I left off at my last journal entry rooting for the Dallas Cowboys!
Alas, they did not win!
It was late when we went out to the driveway to carve Jack #16!
It was really late when we got to the park on Northgate Drive.
No one was there but us - and Jack who was looking for a place to sit!
There's a body of water at the back of this park and I really want to set him with that in the background - but it was TOO well lighted.
You can see him down there beside the hole in the drainage ditch.
I had a bit of litter to clean up before leaving him - and that was a little spooky - sticking my hands down there by the dark hole!
It was 11:59 when we got back up to the car.....and on our way we saw a man out jogging his way down to where Jack was waiting for him with a spooky grin!
Monday morning I gathered the last bouquet from my sunflower bush the birds had planted for me and that I have been enjoying since May!
I cut the blooms and filled in the bouquet with sprigs of mint, rosemary, lantana, and such.
Louis Dean slept REALLY late Monday - so much so that it was afternoon when he finally woke up!
While he slept long and hard, I barely slept at all.
At 4:30 I finally got up and went to the guest room.
Louis Dean had had adventures in his dreams and he moved all night long!
Twisting, turning and kept me awake!
I waited until he was completely awake before I left to get my hair cut!
My hairdresser works magic!
She says I have one problem spot in the back crown area and that since my hair has turned white, it looks thinner. She gave me tips on wearing my hairpieces that will certainly help me!
I am working on my Santa paintings every day and 'keeping house.'
I have always felt a comfort in the routines of homemaking.
Cooking - cleaning - decorating - gardening - it gives me peace.
These October days have been every bit as good as the September ones were and I do dearly love September.
The table the Barons gifted us has been such a blessing!
We have had it for over a year now and the new has not worn off.
We do so much out here and pumpkin carving is the newest activity.
I'm loving everything about FALL!
The pumpkin project, the cooler temps, my decorations, the open doors (I keep Samantha and Tabitha in the guest room then) and the attic fan running instead of the AC!
And my music......I do love the 5 CD stereo Louis Dean gave me for my birthday the first year we were married. That was 2005.....
Jack #17 was a small pie pumpkin - because I was tired.
Carving these good sized pumpkins take a lot of energy!
He went to a pocket park on Northgate just down from the bigger park we were at the night before.
This Jack sits high on the wall looking down at the 'family' riding bikes.
This is at the corner of a school so I am sure someone noticed him sitting up there smiling at the kids.
I was all excited for Tuesday morning!
First of all, Louis Dean and I both slept so well Monday night because I banished him to the guest room for one night so we could get caught up on our sleep.
The weather forecast said cooler weather was arriving and I was up to greet it!
While Louis Dean slept, I made coffee, a huge pot of oatmeal, fried up a rasher of bacon and baked a pan of biscuits.
I had a fire ready to light as soon as he got up.
We ordered half a cord of firewood that will be delivered on Saturday so for this fire, I scavenged the yard for burnable wood - mostly from the bark dropped from our old elm tree and small limbs from this and that.
The "AH" moment that I have been waiting and looking forward to!
Louis Dean and I sipped coffee, read our Bible and did our devotions - all in front of the fireplace.
We could sit and watch the flame for hours - and we did!
Tuesday is Senior Discount Days at the thrift stores and that's the day Brenda gets off work early....
and on THIS Tuesday Summer was joining us!
Summer had a very painful procedure on Monday - a myelogram of her spine and she was told she needs two surgeries. One is in her neck and the other is on her hand - carpel tunnel on her right hand. Extreme carpel tunnel..... The appointment next Tuesday will determine which of the two is most dire and that surgery will happen shortly after Thanksgiving.
That being said, she is in a lot of pain.
And still.....she smiles. Summer smiles always if it's possible.
But even so - there are days she can't.
This was not one of them, thank goodness.
Brenda picked us up at 2:00 when she got off work and we were off to the thrift stores!
Brenda is new to thrifting but has taken to it like a duck to water!
And, oh, my goodness!! She is a great shopper!!
Here she is in action!
She is like my personal shopper as she has an eye for Chico and Travelers and Michael Kors.....
What can I say?? Brenda has class!!!
These are my Tuesday Treasures!
I love buying block cheese at Aldi and have missed my cheese slicer since it broke.
I was happy to find another one - brand new, too!
And that fall platter? Yes!
I got the yard lights because I am the Queen of Lights!
And that book? I so need that.
I read that day's meditation while still in the store.
Brenda found all these treasures for me.
And these! Plus more - 9 in all!
I actually found these two items!
The top is super cool and matches the camo leggings.
I am going to wear these on Sunday when we go down to the ranch.
I don't know why this photo is brown when the pants are actually green - and another good match for the green top above!
My three muffin pans that disappeared weeks ago and that I used all the time with my pumpkin making....are still missing.
And now that I have found these wonderful replacements at $2.25 each - I'm sure the original ones will turn up - somewhere!!
All in all a very good Tuesday!
We ended our Goodwill Hunting with tea at Whataburger where Louis Dean joined us.
It's good that he can call me on our land line and he answered when I called him on the land line.
It was time to carve Jack #18 and Pam came over to drive me to his resting place.....
Outside the fence of an abandoned house....
right across the street from Heritage Park in downtown Irving.
I brought some snack bags filled with string cheese and crackers and a bottle of Gatorade.
As with any city these days, there's always a homeless population.
Pam saw two guys in the shadows of a building and I hope they found the snacks.
I'm sure this house will be demolished soon but for now....Jack #18 is guarding the home place.
Today - Wednesday - was a Home Day!
My favorite kind!
Summer came over and entered phone numbers to our land line and did a return of Spectrum equipment. Summer us always doing something for someone she loves.....
It's been a slow kind of day...small routines and even a nap....
and Jack #19!
I actually carved him in the daylight and had him sitting on the mailbox waiting for us to take him to his destination.
Guess where??
Closer.....
On a train!
As in the TRE station where we were there just last week to ride to Union Station.
The parking lot still had lots of cars in it so I am pretty sure several people saw this Jack-o-lantern smiling at them as they pulled into the station!
I did notice several homeless people and next time I will be bringing snacks and drinks.
There's a clock tower nearby and that will be tomorrow's pumpkin drop!
Home to do some Santa art!
After I took this pic, I added three wrapped gifts to the left of his boots....and did away with the light area on the right, It was mostly the camera but I still put that area back in the shadows.
Okay - so this journal entry is really late!
I put the pics on earlier and then took my laptop out to the den to write my words as we watched a Blue Bloods and NCIS.
It's a wonderful thing to live this retired life where you can stay up late and sleep in.
We as a family are planning our Thanksgiving Celebration and this will be so different from the years before when Nita and Mike hosted.
Deanie and Charlie have stepped up to the plate and will be doing the hosting this year.
All the important dates coming up are going to be emotional but we, as a family, are all doing the best we can. Grieving is not a pleasant thing.
Still, there are some healing blessings....as in when Sheryl - Nita's beloved next door neighbor - shared a recent dream she had of Nita, I hung onto her every printed word.
Then I had such a blessing when I received a most encouraging letter from Carol P.....
never underestimate the power of the written word. Thank you for yours...
I am still grieving and it catches my breath sometimes when I realize - again - that Nita is not HERE!
How can that be??
I still don't know but I have had a few days where I haven't cried.
Maybe 3...but I still can't say or even THINK her name without tearing up.
And so may of us dearly loved Nita....but Deanie and I loved her longer and deeper than anyone else.
17 comments:
My dear, your loss and feelings of grief will be with you forever. Some days good, other days full of sorrow.
Your thrift treasures are always that...treasures!! And Summer's smile is contagious. Love your hairdo. Greatly appreciate your pumpkin carvings!!
I still do not know how you are doing all of those pumpkins. I would have trouble carving one! I can tell you are enjoying it and it is a great project for this month.
Your hair looks really cute. And your treasures really are treasures. You hit the jackpot this week with all of those clothes.
Grief is hard. Especially when we loved someone so much. My mother went to be with Jesus just a few months before I got married. I still grieve for her 16 years later. Especially in October which was both her birth and death days. I will be praying for comfort for you.
Say hello to Summer for me. I hope she is pain free soon.
As always...you fill your life with projects, family and activities you enjoy and manage to look like a million bucks..such an inspiration!
I love how you keep going even in your grief. Keeping busy and doing for others is a great idea for recovery. I'm always amazed at your Tuesday finds and with your paintings too. Good for you !
I am so sorry for your grief over losing Nita. However, that says that was a life well lived to have someone love you and grieve over you. I have been to funerals where there is little to no grief.
Your JACKS are so great. I just love that idea. It would be fun to do in our condo unit next year-We are on 70 acres of land with only 48 units with ravines and a graveyard along one edge of the property.
Your Santa is wonderful. You make good use of your time and get lots done.
LD sleeps like my hubby does sometimes. At this point, there are days when he doesn't get out of bed at all-and then others when he is up and doing more than he should. I know what you are going through.
Have a wonderful Thursday- xo Diana
It sure is hard to lose someone so close to you. I know it will always be sad when you think about her and miss her. You are brave to get out late to put out your pumpkins! Take care!
I do love your pumpkin project and your gifting food to the less fortunate. The last time I carved a pumpkin I was using a large chef's knife and my hand slipped, cutting me between my thumb and forefinger - badly enough I had to have stitches. Never carved a pumpkin since. I guess I'm a scarey cat! Beth J. from Iowa
prayers for summers pain and surgeries. I would love to have a daughter or son who could come help with techie stuff or any of all that summer does for you. glad you both got a good nights sleep.
I have never carved a pumpkin..we are having cool weather too, 56 yesterday and 57 today at wakeup with high 60's as the high. a fireplace would be great. i love to stare into a fire
My family made plans for Thanksgiving last weekend. Surprisingly, they did not involve me. 😵💫 Yup, seems I have messed up one too many times. I know that your family will pull together as you always have.
Summer's smiles speak volumes about her life attitude. I keep her on my prayer list.
That final jack has such a great expression. I think he is my favorite.
Happy days to you and Louis Dean at the ranch. Those ranch days roll around quickly.
You are such an excellent pumpkin carver! And your hair looks beautiful. I also love the Halloween top you are wearing. Phil has what we call "action dreams". He jumps and leaps around so much that he jumped out of bed once and got badly bruised. We had to put up a little rail so it doeasn't happen again. He dreams he is being chased or is playing sports or something. Your clothes finds are beautiful!!! Poor Summer; I will be praying for her surgeries. How did she get Carpol Tunnel, I know that is caused by repetitive movements. My mom had the surgery on both her hands.
My little fellow had lots of Cowboy items. He is now 52. Later he went to college and law school in Texas and worked there awhile. I love Fort Worth and Dallas and Austin. Houston ok
He lived in all of those cities. Love your Santa paintings. Amazing artist and writer.
Grief is really hard and it's like a refining fire to each of us differently.
I'm glad you can write about your feelings and let God do his work in you.
My goodness you really hit the jackpot thrifting. They are all going to look so good on you.
Summer sure has a beautiful smile. I hope her pain will be eased by the upcoming surgeries.
Enjoy your time when yu go to the Ranch on Sunday.
Sue
Great to hear your doings. Cheers
I admire you so much, Linda. You are such a gift, and I thank God for you!
These pumpkins are so fun and cute and you are brining joy to others!
Great clothes finds, God brought that book to you, and Summer is smiling! Bless her! I’ll be praying for her!
You just keep on going...bringing joy and to those around you! Love your 'Jack on the train'! As one who has basically never found any clothes at a thrift store, I think you are an amazing shopper! Enjoy your time at the ranch.
Your hair looks great! I am so enjoying your jack o lanterns.
sooooo i have lots to say, i hope i can remember. my kc chiefs lost last week too, it was such a close game and they played really well. i am not familiar with the details of the pumpkin project, but i think i get it - somewhat. if you keep a carved pumpkin in the house, put cinnamon in it, with a candle and the house will smell heavenly!!
your hair looks great...
your home is so beautiful with all of the decorations and lights!!
i am sorry to hear about summer, back surgery is a difficult surgery, one i would never want to have.
be careful with these pumpkin deliveries!! santa is lovely!!
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