It's a Boy! But is it a Coy?

Christmas Day I am browing on the internet and going through the Petfinders website.  I see and adorable face and decide we need to go to the Animal League of Green Valley and see him in person.

They have the whole litter and claim they are a sheltie Mix.  They are all named after toys.  Tonka, Barbie, Buzz, Lego and Elmo.  We got there on my Birthday, but they were quarantined as they had been given tape worm medication.  We go through the adoption application and finally get to the interview, when the phone rings - you guessed it!  A truck on its way to the lot to pick up trees.  We ask if they could put a hold on Tonka (now Tucson) until we can come back the next day.

We make it back and the puppies are out of quarantine, they bring out Tonka - It was love at first sight!

We get him home and get him fed.

Doesn't take him long to settle in!

Welcome Home Tucson!

While we were holding him at the Shelter someone walked by and said "that dog looks like he has Coyote in him".  Since then we have had several people say the same thing.  He is very agile and quick for a small puppy so I did a google search on Coyote Puppies - this is what I found:

You decide!  I'm waiting for the full moon - if he howls at it his name is getting changed to Coyote!  (Coyote/Dog mixes are known as Coydogs)

 

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary

Merry Christmas - 2011

We hide the Generators and chain them down and escape the lot to go to Benson to have Christmas Dinner with our friend Shirley at the SKP Park in Benson, AZ.  We had a great time and good food - so nice to get away!  On the way back we stop to see the lights at the Winterhaven neighborhood we have heard so much about.  It is the last night to tour and is a walk through only tonight.

This one won 1st Place - it was a Zoo with several animals

They made it pretty easy to find the bathrooms 

This one reminded me of the lighted house competition in the Grinch who Stole Christmas

Here it is in action:

The neighborhood consisted of several blocks, we had a hard time finding our way back out, but there was so much to see!

They even had a half dozen horse drawn rides going through 

It was so nice to get off the lot and see the Christmas Lights.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa and Gary



Christmas Trees are Done!

Last couple of days before Christmas and there are still last minute shoppers, but things are winding down.  Not sure if Gary is taking a nap or if we are contemplating a live nativity scene!

The Tent is empty! 

The Office is broken down 

Till have 117 trees left, over 1/2 are standing 

Nite Nite Trees! 



Christmas Trees are finally done!  1,000 trees and only 117 trees left.  There will be some very happy goats! 

The Goat guy made 2 trips and took over 50 trees, but we couldn't convince him to come back for more.  Will have to wait for the guys to come get them and all the equipment tomorrow. 

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary

Valley View Christmas Trees - Pantano Lot - Tucson

Originally, we were going to set up the register at the RV under the awning like the other lots, but we soon decided that our 28' Trek awning wasn't nearly as big as their 40' 5th Wheel awnings, so we set up a small spot in the tent.

Surrounded by Trees 

We got a few wreaths to sell as well 

A new thing they decided to try this year was Flocking Trees.  They wanted us to put out 10 trees to be flocked but we weren't sold on the idea and only gave them 6.  2 weeks later we ended up selling the last 4 at less than the regular price of an unflocked tree.  My question - why Flock up a perfectly good Christmas Tree?? 

A whole bunch of Flocked up Trees. 

Frosty at the Gate is a big hit he gets his photo taken a lot 

Just when you think you have no more room for trees a semi tractor pulls in. 

and gives us more 

We just make more piles. 

After our 1st big rain my table was directly under a major run-off from the tent roof so we decided to move it over the corner where it would be more protected and closer to the cutting station.

One morning I woke up and had to go outside to reset the breaker that had tripped.  There were several cars in the lot.  At first I thought we had a bunch of early shoppers but then saw the Radio and TV trucks and the Bus.  It was a "Stuff the Bus" location a food pantry drive 

We offered them some coffee and then gave them a couple of our trees for decoration and $5 off coupons for people that donated food.

Here's an 11 footer getting loaded up.  Wish I had gotten shots of the 12 and 13 foot trees that went out the door. 

They were going to put it on the roof of their car but Gary convinced them that they should use a truck if they had one. 

The Crew.  Chris, Fred, Mario, James and Brian (and Frosty).  A really good group of guys. 



Tucson

Well did our managers meeting for the Christmas Tree Lot at a Phoenix hotel.  Got to see these balloons lift off on our way.

Friday, we spend the whole day learning how to run a Christmas Tree Lot.  We have to be at the Lot on Saturday to start setting up.  So, we head on down the road to Tucson.

I wonder how fast we should take this turn 

Occupy Tucson 

We originally were to be in Phoenix then we were told on Broadway in Tucson, this is the lot but it wasn't set up.  I guess the deal fell thru on this lot and we were moved to the Pantano Lot 

Pantano Lot in front of Sam Levitz Furniture  

At least it has a view of the Catalina Mountains 

Then the first load of Trees arrives 11/21

Get em in and get em watered.

The extras get left on the ground out back under shade tarps.  They need to be watered 3-4 times a day.

Trees need to have holes drilled in the trunks for the stands, stood up, placed in the tent, the netting cut off and the stands filled with water.  All of our trees will be sold displayed in Stands so the people can see exactly what they are getting, they are also showered with water 3-4 times a day to keep them moist, unlike the Big Box stores that just put them bundled in a bin without water for weeks on end.  We have Nobles, Nordmanns, Grand Firs, Fraser Firs and Douglas Firs.

We will open Thanksgiving Day and sell until Christmas Eve.  Lots of work to do and a tent to decorate as well.