The original 1973 kitchen with a drop ceiling and fluorescent lights.  After 35 years, the electric coil burners still worked but the oven didn't.  Yeah for microwaves.

This is how I had it set up.  Everything was accessible.  The pot lids on the back splash I affectionately called my "hubcap collection".

Now I have a gas cook top, cherry cabinets and corian counter tops.  I have to redefine "accessible" but it's working for me.  (Old dog, new tricks category)

2010 guest bath remodel

Unfortunately, I have NO photos of the original bathroom.  I could ask a neighbor for a photo of her guest bath since our houses were built at the same time using the same materials and floor plan.  However, I hesitate in asking her for an ugly "before" photo. 

In words, the original bathroom was narrow and tiny.  The soffits (2!) made it worse.  If guests wanted to shower and change clothes, there was no where to put things.  We won't talk about the towel bar falling off the wall every third time a towel was put on it.....

Another "feature" was that if you were at the front door and looked down the hallway on your right, you could see the toilet through the open bathroom door (and unless occupied, it was always open.)

Now, coming down the hall, this is the view of the new "salle de bain". 

The close up in the mirror shows the bath/shower.  Dang. I should have turned on more lights.

 There, that's a little better.  I LIKE lights!!

And here's one over the shower.  I tell ya, NO MORE SOFFITS!!!

You don't need a picture, but trust me, the tub is deeper now too.  It doesn't have jacuzzi jets but neither do I have to put my feet up on the wall if I want to get my shoulders under the water!  Woohoo!!

2010 the first project - master bath remodel

Basic, simple bathroom (cleared of my clutter).  I didn't get a photo of the soffit... the dropped ceiling that loomed over the sink and toilet.  This house was big on soffits.  In the bathrooms, in the bedroom, in the kitchen.  They made the normally low ceilings worse.  Acck!  

And here we have the "frosted" glass shower door.  Too bad you can't tell that it's sagging off one hinge and the catch to keep it closed is missing....
I totally endorse built-in, tiled ledges for shampoos and such.  My old shower caddy was "icky"!

and now, the new clear glass door with subway tile.   

The best part about this photo (and the new bathroom) is the ceiling!  It isn't any higher than in any other ranch style house but with the soffit gone, it seeeeeems so much higher.  It makes all the difference!!

And the total view from the bedroom.  Tiny bathrooms are hard to photograph.  I don't know how those camera men on HGTV do it!

2010 Kitchen remodel

It was too late to get a shot of it as a little breakfast nook under the light.  Oh well. 

The wall between the kitchen and dining room is going to come down.

That's a refridgerator with all the cartoons and such stuck to it.

You can't see the backyard at all from the kitchen.


 
 
 

The wall is gone.  Hard wood flooring has been installed.  The backyard can be enjoyed.  Still missing the dining room table.

Another "before" view.  This is taken from the other direction.  We are in the dining room and are looking around "the wall" into the kitchen.

View from the dining room into the kitchen.  The wall is gone and laying the hardwood floor is in process.  The living room is on the left with someone coming in the front door.

Viewing again from the dining room.  The wall is definitely gone with a new pennisula in it's place!  (The living room is still on the left.)

Another view just because it doesn't cost anything to add another photo!  Haha.

2010 The year of the remodel - the sunken living room

I had a mantle made and tile work done to cover the original, circa 1973, white brick fireplace. (See Polaroid).

 I was proud of the job, however, pride goeth before the fall.  Upon inspection, plywood was left exposed along the edge of the tile.  It was.... ahem...a fire hazard.  Sheesh..... (rolling my eyes).

I lived with it as a decorative piece.  For 15 years, it was good for burning candles in it, ala Martha Stewart.

 When I wanted the floor raised, it was an easy decision to remove the fireplace altogether.  It was easier and cheaper than somehow raising it from the sunken living room and fixing it too.  

Here it is before it completely goes away......  

The fireplace is gone.  The floor is raised and a window installed.....











and now, with a new view, it looks like I need to do some yard work......

June: The month of deaths and birds. I’m taking care of the neighbor's two chickens and small garden for a couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a bother to go let the chickens out in the morning and then go shut them in at night. Yet, when I approach the coop and hear their little clucky noises, I change my mind. Henrietta and Penelope are endearing. (Or, at least now they are. They might not seem so fetching with the winter dark, cold and rain.)

The home-made coop has a pitched roof made of a wavy, clear plastic. I can see the 2 chickens inside doing whatever it is that chickens do. One morning I observed both on the long perch extending the length of the structure. One of them was walking carefully along the bar, heading for the other side of the shelter. She made good progress until she reached the other, all hunkered down, roosting in the middle of the bar ~ blocking the path. The first didn't stop or even hesitate. She just dug in her claws and climbed her way over the back of the one that was in the way. (Squaaawk!) It made me laugh.

It's funny watching them through that wavy plastic and see them watching me back. They look at me so intently. I'm thinking they are hoping for some fresh feed but then again, they might be wondering about my distorted image as they look through 1) chicken eyes and 2) wavy plastic. What does a chicken think?? What does a *captive* chicken think?

One evening, in the warmth of the wonderful summer air, I walked to Lamb’s Thriftway for a few items. I was passing a field when there was a fluttering of feathers and a bird fell from a tree into the tangled grasses. I didn’t see any movement after it fell so I crossed the ditch to investigate.

It was a sparrow of sorts. I wasn’t sure what kind. It was lying still in the open field. It was breathing heavily and blinked at me as it lay there. Its feet were curled tightly and one wing was outstretched. I watched it for some time wondering if it was a fledgling out of the nest for exercise or an older bird that was dying. I looked up for a nest and parent birds. Nothing was evident.

Studying this poor creature, I decided it was not healthy and was probably dying. I wished I had water to give it…and wondered if it had been able to find water during the hot day. I wished I could scoop it up and take it to Audubon for treatment. I also knew that picking it up would be an additional stress which would certainly kill it. I left it, hoping a cat wouldn’t find it and continued on my way.

On my return, I checked on it again and found it on its back. It was still breathing…only lightly. I knew it would soon expire. I’ve thought of the different deaths I’ve dealt with during the past two months. Disease, accident, and incidents of age, all led to a loss and an inevitable gap in the circle of people I know. I reflected on my friend battling cancer in Idaho and of others here closer to home.

I mused on how deaths occur to animals in the natural world. Wildlife author Ernest Thompson Seton said, “The life of a wild animal always has a tragic end.” This bird would be the first I have witnessed that just falls from a tree and doesn’t have the strength or ability to save itself. No family or friend was there to help – just a passing human who let it be. I thought of the scripture where Christ says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father [knowing]. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

My Idaho friend no longer has any head hairs to count but Heavenly Father is aware of her fight, her body and her spirit. I don’t know what or when her end will be. Or mine either. I don’t know if the little bird was old or maybe had been poisoned. It died alone, without notice. Not even by me. I had walked away after I saw that it was weakening with each moment.

I’m hoping that as we live our routine, daily lives, we are surrounded by people who care about us. I pray that when the time arrives for any one of us to leave Earth that people either known or unknown by us, will be there with us, to ease our transition through to the next life with their protection, concern and love for us. Each one of us is worth that care.

I am comforted to know that my value is greater than that of many sparrows even as they are all loved by Him, our Creator, my Father.

From Oman to Dubai for stake conference with Elder Jeffrey Holland presiding. Incredible. Dubai was crazy with construction everywhere. Paper maps and the GPS were worthless as detours and re-routings were everywhere. Freeways were 7 lanes wide in each direction. Hotels being built everywhere. Can't describe it except to say perhaps it was crushing. Traffic and populations were mixed, tight and busy like New York City. Yet, in the desert, it had the mega porportions as you'd find in Las Vegas. It was an amazing place but not where I'd want to visit again.

From Mughsayl to DhalQut to Karfut

February 13 - The day is hazy. The wind blew all night. Visability is lousy. They say it's a north wind so it has kicked up all the dust in Saudi and brought it this way.

Feb. 14 We drive to Mughsayl~ another proposed site for the Land Bountiful. We slept in the cave here last October. There was a storm off the coast of Somalia in Africa which brought rain and rough seas. It's strange being back, but this time, in good weather.

We climb to the top of the "cave". Take photos of excavation work done by BYU and the parking lot so far below.

If the Land Bountiful, is Mughsayl, as some propose, this picture would be from Nephi's mount.

We have a delicious lime/lemonade at the dusty, primitive, little cafe. I didn't expect the beautiful presentation!!

The ocean is too rough from the dust storm. The fishing boats are grounded. We have to camp in the rest area at DhalQut. Whenever I'm here (twice now), we have rough seas. Why is that? If we ever get in, will we be able to get out?

Warren thinks sleeping in the car shouldn't be any different than sleeping on an airplane. He has body kinks in the morning. (Surprise). Yep, not any different.

Note to readers: Dust storms aren't good for the sinuses either.

February 15 My last meal before heading out for a week of camp food. Their Indian curry isn't anything like what they serve in the States!

The town of DhalQut:

Sights around town:

I convince kids to let me take pictures of their feet or their hands before I get shots of their faces. Seeing the immediate ditigal results is fun and warms them up.

Feb. 15th (Noon): All is clear. It's time to head for "Bountiful".

First: We must procure and load up a seaworthy vessel.

Second: A handsome skipper!

Just call me "Mrs. Howell the Third, Lovie!"

Sorry, no photos available of our "Exciting Beach Landing" but we do have some as the Minnow leaves us and heads back to her home port.

If you have a minute, there's a departing action shot:




We kick away the dried evidence of locally grazed cows and camels. Camp is quickly set up. The day is still hazy from the Saudi sand storm dust.

Camping at "Bountiful"

Camels on the beach in the fading light.

Sunrise.

Sunset behind Nephi's mount to the west.

The reeds and marshes near camp support an abundance of birdlife. Nephi's mount in the background.

Yes, there are caves. I imagined all the Old Testament stories of people fleeing to hide in caves, burying loved ones in caves and just living in caves. They are more like large overhangs, not what we call caves where I come from.

We now pause for a video presentation. This was taken before the camping trip. These frisky youngsters are just way too cute!

And meanwhile, back at camp.....

This general place, WadiSayq, was called "Land Bountiful" by Nephi's family. Today the particular beach, is "Karfut". I personally call it "Bug Beach". The bugs are plentiful as well as bountiful. Warren assures me these bites are from ticks. Oh great! (rolling my eyes)
Monday the 16th. I'm thinking about how nice the people have been. Friendly, helpful, honest and generous to a fault. They do have locks on doors so things aren't perfect. However, I am realizing how guarded I feel at home and how relaxed and safe I am here.

Zillions of sand crabs on the beach. I wonder if it comes down to playing Robinson Crusoe, if they would make good eating?

They build these pointy hills as they dig into the sand. I can't figure how they do it.

February 18th. Life has fallen into the mundane and routine. Warren takes photos in the morning light and then, to avoid the heat, we are both back at camp by 10. We sit around, nap, slap bugs or think about the next meal until 3 or so. Then it has cooled a bit and it's time to take more photos. It's dark and I'm in my tent by 7. That's pretty much it.

I busy myself with my Christmas cards. This year I even missed the Valentine deadline. I dug up the old blanket. It came in handy.

Cows on the beach are frequent.... and friendlier than the camels. Camels would have made a more exotic photo but I didn't get one. I doubt you will see many Land's End catalogs sporting this kind of promotion. (I'm talking about the beach cows - not the girl in the suit!)

The day's sea breeze is welcomed. I rig my tent's rain fly for a sunblock. Warren tries to do something with the ladder for his tent. He doesn't do anything about the rock under his tent but wonder why it was hard to sleep on. Not much different than airplane arm-rests ....

Natives come by camp with a 2 German tourist girls. They have a (still kicking) fish. They were going to eat it themselves but in the culture of generousity, they cut a filet for us. We wrap it in foil, throw it on the grill and have a delicious lunch in only a few minutes.

Earlier, I had calculated our remaining food supply and determined we need to reduce ourselves to 1/2 rations. The fish is a blessing. And it walks right into camp!
On the way to the spring for water, we come upon the largest, scariest snake I've ever seen outside a zoo. Warren avoided stepping on it. The "Expedition First Aid Kit" has nothing for snake bites or bee stings. Does this make sense in the land of "much fruit and wild honey"? Does it sound like we were really prepared for this trip??

There are beautiful birds to counter the scary snakes...

And interesting trees... (not just palms)

The end of the week. We have one can of tuna left between us. The guy who was supposed to come fetch us from the beach isn't here. If he doesn't come soon, I will return to the spring waters with a different attitude. I've heard that snake tastes like chicken. (The cows will be next.)

Our man comes!

We went by some of his lobster catching friends on the way back. Check out how beautiful the water is!!