A Bonus Trip to the Country!

We left Irving behind Monday afternoon and headed south to the country.

I could feel myself relaxing as I watched the cityscape turn into rural country scenes.

The reason for this extra special little trip was to deliver Dean back to the ranch after his Karate trip to Washington. We jumped at the opportunity to take him home!

Sherry met up with us at a catfish place in Waco where we all had dinner.

Louis Dean had not had one thing to eat that day and it was nearly 6:00!

I have GOT to keep a better eye on him.

He was so dead set on getting the truck loaded and picking his son up and then getting down to Waco, he simply didn't stop long enough to eat.

After dinner, Dean and Sherry went their way to do errands and we went ours.

I wish I would have said, "See y'all back at the ranch!"

There was a new Dollar Tree just a block or two from our restaurant so I asked Louis Dean to let me run in for a minute. He stayed in the truck.

We picked up some fancy lunch meat and cheese at HEB along with some fresh fruit and one thing and another. We are only  here for less than 48 hours so we didn't need much.

Louis Dean was in a hurry to just 'GET there!!!'

Finally!

On our way to the country!!

Heading to Mart on Highway 6.....

As we came into Mart, we had to make one more stop at the Dollar store for milk.

Louis Dean was in such a rush that he forgot to pick up some at HEB!

We drove out to the ranch on what I call the 'Dollar Store Road.'

If you turn left out of the store, it will take you all the way to another road that will take you to another road that will take you to the road to the ranch.

I like this road even though it is a rough one.

You pass some old abandoned houses that for some reason I find beautiful.

This one especially.

You can see a shack right next to an abandoned house which might be next to a regular home.

No one seems to mind living across the street from something like this.

It's beautiful in a melancholy way.

Now we are on the road heading to the County Line.

It was fun to see how the crops have grown.

Corn or maize on the right and wheat on the left.

Or some kind of grain.

At last we arrived at the gate. It was nearly dark but not quite.

When I came in the front door and walked through the front room to open the door by where we park the truck, I could smell the scent of pine. 

It smelled so nice but I had no idea where the fragrance was coming from.

Later on, I found the source of the pine when I was putting some things on the shelf out there.

A pine wreath left forgotten in a basket!

I put it back up on the shelf!

We sat out and watched the stars for a little while after we had settled in.

Amber FaceTimed us with the news that Kailey had lost her first tooth!

First Harrison, next Logan and now Kailey!! She pulled it herself!

 THE most precious thing was the note she wrote to the Tooth Fairy - unbeknownst to Amber.

Amber sent this pic to me!!!

I love how she spelled excited!

'as si dit.'

Today was like a gift.

I started out in the 'big' bed....aka double bed.

We tend to keep each other awake when we share a small bed so I got up and went to the Girl Bunk.

What a handsome guy was right outside my window when I looked out this morning!

He had been up and already working.

I had my first cup of coffee in bed.....

I put some new things in the front room.

Four glasses from the Dollar Tree.....unbreakable which make them perfect for out here!

$1 each.

A diffuser cup holding some fruit.....$1.

Louis Dean said, "Why didn't you buy me one?"

I.could.not.resist. buying this super cute yellow flowered fly swatter!!!

It hangs right next to my lady painting.

Funny, but the flies have not 'arrived' yet!

They were certainly here this time last year!

That's why we keep so many coasters handy to cover our drinks.

I made us a late lunch of chili dogs and potato chips.....at Louis Dean's request.

Then, while he took a nap, I strolled down to the meadow to sit for awhile.

It is my favorite place.

I remember seeing it one April dotted with colorful tents when Dean was holding a Karate Camp.

I found the pic!

Or one of them.

The wood in the foreground was to be the bonfire at the end of camp.

Those were a lot of fun!

This camp was from 2014.

We have only had our camper down here resting permanently for 3 years this month!

The meadow is a good place to visit and it's my habit to call my friend, Linda, in Oregon while I'm down here. She and I had a nice long satisfying phone visit. The time flew by as we chatted on one topic after another. We plan to get together when we are going near her on our way back from Washington in September.

Not sure what we will find for Louis Dean to do while we talk and talk and talk!

As I walked and talked on my way back up to the camper, I noticed three killdeer walking in front of me and then saw that the three horses were following me. It was a kind of parade!

This evening I cleaned the table and four chairs we bought last week at the thrift store before putting them in the front room.

That meant I had to take the smaller table out to the deck in front.

That will work well out there.

As we sat out tonight you could hear the coyotes making a racket.

They were all upset about something but then they calmed down.

We enjoy the night sounds but not some of the night scents.

Skunk smells drift over from time to time but they don't last long.

Kimmy and June gave us some Apple themed coffee cups and they go perfectly with the Apple box I found at Goodwill recently.

This table is a regular kitchen size with four chairs.

They are blond wood and look like they may have come from IKEA.

I have to use a cloth to cover the table since my printer is stored underneath it.

It was a surprise when the chair covers fit - more or less.

I have one red cover so I just need one more.

It's been a gift of a day and we closed it out with a campfire.

We go home tomorrow......but we will be back!

Soon!!