Missed Christmas

 Not sure why this Christmas was so hard to be away from you all. I am sure it is due to Dad not being around this year.  Most likely, as I have lost it a couple of time this last week.May be due to mom, sending me a picture of Dad and I, or Joyce sending me Dad's Poem with his picture on it.  Love and miss you so much Dad. By the way.. here is the site for Dad's memoration page.... http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52605252

As I mentioned months ago, I invite you to scan/email/and post pics you have of dad on this site... Love and miss you so much dad.. Wish we could have had more time together. I know that I was/am a disappointment to you, but thru it all, you were my hero..

By the way Dad. You always said that you wished that you had my hair. Well guess what. You always did. My head of hair is too fine as well, and can't do a damn thing with it, just as you alway's complained about.

I am finding it funny, how much we have in common. Complaining about the stupid commercials, etc... I am begging you to come visit me very soon.

A Ghost or Wierd Freaky Things

So Matt and I were sitting downstairs one morning last week, and hear this crash and breaking glass, as if a picture fell of the wall. (and we don't have many pictures hanging) We searched the whole house, and found nothing indoors or out, so went about our way as if we were hearing something. Next day, Matt was taking a shower and weighing himself on the scale, as he does every morning, only to find that the inside pane or our dual windows had broken. We don't know how it happened. The window company came out and couldn't quite explain how it happened either.

Thanks goodness, it is still covered by the Warranty. Nothing better than free replacements. Especially since most things only break, right after they are covered under the one year warranty.

I know.. What a small and stupid thing to post about, but feel that I have been distant and need to get back on the blog train.

Uhhhhh.. Jolyn Tilley, Nicole Bigelow, Stephanie, Julie and others who have been away for a year, or almost a year.. Pathetic of us.. Hop on the train and climb aboard.

The Neighborhood Garden

I posted these on facebook, but here are the pictures of our Neighboorhood Drought Tolerant Garden at the park, that I posted about back in July. Thought it would take years to get done, but lo and behold.. the redtape was a little faster this time. Obviously it will grow in over a long period of time, but pretty nice to see the artwork and plants, versus a big old empty hole of dirt. Most of the artwork was made from recycled materials.

One piece of artwork was a whole lotta soda cans crunched up inside a rectangular piece of enclosed plastic (about 6ft x 3ft x 3ft) But go figure, it was stolen within a week. Most likely from the homeless who were trying to collect cans for food, or most likely alcohol to drown their sorrows away. (Been there, done that) way too many times.

This last piece of artwork lights up at night, via solar power.. kind of cool.

Drought Tolerant Front Yard

Here is our new drought tolerant front yard..(First three pictures)  Couldn't get anything to grow out front, and so with our visits to Scottsdale Arizona, we decided to go with Cactus, instead of the Tropical Feel.. we love Arizona. Funny how cactus can be so beautiful! It also helped that our friend who introduced us to vacationing in Scottsdale, was re-landscaping his backyard and getting rid of some of his cactus for free! So it boosted me to go for it!

I would have liked to have gotten some taller plants, but they are a little expensive, so we just went small. I know they don't need a lot of water, but from what I understand, those you want to grow faster, you water more. So that's what I have been trying to do.

I got the large rocks from the mountains about 45 minutes away. I was delivering a file to one of my agents up in the farm/mountain country, and noticed rocks that had fallen down the mountain onto the side of the road. So now everytime I deliver a file to her, I pick up a few more. I feel like I am stealing, so every time a car comes up the hill, I pretend to be looking at my tires. How silly is that. She says, "You are silly, we all do it".

 I have been looking for my favorite tree from Arizona, which is the Palo Verde Tree. But can only find them here about 3 feet tall unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for a taller one.

Fourth picture here is our attempt to transform the backyard... Will eventually get done.. Trying to pay cash for all these plants, and not a lot of that to go around. These days, we live on the darn credit cards. Not sure why but luckily, my credit card has been 0% interest for the last two years.. so SHHHHHHH.. don't tell anyone. I personally think its a fluke and they just haven't caught it yet.. But I aint' saying notin.


Regarding my previous post of the drought tolerant Neighborhood Garden. I thought it would be years away, but it turns out that it will be completed on October 2nd.. YeeHAA!! Of course, pics will come.

Well anyhow, regarding blogspot, It seems as though they have tried to improve the moving around of pictures and text, but as always, it just ain't working for me.

New Neighborhood Garden

First of all, this new posting and moving pics around was supposed to be so much better.. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I am getting a little head of myself, as this neighborhood project will either take years, or never come to fruition like most projects in the neighborhood. But just got word that next to the park, just one block away, the city is going to install a water wise garden. I guess it will include cactus/drought tolerant plants, including natural & recycled materials, as well as an area for weddings and outdoor presentations, walls, fencing, etc....

Our favorite place to visit is Scottsdale/Cave Creek Arizona. We just love the landscaping there. Who knew that cactus could be so beautiful. Hopefully it will turn out as a great place to enjoy. Me and Emily walk this area every morning. Of course, by the time it is completed, we will have probably sold the house and moved out of the neighborhood. As much as I would like to enjoy it, I hope that is actually true. So want out of this neighborhood.. It's been too long in this crime ridden place. Time to move on in life, but thanks to the economy and the real estate mess, we are stuck for awhile.  But I digress........

 We actually just started re-landscaping our front yard with cactus/succulents, as everything else just seemed to die in the full sun... That project will be posted here soon.

I realize this is a lame post, but I am trying to get better at posting more often, as I once did, and of course, as usual, I am starting to blab on and on... so I will stop now.. Love & miss you all so much!!!

SURPRISE!!!!!

So Matt is turning 40, and I figured I would throw him a surprise party.. I found a pastry shop to make this cake for the party, as Matts favorite food is Pepperoni Pizza.

Cute cake, but I'll bet Kellie could have topped this one.





It was tough lying to him this whole week, I was so worried that someone would acidentally say something, but all turned out okay, and he didn't have a clue that anything was going on.

I was a little bummed that some of those who said they were coming, didn't show up. We haven't seen some of them for so long, and I was really looking forward to spending some time with them again.




I guess for his actual birthday on the 7th, Matt wants to go to the Pechanga Resort and Casino, which is located near the Temecula Wine Country.

We figured a local staycation would be better the heading to Vegas, as he originally wanted to do. I didn't want to leave Emily alone again for too long anyhow. Seems we have been leaving her every month since March. I am a little worried about her as well. Guess I better get her to the Vet for a checkup.

So I also thought that I would surprise you all, by finally posting something. We lead a pretty dull life so not much of anything to post.

And I am pretty sure that once I hit the publish button, as always, these pictures and text will not turn out the way I had hoped.