Another project finished!!

When we bought our house, we had two large flower beds in the front yard.  One was really nice with the large castle rock going around the flower beds.  The other had the small, scalloped brick going around.  They did not match and the scalloped blocks looked bad.

Each spring we thinned out a bunch of plants from the flower beds.  They were planted too thick and the plans were overgrown.

This spring we started working on the east flower bed.  Pulled all the scalloped blocks out and started putting in the large castle rock.  Those things are heavy!!  About 70 pounds each.

The yard is sloped right there, so we started at the lowest spot and  started placing blocks, leveling as we went.  120 blocks later, it is finished.

The last block on the top row was about 4 inches too wide.  Out came a power tool, a jack hammer with a chisel on it.  In just a few minutes, the last block fit in the spot and we finished. 

Now we need some more top soil to level off the dirt and we are good to go.

Still looking for an old picture to compare the before and after pictures.

Zoey's gymnastics

Mariah and Derrick's daughter Zoey had a gymnastics show this Saturday.  She was so cute and had fun doing the jumping and tumbling.

Kenyon's birthday

Kenyon turns 11 in a few days and he absolutely loves Scouts.  He can start doing the Scout camps, if Dad will go with him at 11.  For his birthday, he wanted equipment so when he can go camping, he has his stuff.

We bought him a 2 man tent.  Can you tell he is a bit excited.

 

 

 

 

Now he just has to convince Mike to go camping with him.  Mike grew up in Kenya and everyday was camping for him.  He likes his bed and his shower at home.

Boxes for graduating Laurels

We have 8 Laurels that graduated this past week.  Decided to make wood boxes for them and invited the Young Women leaders to write letters to the girls. 

Finished up on the boxes on Wednesday and then started the finishing part.  Sanded to 220, then did four coats of wet sanding, starting with 500 grit and ending with 1000 grit paper.  Makes the wood nice and smooth.

This box is quarter sawn oak with a gum wood lid.

 

 





This box is eucalyptus box with walnut lid.

 



 This box is cherry with walnut lid.

 

 

This box is coffee wood and gum wood top.

 

 

Did something different with these boxes.  Cut all the rabbets, or grooves on the inside of the boards to hold the lid and the bottom.  Cut and fit the lid and bottom to fit in the box and glued it together.  Then made a jig to hold the box on it's corner and cut rabbets in the corners to glue in the "keys" on the corner.  That gives extra strength to the corner and the boxes.  Then cut rabbets on the outside of the box to cut the lid off of the box.  That creates an inner seam or lip for the lid to sit on.  All kind of magical.  Fun to try different things.

 

Got a bunch of letters from the current and previous YW leaders and the plan was to give the Laurel's their boxes on Sunday.  Not one of the graduating Laurel's was at church on Sunday.  Bummer.  Wait until next week!!

 

 

 



6th Grade Graduation

Mike and Cristal's oldest, Myka graduated today from 6th grade.  She received awards for high honors, perfect attendance and her ribbons from the recent track meet.

Myka and her friends Ashley and Natalie  

 

Miss Wright and Ashley, Natalie,  Myka.

 

 

 

 

Myka and Cristal

 

 

 

Myka and Mike

 

 

 

Track Star Myka.  Myka took first in the 400, 2nd in the 100 and 3rd in the long jump.

 

 

 

Myka, Ashley and Natalie

 

 

 



High School Graduation

For the last two years, I have been one of the Laurel's advisors in our ward.  We have a huge Young Women's, so we have two advisors, along with the President.

We have 8 girl's graduating this week from high school.  Some are going on missions right away and some to college and then a mission.  No plans for a couple of them. 

Decided to make boxes for each of the Laurel's and have the leader's write letters to them.  We have been in two years, so I invited the previous YW leader's to write letters too.

Made ten different boxes with all kinds of different wood; cherry, oak, mahogany, gum wood, and coffee wood.

We will miss these girls!!!