smiling in AZ

Our master bathroom shower floor..all the rocks are smooth and it is like standing in a river. love it.

This bank of windows in our kitchen. There is a door in the foreground and again after the windows that opens onto a covered patio with our dining table on it. A lovely spot for breakfast these days. To the left is on of two islands in the kitchen. I thought at first that I would rip it out. But it has definitely grown on me and now it stays. Needs a new top. I like the cement ones with crushed glass in it. What I really need here is better pictures !!

Oh..this was fun. I had a gazillion things to do, and somehow I decided color coding my bookshelf was on the top of my list. Funny how happy that activity made me.

And this truly makes me smile. A pool filled with many of my little goats ( aka "kids") The ladder in the back ground is left over from Kevin's scorpion hunt from the night before. I told you...he Really gets into it !!

" I don't speak parsel-tongue"

" There could be nothing more inspiring to an architect on this earth than this spot of pure arizona desert." Frank Lloyd Wright on seeing in 1929 - what is now - South Mountain Park. This is what lies directly behind our new home. I do love the desert..I always have. But the rattler killing Cindy and the subsequent scorpion infestation has thrown us all for a loop. I realize that every area has its particular critter "problem". I mean, we were killing giant spiders practically on a daily basis back in Utah. But there is something about venemous,stinging,striking, SCARY creatures that I am having a Really hard time coping with. I do not believe that they are God's creations. They snuck - or I should say - slithered in somehow.

Kevin is equally feeling the shudders-down-the-back with this problem. As usual, Kevin decided to literally attack it head-on. He got himself a black light and a scorpion killer spray that could Never be listed on any "green" list of household products. He has enlisted ( or enslaved ) Denver as his wingman, and they go out when it gets dark in search of the enemy. Scorpions are nocturnal, and when it is pitch dark and a black light is shined on them they actually glow in the dark. Just like a childs toy, but not quite as fun. If you know Kevin at all, you can imagine How Into this hunt he is. It doesn't help that we are currently watching "24" reruns and he thinks he is Jack Bauer throwing up his gun moves. The black light he purchased is top-of-the-line in scorpion warfare.Huge credit must go to Denver who absolutely abhors creepy crawlies. Such a loyal son/wingman. This is a nightly activity.

Back to Frank Lloyd Wright...I Needed his poetic words. I serendipitiously (thank- you Eyres ) found this book in the library the other day ( "FLW in Arizona") There are Many good things to be found here( like the library which has an amazing selection!!) Need to focus on the good. Remember the reasons I wanted to move down here.

Cindy. May 9 2002- June 17 2011

Kerriann's sweet little kitty Cindy....of the Cindy and Mindy fame....died early this afternoon. A tragedy to us all. A rattlesnake bit her and the prognosis was not good. The vet was amazes at how well she was taking it ( pain wise.) That was Cindy though, a tough little cookie to the end. Even on pain meds she was wobbling on her legs to get some petting in. She was even purring as I rubbed her. Kevin and I were both holding on to her and telling her we loved her as the lethal drug entered her body. Cindy- so full of life- was gone in a heartbeat and purr. Wow, that is tough,tough thing to do.

My heart breaks for Kerriann..she loved that cat. we will all miss her so. I like to think that she is with Jon Ton, Comet, Fluffy..the list goes on. No, I Know they are all together ...and that makes me feel better. But I will always miss her.