Tag: hunting

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Alzheimer's Memoirs Parkinson's Disease

January the Bleak

I’m not going to blame January for my bleakness, but my present is bleak and it is January. Hubby passed away on the 16th, just after our 41st anniversary on the 12th and my birthday on the 6th. His suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s is over, and his passing was peaceful, and for that I am thankful. I’m quite positive he is with the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven, and for that I rejoice.

Jimmy Leon Coker

However, all that doesn’t make the quietness of the house any louder, the days any busier, the nights any cozier. It’s just me and Stella the dog rattling around this old house now. I am grateful that it’s only 1600 square feet and not 6000.

I don’t have to figure out what to fix for supper and I don’t have to defer to his television choices. I don’t have to do his laundry and I don’t have to clean up his messes. I can vacuum the floors any time I want to without worrying about disturbing him. I can leave the house and not worry about getting home because he needs me. I can eat and sleep whenever I want. This is all because I am alone.

1979

People ask me how I’m doing. I think I’m okay right now. I’ve always said I would be fine alone. I’m an independent person. Will I feel the same way next week? Next month? Next year?

The great hunter

Only God knows what happens next. He knew my fears about not being able to care for Jimmy or afford to pay for care, and that I wouldn’t have to worry about that very long. He knows what tomorrow and the next day and the next year will bring. I trust Him to bring it to pass. I choose not to worry about it. I’m really not alone. He is here with me.

What will I do? I will continue planning Jimmy’s memorial service. I will continue making phone calls to insurance companies, government agencies, and the rest. I will treasure the memories I have of our life together, and I will spend every minute I can with my children and grandchildren. I will thank God every day for blessing me with 41 years with a loyal, devoted, loving man, husband, and father. And I will miss him every minute of every day.

XOXO

A rare snow on our East Texas property just a couple of weeks ago.
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AT HOME MONDAY: Cleaning closets. . .

Cleaning closets is NOT my favorite thing to do.  When we added a master bedroom and closet onto our 1961 cottage/ranch frame house back in 1999, all I could think of was how much more space we would have in our closet.  I mean, we could actually walk in and shut the door behind us!  Walk-in closets were standard for many, but for us it was a luxury 
finally achieved.  

Little did I know that “all that space” would soon become filled just like my small closet had in what was now my daughter’s room.  Just like gas molecules fill the volume of the space they are in, our stuff filled the new closet in no time flat.  Yes, I could still see my clothes and shoes better, and there was actually space to move, and even room for a tall chest of drawers, but all available corners, floors, rods, shelves, and drawers were soon occupied.

I am good at purging occasionally, but hubby does not allow me to touch his things, so the only thing I can do with him is remove outdated or outgrown (wink) clothes.  When I discovered what great storage pieces vintage suitcases could be, I added those to hold old calendars, out-of-season clothing and shoes, and motorcycle and hunting gear.  But with no labels we soon forgot what was in the suitcases!

Today I fixed all that!  I had lots of tags left over from Natalie’s wedding so I decided to utilize those on the suitcase handles as labels.  I’m pleased with the results, although I need to slow down and clean up my edges a bit.  I didn’t think to take photos before I started cleaning, but just imagine half the stuff on the floor from when I yanked down and emptied suitcases to 
use in the wedding.

Hats and motorcycle gear. . .
House deed, etc. plus a hatbox with scarves, etc.
This tall chest of drawers holds my  jewelry, belts, and scarves.

Hats, bags, more jewelry, and my tree stand harness!

I repainted and mod podged this little dresser myself!  A vintage suitcase holding odds and ends
fits perfectly where the middle drawer used to be!
Now.  I wonder how long I can keep 
it this way?  And now I see how mismatched all my hangers are. . .sigh. . .

XOXO




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THRIFTY HUNTER THURSDAY: No more hunting!

No more hunting for wedding stuff, that is!  Ha!  Had you going, didn’t I?  Actually, hubby and I did sit in our deer blind for four hours this morning but got nothing but a sore back and lack of sleep.  Those deer just are not cooperating so far this year! But no matter.  That gives me opportunity to show you one of the results of my hunt for cheap wedding decor items.

Remember this photo from October?

I had begun spray painting a piece of an old dresser or vanity, the part that holds the mirror.  At $4.99 it was a steal at Goodwill, and I envisioned it as a vintage-looking chalkboard welcome sign for the wedding.  I think it turned out pretty well, don’t you?

More ivory spray paint, a couple of layers of chalkboard paint, and a welcome message in chalk, and it made a perfect welcome to the wedding.  I tucked it under the low-hanging branches of a pine tree and anchored the base in a small galvanized bucket.  So easy, so cheap, so vintage.

Here is another little vignette I made for the hors d’oeuvres table from an antique clock lamp, some vintage cake toppers, a framed photo, and an old book.  I also added a milk glass compote dish, a wire votive holder with crystals, and a few steampunk gears and keys.  A vintage wedding cake topper perches on the top of the lamp base, which has the time of the wedding on the clock:  3:00.  The green lamp I spray painted black.



Stay tuned for the cost reveal of our cheap DIY wedding, hopefully tomorrow!

XOXO




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AT HOME MONDAY: Gobble Holler!

Welcome to my blog today from rainy Gobble Holler, Indiana!  I am visiting my sister in Marengo near where her husband grew up in an area they call Gobble Holler.  This is the country, folks.  In East Texas we think we live in the country, but that ain’t country.  THIS is the most country country I have ever seen.  It is some of the most beautiful land I have ever seen as well, with its rolling hills, some rocky hillsides, lush green meadows, and twisty-turny roads.  Even Jimmy said he might choose this area over Colorado.  That’s saying something!

Not only are my husband and I visiting my sister and her husband, we are going to do some deer hunting!  Today was the first official day of archery season and guess what?  It rained. It poured.  So no hunting.  Barry and Jimmy did get the deer stands set up.  Brenda and I had no choice but to go thrift store shopping!

We spent the afternoon shopping in Corydon at Goodwill, the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Big Boy restaurant for lunch, and then Walmart.


On the way back to Brenda’s house, the rain began to slow and the deer began to venture out.  I spotted two does together, and a little later a pretty buck!  Just before we reached her house, I spotted another doe grazing behind a barn.  I can’t wait for tomorrow!  We have decided to hunt even if it means sitting in the rain!  Now if only I can aim true. . .

XOXO




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THRIFTY HUNTER THURSDAY: Countdown to Indiana!

Lord willing, we are leaving for Indiana in two days!  Not only do I get to do a 14-hour road trip, I get to see my baby sister AND hunt AND enjoy cooler temperatures!  Does it get any better than that?  Let’s see if I have everything I need:

  • Black’s Creek bow case with the pink deer plushie my daughter made for me:  check!

  • Pink camo practice quiver my husband made for me with practice arrows: check!





  • Pink camo backpack with all my necessities, including OFF Clip-On, binoculars, deer grunt, wet wipes, knife, gloves, cap, scarf, face paint, harness, and other things I cannot do without while on the hunt:  check!
Hubby and I were outside practicing earlier today.  He was grouping his arrows on the target like a pro!
I climbed up in the 17-foot stand for the first time–yes, in my harness–and didn’t do as well as I do on the ground.  I finally figured it out, though.  Form is everything.

And it’s a lot different in the stand than it is on the ground.  I’m not very consistent, but I did get pretty tired after a few draws. We’ll see what happens!

By the way, here are more photos of the plushie and the quiver.  If you are interested in purchasing one, message me!

Natalie did such a great job on this!  So cute!
Stay tuned. . .
xoxo