Sister Luann, Lillian and Summer's Hand Surgery.......

 Summer and I had a good time Thursday with my Sister Luann.

She invited us to lunch at Lupe Tortilla Mexican restaurant and it was fabulous!!

Luann is as sweet as she is cute and I could not be more proud of her!

She is a certified grievance counselor and a dedicated volunteer and teacher at her church.

Plus she has a heart as big as Texas and is always quick to help someone in need.

I think she has as many or more 'adopted' grandchildren as she has of her own.

Everyone loves Luann!

We were celebrating my September birthday and Summer's October birthday.

Luann's was in August and I am ashamed to admit it got past me without even sending a card.

Every year I say I am going to do better with remembering birthdays and every year it's still hit and miss. I am not consistent on many. I must do better.

She was too sweet to say anything.

I had the soup and ensalada.....SO good!

Summer and her aunt shared fajitas.

Loved the decorations and we will for sure be back!

This restaurant is close to Luann's super nice home.

This is her kitchen. Love all her debris......aka De' Bris!

She claims she has little creativity but I beg to differ!

Her home is so tasteful and classy!

She has such nice furniture - with history!

The sofa and chair are from England.

The table Luann is sitting beside is from Turkey.

Look at how exquisite it is.......

Such detail.

I loved all her inspirational plaques.

She bought this one in Galveston where the proceeds went to help the homeless.

Her home is as interesting as she is!

You can tell she is a devoted Christ follower.

And she has the gift of laughter!

What an intricate design......all one piece of paper.

I know there's a word for this......

We had a regular gift exchange!

Summer received some fancy cards.

Luann gave me two of these clever wine glasses!!

I brought her a jar of my wildflower honey, a couple of Louis Dean's cinnamon rolls, a few spiced pumpkin muffins, and some fruitcake cookies.

We had such a good visit and she took us to a re sale shop where I found lots of treasures.

I will take pics of them and show you later.

While I was shopping and browsing, I had one of many phone calls from Pioneer Steel in Waco.

As a matter of fact, I spent a solid hour or more on phone calls between me and our contractor, Ronnie, and Mark and Adam - both salemen at Pioneer - as well as their manager, Donald.

Bottom line - they delivered a custom order of steel and metal to the ranch in Rustic Red.

I ordered Bright Red. As in the Bright Red on the roof which is 14 feet tall and on the higest part of the ranch property. I cannot and will not ever be able to see this red roof and that's turned out to be a good thing. Because I am stuck with Rustic Red for the skirting and carport.

I used up every ounce of nice I had but I did say what I had to say.

Not that it mattered in the end.

Donald did offer to order the Bright Red sheets of metal and give them to us at cost - but the cost was still over $1,000. They could easily change out the screws and stuff since they were standard and they had tons of them onsite.

Summer said she was proud of me for the way I handled the situation.

I am disappointed but in light of eternity, it is a small matter indeed.

I'm sure I will like it once it's up.

I have one metal sheet of Bright Red leftover from the roof and I will think of something cool to do with it!

We left Luann's with me still making phone calls and Summer drove us to Walmart over on Hulen by Trail Lake Nursing Home.

I picked up a list of thigs for Lillian.....she likes pickle loaf, and chicken salad, egg salad and macoroni salad. I bought her bananas, mayo, bread, voluminous hair products (she's so self conscience about her thinning hair) and a few other things.

I spied this coffee and plopped it right in the buggy!

Along with these great looking pumpkins!

They now sit proudly on my front porch!

We know the routine now.

I take the groceries in and place them beside this inner door.

A staff member comes out and takes them inside and sprays them down before taking them to Lillian's room. I called to tell Lillian I was there and she brought her phone with her when he came down.

I put my phone on speaker so Summer and I could both talk to her.

She looked good! Better than last month. 

She was wearing earrings and a bracelet and a cute outfit!

She has an iPad now but the Internet signal doesn't reach all the way back to her room.

Summer told her she would check on getting an signal extender.

Her new roomate is Fay and, while she is bedfast most of the time, she is a good companion for Lillian and speaks English and knows who she is.

We talk every few days on the phone but it's not the same as seeing her in person.

Summer was an extra blessing to her!

By the time we got home last night, I was exhausted!

Summer had surgery scheduled for early this morning, so I did Damage Control - Louis Dean had been left home alone all day - and prepared for an early bedtime.

Actually it was more of a nap!

We were up at 3:30 this morning and at the Surgical Center - which was a suite in a strip mall in Plano - at 4:37. No one was there. Doors locked. Lights dim. Voice mailbox full.

I was counting on going inside with Summer to use the bathroom but that wasn't happening now.

She drove me to a QT station and then we came back and parked and waited.

Summer was driving because it was DARK and I can't see to drive at night anymore.

About 5:10 someone drove up and parked. She told Summer to give her 5 minutes and she would open up. So much for being on time! Or nearly!

Surgery was at 6:30 so as soon as they took her back to prep - I crawled up on the bed in her van and went to sleep! She has a sunroof and the temp was 60 degrees. Perfect sleeping weather!

Summer did fine during the short surgery to fix her carpal tunnel on her left hand.

Once this heals, she will have the right hand done.

We left here at 4:00 this morning and was home by 11:00.

7 hours!

I stopped to get her pain meds and a Smoothie and she has had a good day.

Slept some. Watched some TV. 

I took a good long nap and then set about doing my day's work.

Tomorrow will be a Home Day and I have much to do.

A quilt to make and a gazebo and front porch to decorate.

While I have been sitting here in the sewing room writing away.......

Little Miss Samantha has been twitching her nose at the Halloween tree!

She managed to get on eof these small ornaments off earlier today and I found it hung on some fall branches in the foyer! Guess she was redecorating!

She's so cute!

She and Tabitha do very well living in this house!

Sometimes - like today when I got up from my nap - I have to go around and straighten something or pick something up. But for the most part, they play and frolic without making much extra work for me....unlike someone I know. But bless his heart. He's pretty cute, too!