Our New Year traditon is to arrive at the ranch before the old year ends and the new one begins.
More years than not - this is where we are and I'm so happy to BEE here!
So are the cats!
They have been so excited to be back and have been running from the camper into the front room and back again! They sun themselves in the window and nap for hours and then Hide 'N Seek which is so much fun for us to watch!
I love hearing country sounds instead of traffic and sirens.
Give me quacking ducks any day!
It still gets muddy down here but it's amazing how fast it can dry up!
Stepson Dean is such a blessing to me.
He knows I get a kick out of seeing and feeding the critters so he brought Bruce down and tethered him outside the back fence.
He's a handsome Billy goat!
Apple cores and cucumber peelings made a nice snack for him!
"You're WECOME!"
Two of the three rescue horses came down and I gave them apples.
Normally they will eat them right out of my hand but not this time!
I'll try again before we go home.
Then there's these gorgeous Great Pyrenees aka 'the MOPS!"
Remmie is the dark faced one and Rugar the white face and they are both gentle as kittens but protective as a mama bear with her cubs.
No more problems with the coyotes since they arrived and they are good at herding the goats and keeping them safe.
Dean and Sherry's 1925 house is coming along nicely!
They have made amazing progress and the roof is now completely done and Dean has replaced some of the 17 windows - it's a work in progress!
This house is going to be beautiful and I am happy to be a spectator to its journey back to glory!
I am still in love with our cozy cottage of a place that Dean and Sherry offered to us.
The baker's rack Amber and Mike gave us is serving us well as extra storage space in what was a wasted area. We love 'flat surfaces' and fill them right up!
Louis Dean is enjoying his time here!
On New Year's Day afternoon, the four of us drove to Marlin, Texas.
I had no idea it used to be famous for its warm mineral water!
It really was warm!
This is the foot bath that I wish was filled so I could have used it!
The real purpose of our visit to Marlin was to shop at this 'place.'
It's a junk/antique/collectables/vintage/whatever kind of 'shop.'
This photo is of the side of the house and I regret not getting a pic of the front.
The owners who live in this huge plantation home are in the salvage/building business and I have never seen so much STUFF!
The wife does the salvage while the husband does the building.
The reason Dean and Sherry know about this place is because they hired the husband to finish their roof and now he is going to repair the back wall of the porch on their 1925 house.
See what I mean???
SO much STUFF!
I would have loved to buy several of her white iron chairs AND this gazebo!
Dean and Sherry were looking for white columns for their house and found some for $50!
There was so much that I felt overwhelmed and nothing was priced so you had to ask her about every single item you were interested in.
She has collected so many of the statuaries and metal garden chairs and tables.
I loved them all!
Frames and the other side of this carriage house was crammed full of chests and buffets and desks!
It was an adventure and we came away with several planter pots for roses!
$20! One looks like old masonary but it isn't and that's the one I like best.
Plus two sphagnum moss baskets that I plan on planting with pansies for the winter.
Our other New Year's Day activity was returning the red Craftsman cabinet to Dean.
Louis Dean does amazing things moving heavy stuff all by himself!
He knows his physics!
We returned this and brought back a huge wardrobe to replace what Dean had loaned us.
Let me just say....this was an ordeal.
LD and I had a very stressful evening getting this HUGE wardrobe into the bathroom!
It was taller than LD was thinking and a lot heavier!
The wardrobe has wheels on it and we should have unloaded it from the truck and rolled it into the bathroom. Alas, LD insisted on carrying it in on a 'two wheel truck' as he calls it and that made it HIGHER than the ceiling.
It was not a pleasant experience!
The wardrobe - which I am going to love to store my clothes in - is now in the bathroom1
However, there were problems in putting it in place.
The electtrical outlets and the board that held LD's horseshoes had to be removed which means we now have no electricity in the front room.
I try to be 'real' here and I am struggling tonight.
We ate dinner by candlelight and LD is back out there working on whatever....
I'm going to try and lure him with a glass of wine and an early bedtime.
I'm praying tomorrow he can be fresh and figure it all out.
If not - we are still okay and can come back later this month and regroup!
It's been a not so good evening....
Dementia and Alzheimer's is a difficult situation...
for both Louis Dean and me.
Still, we are making the best of what we have and the least of what we've not!
17 comments:
Happy 2025. Hope you have a wonderful and busy new year.
The new year has arrived. Love all the critters!
You are already busy making changes and additions.
Have a wonderful weekend. :)
I do hope the electrical issue can be easily resolved. I hope you are warm enough tonight and can sleep peacefully and that tomorrow will be a better day all the way. I can read between the lines and I am praying for you both. God is with you and He will help you figure things out. Sleep in heavenly peace tonight. God is in control.
Oh goodness, I hope there is a good way to work this out. Maybe ask son Dean, he always seems to know everything! This shop looks so totally like YOU. I bet you were not able to go through every single piece! What fun that would have been! Love your header!
I've tried to visit more often, but life gets in the way. So many things to do at the ranch, and sorry some didn't turn out so well. Your sweet and patient attitude makes it bearable. You dearest is so strong and so full of wisdom on how to fix things and make them work. The ranch is such a place of peace. Loved seeing the animals and how your kitties love the camper and the windows and naps. I trust and pray the rest of your time there will be plesant and all the things you want to accomplish will happen. Hugs and kisses from me and my dearest. I thougt I had lost my Santa painting you gifted me...I looked and looked before Christmas, and then found out it had mistakenly been taken to my daughters with a load they were storing for us. She called me and said "Mom, do you know a Linda Chapman?" I knew immediately she had the painting. Yeah. It will be put in a safer place for next Christmas.
Hi there Linda, I'm on my way, I want yall to take me to " that place"!! Ha ha 😆 🤣 😂 just kidding. But I could spend all day at that place looking at all the amazing goodies for sale.. That big white angel would've come home with me for sure.. 😊 Hope your day tomorrow goes better! Hang in there!
Hi Linda. I love your honesty and authentic description of the trials of life. Your love and perseverance are an example and inspiration to me and many others. God bless you and LD as you focus on the positives in each day. Enjoy your time in the country. See you again soon!
Prayers to you. Sweet Linda and Louis. Dee
So happy for you,,a new beginning to a brand new year in the place you love most..enjoy every moment!
If there is a way.....Ld will find it. Flexible....you are a champ!!!!
I just love those mop faces and Bruce is gorgeous/handsome. I prefer ducks over sirens any day. the city is so noisy... traffic noise drives me crazy and now its outside our window on the world. not so 40 years ago.
I am so happy you made it to the new year visit to your country home and the cats look so very happy. I want to sit on the porch to the old house, love what they have done so far.. I always wanted to live in a cracker house, which is what these homes from that age are called here. hugs and love and Happy New Wonderful things in 2025
Sometimes moving furniture can be an ordeal even without dementia/Alzheimer's! Bless you!
Hopefully the glass of wine, early bedtime helped.
Love to you both!
Deep breaths, Miss Linda. You are in your happy place and that is what matters. Maybe your stepson can wander over for a 'visit' and can then help without LD knowing he was called in as backup? You and LD eventually manage to figure out everything. Until then, cucumber sandwiches are good!
I know how difficult it can be Linda but I love your good attitude and you stay in prayer from help. We all pray for you too. Sweet hugs to you both. Happy New year!
Wow, all that stuff would be a bit overwhelming. I also don't do well if I have to ask about a price. I want to just look at a price tag. I love your attitude about making the best of things.
this is a great post filled with so many fun things. how interesting to be fixing up their old home place. I love junking and shopping at places like these people have.. excited to see the finished project
Wow, is all I can think to say, at least you are in your happy spot and hopefully all will be figured out and made right for you! Things always tend to look better in the morning. Hope you both had a restful night!
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