Another Good Week....

 Louis Dean and I have been busy the last couple of weeks getting our outdoor areas ready for spring and summer.

We took all the netting and rain curtains down from the gazebo to open it up.

I love the lights at night!

It now has a different look with all the 'walls' gone.

Sanford and Son used to live in our back yard but they have moved on and it was good to see them go!

Remember them??

This is our morning spot for coffee and bird watching and my Quiet Time.

You can see that Louis Dean keeps a coffee pot out there!

My first honeysuckle and rose bouquet of the season.

Saturday night Ilene came for dinner and the last episodes of The Madison....

although we ended up watching episode 4 that night and the last 2 on Sunday!

My son, Jesse, came one afternoon and checked out the self cleaning kitty litter box for me.

He has one just like it and helped me get mine on Amazon.

There's an app on my phone but I couldn't figure it out and it lost Internet as well.

Turns out the drawer was not shut all the way!

I skipped Tuesday Treasures with Brenda as Logan and Trystan had a concert and we went over before traffic so we could ride with them.

We had front row chairs!

Instead of climbbing the bleachers, Amber brought in three chairs for us.

I am smiling as I write just looking at my sweet Amber and Logan and Trystan.

What a blessing they are to me.

I'm happy to say that the last two decorated trees and all other Christmas is now out of the house.

The sewing room was the last to go!

How do you like my new sewing machine cover??

I'm looking forward to getting back to doing some quilts and mending.

Our sweet Tabitha is in the dog house right now.

I have been smelling cat pee in the sewing room and I discovered why!

She has been peeing under the library table that had a skirt over it....and on a stack of quilt batting and backings as well as a bag that held a shopkeepers apron pattern - all cut out. Now I will have to unpin the patterns and wash the fabric before I can sew it!

AND - she peed on the curtains!

Back when the Bells had taken the cats in to give me a break during the plumbing crisis earlier this year, Tabitha has posed a problem by peeing on clothing and hockey bags. Amber didn't tell me for awhile thinking she had a UTI and took her to the vet. He put her on antibiotics for good measure but I suspected she was acting out.

That added so much work to what I was already clenaing up in there that I was more than ready to get out of town and send some days in the country!

We meant to leave earlier in the week but Louis Dean was out of one of his memory meds so I had to wait until Thursday to pick it up and then we headed south!

I drove straight through only stopping at HEB!

It's only a little over 100 miles from our driveway to the ranch gate and that's about as long as I can drive at one time.

We arrived at 4:30 yesterday afternoon!

My view this morning with the first cup of coffee.

It's so good to BE here.

I have never in my life left my home in such disarray!

Bed unmade, clothes on the floor dishes in the sink.....

It will all be there when I get back and in the meantime....I am soaking up the slower pace of country life.

I close tonight's journal entry with this photo of Charlie.

He belongs to Brenda and Billy and he is so loved.....

as is Miss Sadie.

Tomorrow is going to be a hard day for my best friend.

She gave me permission to share the photos and this is her Facebook posting.....

Our sweet Charlie is very sick. He has a large mass in his belly and surgery is not an option due to his age and a heart murmur. We are so sad to have to say goodbye to him. Laps of Love will help him cross the rainbow bridge peacefully on Saturday

Praying for my friends.....