Best Friends

Well, last night we were invited to dinner with my best friend here in Temecula.  I am SO glad I met her but so sad to be leaving her although I have a feeling she will visit us in Texas.
We went to a steak house and that's just what we had - Fillet steak and then of course I had a desert of Crème Brulée - mmmmmm
We took their house warming present round as they too are moving house (although they are staying here in California).  They really liked it.  It was a photo that I took of a hummingbird printed large on Chromalux and I designed a border for it which I think matches their new colour scheme.
I will see her again, as she teaches tap dancing and we have two more of those and she's also in choir and we have two more of those as well.  It's hard to say goodbye.

Halloween

Well, we had the first (and last) Halloween in our own new house.  It was great.  We had decorated the house so it looked the part and lots of people nearby had done the same - some to an amazing extent - music and all

 I dressed up too.  Very non-spooky as I knew there would be little ones about and didn't want to frighten them .  Mind you, I think it wouldn't have mattered and next year.........

 The bowl of sweets you see was about 2/3 of what we had.  Believe it or not they ALL went.  It was terrific fun.  I sat out on the porch and loads and loads of children came.  Some of the costumes were amazing.  Parents dressed up too.

Our neighbours with their little one

Ellie's first Halloween

We were treated to s'mores that our neighbours had made too which was so kind.  For my English friends, s'mores are Graham crackers with toasted marshmallow and chocolate in the middle.  Can't go wrong really. 

Decorated tree near our house

Wonder where we shall be for our next Halloween?

Off we go again...

Of course Emma and the children went to Texas too after Sarah and Carl had been for their holiday.  Their house was not sold so they are renting in Texas.

Steve and I had loads of discussions but of course the whole reason for coming here was so we could be terrific grandparents for Bella, Chloe and Jack, so really we need to go to Texas too!  Our house went on the market at the end of September and now, at the end of October it has sold!
Slightly different timescale here to in the UK methinks!
We now have the tidiest house in the universe.  The realtors have been, the prospective buyers have been, the appraiser has been......phew!

So, we are off to Texas soon.  I had no idea that my retirement would be like this.  I'd kind of thought maybe 6 months in France and then 6 months in the UK, but it wasn't to be.  This retirement is turning out to be the biggest adventure of our lives.

We have only lived in Temecula for a couple of years, but I have made good friends and it will be tough to leave them.  Last night I went out with my book club and was given a divine print by Norman Rockwell.  Jen certainly knows me!!!

Teacher's Birthday

The plan is that when we get to the closing date - 17th November and Steve and I are 'homeless' we will set off for Texas via the second half of Route 66 from Santa Monica to Oklahoma.  Steve is busy planning the itinerary.  How exciting!  Then when we get to Texas we will try and get rented accommodation and look for our new home in Katy, Texas.

 I know I have missed loads out of this blog at the moment, but will try to keep it more current.

The adventure continues!

I cannot believe it's 10 months since I last wrote this.  Shocking really.  Anyway will start with some bullet points I think:

•  We bought our first home in Temecula - in Six Rivers Court.  Perfect - just 1 mile from Emma
• We did loads of work on the house and it's just lovely - here are a few photos

We painted all the inside

Re-modelling of the yard

Our new bedroom

Little fountain in the yard

 Anyway, we were thrilled with our new home and have had some wonderful times here.  The children have stayed over.  We have celebrated their birthdays here.  Terrific.  So then.......

• Henry's firm had to lay him off - tough with 3 kids and a mortgage
• Henry then got his dream job as a meteorologist!!!
• It was in Texas!
• He moved and their house went up for sale.

August - Sarah and Carl came to stay!!!!

 

And the week they left, Emma and the children left for Texas.  That was one of the toughest weeks of my life.  I will write about what has happened since in the next entry

 

WOO HOO!!!!!!

Finally, finally, the house in the UK has sold!  I can't quite believe it.  Not only that but the money went straight into my bank.
Am so excited I can hardly write.  It's Thanksgiving Day here so what a Thanksgiving that has been.  We have an appointment with our realtor next Tuesday!
YIPPEE!!!

A date!

Well, actually two dates were received today.  Both significant in other ways too.  November 11th (Remembrance Day) for the exchange of contracts on the house and the 28th November (Thanksgiving Day) for completion!!  If that really happens we will certainly have something to give thanks for.
I love Thanksgiving here in America.  People tend to give thanks on every day of November leading up to the day itself.  Sometimes published on FaceBook and other times at family times in a home.  One of my thankful things for today is that we were able to spend a whole day with Chloe yesterday at the Wild Animal park.  She really had a great time and so did we.  She is a blessing and a joy and it was just lovely to have that time.

 

Riding on the Safari train at the start of the day

 Having lunch (and wearing Steve's cap)

Loving watching the gorillas!

and again....

Well, the completion date for the house has come and gone.  It's now going to be at the end of November - well, I won't be holding my breath.   Good grief!
Halloween last night was just wonderful though.  The US of A really knows how to do stuff like this.  Here are the pics......

We did some neighbourhood trick or treating, but mostly we were at the church Trunk or Treat and the Pumpkin Patch.