A Rare Photo Op

On our way into Yarnell one day, we startled six or eight mule deer. They scurried away faster than I could pull out my camera, but one stopped and posed long enough for Gerald to snap a photo.

The Day We Got Gas

Yavapai Bottle gas arrived right on schedule, about 8:30 a.m., and got to work setting the tank.

After he did whatever it was he had to do outside, the technician came inside to help install the appliances.

Unfortunately, the propane conversion kit hadn't been installed on our range. It took him until nearly noon to get it in place, cursing the British (our stove is a British product) most of that time.

But finally, with the conversion installed, he and Gerald slid it into place.

Our kitchen was really starting to come together.

Then they moved the stoves in place and lit them up, and we had heat!

What a difference that made!

Anticipating gas

We spent the first day of our next trip in preparation for Yavapai Bottle Gas, which was scheduled to hook up our propane.

Gerald laid tile in the kitchen where one propane stove would be installed.

And also in the master bedroom.

With the extra thinset, he tiled a couple of tables.

Then he finished panelling the guest bath...

And better organize the tool area.

Wickenburg Bluegrass Festival

On the way home, we stopped by the Wickenburg Bluegrass Festival where our friends, the Rowe Family Band, was competing.

We learned the family band placed first in the family band competition. We hoped to see Brian Rowe compete in the mandolin competition. Brian is a gifted 21-year-old musician and we had high expectations. He had won the mandolin competition the last two times he competed.

We were late getting packed up, and nearly missed his performance. We walked up just as he was performing the last of his piece. Fortunately for us, there was a tie and Brian had to perform again to break the tie.

One thing I wondered: Why on earth would they put the portapotty right behind the stage?

He placed third, which he said was the lowest he'd ever placed.

Insulation day

This weekend was devoted to insulation. We chose a company called JDK out of Wickenburg, whose owner has a second home in Peeples Valley.

JD told us the crew would arrive at 7:30. They were on the job at 7:25 and got right to work.

We wanted to use foam insulation, but the cost was more than we could swing. But we did have the spaces along the roof line foamed.

It took three levels of scaffolding to reach the top of our 27-foot ceiling.

When they finished the interior at the end of the second day, it looked like a giant Pepto Bismol explosion. But it was a cold weekend, and we could sure feel the difference.

And because we hired an insulation company rather than do the work ourselves, we didn't need to get it inspected. That set Gerald free to skin the outside walls.

Bluebirds, oh happiness!

I saw some new birds in the meadow and got a really good look at them before returning to the house to consult my books.

They turned out to be Western bluebirds. While not endangered, bluebirds' numbers have dwindled since the 1940s because of habitat loss. In some areas, there is a push to build bluebird houses as an effort to preserve them.

Floors and mirrors

The next time J.C. came up, he brought a load of pine Gerald had found on Craig's list for a really good price. Our plan was to use it for flooring. Gerald had not seen it, but had it tongue and grooved before delivery.

He was very pleased with the quality.

At long last, we were also able to bring up a mirror Gerald had made for the bathroom. He had been working on it for a long time.

When he got it and J.C. finally got it in place, he said, "Do you think it's big enough?"

We had a scheduled tour of the Bagdad mine on Friday, which was interesting. But it meant we didn't get a lot done.

Gerald finished grouting the kitchen floor. Here it is with all the cabinets in place.

I worked on painting cabinets for the utility room.

The weather this weekend was just beautiful. Mid-70s. The grasses at Maughn's ranches have turned the color of wheat, and the cottonwoods are golden. Sadly, I didn't have a camera with me at the right time to photograph it.

But I did manage to catch this sunset.

On a somber note, we heard that Siggi at Rumors Grill had a heart attack and has listed the restaurant for sale. He's decided he's ready to retire. The good news is that, for now, the restaurant will stay open. "Closed businesses don't sell," he said.

The house

Gerald had refinished some cabinets at the shop for the master closet. We set them in place.

Meanwhile, Gerald got busy grouting and sealing the new kitchen floor tiles.

We installed a wider cabinet to expand the kitchen and put the rest of the cabinets back in place.

We also installed the panels on the refrigerator, though you can only see half here. Still, with the little sample countertop (right) and the panels on the fridge, we were starting to be able to see what our new kitchen was going to look like.

The birds

When we arrived at the house, we found this dead flicker. It looked like he might have tried to fly through the glass door.

Gerald held him up so we could get a good look at him. Those orange feathers look really orange up close.

Meanwhile, a nuthatch had taken up residence and refused to leave. We saw it inside and out, so it apparently found a way in besides the doors.

Cows, cows everywhere

When we returned to the land, we saw cows everywhere. More than we had ever seen before.

A cowboy pushing maybe a dozen cows crossed the road ahead of us. We'd never seen that before, either.

We had to stop to let the cows pass, and I was frantically digging for my camera, but by the time I got it, the poor wrangler was yelling at us to "go on."

They seemed to like our meadow, near the stock pond.

Here they are coming up the driveway.

They turned around, though, as soon as Bubba and I went out on the porch to investigate.