December....already?

 We're almost halfway into December and I'm still wondering where the time goes.    I suppose it's measured by small milestones.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving here together.   My turkey recipe was a bust (the leftovers went directly into the bin)  but the pumpkin pie was a hit.   The night after the big day we invited Steve and MonaLiza here to enjoy the Ornery Hog's famous smoked prime rib (only offered on Friday nights).     It was as advertised.    Wonderful and huge and memorable.    We shared two dinners among the four of us and there was plenty of food!

We're learning the ins and outs of this house.   The furnace works, nice to know on today's chilly and cloudy afternoon.    Lewis no longer sleeps in the closet.    He uses the purpose purchased huge dog bed beside our bed.    Or.....he uses the couch, as we knew he would. 

He still likes to keep a close eye on us, wherever we go, even in the bathroom. 

he doesn't knock, just opens the door and peers in 

He enjoys watching the birds and deer and rabbits as they use our property and he recently noticed the horses across the street. 

  

The fireplace saga continues.    We got tired of craning our necks to watch the TV sitting in the corner (it's official home will be on the mantelpiece, over "the fireplace".     So Dave put on his creative hat and installed a temporary mantel over the empty spot where "the fireplace" will be.

We're getting really good at imagining how things will look, at ignoring things we don't want to look at!  It's a skill I advise everyone try and acquire, it makes things go a lot smoother with fewer "explosions"!

I ordered a stone surround (mantel piece, hearth and side columns) for "the fireplace" and we got notice that it was to arrive, common carrier, right on time.    Things seemed to be falling into place.   Supply chain problems?   Who has those?     

While we were outside having a pleasant second cup Dave saw the truck coming in the distance.   He ran down to the corner to show the driver where the house was.   We're listed as 1055 N 328 and as 1055 S 328.   He didn't want the truck's GPS to cause him to drive the big rig to the wrong place....nice guy that he is.   

Truck driver said he wasn't driving any further and he would deliver it right there.....in the middle of the road, and no where else.   The middle of the road was about 1/4 of a bumpy dirt mile from the house.   The surround was crated in a 6 foot wooden box on a skid and weighted about 450 lbs.   

 

Luckily, a neighbor raced to our aid  (I think he was secretly watching the discourse between Dave and the driver from his window) in his 4x4 with a towing strap.    Dave was going to hook the "coffin" to our Jeep and drag it home but this man wouldn't hear of it.

   He pulled the box into our steep driveway and unstrapped it.    Dave was going to leave it there until "the fireplace" installation and subsequent drywall work was done but I didn't like that idea so he (good old Dave always comes through) figured out a way that he and I could drag it into the garage for safe keeping.

So, Monday was the appointed day for the install....the unit arrived and they had kept their promise of arriving on Dec. 6.      Alphonso pulled in at 7:30 a.m. (he drove over from the other side of Phoenix, about 1 or 1 1/2 hours away).     He took one look at the area where the fireplace was to go and said he didn't have the right chimney pipe with him....what?????    He left (to go back to Phoenix, another hour and a half drive)     He would be back at some point, he didn't know what his supervisor would do about another appointment.    GRRRRRR.    We made this December appointment way back in October so now how long would we have to wait for the right pipe....and why didn't they carry a few extra parts in their truck!      Long story short, he called back at 11:30 that day and said he was heading back to Wickenburg with the right stuff.   Yay!

Right....yay.     Alphonso and his assistant completed their part (wait for it.....) of the installation and then told us that we'd need another appointment for the service tech to come back and hook up the gas and electric (which, he said,  were in the wrong place and had to be changed), install the fake logs and turn the thing on.     Another appointment!     Another long story short, the service tech is now scheduled to complete the installation on December 23.   Finger's crossed.....    Can't you just wait for my google review?

So, Dave got back to work moving the gas line, moving the electric outlet, buying lumber, drywall and  paint to stay busy until til Dec. 23.

On a more fun note, it's Christmas season!   This year, for the first time in I don't know how many years, we bought a live tree.    Lewis is still loyal to Beluga's flat stanley tree and enjoys keeping it company at second cup.

 And for the first time, ever, our tree arrived in a horse trailer (this IS Wickenburg you know).     

They don't sell Christmas trees in Wickenburg, we would have had to drive into the Valley to a lot somewhere so, thanks to a hint from Steve, we prepurchased a freshly cut tree through the Wickenburg Performing Arts Center Boosters and they were delivered early Saturday morning.

what's so funny Steve?

We chose a very small, table top sized, Nordman variety.    We didn't get to choose the exact tree, they came out of the trailer already bundled for ease of transport, but we're quite happy with the little guy.    Steve and MonaLiza ordered a large one and it's beautiful and perfect for their house.      Afterward we picked up donuts at a new little shop  and celebrated our purchases in the sunshine.      

the donuts were "alright" but not as good as Paula's.

As we were driving to the donut store we noticed lots of beautiful old cars passing us.    As a matter of fact we were so caught up in looking at them we whizzed right by the donut place.    Steve and MonaLiza called and wondered where we were going!   It's a good thing they did, we would have driven a long way before we realized our mistake!        Turns out there was a wonderful car show in town, to benefit  Toys for Tots.     After our little donut/coffee celebration we all went looking for the show and were rewarded with a large and beautiful group of cars!

the paint jobs were phenominal!

even Santa had an entry

I spent a good portion of yesterday polishing silver.     This year our little tree is decorated with 52 Gorham Sterling Silver Snowflakes.    For our first Christmas together as man and wife, my mother's older sister Dorothea bought us the first in what turned out to be a series of silver ornaments by Gorham silversmiths.    She bought us one each Christmas as long as she lived and we've continued the traditoin ever since.  

  

I took them out of their boxes and assessed how many needed polishing.    Lewis rested on the couch, his head in a bowl of ornaments.    He felt it gave him the best angle to determine which silver snowflakes needed attention.     Lots of them needed polishing.     But, they were so beautiful when they were clean and gleaming and hung on the little tree.

We continue to enjoy our beautiful skies.....