I Have a New Phone

On December 23, my phone died.  So we had to spend Christmas with no pictures.  Drat.  Amy looked at all the options and we went and got new phones yesterday.  

Turns out my phone had not died, but BOTH power cords that I used had died.  Isn't that weird?  But both batteries were shot so this was a good thing.

We both got iphone 8's.  Carole says her iphone 4 is still going strong.  Hmmmm.

Our new phones have the cordless charges, which are very cool. 

The phone guy got my old phone powered up so I could take it home and back it up before I return it to the store.  And Amy said "I am amazed at how much you do not know about your phone."  Which is probably true.  I like it for texting and photos and directions.  I don't use it for Google or anything else. 

And yes, I do have a copy of iphone for Dummies.


Amy and I had a wonderful Christmas ~ lots of cards and presents and some friends even dropped in to visit at our new house!!!!!!!!

I have to share this picture:

Drew embodies the spirit of Christmas!!!!!!

Lori and Snoopy, Jim, Leah with Jesse who is holding Leah's dog, Daphne ~ who LOVES Jesse, Maren and Carolyn

Surprisingly (?????), Amy got alot of Fireball.

Our first Christmas was fun in our new house ~ I am already planning on what to do next year, what to change and how I am going to spruce up after I put Christmas away.

Much love,
Leslie

Happy Christmas Eve!

Amy and I drove to the Tanger Outlets yesterday to meet Carolyn, Maren and Lori.  We did find a parking place (it was a mob scene) but we had fun.  The wind picked up because a front was coming thru ~ we went from 60 to 50 with a stiff wind.  Maren and I were sitting on a bench waiting.  Maren had the hood of her sweater up over her head and Amy and Lori thought I had met some old lady and was chatting with her until they saw it was Maren. What is wrong with that????

As we were chatting and watching the people try to find parking places, I said that someone was going to get shot and that I really did not be a witness and Maren said "Probably.  I just don't want to be colateral damage."  I guess that is a shopping wish.

 Sweet old Bennett would wear the Santa hat, but Loke and Melanie refused.  Coal for them.

I found these candies ~ Sissy always had these and I have looked for years to find them.  

And in honor of the holiday, when the dogs got me up this morning I truly forgot what I was doing and opened the back door and set off the alarm and of course could not find my keys and of course the alarm company asked what the code word was and OF COURSE I could not think of what it was.  Amy shouted down to me HER code word and the alarm went off.

I need to have a new plan in the morning.

And since I was up, I decided to make sugar cookies.  We are going to Lori's house for dinner and presents.  And hopefully I can get some pictures.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve!!!

Much love,
Leslie

A Fence!!!!!!

Don't get me wrong, we have been doing fine without a fence.  I understand the HOA wanting to make sure we did not build a monsterous fence with broken glass on top (Amy's desire).  

But, last night, sweet Melanie who does have a sensitive tummy, wanted to go out 4 times after 9pm, 2 times after midnight!!!!  That means I have to get up, get dressed, turn off the alarm, get the leashes because ALL of them want to go out if Melanie is going out, get the flashlight...........

It does get old.

But, a light is shining in the darkness.  Behold, the fence is half done!!!!!

Which does make me happy.  We can get the dog door put in and everyone can go in and out and lie in the sun and whatever and be safe in our yard.  Love it.

Love,
Leslie

Old Photos.....LOL!!!

In the moving process, I found photos squirreled away in all kinds of places.  I did save the good ones ~ do we really need scenic ones of undescribable places?  Anyway, here are some that I really liked:

Keeping Carole in line??

Coffee, tea, or me??????

I think mom had taken some medication prior to this event.

I am not sure why I smile when I look at this photo....

Did I really try to match my outfit with Eddy's? 

I don't think a caption is necessary.

Were we channelling the Mod Squad??

This is from 1977 ~ OMG!

This just looks ominous.

Is this Dad happy to arrive in Miami or happy to be leaving?

Don't you like how Dad's tennis outfit is almost the same as his grass cutting outfit?

I am still laughing at these ~I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!!!

Love,
Leslie

Perchance.....A Fence???

In our new neighborhood, which I really like, there is a pretty strong HOA.  And in order to build a fence, you have to get your neighbors to sign off on your fence and then present it all to the architechural committee (7) members for approval.  

Here is the fence ~ as of yesterday, we have 6 of the 7 saying "yes".

Here are our "found" chairs refurbished!  Love them!!!

N

They look fabulous with the sofa.

Nancy sent a box of random things ~ an early Christmas!!!!

Nancy sent these cards ~ looks just like Bennett!  Go Navy!!!!!!

Maren ~ LOVE the sweater!!!!!

We are still unpacking and moving things around.  My plan is to get the books out and put back on the shelves in Amy's office this week and work on the dining room.  And then we can start on hanging pictures.  I believe we are using a professional, fewer holes.

Time to get ready for work.  

Much love, 
Leslie

I Have Gone Crazy and Put Up Christmas

On the Saturday after Christmas, I felt the urge to get the Christmas decorating going.  I had seen a photo of Carole's tree that Jane had helped decorate and since she was flying back that afternoon, I thought I better look festive.

My supervisors were not excited

Loki wanted to watch

Mom's wreath that now has 40+ feet of mini lights on it

Our tree

I also got the lights on the front of the house:

I used multicolored lights ~ there is a wreath in the bonus room upstairs that is all colors and it twinkles.

I am trying to get Christmas everywhere ~ and I am amazed that it is still November.  Our new neighbors may hate us.  But one thing I am sure of, Mom liked Christmas up as soon as I could get it and she would love this.

Enjoy the holiday season!
Love,
Leslie

PS:  just got a tree up in Amy's office ~ Christmas everywhere!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

I just made Mom's cream cheese pie and ambrosia.  Keeping the traditions going.  Amy and I are going to Lori's house for dinner.  It seems strange to be just us, a small grouping of our family for Thanksgiving.

I want to send all my love to all my sisters, brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews.  I wish we could all be together ~ I am still unpacking and have a few fall decorations out.  And I am feeling the urge to put up Christmas this weekend.  Lots to do.

Jesse (with Snoopy) Maren (with Izzy ~ who used to be Chalupa), Leah (with Daphne), Loki and Amy

Nancy's birthday "cake"

Jim and Lori cooked dinner ~ Lori made amazing brussel sprouts with cherries and her corn pudding was amazing!

I hope everyong had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love,
Leslie

We Are In!!!!

It is November 15th and we are in our new house!  Amy is getting another fence estimate appointment and the washer and dryer were just delivered and hooked up.  

Our new house

Stuff in my bathtub

Kitchen and table and supervisors

View out the kitchen doors onto deck

My new dream washer and dryer

The moving manifesto

The security guy was just here, we are having CPI put in.  It comes with the doorbell camera and the system could hear the salesguy (John) talking in a normal voice, asking for police assistance all the way upstairs towards the bonus room.  Very cool.

Amy is now trying to get Alexa hooked up here.  She is proving to be a bit difficult.

The fence companies have been here and another one is scheduled so we can get the plans and present to the HOA.  Fences make good neighbors.  We have met our immediate neighbors ~ Brandon and Dawn and Missy to the rear of our house.

Jane will be here Friday and Saturday and then we take her to the airport for the Thanksgiving holiday.  So I am going to get her room set up today.  Amy is working in her office and I am going to the grocery later on.  We are in, we are very happy and we look forward to any visitors who want to come and see us.

Much love,
Leslie

Thank Goodness for La Quinta!

Due to a couple of issues, closing on the houses will be on Monday the 13th.  Which makes us homeless because we are done with this very nice rental tomorrow.  Amy was on the phone for a long while and a very nice girl helped her find a dog friendly hotel, La Quinta.

For some reason, EVERYTHING we called was booked up.  Not sure what is going on this weekend, but the places are packed!  But, we are hooked up with two rooms for 3 dogs, two birds and Amy and I.  For some reason, Amy felt we could not all share a room.  Go figure.

We are looking forward to vegging out for 4 days doing NOTHING.  Amy probably will spend time at the barn ~ but that is about it.

So, cross your fingers, we will be in out new house on Monday and the moving in will commence.  We are so excited for this new opportunity to make this home ours.  We have guest rooms and plenty of room for friends and family.  

Much love,
Leslie

Movers Came........

Ok, the movers came and they were fantastic!  Tomorrow we clean the house and do runs to the dump, Good Will and the Mission.
It is very exciting.
We just got into the 3 day house rental.  The dogs have settled on the couch, the birds are here in their little travel cages ~ my dogs are snoring, they are exhausted.

These are our movers~ they were fantastic!  And most likely will be delivering to Burlington.

Melanie, the Queen of Sheba, decided she quite liked the door opened so she could sit out in front and watch.

Here is Amy ~ the dogs are not supposed to be on the sofa, but we brought their blanket to cover the sofa and they are snoring.  I won't take a photo in case it can be used as evidence.

So, tomorrow we clean, and we move into the house in Burlington on Thursday night.  We will have two twin mattresses and two camp chairs to camp out until the movers arrive on Friday.  

Tired, but very excited!
Love, 
Leslie