launchers and that was exciting.

We did several cool things that lasted a good while and some bombs bursting in air and a grand finale!

We called it - The BIG one! Crystal brought it and she said she had been saving it for tonight.

Lots of color and explosions that went on just like the end of a fireworks show.

The best thing about it is that is is done right here!

Every day has been special in its own way and every night I go to bed thanking God for all his blessings. I'm already gearing up for tomorrow!

We are going to help James (our mentor) harvest his honey.

We will get to see first hand how it's done and help do it.

I.am.so.excited.