Landscaping Continues

As you can see from the following photos, we have been making progress on the landscaping. We have gotten all the drainage channels dug, we've raked out the bigger rocks, we've hauled in some really big rocks from the back yard, and we've planted most of what we bought a few weeks ago. We are hoping to get the final wall caps on so we can plant the last few prickly pears. We have 3 small trees that we will have someone else plant for us, and we have to order all the decomposed granite to cover all the dirt. Again we hope to hire someone to spread all that around!! Gates should start arriving on Friday. They won't show from the front, but will finally enclose the patio areas. Stay tuned for more progress.......

We still have to cover all this with decomposed granite and more rip rap. 

Still need the final caps on the walls. 

All smoothed, rocks out, and a few plants in. 

The saguaro cacti are all in bloom. Some even have bloosoms all down the main stem.

Vacation is Over

We had a nice visit with our son in Florida and with our daughter in Georgia. Then we packed up all her belongings and drove back here. Essentially 8 days on the road of a 15 day trip. We will be content to stay put for a while! A few photos from our trip are below.
Now it is back to finishing the landscaping!! While we were gone one more house has gone up. The framing on the other appears about finished and the third house looks ready for its exterior paint. Another lot (#9) has gone on the market. We are sure glad we built when we did. With the prices they are asking for these lots now, the houses built on them will have to be million dollar homes.

The new graduate with a Masters degree in International Public Health. A job well done!!!! 

Anna with her two good friends, Laura and Miho. All received their Masters degree in Public Health. 

Proud parents with the new MPH grad. 

Aren't they handsome looking!?!! 

With our daughter, Anna. This was also Mother's Day. 

Visiting with our son, Jon, in front of his workplace, Campus Crusade for Christ headquarters in Orlando.  

This is showing the 'house on the hill', up the street from us. The other house, which has a foundation, has not yet started framing. 

We are getting there, almost done!!! 

The Allen block walls. They have provided nice terraces for future plantings. 

Prickly but pretty!! 

Here are a few of the plants we have purchased so far. Anyone want to help plant these prickly gems? 

Almost Finished

The patio walls are painted, the gates are ordered, and the Allen block terracing walls are all finished except for a few top caps. The saw broke so they couldn't make the cuts for the various angle areas. We have spent the last few days raking and shoveling, trying to get the drainage correct. We have bought a number of cacti and agaves, and identified large stones on our property that can be used to add interest to the landscaping.
But now we have a special graduation to attend. Our daughter has completed her Masters in International Public Health!!! So we are taking a break to go celebrate with her and also visit our son in Florida. The mantra around here is "But its a dry heat", so we will go see how the same temperatures feel in Atlanta and Orlando!!! Then we'll come back about the time we reach the 100's here to plant all those cacti(like maybe the middle of the night?!!).