MY GOLF BUDDY AND MORE

Finally....I got to golf last night with my bff.

All summer long during couple scrambles we never drew each other's names out of the "hat" so last night was the first we got to golf together in a long time. 

I have really missed her. 

The summer has been very busy and taking us in different directions than the Hansford County Golf Course on the same day.

Driving home, even though they whipped us...I got kind of sentimental.

These are the things I like about that girl:

She is F.U.N.

She is honest and spits it out

She is funny and makes me laugh

She is competitive which makes me try harder

We grew up during the same time frame in other towns, but would have been good friends if we'd grown up together

She is just a real pleasure to be around!

She does not like her picture made...but she is somewhere in this crowd.  She is wearing a visor signed by Ryan Palmer.  And probably some green shorts.

IN MY NEXT LIFE

When I come back next time I'm going to come back as a bumble bee

I am going to be a queen, I'm going to eat honey for breakfast, lunch and supper

I'm going to get in folk's bonnets

I'm going to buzz around the country side

and even though I will mostly be a nice bee ** rest assured

there will be some STINGING. GOIN. ON.

Just a little.

MY NEW FAVORITE COLOR

I remember my Indian mother wearing the color orange often.  What I remember the most is an orange shawl she got in Mexico and her orange lipstick. 

Orange is a power color and is known to be one of the healing colors. It is a good color for kitchens because it said to increase the appetite. It also stimulates enthusiasm and creativity. Orange means vitality with endurance. People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere.

I have read that if a change of any kind is needed in life, just burn an orange candle for 7 nights. I happen to have found an orange candle among things left behind at 822.  Mikey loved orange too.

Orange Energy
While red is associated with fiery heat, orange is associated with the benign warmth of the sun. A dynamic color to be sure, orange offers a more thoughtful control than explosive red. Curiosity is a driving characteristic of orange, and with it comes exploration of new things.

Put some orange in your life when you want:

to spice things up when you feel time is dragging
to become more involved in something
to increase creativity
relief from things becoming too serious

We bought these at an auction nearly 5 years ago...I'm sure with the intent of selling them on eBay.  Glad I didn't.

Pottery Barn knows orange is hot!

These came from a winery in Grapevine Texas.  She is an awesome stainglass artist!

#1 Peep bought me this book about the Vaasti Art concept

I found these chairs online after our trip to Sante Fe.  Orange was THE color there!  But these were much more affordable online.  They are so cool!  Tufted, leather...and ORANGE!

I love to mix colors...orange and red are next to each other on the color wheel.  This wall has just a hint of pink and I would describe it more rasberry than red.

These old pots are auction finds.  I have some high hope for their value...at least I do for the one on the left.  It really doesn't matter...I just like how they all look together.

It's just too darn bad that the 45 year old orange carpet looks like it's 45 years old...otherwise...I would keep it.  You know what they say...history repeats itself and now...orange is back!

HPO OFFICE

ahhhh...the pitfalls of working from home

Who wants a bunch of old fashioned in the way unattractive cords and plugs and monitors and towers and cameras and connectors in a room that looks like this?

Not me! 

 I have worked very hard to pull this room together to have a nice place to talk about my day at the

end of it with my bff.

We're still missing a sofa to replace the chairs...but that will come in time...like the next Labor Day Sale?

and an overhead light and bar stools and a dining room which will be just outside the double French doors on the right (Fall cross your fingers)

so.....I have moved my HPO office here

In case you haven't heard from me in a day or two..you might send someone to look for me underneath the rubble.

IN THE PINK

You know life is sweet when your frosted cookie matches your dress

ONE PONY SHOW

Response Email to DHPO reporter:

you will find this funny...I am babysitting Betty. Went to the store and ran into her mother which made her cry. Her mother said she'd bring us lunch even though she was supposed to go to Lions so I didn't buy anything for us to eat and my cupboards are still pretty bare, fire fire fire at the feedlot...ran into Betty's mom at the corner and she told us that she changed her mind about Lions Club...so hungry us loaded up to go be the paparazzi...got honked at by a semi to move out of the way while taking photos...54 year old me gave him wait just a minute sign and he honked at me again...took my photos and got a call on the way back from 3rd peep to gripe me out for something, headed home and I was so relieved to find cold pizza in the fridge...heated it up, called the sheriff office to get a quote...and posted my story....my life is so weird

TRILOGY

Trilogy Wine Cellar (Right Hand Hinged Door) Convenience x 3. Three separate storage compartments in one handsome furniture cabinet allow you to organize your wine three different ways: 1. By Type: Reds and Whites 2. By Varietal: Cabs ...

Ordered February 3 before we maxed out our expense plan for 822
Backordered 3 times
Shipped to America May 31
Shipped to Spearman June 3 no June 11 no June 16

Included in price...white glove delivery which simply put means they uncrate for your inspection (thank God) and then put right where you want it to go, which in our case is a specially cut hole in our wall that has been creating questions for months...like...is this your coat closet?

Instead of filling this little gem with wine...we are taking photos of the damage

and making arrangements over the phone to ship it back

If there is one thing I have learned during this reno...is that caca happens and I better just get my happy pants on and keep them on because well....I would rather have a trilogy wine cabinet than a coat closet.

RUH RO RORGE

I had every good intention to go I really did.  But I admit it, the New Mexico trip the weekend before just did me in.  I mean afterall I was there to celebrate my 54th birthday. 

I was pooped out!

In order to make the reunion which date btw I did not choose I would have to leave my home at 5 and arrive in Dallas past 10 and leave Dallas before noon to arrive back home in time for bff's wedding at 7.  This would have meant 10+ hours of driving to visit 2 hours with people I have not seen since I was 6.

I had to make two decisions.

1.  Could I do this much driving at my age?

2. Could I do this much driving at my age?

Oh wait....I'm repeating myself.

Two things became clear to me about Wednesday

1.  I can't face this much driving at my age

2.  I am the boss of me and since I am 54 I don't have to do things I really don't want to do

So I admit it...I took the easy road. 

And through the grapevine I have heard that my mother is shocked and in disbelief that I would not choose my family reunion.

She was just mad because she didn't have a clue all the old relatives were showing up.  She thought we were recreating sibling day. 

I guess when you're 77 you don't think you have to read the entire memo.  And you don't, unless you want to know who's coming to dinner.

FAMILY REUNITE

I guess it's pretty common during the summer months to have family reunions.  This is the first ever I remember that wasn't a funeral and somehow I got to be in charge...sort of.

It seems that my long lost cousin on my dad's side facebooked me (I only have a commercial account but still my name shows up) and together she and I decided that it would be a great idea for us to all get together.  I haven't seen them since I was maybe 8.

Because the Dallas area seemed to be central to the majority, I volunteered my brother's house.  And he and sweet sister wife friend were happy to oblige.  It was only fair that since it was going to be at his house that he choose the date most convenient to them.  They had a HS graduation, they both travel extensively and are in general very busy peeps.

So darn be the luck that he chose one of the two days of summer that I could not be there.  Bo peep is graduating college August 14 and bff is getting married June 18.

All 3 brothers have this little thing they do when they really appreciate something you do for them....they call you up and say...."preeeeeeeciaaaaaaate it".

Phone call from my mother (who divorced my dad)  to tell me she left Thursday for the reunion followed by phone call from reunion host brother saying...."preeeeeeciaaaaaate it."

I just had to laugh. 

Reunions are just....well....you fill in the blank.

JUNE 15, 1957

Today until July 1, my brother and I are the same age.  (way to go mom!)

When hubby purchased my cello I taught myself two first songs...

Jesus Loves Me
Happy Birthday

On peep's birthdays, my M.O. is to dial them up...have assistant (usually hub) hold the phone and let me play Happy Birthday.  If this is all I ever do with my cello, it will good enough.

For the last 8 months, cello is leaning against piano at 1107 being saved from dust and other extremes at 822.  And it needs a good tuning.

So for the last 8 months I have just been sending this youtube to peeps on their birthday.

It cracks me up so much I decided to send it to me.

Happy Birthday gf!

CHECK

3rd worst drought on record

check

102 degrees

check

construction windows that I finally have a free day to clean

check

tall (kind of heavy) ladder

check

razor blades, windex, paper towels

check

one isolated lone thunderstorm over Hansford County

check

one isolated lone thunderstorm on my freshly cleaned shined polished beautiful windows

CHECK!

BEST WISHES BFF

In the photos above notice the little girl with blonde hair and the most magnificent smile that you will ever see. I am the one on the left front corner.

In 44 years she has hardly changed.  Her personality bubbles.

Not much has changed between us.  We have been standing close to each other for a long long time.  And I mean close.

She is getting married to the man she loves...this Saturday.

I have been kind of emotional lately.  I don't really cry that much but have found myself tearing up these days and it finally hit me why...my bff is moving away.  She is getting married and moving away from the town she was born in.

I am beyond happy for her...but dang I'm gonna miss that little blond girl.

LooHoo....you are my friend for a lifetime and I love you more than you will ever know.

That David is one lucky dude to get to have my little blond friend!

RELAX

Room...I will see you in about 6 hours!

Fireplace...meet you for mimosas in about 12....oh yay!

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW

When I was nineteen, my dad would take us out to dinner at a country club in another town. 

I was too young to drink, but he would let me order a Brandy Ice as a "dessert".

The bartender, working his way through college, was a young lanky dorky kind of guy, but very nice and very good at making festive drinks.

I am so glad I was polite and nice to him. 

Turns out he became quite famous.  Maybe he'll sign me a book...and make me a mojito!

THE REAL SOURCE OF POWER

How many would wash the feet of a tired old woman in a room where nobody knew and nobody saw?

I read these words a very long time ago and have never forgotten the question.

Yesterday, while babbling about my woes of no water, or dusty cabinets, or blah blah blah blah blah....

I saw Phyllis.

Phyllis used to be my across the street neighbor.  She was married to Leo.  They had no children.  Leo worked for the city and died at an early age after having a stroke and living in the manor for some time.  She was always at his side, and I now imagine she made many friends while being there.

Yesterday, I saw Phyllis.

She was leaving the manor carrying a laundry basket full of clothes.  Since Leo is no longer there, I am going to assume she is caring for someone who is.

Neatly pressed white button up shirt with sleeves, black slacks, tennis shoes, short bob hair, no fussy red lipstick for her, eyes cast down, maybe she was counting her steps.

If I know anything, I know this.  I may have a lot, and I may have a lot of friends and a lot of stuff and a lot of collections of stuff and a lot of stuff in boxes in my garage and a lot of places to go and a lot of things to do and a lot of responsibility and a lot of of lot of a lot...and I am grateful for my abundance...EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

But because of my abundance, I try to look for the messages in life that greet me at every corner...and that message is that the real source of happiness...and power...is what I saw yesterday....

when I saw Phyllis.

Jesus teaches us that real power is found in one of the strangest, most unexpected places. Real power is found in meekness.

NEVER NO NEVER DON'T EVER GIVE UP

Today in my tiny little world of renovation, on the Monday of the week I thought (hoped) would be the last week for a while...

first phone call of the morning informs me that

 no one will be here today because...

1.  The trim around the windows has not yet been cut/picked up

2. The flex pipe for the stove vent is too small

3.  The opening for the garbage disposal is too small and no one seems to have a saw that will cut this hole larger. ????

3. The plumber's helper has a real job and a family and he has a bad back

4.  They forgot about sheetrocking the closet in the middle bedroom

J.I.M.I.N.I.***C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S.

Funny how this morning my very first thought/prayer was to

BE. PATIENT.

It's just time...it will all happen soon enough..one of these days I will walk in this old rock house, my golf shoes clicking on floors that I don't care if I scratch and pour my leftover wine in my white granite sink without a single thought of staining it.

And from my reno companion I receive this wonderful link to a place we will visit on our trip to Sante Fe this weekend to purchase, we hope, a Day of the Dead mixer.

And perhaps this poster which I most definitely have earned!

And I am humbly reminded by myself, that indeed I am one lucky lady who can at least wash dishes in the bathroom sink.

THAT'S WHAT YA GET!

Ok....oldest bro is a jokster...he was born joking. 

You just never know when to take him seriously and so we always call "BS"

Last week I have a missed call.  His ringtone is Lime in the Coconut..fits him perfectly...

So...I called him back...he's in town.  Yes he really is.

He's on a top secret mission

He says...I'm actually going through the county and I'm working for someone who is very famous and he says to the person sitting next to him..."can I tell her? {{yes}} are you sure?" {{yes}}

Well...who knows...is it for real?  Is he kidding?  Is it really who he says it is that's going to buy a ranch in Hansford County?

I'm not sure...but this photo was snapped by the paparazzi at a local lunch joint!

Time is our friend

2061

50 years.  Fifty Years.

FIFTY YEARS????

I won't be here....

Unless they find a cure for death...or old age.

It would be just my luck to get stuck being 90 instead of 36 or 42...my fav years so far.

This is my time capsule.  I have been dropping stuff in it for months now.  Wine corks, wine bottles, calendars, old books, photos, marble, paint chips, my bible study of David...and my workers have added to it as well.

Brian and I wrote a letter for those present in 2061 to read.  It's funny.  They will laugh. And they will  know how much we love this old house and how much they dang sure better not sell it.

Today it is closed and sealed.

To be opened in 2061.

Fifty Years.

She will be my age.

Whoa and Wow!