Tuesday's Treasures....

 This morning Louis Dean and I started a new book gifted to us by our friend in Florida, Dawn.

Everytime I mention her, Louis Dean says, "We have GOT to visit Dawn!!"

And, since we are in the winter season of our lives, we are planning trips to visit new places and friends with a big trip every fall for the next 5 years.

Next year - the New England area with travel there and back by car and two different routes.

Up one way and back another.

In 2023 I will be 75 and we are planning on renting a house on the beach for a week and inviting friends and family to join us.

2024 we're hoping to travel south down to Florida along the coast line and back home up the coast line and across.  It's good to make plans. That's the way we actually get to do things - if we plan them!

This is the new book and we are already loving it.

We read a devotional type book - such as this one - and then a daily devotional book - Streams in the Desert is our current one - followed by the Bible - we are in Romans now - and lastly, a read aloud secular book. We are nearly through with Dunkirk and plan to watch the movie once we are done.

Today was my monthly lunch date with Brenda!

It was a ladies kind of lunch with a big pasta salad made from a box and jazzed up with all kinds of veggies and seasonings and herbs and topped with hard boiled eggs.

Chicken salad from Aldi, green grapes and cottage cheese to fill out the menu.

I had all the extras waiting and ready when Brenda used the bee hive door knocker to signal her arrival.

My photos are out of order but dessert was a Hostess pumpkin spiced cream filled cupcake.

AND it was seriously GOOD!

When I was a child, the Hostess cupcakes were my very favorite, followed by Devil Dogs and Ding Dongs. My younger siblings loved the Sno Balls!

Crackers from Aldi's and they are good!

A bowl of fresh fruit, good cheese and banana peppers from my garden.

I had the table set, tea made, candles lit and the food ready!

I normally do not use paper plates and napkins - but today I did!

Summer is staying with us this week and, while I prepared lunch, SHE cleaned and organized my pantry! I will take pics tomorrow! It looks so good and there's even room to add things if we catch a sale at the grocery store! I admit to be fascinated whenever anyone posts pics of their cupboards, pantry, fridge or freezer!

We had a wonderful lunch and it was a bit later (2:30) and lasted a bit longer than normal - Brenda didn't have to go back to work!!

Here she is with her birthday gift!

Last year I had a Santa painting printed on canvas for her - the one I painted in 2012.

Brenda loves to decorate for the holidays just as I do so I knew she would love this year's Santa Express.

After lunch we all went Treasure Hunting at Texas Thrift store on Beltline Road.

All three of us found treasures and here is some of mine.....

I bought  a container holding the glass ornaments, butter knives, angel figures, two bee bears, and a beautiful nativity scene.....all for under $4. The pumpkin flag was brand new and I scored on that white sleeveless parka vest - thanks to Brenda showing it to me.

AND I scored on lots of other clothing items thanks to Brenda and Summer!

I even bought a couple more than I showed here!

All super comfy and super good quality!

Many of the pieces I bought today will be perfect for our Dude Ranch vacation later this month.

Between me and Summer, I was able to pick up a rustic wrangler wardrobe for Rayne, as well!

I'm dropping all these items - except the t-shirts - at the cleaners in the morning. Real cowgirls love starched western clothing and Rayne is a REAL authentic Cow Girl!!!

I will be picking up 4 starched blouses for Lillian when I drop off the things for Rayne in the morning.

She gave them to me last month saying she has no iron to press them. Instead of doing them myself, I thought she might like them professionally starched and ironed.

Friday is Lillian's 87th birthday and Louis Dean and I are going over to celebrate with her,

If you have time and opportunity, perhaps you will send her a birthday card.

Lillian McDowell

7100 Trail Lake Drive 

Fort Worth, Texas 76123

It was a really good Tuesday!

Tonight I made a big batch of goulash - just like my mother used to make. 

She called it slumgullion but that didn't sound as good to me as the word 'goulash!'

It's a memory food for me and my siblings as well as my children.

And it was comfort food tonight for Summer.......

She received news late this afternoon of  the loss of a dear friend, Julie Brown, who used to be her team partner back in the insurance industry days before Summer suffered that fateful blow to her health some 5 years ago in September 2016.

And praying for  Blog Sister Erin in the loss of her husband, Wendall, today.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20