You probably recognize the picture as the spines on a saguaro cactus. These particular spine clusters are found on the saguaro in the front of our house.

I like "pattern pictures" and seem to take a lot of them. I think I may start getting enlargements of some of them printed for framing and displaying in my "office" (read spare bedroom) here at home.

We've been enjoying some delicious moments of monsoon type rain the last few days and some increased humidity. Of course, we don't get Iowa-type humidity of 99 or 100 percent like I've seen on recent Iowa City weather reports. Percentages in the 40s and 50s are typical for summer monsoon days here in the desert -- maybe sometimes in heavy rain conditions getting up to the 60s and 70s. But then it dries out again when the storm passes and then builds up for the next afternoon's showers.

My grass, as Whitney and her kids can attest, turned out nicely. It seems to be growing way too fast, however, which might be the result of the fertilizer I used when I planted. I've had to mow it every second or third day. I believe I will cut back on the sprinkling schedule to see if I can slow it down a bit. But it's thick and green and a joy to walk and play on. The local wildlife seem also to like it -- rabbits, quail families, other birds and our ever-present desert chipmunks.

I've just finished an audio series of Hugh Nibley talks entitled "Time Vindicates the Prophets." It is available through the BYU bookstore. I highly recommend it. I have been listening on my iPod as I travel for my work and also as I ride my bicycle. It is a series of talks given by Nibley in the late 50s (I think) that were broadcast on Sunday evenings on KSL radio. There are, perhaps, 20 or so talks, each about 15 minutes long. He touches on various aspects of religious and philosophical history as it relates to the early Christian church, later evolutions of the church influenced by philosophy and how those developments compare with the restored gospel and latter-day prophets. They are worth the time to listen. Nibley is amazing in the depth and breadth of his knowledge of early history and philosophy.

We so enjoyed having Whitney, Ethan, Jackson and especially Sophie here with us for a week. We hope they had fun and found the trip worth the time and effort. Mom can never get enough of her grandkids of course and is now planning a trip to Iowa to visit Erin. That will complete her trifecta of visiting Rachel earlier this year, having Whitney here in Thatcher this past week and then going to Iowa to visit the three Tingey grandkids. She's a great Nana, don't you all think?

I've been enjoying getting back into the biking habit. I made a few changes to my bike this season which has made it quite a bit more comfortable for me. I've suffered from various kinds of neck and wrist pain the past and the slightly different riding position I now have is helping to minimize that.

This is a beautiful time of year here in the Gila Valley. The lush green cotton fields, the white billowy summer clouds in the blue sky and the afternoon thunderstorms dancing around Mt. Graham compensate for the warmer (hotter) days and evenings. Mornings are still cool, however.

Keep yourselves safe and well.

Love,

Dad

Looking east.

Looking south.

Looking south.

Looking southwest.

The view from the dining room window.

It's Saturday evening and Mom is faithfully doing her Relief Society duty and fixing/serving dinner to the folks taking part in the regional single adult conference. Mom is a hard worker and a faithful person. We would all be better people if we followed her example more closely.

You can see above the results of our new lawn project. Jake provided much (but not all) of the labor and I provided the consulting services of design, sprinklers, equipment operation and seed selection.

The seed seemed to take a long time to sprout but I think I have come to the conclusion that I planted a week or two early and the bermuda grass seed I selected would have liked slightly warmer nights. But now it's beginning to grow more quickly and fill in nicely.

I ordered a state-of-the art lawn mower that is among the most pollution-free and energy saving models -- mostly because it has no engine. Just a good ol' fashioned push reel mower. I'm sure that thrills Jake's heart. It will certainly be good for mine.

It should be here within the next four or five days. I may need to mow it before then, however, which means borrowing a neighbor's. We left our Fruit Heights mower behind when we moved thinking that we would have no grass in Arizona. But we soon realized that grandkids needed a place to roll around on (besides the piles of sand and gravel). And it also provides a bit of an oasis in the desert. We can't afford a swimming pool so this is our green, organic "pool" to cool us off in the heat of the summer.

Jake seems to be having a good experience in Utah although I hear precious little from or about him -- just a bit here and there that Jan learns from her Mom and relatives in Mapleton. I understand Jake is hiking this weekend at the exact same spot where Mom did her solo experience during her wilderness survival hike before we were married. That seems fitting -- completing the circle from mother to youngest son. I don't know whether Jake realizes the significance of the place.

Life is chugging along fairly well right now for Mom and I. I am just "waking up" from my annual bicycle hibernation and getting back into regular morning rides. My bike season is getting a late start this year mostly because of the labor (and exercise) I was putting into the new lawn project. Now that that's behind us (mostly) the bike is back in the picture.

I replaced several parts on my Waterford trying to make it a bit more comfortable for this aging body of mine. So far it seems to be working except for the new saddle. I installed a leather Brooks saddle made in merry old England. It is supposed to be the most comfortable bike saddle made -- except for the first five or six hours of break-in time. In short, my butt hurts like heck. I'm not sure if it's the saddle I must break in or my back parts. It seems like the latter right now. Gratefully, I have been noticing some improvement in comfort this last little while.

We have been enjoying unseasonably cool weather. It's mid-June and, save a couple of hot days in May, haven't had any extreme temperatures yet. Days are in the mid-9os, humidity very low and nights in the low 60s with only slight amounts of wind for a couple of hours in the afternoons. It's been just about perfect.

Well, thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a comment so I know you've been here.

Love,

Dad

Here's a reporter/photographer with a eye for irony.

How can you tell if you are not the favorite child?

I keep telling Jake that a seat belt is needed even in the back seat. Here's proof.