Mesa, Arizona Real Estate - Teri Ellis - Homes Arizona Real Estate

The Phoenix, Arizona Valley and Outlying Cities - Recycling Christmas Trees!!!

The City of Mesa, and other cities throughout Arizona are offering facilities to recycle your live Christmas Trees!  Please do not just dump it in a landfill, take your tree to be recycled. I've provided a link of information for cities throughout Arizona including Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Goodyear, Glendale, Payson, Peoria, Flagstaff, ShowLow, Prescott, Scottsdale and more.

For complete details including times, addresses and more, click on RECYCLE!

Mesa and Gilbert flank each side of Power Road, and the cities are joining together to plan the improvement of Power Road - widening it into four lanes from the 202 to Pecos - a stretch of about 2.7 miles. Could this be part of our job stimulus dollars at work? Guess that could be up for debate, but it is a "good" thing nevertheless.

As the map reflects, this is a busy hub area since one way into the airport is along this corridor.  Right now, the road narrows down into just two lanes, so the improvement will be a welcome relief to those home owners heading for Power Ranch, for Seville, and other communities south of the 202.

Mesa and Gilbert leaders are planning for the corridor to be the "knowledge corridor."

One day, we will all look back and remember when Power Road was just a rural two lane road. As the cities grow, and the people move into this beautiful area of the southeast valley, wider and better roads will definitely be something better to serve the communities south of the 202.

The Mesa, Arizona Temple sets up displays that are spectacular. Thousands of volunteers place 50 life-size figures, including a nativity scene and the three wise men and their camels. 750,000 lights are set in citrus trees, cacti and palm trees. The visitors center shows a short film depicting the birth of Christ through December 31. Holiday music is performed by valley choirs, school groups and entertainers.

Musical performances begin at 6 or 7 p,m. nightly. Be sure to see details at: MesaChristmasLights.com

Struggling Consumers in Mesa and in Chandler have opportunities for finding affordable groceries! 

I recently learned of reduced pricing for feeding a family in Chandler and Mesa, Arizona. No income requirements, no lengthy forms to fill out. Order as many boxes as you want. Wow! Seems too good to be true? Well it is true, and this is where, how, and how much.

Angel Food Ministries provides enough food to feed a family of four for a week for $30! Additionally, the United Food Bank has a similar program, "Help Yourself," that provides meat, canned goods and a bag of produce for $16! Items vary weekly and are available every Friday on a first come, first served basis. You'll probably have to wait in line, but for $16, you will want to wait in line.

According to the Arizona Republic, a recent Department of Agriculture
survey found that about 50 million people went hungry last year. Nearly
one in four was a child. Some local children come to school famished on
Monday after having nothing to eat at home over the weekend. Food pantries and soup kitchens across the Southeast Valley have been innundated with people who can't afford even a $16 weekly box of food.

How we can help! We can buy a food box online through Angel Food Ministries, for pickup at several Southeast Valley locations, or from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at United Food Bank, 358 East Javelina Avenue, Mesa.  Chandler Christian Community Center is collecting canned food, turkeys, hams and baking ingredients for the holidays. 480.963-1423. 

I am so proud of those who dig into their almost empty pockets to help others less fortunate.  After all, isn't that what America is all about? Helping each other?  This is information on just two of many throughout the valley and throughout our country!

My photo blogs are hardly wordless, but I just say "less." Each year, my husband and I take some time and go to the Phoenix Botanical Gardens. We really enjoy the beautiful displays presented there. This year, there were myriad glass sculptures by Chihuly all set into the desert scape. You'll notice the cacti, but the forefront with the light shining through are glass. The one I am sharing is one of my favorites. Another of my photos at the Chihuly exhibit which is on Flickr - was included in an article about our area.

Mill Avenue in Tempe - shopping, great restaurants, and a great place to people watch. As promised, here is the second part of my story and photos that I shared about our trip on the Light Rail on Veteran's Day: One of our stops was to 3rd and Mill Avenue. We hopped off and walked down Mill Avenue looking for a place to stop and eat. While we were in this mode, a man from a building came up to us and asked us what we were looking for and were we hungry.  Apparently the place was just opening, and since it was set back from the sidewalk, we hadn't noticed it - and there weren't that many people there.  We agreed to give it a try.

Very contemporary, the Regions Bistro and Bar was a delight. Our waiter, Dustin, was part of the reason, and the food was very good. We were able to view the people walking up and down Mill, and Dustin kept us company while we ate. He plans to be a singer someday, and loves working at this restaurant.

Along our way from Phoenix back to Tempe, and in Tempe on Mill Avenue, I'm sharing a view of Mill Avenue. Note the brick/coblestone walkway. Very quaint with a lingering atmosphere.

One building that I have seen as long as I've lived in the Phoenix area is this one -but I don't know what it is. Anyone know? It's very large, perched on a hill, and has a gated entrance. I've looked all over and can't seem to identify it....maybe someone else can. Thanks to Deanne, this mystery building is the Tovrea Castle.

I'll end this for now, but suffice it to say that it was a spectacular day, and the Light Rail in Phoenix through Tempe and into Mesa is awesome!

Visiting our local Farmer’s markets in the Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona valley is something I enjoy doing on a regular basis.  I thought it would be useful for my readers if I provided a list of the Farmers’ Markets in the Southeast Valley including Mesa, Chandler, Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Ahwatukee and Casa Grande.

Where possible, I’ve included any website information as well as time and dates of the Farmers’ Markets.

• Downtown Chandler Farmers Market – Open on Thursdays fron 3–6 p.m. Located at the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue.
• Farmers Market at Solera Community Center – open from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the Month from September-July. Located at 6360 South Mountain Boulevard, Chandler.
• Farmers Market at Trilogy-Power Ranch - open 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the Month from September-July. Located at 4369 East Village Parkway, Gilbert
• Agritopia Farm Stand – open from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturdays from November – May. Located at 3000 East Ray Road Gilbert.
• Mesa Community Farmers Market – open 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Fridays. Located at the Rendezvous Center, 263 North Center Street, Mesa
• McDonald Street Farmers Market – open 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays from October 24–May 1. Located at the northeastern corner of Main Street and MacDonald, Mesa
• Ahwatukee Farmers Market – open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays from October-April and May-September. Located at 4700 East Warner Road, Phoenix
• Farm at South Mountain – open 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturdays October through May 16. Located at 6106 South 32^nd Street, Phoenix
• Market on Mill – open 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursdays. Located at 730 South Mill Avenue, Tempe

• Casa Grande Farmers Market – open 8 a.m. – noon on Tuesdays. Located at the Christian Church of Casa Grande parking lot, 1510 North Casa Grande Avenue, in Casa Grande.

Hopefully this list will be useful in assisting our winter visitors to find these farmers' markets.

Since I had not yet availed myself of the opportunity to travel on our Light Rail from Mesa to Phoenix, hubby and I decided to take another day trip! On November 11, Veterans' Day, we boarded the Light Rail in Mesa at Dobson and Main. I love to take day trips to better appreciate the beautiful Phoenix Valley. I wanted to stop by the Tempe Farmers Market, walk along Mill Avenue in Tempe, and enjoy the sights of downtown Phoenix all of the way to the end of the line and back.

The price of an all-day ticket is very reasonable - I am thinking for both of us - $3.50.  We purchased our tickets at Safeway in East Mesa. There were very few people traveling, and we enjoyed seeing the ongoing Veterans' Day parades in Tempe and in Central Phoenix. It was so cool! The trip took about 30-40 minutes to the end of the line at the Metro Center - 19th Avenue. We changed trains and headed back!

Since I grew up in Phoenix, I loved traveling through downtown Phoenix and being able to see how "modern" Phoenix has become. The Light Rail route is so nicely designed and maintained, there is a feeling that I could get off at any of the stations and feel "safe." We passed by a Phoenix icon, The Westward Ho, a skyscraper hotel located on Central Avenue built in 1928 - famous in the "day" and the tallest building in Phoenix until the year 1960. Anyone who has seen Alfred Hitchcock's movie, Pschyo, will remember that it was filmed in downtown Phoenix in 1960 though the hotel in the scenes was the Jefferson Hotel.

[As a child, my mom would drop us off in downtown Phoenix to watch movies, and we got in for a quarter.] ;-)

Then, there's my high school, Phoenix Union, located in downtown Phoenix along Van Buren - which has been torn down now; however, the memories are still very fresh of the "good old days"! Very nostalgic for me. The City has certainly "grown" up.

There is more to this story - I'll share photos of Mill Avenue, where we ate, and more photos in another post.

Now that the weather has cooled down, my husband and I decided to check out our Mesa Farmers’ Market Saturday morning - checking out farmers' markets is one of my favorite things to do. Mesa is also celebrating its Old West Days Festival yesterday (November 7) and today (November 8).

Shoot outs at the Mesa Old West Days

There were shootouts, people dressed in their “old west” garb, and plenty of food. Rides on the train for little ones, jewelry booths, and a wide assortment of opportunities to purchase goodies or just walk and enjoy the music and the sights.

Winter visitors are back!! These events continue until May when visitors return to their cooler climates. There are plenty of these Farmers’ Markets, festivals, craft shows, and celebrations going on all winter.

 Farmers' Market and Mesa Celebration of Old West Days

It was a balmy 78 degrees yesterday morning around  11:30, and we stopped by and tried out the homemade tamales. LOVE tamales! We purchased six, and will be having them for dinner soon. The Tamale Store is located in north Phoenix, but you can call and order your tamales, or go online at www.thetamalestore.com, and pick them up at the farmers’ markets in town. I do recommend them.

The McDonald Street Market is located in the center of Old Mesa at McDonald and Main. I’ve included a link to their website which provides dates, times, and other useful information for those who like to keep up on the local news.  So - all of you wanting to find things to do this winter, just stop by now and again for an update to the "happenings" in Mesa, Arizona!!

Custom home located on 10 acres of irrigated land. Additional four bedroom guest house on the property as well. Two lots, (an 8-acre and a 2-acre) but to be sold together.

This home is particularly beautiful - with so many amenities, it is impossible to list them all. It boasts a center courtyard with a fireplace and a fountain, plants, trees, etc.  The home completely wraps around the courtyard with windows opening to the center giving an open and pleasing view.

I took approximately 100 photos and have changed them around on the MLS as well as the Real Estate Show. One of my favorite "spots" in this beauty is the butler's pantry complete with plenty of granite counter space, sink, cabinets, and storage space. In the kitchen - another of my favorites - is the Wolf Range, two complete islands, with a sink on each.

The ceilings are high, pillars are everywhere, and nothing has been forgotten in putting this home together. Hopefully the photos will help you "see" the home. To really be appreciated, a personal visit is necessary!