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Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Christmas in the Desert
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.... Signs of Santa hats on saguaros, palm and mesquite trees wrapped in colored lights, and families in flip flops and shorts searching for the perfect pine at tree lots. Ah yes, Christmas in Arizona, from cactus to pines, sunshine to snow, we have it all. The Christmas spirit is alive and well in the desert. It's not anything that can be pointed to or explained, but it's the feeling of love, family, giving and celebrating the birth of the Christ child. However you choose to celebrate, may Christs' love touch your heart and home this season and through the new year.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Woo Hoo!
October 19 and the doors are open! AZ is open for Fall visitors! I think it is safe to say the temps are now dropping and should stay that way. I had a wonderful visit with my gal pal from Canada last week. Also a trip to the plant nursery, yup, time to get outdoors and enjoy the amazing state of Arizona!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Fall in AZ
The calendar says it's fall. The merchandise is the stores say it's fall. Coffee shops are serving their "fall" pumpkin spice drinks......but our weather is still over 105*. Ahhh, life in AZ! I look forward to seeing my out of state and Canadian friends soon!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Is it better to give than to receive?
Have you ever been blessed by someone doing a simple gesture or act of kindness? These seemingly small deeds may be just the positive note or validation someone needs to make the day special, whether you are the giver OR receiver. Either way hopefully each of us can make a small difference each day.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
AZ Real Estate 2010
What a crazy market we find ourselves in. What has become the low point of many people losing their homes in this economy......creates opportunity for first time home buyers and vacation home buyers. Always looking for a way to make lemonade from the lemons life hands us.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Simple Blessings
Yesterday I received a totally unexpected Thank You card from some very appreciative individuals. It was hand made with HAND written notes. Wow. A lost art and a total blessing that I will cherish.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Life
"Life is not the way you think it should be. It's the way it is.
The way you choose to cope with it is what makes the difference."
(author unknown)
The way you choose to cope with it is what makes the difference."
(author unknown)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
So Summer is here.... officially
Who really looks at the calendar to tell them that summer has started? Ah yes, June 21st, now it MUST be summer, right?
As a kid the first day of summer was the day after school ended, waking up with nothing but free time, playing with friends, building forts and spending afternoons at the community swimming pool.
As a teen it was pretty much the same thing, first day of no school, summer jobs and hanging with friends after work at the bowling alley or drive in movie. (small town)
As an adult living in the Phoenix area it just means HOT! Summer starts to me in May when the kids get out of school and it's HOT. June brings the real warm up show of temps from the 102* to 110* ish range. Then we wait for the Monsoon to hit when it is HOT but with a wonderful change of late afternoon thunderstorms and evening lightning shows in July. Turning another calendar page we hit August, when it will be HOT with hopefully more storms, temperatures hovering around 112* to 115* if we are lucky. At this point anything under 110* is not a bad day. In Arizona the kids go back to school in August and it should feel like the end of summer...nope. The heat keeps coming into September. Some call it Indian Summer, we call it just HOT. October seems to be the magic month when the Man upstairs seems to say....enough, and flips the switch in the middle of the month and the temps drop.
I love my state and I am not complaining, only stating the facts as I see them. Also, simply commenting that I don't need a certain calendar date to tell me it is summer......and HOT!
As a kid the first day of summer was the day after school ended, waking up with nothing but free time, playing with friends, building forts and spending afternoons at the community swimming pool.
As a teen it was pretty much the same thing, first day of no school, summer jobs and hanging with friends after work at the bowling alley or drive in movie. (small town)
As an adult living in the Phoenix area it just means HOT! Summer starts to me in May when the kids get out of school and it's HOT. June brings the real warm up show of temps from the 102* to 110* ish range. Then we wait for the Monsoon to hit when it is HOT but with a wonderful change of late afternoon thunderstorms and evening lightning shows in July. Turning another calendar page we hit August, when it will be HOT with hopefully more storms, temperatures hovering around 112* to 115* if we are lucky. At this point anything under 110* is not a bad day. In Arizona the kids go back to school in August and it should feel like the end of summer...nope. The heat keeps coming into September. Some call it Indian Summer, we call it just HOT. October seems to be the magic month when the Man upstairs seems to say....enough, and flips the switch in the middle of the month and the temps drop.
I love my state and I am not complaining, only stating the facts as I see them. Also, simply commenting that I don't need a certain calendar date to tell me it is summer......and HOT!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
What a day!
Just a great day, nothing amazing, just one of those days when things go smoothly, no earth shattering news. Got to catch up with a former neighbor, meet some of the daughters new friends, (that I like I might add)and did a little shopping for ME!
What a blessing simple days and good times are!
What a blessing simple days and good times are!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Remember
Women are Angels
And when someone breaks our wings....
we simply continue to fly.........on a broomstick.
We are flexible like that....
And when someone breaks our wings....
we simply continue to fly.........on a broomstick.
We are flexible like that....
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Things your burglar won't tell you
Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You:
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom--and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door--understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)
14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
16. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
17. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
18. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.
20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
21. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protection for you and your home
If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. (I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.)
Wasp Spray
A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.
The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection... Thought this was interesting and might be of use..
Wasp And Hornet Spray
On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life.
Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.
Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."
Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes." It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.
"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out."
Maybe even save a life.
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom--and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door--understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)
14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
16. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
17. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
18. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.
20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
21. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protection for you and your home
If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. (I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.)
Wasp Spray
A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.
The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection... Thought this was interesting and might be of use..
Wasp And Hornet Spray
On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life.
Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.
Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."
Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes." It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.
"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out."
Maybe even save a life.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
It's that time again
It's winter here in Arizona and its the time of year when I receive a lot of long distance calls. Calls where my family, friends and clients tell me how many degrees below zero it is where they live. And of course let's not forget the wind chill factor.
Personally I cannot even fathom that kind of cold. I was born and spent my childhood in Arizona. As an adult we moved to Southern California and spent 21 years in a magical Mediterranean climate. Now we are back in the amazing state of Arizona with its diverse terrain and climate. Our home is located in the Sonoran Desert where only the strongest survive, this includes people, plants and animals! However within a 2 hour drive we can be in the gorgeous pine forests and ski resorts.
Arizona comes with it's challenges, and we "pay it forward" when we struggle through the summer sun to live in these fall through winter months while we can still enjoy the outdoors. If you have never visited you must someday. And of course if you HAVE visited and want to move here.......call me, I'm your REALTOR!
Personally I cannot even fathom that kind of cold. I was born and spent my childhood in Arizona. As an adult we moved to Southern California and spent 21 years in a magical Mediterranean climate. Now we are back in the amazing state of Arizona with its diverse terrain and climate. Our home is located in the Sonoran Desert where only the strongest survive, this includes people, plants and animals! However within a 2 hour drive we can be in the gorgeous pine forests and ski resorts.
Arizona comes with it's challenges, and we "pay it forward" when we struggle through the summer sun to live in these fall through winter months while we can still enjoy the outdoors. If you have never visited you must someday. And of course if you HAVE visited and want to move here.......call me, I'm your REALTOR!
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