Summer 2011

Ok, this summer isn't as "bad" as I made it sound in that last post. In fact, I realized that it is like a LONG girls camp ( 15 weeks ?) for Kerriann and I. We live outside ( even sleep under the stars when tile is being laid ),we go on excursions, we eat fun and oft times "themed food", craft time is simply on going, instead of skits we watch movies ( lots of those ), we have our spitual thoughts, literally we hang out 24/7. Lucky girls !!

Waiting to see if Kevin has cancer or not..well, that is obviously a strain on our life. Kevins responds to it by meeting the enemy head-on and finding out ALL there is to this war. He also keeps himself super busy with projects. Our lives have never been so organized, our home has never been so clean. We will finally hear the results tomorrow.

It has once again been a summer of simplifying, paring down. I LOVE living out of a suitcase, having one Sunday outfit for everyone, doing a lot of wash - but wearing the same favorite outfits over and over, seeing just how little you can really live off of. it is very liberating. meals have gone in that same direction. I will admit - and it is embarrassing for me - that when we moved most of our stuff down to Phoenix and then came back to Alpine for the month of July, we are totally functional in our "empty" home. last night Ihad to borrow a bunt pan from a neighbor but that was the first item I have thought, uh oh that's down in Arizona. It is a real nice way to live.

kick..and push..and coast

I miss last summer. It really was the greatest. I ran across k-ann's pictures and it almost made me cry. Thought I would throw in a few "favorites".    My tree-hugging Dallin. Those Huge trees made us all smile.

It's not that this a bad summer..it is just different. Full of boxes to pack and then unpack.

 I liked when kevin was between jobs and with us all the time. This year he is all business again. he tries so hard to work fun in...but he is very busy and it just isn't the same.

A "moving" summer is what it is.

It definitely is gone before you know it.

 No Chelsie hitting the wall at girls camp.

 No more Cindy..sad.


I miss Maine.

Her hydrangees.


Lobster everything.

 Darling stores..beautiful places that I simply wanted to move into.



With sweet little ideas - like twinkle lights in glass bottles - that kerriann and I couldnt wait to try at home.

 Ahhhh, the shades of blue in Maine.

Harrison thrilled to be at a red sox game.

 Denver always thinking and doing outside the box. ok, that hasn't changed.

Not going to Tahoe is a hard pill for everyone to swallow.  Bo just loved crawdad fishing.  We all simply thrived on hanging out by the lake.  I miss going out on the kayak..big time.

Kelly isn't pregnant this summer  (are you?!!!) but the good news is that we have that precious little Cooper with us this year. There are many things to be grateful or enjoy this year. It isn't that I don't appreciate them all..I just miss last summer.

A desert storm ...amazing.

The heat, although not as sky rocket high as it has been was just oppressive today. Denver and Kevin flew back to Utah early this morning. This was our day here to pack up and leave the house " nice" before we drive tomorrow. But Devin had a hard day with Jane whose " waste products" were chalky white. Devin took her into the doctor who sent them off to get lab work done at the hospital. Long story - but it took all day and well into the evening. We were all concerned ( especially when you look the problem up on the Internet - yikes!) The tension only built as the hours past and the air grew heavier and heavier.

Around dusk, I sat outside with my feet in the pool and watched the most AMAZING storm barrel in across the valley.It was such a thick dark cloud ( a 30 plus mile across cloud!) Very eerie but cool. Harrison was both mesmerized and scared at the same time. perhaps that is what a plague of locusts or flies would have looked like. It looked a bit like a firestorm to me.

Then it hit and was full of sand. Like out of the Sahara. it blew fierce. The palm trees were doubled over. It did an incredible number on our pool ( will the filter be able to handle it ?!!) The walls of the house ( we had to retreat inside ) were shaking with the power of the wind.

Then the rain came..pouring rain and the oppressive heat broke. As I stood outside and the low rumblings of thunder and lightening flashed down the valley - and felt an actual " cool " breeze...I sure felt like lighting up a cigarette..ha.

more smiles..despite the heat

Denver just gets better looking by the day. He is about 2" taller than Bo now. Speaks fluent german. Has his own investment portfolio. Enters high school next month.

Aunt Kerriann is "ON" this summer. Jane sporting a patriotic look for July. Darling !!!!!

Preston turned 4 ..and Loved the concept of birthdays and celebrating !!

Devin made this fun robot cake...lucky little guy.

I made these bookends for Preston's room.

It was a really fun day for Pres..despite the 120 degree heat. Record breaker. And I am not exaggerating. That was a HOT one.

Let's see...I thought of a few more items to add to my,"things I like about AZ" list.

* our mail comes before 9 am. I love that. I am serious about this.

*the freeways don't allow billboards. it is so refreshing and clean. every city should .

*Bo got himself a push mower. The lawn is so small, this works just fine. But our baby going green (albeit light green) makes me tear up!!

*lizards eat scorpions and are now on my,"to be tolerated" list.

Have a Great 4th !!!

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.