Boulder City

When you think about visiting Nevada you may not think about Boulder City. This is a Great little town just twenty minutes outside Vegas. Toby enjoyed it. This dog friendly place has such a small town charm. We walked along the sidewalks through down town, there were lots cool shops and nice places to eat and interesting statues. Toby took a break at the near by park called "Wilbur Square" where a piece of the Hoover Dam is then walked back through town on the other side of "Nevada Way" the main drag.
Before hoping back into the car we checked out the mural and took Toby's pic with it.
If you like desert plants you will want to stop by the Xeriscape Park on Royal Birkdale. The desert vegitation is beautiful. Whether you are a Veteran or not you will find plenty to do on the twentyfive acres at the Veterans Memorial Park on Buchanon Blvd.  We enjoyed watching the model boats on the pond.
Now for you serious hikers do some exploring on the River Mountain Hiking Trail just off Hwy. 93. It is an old trail but the city and park service have taken good care of it.
Boulder City is known as "the city that built Hoover Dam" so naturally they have a Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum.
Even though Boulder City is in the desert it is on Lake Mead which was formed by Hoover Dam. Let the kids or pets play on the ten acres while you enjoy the view of the lake from under one of the gazebos. What is really cool about Hemenway Valley Park is that Bighorn Sheep can be seen there.
There are many more parks with green space to relaxe at if you have time.
One of our favorite places to spend time at is Lake Mead National Recreation Area. There is lots to do on and off the water.
If you have not seen Hoover Dam you must go see it even if to just drive over it and while you are in the area you have to see the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, it connects Arizona and Nevada stretching over the Black Canyon.
We hope you have enjoyed finding out about this little Nevada gem.
See you on the road.

Gourds

The Coyote Gourd, found in the Mohave Desert grows at the lowest and driest desert elevations along the edges of washes prefering sandy places. This plant has a sprawling vine with large yellow flowers. The pulp of this melon contains one of the most bitter substances known to mankind, yet we use it to make such things as soap. The Native Americans attribute the Coyote "the trickster" with giving these gourds a bitter flavor while providing edible, nutritious seeds high in protein and fat. Animals like the Coyote, Porcupine and others still find a way to eat the seeds while the Javelina dig up and eat the tuberous flesh-like roots they sniff out even when there are no viines above the ground. Humans have been using these gourds for containers & decorative items since prehistoric times.

Thanksgiving

In 1621 the Plymouth Colonists and Native Americans shared an Autumn Harvest Feast which has become known as the first Thanksgiving in America. From that time on families through out the states celebrated a day of Thanksgiving every year. A National Day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Now we celebrate November 24th as Thanksgiving. 

                                                                      
One of our many taditions during Thanksgiving is to tell all of our Family and Friends how thankful we are for them. We try to let each of the people who are important in our lives know exactly what they mean to us.                                 
            Holidays - Happy Thanksgiving - Greeting Cards-6 Greeting Cards with envelopes
Anytime our family gets together to Celebrate an occaion we like to help get everyone into a festive mood by decorating the house with objects for that special event. Thanksgiving is no different.
                                                                  

When it comes to holidays we remember the TV families that many of us grew up with. The memories of what their Thanksgivings were like brings a smile to our faces. It would be nice if we could all have a Great Thanksgiving.

                                                             

In 1963 President Kennedy gave a Presidential Pardon to the White House Turkey. It became a tradition for the President to Pardon the Turkey but in 1989 President Bush made it official.  

The main event for Thanksgiving is the Feast! We always had Turkey and all the trimmings that went with it.

                                                                      
                                                                     

Remember November is American Indian Heritage month

Take this time "Thanksgiving" to Thank all Native Americans 

                                                       
                    What ever you do this Thursday We Wish You and Yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

seeing Vegas with your Dog

Vegas

Living so close to Vegas we get to explore both the natural wonders around the city as well as the strip. There are a number of places that are dog friendly. One of my favorite is the Desert Breeze County Park. It has lots of grass for me to play in, it has both a path where we can walk with me on the leash and an area where dogs can play fenced in. They like it because it is just five miles from the strip.

The Lorenzi Park, just about a mile west of downtown is another great place to play in the grass and it has a beautiful lake.

Now for a small fee the Floyd Lamb State Park is a good place. With paths winding around the fishing lakes, historic sites and grassy areas shaded by trees makes it another one to put on your list of places to visit.

This park is at the top of our list of great dog friendly hiking places. Spring Mountain Recreation Area with over 316,000 acres within the Toiyabe National Forest and only thirty five miles outside of town. If you time your visit right you can see the waterfall or check out one of the small caves all at the foot of the majestic Mt. Charleston.

The fist park on our list is the Red Rock National Area. This park has hiking for everyone but keep in mind dogs are allowed on some and not others. Now you don't have to be a hiker to enjoy this park thanks to it's 13 mile loop with it vistas and overlooks. If your trip can't squeeze in another fee you can get a sampling of this parks beauty by stopping by the visitor center, it's free. The rock formations and color should not be missed plus it is just a twenty five  minute drive from Vegas. 

Then when you want to hit the Strip and see if you can win the big bucks just drop the four legged member of the family at the www.animalinnlv.com/  

  

 

Venomous Monster

They have a horrible reputation of being venomous monsters. Most people scream and jump up on furniture when they see them. Crawling like they are part of a racing team with their eight legs. But they can be very still too as they hold their menacing whip like tail over head. It is that dreadful tip on the tail that is the killer.
Actually only 25 of the 1000s of species can kill a human. They adapt real well and are found just about everywhere in the world, though they prefer the subtropics. Coming out at night and eating crickets are what Scorpions really like to do.
  
Love At First Sting

"Trick or Treat" comes to America

Some trace the origins of present day "trick-or-treat" to Samhain(pronounced sah-ween), which was their night of demonic jubilation.  Spirits would rise out of their graves and wander the countryside, trying to retun to the homes.  In an effort to appease the spirits, frightened villagers began the tradition of placing plates of food and bits of treats on their doorsteps; not doing this they feared, would result in the death of their flocks or the destruction of their property. 

The other issue the superstitious villagers believed was if the souls of dead loved ones could return that nights, so could anything else, nice or not-so-nice, so to blend in as one of the demonic hoard, they would wear masks and other disguises.  This is one of the believed origins of Halloween masquerading as devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.

Another European trace to "trick-or-treat", was a custom called "souling".  Beggars would go door to door to collect "soul cakes" in exchange for promising to say a prayer for a deceased depardent, further guaranteeing a soul's passage to heaven.   

Many of the customs were taken to the United States by the Irish and Scottish immigrants in the nineteenth century and developed into "trick or treat".  

Halloween Craft Making and Costume Making : Activity Tv : Learn Step By Step How to Make Costumes , Trick or Treat Bags , Carve Pumpkins and Other Decorations , Tasty Treats , How to Put on Makeup & More : 4 Dvd Set : 324 Minutes

Halloween origins and customs

History traces Halloween back to the ancient religion of the Celtics in Ireland.  They were very conscious of the spirit world and helping their over 300 gods to defeat enemies in battle.  One of the main feasts was called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween), celebrated Nov 1.  They believed this to be a time when hostile supernatural forces were active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished.

By A.D.  43, the Romans had conquered the majority of the Celtic territory, and Roman festivals were combined with the Celtic celebration of Samhain forming a blending of Paganism with Christianity.  One such union was  the day for the Romans to honor Pomona, who was symbolized as an apple, since she was the goddess of fruit and trees. This blending with Samhain explains the idea of bobbing for apples on Halloween.    

In the 7th Century a Pope introduced All Saits' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs, to replace the pagan festival of the dead.  Oct. 31, thus became All Hallows's Eve. 

The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force ....