Saturday, August 17, 2019

Friday PAR-tay and Saturday More Fall Dressing! Loving This Weekend!

I'm having such a good time dressing the house for fall.....I shall all ready by the very first September morn of 2019.


Kimmy came over to turn the AC on Monday night so the house would be cool when we came in Tuesday. She left a basket for me that her friend, Luce, sent my way.
By the next afternoon, I had it all decked out with pumpkins and fall leaves and in the foyer.

I took Friday off from my decorating and did a grocery run to Aldi.


I had a dinner party to prepare for and a birthday cake to bake.
Pam (Reaoma's daughter) requested Pistachio Crack Cake and it was delicious!


I love Pam and, though I missed her actual birthday, we celebrated Friday night.
I had the pot roast simmering on the stove along with potatoes and carrots.


We gathered at 6:00 and all three of my friends are known for being on time and so was I!
I had cheese and crackers ready along with a couple of wines for tasting and two different jars of honey for a honey tasting.


Pam likes sweet rather than dry wine but in the end, she preferred tap water in a Duck Dynasty plastic glass! You gotta love her!!


Our other guests were Kimmy and June - mother and daughter and friends I have had for so many years it seems like they have always been in my life. I am their biggest fan and they are mine.


I change the table settings monthly and am thankful for the friends who have gathered here throughout this year. Sometimes it was only two - as in Brenda having lunch with me on her dinner break. Sometimes all six chairs have been filled with family as when Chandy and her husband and children came for dinner back in the winter.


A fresh salad is always my favorite way to start a meal.

We had a lovely evening together and already made plans to meet here again in October!

Louis Dean has been working so hard cleaning up the back yard and loading building materials in the truck to take back to the ranch next week. He has enough 'scraps' to build a tool shed and he is excited about that! I'm excited that you can really tell Sanford and Son are packing up!

He was SO tired that, after all the rest of us had left the table, he continued to sit there all alone.
Kimmy noticed that he had fallen asleep! Sitting up with his head propped up on his hands!
Bless his heart.....we told him to go to bed....and he did.


Today (Saturday) has been such a good one.
Louis Dean rested a good bit as he did not sleep well last night. I did, though!
I fixed him some oatmeal and toast with butter and honey for breakfast.
He's had a craving for oatmeal lately so I cooked up a big pot and that way he has some ready when he wants it.


I'm enjoying decorating at a leisurely pace this year.
I haven't even trashed the house because I haven't brought in ALL the tubs.
Just one at a time. Work through it - putting thing out or setting them aside for Goodwill - or the trash!



Yes, folks, I decorated the floor!
It IS a flat surface and that makes it fair game - in my opinion!


I made my way into the living room and added a fall garland to the grape cluster lights along the top of the sofa.


I love the colors.....


white wine being my favorite - I am partial to the green clusters.


The fall glasses are all washed and in the cupboard and the fall coffee cups are hanging above the sink. I still save my very favorite and oldest coffee cup for that first September morn......but the sunflower ones are fair game.


This afternoon I made Dilly Bits.
Oyster crackers with seasonings......it's a Hidden Ranch recipe and you can find it online.
I tweak it to my taste and you can, too.
I go heavy on the salt but you could do a less sodium version.


See that dark cluster right there?
That's a bonus bite and we all look for those!!


Louis Dean napped off and on all day and did some reading.
He likes historical books and war stories.
I found this one in my stack of books and he thinks it's a good one.


During my breaks this afternoon we watched this movie.
Made in 1990, we both enjoyed it.
He likes westerns and who doesn't love Tom Selleck?
I call that a win! WIN!!!

I've been watering the front and back this evening while we watch the Dallas Cowboys preseason game. It's not over yet but both of us are ready to call this day done!

I'm keeping up with the comments for the honey giveaway. 
I realize this will not be 'local' honey for hardly anyone.
Local honey is within a 50 mile radius - and the hives are in Fall County, Texas.
Still.....it's very good honey!



23 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

I love what you did with the basket you were gifted!! And your decorations are all so beautiful! It almost makes me think I feel a chill in the air right here on the couch!

Jan said...

The honey would be local for me cause I live in Waco

Linda said...

How did I not know that and why haven’t we met up??

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Lovely post Linda. Good Friends, good food, good visiting.
Hugs.
Joy

Mary in Colorado said...

As usual I loved all your postings from the ranch!! With all your reports about "Bee Keeping",painting and delicious meals made and eaten with Sherry and Dean, I felt lifkeI was actually there taking part in all that was happening. The story about Sherry becoming ill at the first honey gathering was frightening...felt like I was actually in the field with you!! Thank the dear Lord she survived it!!!You are a wonderful story teller!!! Mary in Colorado!!!

MadSnapper said...

Tom Selleck is one of my favorite actors and I love Quigley. Blue Bloods is one of our favorite tv shows. I am shocked to hear myself say this, but I love the decorated floor... looking at your beautiful table and your guests I thought once again we are polar opposites. I have never had a dinner party. when my kids lived here, they came for holidays and dinners, but I used paper plates and plastic cups and we had traditional turkey dinners for holidays and cook outs with burgers and fries for other. that said I love seeing your dinner parties and beautiful decorations. and just had another thought, the only dinner party with table set like yours that I have attended was one for Ladies night at the church. we used to go for dinners each month with our sunday school class, at different homes, but again we all took a dish and we used paper plates. have you fainted yet at the thought of no dinner party

Bluebird49 said...

Ed and I like Tom Selleck..and Sam Elliot!
Everything looks just so perfectly ready for your dinner party! :)

Susie said...

Linda, I think the cake and food look very good. The salad really looks tasty. I think your house is looking fall like and cozy. Poor LD , he must have worked hard to fall asleep after eating at the table. Ted and I watched a couple war movies, yesterday. We pay for Dish TV so they show us the same shows over and over and over. I hate that TV service. So on weekend we get our dvds out. Today may be more of the same. We did get out for a drive also. Blessings to all, xoxo,love you, Susie

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Your house looks so beautiful and guess what! I started decorating for Fall this weekend too because of your inspiration. It's rainy...so why not! Have y'all started watching football yet? We are excited to watch the Cowboy game replayed this afternoon! It was on too late last night to watch! Hugs!

Arlene G said...

Sounds like a lovely evening with friends. Those are the good times.

Vee said...

Everything looks beautiful. I am glad that you decorate the floor. Sometimes I do, too. Your method of decorating one bin at a time sounds great. I am going to remember that for Christmas.

How fun to have friends for a dinner party. You sure do know how to make things special for everyone.

Glad that Louis Dean had a day of rest and I hope that today is another one for you both!

MimiG said...

Thank you for showing the book about the nurses on Bataan. My uncle died in a prisoner of war camp after the march. I've just ordered the book on Amazon as I am always wanting to know more about that time. I never met him but am so very proud of him! He won the Silver Star posthumously.
Saw sunflowers (faux) in Hobby Lobby yesterday and thought of you!!

Changes in the wind said...

Love the cabinet above the floor decoration, don't think I have ever seen it in pictures before. Maybe it has a story? It looks like it is filled with wonderful things. Fairy lights everywhere makes everything twinkle.

Carole said...

I can feel busy just from reaidng your posts. Have fun.

Tina said...

Love, love the garland and lights along the top of the sofa! You're such a creative decorator! Happy that you had such a good time with your friends and that you're getting all set for that "September Morn". Whenever I hear that song now I think of you enjoying your coffee and all your house "dressing"! Have a great Sunday evening!

NanaDiana said...

Jeepers- I had a nice comment going and clicked off before I sent it. I hate when that happens!
Anyway, I said I loved your decorations. I love following you and have always felt I would be an "old" new friend if we ever met in person.
I am so glad you have such great meals with family and friend..nothing like it in the world. Hmmm...LD fell asleep after eating. You tire that poor boy out! lol Aren't you thrilled that he is so active and able to do so much, though?!
Have a blessed, wonderful Sunday night. xo Diana

Jan said...

Hi Linda, I would like to meet you sometime when it is convenient for you. I live just outside Bellmead. I love HEB too. When you have time send me your email address and I will email you my phone number.

photowannabe said...

Your dinner parties look divine. I love how you make even a simple meal look like a banquet.
Fall is gorgeous at your home.
I love entertaining here too.
Can't wait for the next opportunity.
Poor LD really works with every ounce of energy he has.
Sunday is considered the Day of Rest...you both deserve it.

Teresa P said...

Linda,
The dinner looked delicious and I know your guests enjoyed themselves. Poor LD...sounds like he was pooped out! I love all your Fall décor especially those painted wine glasses with the autumn leaves.

A friend of mine gave me a beautiful Fall themed copper-toned center piece with candle last year from QVC for my birthday. However, because my birthday is at the end of November I really didn't have a chance to use it last season so I am looking forward to taking it out this Fall.

Linda said...

I don’t know your email address to send it to but mine is on the side bar of the blog. We go down there again this coming Friday. What’s your Monday look like? That’s usually when I go to Waco to hit up the Goodwills!

Linda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

I’m glad Louis Dean had a rest day! You’re going to be all ready for September 1st! You’re a sweet friend helping celebrate Pam’s birthday, especially this year.
Tom Selleck is a favorite and that movie is one of my dad’s favorites!

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

It's amazing how different honey can taste. My favorite is usually clover honey. At our county fair, they have a booth when they let you do a taste testing. Every bit as much fun as wine tasting for sure!