THE END IS IN SIGHT!!

Kim Fotheringham tells me that I should be in the house in no more than six weeks. The front door comes in 10 days, the interior doors should be here by then. Stucco is starting, as is insulation. Then there is drywall, texturing, and painting. Then wood floors, tile and carpet. And cabinets and appliances. And light fixtures inside and out. And sidewalks and a driveway. And landscaping. But that can wait a smidge.  Life is busy.

Least you think all I ever do is think about the house, here is my phenomenal score of -4 on a recent "golf" game. Notice the TWO JOKERS!!! And a KING!!! That was a happy hand. 

Most of the exterior doors and windows were installed. Hallelujah! This is the  view of the back patio with its french doors, and on the right is the master bedroom window and door. Anderson Doors and Windows---fantastic.

This view looking up the very substantial stairs up to the window is delightful.

The family room has three 3'6" x 6' windows. I didn't want a big huge window because they are difficult to do window treatments on. But these three will be easier. Notice the FIREPLACE to the right of the windows!!

The living room. Notice the coffered ceiling, which will have rope lighting in it
THAT  HAS THE OPTION OF CHANGING COLORS!!! Very cool.
The big window (which will need to be treated---help!!) and the stairs are cool in this pic.

This is what a fireplace looks like in the 21st century before it is  fancied up. Gas lines, emergency shut -off valve, electronic lighting switch, and a heat blower. The pioneers would be amazed. I'm amazed. Imagine some hearth-stone on the hearth to sit on, and the antique bricks on the face of the fireplace. Then imagine a mantel supported by two corbels. Then imagine two drawers under the hearth which will hold pillows to sit on and blankets to cozy up in. Ahhh.

These are the bricks that are going on the face of the fireplace.  They are 1/2" thick.

Adorable Kaitlyn! She found a frog jumping around over at the new house and even caught it. It peed on her. She dropped it. Little sucker holds a lot of urine! But I love it's Kermit eyes in this picture. She re-caught it and showed her family. Then she released it "back to the wild" in our front yard! And she washed her hands really well!

             NATURE PHOTOS THAT I TOOK WHILE WALKING AROUND THE "BIG LOOP."

The symmetry is remarkable. I love desert plants in the Spring! 

This is the first of this type of bird that I have seen this season. I love that random species will migrate through our area. Isn't the reflection serene of the bird and trees? And notice our mountains in the background. Ahhh.

Here are the Primary kids in our Alta Vista branch! There are SO CUTE...and mostly well-behaved!

Sierra got to bring "Honey Bear" home for the weekend from Tiny Tots. The three of us made cheesy biscuits for dinner last week. Sierra got to pour in flour, stir dough, and snitch cheese. Very cute.
NEW IDEA: Instead of rolling out the biscuit dough and cutting it in circles,
re-rolling out dough and cutting more circles, etc.,
I just divided the dough into two sections and rolled each one into a 3" diameter "snake" and cut it in 1/2" pieces.
Voila! round, perfect biscuits without all the fuss and muss.
And I LOVE my Silpat baking sheet!!

                    WELL, THAT IS ALL FOR NOW!! HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!!