A Beautiful Hot Early Summer Day

Amy got me a new hammock and we dragged it out and put it together.  It was EASY and it is gorgeous!!!!

I am going to plant in the whiskey barrels tomorrow.  I am going to a local nursery to look for a climbing honeysuckle or jasmine that will survive the winters.  The hammock is huge!

I also potted some cactus plants - always trying to get the porch to look good.

And, we moved the blue Addarondack chairs from the sun to the shade, a per Lori's request.  I have to admit, it is nicer. The dogs liked it, too.

And, here is my birthday present from Carole: I love John Feinstein's writing.  I have followed him as a sports writer for the Washington Post and loved hearing his stories when he would be on Tony Kornheiser's radio show.  This book is full of great stories and is funny.
So, a big Thank You to Carole!!!!!!1

Love, Leslie

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Happy Birthday, Leslie!!!!!

What a glorious day!  Presents, cards, phone calls, flowers, messages ~ it gets no better than that!

Amy's decorations

This is a "stealth" Warriors shirt ~ Go Golden State!

Amy putting together my wagon with Loki supervising.

But, Loki kept picking up screws and other stuff he could not have and running with it in his mouth, so he lost his privileges and had to come inside. 

Now, just waiting for Amy.  A lonely vigil.

Amy is a genius!  She put together my wagon, but I need an extra wrench to finish.  I only have one wrench, so it is off to Home Depot tomorrow!

So, many thanks to everyone!
Love, Leslie

PS ~ this year, all us Thomas girls will be in our 50th year ~ some more than others.

Technology and the Onslaught of Windows 10

I am trying to avoid Windows 10.  I LOVED XP, but Microsoft decided I needed to change. So far, I am not changing to 10.

Mom, however, did get swallowed up and somehow now has Windows 10 on her computer and Lori has it on her work computer.

Lori I don't worry about.  But Mom has questions.  So, at the pubic library I thought I would see what was out there.

It is a miracle!!!!!! And, I have read and studied the Windows 10 Simplified (I have my doubts) and I will start the facebook one.  I have to put stuff on Mom's facebook page for her.  I know, I am hopelessly behind.

On the Mom front, her Infectious Disease appointment for tomorrow was canceled by the doctor because they haven't gotten the results from the coulture yet.  Hmmmmm.  CSI they are not.  But, her arm is better than it was.  Now if I can just get her to keep her arm raised up a bit.  

Much love to all,
~Leslie

For All of You on Vacation..........,

For all of you on vacation and you "think" you might miss Mom...............................

Why would a woman who has tissue paper skin and has issues with bleeding due to being on a blood thinner utilize toe nail scissors to pry off the tabs on the top to mouthwash to open the bottle RATHER than just tell Amy or I to take it off?

Why does she turn her TV volume WAY UP rather than just come out of her room to tell me she is up?  She told me that she knew it would bring me to her room.  Crafty but annoying.

And, Amy installed these temporary curtains over the front door - to prevent the dogs from barking all the time and annoying here - only while I am working for Lori.

Love, Leslie

We Did It! A Quick Drive and Surprise to See Zoe Graduate

Jesse and I had decided that we would drive up to see Zoe graduate from high school.  We had a lot of nay sayers.  Too hard to do in one day.  You should go up Friday and spend the night.  HA!
Jesse came over and spent the night and we got up and left the house at 5 am.  Roadtrip!  
We were at Zoe's high school by 10am.  The ceremony started at 11am - and Nancy had scored at an auction, front row tickets for any event.  So, we had front row, center stage!  

Zoe and Jesse

Oh, and yes ~ here they are:

Fancy Nancy's shoes

Drew, Mo (Drew's Dad), Nancy and Jesse

Zoe had no idea we were coming ~ I can't believe we all managed to keep it a secret. 

The program ran about an hour and a half ~ Nancy was recognized as a member of the Board of Trustees and Zoe was mentioned twice as a Maryland Scholarship winner and the fact that she and one other member of the class had written Honor's Thesis ~ and she had multiple colors of tassels around her neck for her academic achievements!!!!!

But, the big surprise was the display of Zoe's artwork ~ we all knew she was terrific, and the school agreed.
This piece, which was to depict Zoe's school experience, was selected to hang FOREVER in the school: (the dates are the years of the school)

The figures are Zoe on the far right and her four best friends.

It is a big piece and completely fabulous.

More of Zoe's art ~ her favorites are the two big examples of her digital art.

This is her signature way she signs her work - this caricature was all over the school and no one knew it was Zoe until she did this piece to end her anonymity during her senior year.

The school held a lovely reception and I especially appreciated the fact that Indian Creek is a Green School and they used products that were easily recycled and compostable.  Cups, plates and all.  

Then we went to lunch at Zoe's favorite place, California Pizza Kitchen and then to Nancy's house to visit.

Trying to get a good picture

Finally ~ the good picture

Everyone looked fantastic and it was a great time!!!!!

Jesse and I left at 4pm, got hung up in Upper Marlboro and Waldorf, and were back home at 9pm ~ which WE wanted, and no one believed we could do.  But we made great time through Richmond and finally on 85.

Jesse, Lori and Maren left this morning (Sunday) for Hilton Head and Zoe and her 4 crew members plus Nancy and Drew flew out this morning for Disney.  I am going to work on my tomato garden in the back.  

Love, Leslie

Congratulations to Zoe!!!! A Scholar!!!!!

Nancy sent this picture to me ~ it is all the awards that Zoe won at her Indian Creek Upper School Awards program on Tuesday morning:

Senior Honors Thesis, Art Award for Digital Art, Maryland Scholarship Award and some others that I cannot read.....how on earth did she carry all these home?  And better yet, did she know she was getting them?  

Smart and cute.

Zoe and two of her best friends ~ prior to the prom

I am totally impressed.  When I graduated from high school, my name was only on my diploma and yearbook.  I do not believe I was even invited to my high school's honor night. I wonder if we even had one.  

You rock, Zoe!!!!! 
Love, Leslie

Finally Legal

After much trial and tribulation....I just put the new North Carolina tags on my 4-Runner.  

So now, I do not have to worry about being stopped.  Amy got vanity plates:

Somehow, strangely appropriate.
Love,
Leslie