Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Celebrating! Friends, Birthdays and our Gazebo!

Friends are so very important and I am ever so grateful for all the friends God has brought into my life. One such friend is Dawn down in Florida.
It seems like I have known her forever but it's actually been since 2010 when I started my online journal blog. We have bonded from the very beginning.
Dawn sends care packages and birthday presents and 'just because' things throughout the year.


Look what arrived in the mail this morning!
For whatever reason, I have started reading books like a mad woman who just discovered reading for the first time. I am tearing through books like I have never done before.
This one will read before you can turn around good.
It's like I am hungry for reading.
The background is a couple of beautiful fall napkins that I am going to love using.....and maybe not for napkins. Alas, Louis Dean discovered the candy and I was forced to hide it before he could eat it all. Just so you know - I think he forgot the pie. Too bad because it was very very GOOD! 
Just saying.....

Brenda is another dear friend and we have been getting together for lunch every month for years and years now. I guess since 2007......if my memory serves me right.
For a couple of years I worked in the same State Farm office with her and when I didn't work there anymore, we started our monthly lunches. We plan these because they don't happen unless we do.


I made a Taco Soup since I had all the fixings.
I was hoping for cooler fall weather but that didn't happen!


It was an extra special lunch since another dear friend of both of ours joined us.
Shirley is on the left and Brenda on the right.
We all three go WAY back in our friendships.
Don't you just love friends that you have known for so many years??
And don't you love just as much the new ones God has given you?
We need both.......


Brenda gave me this gorgeous fall pillow......


and this fragrant candle.
I use the gifts I am given as prayer reminders.....when I light this candle....I will say a prayer for my friend.

After Brenda and Shirley left, I cleaned up the kitchen and started the dishwasher and then did what I seem to be doing every day now - I went to bed to read and nap.

It was after 6:00 when I finally got up -  after finishing one book and starting another.
Louis Dean said he had completed the wiring in the gazebo and had started working on the pond area.
I went out to see all his progress and said NO, he had NOT finished the electricity.
The chandelier was not up.


Well, he made short work of that!
All he had to do was climb up on the ladder and hang it on the hook and plug it in!

I put on my work clothes and went out to see if I could clean up some things.


I pulled up so much of this......it is edible but it had grown everywhere out back since all the ground cover had been tromped to death.

Then I looked over at the gazebo and thought, "Why not clean THAT up??"


And so I did! WITH the help of Louis Dean, of course.
First we took out the ladder and all the tools that were scattered everywhere.
He blew off the rug and we put down the new one on top of the old one.
We plan to buy new outdoor furniture but for now we will use what we have.


Louis Dean is my hero!


He is as glad to have the gazebo back as I am.


Our Cracker Barrel rockers have been out in the middle of all the mess around here and will need sanding and repainting. But for now they will do fine with the 'new' cushions I bought last week at the Goodwill. Do you see the moon up there? It is gorgeous tonight. Friday the 13th will have a full moon.....Harvest moon......I can't wait! We will be out there in the gazebo watching.....


The rain curtains and netting will go up tomorrow.....but I added some lights tonight.


The round table is back up after being dismantled and held in the storage building for months and months. I am so happy to have this gazebo back.


So why not throw out some lights to celebrate?
And might as well add some decorations.
Surprisingly, all the lights that have been piled up and sitting around still worked!

So this day is done and it was a good one. 
And now it is time to go out to the gazebo for our evening glass of wine.
It's been a long, long time since we enjoyed it out there.

I'll close tonight with the poem I have had in my mind all afternoon.......








21 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

Hurrah, the gazebo is back! So I expect excellent pictures of the Harvest Moon! LOVE the chandelier! I remember this poem. With your busy life, plus blogging, I don't know how you have the time to read!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

I think we are all as excited as you and Louis Dean are about the gazebo! 😄 what a great place to sit to watch the moon!

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

A lovely day Linda. Louis Dean has the gazebo ready to use and you have decorated already.
Hugs.
Joy

Vee said...

You ate your hero’s pie?! I think that when your hero comes to, you’ll be baking pecan pie. 😆 How wonderful to have the gazebo back after all this time. I know that you are going to spend some happy hours there. Now I must see if my moon looks like your moon...might have too much cloud cover.

Mary in Colorado said...

I get such a kick out of you and all the things you do 365 days a year that benefit others. And as you already know, in the process of doing those things ...There is a way in which enormous enrichment and joy flows back into your own life. Louis Dean is the perfect partner for you in so many of your adventures and ideas....even those he makes messes in the kitchen when you are out!! I love being along for the ride!! Mary in Colorado

Bluebird49 said...

It all looks and sounds wonderful!

Carol said...

I am super excited that the gazebo is back! I am sure you and Louis Dean will enjoy many evenings out there. It is so great the way you two work together and help complete projects. I am also thankful for my friends.

Kathy said...

Hurray for the gazebo being back! And having your evening glass of wine while watching the moon is even better. So glad you got a chance to have lunch with your friends. You are right, old friends are the best.

Natalia said...

I realy enjoyed lookin at your photos, what a cute pillow, perfect for Fall☺

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

Congratulations all the hard work finally paid off and now you can enjoy the gazebo again! I know you love it there and will appreciate having its a place to spend your evenings even when it rains. You will have many days left too tu use it as it will be quite awhile before it gets too cool to sit outside. I do agree that there is nothing like having old friends. I have a few two that have known me for a long time. We always have lots of fun getting tother and enjoy many of the same things. Hope your Thursday is a great one! Enjoy !

Changes in the wind said...

I know how much the two of you have enjoyed the gazebo and glad it is back up and ready to be used. LD is amazing with fixing things!

Arlene G said...

I bet that pie was good.lol Love your gazebo and would love to come and sit with you and Louis Dean one night.

Lisa said...

I love that gazebo. The taco soup looks delicious!
Lisa

Jackie See said...

Dear Linda, I so look forward to your posts! Thank you for coming by my little blog and cheering me up. We are having a hard time staying positive right now, so many difficult days ahead. You are a ray of sunshine in my day! Thank you so much for your encouragement! Keep smiling and enjoying and please keep sharing! Have a great day ~jackie

Hootin Anni said...

Oh my gosh Linda, I just don't know where to begin. All's perfect now at your home...so beautiful it is! Enjoy the full moon & wait...have,an extra glass of wine with my name on it!!

Susie said...

Linda, Here's to that working man LD....great job. So nice you and your friends from work can still get together and enjoy each other's company. It's looking very pretty at your house. I love the photo from the gazebo showing the moon. We have that weed here in Indiana too, I have pulled plenty. Hoping we get our yard taken care of, the lawn man called just now and said he would reseed the lawn where they burned the grass off..last fall. It's worried me sick...I just was mad that we paid to have our lawn look this bad.
Blessings to all there, enjoy the weekend, xoxo, Susie

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It's so nice to have an outdoor space to enjoy! And you both know how to live life to the fullest! And L.D......he's my hero too! Hugs to you both!

Carole said...

Fabulous gazebo - well done LD - and you for the prettyfication. Cheers

Judy said...

I love that you use gifts from friends as prayer reminders. I shall do likewise! Enjoy your lovely gazebo!

Debbie said...

awwww, everything looks great linda, i am so happy the gazebo is done and after all that work you can both enjoy it!! we have a nice outdoor space that we enjoy, especially this time of year when its a little cooler out!!

great friendships go both ways!!

photowannabe said...

You have one Honey of a Husband...the gazebo looks awesome and your decor is perfect.
Happy Days ahead for you and LD.
Enjoy a glass of wine for me too.
Wonderful gifts from friends, I love the pillow and candle. Prayer reminders...fantastic.
I'm grateful for the internet and FB too. It keeps me in touch with friends that live so far away.
Have a fantastic weekend.
Sue