Days of Journaling Underneath a Texas Sky

Today it is Monday, 11/24 as I type this in draft. I don’t want to publish it til we get back. But we are in TX. I thought I’d post some of our trip for my memories and if anyone is interesting in reading along they can. Let’s go back to Saturday….

Saturday Morning, Nov 22

Saturday Morning, 11/22 we left at 6:45 a.m. and dropped the dogs off at Doggy daycare. And then we headed West toward Bellevue and stopped at Chic Fil A for our morning breakfast.

We always stop around Jackson, TN at a place we call “the solar farm” for a break. It was lunch time and so we ate a pre-packed pimento and cheese sandwich, from home. Then I drove the rest of the way until we arrived in Hot Springs. We stopped and got a beer and an appetizer of chips and salsa at the Bathhouse Brewery as we always do. I got a flight which is 12 oz of beer in 4, 3 oz portions. And then onto our usual Antique Mall where I found a few pieces of second hand clothes for a very reasonable price. I usually find something there.

We ate at a place called the Red Oak Filling Station. It was really good. I had the pulled pork and I believe George had the brisket. Then we headed back to the hotel for an evening of reading and watching HGTV, lol. Sleep was just ok, and the pillows were a bit lacking – not much to them. And the snores were a bit bothersome in my left ear. I think I got about 5 hours of sleep. Normally the Hampton Inn is known for their comfy beds and lots of pillows, but I think this location gets their rejects? lol

Sunday Morning, Nov 23

Up at 5 a.m. and showered and packed and eating free breakfast in the hotel lobby. We were filled with the blessings of a free breakfast, free water and coffee, and a snack bag to go. But we did have eggs, sausage, and I had a small cup of oatmeal with peanut butter in it (for more protein). We hit the road and made it to Weatherford and ate at Taco Bueno because we have always wanted to. They kinda tasted like our tacos at home. So they were good. And then we headed over to HEB Grocery store to get our groceries going for our week’s stay on the ranch. We mainly just buy snacks and breakfast foods, as usually we have the evenings out or Katy fixes something there at the house.

It’s customary though for us to buy sushi at HEB and have some kind of sushi dinner at Katy’s. We had salad with it.

Around 8 we headed over to the guest house to unpack and settle in for the evening’s sleep.

I crashed hard having not slept much the night before. But around midnight, the storms started rolling in. I kid you not, it stormed from then until about 5 in the morning. I got up at 5 after tossing and turning. As I type this, I’m so sleepy I can hardly type this. lol

Monday, Nov 23

So I got up at 5 as I said and had coffee. George slept until about 7:30. What’d I do during that time? Did World Bible School, did my devo, looked out the window and watched the sky get lighter. There was no immediate sunrise as it was still cloudy.

Once showered we headed over to Kate’s for breakfast and to play with the kids. Trace wanted me to read an animal book to him that made noises. So we did that. And then it was time to head out to Walmart. So we shopped around in there. I found a nice black sweater to replace the one that is wearing out. I love it there b/c I can find things in my size. The one at home doesn’t keep my size for long. They are gone quickly. I also found a few Christmas gifts so it was worth going.

After that we ate at a place called the Soggy Dog for lunch. I got chicken salad on sour dough. It was the only thing I thought sounded the lightest. That said, I did have a slice of George’s pizza as it was a brick oven style pizza so I had to try it. And it was truly good. Katy said that the owner or chef had to go to New York to train how to make it.

So, We are relaxing at the guest house now and Katy’s fixing chicken tonight. I’m considering taking a nap. I might lay down a bit. The kids and Katy are napping. Cody is working but she is on Thanksgiving break, which is their fall break here.

Oh and I’m happy to say….the guest house was satisfyingly clean and no tracings of mouse poop anywhere, no mice anywhere, so it’s back to being its nice plush self, just as it was the first time we stayed here. Whew. I’m so relieved..

Tuesday, Nov 25

So we didn’t have chicken for dinner last night. Everyone was pretty much full and the power had been off all afternoon so the crock pot chicken thing didn’t happen. We had leftover pizza and some salad so who could argue about that?

We slept much better last night too. I conked out around 10 and maybe woke up once or twice to roll over. I was fully awake at 4 something but laid in bed and planned some in my head on my 1026 goals as I was ready to get up. I made myself stay there til 5:45 because at least I was resting.

I’ve been getting up before George here. My morning alone time is nice. He has his alone time after I go to bed.

So, this morning Katy picked us up and we went to Graham, TX about 45 min away – north of here. And we took the kids to the donut shop there for donuts and kolaches. I rarely get donuts but I do get them when I come to TX. I got a donut with cream vanilla icing like I used to get as a child. It brought back memories. I inhaled it. It was way too sweet for what I needed and I know that so no judgements please. I had to feed the little girl in me, as it brought back pleasant memories from the past. I also bought a mini cinnamon roll for another day. George bought an extra kolache for me and so I ate it because I needed something non-sweet and with protein after that. I also vowed to not have donuts again for a while once I eat the cinnamon one tomorrow.

The forbidden sins were not over. We ate at Taco Casa several hours later after doing a lot of shopping on the square in Graham. I had the time of my life there just shopping away, looking for gifts, but mostly just taking videos for the Texas Style Vlogmas. I’m not getting a lot of footage for the “What You Missed during the Holidays” vlog though, but that’s ok as we’ve got all month to capture ultra special moments. I do want to get some good B-Roll of the ranch around us though. And I did get some of the sunset yesterday. I even got the coyote in the background in one of them which thrilled me.

Oh, and we heard coyote packs last night two or three times after going back to the guest house. I love hearing them (when I know I’m safe).

So after shopping today and Taco Casa, we went to pick up some pies that Katy had ordered from a friend. And she lived in a barndominium. That is a house style that is common out here apparently. I had never heard of it before until we came out here in TX and now I’ve heard about them twice and got to see the outside of one today.

Then we went to United to the “big” grocery store for our Thanksgiving meal groceries. I don’t really think I’m making any dishes but I told Katy I’d be her sous chef lol. So I’ll chop, clean, wash, dry, heat ovens, grab ingredients, and do whatever I’m told lol. Or she may just have me fold laundry as I always do that for her when I’m here at her house.

As we put the groceries in the car, Katy treated us to some coffee. She ran in and bought us a couple of Starbucks while we waited in the car. The Starbucks was inside United. I got a cold brew, b/c I was hot. It was in the 40s I think when we headed out this morning and so I had on a sweat shirt. It got up to 68 and 68 in TX is warm with no breeze and sun so I sucked down the pumpkin spice cold brew she brought me. And now I have to be better as I’ve had a LOT of splurges today.

I think we are eating healthy tonight. Fingers crossed.

It is almost 4 now and we have someone coming to take family pictures tonight at 5:00 here on the ranch. So around 4:30 I’ll put my shirt on which is the correct color, lol. And spot up my make up a bit and we’ll head over.

I’m sucking down the water right now in my Taco Casa cup, which OMG, I love this cup as it is thick and held the icy cold water so cold. So I kept it and reloaded. I’m trying to drink a lot of water since we ate so unhealthy today and I had those doughnut/kolache/tacos. I failed to mention earlier, since I’d gotten up early I had a peanut butter on English Whole Grain muffin so technically I wasn’t going to eat lunch but did since I’d had so many sweets and carbs, I needed the proteins. Please no speeches, or in box messages on my eating patterns this week. No judgment. I’m on vacation and I know I’m not eating healthy. I don’t need the mental health issues it gives me of people sending me notes how I’m doing everything wrong and I’m never going to be successful and all that. So just keep it to yourself. Sure I appreciate the helpful info but I can’t take the criticism parts very well and it doesn’t sit with me nicely from a mental health aspect and how I view myself. So…..there’s that. Sorry but everyone tends to be frank with me so I’m being totally frank right now to protect myself and my psyche. Don’t send any judgmental comments. Some are laced with “not to be judgmental” but when people say that they are really being judgmental and trying to give themselves permission to be, but I don’t want those types of comments. And it’s making me not want to blog my life anymore for making this not a safe place to blog for me without fear of people judging. And I’m going to be like you guys and say “not to be judgmental of your comments or anything….but…..” lol it’s not safe for me here when that happens.

Ok enough on THAT. I too do not want to make anyone mad but have to draw boundaries for myself. I’m the only one here that can protect it and I am aware I don’t always make the right decisions and that’s on me and it should be on me and I know that and I don’t need anyone telling me how I’m doing this wrong or that. Ok enough said.

So I guess that is all for today. Other than to say that this week is really going by fast. Way too fast! See you tomorrow.

Thursday – Thanksgiving Day

I didn’t post anything yesterday. It was just a really relaxing day and we did not do anything much in particular but hang out. George ran to town for some pellets that Cody needed for smoking the ham and also went to the local frisbee golf course.

I hung out with Katy and played some with Trace. It’s hard to keep them occupied. Nonni is not as good at playing as Poppy but I love being around my grandson’s and watching them grow and learn and do life, as this is only one of the times of year I get to. I folded two loads of clothes for Katy. Was happy to do so. I like folding laundry – except for sheets, lol. Katy made some homemade pies

It was a good quiet time for me personally though and one I much needed, even though family was about and we were all together. I have downloaded a “coloring” app and although it seems incredibly boring to me to color for real, I have loved doing it digitally. And it’s much harder than it seems because sometimes the spaces that need to be colored by a certain number, are hard to find, lol. So that makes it a challenge.

So today is Thanksgiving day and I slept til 8 a.m. even though we went to bed around 10 or so last night. Maybe 10:30. I must have been all tired out. After waking up this morning I realized I’d only have time for a quick cup of coffee and would have to forego by morning “slow” routine. However, I sent into getting ready and took stuff over for breakfast if needed. As we would probably not be eating breakfast at the guest house anymore as tomorrow we will Black Friday shop and probably hit up Adriana’s Taqueria, and if not a granola bar, lol.

Once we got over to Katy’s next door, she had made sausage balls and then later had spinach dip and chips and pretzels. Yum. She added the apples I brought. So those things are keeping us up with Thanksgiving day hunger, til the big meal. Working perfectly. I also have a stash of carrots to keep me grounded if needed. Speaking of carrots, George made some carrots for Thanksgiving today yesterday after his frisbee playing and then also made the stuffing. We realized no one bought celery. Katy thought George was getting it and George thought he saw it in Katy’s basket but that was green onions. Oh well, not the first time we had dressing without carrots.

I’ve been looking up Dexter and Maddie every day – just seeing them and knowing they are ok helps me but I miss them terribly and I look forward to our grand reunion on Sunday.

I have loved every minute of the trip. It’s been nice to see everyone of course, but it’s also been nice to get away from the routine. And to do something different.

I’ve still had things to do every day that I placed in my ‘TO DO LIST’, but if it wasn’t something I wanted to do, I forwarded it over. But I planned some things to do that I haven’t had much time to do at home yet.

For example:

*I have looked at our Christmas Shopping list to make a list of everything that is left to buy, I’ll need to update this daily now so I can make sure to get everything done.

*I spent some time thinking about my Word of the Year and Phrase of the Year. And some of the goals for next year. I plan on doing a New Year Reset Video and will include it in that. I don’t want to do an entire video on my goals, but will do a few minutes of what I want to do.

*Christmas Black Friday Shopping and I have some things in my cart to review for the final time and order on Saturday. I will order everything then as long as it delivers Sunday or after. I don’t want it delivering while we are gone.

Other things I would like to do “mindwise” if I have time and in the mood to do it:

*How to reserve a copyright and do I really need one.

*Writing a book. Just listing the elements that I like to see in a book. I would really like to list the elements, develop the characters, and the story and have it evolve and thread everything in together like a big puzzle. I want to enjoy some writing. If it’s good we will check into publishing but I don’t want to put the cart in front of the horse. I don’t know if I really want that but for now I just want to write it. I would really like to write a book that supersedes the boundaries of what a normal book normally does. I have my thoughts and methods but won’t share that here. But I thought if I had time I might begin by just listing the elements I want to see in the book and then taking it from there.

*Developing a list of study topics for 2026 spiritually. I plan to study it, develop some lessons and then share them. I also will need to determine my platform. Getting 2025 out of the way and catching up on so many things that were behind since retirement, will hopefully allow me to have more creativity for 2026 for writing, for YouTube, etc.

*Working on my List of Topics for the NY Reset video

So it’s been nice to have time to “think”.

We will be eating Thanksgiving dinner about 4 and I believe people will begin to arrive around 3. They have some other families/individuals coming to join us.

So I will close for today and post all about it tomorrow.

Friday, November 28, 2025

So I got up at 6 this morning. I really woke up at 4 and my brain was active. Around 5 I went back to sleep but when George got up for a potty run at 5:30 I woke up. So I got up and fixed coffee. It stays dark for a long time out here in TX. We are further east in the same time zone in Nashville area so the sun comes up earlier.

I am missing my doggies. But I’ve been able to see them on the doggie cams. Usually Maddie cannot be seen but they have the little doggies in their own area now and sometimes in a pen area. Both dogs looked like they were happy. But I know Maddie missed me like I miss her.

Katy and the kids came over to get us and we headed over to Adriana’s Taqueria for our annual or semi-annual breakfast there, but they were closed today. That happens here in Breckenridge. Individually owned businesses have hours that they pick and choose of course. So we didn’t get to go. But we went to some other place. They looked to have good burritos. I wish I’d gotten one, but I ordered a plate that had eggs and beans and potatoes. I got something that looked akin to a plate of soup, lol. Runny eggs, runny beans and runny salsa, but I made the most of it as I could with a fork. lol

We went shopping and this time there was not much on sale. What was on sale, should have been on sale again. I saw some PJ’s that were $80. Even at 30% off, I just couldn’t do it. I don’t really need them and they were Christmas PJ’s. They were really nice and silky and I would have loved them, but there’s too many other’s that need things and need gifts so I don’t need to spend that on me.

Anyway I did buy a few small gifts but for the most part everything was pricey. There was one time when everything in the store was 50% off at this one store we used to shop off. Even I admit that would have been hard for a store owner to do, but we didn’t have that many bargains today here.

That’s ok. I wasn’t really in a huge shopping mood anyway. So we headed home and ate lunch of leftovers from the turkey meal yesterday and Katy started a puzzle. I worked on it quite a bit.

I had my journaling set up to do this journal in my iPad laptop case, but River wanted to play with the iPad so I changed it over to the other case so he could play. I had to laugh as he went and got another sausage ball. I don’t know why he thinks sausage ball and iPad go together. I allowed it yesterday but I told him he had to eat his sausage ball and then he could play with the iPad as it got a bit greasy yesterday and who wants their new iPad to be greasy, eh? lol Anyway I finally got him set up to play on the iPad and then Cody asked him to go with him to do something on the ranch, but they were gone only for about 5 minutes. I had already changed the iPad back over to the laptop case. He asked to play and I told him he’d have to wait. This case is hard to change over and I’m not changing over every 5 minutes. So I’m trying to get this done. I had some other things I wanted to do but he loves playing with it so as soon as I’m off I’ll let him have it. Did you need to know all that? No not really lol.

Anyway, we are going to a winery tonight, we think. So much of what we think we are doing changes – mainly due to hours of the businesses. But Katy has been wanting us to go, so we are looking forward to it. It’s still up I’m the air as to whether Cody can go or not.

It’s cold today. In the 50’s with a good breeze at times. We leave to start home tomorrow. We’ll get up early. The time has gone by fast. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been so nice. Always good to see our grands and our Texas fam. But I will be glad to see my fur babes and hop back into the routine. We will be headed to Hot Springs in the morning. It’s about a 6 hour drive or so.

That’s all for today.

Saturday, November 29

We had a great time last night at the winery. It was a perfect night to end our trip in TX. Loved the food, loved most of the wines. We did a tasting during our dinner. Quite the lovely time.

Then we had to say our good-byes. River never wants to hug me or hold my hand. It always makes me feel bad, but I guess I’m a girl and I’m gross? LOL oh well. Is that normal? Or am I just hard to love?

Anyway, we got up at 5:00 this morning. The alarm went off and I was sleeping so good. I just really hated to get up and get going. I had to have a cup of coffee before hopping in the shower. But once I had 1/2 cup in me I hopped to it and got the shower done and the final packing.

We put all the towels in a specific place and then I put all the trash from all the house in the main trash can so it makes it easier on the cleaning staff.

George gathered the items left in the fridge that we bought and put it in the cooler.

And we hit the road.

George drove 80 on that TX road before the sun came up and it has some curves in it. Scares the “bedickens” out of me. No I don’t know what that means but it did. I told him to slow down that he was scaring me and he did. He slowed down to 79. But it did feel a little bit safer lol. I was thinking of deer or pigs hitting us at that time of morning.

Anyway we have made it to Hot Springs for our half way mark home. We stopped at Buccee’s and then at Cracker Barrel for pit stops. I bought a few things at Buccee’s for Christmas gifts in their gift section.

Once in Hot Springs we went to Bubba Brews on the lake. We had their Marzen brew and it was really good. I got wings and a salad.

We are going to dinner later but we have checked into the hotel and George is watching the Vanderbilt / TN game. I’ve spent some time this afternoon looking for where to eat dinner. So many times he has chosen and it’s often nice when someone else chooses, but he wanted me to pick. I not really hungry but I think we are going for a burger and custard at Freddy’s. I just want a burger patty really and the custard sounds good. I’ve not had any milk lately – but I did have cheese yesterday and ranch dressing today but for some reason the custard just sounds like it will rock my boat in a good way!

Then we have to go for some weight loss efforts the next couple of weeks. So we will work on our grocery list for tomorrow. I have a whole list of things I wanted to work on but I drove probably over half of the drive here and much of it in the rain and so I’m kind of just fizzled out brain wise right now.

I’m sipping more coffee. I might read a chapter or so in my book. But I do feel all cozy here in the Hampton Inn Hot Springs for the time being. It’s rainy and 49 outside. So inside is cozy for sure.

That’s all I know for today.

Monday Dec 1

So we are home now and I can publish this long journaling of our trip. I just didn’t want to post too much out there about us being away from home. Some could figure it out if you knew us by some of the pics we posted but I feel less advertising of it is best now that the channel base has grown.

So yesterday we had a day of driving from Arkansas to TN – about 6 hours or so. It’s just a long two days of driving, but we try to make it fun and enjoyable. This last leg home for me is always the most tiring. I’m ready to be out of the car at that point and ready to be home and I am tired of doing all the “sit down” things.

The dogs, were so happy to see us yesterday and we were happy to see them. In the middle of the night, Maddie woke up and realized she was in bed with me and got so excited, lol. She did a part “zoomie”. Lol

And I’m in the middle of chaos here but it’s a beautiful chaos. It’s Dec 1. I am late to promote the first vlogmas, we need to shower, get to the grocery store. We need to unpack. I need to decorate the rest of the house for Christmas, do some laundry, pay Mom’s bills, do a Target order. I need to check off what we bought for people for Christmas on our list. The house is in complete disarray from our travel stuff, Christmas gifts, and all that. I need to edit videos. So no shortage of things to organize. I also need to be working on vlogmas filming. Need to transfer files from what we filmed in TX. Yeah, no shortage of things to do and organize. But it’s beautiful because I enjoy doing it all.

Mom says she is good for now on groceries. We will see her Friday for her doc appt and go out to eat. George is going too. And then the next week she wants to go several places for groceries to get all the things she needs for company.

We are supposed to have one more “packing” for Magi on Thursday. But I’ve not totally decided if I am going or not. It depends on how much I get done here with everything I’ve already committed to. I was thinking we already had our last packing but we got a notice there will be one more. I will try to go. But I’ve not committed that I will be there in case I’m feeling overwhelmed. But we’ll see, what we can do.

Ok gotta go promote the vlog. I’ll be entering this post and then have to enter a post right behind it for the Vlogmas. I will be posting them here daily through the 15th.

We have a wintry mix coming tonight. It’s 25 degrees this morning. Take care ya’ll and enjoy vlogmas. It’s crazy to think I’ll be posting 15 days straight. Yikes. They will have to be short for me to pull it off. lol. But I’m excited about it. I will try not to get too excited b/c a lot of creators state that they felt Vlogmas was not good for their channel and that it hurt them, and that also it was not good for themselves as it wore them out. So we’ll see. But I’ve always wanted to do it so I shall.

Over and Out. What a great week it was. George said last night “has this just been a dream? It’s come and gone and all over and here we sit on the sofa”, lol.