Cut Down That Tree

Jacquelyn's been wanting us to cut down this flowering plum tree for some time now and we finally got around to it.

 This is the tree after Caleb cut off the lower branches.  It was tricky to cut down because the tree was between our house and the neighbors house, maybe 25 feet tall, and right next to the fence.

 Our hometeacher, Brother Newbold, volunteered to help.  He cut off the upper branches with a small hand saw and then a chainsaw. We used ropes to guide where the tree limbs fell.

 Caleb with the chain saw chopping up branches, and Brother Rainey helping out too.

 The fallen tree.  It grew back once before, we'll see if it grows back again.

 Hauling branches out to the curb.  We cut up the trunk for firewood and took that to the backyard.

That was the end of the tree.  It was pretty but Jacquelyn hated all the little plums that it dropped.  They weren't eatable, too sour, and made a mess in the yard.

Malachi Visiting in Arizona

While we were down in Arizona visiting our parents, Malachi flew down for a visit also.

 Here's Malachi with his Grandpa Swift in front of a western mercantile store.

 And here's Malachi with his Grandma Rucker and also Jacquelyn.

 We went for some walks and drives and saw some fascinating desert scenery.

The rocky hills are inspiring.

 And the colossal saguaro cactus are magnificent.

 At Canyon Lake we went on river cruise on the Dolly Steamboat.

 Canyon Lake winds around through the rocky clefts.

 Grandpa Swift taking in the sunny weather.  It was beautiful out and so relaxing on the water.

 These clefts had caves in them that gave the appearance of spooky, angry, rock monster faces.

 This is beautiful country, so different from home in Washington.

 We got lucky and spotted a bighorn sheep up on the side of a rocky cleft.

 Hello sheep, smile.

 We also made a visit to the Goldfield Ghost Town.  Things have changes.

Bye Malachi, glad you could come down for a visit and got to see you grandparents.