Unbelievable!  A year has passed since the Lizard's last blog entry, and it's summer in the desert again.  It's early July and we've already had many, many days of 105 degree (or higher) temperatures.  We are eagerly awaiting our summer rains to add to the less than one half inch of rain so far accumulated for 2017.  While we await life-giving summer rain, another life form is on the rise.  Animal shelters throughout southeastern Arizona (and, likely the rest of the US, too) are filling with homeless pets.  

This summer might be a good time to open your home and heart to a new forever-friend.  To help potential pet parents make the adoption decision, here's a link to The Ultimate Guide to Pet Adoption recommended reading by volunteers at our local Green Valley Animal League.  

Our furry family sends warm summertime greetings!

And, summer arrives with a hot-as-a-chili-pepper bang!  Triple digit temperatures (115 Fahrenheit) and single digit humidity (4%) ushered in our summer this 2016.  May our summer rains not be far behind.   Stay cool.

Meet Manuel. He is benefiting from Kiva.org which helps to fund entrepreneurs throughout the world through private micro funding.   Lost Lizard just added sufficient funds to cover two thirds of Manuel's requested loan and bring it to a completely funded level.  The funds were the result of repayments of previous Kiva loans Lost Lizard made to several people throughout the world.  This is Lost Lizard's 17th loan.

From the Kiva site:  "45 year old Manuel is a responsible and enterprising person. He lives in his own home with his mother. For some years, he has worked raising and fattening chickens which he then sells at different markets that are near to his residence. With this, he is able to cover some of the household expenses. Manuel is requesting a loan to buy supplies for his business such as concentrate, vitamins, etc for his chickens. With this he hopes to increase his profits and offer his family a better quality of life."

The loan process is mutually beneficial.  Manuel will benefit and Lost Lizard gets to raise her chickens vicariously (and doesn't have to clean the coop).  This gets her in touch with fond memories of childhood days.  Kiva.org is a great organization and loans are small enough--often only $25--for anyone to participate.  

If you would like to find out more on how you can support a Kiva loan, click here.

Along with many other private and businesses in Arizona and throughout the nation, Lost Lizard Trading Company is supporting the families of the 19 Granite Mountain Hot Shots, an elite group of fire fighters, who lost their lives in the line of duty while fighting a wild fire in Arizona on June 30, 2013.  A significant portion of the sale of a large 48 by 51 inch pictorial lifestyle rug by Sarah Tso was donated to the Prescott Firefighters’ Charities which is providing support to the surviving families.  This rug is unique in that it is an exemplar for this rug type in Don Dedera's book, Navajo Rugs: The Essential Guide.  Bidding ended July 22 with nearly 100 views, a dozen or more watchers and a $324 contribution to the Prescott Firefighters' Charities to directly support the families.

Our rescued rat terrier, Princess Sophia AKA Sophie, as well as her furry friends at the Lizard's home rock, heartily recommend supporting The Animal League of Green Valley.  So we do so through purchases at The Attic Thrift Shop as a source of Lost Lizard inventory and through eBay Giving Works sales of books and other items.  Sophie says that TALGV gave her a chance to turn her life around--believe me, she is quite a rascal.

For 29 years, TALGV has been provtalgv.org/iding shelter and care for cats and dogs in need in the Green Valley area, a long valley now marked by an interstate from Tucson to Nogales on the US - Mexico border.  TALGV's mission is "A Home for Every Pet".  TALGV is an award-winning non-profit staffed with over 400 volunteers contributing nearly 100,000 service hours a year.  Sophie and I believe that the most amazing feature of the Animal League is the hands-on time provided to the animals by the volunteers.  Pets are gently handled, exercised and even massaged to help calm and socialize them.  Sophie says she thought it was a doggie spa during her time at the shelter.  More information is available by clicking on Sophie's image or visiting at The Animal League of Green Valley.