more pictures

 Here's their pretty house.

We took the dog for a walk, can't tell we're 1000 miles from home. Looks the same.

 The dog was hit by a car last January when he was just a baby and after surgery where lots of pins were put in to hold him together, he's well now.  He runs around happy as any dog ever did.

 The pool was a big hit. 

 These two were great buddies last time they were to our house in 2011.  They remembered each other.

 Okay, now having seven people show up at your house and having to FEED US ALL is no small feat.   We're not picky eaters--this is an easy crowd, but seven people eat A LOT.

 The girls loved the cats.  There were some outdoor cats and two indoor ones.   On the last night we were there it was dark and rainy in the evening, and Lydia and I sat upstairs a long time in the hallway playing with the cats, silly little pretend mouse on a string.

And her sister came on Sunday to celebrate her daughter's birthday--have a pool party with cousins.     Renee fills me in on what's going on with her sister  as time goes past, so even though we'd met only briefly a few years ago, it felt like we knew each other.    Well, we did. We do.  It was a beautiful easy afternoon, kids and fun.  Todd ran the deep fryer and Mojitos.

And then eventually we had to go back home again.

Bah.

I was so glad to see this sign--progress.

Renee and Todd, THANK YOU for all the hospitality you extended to all of us, the fun and the food and everything.  

love always, all of us