last day of august

As if I didn't already have enough pool shots... I had to add a few more.

Met this strikingly handsome young chap on the pool steps this morning. He was just enjoying a leisurely morning swim, when I snuck up behind him with a blue net on a long pole.  Poor guy.  He didn't understand that I was only trying to save him from the deadly effects of chlorine.  But he was fine.  He hopped out of the net and into the holly bushes.  Till next time, ol' pal! (ribbit!)

Before leaving for SC, my sister had me do some dumb poses so she could show them off to our siblings in WI, MN, and CA.  Here's one.

                                 ..and here we are, shortly before she practically knocked off the neighbor's mailbox while backing up out of our driveway.  How embarrassing, and what an awkward way for me to meet my new neighbors!
 

                                      Later on, enjoying some peace and quiet, all alone at the pool.

                                         "Almost" alone, that is, can't forget this snazzy fellow..
                                            Can you even see this green dragonfly, kind of blurry, in the foreground?

Can't believe tomorrow is September.  I'll miss these days by the pool, enjoying the summertime sunshine.

Things I love..

Things I love about having a backyard pool:

#57. 

 Easy-peasy wardrobe choices.

Instead of the usual chore of picking out the right outfit every day, including some very boring, pale underpants and bra...I only have to choose one of these bikinis!

       Hmmm, which shall it be today...am I in a cool blue or decidedly black and white mood?

Or do I need a bit of warm orange, yellow or hot pink to liven things up?

Either way, it's so fun to just slip into a cute bikini on summer days, then throw on either a cover-up or some floppy shorts and tank top, as I'll eventually throw them off and hop in the pool!

Just the thought of jumping in that cool water on a hot day makes the rest of the day and its tasks so much easier.  

So which did I choose?

Well, shucks. It's the weekend, that means I'd better stick with something safe.

I go with the modest tankini top with the maximum coverage, granny skirt bottoms, 

which, by the way, do a fine job of concealing my chastity belt. lol.

#protestpanties

#58.

Butterflies!!!!

(no words needed; these fluttering beauties are simply breathtaking!)

                                                                                      #59.
                        That feeling of pulling yourself out of the water, dripping wet, and sitting in the warm, late-                                                                           summer sun to dry off.

                                                        Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....

Smirk

The face I give Sam when she's annoyed by my singing "Have you seen the Muffin Man" for the umpteenth time.

summer fun

just a few shots of fun at our new home..

Colby turned ten last week.  Had a good friend come over to celebrate.  Lots of fun was had.  Swimming in the pool...

..playing with Colby's new arcade-style basketball game in the bonus room...

(Sister Sam had friends over, too...)

...and of course, playing video games on their iPads.

And a couple pics I took today...

 Roses I picked this morning, using oven mitts to avoid the thorns. (garden gloves still packed up someplace in all the boxes!)  Reminded me of the song "Every Rose has its Thorn". (that was Poison, right?)

Even Morgan loves his new home.

and life goes on.  Once we're all moved in, unpacked, settled, acclimated, undiscombobulated, and into a routine again, I may start blogging more thoughtful stuff on my sister blog.  But for now, it's just the facts.  Moved here, love the house and yard.  Country is cool. (not the music, though)

goodnight!

Spittin distance

Big Steve's Bagels. Just down the road from our new home. Yum, yum.

Closing day

Well it's official: this is ours now!!!   Back in Cary now, movers come to get our stuff at 8 am tomorrow, and i'm not even all packed. Eeek! Gotta get busy now...goodnight!

where's waldo? part 2

Time is ticking...we're moving SOON!!!  Has anyone figured out where we're going yet? (based on the last game of Where's Waldo??)  well guess what.. just in case anyone is still confused, still scratching their head, cluelessly floundering the globe....i'll be nice and give some more hints.

It's game time again!

This time, it's a 1 out of 7 guessing game. (does that make sense?)

What am I talking about?  oh, in case you missed the first round, we're trying to figure out where this waldo will be living in...(counting on my fingers..)  ..in four days from now!!

ok, so here's the deal:
I'll give you some real estate options, kind of like that show on HGTV,  "Househunters", where the potential homeowner looks at 3 different houses and tries to decide which one to buy.  (Only I was having too much fun making this up and couldn't stop at just 3 houses, they were all too good!  Plus I didn't want to give it away, gotta make ya sweat first..)

So come along, I will be your host, as you ride along on this process of selecting the right home!

First house. Let's be wild, travel overseas, to a place I lived for 3 years and have always dreamed of going back to live someday.  The beautiful island of the Dominican Republic!  Where the rich have it good, and the poor....(most of the country) are their humble servants.

  

Here's a nice one, in my favorite beach town of Sosua.  Check it out!
House #1:
https://www.coldwellbanker.com/property/-Sosua-MLS-V-972
Just $230K for over 6,000 sq. ft??? Crazy!!!  Gorgeous pool, ocean views, and completely furnished!
Would be nice.


 But...hmm, maybe I should look at some options closer to friends and family, back in the good ol' USA.  How about this home on a lake!!!
House #2:
http://www.fmrealty.com/real-estate/louisburg/927-sagamore-drive/2073689
Very cool!  A bit small for the higher price tag, but looks fun.

ok, let's get wild again...Let's jump back on that jet plane and take a look at this sweet home in the Costa Rican rain forest!
 
 
House #3:
http://www.coldwellbankertamarindo.com/Uvita/uvita-home-with-second-suite-enjoy-the-wildlife-and-ocean-lifestyle.html
oh my gosh, i think i'm going to faint!  If I could really wake up to the sounds of toucans and all those crazy beautiful birds, AND have those ridiculous monkeys traipsing across our property every day..can you say HEAVEN???  wow.  And a mother-in-law suite that could be rented out for extra income, justifying the higher price??  oh dear, must wipe chin, i'm drooling...

ok, back to reality.  Here's another American home.
House #3:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/124-Solomon-Cir_Four-Oaks_NC_27524_M59875-81722

 Not bad, nice pool, 3000 sq. ft. for around $255K, pretty good deal for that general area, I think... I could make a craft room out of that extra bedroom...not bad.

oh but let's go back to dreaming again...like scooting over to the other side of Costa Rica...


....and living in a crib like this!!!
House #4:
http://www.coldwellbankertamarindo.com/Playa-Negra/expansive-coastal-views-beachfront-home.html
not bad, eh?  In my dreams, right.  A bit too pricey, but wow. nice to look at.

Let's try something that's back in the more safe, comfortable familiar territory of the US, yet still captures the essence of tropical paradise...



House #5:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/75-5442-Kona-Bay-Dr_Kailua-Kona_HI_96740_M83059-09633#photo0
AAAAAAghhhh!! Have I lost my mind? Practically 3 million dollars!  oh but those views, look at those views!  It's like living outside, with those 360 degree views everywhere you go!! (told you this would be fun!!)

Need to win the lottery to get that one.



Here's something more reasonable:

House #6:
http://www.fmrealty.com/real-estate/zebulon/9712-skipping-stone-court/2078730?rowNum=16&searchID=cedef1ad-57de-4e58-848e-92e2aa43ea83&sortBy=priceDesc&pageSize=20&page=1&displayPhoto=exterior

Decent size house, love that curly slide!  

But honestly, if it were up to me...and I could live AnYwhere i wanted..I'd choose something international and wild.  Get back on that plane, and hope you're wearing your red, white and blue, cuz we just might swing by the Olympics on this one:

House #7:
http://www.viviun.com/AD-232543/
$115K - Amazing 3BR house on the "paradise island" of Boipeba Bahia, Brazil!!!!  Wow!  Crazy cheap! Ocean view!

So there you have it.  In four-and-a-half days I WILL be waking up in ONE of the six houses listed above.  Can you guess which one it is????

Good luck!!