Winding up my Year of Firsts

The intention of this blog was to record firsts done during my 65th year.  That ended April 22, 2018, on my 66th birthday, but I did start the blog a week in to my 65th year so I had a few to make up.  I've done a number of things since April 22 and I will try to mention some of them in this last post.

My most recent one was this morning when I went to the National Geographic museum in Washington, DC which is across from our hotel.  What a wonderful experience that turned out to be.  It is a very small museum and really has only one major exhibit at a time and this one was The Tomb of Christ at the Holy Church of the Sepulchre in Jerusalem which National Geographic helped to restore in 2016 as it was beginning to crumble.  The major part of the exhibit was done with 3d virtual reality so that it appeared that you were actually in the building and it was just amazing.  This is probably as close as I will ever get to the tomb of Christ, but I felt like I was there, like I could reach out and touch everything there.  This type of technology is going to make it possible for people everywhere to see major monuments and historical sites throughout the world when they can't actually travel there.  I learned so much and it was such a feast for the eyes.

We went to a new restaurant to us in DC called Georgia Brown's.  It was low country Southern food with sweet cornbread and buttermilk biscuits brought out with peach butter to begin the meal and then all kinds of choices of comfort food to choose from.  I had trout and it was yummy.  More food than I could eat.

We are staying at the Mayflower Hotel in DC which I had never been to.  Bill had stayed there once when I wasn't with him.  Our Marriott Ownership allowed us to use our points with them to get a huge suite to enjoy all week, with lots of amenities including hot breakfast.  This is the way to travel!

I got to watch Cassie graduate via live-streaming, and I am so very proud of her hard work in getting her dental hygiene certification.  We will be going to Hailey's high school graduation this coming Friday--first of the grandkids to graduate.  We are very proud of her accomplishments.

Bill is buying Mandi and Jeff's RV and we are preparing for our first road trip in it as we head to Nachitache, LA for Memorial Day weekend.

I got to take Mom to Mandi's so we could celebrate Clay's 7th birthday before they headed off to South America.  We had a great time watching Clay enjoy every minute of the day!

Tomorrow night I will complete one full year with the Central Texas Master Singers as we do our last concert of the year.  It has been such a rewarding and yet challenging experience to sing with this group and I look forward to my next year with them.

I've done many other small firsts that haven't been documented on this blog this year, but I am glad that Mandi encouraged me to do this because it has made me much more aware of the things I can take advantage of that I've never done if I will just do them.  It has gotten me out of a rut and hopefully will keep me out of it in the future.

Day 359--Researching Oklahoma City

While I was at Mandi's, we got out our calendars and worked on when Nana camps could happen this summer and other times that I need to assist with the kids.  Weston and Ruth want to do their camp together which I was surprised at, but we are working on a small "destination" trip to Oklahoma City--someplace we can drive to and that can be wedged between their many activities of the summer.  I've never spent any time in OKC so know nothing about what is there except the Cowboy Hall of Fame.  I have spent some of my morning investigating, and find there are some pretty nice areas such as a small riverwalk area which is called Bricktown, and there are quite a few museums, etc.  I'm letting the kids help with the planning now that they are so grown-up so we will see what we come up with. One thing I found today is that there is a Women's Pilots Museum there that I think Ruth will want to go to as she is very determined to become one herself!   I love every stage my grandkids hit because I see new and wonderful traits in them during each stage!

Day 358--Morning at the VA

Bill was out of town today so it fell to me to take his dad to the VA for a checkup.  That place is a mad-house for sure!  Wait times are crazy as well.  His dad has never been known for patience so the waiting was hard, but he was a good patient once he was seen.  However,  he was really confused by the time I got him back to his place and that has concerned us.  His memory is always bad but this time was different.  So we are concerned.  The doctor wants him to have a sonogram on his carotid artery because it sounds like it might be somewhat closed up which could cause a stroke.  So we will be doing that next.  We'll just have to wait and see where things progress from here.

Day 357--Meals on Wheels with Mandi

This morning I rode with Mandi as she delivered Meals on Wheels to 5 of her regulars.  While picking up the meals, we ran into Avis' niece who also lives in Flower Mound and she was picking up meals for her people--we didn't know she was working in the program as well so that was a nice surprise and short visit.  I forgot to mention yesterday that Avis has a new granddaughter--Catherine Rose--born on the 17th and coming in at a healthy 8+ pounds!  So I'll post her as my picture for today since I don't have one of Mandi and me delivering or eating lunch--but we had a great time!

Day 356--Getting to Party with some Historical Figures

Today I drove to Flower Mound specifically to visit with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, AKA Weston and Max.  But I actually got to visit with 14 other historic characters, some of which were Robert E Lee, Rosa Parks, Eli Whitney, Ruth Graham, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and others.  Mandi and her co-worker for CC had their students write history papers of 5 or more paragraphs and then the presentation for the last day of CC was for all those students to present their papers dressed as their character they researched and also to bring a snack for the entire attending audience that was particular to their time period in history.  It was a wonderful program and many kudos to Mandi and her teaching partner for the great job they did with these kids.  I'm so glad I got to go!

Mandi did a great job of being the emcee--except
for breaking the stand for the mic!

Most of the group--Weston the tall Thomas Jefferson
in back and Lincoln (Max) next ton him.

Max visiting with Daniel Boone

Robert E Lee was a riot!  He was definitely in
character the whole time even when serving
his "creamed possum" dip and hardtack!

Day 355--Strange New Tunnel

This strange looking contraption is the bridge that goes over the Leon River near Summer Fun.  The road crew has completely covered it with some kind of tarp to do construction on it and left only one lane for driving.  So we have a tunnel and a traffic light at each end to get from point A to point B when traveling the back way from Belton to Temple and vice versa.  I try to remember to come a different way to avoid it but sometimes forget out of habit.

Day 354--Concert in Copperas Cove

Today Master Singers had a concert in Copperas Cove at a Lutheran Church I had never been to before with the group.  I think this was the second concert they have done there and the first one was a Christmas concerted a few years back.  The people were very receptive and nice and had a spread of food afterwards for us and the attendees.

Day 353--Ty's baseball game

Today I finally got to see Tyler playing machine pitch baseball for the first time.  He is really a great athlete and can slug the ball well.  He played a number of different positions during the game, starting at 3rd base, then first, outfield and finally catcher, which he told me doesn't like to play.  He did really well.  Also the first ballgame I have ever watched with the wind blowing gusts up to about 35 miles an hour!

Slugger

Lots of gear!

Day 352--New Yard gear

I actually do not like working in the yard, but sometimes the right tool makes it so much better.  Bill bought me a battery-powered leaf blower and with all the mess the oak trees are making right now, it is pleasant to get out there with this gadget and get the job done with dragging an extension cord or a heavy blower full of gasoline.  I'm finally staying ahead of the green fuzz from the oaks!

Day 351 -- TBC missions garage sale

Our church has an annual 2-day garage sale with all proceeds going to our missions programs around the world.  This morning, our Bible study group decided we would help with the set up of the sale from 9-12 rather than have our normal study time--we like to also look for outreach projects we can do as a group.  The collection of items began yesterday and by the time we got there today, it was amazing what was already there.  But a steady stream of things came in during the time I was there.  I volunteered for the books, toys, DVD section--ulterior motives aside-- and at noon when I left, we had run out of space.  Hope the ladies after me were creative in their approach to making room for more because they were taking items until 9:00 tonight.  I got the pictures below from a video they shot this morning and put on Facebook of the set up.  Top of pictures are at TBC.

They are also running an auction online currently with the garage sale with items to bid on--as of noon yesterday, the bids for all the items totaled over $12,000 and it doesn't end until Saturday.

Day 350 -- Tulips!

Today, for no particular occasion, Bill brought me these beautiful tulips because he knows they are met favorite flower!  I love this color!

Day 349 -- Unwelcomed wake-up call

This morning at 6:30 a.m. I heard an awful crash outside the bedroom on the patio.  I jumped up and ran out there, and Bill had gone out to open the gate for the dogs and fallen over a chair on the patio.  Scared me, but he was able to get up and didn't seem to be much worse for wear.  The dogs were terrified!  He will probably be sore tonight, but then he's been hobbling around since last week so don't know for sure what's going on now.

Day 348--Fishbowl meeting

Mondays are usually a regular schedule of workout from 1-2 and choir from 7-9.  Today I had my education committee meeting in Austin at 10:00 so had to move workout to Tuesday.  Our committee had to move to a different room at TREC today and it was built for about 12 people and we had more like 20-25 in there.  Very close quarters and warm.  You would think that would encourage everyone to get the meeting done quicker, but not so.  Anyway, we survived but I sure hope we don't have to meet in that room again.  Too small--it is called the "Fishbowl" room because the wall is glass and that was another big distraction as people walked past.  Crazy day

Day 346 -- Cleaning out the Airstream

Today, I went out to the lake where we have the Airstream parked and starting getting all the stuff out of it.  We have not used it in years and have decided to sell it now that Bill is in no shape to try to do repairs and remodel it.  Mice and rats had made it their playground for the last few winters so it was somewhat gross having to go in there and start getting things out.  All the food items were already long out of it so I was getting other kitchen things, linens that were in black trash bags, decorations, etc.  I put most of it in the lake house itself where we are storing things.  I will most likely give most of the stuff to our church garage sale which is next weekend as I have proved that I can live quite nicely without anything that has been in there for years!  There are still a few odds and ends left in it that I will get out later when I start cleaning it up.  Our hope is run across an RV similar to the Watts but with 4 captain's chairs and use it for when we want to go on road trips by ourselves or with friends--not to sleep in but to make it more roomy and comfortable for riding.  We are even talking about getting Vespa's to haul with us so that we can run around in places we visit without Bill having to do a lot of walking.  So if you know anyone wanting a 32 foot Airstream 1974 vintage that really only needs some plumbing work done on it, we are in the market to sell ours.

Later in the evening we went out to eat with Avis and Harry and their son Scott and wife and Anthony, their son, joined us.  They are expecting a baby girl any minute now and she is a really petite woman so she looks like she's having twins.  But only one--Catherine Rose will be her name.  That will give Avis two grandsons and two granddaughters.  Since all mine are getting older, I'm enjoying getting to share hers a little bit since they are 3 and under.

Day 341-345 Slow days

Didn't really have any firsts on the 3rd or 4th, but on the 5th, Bill and I hosted a wine and cheese open house at there house we have for sale for $1.4 million.  It was a disappointing turnout, but the agents who did come, were very interested and had possible clients.  Hoping some activity will come from it.  Such a beautiful house and the evening was just perfect for looking at the lake.

Day 340 -- New Songs

Master Singers have two concerts this month--April 15 and April 29 (with orchestra) so what happens at practice--we get 3 new songs to learn for the concerts besides the ones that we are doing--some still a little rough.  I am learning to be on my toes with this group--never a moment to rest on your laurels!  I have tickets for sale for the April 29 concert at the CAC in Temple (Sunday 6:00) $25 each or buy 3 and get one free which makes them $18.75 each.  Money goes to pay orchestra.

Day 339 -- Easter Morning

Mom wanted so badly to attend church services today, but just didn't feel like she could.  Bill and I went to her church, and really got a great sermon from a preacher from Louisiana who was filling in today.  He was kind of a hell and brimstone old-time preacher, but it was a great day of celebrating the resurrection of our Savior.  

When Bill and I left to go home, I insisted on taking him to Sipe Springs which Avis introduced me to when I was last in Comanche with her.  I was pretty excited that I could find it--and I think Bill enjoyed the short tour of an almost extinct town.

Day 338 -- Surprise!

Danny invited us to dinner at their house so we went over for burgers about 5:00.  With 5 huge German Shepherds in the backyard (Philip's 2 and Danny's 3) we were all drawn to being out with them because they are so pretty and fun to be around.  About 7:15, Cody comes strolling around the corner of the house--we had no idea he was at home--we thought he was still in North Carolina and that only Cassie and Charlotte were there!  It was so good to see them for the evening.

Day 337 -- Trip to Haskell

As we drove to Haskell for the Easter weekend, Bill talked to me more than he ever has about this lake house remodel.  He has it all figured out in his head, and I don't doubt it will be wonderful when finished, but I told him I just really have to have a drawing of it to scale to get the flow, relative sizes, etc.  I do not have the creative ability to see things like that unless they are in print.

Day 336 -- Maundy Thursday service

Tonight I attend the self-directed Maundy Thursday service at our church.  It was so very moving.  There were 7 different stations to attend with a brochure that explained each station and what we were to contemplate while we were at it.  I was very moved and so glad I went.

Day 335 -- Taking in a matinee movie by myself

Today I had an afternoon I could spare, and because I was really wanting to see the movie, "I Can Only Imagine", I just treated myself to it.  It was an great movie and I'm so glad I went to see it by myself, because I hav e to admit I was crying like a baby by the end of it!  I highly recommend it.

Day 334 -- Early wake-up call

For some reason, I seem to be waking up earlier since the time change instead of wanting to sleep later.  This morning I got up about 7:00 and left Bill in bed.  I was going to go out on the patio and read but it wasn't quite light enough yet, but I took the dogs out with me.  The next thing I know, Holly goes wild downstairs in the flower bed, and I realize that she is trying to attack something which is also trying to attack her.  My first thought was a coral snake since our neighbors have killed about 4.  So I run downstairs and grab a broom on my way hoping to flush it out or at least keep Holly away from whatever it is.  When I get close, I can hear the thing is growling like a dog and Holly is dashing in and out.  The "thing" is under one of the big pampas grass mounds so I can't see it--can only hear it.  I stick the broom down there and it growls louder--then both dogs decide they will play this game together so one is going after "it" from one direction and one from the other.  I'm yelling at both of them.  Finally, Bill comes down to help me get the dogs off of it and about that time, Holly makes one final lunge and comes out with a raccoon--thank goodness it wasn't one of the giant ones that we sometimes see.  It was an adolescent and Holly wasn't letting go.  Finally Bill had to bat her away with the broom and I grabbed her before she could tear it limb from limb.  We get both dogs under our control and leave the wounded raccoon by himself to see if he can get himself to the woods or whether Bill was going to have to destroy it.  It was crying and it was so pitiful!  But after about 30 minutes, it was gone and making no noise so we are hoping it was no hurt badly--we couldn't see any blood but it definitely knew it had come into the wrong yard to eat dog food today!

Day 333 -- CASA hearing day

I've gone to lots of CASA hearings, but today's was just crazy.  There were only 12 cases and yet there were no places to sit in the courtroom.  I've never seen so many people there--everyone must have  brought all members of their close as well as extended families.  This was my first hearing with my newly assigned child, and it really was done quickly--we were second thank goodness so we could get out of the crush!  The judge wanted it to be finally today but it couldn't be because no one (translated lawyers) had filed a motion for it to be the final.  So we will be back on May 21 and little Joshua should be given permanently to his dad.  I'm not even sure why a CASA was assigned to such a short case, but I'll see it through.

Another cool thing I did for the first time today was get to see the inside of the old historical Methodist Church here in Belton.  Master Singers had a concert there tonight, and I had never been in  that church.  It is very old, full of beautiful wood and has a giant pipe organ, similar to the one in the Methodist church in Haskell.  I didn't have a chance to take any photos.

Day 332 -- Hazardous Waste Disposal

In all my years, I have never dealt with getting rid of hazardous waste--and of course, the hazards have grown exponentially since I was a young adult!  Everything seems to be a hazard these days.  Anyway, I went through the appropriate process:

1. Call someplace up North and ask for my waste to be picked up

2.  wait 3 weeks for the packaging in which I put the waste to arrive from said Northern city

3.  the box which the lady said would hold 10 paint cans turned out to be a heavy plastic bag

4. Unfolded said bag and read 3 pages of instructions on how and how not to dispose of my items

5. Labeled with enclosed labels any can or carton that didn't have a label on it so they would know what was in it (if there is no label, I don't know either!)

6. Fill bag up with appropriately approved hazardous waste

7. Realize I can not possibly lift the bag to take it up the hill

8.  Unpack some things so I can lift it into a wagon

9.  Pull wagon up the hill and then use the "dump" feature of said wagon to dump bag at top of drive

10. Put old electronics outside the bag, beside the bag making sure that all cords were with them and that only one computer was there, and that other electronics did not weigh more than 25 pounds.  

My word!  I may carry my hazardous waste with me for the rest of my life to skip having to go through that again!

Day 331 -- Shipping box disaster!

I admit it is surely easy to shop online, and I am the first to say I am spoiled to the convenience of it.  But today I learned a valuable lesson about how all online stores that ship are not equal.  My go to for most things is Amazon and the products always come neatly packed and the items are protected.  But today I got something from a place I have ordered from before, but obviously their shipping department was having a bad day when they packed this merchandise.  Amazingly nothing was particularly damaged--a small dent in one item that wasn't worth sending back.  But I documented the package for posterity!!  Decor Steals--this is a first and may keep me from ordering anything else!

Day 330 -- Highways and Byways

After lunch when we got ready to go back home from Comanche, Avis asked if I would like to see a couple of "hole in the wall" communities nearby, and I was up for it.  The first place she took me was a little community call Sipes Springs.  The locals pronounce it "Seeps" Springs because it was a spring that was seeping from the ground and the person who got to name the town didn't know how to spell!  A few homes are still there and it actually had a post office.  The three main attractions were a Confederate Monument put up by people who moved there trying to escape the Reconstructionist after the Civil War.  It is hidden from view well enough I guess that no one has screamed about taking it down.  The second thing was a very old, original log cabin set up on a bluff overlooking a beautiful valley below.  The door was open but I wouldn't venture in due to it being rattlesnake moving season.  But I got a shot of the inside fireplace.  The last thing was really kind of weird.  Down a long dirt road is a grave on the side of the road with a marker for an unnamed 3 year old girl who died in 1870 as her parents were moving to the area.  Through the years, another finer marker was made and then in the last couple of decades, people have started to decorate it and leave toys, etc.

Confederate marker

Log cabin

Old fireplace and as you can see, the chinking has come out of the logs
in many places

Original marker at top and newer one below--note all the coins--I thought
that was weird.

Whole grave smothered in toys and coins

After seeing Sipes Springs, we headed toward home and went through the almost ghost town of Democrat, Texas.  Not much left alive there--but a nice cemetery.

Day 329 -- Peeping Tom

After my Bible study this morning, I went with Avis to Comanche to spend the night while she got a few things done and then we will return tomorrow.  When she bought the house in Comanche, she also inherited a flock of guineas and a turkey.  When we pulled up in the driveway, we could see that the newly mulched flowerbeds she hired someone to do while she was gone, now had all the mulch up on the porch and sidewalks.  The culprit is her turkey--he likes to make himself beds in the flower beds evidently and so just moves the mulch out of his way.  We swept it up and got it looking pretty good, and were in the house sitting in the office when I looked up and the silly  bird was staring at me through the window--with what I would call a gleam in his eye!  He also fusses at you when you talk to him or try to run him out of the beds--I suggested turkey for Easter dinner--but I don't think she's going for it.

Some of the guineas

Peeping Tom

Avis calls him Captain Tom--he's pretty set in his ways

Day 328 -- The Lord's Prayer (Revisited by me)

I just finished reading a book on praying The Lord's Prayer and it was absolutely eye-opening.  I would recommend it to everyone because it takes each phrase of it individually and opens up all the things that each small phrase actually means when we pray it.  This should be something all children are taught along with learning the Lord's Prayer and that all adults who have been used to saying it by rote should read to fully understand the impact of it if said in full comprehension of what you are praying for.   I have it on my Kindle and think I got it for $1.99.

Day 327 -- Orchids

Last year I believe for Mother's Day, the Watts gave me this orchid.  A number of times I have thought it dead, but then it will surprise again by blooming.  It is now at the most beautiful I've seen it!  Thanks again for a gift that keeps giving and for giving me a chance to learn more about orchids.

Day 326 -- She-Woman

Today during my training session, my trainer decided I should do a routine different than I had ever done.  It was a "circuit" where I would do deadlifts 21 times, push ups 21 times, deadlifts 15 times, push ups 15 times, and then deadlifts 9 times and pushups 9 times and then start over--in 9 minutes!  By the way, the deadlift weight was 80 pounds and I had to do a squat with each one.  That will mean more to some of you than others--but it was HARD!  I got completely through the circuit one time and half way through the 21 deadlifts again on the second time through!  I have no photo of this because I'm sure it would be "ugly"!  But I was super proud of how much strength I am building.

Day 325 -- Speaker for club meeting

This afternoon after church, I was the speaker for a club here in town.  My topic was to let the ladies know more about CASA as they have taken this on as their philanthropic project.  I talked for almost an hour because they had lots of questions.  It was a great experience--I had never been the "program" for an event unless it was a singing event!  And from that, one of the ladies called me tonight and asked if I would speak at a different club that she is in for a program next year.  I may find myself as spokeswoman for CASA!

Day 324 -- First house showing

Last weekend I told our neighbors that we were going to put our house on the market and if they wanted to pick their neighbors, they should send someone to us before we put it on MLS.  They were true to their word and told a friend of theirs about it, and they called to make an appointment to see it.  That was the magic potion to get Bill to help me get some things done in the garage and in the closet!  He gathered up his pile of shoes thrown all over the closet and then he headed to the garage to help me clean up the side of the garage where the plants had been setting.  We worked hard all day and really got a lot accomplished.  We felt pretty good about it by the time the people came about 5:00.  They ended up not be interested because "it is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside", but they were really nice and we visited with them for quite a while on the patio before they left.  It was a good trial run anyway--and it was surely motivation to get cracking on that garage!!

Also, a first but not very earth-shattering.  This morning I participated as a walker in a 5K run/walk event that was a fundraiser for CASA.  It was beautiful weather with no wind and a lovely walk on a trail I had not been on before.

Day 323 -- Wasps are out!

I saw this on a Facebook posting for trapping wasps as they begin to come out this spring.  Who would have though vinegar would attract anything!  Here's the recipe for the wasp trap liquid--sorry for the disgusting picture that goes with it!

Day 322 -- Hoot is that outside my window?

This morning Bill was up getting ready for work, and I had just gotten up when he called in a loud "stage" whisper--come in here and be quiet!  So I tip-toed into the bathroom and on a limb in our backyard where we could see it from the vanity window was the biggest owl I have ever seen--and the only one I have seen in our yard.  He (she?) was hunting for breakfast evidently--sat there swiveling that beautiful head all the way around scanning the yard for something.  The dogs were in the house so we knew it couldn't swoop away with Holly (Lucy could never be picked up!).  It never moved anything but its head and finally saw whatever it was after, swooped down and was gone.  Great way to wake up in the morning to a beautiful display of nature!

Day 321 -- You want this song sung -- what??

One of the songs we are learning for our Palm Sunday concert is called Hosanna and it is a cool song.  But when we got it, we all laughed at the tempo signature of it--what the heck is a Jewish-African groove??

Day 320 -- New CASA baby

Today I met with my new supervisor for a new case she wants me to have.  She went over the details of the case and then we went off to meet the father and baby.  He is a precious little 9 month old who is really wanting to walk but doesn't quite his courage up yet.  He was taken away from his mother at birth because he had marijuana in his system.  The mother and father aren't a couple so first he was placed in a foster home--and the foster mom's child who is special needs hit him and fractured his skull.  He has healed from that and seems to have no side effects thank goodness.  His biological father has stepped up and says he wants to raise him so that is where he is living at this time underfed a monitored return.  His name is Joshua and he's just cute as a button.  I don't think I will have the case very long--court on March 26 may see him go permanently to his dad.

319 -- New food items

As you may know, I'm on the Whole30 diet trying to eliminate foods known to cause inflammation and irritability of the digestive system.  I went over that in another post.  But I have found two new food items that are really helping me with cooking and eating.  Ghee Butter--never had heard of it until now--it is actually clarified butter which in some way takes the "dairy" out of it.  Mandi had mentioned in a post on her blog about Primal Kitchen items and I now have a pantry full of those which are all avocado based dressings, marinades, and oils.  Both are great and help me from feeling deprived!

Day 318 -- Ty's playscape

For Ty's birthday, we gave him a playscape which we were told we could have by the owners of a house we are selling if we would take it down.  Well, we had to include Jodi and Chad because Bill and I couldn't do it on our own.  We were going to hire people to take it down for us, but Jodi thought it would be better for them to just put it on their trailer and move things one time.  She was certainly correct about that!.  Today was the day they could come to get it down and Philip met up with us as well to help with the heavy lifting.  We got to work on it about 9:15 this morning and at first it seemed like a daunting task.  It didn't help that the wind was blowing 40 miles an hour!  Chad brought a 30-foot trailer from work just to be sure we had a big enough one--and we filled it up!  Because the trailer was big, we could load the playscape in bigger pieces rather than having to dismantle it board by board.  It ended up only taking about an hour and a half!  Afterwards we all went out for Mexican food and enjoyed our visit.  Jodi called about 4:30 and said they had made it home, unloaded it (just she and Chad) and were on the way to take the trailer back.  Thankful that there were no accidents or problems and it is now resting on it's sides at their house.  Some rotted wood has to be replaced but Tyler is one happy boy to be getting another playscape!  

The full load!

Tyler (with help) driving Papa's car
into the garage!

Day 317 -- Outing to Costco's and moving plan ts

Bill loves to go to Costco's just, as he says, to see what they have.  So about eleven we headed to Cedar Park and drove a way I hadn't been through the country so as to avoid the interstate.  It was a pretty drive for sure.  But things are growing up so much around the countryside around Austin that it won't be long before it will be all houses and businesses.  We've never really gone to Costco's to buy cold things before but sometimes bought non-perishables.  I had read that they now have pasture-fed meats so we took a cooler so I could buy some things that are "clean" foods while I'm on this Whole30 diet.  Because Austin is Austin, I should have known that they would have all kinds of organic clean foods which would work with the food list I can eat from so we really tanked up on meats (beef and bison) and chicken as well as eggs and fresh fruits and veggies.  Also saw and bought for the first time something I'd never heard of:  banana milk which is completely dairy-free.  We tasted it there, and while it doesn't replace milk by any means for some things, I made smoothies with it for us tonight and they were great!   Both refrigerators and freezers are brimming with really good for you foods and I'm excited that I can depend on finding something for a meal whenever I get ready to eat.  I'm on Day 7 of the 30 days so lots of meals left to deal with.  However, I am already telling a difference in my stomach issues.  I haven't felt deprived yet, and have eaten out a few times--always ordering salads without cheese and using baslamic vinaigrette or Italian dressing.

Later in the afternoon after getting back from Austin, I decided I would start getting my plants out and putting them on the patios because they look so much better when the plants are on there, and if we list the house this week, they will look good.  So I'm praying for no more freezes!  Bill helped me by using our little tractor.  I would put plants in the bucket, he would lift it up even with the tailgate of the pickup, and we put them in the pickup and drove them to the front door and walked them through to the patio with a two-wheeler.  First time we have tried that approach and it worked great.

Day 316 -- Attack of the storage closet in the garage

Today I began in earnest moving things from the storage closet in the garage where I keep all my out-of-season floral decorations, luggage, past years' tax returns, you name it.  Bill also has enough ammunition in there to start a war--but I didn't touch that!  I made 4 trips out to the lake with boxes of things to store out there so that any prospective buyer will actually be able to see how big the closet is.  Now I have empty floor space and shelf space!  But still have some things to wear out as well--but most of those things are in two filing cabinets.  This is to a complete first as packing and moving things goes, but it is the first time I have actually moved things out of this closet since moving things in back in 2003 so it has to count for something!

Day 315 -- Out of the blue

AS you all know, I've been "getting the house ready to sale" for over a year now--actually it was ready and then nothing happened and now I'm getting it ready a second time.  This afternoon I tackled the garage--again.  But this time, I started in the big storage closet and packed boxes and threw away stuff and the whole nine yards.  It looks much better.  I also got some other things put up and organized in the side where we park so it looks better as well.  Until I get the plants out, the rest of it is pretty much staying like it is.

When Bill got home from work, he casually says that someone is coming to do some work on Saturday and then he's ready to pull the trigger and get the house on the market.  I am now in panic mode.  I was thinking I might get a little more heads up on an actual date.  Thank goodness the weather is supposed to be good tomorrow and Saturday so I can get some things moved out of here and clean up the patios for heaven's sake!

Day 314 -- Lunch with the widows

You may have noticed I skipped a few non-first days, but hopefully Santa Fe firsts make up the difference.  Today, my Bible study class prepared a luncheon for the New Day Bible study group which is for the widows in our church who would like to have a Bible study together.  We had been told there were 24 in the class so we brought plenty of food.  Today, only 14 were able to be there.  We decorated tables and a few women from our group sat at tables with some of the widows and got to meet and visit with them.  They were so much fun and so appreciative of everything.  They talked about how nice it was to have a hot meal and not eat alone.  We had so much food left that we sent food with all of them to take home and then had enough left to send to a single mom and her two children that we also are helping along.  It was a great experience for all of us I believe.  We've decided we will do this periodically for them from now on.

Oh, and then there was the other first of the day.  My dryer was not working correctly, so a repairman was supposed to come by the house between 1-6 (don't you just love that) so I stayed at the house waiting for him.  Bill had an HOA meeting in Killeen so he said he wouldn't be home until later.  At 6:00 my repairman still hadn't come so I guessed he would reschedule.  Bill got home at 8:00 and told me that the repairman called and said he was still coming if that was alright with us and Bill told hint sure.  So he shows up at 9:00 with his two kids and fixed the dryer and was gone by 9:30.  Wow, I couldn't believe it--but he now has Accent Real Estate's business according to Bill so I guess it paid off for him to work 16 hours or however many today.

Day 311 -- Long Road Home

We exceeded our expectations of leaving at 6:00--we were out and on the road by 5:50.  Sadly, you can only drive 65 in New Mexico unless it is an interstate so we slugged along through that state.  Harry doesn't drive so we decided upon 2 hours per driver and then switch so we wouldn't wear out.  We stopped in Littlefield TX at their little city park and had lunch, stopped twice for gas, and were in Comanche in 8 hours where we dropped off Avis and Harry.  Bill and I were home by 7:00 so all in all it was a smooth day of driving, but it sure felt good to get out of the car!

New Mexico left us with a beautiful impression as the sun came up!  We listened 

to some beautiful old hymns as we were driving and with this view through the

window, God was right there with us!

Day 310 -- Third Day in Santa Fe

The concierge at our hotel told us there was a great Farmer's Market right down from our hotel on Saturday mornings so Harry and I headed over there while Avis and Bill had breakfast.  It was a great experience because it was truly an organic market for all the food and products that were being sold there.  The vegetables were beautiful and some were a bit unusual and new to me.  There were also lots of organic oils, rubs, salves, teas, meats, etc. being sold and then there were also some handmade crafts there.  We really enjoyed it--I was so busy looking at stuff that I forgot to take any pictures while I was there!

We went back to the Governor's Palace to pick up the earrings that Avis had ordered the day before to match her ring and bracelet.  Then Harry and I walked over to a cork store named Querke.  I knew the Watts visited one in Portugal and got some cool things, so I wanted to see for myself.  There stuff is made in Portugal and I even saw a hat like Weston came home with!

Bill and Avis drove over and got us when we texted them that we were done, and then we headed out on a little driving excursion to a Pueblo (which is one of about 7 small communities out from Santa Fe that have their own governments and are often populated solely by Indians.  The one we went to had the oldest continuous running trading post which we stopped in to thinking we would find lots of trinkets and doodads for souvenirs.  Not so!  It was a very very expensive store that is owned by two ladies, one of which makes jewelry and the other who makes costumes for Hollywood movies including Dances with Wolves.  She specializes only in Western type movies and has won an Academy Award for her work.  She makes everything authentically having learned how to do it from the various tribes around the country.  Anyway, she had lots of her costumes in the store for sale--and we're talking thousands of dollars each.  At least it make the jewelry look cheaper!  It was like a museum really but everything in there was for sale.  We enjoyed looking and talking with the jewelry maker and the other clerk who was very knowledgable.  They wouldn't let us take pictures inside but I got one of the teepee out front and the front of the store.

After leaving there, we drove around some more and found some very interesting rock formations on tribal lands--couldn't walk up to them for the barbed wire fences and no entrance signs but enjoyed looking at them.

When we got back to Santa Fe, Bill and I went to the Canyon Road area where all the art and artisan stores are located.  He took me into a goldsmith's shop, and I walked away with a beautiful new pair of earrings!  The restaurant we had reservations at was also on this road and we had 5:30 reservations so we could get back, pack and get some sleep before our long drive home the next day.  The place is called Geronimo's and is the premier restaurant in Santa Fe.  Bill and I ate there with Dave and Paula when we were there 20 years ago, and we were surely not disappointed this night either.  I had the absolute best salmon I have ever tasted in my life!  Thus ended our exploration of Santa Fe for wake up call is 5:15 in the morning to get on the road by 6!

Best Salmon Ever!!

Day 309 -- Second day in Santa Fe

We began our day at Pasquel's Restaurant for breakfast.  Bill and I had been here before probably 20 years ago, and still remembered how great it was for breakfast.  It is much smaller than the crowd that wants to eat there, but we were lucky enough and early enough to beat the Sat. morning crowd and got a table.  The big attraction for Bill was to have trout for breakfast as he did the last time we were there with Dave and Paula--and he was a able to do so.  It was a great breakfast looking out onto the plaza and because we were at a window, we could do some people watching as well so we got to see some photo shoots of models while sitting there.

After breakfast, Avis and I walked over to the Basilica on the other side of the plaza which she had seen but I had not.  It was a beautiful church--very ornate and also home to the oldest carved alter piece of Mother Mary (I think that's right).  It was in a side chapel in the basilica.

Basilica 

Ornate front door with 20 engraved panels
(looks like the one we saw in Milan, Italy)

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The burgundy image on this altar piece is the
ancient Mother Mary--carved from wood as is
the entire altar piece

After we all got back to the car, we drove around in town for a little looking at the sights, and we learned from Harry that his Uncle Joe who lived in Abilene until their deaths were the creators of Burro Alley in Abilene--a very popular place to shop back in my younger days.  And his uncles got the idea from a street in Santa Fe that is called Burro Alley which at one time had been the red light district, but now has a few restaurants and shops.  Neat to learn that piece of trivia.

Next we drove out to "Museum Hill" where a number of museums have been built.  We didn't actually go into any of the museums but did stroll around the grounds which were interesting because of the sculptures and landscaping.

When we drove back into the downtown area, we parked and went to Luchchese's Bootmakers where I had learned that Ford and Donna Cole's son Loren was the general manager.  I walked right in and he knew me and I knew him and we had a delightful visit for about 30 minutes.  I'm so glad I took the time to go in and say hi.  He is really a fine young man and a very eligible bachelor!  Then we walked to the other side of the plaza to the Indian market where all the jewelry and other crafts are put on in front of the Governor's Palace by the natives of the area (not just Indians anymore).  It was fun to browse and talk to them.  When I was there as a much younger girl, I remember the merchants didn't talk to the customers really, but everyone was very friendly and talked about their jewelry and other crafts but weren't pushy.  Avis bought a ring, bracelet and earrings.  

When we made our restaurant reservations for Thursday night, we went ahead and booked a restaurant for Friday and Sat. nights as well.  Tonight's outing was to Coyote Cafe where Avis had eaten a few years back and really liked.  It was absolutely delicious and I'm really glad we went there.

Then we headed back to the hotel where we sat for a while in the lobby and listened to an Indian flute player while staying toasty warm by the big fireplace.