August 7, 2011 Wood Floor Installation

Dan, friend Mark and Jeff installed the wood floor in the lodge on a hot and humid day. The difference between plywood and the polished wood is dramatic. Thanks guys!

July 24 - 25, 2011 Summer in Bloom

Acres of corn fields provide a beautiful and everchanging backdrop at Covo, from the early spring planting to the mid-fall harvest when the land goes back to nature.  If only this was farm fresh sweet corn! 

Pumpkins are ahead of schedule this year with healthy flowering plants and fruit already on the vine.  

Scenes of Summer

June 14, 2011 Barb lends a hand

No trip is complete without a day at Covo Hills. Happy to escape the Phoenix heat, Barb was eager to work outdoors. We shoveled and spread wood chips around the pumpkin plants to keep the weeds down.





Uncle Palmer brought lots of cut wood from his house to ours.

 Garlic and pumpkin growing side by side: garlic almost ready to harvest, pumpkins just beginning to spread.

 

Recreating American Gothic by Grant Wood

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Tempe (college joke)

Mississippi fun on the way to Poopy's

May 29, 2011 Painting Day

We choose a soft yellow shade for the walls that is a nice contrast for the wainscotting and white windows. Deena and Jeff have fun painting up on the scaffolding. We've come a long way in two years! Construction on the lodge interior began in June 2009.

 Brian and Janie join us for the day. Still plenty of time to play (golf) after the painting is done.

 

 

May 19, 2011 Color Pallette

The bedroom is done and now it's time to pick a color for the great lodge room from the splashes of color on the wall.

Katie's home from college

Play acting

The loft

May 1, 2011 Draining the pond

The trees are still bare, but the grass has really greened up in a month. Jeff digs a channel to divert the excess water into the main pond. It works.

April 2, 2011 Barn wood reclaimed

Dan did an amazing thing over the winter. He stripped wood off the milking barn, rinsed it clean at a car wash, measured, cut and nailed it to the wall as a natural wainscotting. He also attached the tin roof to both sides of the front door. Both are wonderful accents that add character, interest and history to the new lodge interior. What a wonderful surprise after our winter away!

In early April, spring is still on its way. The trees are bare, the grass is dead












and water is overflowing in the usually dry areas. The island is truly an island!