Ok world... I'm 33 and still a renter... I've been kicked out of one house due to foreclosure, and when I recently got 4 (yes 4) certified letters for the property owners, I started worrying the same thing might be happening again.
I started looking around at what home prices in my area are going for and I dropped my jaw.
I've been talking to a Mortgage Broker and a Real Estate agent, and it looks like I might be taking that next step!
I've been pre-qualified for a loan and now just have to send in some paperwork... after that, I can actually go start looking at houses! OMG.
The amazing thing, is that houses out here are selling for CHEAP!!! They told me the max amount I would qualify for and I laughed and said "there is no way I'm going to buy a house for that much... there are so many cheaper options!!" I'm finding homes for $69,900, people!
I'll be able to buy a house and keep my mortgage payment low low low :) And given that I live in a "rural" community, I will qualify for a special program :) Yippee!
I will keep you all updated on this as things progress, but it's pretty exciting, thinking that I might be a homeowner soon! EEK!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
dang it, Penni.... again :P
Penni's comment on her blog about cleaning made me think... "aw crap, and I have them before SHE does, and MY house isn't clean either!!!!"
The beauty of having house guests who are also dog folk, is that you don't have to stress about the dog hair as much! ;-)
They'll have to forgive me for my office, which is in a constant state of disaster but even worse recently, as I have been going through TONS of really old paperwork and shredding it (and then stopped).... I figure if one room out of 5 that they'll have regular access to is a mess, they'll forgive me ;-)
They won't repossess dogs for it anyway ;-) Hee hee (I already threatened Tom about ringing the bell ;-) ) (those of you who haven't been to Casa de Cannon may not be aware of their door mat...)
The beauty of having house guests who are also dog folk, is that you don't have to stress about the dog hair as much! ;-)
They'll have to forgive me for my office, which is in a constant state of disaster but even worse recently, as I have been going through TONS of really old paperwork and shredding it (and then stopped).... I figure if one room out of 5 that they'll have regular access to is a mess, they'll forgive me ;-)
They won't repossess dogs for it anyway ;-) Hee hee (I already threatened Tom about ringing the bell ;-) ) (those of you who haven't been to Casa de Cannon may not be aware of their door mat...)
And now we have 9....
Mrs. Ann F. Yuhasz is a REALLY nice judge! I've never shown to her before, but she was SUPER nice. And SUPER forgiving of my j@ck@$$ dog!
Chance went Winners Dog today, over 2 other dogs in Open. The entry went from 5 dogs to 3 :(
Feeling as crappy and annoyed as I was by the end of the experience, I opted not to get photos.... plus Chance really wasn't groomed well (read: at all), so it's for the best. I'll bathe him today and hope that we get Winners Dog tomorrow also :)
He wouldn't even bait for STEAK! He wouldn't give the judge ears. But he did move around the ring like a dream and is put together nicely.... so despite his demeanor today, his structure and movement got him Winners Dog. :) Thank Goodness!
BOB: Camille
BOS: Connor (Kashew's Connor Cruz n Sass)
BOW: Gypsy (Fudge x Panda)
May tomorrow be a better day in Chancey's head :) He was just NOT into being a show dog today... silly goon. He's happy now.... now that he's home and can be a lazy dog! :) Silly kid!
Off for both of us to get some rest.... Hopefully we'll have a good report tomorrow :)
Chance went Winners Dog today, over 2 other dogs in Open. The entry went from 5 dogs to 3 :(
Feeling as crappy and annoyed as I was by the end of the experience, I opted not to get photos.... plus Chance really wasn't groomed well (read: at all), so it's for the best. I'll bathe him today and hope that we get Winners Dog tomorrow also :)
He wouldn't even bait for STEAK! He wouldn't give the judge ears. But he did move around the ring like a dream and is put together nicely.... so despite his demeanor today, his structure and movement got him Winners Dog. :) Thank Goodness!
BOB: Camille
BOS: Connor (Kashew's Connor Cruz n Sass)
BOW: Gypsy (Fudge x Panda)
May tomorrow be a better day in Chancey's head :) He was just NOT into being a show dog today... silly goon. He's happy now.... now that he's home and can be a lazy dog! :) Silly kid!
Off for both of us to get some rest.... Hopefully we'll have a good report tomorrow :)
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
time to introduce the "rest of the family"
I've had fish for several years - and I added a few new members recently :)
Seeing as how I'm home sick from work, I figured what better time to update the blog ;-) (still working on whether I'll be moving from Blogger or not - that decision is yet to be made).
This is my Golden Gourami who was named Spotty by a friends daughter when I first got it.
And here's the same fish with my new Golden Snail. I had one before, but it went to snail heaven.
Here's a picture of my Creamsicle Lyretail Molly - tho I can't find a page that shows them well... I've been told it's a female based on the fins.
And another picture of the creamsicle molly and the dwarf gourami
And here's the new guy in town... my Dalmation Lyretail Molly. I was told he's a male.
Here is my little Leopard Cory catfish...
my creamsicle lyretail molly again...
my new guy...
and here's my Red Fire Dwarf Gourami
and another shot of him.
I only have a 20 gallon tank right now, but it's a good size. Maybe someday I'll increase the size of the tank, but it's a good, easy to care for, size :)
Seeing as how I'm home sick from work, I figured what better time to update the blog ;-) (still working on whether I'll be moving from Blogger or not - that decision is yet to be made).
This is my Golden Gourami who was named Spotty by a friends daughter when I first got it.
And here's the same fish with my new Golden Snail. I had one before, but it went to snail heaven.
Here's a picture of my Creamsicle Lyretail Molly - tho I can't find a page that shows them well... I've been told it's a female based on the fins.
And another picture of the creamsicle molly and the dwarf gourami
And here's the new guy in town... my Dalmation Lyretail Molly. I was told he's a male.
Here is my little Leopard Cory catfish... 
my creamsicle lyretail molly again...
my new guy...
and here's my Red Fire Dwarf Gourami
and another shot of him.
I only have a 20 gallon tank right now, but it's a good size. Maybe someday I'll increase the size of the tank, but it's a good, easy to care for, size :)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Our day at the park...
Last year I took the dogs to Desert Mountain Park for Chance's birthday. I decided to take advantage of the beautiful February day and do the same this year....
Here are the kids, walking in a little row, like always :)
We found a little nook in the back of the park and I let them run and play....
lookit the air they're catching ;-)
Face-off :)
Kota, in a full out run :)
You can actually see the joy in his silly face....
go boys go!
Kota is always the chasee :)
"ya comin, Chance?"
Kota got tired and sought out shade...
I had to get a picture similar to last years picture.... Look at the TONGUE on that goony blue boy!
and before we left, I took the opportunity to get a nice shot of the kids... :) Such pretty babies.
Here are the kids, walking in a little row, like always :)
We found a little nook in the back of the park and I let them run and play....
lookit the air they're catching ;-)
Face-off :)
Kota, in a full out run :)
You can actually see the joy in his silly face....
go boys go!
Kota is always the chasee :)
"ya comin, Chance?"
Kota got tired and sought out shade...
I had to get a picture similar to last years picture.... Look at the TONGUE on that goony blue boy! 
and before we left, I took the opportunity to get a nice shot of the kids... :) Such pretty babies.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Another Birthday post for Chance
Grammy Chris sent me this picture today, in honor of Chance's (and Celie's!) 2nd birthday - I hadn't seen this picture before..... awwwwww!
In the tradition of dog birthdays at my house, Chancey had to receive a new toy :) I found this FABULOUS dog toy at Target.... it's as long as the dogs are, NOT stuffed, and has a grunter and not a squeeker... JUST up my dogs alley! (oh, and he got those Jumbones too! ;-))
It wasn't long before Kota claimed the toy as his own.... see? Kota laying down is not quite as long as the toy is!!!!
And here Kota was REALLY having a good time with it... :) It's a huge hit. I *think* it is a squirrel - has a place you can put your hand, like a puppet, and is not stuffed throughout the majority of the toy. There is some stuffing near the head where it grunts. :) They love it though, and I'm glad!
An exerpt from a letter I wrote to Chris last night...
"The dog I tried hard not to love.... the one who I said no to more times than I should have.... but the dog who I wouldn't trade for a million others and one I couldn't imagine my life without now. Thank you Chris, for taking such great care of him (and his littermates) as a baby... and thank you for entrusting this beautiful soul to my care... knowing that I would love him with all of my heart... and I do. I share my beers and my wine (darned alcholoic dog! ;-) ), my bed and my pillow with him... He's still a mush... the beautiful blue boy who has points as golden as his heart...."
Happy 2nd Birthday Chancey-pants.... I love you my big baby!!
In the tradition of dog birthdays at my house, Chancey had to receive a new toy :) I found this FABULOUS dog toy at Target.... it's as long as the dogs are, NOT stuffed, and has a grunter and not a squeeker... JUST up my dogs alley! (oh, and he got those Jumbones too! ;-))
It wasn't long before Kota claimed the toy as his own.... see? Kota laying down is not quite as long as the toy is!!!!
And here Kota was REALLY having a good time with it... :) It's a huge hit. I *think* it is a squirrel - has a place you can put your hand, like a puppet, and is not stuffed throughout the majority of the toy. There is some stuffing near the head where it grunts. :) They love it though, and I'm glad!
An exerpt from a letter I wrote to Chris last night...
"The dog I tried hard not to love.... the one who I said no to more times than I should have.... but the dog who I wouldn't trade for a million others and one I couldn't imagine my life without now. Thank you Chris, for taking such great care of him (and his littermates) as a baby... and thank you for entrusting this beautiful soul to my care... knowing that I would love him with all of my heart... and I do. I share my beers and my wine (darned alcholoic dog! ;-) ), my bed and my pillow with him... He's still a mush... the beautiful blue boy who has points as golden as his heart...."
Happy 2nd Birthday Chancey-pants.... I love you my big baby!!
Happy 2nd Birthday Chance!!
My beautiful Chance (Farpoint's Takin' Chances) is 2 years old today. Is it possible????
From this:
To This....
More birthday photos coming later today and this weekend..... but I wanted to make sure I wished him a VERY happy birthday first thing this morning :)
He wishes a happy birthday to his beautiful sister, Celie also :)
From this:
To This....
More birthday photos coming later today and this weekend..... but I wanted to make sure I wished him a VERY happy birthday first thing this morning :)
He wishes a happy birthday to his beautiful sister, Celie also :)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Fiesta Cluster, right around the corner....
Saturday (2/28) we show to Mrs. Ann F. Yuhasz
13 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 5-6-(1-1)
Sunday (3/1) we show to Mr. John T. Connolly
13 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 5-6-(1-1)
Since Southern California, Kim suggested that I feed Chance more... much to Chance's excitement, I have been! :) I started feeding Kota the same amount almost at the same time, since he was starting to get skinny - running agility and all...
He's just so perty.... I'm just a sucker.... ;-)
Here he is at 4 days shy of his 2nd birthday... my Chancey Pantsy Fancy dog has grown up into a lovely young dog...
Hopefully in the coming weeks, I'll be able to save some money to have his OFA x-rays done... I'm really hoping he comes out "Good" or better :)
And here's my best shot at getting lines on my dog. It took many times of going back and forth feeling my dog.... I *think* this is pretty accurate... and not too shabby :)
And on another unrelated note, I finally finished a knitting project that I started eons ago... I call it my "mondo scarf". It's not quite a scarf, and not quite a wrap.... but it's pretty :)
Now I'm working on a red "fun fur" scarf that I can wear to work on Friday's (spirit day at school, and our school colors are red, black and white), and a deep chocolate brown chenille scarf :) Since heck, all I can knit is scarves, I might as well go to town on them while I have the motivation ;-)
13 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 5-6-(1-1)
Sunday (3/1) we show to Mr. John T. Connolly
13 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 5-6-(1-1)
Since Southern California, Kim suggested that I feed Chance more... much to Chance's excitement, I have been! :) I started feeding Kota the same amount almost at the same time, since he was starting to get skinny - running agility and all...
He's just so perty.... I'm just a sucker.... ;-)
Here he is at 4 days shy of his 2nd birthday... my Chancey Pantsy Fancy dog has grown up into a lovely young dog...
Hopefully in the coming weeks, I'll be able to save some money to have his OFA x-rays done... I'm really hoping he comes out "Good" or better :)
And here's my best shot at getting lines on my dog. It took many times of going back and forth feeling my dog.... I *think* this is pretty accurate... and not too shabby :)
And on another unrelated note, I finally finished a knitting project that I started eons ago... I call it my "mondo scarf". It's not quite a scarf, and not quite a wrap.... but it's pretty :)
Now I'm working on a red "fun fur" scarf that I can wear to work on Friday's (spirit day at school, and our school colors are red, black and white), and a deep chocolate brown chenille scarf :) Since heck, all I can knit is scarves, I might as well go to town on them while I have the motivation ;-)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
dang it, Penni....
| attached or single? | single single, and oh, wait, single |
| best friend? | people? Nicole and Cassie... dogs, of course, are the every day, live in, best friends :) |
| cake or pie? | depends on the cake or pie, but I'll take either right now, thanks! |
| day of choice? | Saturday! |
| essential item? | my blackberry (it gives me internet, email and a phone!) |
| favorite color? | poy-pull :) (purple for all you normal folks) |
| gummy bears or worms? | worms? |
| hometown? | Queen Creek, AZ |
| indulgence? | depends on the day ;-) |
| january or july? | January currently.... |
| kids? | fur :) Dakota 5.5, Sedona 2.7, Chance - almost 2! eek! |
| life isn’t complete without? | snuggling with the puppers! |
| marriage date? | *sigh* it eludes me still... |
| number of magazine subscriptions? | just one, and i think it's expired! |
| orange or apple? | orange if someone else will peel it please ;-) |
| phobias? | being stuck in a traffic jam on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge... *shudder* |
| quotes? | "We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necesssary plan." -Irving Townsend |
| reasons to smile? | I'm healthy, my fur babies, and the roof over my head :) |
| season of choice? | Winter |
| tag 5 people | Jeri, Carolyn, Emily, Kim K, Kate, Heidi, and anyone else who feels the deep seeded need to do this.... darn you Penni ;-) LOL |
our day at Bryce Thompson Arboretum
My friend Rachel, her daughter Madeline, and I went to the Bryce Thompson Arboretum on Valentine's Day. It was a lovely winter day. They had a "Flowers and Chocolate" exhibit... the flowers inside the room had meanings for what the flowers meant or what they were sent for. Some were funny, some were sweet. I took photos of what I liked and what I might want to plant some day :)
(Above: I think this might be what I have planted out in the front yard actually)
And for my Orchid loving friends.... it was almost a milk chocolate color... it was beautiful.
This was a really cool looking stump that we found along our walk....
And then Rachel offered to take my picture with the stump... I had to be a silly goose! ;-)
And Madeline just HAD to do it too! ;-)
Then we came upon this MONSTER of a tree..... below is his sign....
Here is the base of the tree with his sign.... see how incredibly HUGE he is??
The beginning of the "Y" on the left above, is the main "Y" you see below...
And the top part of the tree... he was HUGE!!!
And here are Rachel and I.... we've known each other since we were in the 7th grade. Never mind the fact that I look like a washed out mess... I didn't intend on looking all beautiful to go on a nature walk ;-)
This is THE Queen Creek!!!! :) They had a suspension bridge that went over it, so I had to snap pictures of the creek that my "hood" was named after! ;-)
And the other side from the same bridge.
And standing north on the bridge....
some flowers blooming along the walk....
Madeline in a little nook cave.... it was HUGE!
Rachel and her daughter, Madeline :)
And a passer-by was nice enough to offer to take our picture together.
Some of the rock formations along the walk...
and some more....
Looking out from the top of one of the hills we climbed... into the valley where the creek is. :) (note the one palm tree! :P )
a view of a little waterfall we found along the trail...
another view of the same.
Desert scenery at it's best!
A view from our walk towards where the highway...
Ayers Lake ( a little man made lake in the park ). I love the reflection of the hills in the water.
The most incredible thing for me... a Prickly Pear Tree....
Just the view... on a beautiful clear day!
and before we left.... one of my favorite shots of the whole day... :)
We had a fabulous day - and I look forward to being able to take my northern visitors to visit.... :) You'll all love it!
(Above: I think this might be what I have planted out in the front yard actually)
And for my Orchid loving friends.... it was almost a milk chocolate color... it was beautiful.
This was a really cool looking stump that we found along our walk....
And then Rachel offered to take my picture with the stump... I had to be a silly goose! ;-)
And Madeline just HAD to do it too! ;-)
Then we came upon this MONSTER of a tree..... below is his sign....
Here is the base of the tree with his sign.... see how incredibly HUGE he is??
The beginning of the "Y" on the left above, is the main "Y" you see below...
And the top part of the tree... he was HUGE!!!
And here are Rachel and I.... we've known each other since we were in the 7th grade. Never mind the fact that I look like a washed out mess... I didn't intend on looking all beautiful to go on a nature walk ;-)
This is THE Queen Creek!!!! :) They had a suspension bridge that went over it, so I had to snap pictures of the creek that my "hood" was named after! ;-)
And the other side from the same bridge.
And standing north on the bridge....
some flowers blooming along the walk....
Madeline in a little nook cave.... it was HUGE!
Rachel and her daughter, Madeline :)
And a passer-by was nice enough to offer to take our picture together. 
Some of the rock formations along the walk... 
and some more....
Looking out from the top of one of the hills we climbed... into the valley where the creek is. :) (note the one palm tree! :P )
a view of a little waterfall we found along the trail...
another view of the same.
Desert scenery at it's best!
A view from our walk towards where the highway...
Ayers Lake ( a little man made lake in the park ). I love the reflection of the hills in the water.
The most incredible thing for me... a Prickly Pear Tree.... 
Just the view... on a beautiful clear day!
and before we left.... one of my favorite shots of the whole day... :)
We had a fabulous day - and I look forward to being able to take my northern visitors to visit.... :) You'll all love it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)