Thursday was hot with blue skies and fluffy white clouds.
I have no idea why Louis Dean enjoys washing his clothes when we are here in the country but he does.
He fills a tub up with soapy water and fabric softener and soaks them for hours.
After they are scrubbed and rinsed - he hangs them on the fence to dry.
Before the fence was up, he would string up a rope and hang them from that.
He doesn't HAVE to do this as he has plenty of clothes but he likes it!
This is the only sunflower plant inside the garden fence.
I have been saving the seeds from all my bouquets from the roadsides.
Louis Dean is going to till up a row along the fence lines and I am going to plant those seeds!
As we go down County Line Road, you can see sunflowers growing all along the fenced fields.
This will be so pretty if we can get them to grow along our fence lines!
I put a straw hat on and went off to Sherry and Dean's garden looking for some peppers and tomatoes for supper. The sunflowers are the best thing growing right now.
I suppose the spring gardens are all just about played out.
Time to plant the fall gardens!
Louis Dean worked on his deck all day long.
I do not know how he can work in the heat like he does!
It was so hot!
I cooked three chicken thighs in a small crockpot and added the peppers I found in the garden plus an onion and made chicken and rice for supper.
The rest of the thighs I cooked in a larger crockpot to make chicken and dumplings and chicken and dressing later. Louis Dean usually loves red meat but here lately he has been very satisfied with the healthy meals I have been making.
It was an early bedtime for us Thursday.
The heat can take it out of you.
But we always spend a little time out on the deck stargazing before we turn in.
Jupiter and Saturn have been amazing!
Friday was such a fun day for me.
I have not been getting out much lately - due to Covid at home so when I do shop - I like to shop in Waco. Sherry is off on Fridays so she picked me up at 10:30 and we spent the entire day together and didn't get home until 6:30! Eight glorious hours!!
Our first stop was at Pioneer Steel and Pipe so I could pay for the roofing materials!
I changed the color from a dull red to this brighter one!!
They will deliver the materials on Wednesday and the contractor will start work on Friday!
We are SO excited!!
Sherry asked if I was up for a Goodwill???
YES!!!
We ended up shopping Heart of Texas Goodwill and Salvation Army both!
Have you ever had something in mind when you were shopping and then - there it was?
That has happened so many time to me.
In this case, it was Running With Scissors.
The movie is based on the personal memoirs of Augusta Burroughs.
Two of my siblings read the book.
They knew I was writing my book - and I'm still working on it - but they advised me NOT to read this.
One day a year or two ago - I have been writing this book for a long time - I saw the movie at a Goodwill here in Waco. I did not buy it.
For some reason I had the thought to look for the movie on Friday and lo, and behold, there it was.
I bought it this time. Perhaps it wasn't the rigtht time then. Maybe it is now. I have no idea.
I haven't watched it yet.
Did any of you see The Glass Castle?
It's a memoir by Jeannette Walls.
All of us siblings read it.....or at least the four of us that grew up together did.
The book did not upset nearly as much as the movie did.
I fell into a deepdepression after I saw it.
But I got over it and I am hoping this movie won't have the same effect but for some reason, I feel compelled to watch it. I will know when it's time.
I jumped at the title of Bee Season - but it's a spelling bee, I think.
Still, I love Richard Gere!
I love having more books than I will ever be able to read so I bought these!
All kinds of treasures!!
Love that pill box that has morning and evening compartments!
The metal chicken trash can is adorable!
I have been drinking from the Starbucks cup all day!
And I scored on that simple classy navy blue handbag!
A Pampered Chef blade that Summer will love!
Christmas crackers already filled with prizes....
a Christmas tree skirt for the tree down here in the country....
a garland of debris and a bag of grapes....I'll take the grapes back home with me but I've already hung the debris!
See that small scale armchair?
I put that where the small rocker was in here in the camper and put the rocker in the front room.
I covered the new chair with a red and white duvet cover and it fits me to a T!
Comfy top!
We then had lunch at On The Border!!
What with all the Covid rules, I carry my very own salt shaker!!
Great food and great company!
I love our sweet Sherry!!
My first Fall sighting at Big Lots!!
When we go home, I will be packing away the patriotic things and hauling out my sunflowers.
I think I will go ahead and get fall out and have it all done by my special most favorite day in the entire year.....September First!! My very own special holiday.
We will be down here in the country at the end of August but I will be HOME for September First!
The only time I missed being home was in 2012 when the quads were born.
I still listened to Neil Diamond sing September Morn and I still baked fruitcake cookies and spiced pumpkin muffins - but it was at Amber and Mike's house for the baking and in the camper for Neil Diamond. I don't think I have missed celebrating a September First for the last 35+ years.
When we got home Friday evening, Louis Dean had taken UP the deck he had just put down and re-did it! Plus he got the gate up!
He is pretty amazing!
And he did it old school!
With a hammer and nails!
I rested a lot on Saturday and spent the entire day inside the camper.
I cleaned and took pics of my treasures and changed out the chairs and did this and that.
In the late afternoon, we drove down to the meadow to get some firewood from the tree that was damaged by the tornado that came through on Easter Sunday morning.
Dean and Sherry have been chopping away at it and Louis Dean gathered up some limbs.
Nothing goes to waste down here!
Saturday night we had a beautiful campfire!
We burn all our paper trash so we don't have to haul it all home and it makes for good kindling.
Louis Dean and I both slept so well last night!
I didn't wake up until 11:00 this morning and he had not been up very long before me.
I watched Fellowship Church Live and we did our devotions and Bible reading.
Right now we are reading the book of Isaiah.
The Bible is timeless.
"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation shall be overpast."
Isaiah 26:20
Reminds me of the times we are living in right now!
We spent a good part of this day resting and puttering around.
Late this afternoon, rain came in and the temps dropped.
Louis Dean called me out to come see the rainbow.
I love weather and the air felt so cool and refreshing.
Sherry came down and sat with us on the front deck for a few minutes.
We watched as the daylight slowly faded away and the little solar lights came on.
We came in and I did some art and Louis Dean played some music.
It's been a good weekend in the country!
And we are here for a whole other week!!
The Isaiah verse is so prefect for today! OUT come our commentaries!! You got so much stuff, and I like it ALL, especially the chair. Now I want to go to Big Lots! Do I dare? I love buying Fall things, and just today brought some up from the basement.
ReplyDeleteYou got some great things, as always. I do my shopping vicariously through you! I know you and Sherry have so much fun. You have fun wherever you go!
ReplyDeleteLouis took the deck up and put it back down? Whaaaa?!
I haven't read or seen the two things you mentioned, I don't think. Somehow, I try to stay away from the more depressing type reading and movies now. Maybe if the Covid-19 ever leaves, I'll be up for it.😯
Can you imagine the camper right years ago compared to now! Who'd ever have thought that the "little camper that could" would house you for the births of the kiddos and then make youall a country castle! I love that, and remember reading your blog back then. Youall even had a little Christmas tree out by the camper down there, didn't you? And it seems like Amber and Mike even brought the babies down there to the camper before you went back home. Maybe I've got that wrong..!I
Where have right years run by off to? David was 7 and Kat was 5, then, and my oldest grandson hadn't even met his now wife nor had he even thought about life raising his three boys!
Have a wonderful week, my friend. I hope it will be cooler and that the hurricane won't affect youall!
I think the most shocking thing I read in this whole post is that you were gone from home for 8 hours shopping list Sherry. I have never in my life shopped for more than 2 or 3 hours and then I hated every minute of it. The only time I've stayed away from home 8 hours in a row was when I was working. You are a true shopper! And a really good one because you found all those too close and I never find anything maybe that's because I don't go often enough and when I do go I don't want to be there and I get tired of looking. I'm going to love that Red Roof. And I do love those sunflowers in front of the fence clothesline
ReplyDeleteTell Louis Dean that the deck is looking good. Off to Grimmwood a few days early to help with my Mother. Hoping to be home on Friday this time. I read the Glass Castle Linda but I am a pretty big cynic when it comes to that book. As a nurse, some of the things she wrote did not ring true and I always wondered how people who had NO money just moved to New York and found an apartment, even a terrible one because everything is so expensive there. I am always THAT person in the book club who questions the book.lol One of my friends got really mad at me because I did not like that book one bit and felt it was over the top. Now your book I would believe because I know you are writing truthfully and I know how much your mama put all of you through. You do not get married so young if you are not looking to get out of a bad situation. I am always amazed at how caring and loving you and your siblings are after living in such a troubled environment. And the way you took care of your mother in the last years when she was so mean to all of you. That is a testament to your character and your reliance on Christ. I am POOPed this morning and I am not in a great mood about heading to Georgia as I was hoping for another day or two of rest after having the children. I am praying I can be nice and not grumpy!!
ReplyDeleteHow nice you got out shopping, I've definitely been missing that but have been saving some money by staying at home. Hopefully I'll be able to get out soon. It's terrible to have money in your pocket and not be able to spend it. Everyone has been doing my shopping for me and I get only what's on the list. The only store I've been is is when I went to pick up my prescription for my new blood pressure pills. That deck is going to be aa big one and should help a lot. I don't know how he takes the heat either. I 've been staying in the air conditioning but after to day our temps are to drop a bit and we'll be in the 80's. Yay!
ReplyDeleteThose are some amazing thrifted finds! But you always find all the good stuff and I love how you know exactly where an item will go or how you'll use it! I read the book "The Glass Castle" a while ago but didn't ever see the movie. I agree with you that sometimes it is the "right" time to read a book/watch a movie. I've been having a harder time finding things to read during the Covid-19 pandemic ... it has to be just right and there seems to be no rhyme or reason why I choose the things I do! I'm enjoying playing "Words" with you, you are so good at it! I'm learning how to be a better player from you! Tell LD that is one impressive deck he has built! You are both amazing! Have a great Monday!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunflowers!
ReplyDeleteI love the book of Isaiah.
Linda, It sure seems you and Sherry had a great day out. The treasures look nice. I haven't been anywhere for so long. Isn't that LD something...take the dang deck apart and reassemble it. Who likes to work that hard? LOL Tell him to cut it out, save some work for others. LOL Probably wore them hammer to a frazzle. I am hoping I get to read your book one day. The picture of you in your hat is so sweet. I love that summer sky with puffy white clouds and the sunflowers together. That would make a great painting. Blessings to you and LD, Love you guys, xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you have another week at the Ranch.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good for the both of you.
That deck is a true work of art and also a labor of love.
You will spend lots of time on it, especially when that gorgeous red roof will be up.
Treasures...how do you find such treasures?
I think I would have dropped from that marathon shopping spree.
Enjoy your days in Paradise.
Sue
You are such an accomplished shopper. Wow!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! I love your metal roofing choice! Looks Dean is doing a great job on the deck - both times, lol. I'm with him on drying clothes on the line, nothing better. Hand washing though, not so much. Looks like you had a fun day out and found some wonderful treasures too. Wishing you a blessed week. Jane
ReplyDelete