This is how the front of the house and the courtyard wall looks from the road near the entrance to the RV drive-through. Click on the image to enlarge.
February 2011
Courtyard Progress
Our contractor finished painting the courtyard wall today. He would have been done yesterday except the paint sprayer he brought didn’t have enough capacity to spray the thick paint. They brought a larger unit this morning and finished up.
After the paint was dry, I propped the camera on the wall and used the delay feature to get this photo of us in the courtyard with the painted wall in the background. Cabela was along for the ride. Bear, of course, had to take a nap. Click on the image to enlarge.
Steel Security Doors Milestone
The latest planned improvements milestone is now complete: steel security doors. We probably don’t need these doors for security as much as we want the southwestern style and the ability to open the front door, let the air in and keep the bugs out.
I made a composite image of the doors that the installer put in place yesterday. Left to right, the front entrance, patio entrance and the garage entrance. I have to admit that Verna knocked this one out of the park. Click on the image to enlarge.
Breaking in the New Grill
This weekend, both days, we prepared the entrée on the new gas grill. After the parade yesterday, we walked home and grilled chicken breasts. Today, we grilled pork loin chops.
There wasn’t much going on in the neighborhood this morning, although I did meet two more of our new neighbors. Our place is sort of like it’s on a cul de sac where there is only one way in and out, with about eight or nine homes accessible from the road into the area. The good thing is that all the lots are large and the homes are not directly adjacent unlike some suburban areas where you need “house floss” to clean between them – thank God.
Anyhow, back to the title topic. The meals were both healthy, going light on sugar, sodium and fats with veggies and rice for fiber. Top: Asian-style grilled chicken breast with sticky rice and steamed cauliflower/broccoli. Bottom: Grilled Pork Loin Chops, asparagus, southwestern rice medley and apple sauce.
Try not to drool on your keyboard when you click on the image above to enlarge.
Pink Amaryllis
Mom gave me a pair of amaryllis bulbs before we came back to Arizona last month. The flowers finally opened up in our new home this week. I took this image of one of the three flowers in the late afternoon sunshine streaming through the front window. Click on the image to enlarge.
