Living in the desert during Monsoon Season can be exciting. Sometimes the lightning will crack through the sky with a blinding light, or the wind will blow so hard, palm trees bow to it.
Last night, we were driving home and the rain started to pound down. It only lasted a few minutes, and as the clouds parted, I got to capture this...
Enjoy your Sunday!
"Guiding you in the right direction"
7 comments • Judi Boad • August 29 2010 09:07AMNorth Scottsdaleoffers many choices when it comes to buying a new home. There are amazing communities nestled in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains that provide phenomenal vista views sweeping across the greater Phoenixand Scottsdale area. Great lengths have been taken to keep the Sonoran Desert landscape pristine throughout these communities. Among the most elegant and amenity filled communities in this area, you will find Dc Ranch.
Diversity of home style will allow you the opportunity to find the right home to fit your needs in Dc Ranch. Whether you are looking for a Carriage House Loft, Tuscan Villa or Custom Executive home behind opulent gates, you will find it here.
Health and fitness are a big part of the Dc Ranch lifestyle. The Country Club and private Golf Course provide members with every distinctive feature you expect from a world renowned facility. There are also two community centers with Tennis, swimming, sport courts, and community theater. If that weren't enough, there are over thirty miles of hiking paths with exquisite views.
Dc Ranch is a stand apart community and worth your time if you are considering a new home in North Scottsdale.
"Guiding you in the right direction"
0 comments • Judi Boad • August 24 2010 05:09PMLiving green is a commitment to our planet and future generations. It can be fun and easy to find ways to incorporate recycling and conservation into your lifestyle!
Have you considered using natural soap products in your home?
If you purchase 100% natural soap it will have no chemicals or petroleum in it. You should know what the ingredients are, and know that they are found in nature.
Most commercial soaps, lotions and shampoos contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, an industrial grade chemical degreaser, that strips away natural oils found in our bodies. Commercial lotions also contain petroleum, which stops moisture from penetrating our skin.
If these facts bother or disturb you, you can look for soap and lotion products made from natural ingredients like olive, coconut, and palm, hemp seed and avocado oils, oatmeal,mint and other herbs, essential oils,
Not only beautiful with a wonderful fragrance, but user friendly and made from renewable resources!
Lotions soak in beautifully, leave a fabulous fragrance that lasts and no animal testing or chemicals!
ACCURATE REALTY GROUP
"Guiding you in the right direction"
4 comments • Judi Boad • August 19 2010 08:08PMWe sure do love our horses in Scottsdale! This series of five Gargoyle Horses is a public art installation recently constructed on Indian Bend Road as part of a site improvement project to enhance a storm water and desert wash funnel point in the McCormick Ranch area.
Great fun to ride bikes throughout this area where you can see stunning water features, lush landscape and many kinds of Horses!...
ACCURATE REALTY GROUP
"Guiding you in the right direction"
9 comments • Judi Boad • August 18 2010 11:13AMSMALL CHOICES CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT!
IN THE KITCHEN: the kitchen is an easy place to find ways to conserve and recycle.
*Glass takes about one million years to biodegrade, so please use your recycle can and purchase products in recycled jars and bottles. You can also rinse good sized wide mouth jars and use them to store leftovers rather than buy plastic containers.
*Did you know that your refrigerator consumes more electricity than nearly every appliance in your home, except for the A/C unit? Make sure the coldness settings are not too high. The fridge setting should keep the inside at about 38 degrees. Your freezer should be at about five degrees to run efficiently and save you money.
*Use the right burner for your pan size and save money! You will heat the food rather than the kitchen by using the right size burner . Same goes for large pans, cooking time will be longer if you use a too small burner and cost you more $$$.
See how many ways you can conserve energy, recycle and reuse every day.
"Guiding you in the right direction"
3 comments • Judi Boad • August 17 2010 02:00PM
Candles are not something we usually think about when we are considering small steps to going green. I enjoy the ambient glow of candle light. However, you may want to consider this: Candles use petroleum products and emit noxious carcinogenic fumes; some are enhanced with artificial fragrances that actually pollute your air as well. The wicks can be lead or zinc adding to the toxic effects of candles. As a long time candle lover, I have discovered ways to create great ambiance with less toxic waste.
Bees wax and Soy candles come from renewable sources if nothing else, and emit FEWER toxins into the air, which is not to say they are toxin free. All candles will produce soot and smoke if the wicks are too long. Fragrance is a big polluter factor as well considering you are ingesting chemicals from the petroleum product fragrant candles you burn. Beeswax candles have a natural honey fragrance. And with that, I trust I have shed some light on the subject of Candles!
"Guiding you in the right direction"
6 comments • Judi Boad • August 16 2010 01:35PMWhen you enter McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, you are welcomed by the most beautiful horse sculptures and water features! I love the drive down Scottsdale Road to McCormick parkway...
This pair are off to the side under a tree basking in the sunshine and the glow of bright red and yellow Lantana. This is only the beginning of the great views you see including the lake with ducks and geese, palm lined streets with colorful flowerbeds and Camelback mountain views! Amazing...
"Guiding you in the right direction"
5 comments • Judi Boad • August 15 2010 04:08PMSMALL CHOICES CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT!
In the kitchen; the kitchen is an easy place to find ways to conserve and recycle. *Glass takes about one million years to biodegrade, so please use your recycle can and purchase products in recycled jars and bottles. You can also rinse good sized wide mouth jars and use them to store leftovers rather than buy plastic containers.
Living green is a commitment to our planet and future generations. It can be fun and easy to find ways to incorporate recycling and conservation into your lifestyle!
"Guiding you in the right direction"
6 comments • Judi Boad • August 13 2010 09:11PMWordless Wednesday has beckoned me to post this photo of a few Canadian Geese and duck on the lake. I took this in McCormick Ranch, here in Scottsdale last weekend. I really like this shot because you can see great definition. I have been working with a new camera and don't always get the desired results! Let me know what you think!
"Guiding you in the right direction"
11 comments • Judi Boad • August 11 2010 06:23PMThe illusion of coolness in the desert
Living in Scottsdale is always great. Even in our summer months when temperatures soar to an average of one hundred and ten degrees. We know it is coming every year and manage to make the best of it with pools, water features fountains and lots of icy cold beverages!
"Guiding you in the right direction"
11 comments • Judi Boad • August 11 2010 01:28PMContent © 2009 'Frequent Contributors'. Design © 2009 ActiveRain Corp.
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