Seventeen Days until the big Adventure

 It is September 1st.  Only 17 more days until I'm off for Italy.  Starting to worry about the little stuff, will I pack too much, will I pack too little, Do I have all the apps uploaded, etc etc.

I am going to try and Blog every day but if I'm having too much fun or not having any fun then you might not see that many Blogs- think positive that there will be at least 10 updates!

The sights and sounds of the country

One of the best things about living out in the country is being able to see so many stars at night and pick out constellations.   My personal favorite is Orion because whenever it is in the sky, I can always find it.  That is thanks to an astronomy class in college taught by the famous scientist, James Van Allen (any astronomy geeks reading this will know who he is) and many trips to the planetarium as child.  

Another favorite is all the animals I get to see.  We have rabbits and a fox.  I have seen an armadillo and a skunk (my almost least favorite), frogs, toads and snakes (my absolute least favorite!!) cardinals, wrens and black tufted titmice and lots of deer.  My favorite however is our Roadrunners.  At first we only had 2 Acme and Wilcox and then one day we discovered they had a nest.  Did you know that roadrunners mate for life?  Also did you know that Roadrunners eat scorpions, snakes and other small creatures that I'm not crazy about like grasshoppers and crickets?  Anyway about a month after we found that they had a nest we saw 3 little roadrunners.  Of course I had to name them.  Now we can tell Acme and Wilcox apart because of their size but I can't tell the babies apart so never really sure which one I am seeing.  No matter I still named them and their names are Zippy, Speedy and Flash.  The other day Jay got some amazing shots of two of them.  I love to sit out on the porch to watch and listen to them all.

Using that Incredible Kitchen

I've been having a great time using my Kitchen.  I love the oven and stove, but the warming oven has been the greatest invention ever.  When we are having people over for dinner or breakfast I don't have to try and co-ordinate so that everything is done at the exact same time.  I just finish a dish and place it in the warming oven, then when it's all ready- Voila everything is hot and delicious! The other very cool thing about the warming oven is that we can use it when we make BBQ.  Jay has a great smoker and he makes some of the best ribs, brisket, pulled pork and chicken.  BUT to get that slow and steady heat and flavor he has to be out at the smoker most all day tending the fire.  We have discovered that if he smokes the meat for 2 hours (brisket a bit longer) and then we bring it in and wrap it tight in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and put it in the warmer for 2-6 more hours (depending on the meat we are cooking pork takes the longest) it comes out perfect and we can go about our business while the oven does it's thing.

 

Now that's a serious smoker

My next two favorite items in my kitchen are my pot filler over the stove and my flat top grill.  Since I love to make jelly, soup and pasta I boil a lot of water.  Carrying the heavy pot to the stove is now a thing of the past.  Put the pot on the burner, slide over the filler and filler up!  When I need a little more water for the soup or whatever- slide the faucet over and done!!  The flat top is great for pancakes, toasting tortillas, grilling buns for burgers (which by the way, the next thing I am going to make is a grilled burger) and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Jelly season is upon us and I have added a new Texas treat.  Wild Mustang Grape Jelly- It is really good.  Our neighbor, Darvin took us to a couple of places where we could pick all the grapes we wanted.  I got enough grapes for 4 batches of Jelly.  So far the reviews have been great!  Almost time to harvest the Mesquite beans!

Still working on the label- any comments welcome!

 

Life in the Country

Sorry for the lack of posts.  I have started many posts but for some reason I wasn't getting any of them done and so obviously nothing has been posted for way too many months. 

Life in the country has been interesting and an adjustment.  However, I am proud to say I like it and as long as I can get back to the city at least once every couple of weeks I am good to go!  

Winter was interesting because we had snow here in Central Texas.  Then after a very rainy Spring we had a nice crop of Blue Bonnets.  In late May we purchased 10 cows with our neighbor Darvin.  The know no boundaries and we had to shoo them off the patio before they are all my flowers.  They did enjoy eating my $40 of brand new rose bushes I planted in the front of the house.  As with they cows last year I named most of these as well.  We have Chuck (as in Chuck Roast initially, now after eating my roses he is ground chuck), Porter, Dinty and Moore, Knobby (he has rather large knees) and Norman (name chosen by my nephew Mitch in honor of City Slickers) and Sam.  Fred has adjusted well and enjoys watching all the wild life.  I'm sure he would rather be an explorer than a voyeur but I prefer that he doesn't become something's lunch or dinner.

 

Our entrance for the fourth of July

Thanksgiving in the New House

What a great Thanksgiving and so much to be thankful for!  A beautiful new house, a beautiful family and great food- what's not to love about it.  Has to be one of my favorite holidays.

We Did It- We are moving in

It was Tuesday morning November 18th and the moving truck had arrived!  I sat down to begin the blog and got called downstairs with questions.  That was the last time I had a moment to spare.  We watched them load up the moving van and began to load up our cars.  At 2:30 the Van had left, we were putting Fred in my car and we were ready to depart Dallas.  It would have been much sadder if I was leaving the house never to return, but alas that was not the case since we hadn't sold the house yet.

Little Freddie did really well on the ride down.  I let him roam the car and after about an hour he settled down with the rhythm of the car and took a nap.  We got down to the new house and since we didn't have any furniture yet we had to spend the night in the cabin.  Fred wasn't sure what to make of all this and the first time he heard the train go by he just freaked.  He made sure I knew that Mr. Train was not our friend.  We went to our favorite Italian restaurant in McGregor, had pizza and a bottle of wine and called it a night.  The next day by 10:30 the movers had arrived, but there was an issue with our beds coming from Dallas and Mattress Firm had screwed up the delivery and SURPRISE no beds- yep one more night in the cabin.  

On Thursday morning I had to travel back to Dallas for a ribbon cutting at one of my properties with Prescott Group.  I got up and went over to the house to take a shower in our new bathroom.  The shower was very nice, with lots of hot water (cabin has a very small hot water tank in it and you learn to shower fast.  The trip to Dallas was uneventful and the ribbon cutting party was very nice.  I spent the night in Dallas at the house and let me tell you that was strange.  To be in my own house but have none of my belongings and my bed consisted of a mattress and box springs sitting in the floor of our old bedroom.  Yep, that was it, oh that and a lamp.  Caitlin had moved her stuff from storage into the main floor of the house and Alphie, her cat was following me around as if to say, "Hey where is that cat of your's? I miss him!"  The next morning I took care of some things and headed back to Crawford, with the car again loaded with odds and ends.  I stopped at a discount furniture place in Waco and bought a mattress and box springs for the guest bedroom and set the delivery for later that evening.  

The house was a welcome site even if it was loaded to the gills with boxes that needed to be unpacked.  I made up the guest room before going to bed that night because we were having our first house guests the next night.  Our friends Cindy and Scott Klingler came down to help us unpack.  They were a godsend!.  with their help we got the kitchen completely unpacked (with the exception of some boxes still in the man cave) and Scott and Jay got all his books unpacked- there was over a hundred books to be unpacked and put in the bookcases.  That afternoon we were going to smoke some ribs and chicken for dinner and I had used the stove for only the second time and made a mess of greens.  Well mother nature had other plans for the day.  At about 3:00 the skies opened up and we had a gully washer of a rain.  No way we could start up the smoker and it was so wet and muddy outside that to get to the car we had to put down flattened moving boxes and walk across those.  We ventured out for dinner- yes back to Luigi's for italian.  Only problem was, walking in the rain on these wet boxes that were sitting on top of mud.  you guessed it, I slipped the box slid forward and I landed in the mud on my butt.  I was quite a site, i looked like a poor excuse for a mud wrestler.  Everyone waited in the truck while I went back in the house to change.  The next day the sun came out, dried up most of the mud puddles and we were able to BBQ and use the shooting range.  We had a great time and the food was tasty.  I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am that they came down and helped.  It was so nice because they are just the kind of people who jump right in and help.  There was no tell us what you want us to do or waiting for us, they just started unpacking and saying where should we put these or what do you think of putting these here.  It was the best!!

Almost done!!

I am in Dallas busy packing up the house and Jay is in Crawford overseeing the final pieces.  Today the delivery people brought my new chairs for the barnwood table and they look good.  No good stories tonight, just going to post some pictures of the almost completed house.

my closet

Jay's Closet

Pantry shelving

Our new very expensive hand crafted dining chairs

 The screened in Porch and patio with rock wall. Fred Miller's (the cat) new home.

the carport

The crazy last rush

I haven't seen the new house in 2 weeks!  I have been busy getting ready for the mammoth moving sale and packing the house.  Movers come on Tuesday the 18th to move us out.  On top of that work with my client here in Dallas has had me very busy.  Even though I don't have 18 assets this budget season I am still working RE and it IS budget season, plus we had to make a change in management on one of our properties and that is never a walk in the park. This one has been more like the Never Ending Story (some of you are familiar with that book and movie).

The old house is a disaster with boxes and paper and piles of things everywhere.  I have decided that my things are able to have babies, because I clean out a closet, a day later I go back in that closet and there is more stuff.  Where is it coming from is my big question.  

Last weekend we had a 2 day sale and made about $1800.  Not bad, but even with that much stuff going out the door we still have 13 boxes, 2 large bags, some furniture, art work, an area rug and a trunk (I have filled with stuff) remaining for Salvation army to pick up. that doesn't count the toys we took to Good Will and the clothes and books we took to the womens shelter.   Almost enough stuff for another sale..... no, no, no, never again and really never again!

I have also decided I will be collecting NO new items for any of my collections, no new knick knacks and only pictures I really love.  If I buy it, it better be because I have an immediate use for it and not just a one time thing- unless it is disposable!!  The only exception to that rule is kitchen items.  I still love kitchen stuff!  Speaking of Kitchens  here are 2 pictures with the travertine backsplash in.  Color in the picture isn't very good, but you get the idea.

I also have to tell you that I am not the kind of person who can eat every meal out.  I like to eat home cooked meals in my kitchen.  For the last 2 weeks we have had to eat almost every meal out and though I love good restaurants I am tired of restaurant food.

Last Sunday our across the street neighbors, Jeff and Lauri Harrold did a little going away party for us.  It was so sweet of them and as usual when Lauri is cooking, it was delicious.  Her sister made cookies for dessert and they were the most gorgeous homemade cookies EVER.  We had such a great time, and we are going to really miss them.  Jay and I have been very lucky and blessed when it comes to great neighbors and great friends.

  

I'll close this entry with 2 more pictures of the house in progress.  Next blog will be written from the new house!

Great room wall

cabinet in the bedroom for knick knacks, pictures and the TV

 

The Home Stretch

We have begun counting down the days until we move to Crawford. Less than 20 days! When I got there last weekend so much was being completed.  The granite was all in and looks great.  Michael our excellent tile guy was busy installing the Travertine back-splash.  Jay and the electrician had been working on the over and under cabinet lighting.  It is using LED rope lights and is quite cool.  The concrete guys have been here and poured the walkway to the carport and the sloped approach to the carport from the road.  It has been like a little beehive here- (except that all the little worker bees have been male instead of female like real bees). They will be installing the flooring this next week, and we have ordered window coverings for the bedrooms and bathrooms that will be installed the following week along with our closet systems.

 Jay and I spent all day Saturday staining the walls in the Great Room.  We had some issues okay lots of issues and I am not going to go into them here, let's just say there was no blood, we are both still alive and the room got done... barely.  I'm not happy with it but it is what it is and once we have furniture in there it will be fine (I hope).  The downside of that little venture was that Jay re-damaged his shoulder and rotator cuff.  No I didn’t do anything to him.  It was from over working the arm with 14 ft high walls.  He has been in major pain since then and is going for an MRI today.  This is not what we needed with all that still needs to be done, and all the packing we need to do.  Ahhh life, never easy, but somehow you just muddle through.  Moving Van is scheduled to be here on November 13^th  and to unpack us on the 14^th.  We are having a big garage/estate sale next weekend and hope to get rid of lots of things we don’t use so why take them with us!
Here are a couple of pictures.  More to come!

kitchen really doesn't look this yellow- but it is very yellow.

Inch by Inch we move forward!

Finally AJ brought out the center island for the kitchen and the painters were able to get it painted on Saturday.  All that is missing now is the lazy susans for the corner cabinets and the little device that holds my mix master in its little garage.  Jay and Stanley were able to come up with a solution to fix one of my cabinet shelves in the cabinet I was going to use as a China Hutch.  AJ made all the shelves too small to accommodate any serving pieces and with a little ingenuity and a saw, they were able to give me a longer shelf in the middle.  The Stove was installed this morning. The granite guy will be out either today or tomorrow to measure for the countertops and then they will schedule for the flooring to be put in the house.  Like I said inch by inch, we're getting there.

New stove with vent-a-hood that has infrared heating for plates

 Now for the unveiling of the exterior light fixtures.  Notice the Miller Brand on the sides It is J M L.  Cool, don't you think?

Jay and I have decided to schedule our move for November 13th or 14th.  Can't believe it is just a month away.  So much to do and now so little time.  Here I am typing away on my blog when I need to call some movers and get some quotes, then book them.  Then I need to figure out the date for our BIG garage sale.  Oh plus I still have work and Caitlin's birthday and Jay's Birthday.  Guess I'm about to be a very busy girl!  So that's all for now folks!!