...after many weeks of absence.....

 It's been many weeks since our schedule was freed up so a trip could be made to the cabin to continue on with work.  Jim spent a couple of weeks in Dubai on business, and then, after all of that, we went on a quick little vacation to California.

Jim took a little walk through the open air market in Old Dubai and had a couple of pictures taken.... looks like he's turned into a local!!

One of the vendors in the market complimented him on growing a "really good beard".... If you look at the little box in Jim's right hand, it's a box of Tim Bits from a Tim Horton's Donut franchise.. in Dubai.. I swear, Dubai has everything.

At the pool, in the background, the tallest building in the world.

After getting Jim home, and working on getting the time zones in his head straightened out, we took off for California... with our cat, Mokie...  We couldn't find a babysitter for the cat over the long weekend, so he made the journey with us...  Let's put it this way, he won't be visiting California again... After he hissed at me, and bit me, I have decided that we are not friends...

While we were in California, we experienced a first... we felt a 7.1 earthquake!  We were in our 5th wheel, and all of a sudden, the 5th wheel started rocking back and forth.  I thought Jim was on the outside of the trailer and was working on something, and making it move back and forth.. then, I realized Jim was in the trailer with me.. he thought I was making it move back and forth... well, we learned later on that evening, that it was an earthquake about 100 miles away... Of course, when people asked about it, I had to tell them that we were romancing, and I just figured Jim rocked my world... giggle...  (saying that, people don't have a response... giggle...)

One of the first things Jim had to do this weekend, was to replace the gas tank on the backhoe.  Apparently, it had a metal gas tank, and it rusted through. So, Jim researched it out and found the only way to pull the gas tank was to either pull the engine out or split the frame of the backhoe.    He decided to cut the top off and mount the new gas tank inside the old gas tank.  We have a lot of dirt work to do this summer... the property needs to be graded so that a retaining wall can go in.  Jim was working on the repairs in the morning before the area really heated up.  That big round thing above the gas tank is part of the frame of the backhoe.

While Jim was in Dubai, I found this amazing stove and bought it... we are now changing how we were going to put the kitchen upstairs together... Now, I think this stove and oven is going to go in the kitchen on the main level, and the wood-burning stove/oven is going to go in the kitchen downstairs... I still think it's going to look amazing. (I hate making big purchases without Jim... I took pictures, and sent them to him, and we agreed it would look amazing... but still.... don't like making these purchases...) PS:  This brand of stove was made in... CANADA!!  Jim asked if it was gas fired so we could convert it to propane.  Turns out it's electric.

Jim has been furiously working on the electrics and he told me this was his big accomplishment this weekend... the electric conduit for the meter was installed on the outside of the cabin and we can now call Kane County to come and remove the temporary power pole... Jim was so excited.. in the same breath, he told me he didn't think it would mean that much to me, but it was a HUGE advance in the cabin building.. I am glad he was excited, but, he is right, I guess I don't understand the importance.

I have been looking for a large iron framed mirror... something that would go along with the other wrought iron things I have collected, and this past weekend, I found one!  I know it's large, (it's actually a BIG ASSED mirror.. - about 4' wide and 3' tall.) BUT... it's what I wanted... I think it's beautiful...  The game warden is out of town this weekend, and I am a little nervous to see what he says about it... giggle... First thing he said was "where are you going to put it?"  I know exactly where I am going to put it... in the bedroom downstairs where my granddaughters are going to sleep...  I want them to get up in the morning, and look in that mirror, and see how amazingly beautiful they are... and, be able to know they are loved, and love themselves... just because...

And, the other thing I bought this weekend was a box of 6 can lights for the cabin... Jim told me to buy them, so, you can't blame me for being a shop a-holic... But, in reading some of these blog entries, it looks like I really like shopping...  OK, I admit it.. I really like to shop... I think it gives Jim heartburn some times.. but... a woman's go to do what a woman's got to do!

I don't know much about this electrical stuff... but, Jim does.. and he was pretty excited when I bought this...

..and those beautiful light fixtures we bought... well... as you can see, they are now installed!  The two lights above are in the kitchen for the island.... Both are working now!

..and, this huge white fixture is about 22 inches across, it's beautiful and it's now in the main floor bathroom....

..and, this coach light (gas light) looking fixture, is in the loft bathroom upstairs... I think it looks absolutely beautiful...

And, Jim has been working feverishly this weekend to get the electric service/breaker panel up and running... He was explaining each set of bare, white and black wires represents a part of the house that now has light switches, electric plug outlets and light fixtures.  So we now have four circuits, the south side of the kitchen, the living room lights, the central hallway and bedroom and the main level bathroom.  But we still have a long way to go . . . keep going Jim!

Since Jim has been away at the cabin this weekend, it's given me lots of time alone and to think and ponder my life... Jim and I always joke about why I love him, or that a lot of times I'd like to slap him upside the head... but, I came up with two reasons why I am amazed and love my Jim....Although I know I could list hundred of reasons, these are two that stood out in my mind over the past couple of weeks... One, he makes me want to be a better version of myself.. and two, he pushes me to explore new things and get out of my comfort zone...  I probably will spend the rest of my life rolling my eyes and staring at the ceiling when he tries to explain his work to me... But, I love that man more than I can explain...and, whether he is in Dubai, or Florida, or California or just at the cabin in Bryce Canyon, I miss him terribly when he is away...

As always, the adventure continues.

Jim and Cheri

I em hape..

Several weeks ago, while we were preparing for Brad's graduation party, with all the hustle and bustle going on in the house, and Brad and Melody and their three kids, and Brianne and Lowell, and Coy and Jim and I all trying to get 100 things done... little Brea came up to each one of us, and gave us a little note...  And, this is what each one said...  "I em hape"... with all that we going on, a small child communicated what she was feeling...  "I AM HAPPY"...  She was with this big crazy family, and was loving it...How amazing...  And, this is how I am feeling... I am happy...Life is not perfect, and it's really stressful, but I am happy...

Sadly, Jim was at the cabin all weekend, and I had to stay in Provo.. still fighting this stupid bronchial pneumonia, and I feel like I'm losing the battle..It's only been a couple of months, so I guess I have a few more to go.  The work must go on or we'll never get it done!

When Jim was designing the cabin, we had this little discussion of what he "thought" I wanted, and what I "actually" wanted...  and, it was all about the loft... I wanted a loft, WITH a bathroom (a big freakin bathroom (JS)), and he didn't think the bathroom was necessary in the loft...... As you know, we have a wonderful loft, with a full bathroom now (fully full (JS)), and I love how it's looking.

Jim's plan for this weekend, was to work on the electrics...  He was so thrilled when he sent me a picture of this beautiful light fixture he had installed in the main level hallway, and the first thing I said was.. "Um.. where's the 2nd light fixture"?  And, the conversation ensued that he placed that one light fixture in the middle of the hallway, and I countered with, "You never asked me what I wanted"... We purchased them a couple of weeks ago, and they would be absolutely perfect in the hallway..  This afternoon, Jim sent me pictures of the hallway, and this is how it turned out..... I told Jim that he should have turned his "spidey sense" on...

I think it looks amazing... Jim does beautiful work...  Giggle..

Jim sent me to the store today to buy stuff for the cabin.. I always hate it when he sends me and I am not quite sure exactly what it is.. and then I have to explain to someone what I want, and they usually have this blank stare... grrrr...  Today, I had to buy these criss crossy things that fit over the bottom of an electrical box... I don't know what they're called, but I know I needed 6 to 12 of them.. Thank goodness Jim sent me a picture!!!  What are these things called?

Anyways, Rachel at Habitat knew EXACTLY what I was describing, and got them for me!!!  Rachel.. you rock!

While there, I bought insulation... 5 rolls of insulation exactly.. I usually don't call it insulation, I call it the Pink Panther stuff... Jim told me to shower after I took the rolls out of the van...  Um, he'll be home on Sunday night, and I'll advise HIM to shower after he gets them out of the van!!!  Big thanks to James at Habitat for loading them into my van... because, if he hadn't, they wouldn't be in there!!  Pink Panther stuff could have stayed right where it was...

Continuing on, we apparently had a bird in the cabin in the last week, because there is bird poop in our bathtub upstairs in the loft.. We don't know how the birds are getting in, but they not only got in, but got out also!!  But, while they were enjoying the view from the side of the tub, they left their signature!  Gross!  I guess the tub is now christened.. (Jim looked for a live bird, or a dead bird, or anything bird like, and there was nothing... except bird poop on the tub..)

I picked out the light fixture for the loft bathroom this weekend... The cabinets in that bathroom are white, and the sink is a pale green... Also, the counter top is a green marble, so I needed something that would accent those pieces instead of conflict with them... and, this is what I found...  I love it... I think the clear glass gas light effect is perfect.. There is a vaulted ceiling in that room, and this will be perfect.

And, last but not least, I found a sled to pull behind the skidoos this next year.  I was thinking of taking grandkids for rides, but Jim was thinking more like pulling groceries up the hill when the truck won't go through the snow on the mountain in the winter.. Either way, we bought a skidoo sled!

When Jim got home this evening, he told me that he had bought a knife at a hardware store...  I was like,..."uhuh, like we need another knife.." and then he showed it to me... It's beautiful.. It is rare that he spends money on frivolous things for himself and he admitted it was, but I guess every once in a while you just have to.  The blade has a "Damascus" steel look to it.  Jim says that was the selling point that hooked him.  Make the photo full size and you can see it better.

And, I find, as Jim and I get older, it's harder and harder to find something interesting to give as a present.. I think Jim has it easier because I really love jewelry, and he always picks out something beautiful and interesting and sparkly...  BUT, picking out something for Jim, is a serious problem.. So, for this Father's Day, I bought Jim..  a fire bowl..  He looked impressed when I showed it to him, and I am hoping we can use it at the cabin.  When he saw it, he said it would be great to make Smores or roast marshmallows... Um, not the purpose Jim.... I still think it looks cool and will be amazing outside on the table.. summertime...at sunset.. at the cabin...  (When I initially saw it, the song came to my mind, "Come on baby, light my fire"... but, I think that's a little corny..)

So, all in all, it was a great weekend...Father's Day 2019... I am thankful for all the lessons my father taught me, or tried to teach me... thankful for a husband who is amazing...thankful I have a son who is an amazing daddy, grand daughter's that express happiness... and a daughter and a daughter in law, who over the last several years, have at times had to be both mommy and daddy and did it with grace and dignity.....  I am blessed..

..the adventure continues...  Jim and Cheri

..Moving Forward.......slowly...

With all the excitement of graduations and parties over the past few weeks, there is something that is NOT happening... and, that's getting to the cabin and working... Over the past weekend, Duck Creek got 20" of snow, and reports from around our cabin is that it's been snowing since last Saturday, and the roads are full of ruts and mess...  Not good..

Did someone forget to tell Mother Nature that it's almost June?  A lot of Memorial Day weekend plans were cancelled because people couldn't get through the snow!

But, we did find some really cool stuff this weekend... We bought these lights for the hall way on the main level.. I love the colour and the geometric design...

And, we found these lamps... I think the first two lamps are going to go into the loft bathroom, and the other two matching lamps are going to go into the main floor livingroom...  I love the look of both of them.

Jim REALLY liked these two... I liked the first two..

And, we bought the tub for the loft bathroom today... I love this tub...  It is 72" long and 40" wide... It's supposed to hold two people, but, I don't know about that one...(must be really tiny people...) but, I love it... We have been looking for the perfect tub for the bathroom, and finally found it!!  I think it's so pretty and will be perfect!

A few weeks ago, a dear friend of mine, that I first met in elementary school, passed... We have stayed in touch over the years  via Christmas cards, and phone calls.  The one thing that she didn't tell me, was that she was sick, and was terminal...  She wanted to focus on the positive and the sunshine in her life and my life.  In reading her obituary, written by her sweet husband, I learned that the two of them had a saying that they would always share with each other, and it is as follows:  "With you, forever I will stay"..  So, with this on my mind, this is why Jim and I are on this amazing adventure... so that we will always have something that represents us, together.. and that our children will always have a place to forever remember, and we will stay forever in their hearts....

With that, the adventure continues...  Jim and Cheri

FINALLY!!!!

Oh my goodness!!!! It's been such a busy couple of weeks... 

My son, Brad, graduated from UVU with his master's in Social Work,  and we had this incredible party to celebrate his success!  The Friday and Friday night was absolutely perfect weather, the food was great, the guests were many, but as soon as the sun went down... well, it got a little chilly... If you remember, last fall, we purchased a large propane burning hand warmer that was used at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.  We thought it would be perfect in the Jacuzzi area down at the cabin.. Well, we haven't been able to get it to the cabin because of the weight of it, and the snow fall at the cabin this spring, so, it's spent the winter beside our house.  Well, Jim decided that it would be a great idea to set it up and get it lit if the party got chilly... and, it works perfectly...

Here's my son, Brad... warming his hands and visiting with friends..

Can I mentioned, just one more time, how incredibly proud I am of this guy... he's amazing...

On Saturday morning, Jim took off to spend the weekend at the cabin....  He had to take some items down to put in the conex and to do a little work on our 5th wheel stored in Panguitch...  I didn't go because I've been suffering with some incredible funk for the last couple of weeks, and we didn't think the cold would do me any good...  Jim spent the night in the 5th wheel, and said that it really was quite cold.  We didn't have the propane tanks filled, so, we couldn't get the heat turned on... sad face... so he had an electric blanket.  Warm for what's under it.

On the way down, Jim sent me this picture with the caption... "The Bugs Are Back".  Every time we have driven down I-15 South, there are some really weird, HUGE bugs that hit the front of the truck and splatter green.  Well, they're back, and they found their way to the front of our truck...  I don't know what these bugs are, but, they make the biggest, yellowest splatter ever!

Jim always takes a picture of "Cheri's Heart" whenever he goes into the property...  He says it still has a little bit of snow on it, but it's still really pretty... In this picture, the heart is a little to the right of center.. looks so pretty.

I am always so afraid that something has happened to my sunflowers... I don't know what could happen, but, Jim always takes a picture to show me that they're still in good shape...  And, with the sun setting, they look amazing...

For Brad's grad party, we were correctly anticipating a mob - of guests, and I found that it was less expensive to purchase chairs via plublic state surplus auctions than to rent them... So, we bought a bunch of stacking chairs.  The only problem is, where to store them until we need them again.  We are anticipating people coming to visit us at the cabin, so, on this trip down, Jim took all these chairs and put them in the Conex.  He said it was a little difficult to get to being that the skidoos were in the way, but he managed to get the trailer backed to the front of the Conex, and got them stored in there for a later date.

And, our purchase for the kitchen this past week was... the oven!  We have the old tyme stove in the kitchen, but we are putting a cooktop in the island, and this oven will be also below the cook top... I am stoked.

So all in all, it was an amazing weekend.  I do miss Jim terribly when he goes and I stay at home.  But, a lot was accomplished, and I was thrilled when he made it home safe and sound.

Jim is now relaxing in his recliner, having had dinner and is now watching Murdoch Mysteries, and eating peach cobbler... Life is pretty fine. The adventure continues, and, we're oh so happy...

Jim and Cheri

SO CLOSE, AND YET SO FAR!!!

It's been a couple of weeks since we were at the cabin... we weren't sure what the roads to the cabin were like, but, we figured that we would just go as far as Panguitch and work on the 5th wheel that's in storage...

Well, we got to Panguitch, and the roads were so clear, we decided that we should take a peek at the road close to the cabin, and if they were clear, we would drive up and say hello to the cabin..

Well, the roads going to the cabin were a little questionable.  It looked like there was a ton of snow, and the roads, at some point were really mucky.. Apparently, we weren't the only ones who were trying to get up the mountain, as the evidence points out.........

These roads were so bad, but we were in for a little surprise when we got to Crestline Avenue...  snow.. lots and lots of snow.



It really didn't look that far, so one of us "bright kids" decided that we could hike up the hill...We had a few things in the van that we were going to just leave in the 5th wheel, BUT, because we were at the cabin, we were going to drop them off...  I swear, it's a LOOOONG way up that hill.. I swear, I thought I was going to have a heart attack..If you notice, Jim is at the top of the hill, and this bright child is still at the bottom.. taking pictures and having a stroke!!  I keep telling myself it's because of the elevation, etc., etc., etc...  Uhuh...But, I know deep down, that's just a crock of bs...it's all because I was wearing crocs... giggle...



Well, the cabin is still standing.. and actually, I kinda have missed going and working on it.  It's going to be a long haul this summer - we need to get our four way done, and that's a whole lotta work... (furnace, plumbing, electrical, and structural).. We've already passed the structural, so I believe Jim said he is going to do the electrical and the plumbing and then the furnace... Personally, I kinda would like that plumbing to go in next...  I can't pee off the balcony, and driving 5 miles away to the nearest bathroom, is not my idea of a fun time!!  But, here's the cabin, in all it's snowy glory.

About two weeks after Jim made it up the hill, I strolled onto the picture...  had to sit down for a minute or my heart was going to come through my nose.. But, once I got there, it was all good.. I kept telling myself that going down the hill was going to be easier!

The grandkids are very interested in coming and staying at the cabin this summer, and I was skyping with Brea.. she wanted to see everything that we were doing, and I started by showing her the "grandkids" chair...



She said that she really liked it, so I had Papa sit in the chair and show her that one grandchild and one Papa and one storybook would easily fit into the chair..

I then showed her the one bedroom that we have put together.... it's kind of on the rudimentary stage of life, but it works for us.. there is one bed, and one nightstand and one lamp, but the part Brea really liked was the Barbie curtains.  We bought them at the Garfield thrift store in Panguitch... after we stayed there one night, and found out that the sun comes up... really, really early in the morning.  Giggle... She was totally loving the curtains.

Then, I showed her what the bathroom was like, and she was oh so impressed with the sunflower windows... she thought they were beautiful... next, I showed her the toilet.. which at this point is a pipe coming up from the floor, and she again said it was beautiful.. and at that point, I knew for a fact, that this child sees beauty in everything.. even a black plastic pipe coming up from the floor...  What an amazing and wonderful attitude..  Love our Brea!!

The road by our place is covered in snow, and it's wet, but our neighbours made it up for the weekend.. I believe they have four wheel drive, and my van doesn't...  Thus, they made it up, and we had to hike....  I really love my crocs, but, they aren't made for cross country hiking...or trudging through snow.

Mucky... muddy... messy...  I'm not impressed...  After walking up the hill, my crocs were packed with snow and my feet totally wet.  Was gross.

We talked around the place and inspected for any damage.. Apparently, we have snow or rain or something coming in.. our old radio that we have in the loft sustained some water damage... we're gonna have to do a little restoration work, but, that was all the damage we could see in the loft.

We had left tools and supplies downstairs, and this is the beautiful artwork I found...A couple of cans of foam insulation were left, and apparently, it got so cold that they exploded...  kinda made me giggle..

I went to work on Monday morning, and in the afternoon, the receptionist at my work asked how the cabin was.. I was a little surprised because I hadn't said anything.. She said that she knew I went because my van was all dirty, and there were little patches of orange dirt all over the parking lot...  Um..  yep.. that's mine!

Here's a couple of picture of the scenery around the cabin... Still is beautiful and quiet.

This is the bottom of our street on the east side...

..kinda snowy all around...

...but very peaceful.

I'm still collecting things for the kid's area.. This week, I bought a candy apple making station and a waffle bowl maker... Mahayla was over on Friday night, and saw the two boxes and was most excited about the candy apple maker.  I think we may have to try it out BEFORE it makes a trip down to the cabin...But, the assortment is getting fun... If you can think of other items that would be great in a kid's area, let me know!

At the end of March, Jim and I celebrated on 12th anniversary, and it has been such an interesting and amazing ride... this cabin has been a part of it, plus a thousand other things.  I know I usually drive him crazy, and he takes it in stride..  I couldn't love anyone more... so, my thought, on this subject is, "In life, it's not where you go, it's who you travel with".. and I can't think of a better person to travel with, than Jim..  Love him something stupid.



Not sure when we are going to make it back to the cabin... We've got work, as usual, plus Brad's masters graduation, and his hooding ceremony, and a party, and, and, and... but until then, the adventure continues.

Jim and Cheri