A Man and His Dollies...And I Ran out of Walls so Now I am Decorating my Fences!

Sunday was a good day for both of us.

Hurricane Beryl brought us cooler temps and some rain which made it possible for Louis Dean to go outside and play.

He is always looking for a project and has the need to DO and ACCOMPLISH things.

We have outdoor storage buildings and deck boxes and that's where he keeps all his 'debris' and I have two storage buildings and several deck boxes where I keep MY debris!

Back in his school teacher days he put on a play - How the Grinch Stole Christmas - back before it had gained popularity. He often quotes lines from the story line his wife Ellen wrote. They were both school teachers and shared such a beautiful life together for 41 years. He signed them up for college after he was discharged from the army - and those were some of the best years of his life.

So over coffee on Sunday morning he said, "The Grinch had an idea!"

This storage building is my Christmas house holding many of my decorations.

He proposed to enlarge the flower bed next to it out a few feet and make a garden plot.

I agreed and he set to work!

He came in when the sun was burning down and then went back out later!

Everything in our house gets cleaned at least once a year!

His doll collection is his pride and joy and we cleaned every shelf and dusted every doll and relocated them so they all get attention.

We put all his family Karate gees together on the bottom shelf of cabinet #1.

The odd and end dolls - some mine - some his went on the shelf above.

Making his Oriental collection center stage.

He does love his dolls!

Especially the Little House on the Prairie ones.

He went back outside to do his yard work and I did my 'therapy.'

My home is high maintenence - but it's worth it to me.

Our cats think wreathes are good resting spots!

Keeping with my tradition of doing Christmas in July - I worked on the Santa couple I am painting for our friend who graciously allows us to use his mountain cabin!

I hope to have it all ready to gift him by the first of August.

We woke up to rain on Monday and even cooler temps!

Louis Dean not only played in the dirt but the MUD, too!

I have deep cleaned the den, foyer, and living room and moved on to the laundry room.

Louis Dean likes to sort things so I asked him to organize my pantry a few months ago.

***Note to Self***

Don't do THAT again.

NOw I have put things back where I can find them!

What made sense to him did not make sense to me so I am back to knowing what and where things are.

(Since then I had added vinyl place mats to the shelves and it looks so pretty! I have put them in my fridge as well - makes it easier to clean since I am short and can just pull the place mat out and take it to the sink instead of climbing up on a step ladder!)

My first born granddaughter, Faith, requested a Santa painting for her birthday and I based it all in - except for the SANTA! Instead of the red suit - she chose a beautiful green one - making this a truly unique painting.

Today was Tuesday Treasues With Brenda and I left Louis Dean taking a nap this afternoon.

When I got home I saw this line of overalls he had washed in the bathtub!

You know what? If it makes him happy and doesn't hurt anything - why not??

I will run them through my routine laundry and he will never know - however he felt GOOD about washing them!

So I met up with Brenda at Texas Thrift along about 1:00....Tuesday is my favorite day of the week and I know I will find at least a few treasures but - even more important - I will get to visit with my best friend. I think Brenda is extra special to me since she is my very first best friend.

She was over in the lady's top section searching for Chico's.

She has an eye for brands.

She spied this one for me and I put it right in my basket!

I'm thinking it will go with a blue and white 'skort' I bought a week or three ago!

I love thes outdoor candle stands from Pier 1!

Louis Dean and I both think they will look like new if we spray paint them with out favorite - Kono Brown!

I love this beautiful peach sparkly necklace....and cute light weight earrings - NOT to be worn together!

I love a good book and ran into a Thrifting Sister at Texas Thrift and we admired each other's treasures!

Judy was the very first person I told about Amber expecting quads.

She is an avid gardener and I have many plants she has gifted me starts from.

That's not a proper sentence but you know what I mean!

Our dear friends, Dean and Lynn Baron, gave us their beautiful outdoor table and chairs when they moved to Florida some years ago now. We have enjoyed sitting out on the driveway and spent many an hour in these chairs. The backs had begun to show wear and today Brenda spotted three chair back covers. I snapped them right up. Next week we will lookk for a fourth - just in case they didn't put them all out at the same time.

I will need to slit the sides to pull them down all the way but what a blessing to find these!

A gold threaded round tablecloth and a pretty rug!

I'm going to love this beautiful black top! So elegant!

This is a Joan Rivers brand and my mother would have called it a Moo Moo!

Remember those???

It was made for a taller lady but I can so whack it off to fir me!

I'm a sucker for pillows and love the French writing. 

It pairs well with another one I have.

I close tonight's journal entry with this special Tuesday treasure.

I have decorated all my walls so now I am decorating my fences outside the kitchen deck!!

You know what my motto for life is???

More is always better!!!

At least for ME!!

Thank you all, my dear friends, for being such a source of encouragement to my heart. I try to stay real and honest as this is my online journal and I truly do think God wants me to share my journey.

Sometimes I feel fragile and vulnerable and other times - like today - I feel like I have renewed strength and purpose.

Love and prayers for all who read my words......

I do love you.