What is Going On ~ Briefly

First off, Carolyn has broken her right arm from falling on the ice in Cedar Rapids.  I haven't seen a photo yet, but she did say she is ok and currently is rocking a splint with an ace bandage wrap prior to the cast.  And yes, she NOW has a pair of yak tracks, which everyone should have in case of ice.  (You can get them on Amazon.  I have two pair and love them ~ because Yes we get ice in North Carolina.)

Jane is off to Ghana for four months.  She says she will keep in touch via social media and I will be glad to pass along any messages.

My assistant this morning.

I am happy to have my assistant this morning, but he is definitely in the way.  Time for breakfast.

Love,

Leslie

Saying So Long to Christmas

It has been so warm and definitely "unholiday" so last weekend I made the big shift from Christmas to not Christmas.

My plan was to move all Christmas into the dining room, bring the bins in, go thru and purge, repack and put away.  Oh and clean and "redo" so everything looks fresh and different.

All in two days.

Let me just say that it is way more fun to put up decorations than take down.  Why is that?

This is the begining....

The changes ~ Amy had this idea to keep the living room like this after the tree came down.  It looks great!

All done and time to relax and watch football.

Have a safe and happy 2020!!!!!

Love,
Leslie

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