Cleaning up before the temps fall

Love our patio

Underpinned and cleaned up

Really nice in the spring and fall. A little too cool now.

Yes they are saying we will see the temps plummet this week so I am jumping ahead and getting some things put away and cleaned up before that happens. 
I don't like cold weather and really don't like to work in it. Today is so so with the temps so I took advantage to clean up some areas around the cabin. 
I underpinned the other day and as I said earlier I straightened out the power pole and completed the fence. I know my neighbor is happy I got that side of the place finished. It was a real eyesore for some time but now it looks decent.
Still working on all my frames. I am just about out of old barn wood so I will have to hunt up some more. We have many old barns in this part of the country. I will have to take out on a mission to locate me one...

Somewhere in Time  

Storm blew through

My frame

Yesterday started off a little cool but warmed up to be beautiful. Sherri and I did our usual coffee morning and then split up to do our thing.
I have been working on some frame designs for my art. I have priced frames and they are way out of range on what I price my art at. I liked the design I came up with and it seems to sale good too.
I finished my fence and Sherri is working on some other projects for down the road. Until then I will continue to paint and make frames...

Somewhere in Time 

Finished up the fence project

For some time Sherri and I have been working on fencing in the backyard here at our lake property. We could only go so for because our temporary pole was leaning into the line of the fence. We finally got the power company out to disconnect the power so we could right it. That being done we were able to complete the fence. 
The completed project is pictured above. Not bad for an old geezer...

Somewhere in Time

Saying good bye is hard

June and Jim saying good bye

We left last Saturday and drove to Galveston to visit with my sister and BIL. I consider him my big brother after all these years. So I guess I have the best of both worlds. A big sister and a big brother all in one visit!
Sherri and I are not planning on getting out much the rest of this year. With Kris in school we have no way to just take off and go. We plan on doing some close in travels to get our fix.
I have plenty of projects to keep me busy so I wont be longing for travel until they are all completed.
We have a fence going in and we are underpinning the cabin. Just doing it all a bit at the time until we have it all together. 
We really like our little place on the lake. It is not right on the lake but close enough to get there within minutes. All I need is a boat to complete the list...and that will come...

Somewhere in Time 

So much to do

View out our front window

Seems like the more I get done the more I have to do. You know you start one project and two others pop up that have to be done.
The weather here is starting to cool off. I don't know what happen to Fall it never showed up. The trees never have turned color here...the leaves fell off one night and that was Fall?
OK Sherri and I have several projects in the planning stage and we are trying to keep them in order. In the past we have put the cart before the horse as the old saying goes. One at a time we will get all our things done this winter.
We do plan on taking some short trips this winter. I like going up to Oklahoma and Arkansas. They have some nice places to camp. We are going to Galveston this month to see my sister. We are not taking the RV but plan on staying with them.  
We are getting settled here and it is working out real nice. Kris is happy in school and we have plenty to keep us out of trouble. I think we will do just fine until we leave for Colorado...


Somewhere in Time   

Settling in

We are still working on getting things done. We have many projects to complete before we are settled in here at the lake. Things that have to be done before the winter gets here. Once the cold weather sets in we will not be able to get much done outdoors.
I spend most of the day in my new studio painting some of the pictures I took in Colorado. I don't have heat or air out there so I have a small window to get those completed. I am going to have a sale next week in hopes of getting enough money to replenish my supply of canvas. I know I will never get rich at painting but as long as I have the materials to do what I love to do I will be happy.
Kris is off to school this morning and Sherri and I are planning on heading off to the store to do some grocery shopping. You know a guy has to eat...

Somewhere in Time      

I think Winter is just around the corner

Sherri and I woke up Monday morning to a cold wind blowing out of  the north. On top of the cold wind the rain started coming down. This to me is and indication that winter is coming real soon. We never have a Fall here in North Texas it just goes from hot to cold over night. 
Today is Wednesday and yes it is still raining but the temps have mellowed somewhat. I have spent most of my time in my studio or hanging wall decor for Sherri in the cabin. This is the way we pass the time in the winter months while we are here at the lake.
We had planned on staying on Lake Palestine with Jennifer and her family. We decided, however, to save our money and buy us a boat. We use to have a boat years ago and enjoyed spending time on the lake fishing and exploring. When we were transferred to North Carolina we sold the boat and never got another. Now is the time to buy another boat and have some entertainment during the winter months when we are here and not in Colorado.
Sherri is not feeling well today. I think this weather going back and forth is messing with here sinuses. I hope that it settles in..

Somewhere in Time 

Did I mention that we made it back to the lake cabin

Kris's first day at school

Our welcome home sky

It was rather hot here when we first got back but since that time we have noticed that the weather is cooling down. We have stayed indoors for the most part and enjoyed that HVAC. I have worked a little out in my studio on some paintings that different ones have requested. I have to paint early in the morning because as the sun gets higher in the sky my studio gets too warm to work in.
Kris started back to public school and seems to really enjoy it. He was up to what they are studing and has made some good grades. There are some areas we need to work on but for the most part he is doing quite well.
It has been strange not getting him up and starting school. I kind of miss teaching but then with him off to school early Sherri and I have time to get some things done around the place.
We went and visited our son Jason. It was our grandson Hayden's Birthday. We had a good time visiting and seeing their new swimming pool. We did not get to use it due to the cool temps that moved in along with a rain storm. I know we will get to enjoy it later...

Somewhere in Time 

The hunters are here

Kevin's Elk

This is Elk season and the hunters are coming into the camp here. Some came the first of the summer to search out the best place to hunt. Now that the season is open they are out beating the bush looking to take an Elk.
Kevin our across the street neighbor came in yesterday with his Elk. He killed it with a cross bow and it took him 5 hours to find it after it was shot. Then he had to take the 900 lb carcass down out of the woods. It is all I can do to get down to the edge of the water and pull out a 2 lb. trout! 
Well we are all invited to an Elk dinner...

Somewhere in Time   

Rain coming down out of the valley

Down from the valley comes the rain and wind.

We were sitting on the patio when a burst of thunder woke us from our daydream state. Sherri looked at me and said she was heading inside. I was working on a painting and took a little too long to gather up my paints and brushes. The next thing I knew the wind started blowing warning me of the onslaught of rain that was coming. 
I just barely got everything gathered up when the rain plus the wind started coming from all sides. I shut the bay door and I too was right in behind Sherri.
This is the time of year that we get a lot of wind and rain about 3:00 pm. The temps drop as soon as the front passes and then the rain beats down sometimes accompanied by hail. You just got to love it! At home the temps are killing people and the humidity is stifling. They are saying that the temps are coming down which makes me feel more at ease about leaving.
We went out to eat filet mignon at the steak house in Monte Vista. Just across the street from the restaurant was the theater. We decided to see the show "Skyscraper". Was I worn out after this movie! 
Sherri needed to go to the grocery store afterwards so I drove over there and let her load up on food stuffs. 
We made it back home after dark and she got all the groceries put away and then I put myself away in the recliner...

Somewhere in Time

Sun is showing on the mountain

Taken through the window...little bit of reflection 

Warmth is on the way. Drinking my coffee this morning and stopped to take a picture of the sun peaking over the mountains.
Can't get enough of the beauty here in God's country...

Somewhere in Time