Absolutely wonderful images, thank you for sharing them with us! :) Makes me really bummed about the pine beetles out here in the Black Hills. Looking real pitiful lately. But your outstanding photos certainly are a pick me up. ~Tina

If nothing else, get a removable panel while you are doing the linen closet - you can change the faucet later if you need to, but this sounds like the perfect time to create access to the plumbing. I recently put a new faucet with new controls (Hansgrohe) in my master bathroom, but my faucet controls were not working properly, and there was a great risk of scalding. If you replace the controls, make sure that you have separate control over the water temperature. Mine has one lever to control temperature and a separate control for volume, which I like very much. Before, I had one control, and the water started out cold, but as I turned the lever, I would get warmer and then hot water. However, I was never able to get a slow volume of hot water - only a huge blast - and this was not great for the shower. My plumber left a hole in the linen closet wall, and I put up a removable panel myself. Lars

Ann - First of all..... are you going to Red Mountain or Green Valley spa perchance? That part of UT is one of the most beautiful places in the world, IMO. You will love the hiking and shouldn't find it too difficult if you are prepared. We spent considerable time in that area when our son was in boarding school a bit north of Zion and had to learn a lot about adjusting to altitude since we're from Chicago at 600 ft> sea level. As mentioned, water, water, water! You will think you're going to float away but keep drinking. Check with your doctor to be sure, but a week or so before your trip you can begin taking aspirin as a blood thinner. It can help with the altitude headaches. Also, pump up your iron intake - it's the hemoglobin/iron combo that oxygenates your body and that will help with the breathlessness that comes at altitude, especially with exertion. Limit alcohol intake. I find even one glass of wine at dinner dehydrates me terribly so if I do drink, it's minimal and I up the water even more. Both our sons live in high altitude areas - our younger son lives at 7800 ft and if I don't prepare before we go to visit him, I'm miserable. It sounds like a WONDERFUL trip! I'm excited for you and can't wait to hear more.

the tissue of flower petals is very ephemeral .. some lasting only a day.. in good weather .. they are made to show themselves in the glory of the sun ... not many are made to take steady pounding by rain ... in other words.. its not just a mum thing ... many.. if not all are perennial .. in warmer climes .... im surprised you just ripped them out ... though on the other hand.. i dont keep things around that piss me off either.. so if removal made you happy.. all the power to you ... ken