Fall Has Begun!

 Hi Everyone!  I hope you are all doing ok.  I have a terrible head cold right now.  I am starting to feel better but it is very annoying.  I have been napping alot and resting.  I also have been drinking lots of water to flush it out.

Well after the Texas trip we were home for 10 days and then we left for Missouri for Scott's son, Ben's Army MP training graduation.  We stopped in Tennessee one of the nights on the way to Missouri and stayed with our friends, Troy and Karen.  They have a lovely home and we had such a nice visit.  Then we got up and left for Missouri.  We had Lilli, Ben's girlfriend with us too.  We spent one whole day with Ben for Family Day and then the next afternoon was graduation.  It was a very nice ceremony.  Right as soon as the graduation was over we left for home.  We drove straight thru (14.5 hours)!  Scott drove most of the way.  I drove for about 4-5 hours so he could sleep.  I think that is why we are both sick with this head cold.  The temperatures have changed and we were run down.  I have been sick for about 4 days now.  Here are some photos from the graduation:

A visit to the PX on Family Day.

Graduation Day

The Arch in St. Louis Missouri

The Ohio River

There is definitely Fall in the air here in Salisbury.  The leaves are dropping/changing color, the air is crisper and it smells like Fall.  I decorated the apartment a little with a few pumpkins and some grasses and feathers but that is it.  Oh and I put a nice Fall wreath on the door.  I usually go all out, but truthfully alot of my things are packed away or I gave them away when I moved.  I still have been buying lovely roses at Harris Teeter-see below:

Pretties for this week.

I have felt like knitting too, so that is a sign Fall is here.  I love knitting in the Fall!  I wound some yarn yesterday-see below:

There is about 4 different projects right here all aready to go!

With not feeling good that is about all I have today.  Off to get some homemade chicken soup I made the other day, rest and relax!  Everyone have a good rest of the week!

Sherri

Where did the summer go!

Hi Everyone!  I hope this finds you well.  I have had a whirlwind summer for sure!  It started out doing things around Salisbury with Scott, finally closing on my house in SC, going to Waco, Texas, having the Shingles (which I still have) and on Sunday we leave for Missouri to pick up Ben from his Army training.  Time just flew by!

Scott and I have been taking apples and corn up to the property for the deer.  The does had a abundance of babies this year and it has been dry up there, we decided they needed some treats.  The second batch of apples (475 lbs to be exact) fermented a bit.  We caught a group of bear drunk on the fermented apples on the trail cam.  We had a good laugh about that!  They just layed there after eating themselves silly on fermented apples. The deer seemed fine.  Here is a photo:

Bear drunk on fermented apples up at the property.

My house finally closed in SC.  The couple buying the house are so nice.  I met them at the closing.  I am so glad they bought the house and have many happy years there.  That chapter of my life is now closed.  I am ready for new adventures.

Scott was going to hunt below Eagle Pass in Texas for Nilgai Antelope and Axis Deer.  He had this planned since April.  He asked if I wanted to go but wasn't sure where I would stay.  I told him if he dropped me off in Waco, Texas I'd be happy.  I always wanted to go to Magnolia there.  Well Magnolia wasn't what I expected but I found (thanks to my friend, Lori) the Heritage Craft Center.  I loved it there.  It is a small little village with all sorts of crafts like weaving, knitting, spinning, woodworking, grinding flour and grits at the gristmill, a blacksmith shop, potter shop, general store, etc.  The buildings were beautiful stone and the inside had exposed beams, wood, etc.  I loved it there.  I bought some yarn (of course), a handmade stitch marker, soap, loose tea, 2 mug mats, and a woven coaster.  It was so nice there and the people were so friendly.  I had to take an Uber there.  That was a first for me!  Her are some photos:

Grist Mill at Heritage Craft Center, Waco, TX.

Grinding Flour.

Yarn and pattern I bought at the Craft Center.

Handmade soap.

Loose tea (Cream Earl Grey), 2 Mug Mats, 1 Woven Coaster and a handmade Stitch Marker.

Beautiful woven coverlets at the Heritage Craft Center.

I loved this!  Woven hand towel.  Those bees are beautiful!

I bought this cute bag in South Carolina at The Mercantile for Waco.  It is a Myra Bag and I love it!

While in Waco, my 2 friends, Lori and Jacquie came for 1.5 days to visit me.  I couldn't wait to see them and we had so much fun together!

Blackberry Mojito at Hotel Indigo.  It was so good!

Me on the left, Lori in front on the right and Jacquie behind Lori on the right.

I bought a few things at Magnolia but not alot.  Below is what I bought.

Such a pretty flower pot from Italy.

Even though I had a million mugs, I had to get another one!

I always wanted a wax seal set.  This one is so nice!

Scott got the Nilgai Antelope and the Axis Deer.  The Axis Deer gave him a run for his money.  He is having both heads mounted and both hides tanned.  The Axis Deer has beautiful spots and markings down it's spine.  Can't wait to see that all done up.  

I have been seeing some beautiful sunrises and cloud formations on my trips to the closing in SC and while we were on our way to Texas.  See below:

Moon-Salisbury, NC

Beautiful cloud formation-Louisiana

Sunrise on my way to SC for my house closing.

We saw the Mississipi River and a beautiful lake on the way to Waco.

A lake in Louisana.  The cypress knobs were huge as well as the cypress trees.  Such a beautiful lake.  Can't remember the name though.

Mississippi River

We have gone up to the property a few times to work up there and take apples and corn to the animals.  Fall is definitely evident up there.

Apples and corn (in the bags) for the animals.

Graded trail.  Scott bought a scrape blade for his tractor and it worked really good on all the trails.  This part of the trail was so rutted and washed out from the rain.  It is all smooth now.

I had never seen kudzu bloom.  The blossoms were so wonderful smelling.  I know kudzu is a nuisance but it's flowers and scent are delightful!

Leaf strewn trail up at the property.

Scott on his John Deere Tractor scraping the trails.  It is a long process, but the results is wonderful!

Leaves turning up at the property already.  Fall is on the way!  I look forward to cooler temps for sure!

Before we left for Texas, Scott went to the gun range and made sure his Lapua rifle was ready. I also shot his Legend Rifle and did well with that.  A bull's eye and one slightly below the bull's eye when I shot the Lapua and I was pretty close on both shots for the Legend.  Annie Oakley look out LOL!!

There have been 4 new additions to Scott's family.  4 pullet chickens.  They are a little scared but are warming up every day.  Can't wait to get fresh eggs from them.

4 Sexlink pullet chickens at Scott's.

My beautiful Cafe au Lait Dahlia bloomed right before I left for Texas.  It is so pretty!

Cafe au Lait Dahlia.

Well I think I have caught you all up to speed except the details about my Shingles outbreak.  The Sunday before we left for Waco I thought I got bit by ants on my underarm (right side).  There were bites and then blisters.  Well that wasn't what it was-it was SHINGLES!  I was so miserable on the way to Texas and on the way back.  I went to the Dr. the day after I got back and he prescribed a few meds and it make sit bearable.  I have to tell you they are so painful and unconfortable!  Last night I had a rough night, so today I am not doing anything at all.  Just resting and sleeping.  I don't wish these on anyone!  I will be able to have the vaccine in May and I will definitely be doing that.  I wasn't able to have it before because of chemo.  Now that I have had the shingles, I have to wait 6 months to have the vaccine.  Everyone should have the vaccine if they can so they don't have to go thru this!

Well I'm signing off now!  I'm going to rest and a nap sounds good about now.  Everyone take care!

Hugs,

Sherri