progress report

Our weekend:

The sandstone patio completed and all pieced together, waiting for grout.

and the walkway as well..

and, then both the walkway, and patio with the "Gator Dust"  (a grouting compound)

slowly (thanks a bunch mother nature!) but surely, the yard project is coming together

friends down under

After knowing her and being friends for 17 years, I finally got to meet her brother!

Ryan and I met up with our favorite aussie friend Annette, and we had a good 'ol time with she and her brother Trevor who is in the states from the land down under to visit his little sis. 

Nothing like good friends, and making memories....

globe

My other birthday present finally arrived yesterday!

Isn't she a beauty?

I am going to become so geographically smart!!

Thanks Ryan!

my hyrum

Emma (our niece) was our photographer at Hyrum's birthday party on Sunday.

 Hyrum is 12!

 miss emma used the paper to be a human present

 sierra, ruby, emma

best friend cousins

uncle jake and cousin gid

emma's dad "spud"

aunt hannie and cousin taylor

aunt mijken and her new pup kyrie jill

and, cousin caleb showing off his new dentures

35 years. that's me

For my birthday I asked some friends to attend the Make a Wish annual gala with me.  There were 12 of us total in our group, and we had a grand 'ol time.  Thank you to my friends for supporting such a great cause, and for sharing my birthday with me in space. 

 Cheryl Fox, my friend and client for years.  She is one of the main people who puts on this event each year.

 We had a few moments with the Star Wars characters.

 Camie, me, Tara, Chal

 Kelly, Carmen, Frida, Brian

Chal and Ben

 Shawn contemplating on his next donation purchase...

The characters in the theater motivating us to donate

Sen. and Astronaut Jake Garn.  One of the guest speakers.

....and then we went and played...

girls with pretty faces,  boys with goofy faces

 We love you Bennie, and we can't wait for you to rock out on the drums for us!

 the band was singing happy birthday to me and I was leading everyone in chorus

my friends were really feelin' the beat of that club song ;)



It was an excellent birthday...

scat

Snow, Snow go AWAY... come again.... NEXT Christmas! 

I'm through with you!  I WANT TO WORK ON MY YARD!!!

ratatouille

 I don't know why I am even wanting to capture this moment.  It is so amazingly gross, dirty, heebie jeebie, and sick.  But, the reason I guess I am, is because now I can be at peace that he's gone from our yard!  This is #2 of our catch for the season.  The trap goes out again tomorrow, so we'll see how big the family is.  I hope not many more...

Thanks to the sweet lady next door for NEVER trimming her fitzer bushes, giving them the perfect nesting grounds.  Unfortunately, it's along our fence line.  Oh, I'm so grossed out... later!

a little progress

It doesn't look so beautiful right now, but hopefully by this weeks end it will!

Fings x'sd. 

And, Tex stopped by on Friday to supervise and help Paul drive the tractor.  Now that he's 4, he's the Super on any and all construction sites.  He's moving right up that ladder... no glass celing for him!

water break

One of the huge bonuses that attracted us to buy the Oakleaf home was this. 

 all new plumbing, pipes, electrical, furnace, water heater, softener, and filtration system...  and it's all organized. 

 Well, not the case with the underground water piping that connects us to the city water.  When Paul (our landscape friend) hit and broke the main water line, we had no idea what a blessing in disguise it would be to us.  It wasn't his fault it broke.  Blue stakes marked it, but no one realized that the pipe was buried diagonally, not in a straight line.  The galvanized pipes that were used in 1960 when old Mr. Eden built our home are only good for 50 years.  Well, they've been buried and used here for 51+ yrs.  It wasn't something we knew needed replacing, but we sure are glad we found out the way we did, and not because of a disastrous flood situation. 

Paul has been a godsend.  He helped put in the new line.  He trenched through the yard, helped Ryan pull out all the old, and plumb in the new.  He was so meticulous about it too.  Such a good guy.  And, he saved us $3000 .

 Here is where they had to bust through in the basement to get access to the outside line.   

So, 3 new copper elbow fittings and 75 feet of new poly blue piping (that will last for eternity) later, and we have not only new pipes inside, but outside as well.   Whew!  Now we can really be happy with our whole system!