New RED Tractor Barn

We went with RED. On the tractor barn, that is. This is from my post on what color to do the barn in. See here. It's actually a more rusty red, but looks closer to barn red than fire engine red.

Tony can drive his tractor and stuff straight thru. On the other half of the inside he's putting his shop, welding, hoist, & all that junk. It has an area for a bathroom and a little office area if needed. Ok, now, he's looking for the tractor - trying to decide on John Deere or Kubota. Anybody out there got any opinions on tractors? I'd love to hear -

Princess is safely ensconced in her new college apartment and seems to have a real sweet roomie. I just hope Meghan, her roommate will like Hayley's dog - she's a yapper. The school year has begun and we're getting back into our routine. My middle son is at home going to college here, and hopefully this will be his last year.

I've been swamped at work. Next weekend the 28, 29, I am helping my cousins have an estate sale at my aunt & uncle's house (who passed away a couple of weeks ago) so that's going to keep us busy for a few days. Everyone tried to get them not to be in such a hurry, but they all live several hours away, and they wanted to get all the details taken care of. There is a large company in the area of the house and they are possibly interested in buying the house and land to expand. That is our prayer - the house still had a substantive mortgage on it, and my cousins couldn't pay for it. The Lord has worked throughout this whole ordeal with them and I know that He'll do what's best for them. He will provide a way.

Take care, dear friends. I don't get to post as often as I'd like to, but I do want to say that I take a few minutes to read your posts nearly every day. I appreciate all your comments and your encouragement and your prayers, and please know that you are all prayed for and given thanks for quite often. Be back soon ---

Changing World Demographics

If you haven't seen this video yet, you NEED to watch it. It makes perfect sense, and I fear for my children and grandchildren. Let me know what you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU

Celebrate Life!

Hi dear friends. Sorry I've been away.

My aunt and uncle (my dad's brother) both passed away this week. My aunt was in hospice care for terminal (non-cancerous) illness and she died in the wee hours this morning, and my uncle has been so heartbroken he had a massive heart attack Monday evening and died, too. Their daughter and son are devastated to lose both of them at the same time. My dad and his brother were very close as were my mom and my uncle's wife. It's been quite a blow for us all. We were expecting my aunt to pass for quite awhile, but not them both.

The bright side of the story - Yes, there is a bright side. They were Christians and they are both gone to be with the Lord. My uncle has cared for my aunt for many years - she had lots of health problems and many surgeries, but she always had a great attitude and was an outgoing and jovial person. They both loved laughing. My uncle devoted his life to her care. When she went to hospice, he told us all many times that he didn't know how he would make it without her and shed many tears. They were always so crazy about each other.

My theory - I believe the hand of God was working in their lives. My aunt had suffered so much physical pain and anguish over the years for the BOTH of them, that the Good Lord in all His love and grace and mercy took my uncle home in the blink of an eye with no suffering and he was waiting there for my aunt to join him.

It was decided to go ahead and tell my aunt about his death - as she still was cognizant of all that was going on around her - thinking that if she knew, then possibly she would quit fighting and go on to be with the Lord. She was in so much pain. When my cousin told her about his death, my aunt seemed as if she already knew and was peaceful about it. Her daughter told her in the wee hours this morning that it was OK to go, that she was so thankful for their lives and them being her parents and that "daddy's waiting for you, mom". My aunt could not talk, but tears slipped out of her eyes. We know she heard. A couple of hours later, she was gone.

The Hand of God has been working mightily here this week in our neck of the woods. He has worked in the big things and in the little things - the logistics of getting things in order, the details of getting family & friends here, the wonderful little church they had, planning the double memorial for them on Saturday - it's going to be a Celebration of their lives.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Jean would have wanted things to work out this way. It's been a comfort to know and see how God has worked this week, even tho things will be very hard on their kids and grandkids and extended family for a long time. Thanks for listening and thanks for your prayers for our families.

Back to School

It's almost that time again. We are getting Baby-Girl ready to head back to college. She'll be attending a different college this semester as she's decided to try to get into nursing school. So she's going west instead of east. We drove out there Saturday and found her an apartment - it's new, is all furnished, all she has to do is bring her clothes, linens, cooking stuff, and she's set! Best of all ME & HER DAD don't have to do the whole moving thing this time! Of course, she'd rather have her own stuff, but apartment selections were not as abundant as they were last year. She wanted an apartment by herself, but we didn't feel good about any of the places that we looked at and leaving our baby alone there. Kinda po-dunk lookin'!

And she just turned 21 last month. She's not a baby anymore. Wow, do I feel aged!

We had her birthday party out at the farm and grilled chicken/shrimp kabobs at her request. They were real good! Just us and grandparents and Adam & his girl were there. We ate too much and then washed it all down with cake! YUM - I love WHITE cake!

Here she is with both of her grandmothers. They're awfully fond of her. We bought Princess a little silver crown to wear on her birthday and she wore it for awhile and then took it off. Both grandmothers decided to wear it, and then .....

Adam decided to wear it. He's always been the ham of our family!

(don't know how blogger is gonna post these photos - it'll be a surprise for all of us!!!)

Here's big brother looking so very divine in his tiara... He'd probably kill me if he saw this! Shhhh - don't tell him! Shhhhhh....

Anyway back to the college thing.

We had to drive through Glen Rose and Granbury on the way there, and it's grown so much! It's been a couple of years since I've been that direction. There's lots of little antique places and western places. I know it's not my family's "thing" to stop at places like that, and Tony kept sayin' "we can stop if you R-e-a-l-l-y want to..." You know what I'm talkin about girls - the old "I really don't want to stop, but if it'll keep you happy, I will" thing they say to sound like they are being so sweet and loving...( teehee) And I said, "Aw, that's o-k-a-yyyyy. Ya'll are probably ready to get on h-o-m-e". (looking out the car window with sad eyes like a bassett hound...)

"STOP HERE!" I yelled. Not that it wasn't a neat-o, cutesy place cuz it WUZ, but I just decided I was going to take hubby up on his offer! We stopped in Glen Rose at this cute little place called Witherspoon Antiques. I loved it outside and in. I was able to grab a few quick photos before Hubs and Princess hustled me back to the truck. I didn't get a picture of the sign out front unfortunately. They were sitting in the truck waiting on me. The owners were not there, just a couple of workers, so I didn't get to meet them either. It was a real cute big house with several old ones around it. Several of them were turned into various shops and some were closed at that time of day on a Saturday.

Here's the front entrance. I love the way it was decorated. Somebody else is making those little window houses thingies like Linda's Blue Gate, but they weren't near as purty. Just plain Jane.

They had a buncha different vendors in there, and I saw some familiar things, but also some new things that I don't see around where I live. I love this old washtub (I guess it's some sorta washtub?). It was filled with lots cool junk. I wanna put a washtub out in my garden shed so's I can warsh stuff off, and it'll be handy when I'm doin' my gardening.

This was my favorite display - all blue and white. It was right there when you walk in. So pretty! I love that little cart and the screen off to the right side.

Here's another little shop out beside Witherspoons. It was closed but they even had a little outhouse behind there. Can you see it out to the left?

Here's an old shed filled with ironworks, wicker stuff, and old architectural items. It was the quickest I've ever been through an antique place.

But I DID come away with a prize!!! I found 6 of the cups that were stolen from the farmhouse. The cups of the dishes my momma had given me that were her's when she first got married. They're not expensive, but they were special to me. Courier & Ives Blue/White "Gristmill" design. I bought 'em up quick! See, see, see Tony? It WAS worth stoppin'!!!

I bought six - now I need 2 more to complete my set. I found a buncha plates at an estate sale recently and got 'em pretty cheap.

It was a good day! Thanks to the Lord for leading us to just the right apt. for Princess, and for the gift of these cups! I've been heartsick over them being stolen!

See ya'll soon!