The RAIN won ... for now!!

It started raining after midnight this morning - and rained hard for several hours. We went to breakfast in town and decided it would be wise to pack up and come home!! (David had offered to come out and help shingle the roof ... but we aren't going to do it in the rain.) Here we are starting to pack things up. Dennis put a board across the door of the shed - and we will return next week-end (when the weather is supposed to be in the 70's and low 80's!) We have to appreciate the rain and how much it is needed for the ground - but, for our project, it was a problem. We did manage to plant a couple of pine trees this morning between storms - to replace some that we had to take down. They need the rain!!

Saturday - continued ... and Sunday!!

Here's the fire that "Ruthie Built"!!! (and it only took about 20 matches and numerous sheets of newspaper ... it was very wet because of the rains!!) While Dennis and Ron were working on the roof and siding on the shed -- I decided it was a great day to burn limbs. My little fire became a HUGE one when Dennis helped drag some of the limbs over -- what a great day for cleaning up around the property!!

Here it is with the siding on it - they are working on the roof.

After the fire burned down (so I didn't have to watch it so closely) -- Dennis really wanted me to start painting ... so we had some paint left from our first shed ... and I started with that, knowing I would not be able to finish today. It was good to get some paint on it and to see how it is going to look.

Here I am trying to wash out the roller and brush -- in VERY cold water! Dennis was laughing at me and wanted to get a picture of me in my paint clothes!! Gotta love painting days!!

SUNDAY --- yeah ... a day of rest!!!

(And boy did we ever need it ... we are getting too old to work this hard - especially in such a sort space of time.) Dave, Amy, Seth and Wendy came out after church to have dinner with us. It didn't rain all day - but was fairly cool - so luckily they dressed warm. Seth is getting a ride in the wagon with his mommy!

Because it was windy and threatening to rain ... we put our collapsible picnic table inside the new bunk house and we ate in there!!! If you look closely you can see the table. Saturday night when we finished working Dennis decided we needed to cover it ... just in case, and he was so right!! The rains did come!

Here's Seth with Grandma on Grandpa's pretty red 4-wheeler. Seth thought it was great until Grandma started it up ... we will have to work with him and see if he can like the NOISE - remember how he hated the vacuum? It is pretty loud. Hopefully he will like it another time.

Grandpa (Dennis) was the chief cook - barbecuing steaks for us all to enjoy. He used the existing shed door as a wind block. They were yummy by the way!!

And here we all are ... snug as bugs in a rug!! (what a strange saying that is) The table fit fine and we were able to enjoy our delicious meal ... which everyone contributed to! Seated are - Dave, Seth, Amy, Wendy, Ron and Judy Rosevear (our friends and neighbors) and me!! Dennis is taking the picture. It was a fun day!!

The roof and siding ...

I seem to enjoy posting 'building' pictures - but I want them kept for posterity (to prove that we actually did do things ourselves!) Dennis is nailing the roof. It looks like we have a little more tree trimming to do - can't have limbs right over the bunk house!








Here he is finishing nailing the siding. I get to start painting soon - and trim will cover the corners. There is still lots to do, but it is coming.
















We went into the trailer to have dessert because it turned very cold ... and it looks like Dennis is in jail ... but he is actually in our bedroom! It was a place for him to sit.









Seth is getting some 'All Gone's' - which is what he calls fruit snacks. We were having dessert and he spotted them up in the cupboard! (How could I resist giving him some - especially since I had brought them just in case he came for a visit!!) Not much gets by that boy!!

The construction

Above are the walls in place - they were built at home and brought out on the trailer. Below is a picture of the floor - showing where the 'pottie' will be placed. It is not a very big building -- but will be very useful!!

Ron was taking pictures of Dennis - it was definitely NOT a one man job ... Ron helped TONS - and they both had sore muscles the next day to prove they worked hard. The siding helped secure it so they could put up the roof without wobbling.

RAIN, RAIN ... go away!!

This is Friday morning -- with us loaded up and ready to go. Yes - we took the quads ... hoping to find some time to ride ... but ... NO, it didn't happen!! The weather and the shed kept us very busy. There will be more week-ends this summer, I am sure.

On the way out to the property - just after we turned off of Hwy 6 - onto Hwy 89 - heading south. It was so pretty and green. As we looked ahead we saw dark clouds on the horizon ... would it mean storm???

YES!!!! Soon after we were unloaded - it got darker and darker and then ... THUNDER ... and HAIL!!! Actually it hailed a total of '3' different times during the day!! All we could do was stand under the awning or go into the trailer and wait it out. As you can see from the picture below Dennis was busy working leveling the 4x4's for the flooring -- and the weather was not co-operating.

(Note: The bar-b-que is always on its side when not in use ... not a fault of the storm) I didn't get pictures of the flooring when it was down ... I was too busy holding a huge tarp over Dennis and I while he nailed it in place ... trying to keep him from getting soaked!! The weather let up in the afternoon and we actually got more done than I thought!! It was much COLDER weather than we expected though -- not typical of Memorial week-end!! We piled on the blankets at night to keep warm.

Preparing for the building of the new "Bunk House"

The Saturday before Memorial Week-end we spent 'hours' getting the materials ready -- and taking it out to the property. Dennis pre-built the walls in the garage. Underneath the walls we have siding, roofing, and all the other wood needed to complete the project (hopefully). Dennis and I moved those pieces '3' times before we got them out to the property!!! We were tired of hauling them!

We put the flat pieces, except for the pre-built walls, under the awning -- in case of rain!!

This is the building site ... so next week-end we will hopefully have the bunk house sitting here!

My Mother's Day Gift from Dennis

Dennis wanted to know what I wanted for Mother's Day -- and so I asked if he would plant the planters in the front yard - and he did!!! I wanted purple pansies and he added some petunia's as well. My spring flowers will soon be gone - and I want color out front. I appreciate it soooo much!!! Since this last week was AWFUL working for a florist ... it was wonderful to come home and find it all done. Below is a view of both of the planters. The sprinklers will hopefully keep them nice and moist and soon there will be lots of blooms. He also got the tomatoes planted in the garden -- so he was busy while I was working yesterday.

Thanks sweetie!!

Mother's Day 2008 - Springville, UT

We took a picture of all of the Mother's in our family. Back row: Janna, Debra, Jodi and Michelle. Front row: Amy, Ruth Ann, and Diane. We had a bar-b-que and the weather was beautiful. Happy Mother's Day all!! Everyone helped - and the senior mothers - (Diane and I) aka "Grandma's" - didn't have to do anything. It was great.

Jodi is reading her 'plaque' that Amy printed and framed for me. Each of our children wrote a memory or something they feel they learned from me and then Amy printed and framed them so they will go on the wall in our office/computer room. It was very sweet. I started reading them - and Amy's was first and it made me cry ... so I asked each of them to read them out loud. It was very special and I appreciate the time and thought that went into them. I am very blessed. Thank you children!! I love you!!

Wendy took a picture of the plaques. They are beautiful!

Break the Fast with our BYU Ward!

I keep talking about our BYU Ward - so here are about 30 of them who came out to our house for Break the Fast today. It was a beautiful day --- perfect, actually -- and so we got to eat outside. Our ward just got WAY smaller because of the summer break - so considering there are only about 45 in the ward - this was a great turn out!! We are the 228th ward and for the summer we meet with the 227th ... so a couple of them actually came too - a little late, but they were welcomed as well. (A couple were former members of our ward from 9 months ago - before the last re-alignment) It is all good!!

Another picture of them. I told them they would be going on my blog -- so Keith is posing!!! (Silly kids!!) They are eating baked potatoes, a tossed salad and home made rolls (which they loved!!). I can only make rolls when I know there won't be a huge group - it is too much work!! They are so appreciative, helpful, and sweet ... it makes it all worth while. We only do it a couple of times a year -- so we are done for at least 4 months!!

A Tight Fit!!

This is to show how 'tight' the fit is in the garage during the winter!!! I back in - and have to be very careful, but there is a board on the floor to stop me (thank goodness!!) This week the board got moved a little so this is closer than it usually is ... but you get the idea. The quads have been 'snug as bugs' all winter ... but that is about to change!!

Looks like they survived!!

I just wanted to show the contrast -- from the tree trimming day to today... it looks like we didn't kill the trees after all -- (which Dennis really wasn't trying to do ... but they did get trimmed nicely!!) The leaves are coming and soon we will have the vines on the fence leafed out as well. We are planning a Mother's Day bar-b que in the back yard next Sunday --- Go Leaves!!

A Spring Day in Springville!

When we came back from our walk this morning - Dennis and I both commented on how incredibly beautiful these tulips were. I know I have blogged numerous spring pictures this year -- mainly because I appreciate spring 'soooooo' much after the long winter we have had --- BUT ... these are very pretty and I wanted to share!!

Meet Chester!!

I blogged a picture of my new turtle before -- but here is a close up. He has been named "Chester"!! He was purchased in St. George on our way to Calif. -- and now has a place of honor in the front flower garden. (When he needs to be moved - Dennis gets to do it - he is HEAVY!!) He is cute - AND he has personality.

Just in case anyone was ever wondering about Disneyland memories being LOST here in Utah, they are not!!! Minnie and Mickey greet people as they come up our walk and below our favorite Mickey 'parts' stepping stones line the new walkway. We are reminded of our favorite place - often, and we love it!!