Catching up! We are home....

 Louis Dean and I packed and loaded up the truck, put the cats in their carriers and said our goodbyes to  Dean and Sherry on Saturday afternoon.

Going out of the gate is not nearly as much fun as coming in!

We made it as far as Mart - like 7 miles away- to the CEFCO station.

When we arrived 15 days before, I noticed the truck was overheating a little.

Then I forgot until we were on the county line road going home.

Dean and Sherry came to our rescue - as they aways do - and figured out the water pump had gone out.

They filled the radiator and Sherry drove the truck back to the ranch with Louis Dean and I rode back with Dean. The words describing the situation seem innocent enough but it was very stressful.

It's hard on Louis Dean when trouble comes along and he's not able to deal with it.

He was convinced I was looking at a different gage and was upset that I had called Dean for help.....

but in the end he realized I did the right thing.

The truck wasn't damaged so no harm done.

Sunday brought a weather change and it was a pretty sky!

We decided to leave the truck at the ranch and son Dean will deal with getting the repairs done.

Sherry was gracious in taking us home in their little car.

Louis Dean was so happy to be home!

Thank you, Sherry, for taking us home!

We had to leave two weeks of laundry in the back of the truck so it didn't take too long to put things away and then went out to harvest more pecans.

I left Louis Dean to it and I went in the house for a little time to myself.

Christmas is coming and I  browsed the latest Victoria issue.

A scented candle, a glass of white wine and a good magazine.....

It was good to be home.

Our sweet neighbor, Stephanie, had left dinner in the fridge for us and we so appreciated it!!

Monday was a much cooler day!

Our first fireplace in the den of the season!

We came home on Sunday and didn't leave again until late Wednesday afternoon.

Louis Dean is experiencing some of the sundowners symptoms and was up and down all night.

This makes our days and nights a little bit more complicated.

Wednesday we drove over to Dallas to visit with the Bells!

I stopped at the Goodwill on Midway Road and unloaded several large bags full of denim and household stuff. It feels good to purge!!

Little Bauer has grown and I was so happy to see him!

He's a cuddle cat - loves being held and sitting in your lap and napping on your shoulder.

It was a 'Bell family evening at home' and we were invited to join them.

Amber prepared a great DIY grilled chicken burrito bar that was delicious.

We filled our plates and gathered in the living room to watch a movie together!

Louis Dean did plays based on The Grinch when he was teaching second grade.

This was before the book was famous and this was a highlight in his career! 

He quoted the lines as we watched the movie.

It was a wonderful evening and I relaxed and enjoyed every minute with these precious Bells....

from Amber and Mike to Trystan and Kailey, Harrison and Logan, and Bauer, Bandit and Ginger!

These are busy years for all of my children and I am so happy they still make sure we are a part of their lives. Jesse and Rachel, Summer, and Benjamin.....I am so blessed!

I am deep in the throes of transitioning from fall to Christmas/Winter and it is a lot of work!

I am changing things up this year and taking it slow and steady.

Every year I do things a little differently and even more so this year. 

It's beginning to take shape and I am having a good time doing this.

I go to bed at night thinking about my decorating plans and wake up to fresh new ideas!

I'm not nearly done but I do have an idea of where I'm going!

I am featuring lots of small Christmas trees and will use white lights and red ornaments on them.

I'll be donating a ton of personal ornaments to Goodwill unless I chicken out.

Why keep things that no longer matter to me or that I am actually tired of displaying.

And if I don't display them - then why keep them, indeed?

I have been a Keeper of Memories all of my life, but at 77 years of age, perhaps it's time to purge these memories and pass them on to some who may appreciate vintage things. 

I've loved all my pretty things and am keeping most of them...

but it's time to let some go...