Before and After: Comparison Pictures of Two Views of the House

Sometimes, when you are building a house pretty much by yourself, you get discouraged because it doesn't seem like a lot of progress is happening. Today, Gary took some pictures standing in the same spot as a previous picture so we could do a "before and after" comparison. Of course, when Debi uploaded it to the "Blogger in the sky", the images came out in the opposite order, so you will see the "after" and then the "before" picture.


AFTER: (Below) This view was taken today looking west. Use the tree in the middle for reference.

BEFORE: (Below) This picture shows the same tree in the middle of the photo, with the old house on the left. This photo was taken December 18, 2006, when we were installing the new septic tank for our future log cabin. (You can see all the digging and the dump truck pouring out gravel for the septic tank.)

AFTER: (Below) Here is a picture of what the view up the driveway looks like today.

ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO: (Below) Here is a view looking up the driveway on September 1, 2008, right after the old house was torn down and Gary was doing some site preparation for the new log cabin.BEFORE: (Below) This is the view looking up the driveway toward original house (built prior to 1920). This picture was taken March 31, 2006.Now we feel better! We have accomplished a lot in the past 11 months. We took out our building permit with the county on August 15, 2008, so it hasn't quite been a year. We have to keep reminding ourselves that Gary is doing 90% of the work himself, and we only hired out for the roof trusses, the shingling, and the concrete. Our goal is to be in the house in time for Christmas. Keep your fingers crossed!

Pex Tubing is Complete!

Today was significant because the Pex tubing is all hooked up! This picture shows Gary and George proudly standing in front of the Pex tubing valve manifold. The manifold is located inside the garage. The red tubes indicate hot water lines, and the blue tubes represent the cold water lines. Each of these lines had to be threaded up into the attic (that's where having George's climbing ability/flexibility is appreciated) and down to the each toilet, sink, shower, and tub connection. The next step is the installation of the valves--commonly known as the "rough plumbing". Our goal is to be in the house by Christmas!

Whiting Family Reunion June 5-7, 2009

(NOTE: This blog entry is out of chronological sequence because we just received these pictures from Gary's brother, Lee.)

June 5-7, 2009

We held the Whiting Family Reunion at our house during the first weekend in June. I'm not sure when the tradition started, but whenever Ernie (the youngest) turns the "next decade" old (i.e., from age 39-40, or 49-50) the boys all get together for a reunion. They do it that way because that is when they are all in the same decade. Ernie turned the big 5-0 this year, so it was time to get together. Typically, the weather during the first week in June is cool. This year was no exception. The weather forecasters all predicted a "June Gloom", and they were right! We were able to have an outdoor fire. Notice that we are all wearing jackets and coats. The fire felt good! We cranked out some great homemade strawberry ice cream using Stan's old-fashioned ice cream maker. It was delicious!

This is a picture of Ernie warming himself by the fire. Doesn't the moon look eerie? Lee knows how to take great pictures!

On Sunday morning, we got together for a photograph. Here's a picture of all those who were able to attend.

An Attempt at Landscaping

We've lived on this property since June 2005, and we thought it was about time we did more than just plant our annual living Christmas tree. We were told by our neighbors, the Kaysers, that Home Depot had a sale on "Flowering Plum" trees. We bought six trees at $15.00 each. This picture shows Gary, along with George and Charlie Kayser, planting the first tree. The trees will line the dirt driveway as you first enter the property. Gary, George, and Charlie planted the first one in about 106 degree weather. There is an old saying that "Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun." So, here is a picture of the Englishmen working out in the noonday sun!

This view is looking toward Oak Hills Road. (Notice the thunderclouds in the eastern sky. Maybe it will rain today and cool everything down.) According to the tag on the tree, "Prunus C. Krauter Vesuvius" is its scientific name. The description also states that, "Flowering plum trees grow to 18 feet tall with a 12-foot spread with an upright branching form. Light pink flowers are followed by purple black leaves." We have always admired the purple-black leaves of the Flowering Plum tree when we have seen it at other homes here in the high desert.

With all the dirt we have moved around on this property, we needed some plants along the north and west side that would keep the dirt in place and not wash away our house when it rains.

We asked the local nursery about the type of plants to use as ground cover to help with erosion. We also needed a plant that rabbits don't like to eat. The nursery lady recommended "Rosemary". We've had Rosemary bushes before, but not Rosemary ground cover. We bought just one flat to see if it is truly "rabbit resistant". In a week or so, we will plant more--if the rabbits don't kill it first. If you look really hard, you should be able to see some small green stubs of Rosemary on the hillside.


This little Christmas tree was a gift from the Ericson Family. It was small enough to fit in a medium-sized soft drink cup when we got it in 2007. It is about 18" tall now. We actually planted it after Christmas in 2007, but this is its first picture!

This Aleppo Pine tree is a gift from the Failing Family. It was Asia Failing's first Christmas tree! Come and visit it anytime, Asia.

Fourth of July BBQ with the Kayser Family

Our neighbors, the Kayser Family, invited us over for lunch to enjoy a Fourth of July barbecue at their home to celebrate our nation's birthday. The patio was decorated with many flags and red, white, and blue streamers. We had hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, soda, bean salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, watermelon, and Scotcharoos. Calories don't count on holidays, do they?

George, Charlie, Jacob, Colin, and Mike Kayser load up their plates.
Gary decided to get creative with the Cheetos and use it as a mustache.

Our USA flag flies proudly "o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Day Trip to Vernal, Utah (June 29th)

Gary and Debi took a day trip to Vernal, Utah to visit some of the places that Debi remembered. Vernal is famous for dinosaurs, so it is only appropriate that Debi had her picture taken in front of the pink dinosaur that welcomes visitors to Vernal. Debi and Mike Ramsey lived in Vernal from 1978-1984. This was Debi's first trip back--25 years later. The town had changed a lot! Many more stores (even a Lowes and a Wal-Mart) and new traffic lights made the trip confusing to Debi--she couldn't remember how to get to the school where she taught for five years! (We did find it eventually with a little help from the local phone book.)

The church that Debi and Mike Ramsey attended in Vernal, Utah. (We attended Vernal 8th Ward, in the Glines, Utah Stake.) It is located at the corner of 500 West and 100 South--right next door to the Vernal Temple. The church is just a few blocks away from the first house that Debi and Mike Ramsey owned. We didn't take a picture of the house , but we (Gary and Debi Whiting) walked around the block of her old house at 365 South 900 West.
The 1997 Vernal Utah Temple was converted to a temple from the Vernal Tabernacle which was originally built in 1907. It is listed as a historical landmark in Utah.

Debi standing in front of the entrance to the Vernal, Utah Temple.

Debi and Gary visited the school where Debi first taught--Ashley Elementary. She taught third grade from 1979-1980, and first grade from 1980-1984.

Family Reunion in Utah (June 24-27, 2009)

My mom, Doris Greenwood, made this "Teton Valley" quilt to auction off at the Burgener Family Reunion. The reunion was held in Mapleton, Utah on Saturday, June 27th.

It's all about the food! Scott Hodges, Gary Whiting, Nicole Hodges, Brent Dearden, David Dearden, and Danielle Dearden are shown here.
We met my brother, Tom Greenwood, for lunch at "Crown Burger" on Thursday, June 25th. Evelyn Hodges, Nicole Hodges, Scott Hodges, Tom Greenwood, Lisa Greenwood-Onishi, and Kyleigh Onishi are shown in the picture. Darin Onishi, Gary Whiting, and Debi Whiting attended, but are not in the photo.

We went swimming at the South Jordan Rec Center's indoor pool. It has a "lazy river" and a huge tubular slide. The pictures of Debi coming down the slide didn't turn out, but here's proof that she went swimming.

The Greenwood Family attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House on Wednesday, June 24th. Evelyn Hodges, Scott Hodges, Nicole Hodges, Gary Whiting, Debi Whiting, Lisa Greenwood-Onishi, Darin Onishi, Kyleigh Onishi, Dad Greenwood, and Mom Greenwood attended.