Catching Up.....

 I've been enjoying my autumn dressed home these first few September days.

I haven't been feeling well so seeing all my decorations has been an extra special comfort to me.

Thursday was a day of rest and a bit of puttering around the house. I didn't feel so unwell that I stayed in bed but I didn't feel like doing much either, so I did what I do best  - I puttered. And I went to bed early.....so by Friday I was feeling a little better....

It was Friday Pizza, Popcorn, Cokes and movie night at the Bells and we arrived in time to play a few rounds of Bellz! Granddad just THOUGHT he was the champion! Kailey bested him and was so happy about that!!

Amber knows how to do Friday nights right!

We had such a good time!!

Amber also finds the very BEST movies!!

Sister Deanie read the book some years ago and then loaned the book around to me and our other siblings. True story of 12 orphans at the Masonic Orphanage in Fort Worth back in 1938.

Excellent book and excellent film!

Summer spent the night at Amber's on Friday and, since she is an early riser and a morning person, she was at our house early Saturday morning to do some work in the back yard.

This was waiting for me when I woke up!

My first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season!

She and Louis Dean are making amazing progress organizing all the tools, junk and debris and cleaning out the stotage builings.

I left them working and went to meet friends for lunch.

Lynn and Maria and I were all synchro moms back when our daughters all swam for The Pirouettes of Texas. We lingered long over lunch at a new breakfast and lunch place called First Watch on Beltline at the North border of Coppell. I'm an open book but the other two ladies are more private so I was excited to catch up with them. Such good memories we have of our years together.

I came home in a good mood and ready to do something!

The den is the last room to clean and decorate. I'd done pretty much half of it before we went to the ranch last month so now I am getting the reast done.....bit by bit and most of it late at night after Louis Dean has gone to bed.

I've displayed my Halloween decorations in a big way this year and all in the den.

I love this plaque on Free flying lessons that a friend made and dropped off  for me on Saturday morning. 

Sunday morning I woke up tired and decided to watch church online.

I find I can't burn my candle at both ends the way I used to.

We met Amber and the kids and Aunt Summer at the Olive Garden for lunch and it was so good!

They were already seated when we arrived and Louis Dean's menu was beside mine.....until Kailey asked him to sit by HER instead!

Tomorrow they are going to Hawaiian Falls for the last time this season and we are going to go, too!

I said maybe Louis Dean will ride the two person float with me down the blue slide. This led to Louis Dean asking me what he would get in return and Amber was in process of telling her how IF he would ride the slide that just MAKE her day and cheer her up and make her smile so BIG!

Her heart is a bit blue because her 12-year-old lab, Jersey, is not doing well. We think the end is near.

Lunch with both of my daughters and seing the grand Bells was just the ticket to make me feel better!

I love this picture because each one shows their personality so well in it.

We were all surprised when we came out of the restaurant and it had been raining!

They headed back to Dallas and Louis Dean and I headed to Coppell.

Meet Leo - he's a 16-year old Cornish Rex and belongs to my friend Lynn and her husband......

and he is precious!! They are moving to Florida in just a few short days and he will be flying with Lynn and in his own seat!

They gifted us with their beautiful patio furniture and we were there to pick it up.

Look how gorgeous it is!

We decided to put it on the driveway and I'm certain we will be using it a lot!

I am so excited!

New driveway and now this!

Summer has contninued to work magic around here and so many things are getting done - and I am so grateful!

Look who came over this evening to pick up a goody bag of fruitcake cookies!

Kimmy is so sweet and she hugged on Samantha.

She's always saving containers for me and had a bag full plus some dog treats for the ranch dogs from Mr. Jackson who frequent the gate as come and go. A hard treat as we open the gate and a soft treat as we close it.

She and her mother, June, are going to come visit as soon as the weather cools off to tour our Fall Home and sit on the driveway with us for a snack or a meal!

Tabitha and Samantha seem to be settled down her at home again - but with a few changes.

They snubbed the egg I give them and even refused the cream cheese!

I ordered them the same kind of treats that Amber uses along with a new catnip toy......and they still seemed unimpressed.

The living room is one of my very favoites and here she is all gussied up in her fall wardrobe!

It's a little much - the way I decorate - for most people, but I love every bit of it!

This is what Louis Dean sees when he is sitting on the end of the sofa while we do our reading in the mornings - unless we are sitting out on the kitchen deck.

This room glows year round but it's even prettier in the fall.

The $15 big chair and ottoman on the right is my 'throne.'

Louis Dean sits at the end of the couch closest to the chair.

I love the decorating and dressing and then I love just being here looking at it all.

I had a saying I used to tell people when they came over......

"It's a nice place to visit but you wouldn't want to live here! But I love it!"

I heard locust today. Every day I wonder if this will be the last one...