WHEW! What a Month! But Just Wait Until December!

Seems like forever to me since I've posted a blog!  Tonight is the first time I've actually been able to sit down long enough to think about what to write.  My brain is really tired, but I think my body is dead all over!  *grin*  Most of all, my feet hurt!  I've been on them non-stop for way too long! 

My girl friend (the one who helped me with the estate sale) went to Branson, MO with me, and we had a wonderful time.  We didn't get to see the Gatlins or Andy Williams, but we did see the Oak Ridge Boys, and I have to say we were disappointed in them.  We also saw the Brett Family Show, and they were wonderful!  If you go there, be sure to see their show!  The Veterans' Day Show was really great, with lots of great entertainers, and what a tribute to our troops, past and present, by Brigadier General Paul Maye!  I wish everyone could have heard him.

My friend was born 50 miles south of Branson, in Arkansas, but her mother moved them away after the death of her father when she was five years old, and she had been back only once---last year.  She rented a car the first day, and we went to her grandfather's farm for a visit.  It was for sure a trip "over the river (low water crossings) and through the woods, to Grandfather's house" we went.  The current owners were so gracious and  invited us into their home.  They had torn down her grandfather's barn, and had incorporated three of the beams in their living room; it was beautiful!  We also got to visit with her mother's 92-year old best friend for about an hour.  The drive through the Ozarks was beautiful, with the leaves turning red, gold, and brown.  What a joy that day was, and one she will never forget!  Nor will I!

We got home on a Friday night, and the next day I went to another quilt show with a quilting friend who was making her first quilt hanging at a show!  What fun!  (Sorry --- I haven't gotten any pictures into the computer yet, but maybe soon I will!) 

I went to church and rested on Sunday, and then on Monday my friend and I went back to my sister's to finish setting up for the estate sale.  We worked every day, along with the man who helped me with the tools, until Friday when the sale began.  Everything in the house and garage was priced separately, and when 7 AM came on Friday, it was as though a tornado got inside the house and couldn't get out!  I think there must have been about 300 people or more on Friday, and at least 200 on Saturday, that walked through every room, and most bought several things (which I might add I had priced to sell)!  I don't have room for another thing in my house, and the important thing was to get rid of it, and that's just what we did.  We sold every bit of the furniture, and all the household things and tools!  I could easily pack what is left in my car, and that's pretty unusual for estate sales in this area!  Next thing is to sell the house, but I'm waiting until next week to get into that!  I need some rest badly!  Now I know why estate sale handlers charge so much!
But by golly, we got it done!  I could never have done it without the girl (I called her a slave driver!), the man who helped with the tools, and my son who is the best "gopher" in the world!  He did anything we needed done, and carried things to the cars for people!  We were all beat, and I don't think any of us have recovered yet; I know I haven't!  But God is Good!  I don't have much left to get rid of, and it can wait until next week!

I'm taking it easy this week, and will go to my son's on Thanksgiving.  Tomorrow I clean my dirty house, and hopefully Friday I begin dragging Christmas out of the closets --- not the tree yet, but all the trinkets, etc.  I can hardly wait to unpack the new little piano I got at the Cracker Barrel in Branson; it plays 50 songs, and is gorgeous!  I'll get my real piano tuned next week to get ready for parties here all month long.  My high school gang will be here Dec. 17, and I can hardly wait!  Haven't set the dates yet for some other groups.  Got to start making candy!        If my house were clean, I'd start decorating tomorrow, (I'm going from spring flowers that I never got changed out, straight into Christmas poinsettias and holly) but I've been so busy with the sale, I haven't had time to vacuum, much less clean windows, wash crystal, or clean carpet!  Ugh!!!

DID I EVER TELL YOU THAT I LOVE CHRISTMAS?!!!  It is my absolute favorite time of year!

The weatherman said we are to have a freeze and maybe some bad weather for Thanksgiving and later.  Maybe I'll get to stay home -------- *wink*!

Guess where I'm going now!  I'm going to bed, and I'm NOT setting the alarm!  This old lady is far too old for this much activity!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you!

---"Love"