A Day in 'Town' on Monday and an Owl in the Hen House on Tuesday....

Yesterday we left the ranch for the first time since we arrived on December 28th!

We had planned on going to town thinking the roads would be dry enough by then and sure enough, they were! Still muddy and we were galloping along in the truck like we were riding horses but we made it to the gate with no problem!

First stop - the bank which is inside Walmart.

From there we went to Home Depot for a good load of building supplies.

Louis Dean is finishing out the rest of the interior now and bought eight sheets of 'wall boards.'

That and screw nails, Kiltz, 5 gallons of white paint, brushes, PVC pipe, blue outlet boxes and metal box covers plus 4 tension curtain rods rounded out the bill.

That took a good bit of time and I sat in the truck for about half of it reading.

I was on the final few chapters of Believing the Lie and could barely tear myself away.

Next stop was a late lunch at The Catch on Valley Mills.

Oh, how we love that place!

I always get the small fried catfish basket and this time I also got a side of coleslaw.

I haven't always like coleslaw but I seem to have a growing fondness for it every year.

Louis Dean ordered the LARGE catfish and shrimp basket - except they only have a small and medium size. I told the lady to humor him and let him say 'large' anyway.

The Catch serves free beer and margaritas making it a Win! WIN!! all the way.

Last time we were there they had Keystone Light on draft as well as Bud Light.

This time they had Shiner Bock! DOUBLE Win for Louis Dean!

We still had more stops to make but I ran in at the next three and let him rest in the truck.

Aldi.....Goodwill.....and Michael's.

I love the sunsets here!

For whatever reason, I seldom see sunsets at home.

This is my Monday Treasure from Goodwill.

Their Senior Discount day is Monday instead of Tuesday like it is at home.

I knew I would be finishing my book and I wanted to make sure I had another one to start on.

Never mind I have stacks of books at home and even a cupboard full here at the ranch.

I'm a sucker for buying books....

Louis Dean come in with me at Goodwill and he found this collection of Cary Grant movies.

We are looking forward to watching these!

Our last stop was HEB and we went to the really big one on Valley Mills.

It was like a zoo!! The parking lot was crazy full and the store was packed.

The isles were all jammed up with people and lines were long.

Still, I love HEB and managed to finish off everything on my rather long grocery list. 

I usually treat myself to one of their made in Texas candles.

Right now I'm burning the Bluebonnet Fields one......

and I bought a Texas Thunderstorm for this spring.

We left Monday afternoon about 1:00 and got home around 7:00!

We were tired! After we unloaded and put everything up, we sat in the front room with a glass of wine and then went to bed. I looked up at the clock and it was 8:45! I said, "Right on time!"

This morning (Tuesday)we woke up to fog.

This was our view outside the window over the little couch.

I love fog. It looks so peaceful.

It didn't last long, though.

All the rains seem to be turning things green down here.

I spent the rest of the morning doing this and that around the camper.

I'm still writing chapter 16 in my book and once I finish this one I will be in 1965.

I'm hoping to hurry along through the next 5 years and close out Part I.

Part II will pick up some 35 years later.

I think I have a plan.....

Sherry called me on the phone and said, "Come down here quick and bring your camera!"

I flew out the door and saw them at one of the hen houses.

An owl had come calling and ate himself a fine chicken dinner!

I stepped inside to take his picture and then made a fast retreat!

He did not look too happy, although, it might have been that we were interrupting his dinner!

Not sure what they are going to do about him or when they will turn him loose.

They have had barn owls before but not a great horned owl.

I think the door to the hen house was not latched well and the owl just came on in.....

I came back up here and fed the horses.

I think this one is my favorite.

I forget their names....

but they always remember me!

This was the last of the carrots my friend, Virginia, gave me. I have two small white pumpkins for tomorrow and some sugar cubes for the day after.

Louis Dean has been painting wall boards and he's just about done with it.

I'm thinking that tomorrow may see more finished walls around here.

I'm going with Sherry to a Bee Keeper's meeting tonight in Waco so I am posting my journal earlier than normal.

I'm feeling better every day and will probably be back to normal by the end of the week.

Sometimes it takes awhile to get over something, plus I was so tired.

I can feel my energy slowly returning.

I may actually help Louis Dean do something tomorrow.

He can always use an extra hand to hold something and fetch him a tool.

It's kind of cool to sit here writing tonight. The windows are open to the mild weather and I can hear the geese honking and the ducks quacking and the roosters crowing....and Louis Dean puttering around in the front room.

All is right in my world tonight......

I hope it is in yours, as well!

I love Chuck Swindoll!