County Map of Sedona Drive

People who have recently purchased homes in our community have questions about ownership of "open space" property. Who can purchase it? Can someone build on a little plot? What are the rules?

Andy, President of our VOB answers and sent the above map of that area.

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A screen shot from the county mapper shows that the property behind 14514 is owned by the golf course, indeed that is the case for all the houses on Sedona around this area. There is the cut through between 14514 and 14515 that leads to the property on the point which is numbered as 14520 and is still owned by the developer. Further any construction would in this area (apart from on the point - although that may well have lapsed) require that the plan that VA Oaks was built to would require to be amended with the opportunity of expressing opinions at the County meetings.

V/R
AndyB

Chicken Marengo ~ Good Cold Weather Recipe

This is a dump recipe. After browning the meat, dump everything in and cook. Can add and subtract things easily. Good for cold weather to leave on stove top and dip into when hungry. Enjoy!

CHICKEN MARENGO (A very forgiving recipe to change ingredients to taste.)
1 lb sweet Italian sausage
1 lb hot Italian sausage
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp salad oil
2 chickens cut into pieces (Use boneless chicken breasts or chicken pieces as desired)
2 cans (1lb 12oz) tomato puree or crushed tomatoes (which consistency you like best)
1 small can tomato paste
1 6oz can of sliced mushroom with the liquid
1 8oz can of pitted ripe sliced olives with the liquid
1/3 cup sweet pepper flakes
1 Tbsp parsley flakes
1 Tbsp celery flakes
1 Tbsp Italian seasonings
2 Tbsp minced onion
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 bay leaf
Prick sausages and place in large Dutch oven or stock pot to brown. (If you do not want to use large pieces of meat, then cut the sausages into bite size pieces before browning. Instead of using whole pieces of chicken, cut it into bite size pieces when browned.) Remove sausage when brown. Add butter and oil and sauté chicken until golden brown. Remove chicken and add ALL remaining ingredients. Return sausage and chicken to Dutch oven or stock pot. Cover and simmer for at least 60 minutes over low heat. Serve with rice or spaghetti..

"Open Space" or "Golf Course"

Neighbors gathered yesterday to discuss areas of grey.
Who owns large areas of land located between the golf course and their property. The areas are not maintained by our "Open Space" group and left to nature by the golf course.

This will be offered for discussion at the next Board Meeting, February 16th at the Club Meeting room.

Questions will be, who owns this property. Who is responsible for maintaining said property and can homeowners buy the open space?

This was brought up years before and the answer was yes, however, the upkeep would then be transferred to the owner. The person who had inquired decided he didn't care to cut all that grass as the Open Space Committee were doing that for him. He had the view without the maintenance.
Let's go to the meeting to see what, if anything is said.

Something Going Bump in the Walls at Night

We assumed we had a squirrel family living with us, as we could hear noises in the night~
but no, it is field mice.
Seems they come in any hole in the ground and work their way into the walls and eventually the house. UGH.
We are having the "Critter Control" get rid of them. I hate mice.

Bath Brushes and Shower Oils

How many bath brushes are hanging in your shower?

So far, I have three. Why?

Even if we are not yet less agile a nice brush on handle is a wonderful tool to clean and then oil our skin when in the shower.
That takes two brushes.

It was one summer when I discovered one brush is needed for FEET.
It is so simple to scrub the entire foot with a nice brush.

It is wintertime when we usually feel the dryness of skin...especially the shoulder blades and back areas we can't reach to moisturize. AH! A nice soft back brush to apply shower oil is perfect.
Watching "The Doctors" they advise not to use deodorant soaps except for problem areas. Otherwise, a plain soap for the rest of the body, it any, they advise is best.

A Dermatologist says to keep a nice watered down oil in the shower and oil up before getting out. Then just blot away any excess water.

To water down your oil, pour half into another container and add water to the half left in the bottle. Shake before using. Keri oil mixes best but hard to find these days.

Put oil on your brush reserved for oil and brush it onto the back, arms and all the body. It feels great. Enjoy~

For The Birds

Feeding the bird is a kind act in this harsh winter weather.
They reward you with quite a show as they feed. Once you start feeding the little creatures, they do become dependant on your feeders to stay alive.

Plan your site. Place your feeders so they are is easy to get to when there is snow on the ground. That is a critical time in their little lives. You might find the feeders need to be refilled each day.Ideally, we need two seed dispensers. One for wild bird seed mix and the other for sunflower seeds. I have a third for thistle, as there are many wild finch in our area.Here's a recipe to make suet patty for the finches.

Finch Fries

Raw beef suet (ask the butcher...that's beef tallow) and put through grinder or have butcher grind it for you.
1/2 Cup American cheese
1 cup millet
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Sand for grit

Save tuna or cat food size cans.
Cube the cheese, add millet, bread crumbs and sand ~ devide this into four of the little cans.

Melt the suet in double boiler and set aside to cool.

When hardened slightly and then re-heat again to make it smoother.

When it is in liquid form the second time pour over the mixture you have in the 4 tins. Fill to the top and then refrigerate to harden.

Nail to trees with 6 inch nails. Cover the end of the nails with tape to make a
safe perch for the birds.

The finches turn all brown in the winter time and spring, you will see them change to their bright colors.

January Open Letter

Sherry and Tom;

Last night was the BEST~
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US...almost 100% of membership there...can't beat that.

Everyone really appreciated Tom's organizational skills to have us all set for Trivia ...what a hoot...I loved the way the groups were separated...
Everyone wanted to be with Joe...He is the brains of our group and that is really saying something!!!
I wonder just how many degrees all the guys have total? A FANTASTIC and FUNNY GROUP!

I don't know what the Guys talked about, but I have never seen such closeness and sharing as the girls accomplished last night. We were much more interesting than "THE VIEW."

The talk about WW 11 memories which everyone shared ~ was over the top for all...
Interesting that the memories were as clear and all different as we are as people. With every one growing up in different parts of the country...made for a "Talk Show" better than THE VIEW and ours wasn't scripted either. Then we went right into memories of segregation
~ that too, was interesting as well.
I LOVED IT.

I have to say it was THE BEST YET. Maybe we should change our social name to "Virginia Oaks View"...invitation only group.

Thanks again...everyone for being the BEST.
Hugs,
June