What an absolutely beautiful Temple - Phoenix, Arizona

Lovely, soft colors and quiet spirit - so happy for those who will love and enjoy having a Temple so close.  

 Took this photo on Tuesday, October 21st...this is the before shot...

 "Mowed" the leaves ---after shot....There are still plenty of leaves on the trees....it was a back-breaking job to say the least.  I could only go around once before having to empty the bag onto the compost pile. So pretty for about 30 minutes - then I wondered why I bothered...

 Could this be our last harvest of strawberries?  These are so delicious - we had french toast with strawberry syrup...(and whipped cream...)

 This photo was taken on Saturday, October 25th - only four days after I "mowed" the leaves - no leaves left on this tree....

 Grandpa has picked all the apples and trimmed up the trees.  They look so much better - he's hoping he can get a few more years out of them before they have to be cut completely down - here's hoping....

The floors have been taken down to the first layer...it's so rough---We can see clear through to the downstairs...The kitchen...

 The pantry cupboard was so big the couldn't get it out - it will have to be taken apart...

 All the drawers from the cabinets in the kitchen are now in the living room - just try finding enything in this mess....

 Still have the blowers all around - the noise is LOUD - we turned them off to listen to General Conference...

 Had to remove some of the pavers in the office area - the wet just kept spreading and spreading...

 Here's my little kitchen - wish I had an "Easy Bake Oven"  ---

 Dining area....

Sink-------

 We decided that we'd better do something about the floor - even before the insurance settles - here is Grandpa getting ready to paint everything with the "Kilz" to take away the smell and prevent mold and mildew...

 The last board of the sub-floor going in.  Makes such a hugh difference.

 Pretty little antelope up on the hill.

 ooopppsss this one is blurry - Jade and Tyanne after their quarter finals in the volleyball tournament.  Each of their teams won....they played great!

 After the volleyball games we went to the parking lot and got a good laugh at this little scene.  Someone is going to wonder where this water cooler and the stuff on top of it ended up.  Hope they can remember where they parked...hee hee....

 After the football game.  Tarrik made a "phenomal catch" and a great touchdown!  He was running one way and the ball came behind him the other way...he reached out with one hand and caught the ball.  By then the entire other team had had plenty of time to surround him and we thought he was going to get "squished."  But, then he running out of the middle somehow and left everyone in the dust as he made the run for the goal line.  Exciting to say the least...

 Yep, that's the sign...2012 - who can forget that game and Tuckers last high school career play.....and resulting state championship.  Great memories!

It Was Really Fun - Until The Very End......

We had  the most fun weekend with the family.....Volleyball games for Jade and Tyanne that were fun and exciting - they won - , Football game for Tarrik - he did a great job and made lots of exciting plays...it was their school's first Homecoming...A friend birthday party for Ellie with some cute, cute little girls and the Hansen's Primary Program - which was really wonderful!  

And then - we came home to this.  When we drove into the carport, I said to Grandpa, "Wow, how did that water get over there running down the wall?"  Grandpa said, "The wind must have really driven the rain for it to be clear over there - I'll unlock the door and you go in and I'll bring everything in.)

He opened the door and this is what he saw----can you believe this?  This is downstairs - looking in from the door.  

 This is the kitchen...One of the connectors on the reverse osmosis unit had come apart and had run water - probably from Thursday afternoon until Sunday afternoon -

 Downstairs bathroom...

 Downstairs family room - footprints in the wet carpet - about 2 inches deep...

 Nick and Darren from Restore Pro showed us these beans that had already started sprouting.  They were on the floor in a storage bag in the storage room...

 Everything has to be moved out, boxed up and put into this....

 lovely container....

Yea!  My Portland Crock is back together again...thanks to Michon and Dave and Grandpa...Don't think it will hold water - but, put a bow on it and it's great...

 Fabulous Quilt Ladder - Grandpa built this out of the old barn wood - kind of a sentimental keepsake.  The quilt on the top was pieced and appliqued by Great-Grandma Rowley - many, many years ago.  It was in the linen cupboard until a few weeks ago when I found it again and was able to sew on some borders.  Aunt Lorraine did the perfect job quilting it - it's a treasure.  Aunt Mima's rocking chair and Great-grandma's high chair that was used for Grandma and for Michon, Tonya, Carrie and Natalie.  Great-Grandma says she thinks it was white when new but Great Grandpa refinished it when we wanted to use it for our family.

 It's a rainbow - although not a double one.....

 I don't think this tree will survive.....it just keeps splitting more and more..

 Grandpa says that the apples will ripen so we'll keep it for a little while longer...

 Gorgeous apples this year....

 Grandpa picking the grapes - and Mr. Sully supervised the entire event.  funny cat....

 This may look a little precarious - but, whatever it takes to get the job done....

 Job done.....

 And, the first of the pies going into the freezer....

 We went to Flagstaff and caught this sign on the way home  - "Tucker Wash"  -

 Strange, foggy morning - in late summer - seems a little odd....

 Harvesting the potatoes and the onions...good helpers

 Ellie is 8 - and she's great!   We had such fun!  Her baptism will be in November..she's excited...

 McKinley - sitting up all by herself...

 Silly girls - look what they are doing to their Grandpa.   This happens when you're looking for elk and deer......hhhuuummmm....

 Oh, there they are - pretty girls!

 Oh, this one has horns.......

 Haylee could spot things so quickly -

 The "freshman phenom" #32 - Tarrik......Rocks back and forth just like his brother....

 Tyanne at the finish line ---came in 11th out of about 175 other runners...Good Job!

 Great sign that Grandpa made....been wanting this for a while -