SandyU’s Neighborhood

Merry Christmas from my dog.

Cody had surgery to remove his adenoids on Monday.  Everything went very smoothly though we were there longer than I expected.  He stayed home from school yesterday but went the 1/2 day they had left today.  His throat is a bit sore but not too bad.  Hopefully, this will relieve his constant stuffiness and snorting! 

~
Merry Christmas; Happy Holidays; Best Wishes for whatever you celebrate at this time of year.

I will see you on the other side of the 25th ......

We will have Christmas day with my three children and my new daughter-in-law.....   firing up the barbie and tossing some prawns and seafood on it.

On Boxing Day (26th)  we start the flights back to DC  -  arriving in Los Angeles before we leave Sydney - LOL -  I love that International Date line!

 

Dining room - still needs trim and chair rail.

Powder room (1/2 bath) 

The kitchen is still too much of a mess to get a decent picture.  They came and installed the granite countertop yesterday and part of it broke when they were cutting out the spot for the cooktop.  Probably won't be back to replace it until after New Year's but the rest of it is stunning!

 

~

We spent yesterday with my parents who live about 3 hours drive north of Sydney -  in Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest. This will be my last visit with them this trip. It is always really, really tough saying goodbye to them as the thought is always in the back of my mind that this might be the last time I see them.

  Their little town is  sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean 

and the Myall River, Great Lakes system:.  We were only on the beach for a short time before I could feel my too fair skin starting to burn. The water was clear and so inviting, and there was no seaweed here; just tiny shells washing ashore:

The river is also lovely and clear....

 

The pelican was hoping we had some fish for him - he was disappointed.

 

it was full of seaweed: 

Jace's bedroom - still needs trim, doors, and light fixture.

Cody's room - still needs trim, light fixture, chair rail, numbers on the yard lines, and doors.

Toy room - needs doors and trim

Den and stairs - needs trim and stair railing.  Ray's dad has welded us a wrought iron stair railing but we have to get it from WY.

Today the laundry room floor will be installed.  Ray finished the hardwood in the kitchen, dining room, and powder room, and the granite countertops are being installed today.  So close!

 

Guest bedroom - all it needs is the trim around the window arch and the heat vents to be done!

Lily's room - needs closet door and rods as well as trim around window arch.

Master bedroom - just needs heat vents and closet organizer

 

~

I'm not sure I want my food to announce it's going to make my jiggly bits dance but this was a wonderful dinner on a hot evening:;

And how could I resist wine with a label like this?   It was actually pretty good and I've bought another bottle...  :