This week started with the weekend in Murfreesboro, helping Dan and Vale with their move. This move has been a long time coming for them. But finally it was 'Go time.'
Saturday 10/31 - Halloween and moving day for Dan & Vale.
We had the SUV loaded and ready to pull out of the drive at 8:20. Patty was going to come get the dogs.
It was go time, and we hit the road for Murfreesboro.
It was just under a two hour drive, which went quick and easy. We arrived at the Airbnb at 10:30.
While Layla napped and Dan was delayed in getting the U-Haul, Ava and I played in the yard and went on a walk/bike ride, and had a snack.
Once Dan got the van and Layla woke up,
it was Go Time.
The pink circle on this map shows where their new house is located:
4926 Sandringham Ln
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
With the three guys hired to help, the unloading went fairly quickly. Joe had gone back for a second load of boxes.
Vale helped direct where things should go as she also unpacked boxes of kitchen/pantry stuff.
I tried to keep the girls out of the way, not easy with Layla constantly on the move.
The solution to 'corralling' Layla was to stick her in the stroller and go. Ava wanted to visit the three different playgrounds. We went to the one with the swings first (video). 
Flying swing tricks
When Layla got restless, I let her walk around, but she was too difficult to keep an eye on, so I stuck her in a swing.
Great Aunt Jean, who has done plenty of moving herself, said about Layla: 'This is just how I look and feel during any move!!'
Notice Layla is missing a shoe. 😂
Ava switched swings but found it was too difficult to get it going very high because her body movement was restricted by the restraint part that holds a baby in.
The next park was on the way back to the house, just two blocks away from it, and can be seen from the front door. We didn't stay nearly as long because there weren't any swings and it was time for lunch.
I kept Layla in the stroller, and she entertained herself.
After lunch we went up to the girls playroom and started unpacking toys. 
I took Layla for a walk down along the river. I don't recall what Ava was doing. There were two turtles on this log, but one slid into the water before I snapped this photo.
Then I saw this deer, and just stood and watched it. It walked over to three more. As I switched to (video) them, they decided to run off.
I proceeded with Layla, and took the sidewalk you see in the distance in this photo. We went over the bridge you see far right and then on down to the creek, where I took this next photo.
Murfreesboro and Nashville have been in a worse drought than we have. Normally this creek is full enough to kayak down. In fact, where this sidewalk ends, is a kayak launch.
As I was pushing Layla back towards home, Ava came out and wanted to walk along the river. I showed her the turtle, but the deer were long gone. Then we went to the third playground, the one you can see from out the back of Dan and Val's patio door (below photo). At the play ground, Layla made friends with this little boy and Ava played with his big brother on the playground.
When we got back to the house, empty boxes became fun play items in Dan and Vale's backyard. We later broke down these boxes because it was supposed to rain over night. Joe made two trips to the recycle center with boxes, packing paper, and bubble wrap. Ava and I then took a walk around the block and at the diagonally opposite corner, ran into a group of six kids playing soccer. They invited Ava to join in and I stood and watched for nearly an hour as the game morphed into get the person with the ball and then tag and finally hide and seek tag where, when 'it' sees you they try to tag you before you get back to home base. The kids were so nice and Ava had so much fun. It was also a very diverse group in age and race. My phone had died and was being charged, so sadly I hadn't gotten any photos of the kids playing. .png)
Some neighborhood kids had already started trick-or-treating, which is how I convinced Ava it was time to go home. Vale got her into her costume, took this photo, and we had a quick supper.
Ava had been waiting on her dad to get back from returning the u-haul. Vale was going to give Layla a bath, so I offered to take Ava, and off we went. At many homes I introduced Ava and told the door person she had just moved into the neighborhood today. They all were very welcoming and had many nice things to say about the neighborhood, and especially about the people living there.
An action shot while out on the streets. A lot of the homes had a parent (or two) sitting outside, many in costumes, handing out candy and toys.
We had only gone around the perimeter of two blocks and had a full load of treats by the time we were back to the house. Ava was ready to call it a night. So were Joe and I. We headed to the Airbnb where Dan and Vale had stayed the last three nights.
Sunday 11/1 - The first of November and Daylight Disappearing Time, although it was nice to get an extra hour of time for moving.
I did not like it being dark at 5:30pm and light at 5:30am. I am a morning person, but feel the majority of people would benefit from daylight later in the day than earlier in the day.
Rain had moved into the area as predicted and would continue throughout the day. This is a photo of the goats across the street from the Airbnb.
When Vale sent this photo of the girls, awake and eating breakfast while watching TV, I told Joe it was 'go time.' We checked out of the Airbnb and drove the two miles to Dan and Vale's.
I could see good progress since the night before. The sectional was in place and the TV was working. In the bottom left of this photo, is the edge of the kitchen island.
So what does one do to entertain the girls and keep them out of the way while Dan and Vale continued un-packing and reassembling furniture? Put on rain coats, grab umbrellas, and go for a walk in the rain. 
Across the street from the corner at the back of Dan and Vale's, Ava exclaimed, 'Look, an excavator.' She knows her construction equipment. We walked about a half hour and got back just before the rain came down harder.
While Layla took her late morning nap, Joe and I took Ava to a McDonald's Play-land 15 minutes away. Ava played long and hard and finally took a break for lunch. 
Joe had eaten earlier. Ava and I split a hamburger and fries. She was very distracted by the new 'friends' she had made who were still playing. I asked her if she got in trouble at school if she was playing around during lunch and not eating. She said yes. I reminded her she needed to stay in her seat and stick to eating. She did much better. She's a great kid. 
We dropped Ava off and were soon on the road for home. We later got this photo. She had 'crashed' on the couch for a bit. I too took a nap during the drive.
It rained all the way home making the drive a little slower than usual. We picked up the dogs at Patty's and got home at 4:00 and they were thinking it was dinner time.
I had difficulties staying up until 9pm, because it was actually 10:00 at this time the day before.
Monday 11/2 - Cookie was really glad to have Joe home.
I did quite a bit of blogging, some laundry, and answered e-mails before going to the gym for a few hours.
Jan and I had a lovely afternoon ride in the Lake Kirkstone neighborhood.
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We thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the fall colors, the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves as many were dislodged from their branches on the trees, the smell of damp fall leaves on the ground and the crunching noise as our horses walked through them.
Our horses did very well, even at times when they paused to look and listen for something that concerned them.
Joe has advertised the ranch house on Airbnb, which has gotten several bookings already. We had a couple coming for three nights so I did some last minute prep, including a basket of goodies for them to snack on.
Dan sent an up-date with this pretty sunset from the end of their driveway, while he and the girls were out for a walk. There are two houses on his street still being built, where you see the port-a-potties.
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A bit later, once Vale was home from work, we got this photo of Ava helping her make dinner. It is reassuring to see that they are settling in so quickly. It has been a long, frustrating process for them... showing their house for almost six months, selling it, buying a different house than the one they had built (because the builder could not hold it for them), getting their VA loan approved, getting pushed out of their old house with nowhere to go, getting a third storage unit, and rescheduling movers two or three times and then paying them twice to move their stuff two times. Thank goodness this move is all finished.
Tuesday 11/3 - Election Day.
These three doe were working their way across the backyard and into the neighbor's, which I heard has just sold (after 1½ years on the market).
I did this and that around the house after blogging. I got to The Center at 9:00 for the Planapalooza to give my input. Our HOA board has hired an outside company to devise a Master Plan for the next ten years. Several of us Saddle Sisters were interjecting the need to bring the stables back.
I went straight to the gym, but didn’t really have time to work out, so did the elliptical for almost a half hour. I came home for a quick lunch and then I was at the ranch by 12:30 to ride.
Joanne met me, and she rode Rico while I went out on Amiga. Amiga is to Rico's left in above photo.
It was another beautiful fall day with perfect riding weather, and our horses did well. 
We had a very enjoyable ride. 
Amiga thought I was asking her to flex when I was actually trying to get her to turn sideways for this photo.
Just another beautiful day at the ranch as I left after doing chores.
I voted and was home to feed the masses dinner.
Daniel's update tonight. One of his neighbors is a little quick to get a jump on Christmas decorating. When it gets dark shortly after 5pm, it reminds me of Christmas time and gets me in the mood to decorate... what better way to brighten up these early and long nights. However, it's not quite 'Go Time' when it comes to Christmas decorating.
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Wednesday 11/4 - I only took two photos and they were at dusk. Micki took this one this evening and posted: "Tonight 4:47 pm. For a very brief period of time, the sky took on a magical hue. The shades of bittersweet golden orange of the trees juxtaposed against the green grass along with that glorious cloud layer as the last bit of sun faded, was so pretty."
It was a rainy day, all day.
At 8:15 I wrangled horses in the rain for the farrier. Patty and Bonnie helped and we all got wet.
I had seen the same pink sky Micki had photographed this evening, but I didn't get outside quick enough to capture it.
Being quite wet after the farrier, I switched out of my soaked boots and socks, and put on a different, dry rain coat, and went to town. I bought myself a new pair of boots. Both my other two pair are falling apart and are not water proof.
I came home after more shopping and was basically done for the day. A late lunch and nap were followed by some tidying up around the house.
At dinner time, I went out to catch the pink sunset sky, but was too late.
Watching Survivor with Joe ended my day.
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Thursday 11/5 - Zurich Homes posted this aerial of the new pickleball courts currently under construction. Also seen is The Center and Wellness Complex. Notice all the trees in their fall colors.
I was at the center by 9am to give my 2¢s worth at the open forum, as consideration in the Master Plan and to ask some questions.
I had a good gym workout.
After lunch I went to the ranch to do chores. I was hoping to ride but didn't really have enough time.
Driving home, I cut through the Glade at Dorchester pool and stopped to take this photo on Cappshire Road. I hit Food City and then dropped in on Patty.
It was another early dark, quiet, do nothing evening at home. Joe had gotten a prescription of antibiotics and steroids because he had taken a turn for the worse.
Friday 11/6 - Joe reported finally getting a decent night of sleep. He had also been prescribed codeine to take at bedtime. He had four medical appointments this week, still trying to resolve some health issues and get some answers. Mon to doctor about echocardiogram results. Wed for a stress test. Thur to his regular doctor for the respiratory/cough ailment. And today he saw his pulmonologist.
A man's best friend →
I revamped and consolidated all my to-do lists (about seven of them) into three. I switched out my summer - for winter clothes, and then I worked down in the backyard picking up sticks. I headed for the ranch at 11:30.
Then I took Rico out for a ride by myself. It was very windy, so Rico was jumpy and did many little, mini spooks. I only took him 2½ miles because I felt at any moment he could come 'unwound' and get overly anxious or spooky. He had done well, but I didn't want to push my luck.
I have been sleeping upstairs all week because Joe's coughing has been non-stop and I felt that Dan's cats needed more company. Tonight Joe went to poker.
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