November

 Nothing really new or exciting going on.   Continuing to make the house and yard our own, visiting with friends (old and new), meeting two little neighbors, making introductory visits with dentist and eye dr.,  and just generally enjoying our time together.   The FedEx, UPS and Amazon delivery people know us by name.

I carved out a spot to be able to work on a puzzle, or puzzles.  I hope I get this one finished before Jesse and Erin come for the holidays, I bought a new one for us all to do....It's tradition.

The family across the street from us has twin boys, about 7 years old, Pearce and Jones.    They're sweet little guys, homeschooled and very curious.    Dave was working in the garage the other day, with the door open.     The boys quietly came across the street, introduced themselves and offered a gift for both of us....hand made bracelets.     I had trouble putting mine on and Jones quickly stepped in to help.....

At long last, our couch arrived.   We ordered it (and a couple leather chairs) in May!

Lewis promptly claimed it, he's been pestering us for something more comfortable to snooze on....

He lets us sit with him, if there is room.    He feels the chairs will be for us, the couch for him.   We don't like to argue with him, he's usually right.

I've been planting a few flowers around in the back yard, for bits of color in the brown and green desert. Lew recognized one of his old friends from the lake and tries to keep her company when he's relaxing outside.

Dave has been figuring out his part of the fireplace installation.   Literally figuring.   Lots of paper and pencils and measuring tapes and chalk lines, etc.    Today he made his first cut in the wall.... The unit is promised to arrive at the Fireplace store in a couple weeks and we have an installation date in early December.    Please keep your finger's crossed that it does come in and is not in one of the cargo boxes piled on a container ship somewhere.....

Last week MonaLiza and Steve invited us to their house for lunch with a blogger couple we've followed but have never managed to meet.   They were hiking with Joodie and Mark in the morning and would be home by noon.   They wanted to meet Lewis and he hasn't met anyone new in a long time, so we headed over. 

  We had a wondeful time talking and laughing and eating and birdwatching until it was time to go.   I hope we'll get a chance for another visit on their way through in Spring, they're way cool folks!   Lewis totally agrees....

Friday we invited Steve and MonaLiza here for a little celebration of sorts.   We sat outside and shared a bottle of champagne (actually, it was Prosecco but we weren't picky - it had bubbles!),

Lew wonders why Dave is using those wine glasses for champagne....

I couldn't find my champagne flutes (they're in a box in the garage, I just know it!) so we made due with what we had.    

We had ordered take-out smoked prime rib dinners from the Ornery Hog BBQ in town but they called in the afternoon to say that the "chef" was ill and was not preparing food.   Good idea.    I was able to pivot and none of us went hungry.      We'll try for the prime rib again this week.

Before they left, Lewis allowed them to try out "his" couch -  but the price was a kiss.....

Thanksgiving is next week.   This will be the first time in I don't remember how long, that I'll be cooking a turkey in a real oven.   Actually, Dave cooks the turkey (don't ask) but we're both looking forward to it.    Now, if we could just find a can of cranberry sauce somewhere.....