Girls Weekend

Dennis was supposed to be taking some friends to E. Texas to go squirrel hunting over the weekend. So I invited Diane to come spend the night, so we could have a girls weekend. Dennis ended up having to cancel his hunting trip. He had gone down a week earlier to scout out the area and came home with HUNDREDS of chigger bites, so he had one miserable week and wasn't up to a return trip. I didn’t want to cancel mine and Diane’s plans, so I told him to find someplace else to go. He decided to go to San Saba to buy pecans and spent a couple of days driving around the hill country.

Bounty brought back from San Saba

Diane got here Friday in time for lunch. We went out and got some Mexican food and then headed to the DIY craft place downtown for some crafting fun. I had looked online and picked out my project…a wooden fox to paint for Archer’s room. Diane looked around and found a wooden sign that she liked. We spent a couple of hours painting and visiting and looking at all of the fun projects that Bryton has in her store. It was so much fun! I look forward to going back again and taking more friends and family. What a wonderful addition to our town!

After crafting, we did some shopping downtown, and then I drove around and showed Diane our little town. I really do love our town and am so excited by all of the new energy and growth that is taking place. It was fun to share it with such a special friend.

After a light supper, and some more visiting, we decided to watch a couple of favorite movies. First on the list was “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I watch it every year around Thanksgiving or Christmas. It is always more fun to watch with friends! Afterwards we watched “Sabrina” (the newer version). I usually watch the old version with Audrey Hepburn. I had forgotten how funny the newer one is! By time we were finished, it was past midnight, so we turned in.

The next morning, we woke up to temperatures in the high 30’s! I decided it was chilly enough to warrant running the fireplace for a bit. It was nice, sitting in the living room with our cups of coffee and enjoying the fire. After breakfast and some more visiting, we headed back downtown for more shopping. Whereas on Friday we had visited the older establishments (Garrett’s and Witschorke’s), Saturday, we focused on the newer businesses. First stop was to the Antique Mall in the Brazos Shopping Center…so many things to look at and inspire ideas! Then on to the Crazy Water Hotel. The first floor has opened up several boutique-type stores and is soon to have a coffee bar open up. Work is still being done on it, but it is gorgeous! It is very encouraging to see the types of shops opening up inside and knowing that there will be good opportunities for tourists as they are drawn into town by the revitalization going on surrounding the Baker’s restoration. After shopping awhile, we had lunch at the Happy Days Diner. It is a fun place to go for a delicious (and HUGE) hamburger! Then it was on to The Market…a must-stop place in Mineral Wells! I had been there about three years ago, but I plan to start going much more often. It is a great place to look around and find neat gift ideas! They also have good photo op places outside.

Favorite Photo Op Downtown

At The Market 76067

By time we got back home, Dennis had returned from his trip, so we caught up with him awhile. Then Diane headed home. It was such a good weekend! I love spending time with my gal pals, and Diane is one of the best! I can’t wait until next time.

Parting gift from a dear friend

Happy Fall Y'all!

 Even though the effects of autumn don't hit us as early as a lot of places, we are definitely seeing a change! Our highs have been in the upper 80's and lower 90's most days, with the nights dipping down into the 50's a few times. We had some WONDERFUL rain last week...several inches! It was just in time to save our lawn, which had really started drying out and turning brown. It is now lush and green again. The mulberry trees (like we have in our front yard) are RAPIDLY losing their leaves. We can see a little bit of a color change in the other trees. It will be in November before we have our best color. I am enjoying each little change that I encounter though! I LOVE FALL!

I've never been one to decorate for different seasons. However, I have really been drawn to the fall decorations every time I've gone to Walmart. So I broke down and bought a few things this past week. Not much, but it makes me smile every time I walk up to my front door.

Dennis has been taking a break from house renovations. The next project we plan to do is the back guest room. I don't want to tear it up until after our family get-together in a couple of weeks, so we'll have plenty of room for Stephen's family and Rick and Amber. I am really looking forward to that! We'll also be attending a baby shower for Rick and Amber while they are down. I've been buying up little things and filling a basket with them for that. It is hard not to buy something every time I go to the store! It is just under 2 months before little Archer is supposed to make his appearance!

Tomorrow is Amber and Ricky's 2nd wedding anniversary. It really feels like they've been married longer than that. They were together for a year before they got married, so Amber was here during much of that time. She fit so seamlessly into our family, that it feels like she's always been around. Tomorrow is also the 4th anniversary of Ricky's sobriety. I am so proud of how far he has come in that time! 

My last CASA case is quickly winding down, with the adoption consummation coming up later this month. I decided a few months ago that this would be my final case. After 9 years, I don't feel like I am up to doing the job anymore. It is hard to leave such a worthwhile organization, but it is time for me to move on. So I decided to start delivering meals again. MOW is kind of my "fall-back" for volunteer work. I started doing it in Nacogdoches when the kids were young and continued it once we moved up here. After working full-time for them, I suffered burn-out and started looking for other options. Now I'm back. This is something that I should be able to continue to do for many years to come. Plus it isn't so time consuming to prevent me from doing other things that may arise. I think it will be a good fit for this point in my life!

My weight loss journey is continuing to do well. I'm now down 30 pounds! Woo-hoo! I still have a LONG way to go, but I feel really good about how far I've come. I feel SO much better...like I've gained back several years of my life. Carrying around fewer pounds and exercising more, I am able to be so much more active. I used to find excuses to skip a morning of exercise. Now I try to work it in even when it isn't convenient. I'm also enjoying an evening walk several times a week, now that the temperatures have dropped to a more comfortable level. I am REALLY looking forward to my yearly checkup in December and seeing what kind of change there will be in my bloodwork. I'm hoping to be down another 10-15 pounds by then, too. It will be nice to have my doctor happy with my weigh-in, instead of trying to politely tell me I need to lose!

Well, I guess that's all for now. Enjoy the beauty of the changing season, take care, and be kind!

Ec 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. (NKJV)