We have been getting bids from several landscape contractors for irrigation systems, rocks and plants for the Arizona property. Today, we were visiting one contractor at his garden shop where this lavender and white pansy was in bloom. Click on the image to enlarge.
Our Contractor installed a rain gutter along the patio roof before we left for California last week. Today, he replaced the lights in both bathrooms with bronze lighting fixtures to match the plumbing and other bronze hardware. We decided to donate the chrome fixtures we installed in error to charity.
Image: Sconce and address plaque on the exterior garage wall. Click to enlarge.
We also asked the contractor to install a peep hole in the front door and to install the plaque with our address. We ordered the plaque at the same time as our sconces to match the style and colors.
I took this picture this afternoon on US 60 near Brenda, AZ, while we were heading to our Arizona home. The saguaro cactus in the foreground and the craggy mountain peak in the background makes for a beautiful sight. Click on the image to enlarge.
When the hoomins are outside the house and we are inside, we like to look out the windows. I can see OK but Cabela needs to stand on her hind legs to see the hoomins. Click us to make us big.
Verna and I drove to Congress, AZ today to work with the artist who is building our custom courtyard gate for the archway. He presented several sketches on tracing paper from which we were to select the art to be carved on the gate. We furnished him with some photos and ideas based on the southwestern motif of our house and furnishings. He did the rest and today we made the choices.
Image – rough layout of the lumber with the sketches placed at their approximate locations – click to enlarge
Verna made the choices for the artwork. At the top of the gate, just above where the saguaro ribs are going to be, is an image of a quail. Below the ribs, in the center of the door, there will be a kachina. The bottom panel will contain images of a bear and the famous dancing piper, Kokopelli.
Other features we negotiated were to install iron straps for strength, wrought iron above the top of the wood, antique hinges and gate latch and, as previously mentioned, saguaro ribs at eye level to allow us to peep through the gate.
In a week or two, we will have the gate installed in the archway. We will certainly post about that when it happens.
. . . and other birds, of course. Sorry this is the largest image available of the cardinal as it munches away at the bell.
