Happy Middle of December

 It is December 15th and it is cold and wet and dreary.  Very much a southern winter.  So far today, we have had 1.75 inches of rain.  And it is 39 degrees!  No snow or anything wintery has been forecasted....it is a day to stay in and be warm.

Are you ready for Christmas yet?  I still have to get the front door garland up, but Rhonda and I will do that this weekend.  All the lights are up outside and of course, I had to replace a string on the back porch.  Luckily, it was the last string put up on the porch so it was easy.

I feel like we are channeling Las Vegas but the lights make me smile!

I took a very fast trip to Davidsonville to take our neighbor to see Homestead Gardens.  It was spectacular!!!!! And we went to see Nancy and Val on our way out.

They have done a ton of work on their house.  The lights over the island are new.

Val ~ who Rhonda thinks looks alot like Jane but Jane says he looks just like Emma.  Either way, all the cousins look alot alike!!!!!

The too small pantry has been turned into a wine storage unit.  

The den off Nancy's kitchen

Val's renovated bathroom

The chandelier over Val's bed ~ LOVE IT!!!

Miss Beans and Carl

Like I said, it was a fast trip.  We left Hillsborough at 7am and were back in Hillsborough at 8pm!  We hit Richmond at 5pm and it was a breeze ~ not like Richmond at all!  

Much love,

Leslie

November Shenanigans

 It is Sunday morning, November 27th.  And rainy ~ which is good.  Yesterday was glorious and sunny!  I started the day at the compost table, went to Mebane with Rhonda to walk up Clay Street and see their holiday goodies and get lunch at the Cousin's Maine Lobster Truck ~ we go every time we know the truck is there.  Delicious!!!!

Then home to get the timer straight on the lights in the living room window and put the lights on the back porch.

But let's catch up with November.....This is our view off our back deck.  Our neighbors Jack and Karen (for real).  We maintain they are in the witness protection program.  Not very neighborly, but Karen asked me to help her move a piece of furniture into the house and I did then crickets.  Karen asked Rhonda to come over any time for wine in the afternoon then crickets.  They ignore every overture from Amy.  I speak everytime I see them.  Still crickets.

Anyway, this is their Thanksgiving/Fall holiday decoration....

And the next day, this.  Which they left like that thru Saturday after Thanksgiving,  And they had company for Thanksgiving!!!!

And I like to make our deck festive.......quiet revenge.

For Thanksgiving, I was making Mom's traditional ambrosia, cream cheese pie, my cranberry relish and vegetarian stuffing.  I took my receipe book to work to make sure I had all the stuff.  I left work, made a last minute stop at Whole Food ~ breezed in and out ~ and came face to face with everyone and their brother leaving Durham.  

Tuesday 4pm traffic

I make a U-turn and go the roundabout way home thru the country, unpack and start cooking and realize I left my receipe book at work.  So back I go.  And stick to the back roads.  Takes longer, but at least I was not sitting looking at the car in front of me.

Back home to get the bread out to dry.  And make the other the other dishes.  I have to say that this year everything came out beautifully!!!!!

Jane made her lasagna.  Rhonda brought over TONS of appitizers ~ we will have to cut back next year.  We had alot of food!  But we had alot of fun!  

Loki helped

After dinner, Amy and Jane started a 1000 piece puzzle of the Milky Way.  And of course, I had them move it to the dining room table after the border had been completed.  And of course, a piece of the border disappeared.

The search was on without success.  But at the end of the dishes and as I was putting the  brass tray back onto the table.....Eureka!  I found the piece!!!! 

 

And this year, for a holiday surprise, the week before Thanksgiving, our Fridgidare Gallery dishwasher crapped out.  Amy called a repair man and he came out, but has to order the part.  So we are pretending to be Pilgrims by handwashing everything.  A lovely forgotten tradition.  

Thomas says "Happy Thanksgiving"

Now it is time to put everything away and get ready for Christmas.

Rhonda helps by getting on the ladder and took down the garage door Halloween lights and then putting up the new Christmas lights in the window.

It was a quiet Thanksgiving.  The lingering effects of COVID keep us apart and I do hope that we can have the big all together Thanksgiving safely again.  

Time to crack the Christmas whip and get moving!!!!!

Much love,

Leslie

We Survived Ian!!!!

Hurricane Ian was lingering but we really had zero issues except for some wind and rain.  And we had big plans for Saturday!!! Opening Day for the pumpkin patch in Star, North Carolina!!!!

STARworks is in what was an old school that became a mill.  Now, it is a glass blowing workshop, brewery, coffee shop and music venue.

The pumpkin patch originally was held outside on hall bales....but with more and more people coming it became a bit hazardous for the pumpkins.  When we first attended, it was the year before COVID and the people!!!!!! Mass crowds all filling their baskets before sitting and going through their pumpkins to pick the most perfect. Hilarious! Now, you have to request a reservation for a certain day and time.  45 people are allowed in at a time.  Much more peaceful ~ same behaviors though.

Our next stop was lunch in Asheboro, NC at our favorite place, The Table.

Always a line to get in but totally worth it!

Even though it was a bit wet, we ate outside.  Always better to be safe!!!

The rain did pick up but we were ok.

After lunch, Jane wanted to get pumpkins and found a pumpkin patch that was on the way home.  So on to Whitfield Farms in Climax, North Carolina!!

What a fabulous local place!  Veggies, baked goods, treats and gifts......fantastic!!! And all local.

We had such a good time!

We came home to find out that at Jim and Lori's house they had quite a bit of damage.  Trees fell on their driveway and clocked their cars.  Jim's new car has enough damage that it has to go to the shop for a couple of weeks.  Jim thinks a small tornado came through.

Two and half more months of hurricane season to go.  

Love,

Leslie

Hello Hurricane Ian

 Here it is, the last day of September.  We are expecting about 3 inches of rain and some wind today.  Certainly not as bad as what Naples and Ft. Myers got in Florida.  And we need the rain.

Of course, all the schools are closed and Amy is teaching her class via Zoom.  So the dogs are sitting with me.  Well, they are really glued to the door waiting for their mother to release them from jail.

Gypsy waiting for Amy

Jane is here and of course she was transcripted to go ride with Amy and then go to New Hope Grill.  

Jim invited us to Radius Pizza to celebrate Lori's birthday.  We had an uproarious time looking at photos on everyone's phones.  Lots and lots of laughter ~ just like old times at holidays and family dinners.

The Trademark Office sent a bunch of boxes so Amy could send all their equipment back.

And here are the last two boxes waiting for Fed X to pick them up.  The new job starts on Monday.

Much love,

Leslie

Happy 2nd Birthday to Thomas!!!

Thomas celebrated his 2nd birthday in Canton, Georgia at his paternal grandparents house.  The entire Hardin clan descended on Canton.....I hope the family recovers.  

I think this is the cutest thing ever!

Carolyn, Thomas and David

The man of the hour

Proud parents

The Hardin Clan

We sent these cookies to the celebration.  Delicious and cool!!!

I hope Canton recovers from the party pandemonium!!!! Happy Birthday, Thomas!!!

Love,

Leslie

A Tribute from Bob Turman

We got a package in the mail the other day.  A book.

I texted Bubba and inquired about this.  Was he and Carol responsible or someone else, because I wanted to thank them.  Turns out Paul Hankins sent us the book.  It is a celebration of the class for their 40th Reunion.  It shows each classmates class photo and a brief paragraph about what they are doing now.

But Bubba wrote this about Scott:

"It all started in the summer of 1977 when the 30th Company had the pleasure of meeting one of the most unique individuals we had ever met.  Scott was a mixture of brains, a subtle but hammer-like sense of humor, and a quiet confidence that seemed to exceed his years.  Scott did not have much in common with his classmates; he was very smart, most of the rest of us, not so much.  However, if you shared his likes in Rock n' Roll, he would dumb himself down to our level.  Back in those days, that's all you needed to form a friendship, meeting someone who had the good sense to like your kind of music.

Then in the summer of 1978, the Thomas family invaded Annapolis and all of us survivors of Plebe Year were introduced to the nicest parents and craziest daughters/sisters one brother/son could ever have.  We knew right then that we should stay clear of this group because they were nothing but trouble.  However, like a moth drawn to a light, we lost all control and flew right into the mayham that was this unique family and we got zapped.

The summer of 1980 brought tremendous sorrow.  When we lost Scott, we didn't just lose a friend who was an outstanding student and midshipman, we lost the potential of someone who would have been one of the finest Naval Officers to serve our nation.  We have no doubt that Scott would have been in the forefront of significant changes to the US Navy.  Captain "Buzz" and Mrs. Adele Thomas are no longer with us, but those crazy daughters are, so the craziness continues."

I will be thanking both Paul and Bob for their kindness ~ but crazy sisters??? Really???

Love,

Leslie

August Was Exciting for Some

 August is the month where we really don't see anyone out and about in the neighborhood.  It is hot and humid and most of the families are on vacation.  So it is usually very quiet.

I am living through the William's family ~ Jane went home for a couple of weeks and they rented a place in Mendocino. Then Carole and Emma went to Seoul, South Korea ~ I believe for Emma to see a friend and practise her use of the Korean language.  But really they went so Carole could visit the shrine to BTS.  Yes, the Korean boy band.

The view from their place

Seoul, South Korea

Emma and her friend

Carole's hike

Heaven......also known as the visit to the BTS Shrine

On the Hardin side of the family, here are the newest photos of Thomas.  Who will be two years old on September 17.

Amy and I sent this tent masquerading as a fire truck

The summertime patio ~ note Jane's Oak tree to the left of the blue chair.  It is doing great!

I was watering some Black-Eyed Susans that grew from seed and I noticed something in the pot.  So I pulled it out.

Gypsy buried her chicken in the pot.  The Zombie Chicken has arisen!!!

The Zombie Chicken

I was finishing the vaccuming and was winding up the cord and I could feel something.....Yes, Amy squirting me with a squirtgun thru the door.  :) 

Amy has COVID again!!!! And is more miserable that the first time!  So be careful out there!!!!

Much love,

Leslie