We are at the Ranch!!!

We left for the ranch at 2:00 on Wednesday afternoon and stopped on the other side of Dallas for a late lunch at Whataburger!

We were really hungry!!

The only other stop was at HEB and that didn't take too long.

Still, it was dark when we got to the gate!

It's always a special moment for me when we arrive!

Dean had called and warned us that there wasn't any water to the camper OR the big bathroom due to broken pipes.

The cold water pipe to the shower and busted all the way down even though Louis Dean had insulated it well.

When we got in, it didn't register on me that the girl bunk wasn't down flat.

Dean had to get under that for some repairs he had been doing inside the camper before we arrived.

I had let the cats loose and figured I'd make the bed up with fresh sheets after we unloaded the truck.

Sherry put all the food I'd brought in the fridge for me while they guys were checking out the broken pipes. That's when I noticed the cats were outside!!!

So then we were all out there chasing them!!! 

As it turned out, Dean discovered a really big water break from the faucet they use for the ducks.

If he hadn't been out in the field with a flashlight looking for cats, he would not have found this until the next day!

He was able to turn that water off and repaired it the next day.

The cats were enticed to come in and all was well.

We had one faucet outside that worked from the rain retrieval system so we filled containers with water from there and settled down for the night.

Thursday the guys went to Waco to the Home Depot for parts.

Louis Dean looked cute sitting out there waiting for Dean to come up and go with him.

I stayed at the ranch and walked down to see the critters and visit with Sherry.

All of them survived the Arctic blast of last week.

The black on the roosters comb is frostbite.

Dean and Sherry had just finished getting hay into the new shelter for the goats only one hour before the cold arrived!

They put all the goats in one pen.

I'm sure the mops love their heavy coats in the winter!

Thursday night a wild storm blew in and it rained HARD!!!!

We brought all our fall pumpkins down to feed the critters.

I heated up a big bowl of turkey and dumplings for Louis Dean ....

and I had a salad.

I'd set up the art table and painted some before bed.

I have some new paintings planned so I want to finish up the two from this year before it's over!

Bless his heart!

I took this picture on Thursday night - he's trying so hard to get the water fixed.

Today (Friday) I did not take one single photo.

Louis Dean and Dean worked all afternoon and still no water.

LD repaired the shower and when Dean turned the water on - the water heater fittings were pouring out water! They had to drain the heater and take it out of the work room - so Louis Dean had to practically 

move all his tools and such out to the front deck!

I went to the girl bunk and stayed out of their way for three hours reading.

Tomorrow is another day and hopefully they can get the water back on.

I see another trip to Home Depot and this time I'm going, too!

I'll close tonight's journal entry with something my friend, Mary, put on her Facebook.

I just love this!

At birth we boarded the train

and met our parents, and we

believe they will always travel

on our side.

However, at some station

our parents will step down from

the train, leaving us on this

journey alone.

As time goes by,

other people will board the train;

and they will be significant

our siblings, friends, children,

and even the love of your life.

Many will step down

and leave a permanent vacuum.

Others will go so unnoticed

that we don't realize

they vacated their seats.

This train ride will be full of joy,

sorrow, fantasy, expectations,

hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.

Success consists of having a

good relationship with all

passengers requiring that we

give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is:

We do not know at which station

we ourselves will step down.

So, we must live in the best way,

love, forgive, and offer the best

of who we are.

It is important to do

this because when the time

comes for us to step down

and leave our seat empty

we should leave behind beautiful

memories for those who will

continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey on the

train of life.

Reap success and give lots of love.

More importantly, thank God for the

journey.

Lastly, I thank you for being one of

the passengers on my train.