Gentle Country Days.....

Louis Dean and I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a Blog Friend on Tuesday.

They had flown into Houston on Monday for a grandson's High School Graduation arriving a day early so they could meet us halfway between Houston and Mart at College Station.

We met Sharon and Dennis from Ventnor City, New Jersey at 3:00 on the parking lot of The Dixie Chicken! We arrived a few minutes before they did and I was still trying to figure out the parking app when Sharon called out to me. They were trying to figure out t he same thing!

Dennis was the one who succeeded and proceeded to pay the parking for two hours for our car, too!

It was like old home week - we got along so well!!

Dean and Dennis really hit off and Sharon and I are Kindred Spirits!

We have SO many things in common.

The Dixie Chicken was established in 1974 and has been a favorite hang out for college kids at Texas A&M - and I've always wanted to come here!

We didn't realize they have a full service bar but the food is ordered as you come in the door and then they call your name really LOUD when it's ready for you to go back and pick it up!

We four talked non stop for a full two hours plus before Sharon and Dennis headed back to Houston and Louis Dean and I went on to do some errands.

Home Depot for top soil and a giant 'Hose Butler' aka a hose roller upper!

LD needed the next to most expensive one thay have since he has a 200 foot hose to roll up!

We drove to Marlin where we stopped at a Walmart to pick up a few things and then on to the ranch.

We got to the gate right at 9:00 and it was just beginning to be dark night - but we squeaked in while we could still see.

We thought we had left both cats inside the camper with the AC on but Tabitha greeted us as we came in the front door.

I think Samantha got lonely staying in all by herself.

I saw the two of them walk up to each other and touch noses.

It's obvious they love each other and I know they communicate some way!

Louis Dean is a man that stays busy! It rained Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning so he felt limited in what he could do.

That's when he spied an area he could deck!

 

He is still a strong worker man!

He made short work of that and then washed all the deck out on this side and scrubbed it down.

I've been doing some art - working on four different canvases hoping to finish them before we go home next week.

When I find myself struggling with a painting it usually means I need to lay a fresh palette so that's what I did!

This one is so close to being done but needs a few extra details which I can do after it dries.

Same with this one for my son, Jesse.

In the white area at the bottom I will paint in The Barista.

I also painted up a bunch of Santas from last year's okra pods.

They look pretty ugly until you get the paint on them.

I used water based paint on a can for the white and then I painted the red when it was dry.

Doesn't take long since it's water base....Rust-Oleum in Colonial Red.

The next step is to paint in Santa's face and beard.

I'm going to use the larger ones to hang on the stockings this year and the rest for gift ornaments.

Dean and Sherry are out of town for the holiday weekend visiting Roy and Ruth Ann.

Sherry has a big brand new washing machine  so I am doing laundry before we go home!

Wet laundry is heavy so I have my strong helper with me.

Country clothesline!!

Back when we were younger, we would do the Critter Chores when the kids were gone but now that we are older, they have a neighbor come over and handle things.

We could still do the ducks and chickens and peacocks and dogs but not the goats.

So as I was gathering in one line of washing this evening, Amon and his children were laughing and hanging out with the goats after they had brought them back to the pens.

You can hear them in this short video - and the roosters!

It made us feel good when Dean called this morning and asked if we would do them a favor and water his plants that he hasn't got in the ground yet.

Of course we can!

We can't do some of what we once did - but we can still do some things!

I find the country peaceful and quiet but there is a good bit of 'noise' and I love it all!

Or most of it! There's a mean rooster here and it's so pretty I forget that he's not nice!

He caught me going to the truck (we made several trips down today doing laundry) and nipped me on the leg!! 

When we came back down an hour later - he tried it again and I was screaming at him and shouting and flaying my trash bag at his head until Louis Dean could get over and help me!

The peacock in the pen next to where I was started screaming too!

He got all agitated and fluffed out his feathers and started rattling them at me.

Louis Dean stood guard so the rooster wouldn't get me when I stopped to take this pic.

Our early dinner this evening was chili dogs - LD's favorite!

This is HIS plate.

Mine was a single dog with just a dollop of chili.

Louis Dean said more than once, "Thank you, Honey! This really hits the spot!"

Yesterday the extra deck space and today he is repairing a picnic table.

The plastic has cracked and crumbled and he is making a new top for it from some plywood.

I am absolutely THRILLED to see some of the pumpkin seeds I planted have sprouted!!

It would be so wonderful if we could grow our own pumpkins this year!

I'm also grateful Louis Dean is happy about leaving some of the wildflowers for me.

Last year we had a ton of black eyed peas - or was that the year before?

It's foolish to think we can plant a huge garden and take care of it all summer when we are only down here for a week or two each month.

The way we have it this year - I can look out and see my wildflowers - and Louis Dean can look out and see his dirt....and later his plants once they get bigger enough!

I'm loving these gentle days so much.

Each morning and evening is a gift to treasure and I am thankful.