HOME

So we have been back in Utah for almost a month now.  Time is flying so fast...and obviously, I haven't been keeping up with the blog.  But I will keep working on it to get caught up.  It would seem that since I have way less things to plan such as lessons and cooking for a crowd, I should be able to catch up and keep up.  I certainly have less things to take pictures of day to day.

Most of our time and focus has been on getting settled into our house and working at getting our yard cleaned up for the winter and getting ready for the remodel.  Gary has been amazing at trimming trees and bushes and making trips to the dump.  He has found some nice new tools to help with that and even helped Marge with some of her trees yesterday. The yard is an endless project after four years of minimal care but it is slowly getting somewhat in control.  We will be replacing the front yard and hope to include some more drought resistant plantings including "flipping the strip" which is a current thing in the area to remove grass from the parkway strips because they are so hard to water efficiently.  Our goal for the back yard is more complicated and will take a few more years to accomplish. Stay tuned.

Working on the 6th or 7th load for the dump

We reached two important milestones this week.

Gary fixed the broken door on the Little Free Library and it is now official back in business.  A couple of weeks ago, Gary saw a girl underneath the tarp looking for a book so he uncovered it for her and we have left it uncovered except when storms were coming.  Now it has a new door for the winter--and maybe forever.

We flew our parkway strip flag for Columbus Day but didn't have the key for our big flag pole. Gary ordered a new flag pole key and so now our flag is flying in front of our house each day.  Little things but things that make our house OURS!

Another "home" highlight was the first "rain chain" action since we came home.  It has been a warm and dry fall since we arrived on September 23rd.

I have missed the sights and the
sounds of the rain chain as
the water flows through it during
and after rain storms.
Every house should have one.

And the other "home  news" is that Ben has moved back in.  We aren't sure for how long, but he is glad to be here right now and feel the safety of home around him.  It is nice to see him, too.

We feel so lucky to have called the Brigham Apartments and the duplex in Ft. Smith our homes for the past four years, but there are some nice things (and more work) about being back HOME.

We can offer only folding chairs and limited games, but come and visit sometime.  We are home again!

Now to back track and cover some of the events of the last month....