Garden Treasures

Well, gardening in Arizona has been somewhat of a challenge. We are learning as we go. We have had some luck and also some failures. The challenges vary greatly. The weather, or should I say heat is probably our biggest challenge. The heat is making the fruit grow before the plant is ready. Also, keeping things wet is a challenge. The sun burns the leaves on top and also the leaves near the ground. We need more shade. Fortunately our neighbor's sunflowers are growing tall enough to start giving shade relief around 3:30 in the afternoon.



Another challenge has been the wildlife visits to our garden. We have had bunnies and ground squirrels visit. Dove, quail, and "Bob" the roadruuner are making frequent trips too. Even the bees and the ants are making their way into the land of growth. All of these critters are finding a paradise in the middle of a desert. They are loving it and we love to see them too even though there are nibbles here and there. We have also seen a coyote close by on our way to the garden 2 times now. If he is lucky he may get his fill on bunnies.


The garden hasn't been all a loss. We started to enjoy the lettuce, grown in our garden boxes out back, the first of May. Then came the radishes with a zip! Good! Now we are getting some tomatoes, and they are sooooooo yummy! There is nothing like a fresh garden tomato! Time to go buy some bacon for some fresh BLT's! We also have gotten a few potatoes that Derrick has made into yummy hashbrowns for breakfast before school a few mornings. The girls really liked the hashbrowns.


The carrots are almost ready to be picked and they are looking very orange and smell great. We are also starting to get some squash. Our neighbors to the left have some awesome cantaloupe and watermelon growing. Our melon plants are finally taking off, so time will tell.......
Well, back to the garden for a little more watering!

Dancing Queens!

The girls were busy this weekend preparing for their debut as Dancing Queens!

First- Sign-up for dancing classes where all that money surely paid off!
Second- Purchase the costumes, tights, and shoes. They are going to wear it how many times? and, It costs how much?
Third- Practice, practice, practice! Taxi girls to class and sit and wait in car.
Fourth- Use plenty of hair gel, bobby pins, and hairspray to keep the hair in its place.
Fifth- What? You don't have a tan bra and you need it now? A quick run to Target and another opening of the wallet.
Sixth- Mom and Dad sitting for 4 hours to view many Dancing Queens perform.


(The MyMY on the right side, back row)


(The LuLu- second girl on the left side)

Seventh- Flowers, Pictures, Hugs and Kisses for the Deserving and ever-so-humble Dancers!



Eighth- Mom and Dad beaming from ear to ear realizing that maybe it was worth it after all!

It is too bad you missed it.......maybe next year!

Summer Fun!

The Voss family decided to begin their summer with a splash! We took the girls to see the lovely and amazing Hoover Dam that borders Nevada and Arizona on the Colorado River. It is an amazing sight. To think that the dam was built by men who saw a vision for lush green acres for the people of the future and used tools that would probably appear as ancient now, is really incredible. This was my third trip to the dam, and each and every trip has been very populated by people.




After enduring the heat of the day standing on all of that cement, and seeing the refreshing water below and out of reach, we took the girls to the Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City for some splash time.







Packing a picnic of garden produce, sandwiches, lemonade and cold fruit, lying on a blanket and identifying animal forms in the big puffy clouds, and spending the day together was the perfect way to kick off the summer! It was a SPLASH!