Sunday Brunch

 I was invited out for brunch this morning by friends and former neighbors, Linda and Wes with daughters Carly and Ida.  They moved several blocks away last year, and I really do miss them living right above us.  We see Carly more often since she and Gray and Kate are all friends, but it's always good to catch up with their lives.  

I was impressed at how nice their newer place is.  Although there is a second story, one of the bedrooms is on the first floor along with a bath and another half bath near the entry.  I didn't go upstairs, but there are two more bedrooms and a bathroom there plus a playroom/office at the top of the stairs.  I would love for us to get lucky enough to find a place like that.  We do need that extra bedroom.

I'm not sure who did all the cooking, but we had pancakes and sausage with some watermelon, strawberries, cherries and a welcome cup of coffee.  I really wish I had not forgotten my phone since I wanted some newer pictures. They're taking off for their vacation next month to the East Coast - PA, DC, and a few other places.  They've asked Graysen to feed and pet their kitties.  More responsibility to add to her resume!

Although their apartment backs up on a busy street, Fairway, there is a thick row of hedges and an elevation that buffers a lot of the street noise.  There's a patio, a front porch, and a back yard with a place to cook out.  So nice.  We're keeping our fingers crossed to find something like that, although we love the convenience of living just a few blocks from the rest of the family and friends right on the same street. 

I came home and went next door to pick up some soup Noreen had made to keep in our garage freezer for her upcoming knee replacement and ended up staying and visiting for a bit.  As usual!  It will be good to get this surgery over with before the nice part of summer gets here, so we can enjoy getting out and walking while it's warm.  Which certainly wasn't today.  I would compare it to an October day except for seeing spring flowers blooming and a little sunshine.  Just a cold and windy walk.  

I did get my camera and take a few pictures.

All the rain this week after a lot of sunshine has made the potted hydrangea start to show signs of blooming.  I'm planning to get a rosemary to plant in the permanent pot near the car where I usually have a geranium.  This way, it can stay there undisturbed and be useful.  

The front porch is sad right now.  The ferns looked good during the winter, but now they're just bedraggled.  I really shouldn't try to carry them through the winter.  I might have better luck just leaving them outside.  Elise's favorite plant does very well inside with occasional visits outside in the summer.

Another grouping that just goes dormant in the winter and pops back out as soon as it gets a little warm. 

These made it through the winter sitting right here, snow, hail, and freezing rain. 

Emily's spider plants have babies constantly, and she is generous to share them.  Noreen and I got a set of twins, and hers did fine, but I lost both of mine  I received this teenager last week, and he looks happy enough next to the cactus that isn't Christmas or Thanksgiving.  It just blooms randomly throughout the year.

 

Demanding no care or thought, this beautiful hosta is my favorite (and only) flower bed plant.  I'm told I can't plant things in the apartment flower beds because we have landscapers, but they can't seem to keep things alive, so I might sneak some hostas in and line them up in front of the boxwood skeletons.  

Emily and Ryan worked in the clinic all afternoon getting ready for the renovation that should make it a really pretty place.  The former tenants had kind of let it go, it looks like, so I can't wait to see it all fresh and new.  Noreen will be one of the first patients, but I hope I go in just as a visitor!  It will also be nice to have Emily here in town more.

Some before photos! Brown and disgusting!

There will be a new cleaning service!

I'm probably about ready to get on my warmest pjs and get ready for getting ready for bed.  I stayed awake most of the night last night, so maybe it will be a good night for catching up.  I don't have any good books to read or listen to, so I'll play some online Mah Jongg and really get sleepy.  I've enjoyed my cheerful card cover that I ordered from an Etsy shop in Birmingham - RobinandRoseStudio.  It happens to match one of the mats we use on Thursdays.  Buying MJ-related things is a huge thing right now.  Anything and everything.  I even want a $500 set of tiles, although I have no one to play with me here at home except Katherine, and she prefers the bubblegum pink ones.  Instead I bought 4 tires and would never consider paying that much for a game.

I think I heard we're not playing this Tuesday but will be back at it on Thursday.  I need to practice.  I'm not doing that well online this week.