Thursday, December 19, 2013

Kingdom Hall Landscaping Project Completed!!!!!

This has been such a busy week!!!! 
We had only five days to get our Kingdom Hall
landscape completed for the Dedication of the Kingdom Hall this Saturday. 

We were here from 7:00 am to dark everyday.
But all things are possible with Jehovah's help!

All of these pipe are the markers for the irrigation lines that will water
all of the plants that we will be planting.

We could not have gotten this project completed in this short of time
and with so few volunteers without Dave and Cheryl Roark
and their tractor.  This was such a blessing!
They used it for digging trenches, hauling loads of mulch, rocks and trees.
This back breaking work would have been impossible without it!

The volunteers came and worked when they could. Young and old came to offer their help which was greatly appreciated!
Here is my grandson Maciah loading up wheel barrels.

Everybody worked so hard and I don't know about them but I am so sore!!!!

Ernie Williams and Dave Roark were setting the large boulders in place
for the front of the Kingdom Hall.

Pat was planted some of the garlic plants here, Carl took a break to help them with the placement of some of these rocks but he really worked so hard on the walkways, placing all of the bender board and smoothing the decomposed granite.
Marti Williams was so creative in helping to pick out all of the beautiful
plants and trees.  Also the placement of all those beautiful plants and trees was completed by the group of friends including Marti Williams, Terry Brown, and others.

My mom was even there everyday except the last day (I think we wore her out) digging holes, filling in trenches, sweeping the sidewalks, shoveling mulch and "yes" moving the wheel barrels.

We are on the last leg here. Tired and the ground was like concrete while we tried to make the holes for the last set of plants. But we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!!!!


These rocks were placed here to divert the cars from going into our rose garden.

It was so cool because so many friends had a part in this beautiful landscape.
This cactus and a palm were donated by brother and sister Smith.
We loved the fact that it looked like it is waving at us.
So even though many could not come and work they had a part by coming and
encouraging us each day with their kind words and some friends provided
donations for the landscape in plants and monies.

The decomposed granite that was existing as part of the previous landscape was recycled
into our walkways and the rose's were replanted into a rose garden. All of the previous
landscape materials were reused for this landscape.

The front of the Kingdom Hall is beautiful!

This week the pillars to the entrance were also completed with the placement of the rocks.
The inside had taken on a new uplift as well.
Cindy Olsen and many volunteers also repainted the stage area and the side walls.
This really made a difference! And it is now complete with flower
arrangements and tables for the entryway and stage!
So I can't wait to attend the Dedication this Saturday and look
forward to attending our meeting this Sunday with all of the friends......

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Visit to Arizona December 2013...

Arizona is beautiful this time of year!  We went to see my brother Ray and his wife Zoila last week in Arizona. Ray has been wanting us to come and visit for 10 years now.
So we took the five hour drive with my mom to Goodyear, Arizona and we really
enjoyed our visit with our family.
This is a picture of a trail that leads to a viewing tower that you can see in the distance.
What a pretty place! Beautiful landscape!

Along the path is some beautiful landscape with flowing streams and rustic bridges.
Couldn't help but take a few pictures.
Mom hates to take pictures but we couldn't resist this one by the bridge.

Mom and I at the top of the observation tower.
What a beautiful view!

Caught Kim in deep thought at the top of the observation tower.
I think he was just catching his breath because there were a million stairs
to the top of this tower!
My calves were killing me for two days after this climb!

Me, Mom & Kim

Ray & Mom

Mom, me & Kim sandwich.....

This tree was so beautiful I couldn't resist taking a picture!

Kim and Ray and you can see the observation tower over Kim's shoulder.

Me and Ray

Beautiful Dessert Scape!!!!
Thanks Ray & Zoila for your wonderful hospitality.
We had a great time and look forward to
coming and visiting again soon!