Melissa, Andy and the kids' Blog

While I was driving with Andrew, and caravanning with Trisha and family, down to Utah, Andy was hosting our first guests.  Mark and Ashley got to our house on Sunday, a two day drive from Houston, TX. Mark's back was hurting him, and his doctor told him not to drive for long periods, not to go hiking or off roading.  Well, that is pretty much what we had planned for the week.  Andy started him off easy by taking them shooting while waiting for the rest of us to show up on Monday, June 30th.     On Tuesday the whole gang went hiking at Natural Bridges National Monument.  Grandma Flick even came along.  In this picture, we have Jeremy, Trisha, Eli, Mya, Ava, ourselves, Andrew, Ashley, Grandma, Mark, Dad, and Darlene.     Some of the guys, and Ashley, went on a more strenuous hike with heights that I didn't want to deal with.       We found a family friendly hike.  Grandma even enjoyed a...

There were two stories to tell this month.  One of a gleeful Melissa, surrounded by her close and extended family, enjoying a wonderful Pacific Northwest summer. The other is of a husband left alone, to build and clean, in an attempt to prepare the house for her return.    This is his story...   Melissa and I decided our guest room, hereafter known as "Grandma's Room," would have a western feel.  Melissa's Grandma Flick spent a few days in this room last year and loved the bed. Once everyone decided to have 4th of July in Blanding, she called Melissa to reserve "her room." Melissa and I worked on this room for a couple weeks, building the headboard, sewing curtains and pillows, refinishing a farrier's chest, installing baseboard, painting, and refinishing the ceiling fan.     Curtain, rod, horseshoe brackets, ceiling fan   Melissa's custom horseshoe art on the wall and refurbished chest.   ...