Easter Egg Hunting

DGD and Chester really had a WONDERFUL hunt, finding Easter Eggs that she colored hidden all over our new yard! Chester got into the act, and caught on quickly --finding plastic and "real" eggs almost as fast as she could. We had a delicious brunch prepared by Dear Sister, and a royal good laugh at the youngest ones romping and playing as they found the treats.

I used papers and frames from new designer Rhonda's Treasures very first kit "Jasmine" which can be found here:
Fonts are Emma and Parchment.

The Rose

This is the first flower to come from our brand-new garden. Yesterday the landscapers planted my roses, and the lemon and lime trees. Because this rose was blooming, I cut it the minute they got the big plant transplanted, and this is my first rose. It is NOT the yellow rose I chose (they couldn't get it apparently) but it is the beautiful yellow Henry Fonda, and it is really quite exquisite.

Joshua Trees

The Joshua Trees are in full bloom right now, with their magnificent huge flowers in a little area where there is day-camping and hiking available in the Virgin River Canyon Recreational Area.
This area is between Mesquite, NV and St. George UT in a tiny strip of Arizona along I-15.

These members of the Yucca family have always been one of my favorite of the desert plant, and while they appear strong and imposing, they can only survive in an exact few feet altitude and grow very slowly. They bloom only if they've had a freeze in the winter and enough water--not every year as other desert plants--But the blooms are huge with cascades of trumpet flowerettes connected at the bottom and spreading out off the end of each arm of the plant. They are pollinated ONLY by the Yucca Moth, (a great big pink and brown moth, that looks like a butterfly!-- who lays her eggs inside the flower, The larvae eat the seeds of the plant as they grow.) -The scenery through the Virgin River Gorge is spectacular (and never twice the same) .

Chester on Watch

I'm so eager to start the next album (and the next chapter of our lives) and this is one of the first pages for it. I used a qp from Misty Cato's Weathered Decor for this.

Keys!

We picked up the keys to our new home this morning at 10:00.
After almost exactly nine months (and exactly 60 working days of the build-cycle) WE ARE OWNERS.



Chester is one happy camper too--with new windows on a whole new world--he watched, played and waited expectantly--not sure what for! (probably for his toys in storage to re-appear!)

In Hours--It's Ours

Even though we don't get keys until Monday--today we sign all the documents, and our new home is OURS! Woo Hoo---we're through--but of course,---we've just begun. Final page (of 80 in our "build book." Almost all the pages were done with Rina Kroes' "Rawhide Princess." Album complete!!! Project Finished!

It's done--and it's PERFECT!!---Our new lifestyle has officially begun!

The Little Flowers

These pretty little flowers are blooming near our r.v. site, and we've enjoyed them. They're member of the Mallow family. Members of this family are Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon, Mallows, and, in wetter climates the Marshmallow Cotton, & Okra. (Thank you Dale, for identifying them)

This is Misty Cato's "Pretty Emma" paper and ribbons designed by Sweet Made. All else mine. This layout was for the Hooked on Templates Challenge at Scrapbook Elements, and is done with papers, and embellishments designed by Rina Kroes in her "Some Enchanted Evening" kit. I love the direction this unusual template took me.