Most of us here at Maples at the Sonatas would not use adjectives like peaceful and easy to describe our neighborhood this summer. When we hear the word growth, we think of sales and construction and closings—all of which have been fast and furious. But quietly, unobtrusively, another kind of growth is happening. This is the sweet, silent, delicious growth of plants in our community garden. Located near our parking lot—and directly across the street […]
If the forecast is right, today will be our hottest day yet…but also the last before a break from the 90s. With this is mind, I’ve saved my heat-beating big guns for this moment. Remember back to February 2011. It was my first winter here at Maples at the Sonatas—a memorable one that delivered our third biggest snowstorm ever. It was known as the Groundhog Day Blizzard, and, to use Groundhog Day lingo, it was […]
When it’s 91 degrees before noon, you know the afternoon is going to be another scorcher. So my heat-beater for today is the simplest of all. Stay inside in the air conditioning whenever possible. That’s what I’m doing, and my cat Angie loves having me home with her. I sat down with a tall glass of ice water and The Tribune this morning, ready to take it easy. But I had neglected to put my […]
The heatwave continues. So do my posts trying to combat it with cool thoughts, pictures, places, and people. Here is my heat-beater for today. Tipsy stays cool(er) on her afternoon walk by hitching a ride with her human, Ray. This smart pooch will not be setting one paw on the hot sidewalk or asphalt driveway.
It was 92 degrees of hot and humid in Woodstock today. In other words, it was a perfect afternoon to watch a good movie in our cool, dark clubhouse. Last week the Maples book club met to discuss Harper Lee’s classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. Today we gathered to watch the film of the book. Our timing couldn’t have been better, as 11 members and two husbands spent a comfortable, companionable afternoon together. Wouldn’t you […]
Hello. I’m Angie, Caryl’s cat. I’m here to give you my own feline view of this house where we live. If you want to get the unvarnished truth, always ask a cat. We’re known for our independence. I was not so sure about this moving thing when Caryl first brought it up. I liked where we lived just fine. It had been my habitat for nine years, and I was comfortable there. I had stairs […]
Every time I go in or out of my garage, I pass by these glorious hydrangeas. Not having planted them, I take no credit. The little bushes were here when I came. Now in their fourth season, my, how they have grown. Their location is perfect. I can even see them from my bed when I wake up in the morning. Home Sweet Abbey just became a little sweeter!
When I asked Cathie if she would let me blog about her experiences moving to her new home, I got a whole lot more than I expected. I thought I’d do perhaps three casual interviews with her and write up each as a post. The three posts ended up being eight, as her story took more twists and turns than either of us ever imagined. And there was no interviewing involved. Cathie emailed me each […]
Yesterday, after a 4+ hour closing, Cathie received her long-awaited keys to her new home. She is anxious to get settled but will write an update soon.
It has been two weeks since Cathie last updated us on her purchase of a new Portico here in Maples at the Sonatas and her move from Texas. At that time, she was still in Abilene but was about to load her belongings on a truck for the move to Woodstock. When I look down my street this morning, I see her home, but Cathie still isn’t there. She explains why in this latest installment […]
Home Sweet Abbey 