Darkest Before Dawn

It is currently 30 minutes before the sun is supposed to be fully in the sky. There are no pinks, oranges or yellow hues glowing in the distance. There's no teasing of the sun's rays, reflecting off the clouds, giving off any sort of light whatsoever. In fact, if I hadn't checked the clock, I could have mistook the hour for 2 a.m. 

Here, the sun just comes up. Poof! One moment it is completely dark--(forgive me) as night--and the next moment the sun is high in the sky. Same with the sunset.   

I miss sunrises. I miss sunsets. 

I will never get used to this. 

The Upcoming Holiday

Folks in these parts take Halloween a bit too seriously for my tastes. Don't even get me started about how last year it took me 45 minutes to drive 1/10 of a mile because the streets were clogged with trick-or-treaters... But, if it works for them. 

Recently, Marty and I walked to Dollar General. On the way back I snapped these photos from various homes around Wake Village. The one I didn't get was of the scarecrow that was taller than the actual house. 

This last one we've debated about. Would someone find a bat hanging on a street sign in Mesa or would it have been stolen or would the city officials have kyboshed it? 

Sewing Social Circles

Dr. Jekyll created a monster. I tell him that often. Bob, is a 66 year old paramedic who loves to quilt. A couple of years ago, he put an ad in the neighborhood newsletter, asking if anyone wanted to learn to quilt. With way too much time and way too little social life--then anyway--I signed up. 

Bob and his wife Cindy opened a quilt shop this year. I found that to be useful, though I'm not sure Marty agrees. 

Anyway... A couple of weeks ago, I realized Corona Krissy had a birthday coming up. Though I don't normally make handmade gifts, I found this pattern, which seemed extremely easy and would make a fun pillow. Plus, it really reminded me of her. 

 

I was right! It took me an hour to make! 

Then I realized Corona Jenna had a birthday the day after Krissy's. I certainly couldn't give Krissy a handmade gift and not give Jenna a handmade gift at the very same birthday party. Plus, Dr. Jekyll had a sale of fabric. So, why not? 

And wouldn't you know it? Corona (and real estate agent) Tessa also has a birthday this week. I had enough fabric for for two table runners. So... 

But it really isn't Tessa's kind of thing. She's more elegant and less whimsy. Besides, I hadn't seen Bob and Cindy in two days and I heard he had new fabric. So, I made this one. 

And then I realized there is a deer backside in the middle star. 

That's okay, Marty likes this table runner. Or, I might donate it to the Master Gardener's White Elephant Christmas party game.

Tessa is probably getting a whimsical table runner. 

But, Corona Connie ALSO is celebrating her birthday this week at the same birthday party. And, she's a  quilter. Fortunately, Bob and Cindy had gifted me some pretty fabric that I was itching to do something with. 

This one is my favorite. 

My one hour pillow gift turned into three weeks of sewing in my bedroom as well as several hours at Bob's quilt shop running his long arm quilting machine. Bob taught me to use his long arm quilting machine so that I don't have to pay him to do this.  

Oh, and while I was at Bob's quilt shop today, I met Rebecca who lives down the street. We've already made plans to get together to sew.  

 

Random Texarkana

 Two Three Random Sunday Texarkanas

1. After church today, a woman in her mid-50s scaled the pews and salmon-dived through the crowds to get over to Buckaroo. She wanted to introduce herself and say she'd never seen either of us at church* before. And by the way, she had a daughter about Buckaroo's age who was a senior in high school who (as she frantically looks around) was "around there somewhere". When she found out Buckaroo was 22, she then started telling us about her lovely 21 year old daughter who would be home at Christmas and perhaps they'd be sure to sit near us during Sunday service.

2. While this was going on, Buckaroo wasn't paying any attention to this conversation because a woman I barely knew had walked up to us, introduced herself to my son and started telling him HE "needed" to read my book. At this point, Buck was taking baby-steps towards the door, looking for a break in the crowds so he could bolt. Unfortunately, Corona Gail, Corona Krissy, Corona Ruth and Corona Suzy cornered him (and me) to say hello. 

3. Buckaroo came to church with me today. 

*I go almost every week and sit in the same place. 

Election Update

The Early Voting schedule came out and I am not on it. Fourteen hour days for five days at a time are taxing in the best circumstances. And though Texarkana is fairly civil, I don't see any reason to subject myself to extra crazy. Besides, after the additional training we received on what to do if there's a bomb threat, active shooter and other types of discontented voters wishing to do more than express their right to vote, I'm not sorry. 

When I called to confirm I had the next two weeks off (yippee!) I was told there are too many folks who need additional training so Rich has the newer folks working Early Voting, giving the "seasoned" ones the time off. Whether it is truly that or it is because Rich's boss hates me--he really does--I don't care the reason. I'll take my sanity instead. 

I am working the election at my "usual" location in the hood. Plus, I'm working with my favorite Presiding Judge--this is our fourth election together. This time I'm the Alternate Judge. Other than the fact she will be the one signing the time cards, I'm not sure any of the roles and responsibilities between us will change. 

National Buckaroo Day

How can this one be 22?

It feels like just yesterday my baby was asking me to sew superhero costumes for him and selecting pretty rocks to give to me. Today, he, Marty and I went to Little Rock for his birthday lunch at his favorite dumpling restaurant. Tomorrow we will continue the celebration. Polly will be around and we will hang here, eat one of his favorite meals and play Uno and Settlers of Catan.  

A few pictures from through the years.

 

Patrick's Visit (The Vampire Diaries)

This is day 237 of 4 hours of sleep. The great news is I'm getting a lot done--like housecleaning, laundry and watching the weather updates on Milton*, because there isn't a lot to do at 3 a.m. in Texarkana.

My favorite human, Patrick and his mother (my wonderful sister-in-law) left yesterday. His cousins loved on him for four days, Buck took him geocaching and made all kinds of Lego creations which might actually impress a special architect friend of mine. Patrick liked the idea that he has toys in two different states. Additionally, Patrick and Polly made birthday cookies for Buckaroo. Even Luna got into the action, making sure to play with her long-lost pal every chance she got. 

We took an hour drive to Mount Pleasant (population 16,000) on Monday where we toured the Sweet Shop, the largest hand-crafted chocolate factory in US. The Sweet Shop provides private label the chocolate to many retailers including Nordstrom's, Neiman Marcus, Target and Buc-cees stores. Plus, between Patrick's charm and Buckaroo's self-proclaimed "drop dead gorgeousness" the two got their fair-share of free samples from the cute 20-something tour guide who would have been flipping her hair off her shoulder every time she smiled at Buck (or he at her), if we weren't all wearing hairnets in the factory. 

Patrick is enamored with all things Texarkana. Knowing this, last Christmas, I gave him a book series from Cal, a local author who writes books for boys. Cal is a friend and one of the fellow founding members of the Golden Quill Writers. He wanted to meet fan-boy Patrick. And Patrick wanted to meet his (ahem!) Favorite Author. Tuesday before Patrick and his mother drove back to Dallas, we went to Cal's office, where the meet-and-greet took place and Patrick got to meet "someone famous."
 

Patrick and Cal

*Speaking of Milton, I have a cousin in Tampa. Marty's Uncle Sunshine lives on an island west of Fort Myers and my brother Darwin is in Boca Raton--on the east side of the state.

  

Happy!

My favorite human, Patrick, arrives today!!!! 

How Big is this Place?

Maybe because I live on the very Eastern edge of the state, but I rarely think about how big Texas actually is. This morning, around 3 a.m., I was woken by a state-wide "Blue Alert" because 406 miles away a police officer had just been killed. To put that in perspective: my former home in Mesa, AZ to Venice Beach, Los Angeles CA is ALSO 406 miles.

I did a bit of digging and discovered these facts: 

North and South Carolina fit easily inside Texas with room to spare for Virginia, Alabama, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. 

Also of note, I live closer to Chicago, IL than I do to El Paso, Texas. 

I live closer to Miami, FL than I do to Phoenix. 

And finally, Texas is twice the size of Italy and about the same size as the Ukraine.