It's a...it's a...?

OK! This one's for all the nature lovers out there.

Don took this picture (by the garden) of what appears to be bird poop on a leaf. Only it's not--it's a caterpillar! We went out on the web and looked under "bird poop caterpillar" and found several links. Here's one of them
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/080221-caterpillar-picture.html

Win-Win

This week was a series of win-wins for us. On the elections front, we saw AZ, CA, and FL pass marriage amendments. I guess that's more like a win, win, win! The rest of the political scene leaves me uninspired...'nuff said.

On the business front, the county park that Don is working on developing is coming along well, and the critter gitter-ing has kept us busy which is a good thing (this week has been all about bats and rats and pigeons). So on the two work fronts, it's another win-win!

Yesterday we had a yard sale. We got rid of a lot of stuff AND we made a chunk of money. That's a big win-win!

Don signed up to play on a city-league soccer team as the goalie. Never mind that he hasn't played since he was in the Army (1980's) and has never been a goalie. We started practicing at the school this week. I kicked the ball at him as hard as I could and got some good exercise, and he practiced diving on balls and protecting the goal. We both enjoyed the time; chalk up another win-win!

We had two birthdays this last week: Makayle turned 7 and Carter turned 2! I can't believe how quickly they are growing up! Kids and grandkids...love and joy...win-win!

This week we are headed up to the land for a few days. Trooper has never been on a trip with us, but if he reacts to the land and the space like Mia, his going to experience a few days of doggy heaven. And since we've been pushing pretty hard these last few months and need some down time and the dogs need some adventure, this week is sure to be a win-win for all of us!

So Much to Say, So Little Time!

We've been so busy the last two weeks that I think I'd better give a few high lights.


Uncle Milford passed away a week ago. The funeral was in Glendale last Thursday. I got to see much of the Slagel side of the family which was good, but I was sorry for the circumstances that brought us together. Funeral are never easy. Aunt Miriam is holding up well; but then, no one would expect anything else. That side of the family is strong and full of faith, and I appreciate their strength.


We finished all of the little odd jobs we wanted to do at the house on Breckinridge...the renters are moving in this week and the house looks great inside and out. We hope they will be happy there!


We had another successful Cub Scout Pack Meeting at our house last week. Don is a great Cub Master. Yesterday he spent all day at a scouting Pow Wow (and I went Christmas shopping!) He's also the Boy Scout Committee Chairman and is busy organizing and putting all of the scouts' information into the computer so that he can keep them on track for their advancements.


Today the 88 States in Arizona had a Regional Conference done as a broadcast from Salt Lake which we enjoyed. It was our first Conference in this stake and we enjoyed seeing a few people that we knew from other wards. We are excited about the three new temples that have been announced for Arizona! They will be in Gilbert, Phoenix, and in the Gila Valley. Maybe Tucson will grow enough to have a temple here one day!


We are anxious for the election on Tuesday not just because of the national political situation, but because Arizona is trying to pass an amendment to our state constitution which says that marriage is between a man and a woman (Prop. 102). There has been a lot of work put into the effort; I'm really hopeful that it will pass! We're hopeful that California will also pass a similar amendment.


We've had several critter calls in the last couple of weeks (raccoons, pack rats, a ring tail cat, bats) which have kept us busy. I actually remembered to take the camera on one of the 'coon calls. Below are pictures of Don relocating a large male raccoon into his park near the pond which is about a mile south of us.


We hope all is well with all of you! Take care!

Techno Queen (NOT!)

Although my kids all seem to have been born with a "technology gene", I apparently was not. I think they started giving those out in the 1970's...well past my advent into this world. So I always feel like I'm playing catch up.

Take blogging for example. Who'd have thought that I could actually learn how to do this (with wallpaper and accompanying photos to boot)? Not that I'm good at it yet, but at least I feel like I'm learning the game. It's sorta like the rest of you are playing in the world series and I'm playing ladies slow pitch! But hey--at least I'm playing--right?

So in that light, I want you to know that I have become proficient enough at making Power Point presentations every week for our Sunday School class that I can actually put one together all by myself complete with pieces of text flying in or spiraling down when I want them to! How's that for an accomplishment? I even text on occassion! Are you impressed? LOL

Move Over, Johnny Appleseed

This week Don worked hard on getting a winter garden prepared and planted. We hope to have potatoes (sweet and white), onions (green and red), broccoli, radishes, cilantro, lettuce, and carrots.

Don also finished planting fruit trees (1 orange, 1 grapefruit, 2 peaches, 2 apricots, and 2 walnuts). He also fenced off half of the front yard and seeded grass out there. The fence is there to keep the dogs off of the new grass until it gets established. It has just started coming up, and I can't wait to have a lawn! We hope to put a fire pit and more grass on the other half of the front yard in the new future.

The Two C's: Conference and Candy

This weekend we thoroughly enjoyed watching General Conference. How grateful I am for the Church in these latter-days and for my testimony of the restored gospel! What a spiritual feast!

We also had another kind of feast via Germany. Sarah and Nathan sent a variety of German candies to us...none of which I had ever heard of before. It was really fun to have a tasting party while we watched Conference! Makayle and Paige sent along pictures they had drawn...it made me cry! Even Carter "signed" the letter from all of them in green crayon scribbles. I miss those little ones! I'll put their drawings up next to the last one I have that Makayle drew (which is above my computer so that I can see it every day). Good night little ones--sleep tight! I LOVE YOU!

A Lot of Green

This week we saw a lot of green. No, not money--vegetation. Don seeded grass in half of the front yard (about a quarter of an acre) and fenced the dogs out so that it will have a chance to grow. He also brought in some good soil from the pond and spread it on part of the yard on the west side of the house so that we can plant a garden in the next week or so. We also bought a grapefruit tree and an orange tree to go with the two peach trees, two apricot trees, and two walnut trees. The only green I'm not looking forward to is the weeds that will probably come up in the garden. I'll try to get some pictures soon.