Decorating - How am I doing? Suggestions welcomed

I went to Hobby Lobby this week and found some items I like. I seem to have a fondness for things that are rustic and horse related or religious and patriotic. I also like things that express love of home and family.

Roll the dice and take what comes!

The sign below the photo says "When you count yer blessings Count yer horse twice!"

The small sign says "Grow old with me, the best is yet to be."

How'd ya like dat?

The New and Improved

WELCOME!!!! This is the view from our entry way. Come visit and check it out in person. If you've already seen it, please come again.

We lived in the basement for THREE kind of long months while our remodel was in progress. We are pleased with the outcome. We got to test the results over Memorial Day weekend by hosting a family reunion and everything worked beautifully.

By removing the wall around the stairs that separated them from the kitchen, it opened things up very nicely. Mike is quite pleased with the precast concrete around the arches and the fireplace.

Here's the TV room. The piano is also in this room (out of view to the left). We will have French doors installed next week to contain the noise. I'll post more pics when that project is completed.
Window coverings were just installed last week.

Mike inherited this bedroom furniture from his sister - it's not my style and I'm trying to get used to it. This is the master bedroom. The built in desk area behind (not pictured) will get a new top next week also. I'll post a photo when that's in also.

Here's the master bath featuring our new tub. Luxury!!! To make us feel less guilty about using so much water, we plumbed it to the outside, so we can water trees with the grey water. The cabinets are from our old kitchen.

Here's another pic of the master bath. The counter is marble and the backsplash is the same stone used on the fireplace - quartz. My cousin Seth Mayberry has done the tile work.

This is my new and improved laundry and sewing room. I recycled cabinets from the old kitchen and bath, and the countertop is a remnant from our kitchen granite. I love recycling!

Again the cabinets in this bath are from the old kitchen and the counter top is a granite remnant.

This entire project began with a plan to fix up the fireplace. Things snowballed from there. We love the new fireplace look! We have some area rugs on order for this room.

Most of the walls are still bare, but this one has our trophies displayed. We love these guys!

Our entry way used to have a planter that we replaced with cabinets. The counter top is granite. The picture is one Mike got from his father's estate. The items displayed are from our mission to the Philippines.

And finally, here's the dining area. Let's gather round the table and eat and socialize.

More Home Improvement

New Raised Bar Wall Framed

New Canned Lighting for Kitchen

Cafe Cream Granite for Countertops

Enlarged Archway

Fireplace Remodeling Underway

Drywalled Kitchen Area - Ready for tape, texture, paint, flooring and then cabinets!!!

Our New Living Quarters

This is the Master Bath
Here's our new living area
W What a humble guy - on his knees AND doing dishes. Gotta love him!

The Real Fun Begins

Farewell to My Friend, Captain

His grand finale appearance as the Lone Ranger's trusted Silver
His last strenuous ride - Power's Garden of the Galiuro Wilderness April 2009
Watering in the creek at Power's Garden
Mt. Wrightson September 2004
The first big ride after I got him - to the Gila Wilderness June 2003


I had to say goodbye to my dear equine buddy yesterday. He was old, in pain, and couldn't get up. I had observed his decline over the past few months. He was losing weight, and sweating a lot during the day from his pain. I knew the time was coming, but I tried to postpone it. I hoped when the weather warmed up he'd feel a little better. Thanks to Doc Arters for his willingness to come over on a cold morning and humanely euthanize - I really didn't want to shoot him. Captain was just an old ranch horse and not very fancy to look at. He was no pet. He had little use for people and was rather aloof. It hurt my feelings that he never did warm up to me to the point I felt like he had much affection for me or even trusted me much. The only time he'd appear happy to see me was at feeding time. But he was obedient and would go and do as I asked. He was the best going horse I've ever had. He would go places in the rocks that even a mule would balk at. He could step out and walk fast and he had the best rocking horse slow gallop ever. He was so comfortable to ride and I could trust him not to be stupid and loose his head when he got in a pickle. I once found him caught in a fence and another time he fell and get stuck in some boulders (because someone else was riding him and took him in a spot he shouldn't have - but Cap, being the obedient soul he was went anyway) Those are two situations that most horses would totally freak out and hurt themselves and others - but Captain patiently waited for me to figure out how to rescue him. Another thing I always appreciated about him was that I could ride him out solo, away from the group of other riders. Horses, being a herd animal, have a strong instinct to stay with the crowd and some get pretty anxious when separated. I fondly remember once we were in a wilderness area on a service project repairing an historic cabin. The construction crew ran out of some supplies and I was asked to ride solo the five miles back to base camp and pick up some more 2x4’s and nails, etc. We traveled the distance mostly at a trot. He kept his ears pricked looking for the ‘ghosts’ of the forest, but Trusty Captain got me there and back safely with the needed supplies to finish the project.

As he aged and mellowed he became the favorite mount for the grandkids. He responded well for them in their not so skilled manner of giving clear direction to him. And I trusted him explicitly not to do something stupid with them. I only had Captain for a little over 8 years, but my memories are many and dear to me. I thank the Lord for his trustworthy, loyal and obedient companionship. My last words to him were, “Save me a place, Bud.” I hope to go where the good horses are when I die.

Saint David Meetinghouse

We have a new meetinghouse in town that serves the three wards of Saint David. It will be dedicated January 29th.