Country Mouse back to City Mouse.......

We knew it would be a short visit to the ranch and we enjoyed every minute we were there!
Louis Dean and I both slept so long and so hard last night - good solid sound sleep!
As always, we enjoy arriving far more than leaving but today was easier because we know we will be back this time next week! We will return for Critter Chores while Dean and Sherry get 'off the ranch' as opposed to us 'getting out of town.'

It didn't take us long to get packed and ready to go since we didn't have to pack up much.
Laptop, our personal bags with medicine and such, perishables that I packed in our insulated bags, Louis Dean's guitar and music, our Bible basket and that's about it!

We drove down to say our goodbyes to Dean and Sherry and the critters.

I'm looking forward to getting to feed all the animals next weekend.

Most of them, anyway! Some of the banty roosters are pretty intimidating.

I walked down to the meadow - my favorite place.

I spy some firewood ready to cut up!

That makes me happy!

We usually have campfires year round down there at the ranch.

I totally neglected the horses this time but I will make up for it next week!

The peacock was showing off for me.

I was excited to get to see him swoop down and fly from the top of the pen.

Dean did a fantastic job building this bigger better higher peacock pen.

I am a sucker for old rusty weathered things.

And I have a soft spot for my grand dog, Rufus!

Louis Dean and I have been saving bones for him and I gave him some when he came down to visit last night. I left the rest in the fridge for him.

Dean dearly loves Rufus and Rufus loves Dean.

Louis Dean is keeping his eyes on the geese. They had followed me back from the meadow and you can't turn your back on them because they can sneak up and nip you pretty hard!

See that dryer drum beside the dog? That's a gift from Dean and Sherry. It will be our new fire pit liner! I am so excited! The last one he gave us has been used up!

You can see tiny wildflowers start to appear all over the place and then there were these pretty little things!

We passed the big tank as we drove up to the gate.
See you soon!!

I want to  brag on my friend, Jutta!
She was featured in a professional dental magazine and this is the interview they did with her.

It's in Finnish so I asked her to translate it for me.....

1. What is best in your job / work?

Very international community both in the Helsinki hospital area and abroad in the science meetings. On going learning of new and challenging of my self on daily bases.

2. Worst in your job / work?

Uncertainly about the results of my science and the possibility of the possible clinical use of them.

3. What motivates you in your work?

See the previous 1 and 2.
4. The colleague whom you admire the most and why?

Prof RDC who is the top in his field and besides extremely friendly and open good friend
5. Your sports?

Walking and playing with my grandchildren

6. In what you are good?
Taking photos, 
handwork, taking in the moment when it comes, spending time and having fun with grandchildren 

7. What ability would you like to learn
To take other people better in account better, forgiveness.

8. What quality do you respect?

Loyality, to try hard and long ( do not know in English but like do not give up is closest ), honesty, love, wisdom

9. What do you have 
always in your fridge?

Cheese

I love that last question!!

So we are back home as I write this journal entry tonight.
As we were driving back, the temps starting dropping and the clouds grew heavier and the misty rain just kept on falling. We drove straight to the Center where we did our walking. Only missed Tuesday's walk. Then I shopped Aldi while Louis Dean sat in the truck listening to the news.
I bought most of the groceries for our company meal this weekend.....after changing my mind several times I have decided to go with pot roast, mashed potatoes, candied carrots, fluffy salad, an appetizer tray....and brownies. Maybe some chocolate chip cookies. Coffee. Ice tea.
His granddaughter and her husband, her 14 year old daughter and her one year old baby who is named Bella are coming on Saturday! Bella is what Rayne calls me.

Tonight I worked in the den - I took down the Santa wall and rehung it with the landscapes and still life. As I was putting these up it struck me that I need to paint some new ones!
I hope to do more art this year. Nearly all my paints are down at the ranch since that's where I paint now. I think I'm going to do a series of cow paintings. I've never painted cows before.
It's probably time for me to paint some different things....past time, really!

Since it had turned really cold, I cleaned the fireplace and used some of the free wood Louis Dean got last week and kept a nice fire going out here in the den all evening.

This is the only clean area in the den right now!

I'm hoping to have the whole room clean and all spruced up by this time tomorrow night!

It was a good time to come home and watch the news.

We have been watching President Trump and Kim Jon Un on TV.

A truly historical event and I am so proud of our President.