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!!!

Doing Cartwheels of Joy

So things are going good so far with the home biz. I was so afraid, but it turns out that it was perfect timing. I closed 7 deals this month making 50% more then I was at that corporate BS.. and for August, if everything goes right, I will be making almost three times as much. I couldn't have even tried to do all this while pretending that I was working fully on my own from a corporate office. Cool thing is that I only have to close 5 deals a month to equal what I was making at the corporate crap. And there I was working 40 - 50 deals.. Jerks!!! They always say.. you don't make the big bucks working for someone else. Of course, I have to convince Matt to quit spending all of it. Which is the whole reason that we can't afford to go anywhere.

God works in mysterious ways.... Amazing that when you believe he will always take care of you.. it just happens!!!

Scary thing is, that most people buy homes in the summer, so that they don't have to relocate their kids during the school year. Home buying really drops off after September thru April, so I am kind of worried. Any ideas on how to get more business other then advertising to Realtor's on Craigslist, Facebook and referral would be so much appreciated. I can't let this feeling of Liberation end!! LOL.

I know its wrong, but I am not officially making any money, as all is going under Matt's name, so I have an unemployment interview on Monday.. and I am freaked out. (heck, I have paid into it for 30 years now, I deserve it) Heck, if these illegal immigrants can get all the benefits who paid nothing into it.. I know I deserve it!!!

The company did ask me to quit voluntarily and didn't deny me the benefit, so I am going to work it.. Voluntary resignation qualifies. I just hope that I can convince the Unemployment Department.

I am sad to say this, but I haven't been this happy with life since I was 9 or 10 and didn't know any better.

So, I wanted to post a pic of a visitor that we had in our home office the other day, but it wouldn't download.. A carrier pigeon with a string decided to fly in and of course took his little poopie on the floor. Luckily, Emily was upstairs or she would have caught it and ripped it too shreds. It was a sweet gift of the unexpected.

Wish that I had more interesting things to post about, but the life these days in a little boring and to normal..

Love and miss you all!!!!