Desertscape Resident Newsletter by tharakanconsulting

FROM THE DESK OF

Peter Nguyen, Desertscape Park Manager

Hello everyone,

We are now entering the hottest part of the summer. It wouldn’t be Arizona without this heat. Yes, I know it is summer, and we still don’t have a pool. It’s unfortunate and there is not much I can do but it is almost over. I’m sure once they finish up, we will have a beautiful clean pool, a new shower area, and some new laundry machines for all residents to use. We have decided to pump the brakes on planning some larger events for this month. We will be taking the time to thoroughly plan more engaging events. With more details on events to come, we are hoping to announce them sooner to the residents and try to have tickets available sooner to give more residents a chance to obtain a ticket so we can get an accurate count for upcoming events. I’m keeping this one short today. There is a lot that still needs to be done but I will continue to do my best to get everything worked out and right for this amazing community.

Thank You.

Peter Nguyen

Desertscape Community Manager

Phone: 602-943-5833

Email: Desertscape@cobblestoneassets.com

DESERTSCAPE CONTACT INFORMATION

OFFICE HOURS:

9-4 Monday-Friday, Closed Saturday, Sunday by Appointment Only

2050 W Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021 Desertscape@cobblestoneassets.com

Office .........................................................(602) 943-5833

After hours contact Bill Hegwood ................(720) 224-5190

Peter Nguyen, Desertscape Manager (602) 943-5833

Twila Dawson, Sales ...................................(602) 943-5833

Gail Brazell, Activity Director .......................(602) 327-8125

COBBLESTONE NEWSLETTERS

Kathy Snider ....................... KSnider@Cobblestoneassets.com

Pam Qandil ................................. Pam@WilliamsExpress.com

NEWSLETTER DESIGN

Jo Schafrik ................... Jovonda@SaguaroDesignStudio.com

This publication is intended to provide entertainment and generalized information to the residents of Cobblestone Communities (Cobblestone) only. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Cobblestone, Desertscape, or its Management Team, and they are not responsible for any content, and do not endorse any advertisers.

A MESSAGE FROM DESERTSCAPE’S ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, Patrick McCombs

As many of you know, I am leaving the park to move out west to Surprise. This will be my last “Message from the President” as I will be gone by the time the September Newsletter is published.

July was an odd month for activities as most were suspended for the summer. Attendance at the activities has been declining with the absence of winter visitors, so the board decided on a short break until people started to return to the park and attendance would begin to rise. Besides, the Board needed a break. It takes a lot of work to put on these events, and we have a limited amount of help.

GOOD TIMES at Desertscape

Good Bye!

Patrick McCombs

I did enjoy my time as your President; I learned a lot and had a good time for the most part. There were days when I questioned my life choices, but I guess you’ll always have those. I will miss writing here, on the website, and Facebook. Maybe if the admins don’t kick me off Facebook right away, I can still slip in a witty remark or two. Anyway, this is my formal goodbye. I’ll be here for a few days in August before I move everything, so I’ll see you around for a bit. Things have a way of working out and I’m sure you’ll all get by fine after I’m gone.

Happy times come and go, but the memories stay forever. Enjoy our collection of photos featuring Desertscape events and residents!

July Birthday Bash a Valle Luna

July 4th BBQ

ACTIVITY DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE by

Gail Brazell

Hello to all my Desertscapee’s. Here we are entering into what some people call the last month of summer. But not us Arizonians! We are blessed with warm (HOT) weather until October. I’m a native and recall maybe needing a wrap with going out trick or treating. So, sit back, keep the air on and ride out the summer.

The management and the board has voted to have a break for the month of August. We will start back with our full activities in September. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Respectfully,

Gail Brazell

Activity Director

Gailbrazell61@yahoo.com

Have questions? Give me a call at 602-327-8125.

Sudoku August

Rules: The rules for Sudoku are simple. A 9×9 square must be filled in with numbers from 1-9 with no repeated numbers in each line, horizontally or vertically.

AUGUST BIRTHDAY BASH

The Birthday Bash for August will be August 12th 5:30pm at Thai Thai located at 10639 N 19th Avenue just north of Peoria Avenue. It doesn’t have to be your birthday to join in on the fun. Contact Joan Padilla at 602-524-2706 to reserve your spot.

WOMEN’S CLUB PRESIDENT Sheri Kramer

The July 12th Pie and Ice Cream event was cancelled. In August, the Women’s Club is going on a Hiatus and will have no events in this month.

We will be back in September to plan our fall events.

Sheri Kramer Women’s Club President

MONTHLY CHUCKLE

Desertscape August Birthdays

Wishing all of our residents with August birthdays a year of good health and happiness.

8-1 .................................... George Loonsfoot 8-2 Vicki King 8-4 .......................................... Murfi Thomas 8-5 ......................................... Linda Richards 8-6 Diana Prock 8-12 ............................... Mary Jane Caraher 8-12 Corey Blair 8-12 .................................... Mary McDougale 8-15 Jeff Neal 8-16 ......................................... Cheryl Ringer 8-18 .......................................Susanna Willey 8-24 Linda Lewin 8-24 ...................................... Mary Hathaway 8-25 Marcy Borke 8-26 ...................................... Jose Camargo 8-27 Judy Hegwood 8-29 ..................................... Daphane Downs

Do you have a neighbor that could be recognized as the Resident of the Month? How about that dog or cat that you see all the time and want it to be recognized also? We are looking for you to be part of your newsletter and we would like to continue these two sections. Please email dscassociation@yahoo.com to nominate your favorite pet. However, if we can’t get nominations we may replace the sections with something else.

Ingredients

• 12 slices Challah bread Day oldFrench, Italian or any other bread good for French Toast

• 12 oz light cream cheese

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 10 eggs

• 3/4 cup milk

• 3/4 cup half-and-half

• 1/3 cup maple syrup

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

• 2 cups sliced strawberries Strawberry-Maple Syrup

• 1/2 cup strawberry jam

• 1/2 cup maple syrup

•

Nutrition

Recipe of the Month

Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Casserole

Recipe courtesy of Trish - Mom On Timeout

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Refrigerate Overnight: 12 hours | Total Time: 13 hours 25 minutes | Servings: 16 servings | Calories: 337kcal

Take the hassle out of breakfast with this Overnight Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Casserole! Enjoy this decadent casserole with warm StrawberryMaple Syrup or pile on fresh strawberries and whipped cream - your choice!

Instructions

• Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish.

• Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.

• Beat in sugar until thoroughly combined.

• Beat in 1 egg and lemon juice until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

• Whisk together 10 eggs, milk, half-and-half, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.

• Schmear bread with cream cheese mixture. Layer on sliced strawberries. Place another slice of bread on top to create a sandwich. Repeat for all slices of bread.

• Cut into cubes and place approximately two-thirds of the sandwich cubes into baking dish.

• Top with remaining strawberries and drizzle remaining cream cheese mixture over the top.

• Place remaining sandwich cubes on top.

• Finally, pour egg mixture over the top.

• Press down lightly and cover with plastic wrap.

• Refrigerate over night.

• Remove from refrigerator and let rest while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

• Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

• Remove foil and bake for another 25-35 minutes or until the surface is golden and the center is set.

• Serve with maple syrup or additional fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

• Strawberry-Maple Syrup

• Combine equal parts strawberry jam (or jelly or preserves) and maple syrup. Heat on medium-high heat in microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until the jam has dissolved into the syrup.

MESSAGE FROM DESERTSCAPE’S SALES ASSOCIATE, Twila Dawson

Hello friends and neighbors, Summer is in full swing, and so is the excitement here at Desertscape.

First off, thank you to everyone! Word of mouth is the heartbeat of what we do, and it means the world to me that so many of you are proud to call Desertscape your home. One of my favorite things about this job is watching new friendships form on move-in day and seeing how quickly neighbors become extended family.

Thank you for attending my open-house events. I dearly love the opportunity to share time with our residents. Join me at my next open house on Saturday August 23rd for chips, salsa and a beverage.

Remember, if you know someone interested in buying a home in Desertscape bring them in!!! New home buyers will receive 12 months free rent and the resident that refers a buyer will receive $2500.

Twila Dawson Resort Home Specialist O- 602-943-5833 M- 308-520-6132 TDawson@cobblestoneassets.com

Recipe of the Month

Directions

1. Prepare the pan:

• Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease it. This will make it easier to remove the sucre à la crème once it’s set.

2. Cook the sugar mixture:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the Carnation evaporated milk, brown sugar, butter, and a pinch of salt.

• Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the butter is melted, and the sugar is dissolved.

• Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture should thicken slightly, but you don’t need to worry about reaching a specific temperature like in traditional fudge recipes.

Sucre à la Crème

Recipe courtesy of C Gauvin

Ingredients

• 1 can (12 oz or 354 ml) Carnation evaporated milk

• 2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar (Light Brown)

• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter

• 4 cups (about 450g) powdered sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

• Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (for added texture)

3. Add the powdered sugar:

• Remove the saucepan from the heat. Immediately add the sifted powdered sugar to the mixture in batches, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Then use an electric beater until all the sugar is incorporated and everything is smooth

• Stir until the powdered sugar is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.

4. Add vanilla and nuts (optional):

• Stir in the vanilla extract and, if desired, the chopped nuts for added texture and flavor.

5. Pour into the prepared pan:

• Pour the thickened mixture into the prepared baking dish, smoothing it out with a spatula to make an even layer.

6. Cool and set:

• Allow the sucre à la crème to cool at room temperature for several hours or place it in the fridge for 1-2 hours to set completely.

7. Cut and serve:

• Once set, cut into small squares or rectangles. The texture should be soft and creamy but firm enough to hold its shape.

Storage

Store the sucre à la crème in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. It can also be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, though it may become firmer when chilled.

THE GARDEN GUYS,

brought to you by your neighbors, Michael and Dan at C-111

August and us longtime “desert dwellers” all knew we would be getting blasted by this insane heat. After all, it’s August in Phoenix. Here, in the Sonoran Desert, water is our lifeblood. It fosters our lives, industries and recreation. To sustain these, we must remain ever-vigilant of conserving our resources without compromising our resources without compromising our quality of life. The intent is to reduce water consumption without compromising aesthetics. This can be accomplished by using plants in their ideal environment so they do not need to be coaxed or persuaded to live.

Those of us who live in the Southwest face hostile growing conditions – extreme temperature ranges, minimal rainfall and alkaline soil. Making the right landscape choices will allow your plants to mature and blossom. Wrong choices cost money in maintenance, repair and replacement. Plants that grow in Phoenix must be tolerant of our high heat, adapted to our soil conditions and drought-hardy. This alone can mean the difference between your plant dying or thriving and surviving in our arid climate. There are many “native plants” that can not only survive this heat but are able to thrive and bloom all summer long.

One plant that will shout it’s presence in any garden is the “Mexican Bird of Paradise” which is a native of both Northern Mexico and our Sonoran Desert (with the botanical name “Caesalpinia pulcherrima”). This plant has definitely made it’s home in the Valley. Sometimes sold as the “Pride of Barbados”, this evergreen shrub can reach a height of 10-feet. Dark green leaves with ¾ inch leaflets will bloom throughout the summer, bearing clusters of orange and red blossoms with red stamens.

If that color doesn’t work for you, try (“Caesalpinia Mexicana”) which bears lemon yellow flowers. This plant has a moderate to fast growth up to 10-12 feet tall (when planted in the ground). The leaves are coarser than the “red’ variety. This plant blossoms throughout the year, except in the coldest months.

The best flower show comes in early Spring throughout Fall, with occasional blossoms in between. This is one great hummingbird attractor.

One low-water plant that grows well here is the “Red Yucca” (Hesper aloe parviflora). This drought-tolerant and cold-hardy plant, a native of the Chihuahuan Desert grows 2-2 foot high and when planted in the ground will form broad clumps. Red blooms form on tall stalks form spring through early summer. The “yucca” and its many different varieties grow over much of North America with all yuccas having tough sword shaped leaves and large cluster of bell-shaped flowers. This is a plant that grows best in well-drained soil. Keep those stiff leave away from walls terraces and other well-travelled areas.

This “Agave” relative is one attractive accent plant. The flower spike usually appease in early spring and is another great hummingbird show-stopper. When planted in the ground a yucca will tolerate almost any soil with the blossom spike having the potential to reach 8-plus feet in height. The leave are narrow and blue-grey. This is a plant that is extremely suitable for large pots of containers.

But, in spite of the August heat, we gardeners continue our weeding, cultivating and watering out in our garden. We prune, trim and treat out plants as if they were our own children. Why? Because as gardeners – that’s what we do.

So, for now……

Happy Gardening!

Michael and Dan C-111

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

SERVICES:

MEDICAL:

Do you know someone who is sick or in the hospital? Let Leslie Nielsen know, and she will send them a card. Contact Leslie N. 602-708-7754.

The Medical Equipment Lending Closet will continue to be handled by the Association. For assistance contact: Gail Brazell 602-327-7125.

GIVING HAND:

OPERATION CHRISTMAS SHOE BOXES THROUGH SAMARITAN PURSE: My family packs these boxes every year in Payson, generally, we pack 300 to 400 boxes each year. We would greatly appreciate any of the items I have listed below:

• Shoe boxes up to size 10, stuffed animals, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners

• Hats, socks, washcloths and Ivory bar soap, combs and toothbrushes.

• $10.00 for shipping around the world. Thank you so much, Carol Sparks B162

SOLDIER’S ANGELS DONATIONS: Please join me in supporting our military and veterans. I have supported our military and veterans through Soldier’s Angels since 2005. My particular involvement is sending cards and letters. I write to you to join or help me help them by donating greeting cards. The cards can be on any subject or blank. Please feel free to write your own message inside the card if you’d like to. Also appreciated are craft store gift cards and cash donations to purchase supplies and postage stamps for mailing bulk packages to Chaplains.

SoldiersAngels.org

Thanks a lot for your support!

Sheila Thomas A190

RESOURCES:

TEMPORARY A/C UNITS: The Desertscape/Cobblestone Team oversees the management and distribution of the portable a/c units in the park. If you need one of the loaner units contact the office at 602-943-5833. For after-hours help, call Bill Hegwood at 720-224-5190. You may also email the office to request a unit.

Peter - desertscape@cobblestoneassets.com

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES OR PROGRAMS: Administrated through counties, cities, councils of government, and private non-profit organizations. They provide a variety of services:

* Emergency Financial Assistance

* Utility Assistance

* Utility and Discount programs

* Rental/Mortgage Assistance

* Housing Repair, Rehabilitation and Weatherization

* Food Boxes and Other Food and Nutrition Programs

* Case Management

* Advocacy and Referrals

* Childcare/Head Start

* Housing and Homeless Assistance

https://www.aaaphx.org/area-agency-on-agingprograms/ OR CALL 602-264-4357

https://wildfireaz.org/find-help/community-actionagencies/ OR CALL 602-604-0640