Congratulations to Jane!

 Yesterday we celebrated Jane.

First we had a luncheon for her and her friends and families.  Nicole and her mom and dad, Lisa and Pete Hawley.  India and her mom and dad Marlo and Kirk Kissen.  Plus her brothers, uncle and grandfather.  Such nice people!!!!!

Rhonda's incredible cupcakes

Oreo's for India, candied fruit slices for Nicole and See's candy for Jane

We got the outdoor living spaces all done for the party and set up corn hole.  Of course, I set it up backwards, but everyone figured it out.

Then graduation!

The speaker was terrific!

Jane and her oak tree.  Which is in a bigger pot in the back yard.

Congratulations Jane!!!!

Nicole, Jane and India

The mighty oak

This was a wonderful day.

Much love,

Leslie

Maybe THIS is really a Spring????????

 It was 43 degrees last night.  Low 60's during the day.  And rain.  I have been grumbling about how long this winter has been.  But it has come to me.........maybe this is a real Spring!  Usually we go from winter to 5 days of Spring and whammo right into Summer.  But this year a lengthy Spring.  Which has hindered the house trim painting.  Can't fight Mother Nature.

The painting is on today!

The view from the stairs

And if you look carefully, you can see Rhonda photo bombing this picture!!!

And, a fantastic closing........graduation photos in advance of graduation!  Elon does professional photos??????

Nicole, Jane and India

Absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

Much love,

Leslie

Getting the Trim on the House Painted

 We started seeing some areas on the trim that were coming off ~ the trim at the top of the house that got full sun was flaking badly.  Our trim is dark so you really could see it.

Our neighbors were having their house painted so we asked about the company and called them.  Gonzalez Painting sent a rep out and he walked all around and took photos and we agreed on the estimate.  Power washing, bleach, caulking, repairing....and then the high grade Sherwin Williams paint.  

 Mother Nature has stepped in and it rained so we have missed two days of painting.  So Amy decided our porch rug needed cleaning and it really did so we got Rhonda to bring her porch rug over and they went to work.

We had champagne to celebrate Mother's Day with Rhonda, laughed alot and got the rugs looking almost brand new.  Then we did take out from a local Mexican restaurant for dinner.  A great Sunday.

The rug looks great.  Now if Mother Nature would just cooperate, we can get the painting finished and get ready for summer. 

Much love,

Leslie

New Photos of Thomas

 Here are some new pictures of Thomas:

You let him cry?????

So cute and growing up so fast!!!!

Much love,

Leslie

Happy Birthday to Amy!!!!

 

May Day basket 

May Day, aka Amy's birthday started with our first May Day basket.  I wonder if I will start a trend in the neighborhood?

I had made Amy's cake yesterday...

And that went great.

Got up on May first and went to the Eno River Farmer's market with Rhonda.  Amy was home in bed suffering from her second shot ~ for which she is eternally greatful.

I got some stuff for the garden, including Lemon Grass, which I was looking for.  Plus a cool Storm Troopers mask for May the Fourth!!!

May the Fourth Be With You!!!!!!

Then home to make the Penuche icing and ice the cake.  I have made this icing many times and yesterday it decided to test me.  The first batch came out like concrete.  The second batch came out ok ~ I do know there is a fine line in this icing between too thin and runny and a brick.  The second batch a bit too thick.  The third batch was better.  This is really why people don't cook anymore.  You follow the receipe perfectly and....you get tested.

I am going to be ready the next time I make this cake.  It was good, though.

With wonderful gifts of fireball, peanut butter M&Ms, giftcards to her happy place, Dover Saddlery, a FANTASTIC quilt from Rhonda:

I knew what Amy wanted and I knew if I wrapped it, she would know what it was. So, I wrapped a tiny box with a message in it:

Got her!!!!!!!!! She got her Vitamix she wanted. 

No one's pick won the Derby ~ omg it is HOURS long now!!!!!!! But a nice day all the way around!

Much love,

Leslie