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.

Not much Excitement Going on Here.. Just an update...

So not much has been going on with us lately. As you have noticed I have not posted in 6 weeks. Just been working on a few projects outside to get ready for the predicted rainy season that we will be experiencing. Can't Wait!! We haven't had a good rainy season in years. Still a few more projects to go. I cleaned up the dog run on the side of the house and next is laying sod in the back of the house and gutters. YeeHa.. Oh what fun it is....

We have been seeing this little creature walking on top of our fence the last few weeks, only to find that it has been living under our deck. Emily almost got into a confrontation with it last week. Funny thing is, I remember seeing this little tyke almost a year ago milling around the fence, so it has most likely been living there for a while. It was trying to scurry back under the deck in the morning after a long nights work, so I placed bricks at the openings and brushed it out of the yard, so it could find a new home in the canyon where it belongs. How it climbs up the fence, I will never know.

We bought a new dishwasher as the Calcium had built up so bad after using those stupid Gelpacks for so long. I think those who make dishwashers had a coup going on with the detergent companies, so they could sell more dishwashers if you ask me.

On a really happy note.. It is amazing how God works in our lives. I was hesitant to leave my old company and work for myself, but something told me it was finally time to let go, and go for it. I left McMillin Realty on June 26th, and by the end of this month, I will have made as much money working for myself in 3 months as I did with that piece of crap company in a whole year. Trust me, they weren't paying me very well at all, but what a score and good decision this was. This month has been crazy though. I have had (10) two week escrows. (They are usually 30 days) and it is crazy trying to get all this paperwork back and forth and signed by all parties in two weeks.

When I signed up on Facebook I started a group called, "Utah Figure Skating Club 1979-1985" and thru people joining the group and searching their friends, I have so far found about 10 of my old figure skating buddies.. I just love the site. I can't believe how many people I have found and those that have found me. I am amazed that there are people out there who even think about me after all these years. Its kind of a rush.

And once again this site, I can't figure out how to make the paragraphs seperate.. So darn frustrating!!!