First Glimpses of the "Southwest Room"

Welcome to the first photos of my new "southwest room"!
Here you see the piano upon entering through the front door.

The desert scene border is an artist's rendition of
Monument Valley and Saguaro National Park combined.
The center serape will go around the mirror when
Bill figures out what he wants to do with it.

Here are the needle point chairs with the table Donna
brought over to replace an oval blonde one I had that
did not match. She helped me tack the white scarf
on the table so it would stay in place. Did you notice
that old pole was gone and a new divider was built?

Here is a close up of that little sombrero on the
valance that Bill decided would be a great decorative
addition. I really love it!

I finally have a real linen closet after 34 years!

A close up of the table runner that is the same
that will surround the mirror.

A close up shot of the chairs, table and scarf.

A New Garden

We are here surveying Donna's new garden that

will be a home to several varieties of our Dad's

tomato plants. It looks good to me!

Donna and Cutie with her new Christmas

Cactus that is a culmination from Valerie's and

my cactus.

Another photo of Donna and her new cactus.

Notes from the past. Our Dad made notes about

his future gardens with seeds saved for the

following years.

Another note from Dad.

The little packets Dad saved with the notes

and seeds.

All put away for another year.

Blooming Cactus in February

First photo of Cactus in February!

A slightly closer shot.

I had never seen this color bloom before!

The off-white is just so delicate.

Close ups of both color blossoms. Just spectacular!!

Christmas 2011

A star in between the branches, Christmas Eve.

Trees in silhouette at dusk.

Good friends, Barbara and Bill, before the
8 pm service at Holy Cross.

Welcome to Christmas Eve at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

The "reason for the season"; the
birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Long view of the church sanctuary.

A closer view of the beautifully decorated church.

My Christmas tree - 2011.

Bill is carefully unwrapping a gift from Donna.

Yes! Uno's sounds good to me!!

Donna always has a sense of humor.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Rhode Island Visit

A rainy day in Newport, RI.

I'm here with Andre Agassi at the
International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport.

I ran into a few of my "tennis friends".
Valerie, Charlie and Bill!

The original grass court at the Hall.

A photo of Charlie before we are ready to leave.

Valerie and I must say good bye after a quick
couple of days of visiting.

Valerie's Christmas cactus has
a new home here with several other cousin cacti.

A close up shot of my new cactus.

Eagle Has Landed

The Perched Eagle has landed at my home!

Three years ago we stumbled upon Grizz Works
in Maple, Wisconsin, where Justin Howland had
created beautiful wooden sculptures.

His wife, Tara, contacted me about a Perched
Eagle that was three feet tall that they could bring
to me on their delivery trip/vacation out this way.
I so wanted this sculpture and Bill finally said I needed
to get this since I have wanted one for over three years!

The Eagle has landed! It is beautiful, very heavy
and fragrant of natural wood. I now have a wonderful
wooden sculpture from Grizz Works in Wisconsin.

Early Christmas Present

"Above the Aspen"

Colorado

I found this picture in a store called "Made in Colorado".

I saw it and said it was too expensive for me to buy.

A few minutes later Bill announced he was

buying it for me as an early Christmas present.

It is next to my bed and is the first thing I see

in the morning and last thing I see at night.

Thanks, Bill!