Alas, Everyone Has Left ~ The Party's Over

Everyone says this, you work so hard to get the holidays going and they pass like a blur. We had such a good time and here is the proof:

Maddie and Zoe

Caroline, Maddie and Zoe

Caroline, Maddie and Carolyn

Caroline, Maddie and Mike

Jim, Lori (and her cast), Maren, Amy, Carolyn, Maddie, Caroline, Mike - after lunch after marathon shopping on Saturday.

Lori and Jim

Jane and Emma at Yosemite.

Jane and Carole at Yosemite.

Emma and Jane - LOVE the snow!!!!!!

Jane and Emma

This video shows how talented Maddie is - Amy gave her the harmonica.

I believe this is the first blog of all the cousins - except Jesse.  He drew the short straw and had to work on Saturday and Sunday, so he could not make the trip up to Davidsonville.   

We had dinner on Friday at home, Mom had ham and biscuits, cream cheese pie - Holly and Paul Hankins and their son, Ian and his wife Beth, joined us for the complete pandemonium. Lots of good food and LOTS of laughter.  Holly brought us a box of packing paper to help us pack up and move to Durham.

On Saturday, the grand shopping expedition began and all of us, including Mike and his girls went to Nordstrom and the mall.  Of course we ate at California Pizza Kitchen.  

Jim cooked dinner at Amy's and we watched the recorded Duke bowl game.  It was great, but Duke lost by 7.  

Sunday, we all met  at Lure's and got to meet Carolyn's young man, Chris.  He was able to hold his own and we had a great time.  Carolyn and Chris flew out to San Antonio early this morning to go back to work.  Chris is an Army JAG lawyer and he has a German Shepard puppy that he adores.  We all liked him.

It is very quiet in the house.  Time to clean up and start the process of getting rid of alot of stuff.  It is a good thing (to quote Martha Stewart).

Love, Leslie

Happy Day After Christmas

 

We are waiting for the Hardins and the Plunketts:  Who do you suppose will arrive first?  I am hiding out from Mom.  What went from a simple ham and biscuits lunch has gone to fancy eat in dining room - however, Mom didn't get what she needed at the grocery store - no salad.  She did send me to the grocery store YESTERDAY and there were only two stores open in Annapolis yesterday.  I went for sour cream.  For the cream cheese pies.  Could have gotten salad had I but known. 

Here are the pictures that I have so far:

My wrapping station.

Where Santa stashed the presents.

Lots of presents.

Table arrangement



Nancy's famous upside-down tree

Zoe's tree

The decorated reindeer.

 

 

Zoe's new hair color

Carole's Christmas present

Well, here it is.  This sampler was started at the beginning of the baseball playoffs.  If they could have just gone a little longer!!!!!!!  The next time you see this, Carole, it will be framed and matted and in Novato.  I hope you like it.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!!!

Love, Leslie









Whoa! A Bad Weekend for Amy

Amy had a very tough week ~
She goes to the barn and has to chase down two horses who are running down Harwood Road!  She and the farrier, Angus, who drove up caught the horses and brought them safely back.  A tree had fallen on a fence line, and of course, the horses saw their chance to escape.

Then her young friend from the barn, Quinn, was riding her new horse and crossing the street when the horse spooked, slipped and went down.  Quinn, luckily did not fall beneath the horse.  The horse fractured her leg and had to be put down - Amy was there for Quinn and it was devastating.

And the carbuncle came over (finally) to get his stuff out of the basement.

And Jake had colic, so Amy and Buffy spent the night in her car at the barn last night! 

And, the carbuncle's truck has had two flat tires in literally two days.  OMG.  Lori said the leave the truck in the driveway with the flat.  He wanted the truck, he needs to come and get it. 

 

And, finally, good news.  The carbuncle has signed the divorce paperwork. 

In other news, Holly had mom and I over for tea, her mother, Diane Stevenson, is visiting, so it was very nice for mom to visit with her long-time friend.  And, may I say that both are pleasantly goofy.

Mike and his girls will be here on Friday to celebrate when the Hardin's get here so we will celebrate lots.

Merry, Merry, Merry!
Love, Leslie

PS ~

Amy's crack ~ aka gingerbread cookies

My Charlie Brown Christmas tree on our porch. 

My neighbor's house - please note I took this from the car while driving.  Luckily, there is no law against that!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

It was a very busy couple of days ~ the downstairs heat pump went out again, so we had no heat downstairs.  Amy and I had looked at small space heaters, so I went out and got one.  It is portable, lots of safety features, does not get hot to the touch and turns off if knocked over.

Well, it had made a world of difference to Mom in the library.  So then I got her a smaller ceramic one for her bathroom.  Very nice.  The BGE repair guy came out and fixed the problem - nothing major - just a piddling little issue (as he called it) that we keep having.  Luckily, we don't get charged for the service calls.  So, it is warmer downstairs.  It got down to 56.  It was nippy.

I went and got a tree for the front porch and was able to get 600 lights on it!  It looks so pretty outside.

I also got two new shower heads for the bathrooms and will get BGE to install. 

I wrapped presents today and am straightening out the computer room.  Does it sound like I am busy?  Don't worry.  There is lots of time to enjoy the sparkle.

The holiday music is playing and all is well in my world.

Enjoy yours!
~Leslie

PS ~ and it appears that all package deliveries have been made! 

A Veritable Flurry!

And not of the snow kind!

Thank goodness for Amazon!  Mom and I have been shopping like mad ~ and today, we have reached the checkered flag! (Don't you like how I got a NASCAR reference in there in homage to our moving to North Carolina?)

It appears that the weather is going to be agreeable and if our delivery trucks do not have unfortunate issues on the road, Santa's deliveries should arrive right on time. 

Much love,
Leslie

And, I am Finished ~ Fa la la la la la la la la!

Ta Da!  Finished the tree and then had to take a nap!

Mmmm.  Taking a photo really lightens it up.  And, I need to twitch some of the ornaments.

It never ends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Back to work!

 

Love, Leslie

 

 



More Christmas Decorations

I went over to Amy's house to watch the Army-Navy game and to help put up her tree. Had a great time ~ there were frequent breaks for lots of trash talk via the phone between Amy and Jim.  Luckily, Navy won.  Just think, this time next year, we will host a big Army-Navy party at our new house in Durham!!!!!!!!!

We did get her tree up:

If you look closely, you can see Amy's legs behind her tree.  She ducked my photo opportunity.

I made homemade gingerbread cookies for Amy.  These are the last three of 20 that I made.  Bear in mind, I don't like gingerbread, so you know who ate them!

Not to leave our house out, I started putting the tree up in the living room.  And, of course, I had supervision ~ not a lot of help, and not really a lot of supervision.......

 

For a moment, too bad I couldn't leave it like this.

Melanie likes to watch upside down. And to leave Bennett the littlest amount of room on the sofa.

And, he really doesn't care what happens, as long as he can be close to the action.

Next, the Christmas letter.  I still have some shopping to do, Cookies for Cops......take Mom shopping.......Oh, Mom wanted to go to watch the Army-Navy game with a bunch of Dad's classmates and their wives, so I took her and dropped her off.  She did take her walker - and I was glad because when I went to get her, the host was coming out of the club house and fell.  I picked him up, luckily no blood and he looked ok.  Mom told me that Garnett Bailey had also fallen in the same place!!!  I am really glad that Mom did not make the trifecta!

And, I have to close with this cute little ornament that Amy doesn't like - a cute albino squirrel. How cute is that? Anyway, she gave it to me, and I hid it in her house, somewhere.  

So cute, but where am I? (Did you notice that I used cute 4 times?)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...........

Love, Leslie

Packages are Arriving

I have decided that if one is waiting for something to be delivered, just get in the shower.  The doorbell will be ringing as soon as you are soaking wet.


This morning, I hopped in the shower, determined to get ready for the day early so I would be ready for anything.  And the dogs started barking like crazy.  This was not their "Someone is walking in the street," bark, so I hopped out, put on my T-shirt (backwards of course) and ran down to the door. 
Luckily, the guy dropped the boxes at the door and took off.  There is a god.


Here is a picture that was sent and I am sending it out to you all.  It is Carolyn with Chris at a holiday ball.  Has anyone been invited to a holiday ball this year?  I guess we can all live vicariously!

Wow!

Times awasting!  More later!

Love, Leslie

Got to Be Careful Out There

The big news in the blog is that Lori was moving quickly through the parking lot at Ross's in Durham and slipped in something "squishy" and fell.  Hurt her wrist, but she continued shopping - 'tis the season!


She gets home and is thinking about putting ice on her wrist, because it does hurt, so she calls Carolyn (Dr. Hardin) who tells her to get to the Orthopaedic now.  An hour later, Lori has a splint on her FRACTURED left wrist.  She will see her doctor who will decide if she needs surgery or a lovely cast.


She says she is fine and sounded upbeat and happy when Mom and I talked to her yesterday.


Mom's cardiac stress test went fine. And her blood work came back good, so her lay around can't walk 20 feet diva-itis may not be medical.  It could be just......her!  Who knew?


I got up this morning and was at the Naval Academy by 7am to help unpack the wreaths for the cemetery.  There were 10 of us and 2000 wreaths, but it went fast and most of us are returnees (my second year out of 3) so we know the drill.


I wore work gloves, fleece, a second fleece vest and a Land's End vest - well dressed for what was supposed to be 40ish.  Well, it was really 36 with a very stiff breeze.  It was nippy.  I have a dui checkpoint in PG tonight - so I will dress warmer.  Lots of fresh outdoor time today.


By the time 10am rolled around, there were so many people there to put the wreaths out - loads of mids, school kids came on a bus, officers, people from town - it was glorious and a testament to Carol and Bob Turman who arranged for this to happen.  I put wreaths out for Scott and Dad and left before the ceremony.  Got home before Mom woke up - she didn't even know I had left the house.  That is a win-win.


I'd like to take a nap, but I have to make brownies and cookies for tonight.  Nap later.


Go Navy!
~Leslie

What A Day!!

I can't decide if a 3 hour cruise would have been more fun......and you know I don't like boats!


I took mom in for a blood test - ok.  Then she wanted something to eat - ok.  Then she wanted to go to NFCU - ok.  Then, in NFCU, she realized that she didn't have her wallet anymore.  "Someone had taken it out of her purse at the hospital".  Really?


I left her at the bank and went back to the hospital where she had left her wallet when she checked in.  (Why wasn't I paying attention?  She prefers to do her own thing, which I may allow now, with my paying attention.)  The nurses had found it, and I got it.


Back to the bank where she wanted immediate attention to help her understand the difference between a check card and a debit card.  And yes, I could have told her and Amy could have told her - but she prefers the receptionist at NFCU for the truth.


Tonight, for fun, she decided to do her Christmas shopping at Amazon.  She was quite for an hour, then she called me.  She couldn't enter her payment and she needed help.  So I get it and there is nothing there.  Nada.  No list, no nothing.  I get the phone and call Amazon.  Bet you didn't know that you could do that.  The first young lady passed me off onto some guy and basically there was no list, no double order.  So I got on and re-ordered everything. 


So, cross your fingers and hope that Santa understands the order.  Ho Ho Ho.


Love, Santa


PS ~ Boy, Santa's Elves are fast!  Mom's order was processed and is entering the terrifying world of FED X delivery!


I continue to work on the middle room closet.  Bunch of stuff for Good Will and a bunch for Purple Heart.  I am arranging for a pick up. 

The Lights of My Labor

Ho, Ho, Ho......I took some photos of our very decorated house - I can't wait to see what the electric bill will be!!!!

The front door

I put wreaths on both sides of the gates - so it is pretty from the street and the door.  This is the door view with Bennett on guard.

You will note that I got the left side sconce on.  I may put lights on the shrine, I mean exercise bike.

Got the library all lit up and the Santas everywhere.

Should have straightened the candles.

I still have to get the tree up.  But, the house is sparkly, which should make my higher power happy.

Next on my list to do, the Amazon gift list.  Inquiring minds want to know.

Love, Leslie

Finally Sunny

It is finally sunny after days of rain.  Melanie has decided that she wants to sort of walk - she doesn't like to be left behind in the front yard.  So it takes us 15 minutes to walk two houses down.  At least we aren't doing this in the cold rain.


I made iced tea before I left to take the dogs out.  The tea bags are steeping in the pitcher. 


I come back in and start the laundry.  Mom calls to me from the library.  I go to see what she wants.  She is holding a coffee cup and says "I got some of your iced tea and it is terrible." 


"You know, Mom, that the tea bags were still in the pitcher and it hadn't been infused with water."  


"Yes, I saw that.  I moved the tea bags over to get the tea and it is still terrible."


I am laughing a bit while I write this.  When did she become completely addled? 


I will make her a drink - now she wants some wine - and a snack.  Too bad I don't drink wine.

Decorating Madness

I am up on ladders, fussing with wire and nails and lights.  I am trying to get the library all festive for Mom.  AND I am purging some of the Santas - that sounds bad, but it is not.  Off to the Lutheran Mission with some trays, and Christmas stuff.  Someone is going to make off like a bandit with retro Christmas decorations. 


By the way, I read about Duke's victory over Wisconsin, but I didn't get to see it - there were other basketball (WHAT?) games on, and I didn't watch. 


The clock is ticking - got to get the library done before Mom gets up...........


The next day - ok, got the library done, garland, lighted wreath, Santas on shelves.  It looks very festive - all on a timer.


Front door is done.  Now, of course, the light next to the fireplace has decided to go out.  Is it the cord BEHIND the bookshelves, or is it the lightbulb?  Either way, a lot of work.  It will be my afternoon project.


Melanie has decided to limp.  It is her bad leg.  I have prodded her all over it and no cries of pain.  Just limp, limp, limp.  And it is not like me - that is for my special sister.


Back to work.  The elves don't get enough credit.  Ho, Ho, Ho.

All Is Well

Ok, Mom says she got the bank on her side, and she canceled her credit card - so there will be no more issues until she gets the new card.

The doctor's appointment went fine - she saw her cardiologist and he assigned her to get a chest X-ray (which we did) and now I have to schedule some blood work.  He didn't talk to me, so I will wait to see what happens.

Time to get to work and fix her a light lunch/slash early dinner.  Crack that whip!!!!!!!

Love, Leslie

PS ~ Check out the Advent Calendars that Carole made for Emma and Jane....


Emma and her Advent Calendar



Jane's Advent Calendar

Love these and how cool are they!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Dear.....Mom is at it again......

Oh Dear.  Mom is at it again.  She loves to shop and for the millionth time, she has purchased some face crème and it is not a "reliable" source and they bill her every month. 


If you hear someone screaming.....it is me.


Amy has talked to her and I have talked to her.  She said it was reliable, it was Amazon.  However, it was a popup ad on an Amazon site.  I told her never to click on a popup.  It is like talking to a brick wall.


She is now talking to a person at the bank. 


I also told her that if she didn't stop doing this, WE would take away her computer and ipad.  Then I thought, no, don't take it away, make her deal with the issue with the bank.  And then I left to walk the dogs.


I feel better already.


Love, Leslie

Tomorrow is December

I read this somewhere:


For Christmas, a person should receive:

• something they want
• something they need
• something to wear and
• something to read

So get those lists out.  And, excitingly enough, this morning after I had walked the dogs, a box appeared on the porch.  From Amazon!  Something I had ordered (gifts!) arrived in literally two days!  Consider me impressed!!!!!!


And, the Post Office says the last day to mail is December 15th ~ without any craziness.


Happy Holidays!


Love, Leslie

The Creation of a Diva

A lovely holiday was had by all, and reality has re-sunk back. 


I fixed Mom a fantastic spinach omelet this morning.  She eats about 10:30 am.  I went with Amy to the barn after the Hardins left.  I got home, asked Mom if she wanted anything.  "No, just a little wine and some of those nice chex mix things."


I met Holly and Paul at 5:30 for a small Happy Hour.  I got home at 8:30.  I asked Mom if I could get her anything.  Mom said "well, I never got any lunch or dinner.  I suppose I could have gotten up and gotten something." 


Never mind there is leftover turkey and stuffing from Nancy's in the refrigerator.  I did fix her some butternut pasta.  And more wine.  All easily accessible.


I just got a message from Carole - her tree is up and lighted and decorated.  I did order a couple more Christmas presents.  So I can't complain.


I was surfing on the tv and had the Wake Forest vs Duke football game - Jim has tickets.  But I also found that MASN is replaying the Sept. 5, 1995 game in which Cal Ripkin broke Lou Gehrig's baseball record.  Guess what I am watching.  The Orioles versus the Angels.  Love it.


And, love you.
~ Leslie

Happy Thanksgiving

Mom and I are waiting for Maren and Jesse to finish showering and dressing before we go to Nancy's house for Thanksgiving.  So I decided to send Mom some pictures to her ipad and to start the sharing of the madness that is our Thanksgiving.

Luckily, the weather has relented.  Yesterday, for the busiest travel day of the year, we had a ton of rain, some snow showers and some ice.  But today, it is gorgeous!!!!

Mom was going to make her famous chocolate log - but she has gotten tired and was not able to finish.  I think I am going to get the recipe and give to all of you for the future.  She asked for a pain pill because her shoulder was hurting.  I will have to keep an eye on her.

The lovebird was taking a shower in the sink this morning.

Our favorite 3rd year law student studying this morning.

Ok, time to take the dogs for a walk and get going - over the river and thru the woods, to Nancy's house we go...........

Nancy had a LOVELY Thanksgiving dinner!  Mike, Maddie and Caroline were there so the company was fabulous and the food was unbelievable!!!!!!!

Amy took this.  Honestly, I don't know how they ate with the phones in their hands!!!

Drew folded all the napkins into the Artichoke.  

Jessie and Maddie

Zoe and her Dad - a fabulous photo!!!!!!!

Mike and Caroline

It was such a nice dinner - turkey, brussel sprouts, tenderloin, green beans, pecan pie and Ginger cheesecake.  Hmmm Hmmm.

It was so nice and time flew by too fast.  

We also heard that Carolyn was a good doctor and helped with Chris and his family who arrived in San Antonio with a whopping case of the flu or food poisoning.  I guess no one enjoyed the caramel Caroline's cake that Mom sent.  Oh well.  I do hope everyone feels better!!!

We also did our annual name draw for the sisters.  Carole - I sent yours out in today's mail. Mike was the official assistant and keeper of names in case anyone forgets who they have.

And in that thought...everyone needs to get their lists out.  Get cracking!

I got the candles in the windows today, one decoration down, a million to go!

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!
Love, Leslie