2012: Chapter 1 - Floor Glorious Floor!

What a difference! Spending nine days in the cottage permitted us to install the laminate flooring in the living room, dining room, kitchen and hallway. Accurate measurements are vital-as they say, "Measure twice, cut once."

The floor wasn't the only accomplishment this week. Many family members visited and a great time was had by all. On 2011 Day #364, my Aunt Wally, Uncle Ken, cousins Scott and Kathy & her husband, Clint and their kids, Drew and Cal graced our cottage. They are also "cottage people" (in Michigan). Then on 2012 Day #1, our daughter, Cindy and her husband, Jesse & our son, Jeff and his wife, Erin and their son, Kyler made the trek up north to visit for the day. Seeing nature reflected in the wonder of our grandson's eyes and hearing his baby footsteps in the cottage were unforgettable.

On 2012 Day #2 the evening prayer service we attended at Chapel of the Holy Cross was spiritually fulfilling.  As the sun's warm setting glow illuminated the chapel and all sang Dona Nobis Pacem (Latin for Grant Us Peace), each attendee was invited to place a small prayer or intention candle among the Nativity figures at the altar. An elderly Native American man inched his way to the altar helped by his trusty cane. All eyes were on him as he lowered his well worn body slowly to his knees.  Spindly fingers raised his candle upward while his head followed with eyelids lowered. I focused on his chiseled profile, reflecting on the Native American culture that existed in Sedona before Anglo-European settlement.

We've begun to feel the daily heartbeat of neighborhood life: trash pickup, FedEx, UPS & propane deliveries, neighbors walks, cars & chats, identifying individual dog barks, and afternoon sunlight bathing our cottage.

Almost all the leaves have fallen to earth to crumble and fertilize next year's growth. Northern snow melt has turned the normally trickling Mund's Creek into a waterway nearly the size of Oak Creek. The cicadas are gone and it is quiet in the Canyon save the birds searching for food.

I feel at one with the Canyon and want all my days to be spent here.

Aunt Wally, Uncle Ken, Clint, Kathy, Cal, Drew, Scott, Bill

Cindy, Jesse, Erin, Jeff, Kyler

Bill laying the last row of flooring

Bill admiring the living room floor (See Sept. 11, 2011 post to compare)

Michelle showing off the kitchen, hallway and dining room floor

Leafless trees line Oak Creek