Where did our little grandson go?

 This is how we still see Ian…

 

We turned around, and he grew up.  Yesterday, Ian, our oldest grandchild, graduated from high school.

 

 

Our little grandson is now a man and off to college in a few months.  We will miss the little boy who we so enjoyed at every age and are proud of the man he has become.

It's BEAUTIFUL! Before and after photos of having the outside of our cabin completely refurbished.

We had the entire outside of the cabin refurbished and protected.  The goals were to make the outside really glisten with natural wood, to protect the wood against the elements, and to fix sections where the sun had damaged them.

There were several parts to this plan.  Real log cabins like ours need re-finishing about every four years, with a UV protector.  This had not been done in all places, leaving parts of the wood to turn grey and black.  

So, all of these blackened areas were sanded down to bare wood.  This included the entire shed, and much of the porch and railings.  

Here are some before and after photos.

This is the best one we have showing the state of the front deck floor. Notice how plain it looks.

versus how it looks now.  They sanded it, and found it was Redwood.  So we had it lightly stained.

Here we are breaking in our new deck, dancing to of all things, an old Roy Rogers song (for real).

The deck railings did not have two coats of stain and finish, so they had turned very dark in several places.

Here is what they looked like before we had the work done:

and after:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

We also had work done under the front deck.  Although it isn't obvious, it will pay off by having the front porch area last longer.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

WHAT a difference under the deck.  So much cleaner and nicer looking.

The next major part of the work was the shed.  It has "log" boards on the outside.  It is clear that it was allowed to deteriorate, as the following photos illustrate. The entire shed was sanded to bare wood, and then two coats of stain and finish were applied:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:  (Yech)

After:

 

 

Before: 

After:

Two coats of stain and finish were applied to the south side of the cabin, where the sun hits it the most.  This will protect it.

Then a coat of stain and finish was applied all over the house, and a deck stain was put onto the back deck:

The entire cabin now is protected against the sun, and the logs are beautiful all around.  We enjoy sitting outside in the afternoons, just loving the wood that is all over the inside and outside of our cabin.

 

  

p.s.  the work was contracted to Mountain High Home Improvements.  The subcontractor who skillfully organized the job was Thaddeus Tanner.  He was very knowledgeable, professional, and pleasant. 

Our version of the Birds and the Bees

Today, taking a (very) early morning hike up on the rim, we ran into something new:  dozens of swarms of bees.

They were all over the road.  Vicky figured out that they were buzzing all around spots on the old forest road that were more sand than gravel.  Why?  There was no food or water in those places.  We saw them for about a mile---about every 50-100 yards.  LOUD buzzes.

Can you see them in this photo?  The white fuzzy dots:

An hour later they were all gone.  And by that time the birds were up and singing.

What a spectacular and unusual little piece of nature. 

Where did all the cacti go?

 When you think of Arizona, is this what you imagine?

All of these photos were taken from the same spot—this is what we saw as we turned around in a circle.  Such unbelievable beauty….and not one cactus in sight!

Hoop-Dee-Doo

This was the song that was heard most on the radio June 3, 1950–the day that I was born: Hoop-Dee-Doo!

Hoop-Dee-Doo, I turned 72.  

What a happy, sweetly innocent song. The 1950’s were a sweet innocent time to be a child. Every day of my life as an old woman is reminiscent of those early childhood days—72 years ago.  It is sweet and innocent and filled with love.

I had a simply marvelously happy birthday week!

Dan and I are at our cabin in the cool mountains for the summer.  It feels like the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.  We are cycling, hiking, dancing, playing ping pong, and just spending every moment together, loving each other.

Dan gave me two early birthday presents.  The first was a portable Pickleball net that we can set up on the basketball court in Leisure World or at the school in Pine.  We can play Pickleball almost anywhere now!

The second early birthday present was a tripod for my iPhone with a remote control to take a picture.  

I no longer have to set up the camera on a jumble of rocks or an old log, set the timer, run like the devil to get in the picture, accidentally stomp on Dan’s foot, and then happily pose for a together photo.  

And Dan promised to carry my tripod in his backpack with all the beautiful rocks that I collect on our hikes.  What a man….my dear superman!

On my birthday we hiked the Strawberry Pine Trail.  This beautiful 4-1/2 mile trail is accessible almost out our back door—it is only a quarter of a mile from our cabin!

Four young elk came walking by the trail to wish me a special Happy Birthday….see one of the elk on the right of this photo?

My love gave me one of my many birthday kisses while we hiked on this delightful trail.  A wonderful start to the 72nd anniversary of my birth!

Candice, Marina, and Stella came to our cabin for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. What an extra special birthday present!

 

Dan grilled hamburgers for our dinner.  Yummy—thank you Dan.

Candice and our granddaughters arrived bearing gifts….many useful and beautiful gifts, AND two cakes and a pie! 

Stella used oil paints and created a stunning, colorful painting.

Marina made me a loving pencil drawing filled with flowers and hearts.  Both girls are very artistic—they get this talent from their mother.

Dan gave me two gifts from places where I had worked 50+ years ago to put myself through college.  One was a vintage Taco Time glass.  The other was a life guard patch from Angle Lake, where during my third summer as a life guard I was the beach director.  

Candice gave me a very special gift of the 45 SPF face cream that she uses everyday when running or cycling in the dessert.  It is much appreciated, as twice I have had skin cancer surgically removed from my face.

More gifts from Dan, Candice, Marina, and Stella.  Thank you my love and my dear daughter and granddaughters!

Rachelle and Ryan sent their ENTIRE spring photo album to us…..a very special birthday gift!

Here are a few of the photos of their life this spring from the album:

I received loving cards, phone calls, emails, and texts from all of our family. You all made my birthday so very wonderful.

I blew out the 7 + 2 birthday candles on my cakes.  All my wishes have already come true.  I am surrounded by our loving family.

Here is my daughter and granddaughters worshiping me on my birthday….not every mother and grandmother is treated with such respect and reverence!

OK, I have to tell the truth—I was trying on my new earrings, and lost one.  They were helping me find it, and Dan immediately captured this humorous moment on film.

The next day Dan and I took our granddaughters to browse in the stores at Pine, our super cute little touristy town.  They found the perfect sign for our cabin.

He bought them yummy hot dogs and root beer floats.  What a good Grandpa!

Marina, Stella, and I ended up where every woman ends up….shopping for clothes at the local Senior Thrift store.  Grandpa ended up where every self respecting man ends up….patiently sitting outside in the shade for an hour.  

 

The girls showed Grandpa and their Mother all their great finds.  It was lots of fun!

Marina, Stella, and I spent the entire afternoon making jewelry.  I have been teaching the girls how to make necklaces, earrings, and bracelets ever since they were toddlers.  And Grandpa has enjoyed watching us make jewelry for all these years and admiring their creations.  

This was an incredibly sweet way for both Grandpa and me to spend our afternoon. 

Just like he did when we were all buying clothes, Grandpa was sitting patiently in the shade.  There is a theme here.

Both girls are true artists, and they created some beautiful pieces of jewelry.

Sunday morning I cooked eggs,  bacon, and blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes—come visit us, and let me have the pleasure of fixing you my Sunday brunch special!

(See Marina wearing the necklace that she made the day before?)

Saying goodbye is always the hardest part of a visit with those that we love…..

I may be 72 years old, but sitting with our oldest granddaughters, it still feels like 15 years ago when they were my little sweet girls. All our grandchildren are so incredibly sweet.  We love each of them very much.

We hung Stella’s painting above the fireplace in our cabin.  It's the perfect place for this work of art and accents the golden log walls of the cabin.

And Marina’s drawing in our place of honor—on our refrigerator where we will see it every day, along with photos of all our family.  

I had a most wonderful birthday.  It was sweet and innocent and filled with love from all of my family.