Drainage Redo

We are having some drainage issues when it rains. The water has been running in the wrong places so we hired Brian and all his "Tonka toys" to help us out.

You have to call a company called Blue Stake and they contact the water, gas, electric and cable companies. They come out to check if you can dig.

We needed to put two culverts in….one in front of the house across the "old" dirt driveway, and the other on the south side of the house.

Culverts cost $250 each. We bought used ones so we saved a little bit of money.

Brian is digging a ditch for the culvert and also moving a lot of this rock as we don't need such a wide rocked area. We are actually going to plant some trees here and "erase" the extra driveway.

This is the south side of the house. The water was running down the slope and into the garden area. Brian dug a ditch and put in the culvert. Lupe rocked the ditch.

Pretty much done. We have some extra dirt on the garden side but we can spread it around. We need to add more dirt to some of the garden beds thanks to Argo. And we have to re-bark the area around the beds. Home Depot was having a sale on bark so we ordered 60 bags.

The rock area in front of the house is getting smaller…..

and smaller. We now have to get some crushed granite and spread it around. We ran an irrigation line as we want to plant some Cottonwood trees, a Weeping Willow and a Honey Locust tree in this area. We also got some Forsythia. Photinia and a Lilac bush for a section on the west side of the driveway.

Just Stuff...

The dogs and I have been hiking the elk trail in our neighborhood. We just follow the poop up to the ridge.

They are happiest on a trail with no dog leashes. They really are best buds.

I have been meeting some gals for a hike once a week……when we don't have exercise classes.

Forsythia is in bloom. We just bought a few bushes to plant.

One of the first wildflowers here in Payson….

The elk have been coming by early every morning lately. They drink in the water hole near our house and then head up the ridge. (I tried to take a photo from our deck.)

Target Garden Finds

I found some great stuff for the garden area at Target in Scottsdale. I love this orb.

Couldn't resist this red pot. I planted a columbine in it….we'll see how it does.

Really love these cement cylinders. I bought one…..loved it and bought some more!

Randy is not so fond of the grey goose but I like him. I put him in an area where we can't plant anything.

Thought a few garden stakes might be fun too.

This one moves around in the wind which we are having a lot of today……35 mph gusts. Maybe we should get the kites out!

Cracker Jack Mine Jeep Tour

Our local historical society hosted a jeep tour led by the president of the 4-wheeler club.

We rode in a friend's lime green Rubicon. A pretty smooth ride considering we were traveling over rutted, rocky dirt roads.

We stopped for a chat by this tree. The loggers missed it. It's probably about 350 years old. The top is dead due to bark beetle but the bottom is fine as it has a water source by the creek.

What am I doing? Putting my nose in one of the cracks. Why?

It smells just like butterscotch!

We crossed the East Verde River a number of times. It's very low right now. Boy, could we use some rain.

We found the mine (gold and copper) but the Forest Service has closed the opening to the mine for safety reasons. All the building associated with the mine have been torn down too. You have to use your imagination. Our leader did talk a bit about the mining process.

Nice views of the Mazatzal Mountains.

This looks like a great swimming hole but the only way to get there is to bushwhack down the side of this cliff. I'll skip it!

We made a big loop……25 miles total. Average speed…..7 miles an hour.

We ended up at the Doll Baby Ranch area. We saw some horses and cows along the way.

Flower Photography

We visited the arboretum in Superior with our photography class. A nice place for shooting flowers and cactus.

I was not happy with my photos. Consistently f-stop too low. I am an inconsistent photographer.

I still have so much to learn. It gets depressing. I am signing up for Randy's beginning photography class at our community college in the fall. He will be a great instructor……..more hands on!

I love this photo but it is not sharp enough….darn it!

This isn't bad but still not great.

I like the light on this fern…..end of the day.

And here's Ayla! She is growing so fast. We get weekly pics and movies but I wish I could cuddle and play with her in person.

Visiting Taliesin West

Taliesin West is a National Historic Landmark built between 1937 and 1959. It was Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home, studio, and architectural campus.

It is located in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains in northeast Scottsdale.

During the tour, one experiences Wright's ability to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces.

Unfortunately no photos were allowed in the living quarters, cabaret theater, music pavilion, office and the beautiful garden room.

Lovely bronze sculptures sit on pedestals outside of the music room. (Close up of two below.)

To Wright, architecture was not just about buildings, it was about nourishing the lives of those sheltered within them.

Currently there are 28 students enrolled in a Master's Degree Program at this site. One of the things these students have to do is design and build a shelter out in the desert and live in it.

There are beautiful desert trails around the property….500 acres in all. "Wright's anchor and muse was Nature, which he spelled with a capital 'N.' This was not the outward aspect of nature, but the omnipresent spiritual dimension."

Chihuly in the Desert Botanical Garden

I visited the Desert Botanical Garden with a friend from CA on Thursday. Artist Dale Chihuly has a vibrant exhibit of glass sculptures intermixed within the garden plants.

The red glass was my favorite….seemed to enhance the landscape and plants in the garden. This piece is called Cattails.

This is his Scarlet and Yellow Icicle Tower.

Chihuly is credited with revolutionizing the studio glass movement and elevating the perception of the medium from craft to fine art.

This one is called Summer Sun.

His work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide.

In a few weeks the cactus should be blooming in the garden. Truly a beautiful sight!
I am not sure what kind of wildflower year we are going to have this year due to the lack of precipitation. We'll see.