Gazebo is Up :)

Gazebo is finished except for another string of lights. Ever try to find Xmas lights in July? Barb continues to paint the wall and should have the racing stripe finished in a day or so.

These are the 2 new landscape lights I installed on the outside of the wall at the back gated entrance to the complex. New bushes will be planted next week.

Tuesday the 30th of June I head back to Twin Falls to spend 3 more weeks with my parents. Dad is weathering the chemo well so far so I'm hopeful that I can sneak down to Tucson in late July for a week with Kenton and to take care of some business down there before returning to CDA for 6 weeks of summer vacation :)

The Picasso of Walls

Bare concrete block is ugly! The exterior color needed to match the rest of the condo buildings, so a visit to Lowes for color matching did the trick :) Looks marvelous .....

Of course our resident Picasso (Barb) couldn't resist the urge to express our southwestern influences. For those that have seen the Calle AZ home back patio know what I mean....Certainly will wake me up when I look out the patio door in the morning. As soon as the paint is dry we can finish the install on the gazebo and get it set in place and anchored down.

I leave on June 30th to head back to Twin Falls so Barb will have to put all the finishing touches on the back patio...and she'll get to enjoy it while I'm caring for my parents for most of July. With any luck dad's chemo will go smoothly and I can make a quick trip to Tucson near the end of July before returning to CDA for my much deserved summer vacation on the lake :)

Sweet Home Alabama

Not sure what these trees are but they are very "southern" with the moss hanging from them. A gorgeous sunset over Mobile Bay with the city skyline in the background.

The USS Alabama is "of course" in Mobile Bay. Captain Kevin at your service. Man is it humid here...hahaha

Remnants of Katrina abound at Gulf Shores. We had to drive the 10 miles to claim we were in Florida...Yiiippeeeee!!!

The gorgeous white sands were picture postcard perfect.


These past 2 weeks Barb has been all over southern Alabama. Kevin flew to Mobile for a 3 day
weekend adventure to Gulf Shores. This is the view from our hotel balcony overlooking Mobile Bay and the I-10 causeway with the Mobile skyline in the distance. What would Alabama be without a gator or two?? This little friend was in the marsh right next to the parking lot!

The Wall Day IV & V

The masons are finally done!!! Next comes the primer and paint followed by the exterior light and iron gate. A BIG improvement and much more resistant to car bumpers :)

Just Another Brick in the Wall

The new wall is coming along nicely. Only 3 more rows to go ! Barb is anxiously awaiting the custom wrought iron gate :) With luck, the wall will be finished in a few more days.

Barb and I leave CDA Sunday, she's headed to Mobile Alabama to start the next series of 2 week ADOS trainings. I'm headed south to Twin Falls to see my parents and sister. Dad recently underwent a second colon cancer surgery and will be starting a mild chemo treatment soon. My sister will be heading back to Alaska so it's my shift now to care for the parents. I'm sneaking a 3 day weekend in and flying to Mobile to meet Barb and spend a few days at Gulf Shores on the beach, then back to Twin Falls. I'll "hopefully" be back in CDA along with Barb on the 20th of June.

The WALL Day #2 & #3

The block has arrived :) The footings are formed. Tomorrow we'll see the block rising!!

Time for the New Wall Day #1

Monday was off to a great start demolishing the old wooden, vinyl clad, fence. Barb took a picture of me showing my best side ...haha

The crew is busy grinding out tree roots and stumps and digging the footing for the block wall. We're hoping it will be done by weeks end :) Weather is a lovely 75 degrees!!!