June 14
I finally took pictures of the interior of the house a few weeks ago. While a lot has been accomplished, there is still lots to be done, but the new furniture is in place (until I decide I really must put this over there and that over here) and I have successfully had friends over to dinner, hosted friends for an extended stay, and even thrown a party! So the house is functional and also beautiful. Perfect.
Many thanks to Steve and his wife Kenda for all of their help with the new furniture. Steve also worked to make the old dining room table and chairs new again–rustic and lovely. These two folks go way beyond the call of duty when it comes to the “finishing touches.” Yay!
Click on the first image to open up the BIG Gallery and please ignore any dust you might find… 🙂
inside
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- Front driveway edged in rocks
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- This is the extent of the landscaping so far…
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- Fence has been extended to further hide the water tanks
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- Smaller rocks for the front of the house
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- Bench for watching sunsets and pots for plants (someday)
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- Texas-sized!
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- Front entrance with painting created by my niece–what an artist!
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- Living room
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- Couch and chairs from El Paso Saddleblanket
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- Texas flag courtesy of my brother–Go Texas!
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- Kiva all decked out
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- Working fireplace with a bit of whimsy
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- Rustic behind-the-sofa table
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- Dining room
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- Seating for eight!
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- The library is in the dining room. Important to feed the mind too, right?
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- Tony’s Table
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- I’ve had this Guatamalan mola since I was college and now I have the perfect spot for it!
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- Each rock represents a hike here in the mountains
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- The “landing strip” kitchen counter/bar
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- Barstools! More are on the way.
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- A fully-functional, wonderful-to-work-in kitchen
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- That yellow thing is a spaghetti squash…
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- Ready to cook!
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- Knives. Cookbooks. Let’s go!
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- Every kitchen needs herbs. Thanks to Nina and Wayne for these.
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- The blue guest bedroom
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- Everything you need for a good long stay…
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- Yes, this is outside, but what a nice finishing touch–all cleaned up!
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- Remember the black water tanks? Now: Camo!
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- You can barely see them. 😉
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- Not a spot missed
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- Even the run-off pipes are invisible. LOL Truly–it is great to have them blend in with the house so nicely.
outside
Most of these pics were taken on June 4.
We have been in a semi-drought this season. The rain has stayed away but later in the day it poured! Finally. I wonder if it has anything to do with the rain dance I performed out on the front porch? No, you did not want to see that, but it might have worked!
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- There IS green up here, including this “pickle bush.”
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- The ice-storm-damaged mesquite tree is flourishing, oddly enough.
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- We need its shade in the summertime heat, believe me.
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- A horny toad! First one ever spotted up here. First live one, anyway.
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- He blends in well, doesn’t he?
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- It has “greened up,” but there were hardly any wildflowers this year…
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- And the chollas have small buds that seem to drop off or get eaten by ants…
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- They are really trying!
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- But this year has been tough on them.
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- Cathedral Mountain, on the left
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- This claret cup is finished blooming but still so healthy!
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- And the storm arrived at last…
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- Zooming the camera does not really work well but I like the impressionistic results!
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- Oh yes. I love living up here. I do.
Happy Birthday, Tony!
Sicily Trip 2006, with Catania in the background as Tony stands on the veranda of our villa (I do not get to say THAT very often!)
Today is Tony’s birthday. He would have been 74 years young today. I miss him. I will always miss him. But I am glad to be in my new home at last.
Leah, I enjoyed the photos so much. The house is utterly beautiful, inside and out, and obviously already your home. Congratulations!