After living in a small dormitory room during our mission in Mexico we came home to a large house with a lot of "stuff", yard work, house cleaning and gardening. We also had a cabin that needed to be taken care of. It was all just a little too much for me. My though was that I could not keep spending my entire life doing all that work. The house and yard served us well for many years with wedding receptions and family gatherings. Then it started to become more work than it was worth. Dennis and I began taking out trees. We had taken many of the oak trees out just before we left on a mission since they were dropping acorns that were difficult to clean up. We hired a man to help but we did most of the work. In the end the yard was very much simplified. My hope was that if I could simplify all the work I was doing I could enjoy living there but if not I would have to move.
The island in front after we took out the trees and laid down the new sod.
We took out the old fence that I had built myself when we first moved in the house at 7842 Tynedale Court. There was no fence when we moved in and I like privacy so I went to the library and got a book about fence building and did it. Dennis did help when he could see I was serious. When we came home from the mission to Mexico in 2016 I could see it was falling apart and we needed to replace the 20+ year old fence. We put a wrought iron fence on one side and a Trex on the other side
After coming home from the mission Candace said Michael and Jordan wanted to go to Africa on a humanitarian trip. I told her I would love to hire the boys if they wanted to help work for me so they could earn money. They worked in the yard, the house and at the cabin. The deck on the house needed to be painted every year which required taking everything off to paint it. Even Johnathan helped as well as Tess and Leisel on occasion.
I repainted a lot of walls and trim in the house including the terracotta (orange/yellow) bricks on the fireplace. I like it much better this way. June 2017 projects
The boys were a great help at the cabin. Dennis had put in a new rope swing and we needed a waiting bench for children to sit on until it was their turn . Oh boy, I think Jordan is in his stocking feet. It was dirty work at the cabin.
Isaac, Miles, Tyler and Jordan. I think Michael was there also but didn't get in the picture.
June 17, 2017 The grandson's helped me plant a tree forest along side the parking loop. Upon putting in the new rope swing and clearing the trails for it we had to take out some small pine trees. We put them in a wheelbarrow and transplanted them next to the driveway. I wonder how big they will be when those boys go on a mission?
Chad and Dennis repairing the spring water that terminates in the playground. There is always a project do to at the cabin.
The 4th of July parade in Oakley.
Candace, Johnathan and Dennis at the Oakley 4th of July parade 2017
Ben helped put up the new rope swing at the cabin and Ruth is trying it out for the first time.
