another year, more great stories...

Lake Powell 2012

Making Memories

all the ladies while we launch

Wendy and me

JaNaye, Tara, Lana

me and Tara.  Her first time EVER to the LP!

It was soooo windy.  Tara, Chal, and Wendy all trying their best to stay warm.

Bennie and UJ.  They love dressing alike.

The best host and hostess....EVER!

Lana and her "honey bunches of oats" Uncle Johnny.

JaNaye and Ricky Vaughn

Indian Summer in Cookie Jar Bay

get to work boys!

Chal showing us how it's done

my favorite captain

We're so glad Tara came!!

me and my biffy

The men.  Hating their pic taken.

Lana and Tara.

tv room

Here is our tv/family room complete.

I finally got the chairs today.

waterfall

Here is the progress, start to finish, of the building of our backyard water feature.  I am so thankful to my husband who worked so hard to create such a beautiful and peaceful ambiance for our backyard.  

before it was done, Bogey "thought" he had found his new nap spot... little did he know what would happen once the construction was complete ;)

...and it's finished... 

Just in time for a nice patio Mother's day lunch for Gayle.

Thank you Ryan!

speaker table

For my little reading nook, I wanted a side table that was just like a block of wood.  A cube.  As I searched high and low today, going to several stores and specialty furniture shops, I just wasn't finding what I wanted.  And, then when I did find what I wanted, it was $600 more than I was expecting to pay!  So, I had an idea.  Thrifting.  Weird.  I know.  So not my style. ;)  (I am kidding.  I love thrifting.  In order to not be "the same" as anyone else in high school, I purchased most my clothing at thrift stores... not so much anymore, but furniture is a different story)   I saw this old 70's speaker box, and it jumped out at me.  So, $14 later, and a coating of deep walnut spray paint, here is the result.

You can't even really tell what it is, and it works perfectly for what I was wanting.

Done.

I am almost finished with the rest of the TV room.  The new couch is in, and one of the chairs. The other chair should arrive in 1-2 weeks. Today I found the accent pillows at Ross and Big Lots. Score!   So, photos on the other side of the room coming soon!

bird bath

This is the bird bath that my husband helped pick out.  It made a perfect birthday gift.  Something we will both enjoy for a long time. The birds have already staked their claims, which makes for good and cheap entertainment just watching their habits and patterns.

heart

There aren't many people I know in my life with a bigger heart than my father in law Darrell.  I loved him instantly because he so whole heartedly loved me and embraced me from the start.  No judgement, no question.  He just showed love and acceptance.  And for the 7+ years that he's been in my life, that heart of his has been consistently giving and showing love to me.

So, tonight as he rests peacefully (I hope) his heart recovering swiftly (I hope)  in the big tall building #4 in Murray, my heart is full of love for him and gratitude for who he is in my life.

 I know if Ryan were to try and articulate anything about his best bud and confidant, there wouldn't be words to fully express. 

All our hope, love, and prayers go to Darrell and a fast recovery!

We love you!

tree swing

I wanted a tree swing. 

More for ambience than actual swinging. 

So, we went to Lowes and picked out some wood and had it cut.

We also bought some heavy duty rope.  

After Ryan drilled the holes in the seat, I stained it.

Viola'.  It's done!

I'm excited for it to go through a few seasons, so that it will start looking weathered.

book nook

I had Ryan remove the door from this closet so I could transform it into a built in bookshelf.

Just a little accent paint.

And, tonight, it is finished. 

I want to get a reading chair, lamp, ottoman, and table to finish off my little nook. 

I just need to find the right pieces.

green thumb

Ryan has been sooo excited to grow me one of these:  my very own garden. Especially, my very own tomato garden. 

And, for someone who has zero fondness for consumption of tomatoes, I am overly impressed with his dedication toward this effort..  and ALREADY!

At the back door, on a daily basis (several times daily), his plants are checked for health, height, and overall progress.  This is a very serious undertaking!

 

He must be in love.

(And, also sharing his wife's never ending cabin fever!)

first spring sunday

We have a portable fire pit that has sat on our patio all winter.  We have noticed that if it is filled with water, the birds will come.  Throughout the weekend, watching the robins, the bluejays, and the exotic mexican birds (that we are still trying to identify) bathe and drink in our "bird bath", has inspired us to invest in a REAL bird bath... 

stay tuned for that project completion ;) 

It is so hard to get photos of all the different birds in action.  They are quick, and extremely jumpy!  (kinda like my sweet husband)  Here's a foggy pic of a bluejay, just for a taste of what we have been observing.

No comment... He's our little prince... snarl tooth and all.

a good end, to a good sunday. 

i'm so very happy to see the sunset in my front yard once again.