Post #23: So Long, Homestead (*sad face*)

This is our temporary home, in R&Hs Homestead at Highland Lakes community. DD7 made herself right at home playing in the sprinklers one summer day. The home is beautiful inside & out, complete with warm faux finishing in the main living areas. It was sad for us to say goodbye to both the home & the community's residents.

Part of the buffet table during The Homestead's Annual Shrimp Bash. This R&H community of residents celebrates everything with a party, and that's fine with us!

We hosted an OSU tailgate party in the parking lot behind the model we live in. Many of the residents came and a great time was had by all.

Much progress has been made as our home enters the final stages of completion. This is an exciting time, when our daily visits reveal hints of the finished product. It's crazy to believe that the move into our new home is just days from now. I must confess, however, that it's with much sadness that we leave this wonderful community!

Our adoptive community, R&Hs The Homestead at Highland Lakes, is PERFECT. We've been living temporarily in the former R&H model here (thank you, Linda, Joyce & Tony!). It's a two-story detached condominium, and it's mentioned in an earlier post. Yes, the neighborhood is beautiful and easy on the eyes, well kempt, & maintenance-free. Our favorite part, however, is not the beautiful homes or the clubhouse & pool. It's the WONDERFUL residents who make up the community. We spent our summer lounging by the pool getting to know everyone (I know -- rough life). Even though a majority of the residents are much older than we (we're in our early 40s), fast friendships were formed and we are truly going to miss everyone. :-(

The highlight of the summer was the 2008 Annual Shrimp Bash on the evening of August 30, held in the clubhouse & poolside. Signifying the end of summer, the party has grown by leaps and bounds. It's a full-fledged southern-style shirmp boil with all the fixins. Tables were set both inside the clubhouse and surrounding the pool. The food was amazing -- everyone pitched in with a dish to share. Conversation was puncuated with laughter. We didn't want the evening to end.

We hosted a community party in September. The model has a parking lot behind it, so we turned the large lot into a true tailgate party on the evening of the OSU/USC game. Too bad OSU lost; we had a great time anyway.

I can only hope that the neighbors in our new community, Mansard Estates, are as easy-going & friendly as those here in The Homestead. Location is everything; good, friendly neighbors seal the deal.