Halloween, 2010

The ghosts and goblins have come and gone -- Sweetie and I sat out in the yard and handed out candy this year -- I think I liked it better than waiting inside. It was lovely weather -- 75 deg (F) and very pleasant to be out in the middle of the action. We had a lot of kids this year -- people from elsewhere, I'm sure, because one woman stopped by and asked how to get back to the school -- she was totally lost in our neighborhood!

V and her Mom stopped by for a visit and some "loving on Gracie" time -- she loves it when they visit. All the festivities ended early since it is a school night.

Did you have Trick or Treaters in your neighborhood?

A wedding!

One of our couples decided to get married while in Arkansas -- the blond in the picture is the friend who gave us our Gracie. Since I'm Gracie's Mom, I told her she was the "Grandma."



Three of our bikes coming down the mountain from the lodge at the top of the mountain. My Sweetie is the last bike. The bride from the picture above is the one riding the white Trike in front and her new husband is in the middle.

On our way back home we stopped by to visit a cousin. I made these pictures of the old Packard automobile that he has restored. This car has won many awards in car shows.


The engine is not from the same era as the car -- this is what it looks like.

This picture shows the custom made wood dash.

A teenager referred to these tires as "Gangster White-Walls."

We went out to dinner in this old car -- it has been fitted with seat belts so it is street legal.

Rumors.....

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated! I didn't drown in the Arkansas rain!!
I did not decide to remain on the mountain and become a hermit! I just got really busy, had little time for the computer, and then had to get home and immediately worked two days at my volunteer position to help them catch up.
Whew, it has been a very busy time.
However, we are back home and I'm going to try to catch up with my blog, and post some pictures of our camping trip.
Left that lovely cool, wet weather and came home to 90's and no rain. Supposed to be down in the 70's tomorrow, however, so I will enjoy that. Perhaps the a/c can go off again.

Sat night/Sunday morning

Dinner was good and the play was great last night. We enjoyed our evening out. This morning we went to church at the Crossing -- good service with very spirited music. We enjoyed it.
Weather is lovely.

Saturday on Iron Mountain

Our friends arrived last night -- we all slept well -- about 4:30 am I started sneezing -- took two Benadryl and that helped a little but I'm still having some allergy problems.

Yesterday we drove to Wicks and took a side trip to Cossatot State Park -- didn't see the river but we enjoyed the visitors center. We'll try to go again.

Tonight we are going into town to eat a steak dinner and then see a Neil Simon play, Lost in Yonkers, at the Mena Little Theater. I think it will be fun.

Sweetie's birthday is Monday and our friend, M, has his birthday on Sunday. Perhaps we will all go to Vickie's and eat pie -- Sweetie loves cherry pie. We have been avoiding Vickie's because the pie is oh-so-good and we don't need to be eating it!

Tomorrow we will find a church to attend -- we have been invited to a church in town (Mena) so we may go there.

Last night I used some of my pre-cooked chicken and made chicken enchilada casserole in my electric skillet. Worked pretty good -- shared it with our new friend from Iowa.

The end of our third day on Iron Mountain. Sweetie did some volunteer work today -- Gracie and I went to town to buy Sweetie a birthday card. I also stopped and looked at an estate sale -- didn't find anything I needed. We had chicken and dumplings for our dinner -- haven't had those in a couple of years -- they were good. Before dinner I took a walk -- need the exercise.

I love the trees that turn red in the fall -- they are beautiful!

Greetings from Iron Mountain -- it is beautiful. Rained all night but cleared in time for us to have our meals outside. Going to be cooler tonight -- glad we are prepared. Gracie is having a great time -- lots of new smells for her.

Fall is definitely in the air up here -- have only made a couple of pictures so won't post them right now -- one is a before/after pic and it isn't time for the after.

Tres Vistas

Earlier in the year we passed this ranch, Tres Vistas. I thought it would be great to live in such a place -- rather remote, and perched high on a hill overlooking the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
Sweetie thinks that I might be lonely so far from town. I don't know, I have never experienced that. How do you bloggers feel -- do you live in a remote area or are you close to other people in a town, large or small? Would you be lonely in a remote area like this?

A new fan...

On Friday, the mascot for the Houston Texans (pro football) visited my granddaughter's school. She was sooooo excited. During his visit his phone rang and it was players and cheerleaders calling to talk to the kids. V was totally taken with the whole idea of the Texans, their logo, their mascot, etc. Today, when I took her shopping for her birthday gift, she found a pair of pants with the Texan logo. She took them home! (Grandma is a softy.) I'm not sure she understands what game they play, or if she cares, but she is a "fan." Our Texans are having a pretty good year so I guess it is a good time to jump on their bandwagon!

Blue Friday

Robyn and Valentina say this is blue Friday. Can't resist posting one picture of our Texas bluebonnets!

I did it!

OK, I made the pumpkin dump cake using the spice cake. It got great reviews at the luncheon today but I thought it could have been better. While I was making it I decided that I think apple pie mix and spice cake would make a great spicy apple dump cake. I may try that next!

What do you call it?

In our area (Texas, USA) we call the green area in front of and behind our homes our yards.
Most of us do...but there are people who refer to them as the "garden."
Personally, I call our green spaces "yards" and the areas where we plant flowers and shrubs we call "flower gardens." There are also vegetable "gardens."

My Mother-in-Law called the yard the "garden." Even though she had never lived in the eastern USA she sometimes called things by names that were more common to that area.

I call the appliance that I cook on and in my stove. But, my husband will sometimes call it a "range." My stove contains a "stove top cooking area" and also an oven. It is a one-piece, drop in. In another house we had a stove top in one place, with cabinets underneath. Our double oven was located in another place, built into the wall. I've read books where what I call my stove was called a "cooker."

What do you call your outside area? What do you cook on? I'd really like to know.

Art

This used to be in a different location -- more "downtown." Was surprised to see that it has been moved to Discovery Green. If you are coming for the Quilt Show you will get to see it. It is now just across the street from the George R. Brown.

It is not easy being green!

We share our yard with many of these little creatures - my Grandsons call them "Little Green Jr. In their reddish coloration they become "Little Brown Jr." No, this wasn't taken at my house. We were visiting "Discovery Green" when I saw that Little Green Jr had also come for a visit.