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.