Kittens, Lights, Christmas Stores and a Santa Painting.......

 We have a night routine where we make the coffee for in the morning - turn the lights off - (and this takes some time)- close up the house - turn the diffuser and sound machine on -

and we gather the kittens up to go to bed.

Samantha is usually easy. She's tired and is ready to go but Tabitha is a different matter.

She likes to play hide and seek!

Louis Dean makes a game out of tricking her into coming out by jiggling a toy or the treat bag.

This only works some of the time. Then you have to come up with a new idea.

Monday night was particularly challenging, but he managed to 'snooker' her into sticking her neck out from under the big ottoman in the living room.

Once he picked her up, she immediately stuck her face down into his elbow like she was so ashamed of being snookered!

He thought that was so funny!

She finally looked up at him as if to say, "WHY? Why did you do that??"

We do love our kitties and never dreamed what joy they would bring us.

Louis Dean has been steadily working on the sump pump project and has it now placed in the pit he poured of concrete. He put heavy duty screen to cover the top so debris won't get in. The water lines have been dug and there's a new faucet over by the kitchen pond to make everything more convenient.

He put in an outlet to plug the sump pump in.....and I bet I can now string up some more lights outside!!

Speaking of lights - as in Christmas lights - 

Tuesday was our lunch at Campo Verde!

Pam and Virginia and I had made a date to go....

if you don't plan it - it won't happen.

Virginia and I were here together last year but this was Pam's first visit.

She was properly impressed!!

I remember the first time Louis Dean and I came here. He said, "Linda, you have been BESTED!!"

The margaritas were as good as the food and we had such a good time!

I got a kick out of seeing this area!

They are still putting up more debris!

Another staging area.

I hate it when some of my lights go out and I noticed where we sat, there were some that weren't buring so I guess they were not plugged in yet.

Campo Verde is located in Dalworthington Gardens at 2918 West Pioneer Parkway.

I want to go again in December with our friends, the Fosters.

Last year we went to their home for dessert and I thought I would invite them to our house this time.

Pam was our chauffeur and she delivered Virginia and me back to my house.

Since it was Tuesday - we thought we'd go Goodwill Hunting!

That's not Pam's cup of tea. She'd rather go biking!

These are my Tuesday Treasures.

Two large Christmas plaid tablecloths - I used plaids in the den at Christmas and through the first part of February. A small satin Christmas tree skirt, three read aloud books, a Christmas blankie, a brand new nice skillet with a divider - like to cook bacon or burgers on one side and eggs or potatoes on the other. Finally, a brand new wine bottle bag - insulated for carrying a chilled bottle of vino with a small corkscrew in the little zipper compartment.

Plus this bleacher seat for Louis Dean to use at the quads' hockey games.

Tuesday night I sewed the three pieces of Louis Dean's Texas quilt together!

I've watched Hamish McBeth while I have sewed this top. I looked up the actor and only then realized this series was made in 1994- 1997.

The white piece on top of the blue was for the Texas star.

However, tonight I messed it up and now I have no idea how to do one.

Guess I will have to think.....think....think....

Louis Dean stayed up really late that night - his feet were bothering him and he just couldn't sleep - so he was still in bed when I left Wednesday morning to go over to spend the day with Amber.

We made a run through Starbucks and I got an order of the Egg Bites. Low calorie since they only use the egg whites. This time I got the ones with roasted peppers. Really good.

Ambe had heard about a new to us Christmas store in Plano called Holiday Warehouse.

It's on 15th Street and it is AMAZING!!

SO much to see!!

Different rooms had different themes.

Every one spectacular!

All color schemes.....

and the traditional along with the whimsical.

It looks like the garlands are a combination of several all weaved together.

We got a lot of good ideas!

I love this idea of hanging lights on a branch suspended from the ceiling.

I have a hook over the baby grand piano in the den and I think I'm going to do that this year!

They had such unique ornaments such as this one that looks to be made of sand.

This would be perfect for Summer and Sabrina in Puerto Rico.

I must say this store is really pricey. WAY out of my budget.

Amber buys a special ornament every year and this was the one she chose from the Holiday Warehouse. What  a great idea to use small stones for the tree lights.

I may paint some of these for next year and use some of my jewelry pieces for the stones.

I had brought the kittens over and Amber and I took them to have their stitches taken out.

The doctor said they did so well - all healed up now!

Amber settled the kids down in the playroom when we got back.

They had snacks and did their reading and played while Amber and I watched a really good movie.

It's the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and she was fascinating!

I did not realize how much we owe Ruth Bader Ginsburg for her fierce dedication to women's rights.

In 1959 Louis Dean was called back into the army after already serving two years.

There were some legal responsibilities he needed to take care of and he tried to give his wife, Ellen, his power of attorney. He was told he could give it to his father in law - but not to his wife. It had to be a man - not a woman. I highly recommend seeing this film.

She was confirmed to the Supreme Court 96-3 in 1993.

It was dark when I got home last night.

Louis Dean was sitting on the front porch waiting for me.

I had meant to come in and start taking the fall decorations down from in the den....

but instead, I took a shower and joined Louis Dean in the gazebo for a glass of wine and we stayed out there visiting until bedtime. I had left the kitties at Amber's - both kittens and the Bells love them to visit - so we had the French doors open and the attic fan on. Still warm in Texas but so not HOT!

It's kind of nice to sit out here in our one Christmas decorated 'room.'

We even had a campfire!

Louis Dean has been working hard getting this area ready to put the deck in.

He said one more day and he could leave it and start the deck when we get back.

So that gave us one more day here at home before we go to the ranch.

I used this day to pack away the last room of fall.

I may find the odd thing here or there but it is now a done deal!

ALL fall is packed in tubs or bins and I used just a few bags for bulky awkward things.

It's a lot of work decorating and thank goodness it all comes down much faster than it goes up.

When we get home from the ranch I will clean each room and then decorate it.

Louis Dean keeps suggesting that I 'scale it back'......that's a thought.

I can try.

While I worked, I watched two Hallmark Christmas movies and set to record a handful of others.

And guess what??

Louis Dean watched them with me!!

I ordered this year's Christmas cards and they arrived today!

I would love to send YOU one.

While I have many of your addresses, I still don't have all of them.

Please send me an email - adddress on the side bar of the blog - and I will put it in my book.

One of the reasons I need to get back to the ranch is because that is where I do my art now.

And I need to finish this year's Christmas paintings.

I am late doing the Christmas Painting Giveaway but here it is.

Every comment from here until the 21st of November - that's 10 days - will be an entry to win one of the Christmas paintings. I don't even know which one yet!!

If you do NOT wish to be entered - just say so.

We are back in the gazebo as I write this tonight.

 We aren't watching much TV and next to no news so this is where we tend to finish up our day.