Polocrosse

I love lacrosse.  And I have found a new form that is very exciting.  Polocrosse.

Today, we took a road trip down to Southern Pines to meet up with friends of Amy's, Janice Binkley and her sons Beecher and Tristan.  Beecher plays a sport called Polocrosse.  Lacrosse on horseback.  Who knew?  And boy is it a different game with thousands of pounds of horses involved. 

The team in Green is the Carolina club and the team in Red, White and Blue is the USA World Cup team.  Men and women compete together.

Amy with Beecher and his horse, Regis.

Beecher is not yet 16 and he has already competed for the United States in Australia.  If you haven't ever seen the sport, give it a try. 

Beecher's t-shirt

May 29th

Happy 33rd Anniversary to Lori and Jim!  We all went to dinner at the Tobacco Warehouse last night ~ Maren joined us, and we had great food and drinks with a live band ~ all outside ~ fantastic weather and Jim knows everybody!

 

There were lots of memories from 33 years ago in Statesboro, Georgia.  It was HOT!!!! Jim sitting in the back bedroom......waiting......for his ride to the church.  Michael McMann in his blue boxers and white dinner jacket getting his pants taped up.  A beautiful bride.  A spectacular party.  And as we said last night, looking forward to the next 33!

Amy hit the jackpot with finding two guys who are carpenters and basically "do everything" guys.  They came yesterday.  Randy was working on the screen door and they decided that the dog door was too small, so he drove to Carboro for a wooden screen door and Allen put in the dog doors.

It took alot, but Melanie did it!!!!

The dogs have been in and out, but there is some speculation that the Large is still a bit too small, so the guys said they could make the openings bigger.

They also said that instead of building a ramp that has to get the approval of the neighborhood association, redo the steps and make them wider with a lower step ~ easier for the geriatric set ~ human and dog. 

Now, guess who this is:

Amy ordered a Webber grill and it came this morning.  The directions were in cartoon drawing style - no words.  Whoever does these needs help ~ they never make sense.  But....

TA DA!!!!!!!!  We are now ready to cook out!

Love, Leslie

End of May, Some Firsts

Today, May 28th, it is overcast and humid.  I was out watering the tomatoes and the plants ~ it is so calm and quiet, with only the birds chirping ~ almost zen-like.  And here are some firsts for May:

The first tomato.

The first bloom on the clematis.

The back of our house ~ note Melanie as supervisor.

Mom, Amy and I went out with Lori yesterday to a very nice furniture consignment store - mom found a very comfortable chair for her room.  And we went to lunch at Foster's.  Delicious.

Today I am going to the dump (more boxes) and continue to work on the rooms upstairs.  Actually my room ~ it does need some love:  hanging pictures, getting rid  of boxes....it is very easy to disregard the mess, but I need it to look like I live there.  Crack that whip!

No rest for the weary.
Love, Leslie

Finally Finished!!!!

It took all weekend, at least it was beautiful, and 35 cans of paint, but I finished the screened porch and the deck.

This is Key Lime ~ we decided to use it as an accent color and because I used all of Home Depots white spray paint.  I also painted a white table key lime.  LOVE IT!.

It seems like I have worked on the outside areas forever, but it is only the end of May.  Just so you know, the blue cushions came from Lowe's and the pretty pillows came from......Amy's favorite place to shop ~ TJ Maxx.  The 35 cans of spray paint came from Home Depot. 



This sign is in our neighborhood and tells where our street name actually came from.
 

And, yes, I do have some green paint on my hands.

My next place to work is the upstairs.  I went to work on my room and decided to move the sofa and put the new cobalt quilts on with the shams.  I opened the first box, perfect.  I opened the second box - whoops.  Instead of a cobalt quilt and shams it is turquoise.  Not good.  So I ordered a second cobalt quilt from Overstock (where the other two came from).

So I will wait to finish the sofa.  But I will keep emptying boxes - I have some in the guest rooms and I want to get those rooms all fixed up, since we MAY have company! 

On the mom front:  a nice guy from Assembly Services is here to put Mom's new painting desk together.  Hopefully he has better luck that Amy and I had with the first nightmare of a desk.

Mom just told me that she hopes that I "find all her stuff that is boxed upstairs" ????? I asked her what stuff?  Her paints, is what she finally came up with. 

I am doing her laundry and when I emptied her laundry basket, there at the bottom was her  lasix pill.  She really hates to take it because "it makes her have to have to go to the bathroom all the time" ~ if she would just take it regularly as prescribed, then it would level out. 

And, in closing, here is our regular route in Durham:




The orange lines take us everywhere.

Love, Leslie



Memorial Day Weekend

To all the Veterans that I know (and those I don't), I celebrate you!

I haven't figured out where to put a flag up on the new house yet, so I put these flags out:

And today, miracles of miracles, our door arrived at Home Depot.  Amy and I went to get it and she was positive that it would fly out of the car ~ if we got hit from the rear.  It was sticking out the window, but we had no problem.  I asked her to take a picture and this is what she got:

And yes, I am wearing my Army t-shirt!

The plant in the back is a white mandevilla that we had to get and I planted it in the spot next to the tomatoes.  Of course I have to go back to Home Depot and get some mulch and another piece of fence.  The fence is to keep the dogs from stepping on it. 

When do they step on it?  Well, there is a black lab mix named Bingo who periodically gets away from his owners and he comes over here and runs along the fence line so of course, Bennett and Melanie follow him, in our yard.  Bennett mangled the new butterfly bush before I fenced that off.
 

Some of the family is at the beach ~

 

Lookin' good!

Amy was looking around for the a/c vents so the filters could be changed and she couldn't find them.  We ran into our neighbors while walking the dogs and asked them, since the same builder built these houses.  Chris explained where his were, and his wife, Amy, said that she would send him over to our house to help us! 

We  did not need his help, Amy found them - one is in Mom's room in the wall, mine upstairs is in the ceiling!  And there is another downstairs in the living room behind the television.  And, they are two different sizes!  No rhyme or reason.

I have been doing the driving around Durham and have found my way around and have discovered easier ways to get to places.  The iphone map doesn't always do that, so I am happy to say that I use a map for a general bird's eye view, the iphone for new places and will just drive and use trial and error.  Durham is not that big.

On the mom front, the craziness has calmed, which is good.  She also changed from her US Family Healthcare to Tricare for Life, since she has moved permanently to Durham.  There was some confusion because when she made the calls, she neglected to remember that US Family Healthcare asked her to submit the request in writing.  I fixed that after some strange calls and back tracking.  I know, I know ~ I have to take control.  You try that!

Where ever you are.... I hope you have a most wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
Love, Leslie




Just Coasting Along

Usually there is alot going on at the homestead.  Not so much these days.  I don't want to wish for excitement, because you know what will happen!

So, it is quiet ~ Mom is currently in her state of making Amy nuts.  One of the good things about all of us living together is that I am not the only target.  Mom is also displaying some short term memory issues ~ or maybe she remembers what she wants to remember.  That may be it.  I teasingly told Amy and Lori that I would solve the problem by leaving some mayonaise out on the screened porch last night.....I didn't.

Amy is back to working.  Since her PT told her that she needs to be doing everything she used to do, she has embraced it.  We walk the dogs, she throws the ball for the dogs, she is vacumming....the only thing she isn't doing is drive.  And that may be soon.

This picture is from yesterday ~ the bandage is supposed to "fall off" ~ which is some sort of medical term.

The tomatoes are doing great and I am watering them daily.  I guess we are a month ahead, weatherwise of Maryland - it was hot yesterday.  And has been dry. 

In case you don't remember, this is from May 4th.

                           
I just realized that I am sitting here thinking about what to write and I have a dental appointment in an hour.  Time to get going!

More later!

First Rose

Isn't this beautiful? 

Our first rose!   The bush has new growth and I am nursing it ~ along with the tomatoes.  I am really looking forward to seeing what it all looks like in August.  I know, don't rush the season.

It is very quite today.  Mom isn't feeling good and Amy had a bad night.  I need to go to the grocery store, so I had better get going.  And, I need more white paint.  It never ends.

Love, Leslie

It Feels Like Summer

Today it is 91 degrees and it feels like summer.  Last night, Amy and I sat on the screened porch ~ it was lovely listening to the sounds of a summer evening.

I painted two more tables - at least I have painted the undersides and after an hour, I am going to paint the other sides. 

Here is the partially finished porch.

I bought the red bench ~ I decided we needed a place to sit and watch all the kids race  by on their skates, scooters, bikes and what ever.  I had hoped it would come right off the truck ready to go.  Nope, David (our UPS guy) delivered it in a box.

Amy and I put it together.  Rather, I opened the box and Amy read the directions and helped put it together.  Amy can unravel the directions better than anyone.   They are greek to me.

Anyway, now I want to put a red rocking chair next to it.  I wonder if it comes in pieces, too.

Back to the painting.

Stay cool!
Love, Leslie


PS ~ Amy has been cut loose from the knee immobilizer and her PT told her to get out and walk and be free!  It is rather bizarre to me that the surgeon would say to wear the immoblizer for 6 weeks and the Physical Therapist to tell her to get out of it and not to go back after 4 weeks.  She is thrilled.

Law School Graduation

Maren graduated from Law School today.  We all met up at 8 am at Jim's fathers business and drove together to Raleigh ~ why so early?  It started at 10am!!!!!

We went to pick up Maren and she overslept, a gradzilla woke up.  But that was brief.

Maren looked fabulous!

Proud parents.

 

Seems like yesterday when we all attended Jim's graduation from law school.

Afterwards, we all went to eat at Tupelo Honeys ~ a great place that originated from Ashville, NC.  It was terrific ~ shrimp and grits, fried okra, the best fried chicken and mac and cheese.  Definitely a place to go!

Now everyone wants to take a nap, but my dogs want to go for a walk. 

No rest for the weary!
Love, Leslie

Today the Screened Porch ~ Finally!

Since the porch rug arrives today, I had to get started on the screened porch.  It ALWAYS takes longer than I think.

So, all the furniture had to come out ~ so I can power wash it and then paint it.  Then clean off the porch.  I am not going to show you the amount of pollen and dust that I vacuumed up.

 

 

Waiting for their coat of paint.





May I say that painting wicker is a major pain in the butt?  OMG!!!  But, it does look better.




Here is one of the Mother's Day presents.
 

I am exhausted, and will finish tomorrow.  Got to get ready to get up at O Dark 30 to go to Maren's law school graduation,  Hopefully, I will have pictures!!!!!!!

 

Love,

Leslie



 

 

Getting Ready for Summer Living.....and Guests!

Since time is moving along towards Mother's Day.....Amy and I were out getting some more plants and mulch.  I mulched the tomatoes, got the fencing all up, and planted a beautiful blue clematis in the corner of the fence. 

We also got some herbs for the deck, another pot to plant ~ it is going to be spectacular to sit out there.  I also am going to mulch the plants out there tomorrow and plant the herbs.  We also got a pretty "Blue Buzz" butterfly bush - no kidding - and I will plant it outside Mom's window. 

And, we started planning the Screened Porch.  We ordered new seat cushions and a rug.  I am going to get the wicker furniture tuned up, get the chaise lounge off the porch and into the garage and get plants for the porch and have it ready for the Mother's Day weekend. 

Amy, Mom and Lori.

Oh my aching knees!  But it is totally worth it because it will be a gorgeous living space!

The dogs are sacked out on my bed, and snoring.  What a life. 

Love,
Leslie

PS ~ this is the tower that we can see from our front yard.  Since we got here in February, there has been a white light that flashes about mid point and it has annoyed the fool out of Amy.  She hates blinking lights of any kind.  She has moaned and groaned about the light blinking in her window and talked about a sniper rifle to get rid of the light.  Then, about a week ago....no light.  It has disappeared. 

Maybe one of our neighbors took it out.

Then I got an e-mail from Nancy wondering if Amy had received her Amazon gift card.  I knew Amy had gotten it, so I went in to harrass Amy about not letting Nancy know.  Amy says "I sent her an e-mail!  Look, here it is.......Oh, dear.  I sent it to Amazon!  In my drug befuddled state I sent it to the wrong place."  I am sure Amazon appreciated the thank you.

Amy's Version of Rehab

Today is day 10 since Amy's surgery.  This is what she has done so far today:

Here she is...going down the steps.

Note the two crutches in one hand ~ she has a ball throwing wand in her right hand.

Trying to get Bennett to give up the ball.




This is not on the list of approved exercises.

 

THE CAKE!!!!

Not very fancy looking, but Amy says the icing tastes great. Two days late, but we will celebrate again....after Chipolte's!

Love, Leslie

Happy May

Today is May the 2nd ~ we celebrated Amy's birthday yesterday with presents and dinner at Bennett Point.  As I was getting ready, it dawned on me that I FORGOT to make Amy's favorite birthday cake (angel food with penuche frosting)!!! How could I forget?  I am making it tomorrow ~ all of us like to celebrate with several days of parties!

Today is the start of a week with no rain, so I dusted the pollen off the outdoor furniture cushions and put them on the deck and I put up the umbrella for the first time at the new house.

I think we need a second one, so Amy and I are going to Home Depot on Monday ~ to order the doors for the porch, get mulch and more stuff for the deck.  I need a couple more of big pots and some more herbs for Mom.

Last week, we all went to the Duke basketball banquet at Cameron Indoor Stadium.  It was great!  We had so much fun - the players and coaches all spoke - some were funny and some were so touching - who knew Coach K was hilarious?

Coach K and the entire Duke team

Duke faithful ~ Jesse, Jim, Maren and Lori.

Mom, Lori and Amy are downstairs watching a movie ~ we just ate pizza and watched the Kentucky Derby.  It is always fun to pick the horses and look at the hats.

Time to take the dogs out!
Love, Leslie