Our wonderful hosts

While in Arizona, this wonderful family gave their house

over to us. It was so nice to come back to a home, rather than

a motel, after our daily travels. An extra benefit for us was that

we made new friends in the process.

This is the front entry way to the home.

Barb and her family started from scratch fourteen years ago and have

since made this very old house into a welcome home.

There are so many personal touches throughout the home...

for example, she painted the wall that you see in the photo above.

This is my favorite room in the house. The main accent color was teal, and it was full of old dishes, furniture, etc. I love old things, but I've never
really figured out how to incorporate them into my home.
Barb's home inspired me to be brave, break out of the box a bit, and give
it a try.

She's a quilter, too.

The house is full of handmade quilts and wallhangings.

In the evenings, we'd sit outside around the fire pit,

roast marshmallows, and talk like the families

had known each other forever.

We were also treated to a gorgeous moon each night.

An old bridge that runs over the river.

Dad, Ryan and Jack working on the nightly fire.

Emma discovered Barb's wheelbarrow...red with pink

flames. Emma's a pink girl, so she was excited to

go for a ride in such a cool set of wheels.

Kitchen

Handpieced, hand quilted wall hanging

I don't think that I've ever put a photo of a bathroom on my blog.

First time for everything, eh?

This is the wall in her bathroom...a friend of hers painted it from a

small print.

A little Wii

Another pic of the entry way.

This is the little cottage that my brother Matt

rented from Barb for the past couple of years. Now that

Matt is married and living elsewhere, it will become her studio.

Thanks, dear friend, of making us feel so welcome.