Hello, GALVESTON!!!

 We are AT the beach!!!

Left at 9:15 on Sunday morning and had our first stop on the other side of Dallas at a Jack in the Box!

We parked at a McDonald's but it was a people-less place that freaked me out!

So we walked across the parking lot to Jack-in-the-box where we saw real people and had a good breakfast before we moved on down the Interstate before stopping at the Cracker Barrel at the edge of Houston......

The four musketeers!!

Our third and last stop was at a rest area!

And we are HERE!!!

Cindy and Summer...

Cindy is Sherry's older sister and she is precious!

Ileen is enjoyiing herself here!

My first walk alomg the ocean edge.

Ahhhhhhh.....

My Happy Place!

It was a beautiful moment that I will never forget!

Louis Dean and I brought beach chairs down  and watch the sun go down....

He had a good time!

Louis Dean is such a trouper!

He has rested a good bit but has had a great attitude.

Our beach house is wonderful!

A great view and just steps away from the beach!

Dean and Sherry was in charge of the food and we divided  the cost between the eight of us and at $31.00 each - we ate like kings! This meal was pulled pork and potato salad.

Another night was chicken fajitos with all the extras!

Sherry made breakfast casseroles and Cindy made sausage balls so all of our meals have been delicious!

Louis Dean and I have spent some really good quality time on the balcony.....

Morning coffee and evening wine!

Plus specialty cocktails - a different one every evening!

Tuesday was our beach day and it was glorious!!!

My bucket list was a beach day and being on the beach in the rain.

I got my bucket full!

More than I anticipated! The rain was awesome at first and then it gained momentum and was harder and HARDER. Ileen and I were in the beach chairs and Summer was way down on the beach but she couldn't hear us!

We survived and it was an adventure and I don't regret a single minute!

Our beach house is just a short path to the sand.

My handsome stepson, Dean!

We had a home day and then a beach day and today was a town day!

We shopped the Strand and I found some cool Christmas presents for my Kansas Ciry siblings and a really nice perfume for me.

Lunch today was at Benno's and my favorite waitress was there and she filled my beer stein full of wine - as she always does. We were last here in April and it's like we are friends -which we are!

I always order the Shrimp Pasta salad and white wine.

Ileen ordered a child's plate with extra coleslaw!

Summer ordered a dozen fried shrimp and she was happy!!

I close tonight's journal without a pic of our awesome rib dinner - thanks to Dean!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

 I love every single day of September....no matter what.

One birthday several years back, Ruth Ann and I were out thrifting on September first and I came down with a raging UTI. Some Septembers have been perfectly awesome.

Last year I spent a few hours of  my 77th birthday with Amber at the Scholastic Book Fair!

Two years ago, Summer surprised me at La Madeleine where Brenda had taken me for lunch!

Here we are!

Four years ago I had all my children with me.

This pic was fun!

Four years ago...

Five years ago I celebrated with Sherry and my friend, Carla Kennedy!

2020!

2019 in Waco!

This was from 2016 and my granddaughter, Faith, took my pic and then made me look good!!

Enough already!!

Age happens if we live long enough and I never dreamed I would live this long!

I have been sick with allergies most of this September but have still enjoyed my September morns.

Even in drought conditions with over 65 days without measurable rain and triple digit temperatures.

That's True Love!

Summer arrived  early this week bringing all kinds of medicine to help me.

A cherry limeade counts as medicine in my book!

While I have been in slow motion with all my hacking and coughing.....

I've still been able to manage my household with meals, laundry and routine housekeeping.

A big baked potato went along with this meal.

I have a dear friend who is homeschooling her grandsons....

I will secretly admit that Lincoln is my favorite - but please don't let Liam and Ryder know because they are really extra special too!

I'm having fun with Flat Stanley....

He's making himself at home here!

I do not have young children in my life right now and I am so happy to know these boys and they do make me smile!!

My dear friend, Debbie, is the best grandmother!

To know her is to love her and everyone does!

Summer needed a new tie rod replacement and Stanley was the first to volunteer!

Louis Dean was second!

The job would have cost $480 in labor alone.....

Together they made a good team.

She was the brains and he was the brawn!

They worked off and all all day yesterday and was about to get the old parts off!

I made a good salad lunch which hit the spot since they had been out in the heat and sun.

Later I made a crab salad that I loved!! Lots of crab, avocados, tomatoes, purple onion, celery and good seasonings.....

This morning was special and I lit a special candle from my best friend and a good cup of pumpkin spice coffee!

We had our morning routine on the kitchen deck - but we were both coughing from allergies that we opted to come inside.

I asked Louis Dean to carry in my Bible basket which holds my Bible, journal and prayer journal, devotional book and such....

alas....I had my suitcase packed for our trip in the living room and Louis Dean didn't see it - tripped and fell and hit his head on the coffee table.

I was so scared and called Summer and she and Ileen came a few minutes later.

He's smiling here after we cleaned up the blood and bandaged his head.

The first pic was a sad one but when I told him I was sending it to Amber - he perked up!!

He does not want to worry her.

It's less than one fourth inch deep and the bledding stopped fairly quickly so since he INSISTED he did not want to go the ER.....we three ladies hovered and watched over him for the next hour!

He decided to go to bed and rest.....

and he seems to be doing well for having fallen and cut his head!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes, cards, notes, messages and gifts and I feel very loved.

I opted not to accept the lunch invitations and stayed home watching Louis Dean.

I had great phone visits with my brother, Buster, and Anna Marie among others.

Late this afternoon I had a visit from my friends, Kimmy and Loose!

I LOVE the butterfly cap and the Mexican cookies she gifted me!

Kimmy and I have been friends since the early 70's along with her mother, June, and her sister, Aunt Tommie.

We are all so excited about our beach trip and this is our snack basket for the trip to share with others.

I am so looking forward to six days of beach life! Dean and Sherry are purchasing the food for the week and we will add up the receipts and divy by four. I can't tell you how excited about NO housework, NO cooking, next to NO damage control, no stress and no schedule....

plus I will be with people who love me....Louis Dean, of course.

Summer and Ileen, my beloved step son Dean and Sherry and her sweet sister, Cindy and husband, Rick.

This is going to be an awesome birthday trip and I am hoping and praying we can make this a yearly tradition!

Summer's long time friend, Jim, is here tonight as I close my journal entry.

Since Louis Dean is out of commission, Jimmy is to the rescue to help Summer get her van back together.

I'm sad to say that we have a new family of baby skunks living under our decks and possibly co-existing with our possums.

I have not fed ANY CRITTER for the last few days and we will be gone for a week!

Hopefully by the time we get home - they will have moved on!!