The Holiday Rush

It is the 22nd of December and it is cold here in Hillsborough.  Although it is supposed to warm up a bit and be in the low 60's for Christmas ~ which works for me.  

I don't know if any of you watch The Great Christmas Light Fight on television ~ I do and I like it.  Part because I love the spectacle, part because I love the lights and part because it makes me think "I could do that" if I had enough outlets and $60,000.00 for the electric bill.  But if I ever win the lottery.........

Anyhow, a winner lives near Carole and Tony (lucky dogs) and I got Jane to go and get a picture.

I could look at that all day.

Tony was in DC for meetings with his elected officials (not a lucky dog) and somehow he got into some good places for a photo op.

Carolyn was home for a glorious football game at Duke:

and I got the front lights up ~

The holly tree really didn't want to get all festive, I have the battle wounds to prove it.

And, I finally got Mom's favorite wreath up ~

And miracles of miracles.....so far Gypsy has mangled a blue Pilot pen, Amy's glasses and dragged bag of birdseed across the back porch and only chewed open one corner ~ but all the Christmas decorations are still standing.  It might be only a matter of time.

Much love to all,

~Leslie

We Do Look Like Christmas

Got busy and finally have Christmas everywhere.

I still have to get the wreaths for the outside gates.  I did get the lights on the holly tree in the front.  It did not want to have lights on it, but I won that battle.  I have the scars to prove it.

Now I can sit on the sofa and enjoy the light.

Love to all,
Leslie

And the Holidays Begin......

We had a lovely Thanksgiving.....

Getting the bread ready for the stuffing

Making the ambrosia

A bit of Thanksgiving bling

We ate at Jim and Lori's and it was great.  Carolyn and David were able to travel down from Cedar Rapids, Jesse, Jane, Amy, Nana and I had a great visit.

Jim

David

Jane, Carolyn, David and Amy

The Hardin Christmas photo with Jane channeling Maren

A trip to the Sax-A-Pa-Ha Holiday Market

We were got the most fantastic hot sweet potato donuts ever!!!! They are made in the Yee Haw Food Truck and we plan on following them everywhere!

Jane and Emma in front of the Haw River

The we went and had lunch at the Reverence Farms cafe ~ farm to table and amazing.  While we ate they were making the pies and cakes for dessert!  We met the farm owner, Bruce and I am looking forward to going back!

Reverence Farms cafe

Pretty much self explanatory.

Started working on the tree today......

Love,
Leslie

We Had One Day of Fall......

Wow!  We went from summer (85 on Halloween) to a beautiful fall day on Veteran's Day to a 35 degree drop to immediate winter.  Ice on the road.....some sleet......a tease of snow.....and it is only November 14th.

Because it is 29 degrees and only going to be 44, I have broken out the Norwegian sweater that Thorberg knitted for Carole back in 1985??

It is so warm and beautiful.  One day Carole will want it back.  Gee, I hope I can find it.

For Veteran's Day, Amy and I went to Sheetz and got a free sandwich and a super duper car wash ~ they really have a good sandwich ~ and Yes, I did question the fact that it is a gas station!!! But, it is very good.

We next went to Amy's most favorite ice cream place and got free ice cream.  Happy Veteran's Day!!!

Amy went to her 35th reunion and visited with Nancy and Drew and Val and......Miss Beans.

Yes, Miss Beans is a little pig.  Everyone LOVES her because Drew and Val are not allergic to her!

Whoops, time to go to work!!

Love,
Leslie

I Guess It Is Winter??????

Wow, it was 83 and humid on Halloween and a whopper of a storm blew in right at the end of Trick or Treating and dropped us 30 degrees!  It is currently 34 outside! I have the itch to put up Christmas, but I will hold back and plan where everything is going to go.

Because of the storm, the neighborhood decided to start Trick or Treating early, so when I got home at 5:30 it was in full swing.  But Amy and Jane were ready to go!!

Apparently, I cannot access my photos via the image icon.  Hmmmm. I will give it a day and see what happens.  

Abracadabra......it is back on!!!!

A dry run

Amy and Jane

Our neighborhood does Trick or Treat in the back of the houses on our street ~ and the kids were fascinated with our "fire".

Mary Disher with her neighbors ~ love the mini RBG!!!!!!!

Amy and I watched every minute of the Nationals versus the Astros ~ since I like and follow both teams it was a treat.  But I had to remind us all of their Opening Day 15 years ago ~ yes, on Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn, their team name is misspelled.

Congratulations and Go Nats!!!

Time to put away Halloween and try to not decorate for Christmas!!!!

Love,
Leslie

Apparently, It is Fall!

What a difference!  Currently at 8am, it is 40 degrees!  The leaves are turning and the oak trees in the neighborhood are dropping acorns like crazy.

I have started the Halloween/Fall decorating.

A murder of crows in the foyer

Celebrating Navy

Amy has taken the dogs to their Puppy Reunion Party and then she is coming back for a quick switch to help with the local gym's 5K ~ and she will be wearing her Halloween costume:

Amy with Gypsy and Loki at yesterday's Puppy Reunion Party

Amy and I have spent every evening watching the Astros and the Nationals.  So we are thrilled to see both in the World Series.  (I love Jose Altuve!)

Love,
Leslie

It's Fall??????????

It is officially Fall.  And it was a glorious sunny 82 degrees yesterday while I finished taking out the tomatoes and putting in some perennials.

I actually got some sun!  Today, it is a hot sweaty humid 64.  Should feel cool, but we are finally getting some rain.  We have been in a drought and no rain for months.  

Amy and I went to Star, NC last Saturday to participate (meaning purchase) in their annual fundraiser ~ Star is the home of a glass blowing art center and the artists spend the year making glass pumpkins.  They make 3000 and last Saturday sold them.  And in about an hour, they were gone.  We are going to their Christmas ornament sale the first Saturday in December.  Now we know to take sturdy baskets.  It was fun!

This is 10 feet tall

On the way home, we made a pilgrimage to Replacements, Inc.  You know the place, their ad is in the back of all kinds of magazines.  Honestly, it is china, silver, glassware, holiday ware heaven!!!

They have examples of every china pattern imaginable!!!!! And if you are looking for anything you can get on their computerized list.  The photo is really 1/10 of the space.
I escaped with two sets of Christmas napkins.  Oh and two holiday tea towels.  Totally worth it.

The little devil is chewing on the stem of the pumpkin that I put outside.  I have now moved it to the front porch.

Much love to all!!!!
~ Leslie

September Happenings

I believe Summertime is going to hang on for a while......it is going to blow by the first of fall.  I am not going to put out fall until October, but I did get completely sucked in by Halloween candy.

Jane and some friends from Elon marched for Climate Change in Greensboro and saw Bernie Sanders speak.  You girls rock!!!!!!

Jim made a quick trip to Cedar Rapids to deliver Carolyn's car to her and he got to see her office at Iowa.  

Carolyn and David

 Daily pickings from the tomato plants.  They are so good!  I gave some tomatoes to a guy at work and he is going to harvest the seeds and plant them in his garden.

A little visitor in my raised garden

Our neighbors dog, Blue, is fascinated with the birds.

Amy is feeling better.  She sees the doctor tomorrow to take the stitches out.  Her hand still hurts alot but hopefully she will get a splint tomorrow .  


Love,
Leslie