Our Valentine Weekend!

 I was working in the kitchen on Thursday when I heard lots of birdsong......more than normal!

I went to the French doors and saw hundreds of robins fly over, swooping into the pecan trees and down to the deck to get fallen bird seed.

It was amazing!

I quickly went out and filled the feeders.

Robins and cedar waxwings were everywhere!

And they left plenty of proof they had been here, too!!

I worked all day long in the kitchen......cleaning out the cupboards and putting in new shelf paper.

Louis Dean spent the better part of the day in his music room listening to and playing music.

He deserved that time as he was so stiff and sore from wallowing around on the floor and under the kitchen sink for hours and hours the last few days.

Around 3:00 he came in and within a couple of hours had the water on and everything hooked back up.

I immediately started the dishwasher and continued with the laundry.

While I didn't finish the kitchen, I did get a great deal done.

Friday I was up early and the first thing I did after putting the coffee on was to admire my countertops!

I just love them!

So clean and pretty and no flaws to hide or cover up!

It was an absolute joy to work all morning in there making first a batch of homemade caramels.....

and then baking up two pecan pies.

I had enough white corn syrup for the one on the left .....and used dark corn syrup for the one on the right. There really wasn't a lot of difference in the taste between the two.

I worked for the rest of the afternoon and pretty much had all the cupboards done and the drawers all back in place.

Then we cleaned up to go to the Cumby's house for dinner!

We had been looking forward to this night for a long time. 

Brenda and I plan ahead so we don't fall into the habit of saying, 'We need to get together'....and never actually doing it! We purposely plan our monthly lunch dates and are now able to add a couples date to the calendar from time to time. Covid and Billy's recent ankle surgery - TWO ankle surgeries, actually, had cut into our social life.

Brenda and Billy have a beautiful home and she decorates for all the holidays.....

Valentines included!

She has not one but TWO Valentine trees!

I just loved seeing all her pretty things!

She has two place settings at the kitchen counter area for her and Billy during the week.

I did not do one thing in the way of decorating for Valentine's Day!

Brenda even decorates her bathrooms!!!

They were gifted a fire table by their sons for Christmas and have made the most gorgeous patio area for entertaining....complete with a comfy seating area and a huge shade to block the north wind in the winter and the sun in the summer. We had planned on spending the evening out there since our normal Texas weather is usually so mild. NOT this night.

We are in the deep freeze along with most of the country, but she and I did take our drinks out and sat by the fire for a few minutes.

Can you see Brenda??

We ate inside where it was nice and warm.

Just look at the feast she had spread out on the counter!

Everything from salads, salami and cheeses, dips and chips, crackers and olives, brownies and even a pot of hot stew for anyone who wanted something to warm up their insides.

It was a truly lovely Valentine gathering!

We ate and visited and after that we played a fun game called Fast Track!

*Source*

Kind of like Sorry! but even more fun!

I forgot to take pictures because I was having such a good time.

I dearly love playing games and Louis Dean does NOT!

He played this one......if you can count that. He turned the cards over but Brenda and Billy moved for him. He still doesn't have a clue how to play it but guess what? He WON!!!

Before we left that night, Brenda and I made our lunch date for March and I invited them to our house in April. I will teach them to play NUTS! But I'm certain Louis Dean will be a spectator only that night!

Saturday was cold but the roads were dry and I put a stew in the crock pot before we left to get our second Covid vaccine.

They say to prepare to take the next day to rest just in case it makes you feel a little sick.

The temps continued to plunge and just before we were ready to leave, I heard running water and the pipe had busted out by the back kitchen pond. Louis Dean had to shut off the water so we could go ahead and leave. Good thing there's a shut off valve for the bathroom hot and cold water. That way we can still have normal water in the kitchen and laundry room.

The timing was perfect and we arrived exactly 15 minutes before our scheduled 3:40 appointment.

I had checked in online so we just had to check Louis Dean in.

He's all ready to get his shot! I went first so I was done.

There were three nurses there and they all paid him a lot of attention!

We laughed because this nurse had to get his shirt undone and his overall loose so she could get up to his arm. Not to brag or anything, but he still has really good manly muscles and the shirt was too tight to work around.

Bingo!!

Once again. everyone was so kind and cheerful and we laughed and visited like old friends.

We got stickers this time!!

We arrived at 3:25 and were back in the car at 4:00 - grateful to have this done!

From Dallas, we went to the Walmart in North Irving to get in some groceries and supplies as the weather was continuing to get colder and snow was on the way.

Everyone had the same idea! That place was a ZOO!! But we were all in this thing together so people were being friendly and seemed to be in good moods. I love overhearing conversations as I shop. Some are on their cell phones listening as the person on the other end tells them what to get. Other times it's couples talking about what they are going to cook and when. Louis Dean and I had decided to divide and conquer so he went to get some hardware and I started in the grocery department.

We had to wait for a buggy as they were all in use! Finally they brought a line of them in from the parking lot and they were gone in a flash!

We met back up and he put his things in my buggy - even though I had a crooked wheel that made it really hard to push and turn - especially when it was loaded to the max!

I told Louis Dean to get in line while I went to find him some reading glasses.

I walked all over that huge Walmart - and more than once!

When I got back to the lines I couldn't find him anywhere! 

He was in Scan and GO! NOOOOOO!!!!!!!

That's not a good place for us but he had already started and the lady employee who was helping him was so glad to see ME!!! I took over to help him - because by this time he was being very assertive -  we had over $200 of stuff so it took us a LONG time!

The lady was cheerful, though, and congratulated us when we were done!

We wanted to get home as quick as possible so he could fix the broken pipe but by the time we went to Home Depot for a heater (they sold the last one the day before) and then dropped off some pecan pie slices to a few friends.......it was bitter cold and really dark when we pulled in the driveway. Actually, I backed into the driveway! Not something I ordinarily do but the trunk was full and it makes it easier to unload right at the front door.

As we were going in and out (the cats were in the guest room) a small black kitten ran in between Louis Dean's legs INTO the house! He was startled and yelled at it and when I went to get a load, it ran back out! Just a little kitten! It came right up to me but wouldn't let me pick it up. I fretted about it being outside on such a cold night.....

So I fixed a shelter using one of our older kennels and a cushion and covered it with a blanket then set a bowl of food by the opening.

No food has been eaten so I guess it found somewhere else to stay.

I'm still leaving it out there, though. Just in case.

Whew! Saturday was a long one!

This Sunday morning we woke up to snow!

It's pretty much snowed all day long.

We went out to play check on the pipes and fill the bird feeders.

Too cold to stay out long!

Pretty, though!

Louis Dean disconnected the water hose at Stephanie's house next door - they are away in a warmer climate this week!

We don't get snow often so it's really rather special when we do!

Inside was warm and cozy!

Set the thermostat at 68 and covered the doors and windows to keep the warm air in and the cold out.

Samantha and Tabitha have not been hovering around the doors trying to escape!

They know where to go to stay warm!

The kitchen is now all back together and looking so nice!

I forgot to put the stuff back under the sink so I will do that in the morning.

Then I will light my candles and take some pictures before turning my attention to the den!