A Small Town Weekend & a Birthday

I'm still here! I can't believe it's already Thursday! It's been a very unusual past few days and even week for us!

First of all, Jason is still off work and home with his leg. It's really been strange and nobody seems to know exactly what caused it and what happened...they do know that it's NOT a blood clot and NOT a brown recluse spider bite, but his leg has really gone through some horrible stages and just looked terrible. I'll spare you the pictures (yes I took pictures of his leg too) because it really does look gross! He was sent to a surgeon yesterday. As of now, they're puzzled as to the original cause (as in not sure it was ever a bursted vessel), but they are just treating the wound as of now. They're treating it as you would treat a 2nd degree burn. He will be going back to the doctor today to see how it's healing and when he will be able to return to work. I'll keep you posted.

But now about our weekend. In spite of Jason's leg ordeal, we really had a great time at the home of our friends, Richard and Betty. They live way out in the boonies in the foothills of the Ozarks. My mom and dad were also there. The first night as you read in a previous post, their dog met a skunk in the carport!

Then on Saturday, the guys spent a lazy day at home, sitting on the porch, shooting the breeze, watching the car go by (yes..I did say car go by...that's all they saw..one car.. because they live so far back on a gravel road). It's SO quiet and peaceful! Meanwhile, the ladies spent the day shopping and had lunch at a very charming Mexican restaurant (my favorite). And I came home with only two purchases:

A primitive make-do pear



And a stack of wooden bowls (which I will probably end up painting and distressing):



After we got home Saturday, we went out to eat. It's one of the few places in town where the folks go out to eat for home cooked style food.



Most every weekend night, you can find local bluegrass and gospel musicians playing and singing out in the parking lot. There are chairs and tables set up for folks to sit and relax and listen to the music. So after dinner, we too relaxed outside and listened. Here are the performers:



Here's a shot of the hometown folks enjoying a night relaxing in the cool fall evening listening to the music. I just love small laid-back towns and their idea of a spending a Saturday evening with the family! That's my mom and dad, Richard and Betty and Jason at the table close by! (Colt didn't get to come again...he opted to stay home and work...he's a work-a-holic...he doesn't want to give up that many days on his paycheck!)



There's Jason and Joy. See...Jason had his leg propped up like a good boy! :) He actually relaxed more there this weekend than he probably would have at home. The guys spend alot of time out on the porch drinking coffee and shooting the breeze. This way his leg stayed propped and he did rest.



And Joy shooting me a smile for the camera when she noticed I had it pointed at her!



After dinner, we came home and watched a movie. Betty and Joy whipped us up some pumpkin cookies to enjoy during the movie. Of course, you know Joy loved this!



On Sunday, Betty fixed us a yummy dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, lima beans and rolls. Then after dinner, we went for a country drive on the gravel backroads just lookin'. As a matter of fact, it was a long drive...we weren't quite sure where we were there for a bit...but it ended up fine! Along the way, I took some photos of the sights.....some favorites and some not-so-favorites...

Here's one of the not-so-favorites.....a tarantula crossing the road...apparently this is not an uncommon sight there! (I hope I don't scare you off...I warn you...it's ugly!) And I did NOT take this picture...Jason took it. That spider was way too big for me!



Now for a few favorite sights....Here's a couple of barn pictures that I took! I just love old barns and I took these along the way!





Here's a picture of the creek.



And one of the trees turning:



Here's a neat looking farmhouse that I loved. It was way off and I used my super duper lens to zoom in to get a photo.



Betty loves this spot. There's no one living in this house, but the view from the back and the way it's nestled on the land...is very cozy. That house remodeled into a log cabin would really look great there!



And here was a house for sale close by. It had a great view from the back of the house over the valley. There was a 2nd level porch that overlooked it.



Sunday night, we settled in and watched another movie...one of my favorites...Quigley Down Under....while I worked on my very first stitchery (which is still in progress by the way). Afterwards Betty gave me a lesson on making a rag quilt.

Then after a good breakfast Monday morning, we headed back home for an afternoon of Dr. appointments for Jason. I took this photo cruising down the road of the hills ahead. (Jason was driving for a little bit for the first time...I had been driving because of his leg, but he decided to drive for a bit).



Here's Joy doing what she does best in the backseat traveling...playing her Nintendo DS.



Then she took the camera and snapped one of me in the front seat of the car. I went ahead and included it here because I thought I'd show ya'll my new haircut I got last week...quite a few inches gone! :)



And last but not least, I didn't get to post on Tuesday, but it was Jason's 48th birthday! He spent it at home with his leg propped up, but we did get to go out to dinner with our family, my mom and dad, his dad, and my aunt and uncle for Chinese food that evening. Here's a picture that Joy snapped of her dad at the restaurant.



Happy Birthday Jason!

So there you have it....that's what we've been up to......