Just About Finished!

Last weekend I decided to order 10 tons of Sedona Red rock and finish the backyard. I thought 10 tons would be plenty, but we layed it out fairly thick and ended up being about 3 or 4 tons short. The flagstone looks great with the rock around it, and instead of making stairs going up to the deck, I sloped the underlying dirt and the rock to acend to the deck, which ended up being a good call.


The sheperds hooks with the planters and solar lights are cemented into the ground and will never come out! Might as well do it the right way the first time. You can't really tell from the picture, but the flagstone actually rises up to the deck, so its not such a big step up. I think the flowers on my planters are dead. I still need to get something for the big, blue planters on the bottom, but I'm waiting until the fall - the Phoenix sun will kill anything before then.


The Flagstone leading to the grill.


The northeast corner of the yard - pardon the wood pallet and garden tools still laying out. My little orange tree is doing well, but the taller lemon tree is struggling. The cobblestone patio still looks great, and hasn't fallen apart yet - not bad for my first patio.


I hate the hard water in Arizona. No matter how many times I wash off the deck with the garden hose, it always leaves a whitish residue behind.


I still need to order a few more tons of rock for the sides of the house and by the air conditioner.

Another Senseless Video

I laughed pretty hard when I first saw this. I didn't expect what I saw.

Backyard Progress

Although this weekend included a night out and a baseball game, I still had time to do some work on what has been seeming like an endless project. I decided to do flagstone for the walkways in the backyard after seeing it a friend's house (I'm completely unoriginal and steal all my ideas!) The flagstone was only about $7 at Home Depot, but extremely heavy. After laying it all in place, I seem to be short a few pavers. I also got 8 bags of cement and poured a slab for my grill. (I wanted to move the grill out from under the patio, so my friggin smoke alarm won't go off everytime I opened my sliding glass door when I was grilling.) I also cemented some sheperds hooks into the ground as well and hope to buy some hanging plants in the next week or so. I also swept some special cement-sand into the cracks beteeen the patio pavers and watered it, locking it in place. Hopefully my patio will stay in place.

Go Fish!

I finally got around getting some fish for the fish tank. And, yes, that is Tom Brady keeping the fish company.

Long Lost Family Picture

Recently, Dad discovered a picture that none of us had seen before. Christmas 1989. Nice glasses Elaine!

Maya is .5 years old!

That's right, there is a . (point) there! Little Mayumi just celebrated 6 months! Already a frequent traveller to exotic places like Utah and New England, Maya hopes to make a trip out to Arizona to see Uncle Chris soon! (Right, Elaine!) Well, maybe not, but I'm sure Uncle Chris will either see her again sometime this year in DC or Boston. Happy half birthday Maya!

A Night in Scottsdale with Friends

Pictures from last weekend’s escapade in Scottsdale and Axis Club. I got way too much sun and stayed out way too late on Friday and Saturday. Thank goodness for couches and Sundays.

Dad visits AZ

Well, this is totally out of sequence, since my dad was in town before Emily's graduation from U of U, but I thought I should still post some pictures.

After the tax season Dad had some free time so he decided to take a two (three?) week long trip to various places and his first stop was AZ. Here are the pics...


Hiking South Mountain





Dad talking with Uncle John in Sedona, AZ.


Uncle John, Dad, and Aunt Barbara at the Petroglifs



My future retirement home in near Sedona. "The Palace" as Aunt Barbara calls it.


The Petroglifs


Montezuma's Well


Dad enjoying the fresh water from Montezuma's well.

The Empire Strikes Barack

Ok, so I'm a republican at heart and gringe at most things democratic, but this video about Hillary and Barack is good! Although I'm a McCain supporter by default (since good 'ol Mitt Romney dropped out) I'm also a member of the "Anyone But Hillary" campaign. Watch and enjoy.

Emily gets her MBA from University of Utah

Well, it was a bit hard to swallow knowing that my younger sister would be going back to school at the University of Utah (BYU's arch rival) but I think she will always have her loyalties to the Cougs! Congratulations Emily!


Emily showing off her robe, pretty flowers, and promotion leverage!


Emily and the proud hubby, Jared.


Annie, Emily, and Dad.


Annie and Em - official stray cat lovers