I hope that your father can be kept comfortable, Jesse. Wishes for peace for your family.

I had a hugely successful bonfire today. Started about 6-1/2 hours ago and it is just smoldering coals now. They have been doing all this carpentry repair while painting the camp so I had lots and lots of wood debris, plus 4 dead trees that came down. I didn't burn all the trees, but tossed in a few logs while burning the lumber.

It had the side effect of making me even more sorrowful for those in the raging fire areas to enjoy it so much. As always I had my hose and a fire bucket handy. There were a few times when I had to toss a bit of water on stray embers since we have so many leaves on the ground right now. But it was super pretty and never unattended. Step-dad and DH sat with me and relaxed too. It was a good day.

Now I wish I had an apple crisp, although I do have chili on the stove.

And now *I* want chili! Although, as with apple crisp, 80 degrees is a bit too warm for chili. I'm planning to make it Monday or Tuesday, because the highs are going to be in the low 60s and the lows are going to be in the upper 30s.

Sorry, Jesse.

DISTRACTION DISTRACTION

Garage sale is over and 2 loads of stuff taken to thrift stores. We did sell some and some large if not costly items at that. I came away with $200 which will pay my water and gas bills this month, so that is something.

I sold some Ikea plastic storage bins, a bookcase, 8 skeins of yarn and 5 bunches of fabric, a large metal stand up frame, 5 pairs of shoes, a bagful of mac's clothes, and then just a bunch of little stuff.

My parents sold a bike, a spare wheel for a truck, a camping hutch thing that turns into a table, my old toychest and something else big that I am forgetting.

I still brought back home a car full, but I think a lot of that is empty plastic bins. There is some stuff I will try to sell via other means.

The big news is that enough is gone now that with a little re-organization, both of my cars will comfortably fit in my garage now. WHEE!!

Now I wish I had an apple crisp, although I do have chili on the stove.

AND this is why we need a compound or a neighborhood. Since I am too pooped to even unload my car right now, I will take a moment to go search again for a prime location for us to live.

I gave up on finding new shoes I wanted at a local brick-and-mortar store, and instead bought some Airwalks (the version with the white trim) online and arranged to have them sent to the Payless at our mall: [link]

I have found a neighborhood in Austin that seems to be mostly duplexes. I think we could take it over and once we have bought them all, build a fence and make it a gated community.

That sounds like a very successful yard sale, msbelle!

And now I want those shoes, Matt.

Everyone is welcome to come over for chili, fyi.

It's not as much money as we made in the spring, but we had fewer big $ items. Still floored that not one set of dishes sold. And the yard equipment we had for sale this time did not sell either. oh well. less stuff is now in our homes and that was the desired result.

I've also found almost 9 acres of land in Austin that we could easily build 30+ houses on. The land cost would be less than $50K per person and then we'd have to build the houses.