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Monday, February 22, 2010

Week-end jaunt

Hubby wanted to take a week-end jaunt. It gets harder and harder to come up with anything new that is close by so we decided to take a trip back in our past. You see we grew up on western Arizona part of route 66; In fact I spent the early part of my childhood in the display window of my folks grocery store.........a whole other post someday.
Living in that little town of Ash Fork, our rival schools were Seligman and Williams so of course we went there often and before I40 bypassed all these little towns it was the only way to get to Kingman/Las Vegas and etc. It had been nearly 40 years since we had been down the old road to the little town of Seligman. They have worked very hard to capitalize on the route 66 interest and in fact many of the original places are still there and open. I was hoping that the Copper Cart restaurant would be open because my folks and I would often drive over and have dinner there.
I remember they had these lantern type lights and my Dad always had a rib eye steak. One time on our drive back home a rock next to the road and our car was struck by lightening...raised the hair on our arms! Well, they weren't open that day so we had lunch at

This was not original but the lunch was good. We headed on down the road towards Peach Springs. I had thought we might go to
the newly built sky walk out over the Grand Canyon and only miles from here until I checked out the price....nearly $60.00 per person. It has brought a nice hotel and restaurant to the nearly distinct little town. If fact all of the other little towns along the way were nearly distinct but hubby had mentioned how he remembered how pretty the little town of Valentine was and indeed if it would been summer instead of winter, it would have been beautiful. This little town was kept alive for years by the tradition of people sending their valentine cards here to be stamped with the little heart shaped stamp of Valentine until Aug. 15, 1990 when the postmaster was shot, robbed and left to die.
We traveled on to Kingman and then took 93 to Laughlin....the little gambling town on the river... spent the night here and came out $80.00 ahead on a penny machine!! Unheard of for me but told hubby....it is really fun to gamble when you win!

Next day we headed back towards Phoenix on 93 but then did the 89 cut off at Kirkland Junction and went to Bagdad.....another memory moment. Over 30 years ago we came here often to compete in fast draw. You come to this copper mining town and you best have all your business done by dark because everything shut down with the exception of the bar back then and when you come here, you can go no where else..... Have to turn around an go back the way you came.
I was hoping that the drive in theater would still be here because I wanted to get a picture of it to show you.....the screen was on a little hill top and then there was a gorge and you parked on another little hilltop across the way. It was quite a sight but sadly no longer there; If fact we couldn't really find anything that was as we remembered.

We undertook the curvy hills of Iron Springs road (some in snow) and on to Bucky's Casino overlooking Prescott, Az. If you have never stayed here give it a try....nice restaurant, rooms and beautiful view. Headed on home the next morning and that was our 580 mile week-end jaunt.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Granddaughter time

Last Thursday was another Granddaughter day (she gets a early release from school and I pick her up and we spend a few hours together). I try to have a project/craft for us to do and she is really good about giving it a go and not complaining.


Well, after learning that she loves lemon anything I decided we would make a homemade, totally from scratch, lemon meringue pie. We started with the crust and she had never seen lard...we got to the part of rolling it out and she just couldn't hardly wait to give it a try. She had to stop fairly often to clean up the edges...they bothered her if the weren't nice and round. Got it into the pan and told her we would need to prick the bottom with a fork......she just squealed....this was something she had done on her wii cooking game but had no idea you really did it! After the crust was cooked and cooled we started on the lemon filling. I told her we would do it TV style (get all the ingredients measured and ready to use so we needed to juice the lemons and when she saw this she said "Oh grandma, I have always wanted to do that".....well, juice lemons she did. It has been a long while since I have made a homemade pie but I was reminded this was her very first.......the consistant stirring of the filling was not her favorite part......seperating eggs was the challenging part and meringue was amazing to her.


(I had to borrow my pictures from computerland because my computer won't download my pictures from my camera disk) It wasn't quite this pretty but mmmmm good. After having a few small pieces with Grandpa...the rest went home with her to surprise Mom and Dad.

Now, you need to understand she is full of youth so her thoughts were.......so, what's next?



We are going to make.................

Microwave potato chips

Peel the potato, using a mandoline
(this gizmo is a wonder) or a thin sharp knife, slice potatoes approximately 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch thick. To remove potato starch, rinse the slices in a bowl of cold water; change the water twice. Pat the slices thoroughly dry with paper towels.

Sprinkle the slices with salt or your choice of spices or herbs. If you have a microwave bacon tray, place the sliced potatoes flat on the tray in a single layer. If you don not have a bacon tray, use a microwave-safe casserole dish. Rub the inside of the dish with some olive oil or spray with no-stick spray.

Cover with a microwavable round heavy plastic cover. Microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes; turn slices over and continue to microwave on high another 3 to 5 minutes. Potatoes are done when they are lightly browned (if they aren't browned, they won't get crisp).

I had seen this recipe online and thought it was interesting......
Granddaughter was sure it wouldn't work but after eating three potatoes we both decided......
IT IS WONDERFUL!!!! they are so good and fat free!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Did you know?

Tiger
It hunts at night.
Unlike a house cat, it likes water and swims well.
Retracts its claws when it walks, leaving no claw marks in its tracks.
Its roar can be heard as far as two miles away.
Has stripes as unique as fingerprints.
Has striped skin as well as fur!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Showing off doesn't pay

Friday, hubby took me to a western store to see about getting a new pair of boots. I tried them ALL on including this sexy little number


I put one on and went traipsing up to the mirror telling hubby "Look at these!"






Yep, you guessed it

ankle twisted and I went right down on my (arse). The first thing I did is hope no one saw me, the second thing I did was try to get up and the last thing I did was wonder what I hurt. It is a little dangerous falling when you are in your 60's. Well, thank goodness for this nice little layer of fat I have, because I must have bounced and only have a sore ankle.....
and just as soon as I am no longer gimpy, I can wear my new boots.
Note to self: Showing off doesn't pay

Monday, February 1, 2010

Just Ducky

I took this knitting kit with me to a local gun show this week-end, thinking I would be able to get a good start on it...........WRONG!

Well, I guess it didn't help that I have never changed yarn on a project before and of course this

is a constant requirement for this pattern, nor have I ever followed directions from a chart


Need I say more........ I did manage to get half way up the duck and then rip it all out (fortunately this blanket is made in three strips)....for the third time.
Well, I am back home where things are more quiet and I have more than just my lap to hold three balls of yard and the directions on so Maybe I can make it work. Why in the world did I buy such a kit? Well, it was only $9.00 on ebay and included everything including the needles ....yep, there's a fool born every minute.

Monday, January 25, 2010

For the birds

When we built our home our grandson was not quite one year old and living with us, so we wanted to have a fenced area away from the pool where he could play. We planted a tree so he would have some shade and I remember well the first storm we had after we planted it. I had to hold it so my hubby could tie it down and it not be destroyed....well that was 18 years ago and of course the grandson is all grown up but so is the tree. It is now bird haven.

The quail love the bird block even though it is hard are a rock! After it rains it gets soft and all the birds flock to it.
There are all kinds of birds decor here and there


Some of my favorites are the quailthe yellow breasted wren
and of course the hummingbirds
Some have decided that this bird haven is the just the place to be and have made their homes real close....Check out these bird made holes in my Oleanders
and of course the waterfall for the pool makes the best bird bath...Did anyone think birds were dumb?

Well, maybe they are smarter than we think...My hubby also feeds the birds nearly everyday at Starbucks. He had told me that the birds knew him...well, it was summertime and we would sit ourside in the patio area and I told him that was silly, they begged everyone for crumbs, but you know what? We are now sitting inside and no matter where we sit they find him and come line up outside the window waiting for him to come out!
Next time you say "That's for the birds" you may just be handing out a compliment.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Boston Tea Party

Dec. 16, 1772
Colonialists attack, tar and feather a hapless tax collector. The colonies refused to pay the levies required by the Townsend Acts claiming they had no obligation to pay taxes imposed by a Parliament in which they had no representation.

Jan. 19, 2010
Rep. Scott Brown wins Senate seat in Mass.
A shocking outcome after more than 40 years of Dem. Ted Kennedy reining and ruling and even with a Health Care Bill pending named in his honor.
The truth lies in Scott Brown's theme "It's the people's seat".

Some have forgotten that Democracy is of the people and for the people
Thank you Mass. for a 2010 Boston Tea Party!

Monday, January 18, 2010

First Time

Every year we attend the gun show in Las Vegas which is held at the Riviera It is a older casino and has it's good and bad points as I have posted before but this year we decided to take a taxi and take in the "Fremont Experience". WOW! What an experience it was. This is the oldest gambling area in Vegas and they have built this huge covered canopy encompassing four or five different old casinos like the Golden Nugget
(swimming pool)
You can walk freely from one casino to another under the huge canopy that encompasses them.
The canopy towers 90 feet above the ground and spans the length of five football fields, features more than 12 million LED modules and 555,000-watt sound system and provides some kind of light show...let me tell you!
There is also a variety of shows, shops and etc. on the grounds as you walk around.......But the very best part for me?
Seeing this neon sign of the cowboy. I first saw this when I was around six years old traveling though Vegas with my parents and I haven't seen it since. It was one of the first big neon's that appeared here in Vegas and was well known.
I had checked out all the restaurants and picked inside of the Four Queens for dinner. This was to be the most romantic restaurant in all of Vegas with great food. I was not disappointed. From being handed a red rose prior to being seated to having four waiters catering you our every need which included four different breads, salad made table side, a palate cleaner (strawberry sorbet in a miniature cone), main dish and four different deserts (chocolate covered strawberries, vanilla dipped apricots and stuffed figs). Add to that "Franciscan" for their Cabernet house wine and you can be nothing but pleased.
It is funny because for the most part I don't enjoy going or being in Vegas since I am not a gambler but think adding this to our yearly schedule just might tip the scales.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Tidbits

Mushrooms

Mushrooms have no chlorophyll so they don't need sunshine to grow and thrive. Some of the earliest commercial mushroom farms were set up in caves in France during the reign of King Louis XIV (1638-1715)

The largest living organism ever found is a honey mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae. It covers 3.4 square miles of land in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, and it's still growing.


The world's deadliest mushroom is the Amanita phalloides, the death cap. The five different poisons contained in the mushroom cause diarrhea and vomiting within 6 to 12hours of ingestion. This is followed by damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system - and, in the majority of cases, coma and death.


Truffles, or mushrooms that grow below the ground, are one of the world's most expensive foods. One variety, Tuber melanosporum, can cost between $800 and $1,500 a pound.
So what got me to thinking about mushrooms you might ask?

The picture on the old cookbook of my daughters and
this simple recipe I found for (Fresh mushroom saute)
2 C. fresh mushrooms
1 tsp. flour
1 tbsp. melted butter
Wash mushrooms, slice through caps and stems. Sprinkle with flour.
Put melted butter in med. skillet. Add mushrooms; cover and cook over low heat 8-10 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.

Happy mushrooming to you...............

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A Momma's love

17 years ago my daughter married and left home......One of the gifts I gave her was this recipe book

filled with many of my recipes along with those of friends and family that brought their favorites to her Bridal shower........ As you can see, it has been well used. Recently, I offered to make a new one for her because it is something I enjoy doing. It seemed funny to see all the recipes I wrote out in long hand for her and those of people we both remember well. There are some she used and some she didn't and of course she has added her own along the way but it is a gift that was appreciated and made from a Mamma's love.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Snow

I got a new phone for Christmas and unfortunately I can't figure out how to download my pictures to my computer so I will have to borrow some from the web for this post.

After having Christmas eve morning celebration with our kids we headed up north. Not many places can you change from not needing a coat to snow and sking in just a few hours. The best part is that when you are tired of it...you can come back to the mild weather. We spent the first night at Little America It is a nice place to stay winter and summer with lots of pine trees and trails. The court yard was all decorated kind of like this.... and there were these huge icicles hanging from the roof in the dinning room. Although I have lived in this area all my life I had never been to the snow bowl so next morning we headed there....Was disappointed we couldn't sit and watch people ski but was a nice drive and the hot coffee tasted pretty good after trekking up the hill........This was Christmas morning and the parking lots were full!
Our next stop was Winslow, Az. The town of Winslow is pretty sad but they have a shinning star there...................La Posada This is a Harvey house that has been restored and it is wonderful!The trains still run here and the woman that owns it is an artist; She paints Historical as well as contemporary. Now, I am not much of an art fan but I find her historical paintings fascinating. She has a series of President's wives........... Here is one in the ballroom above the fireplace. If you ever have the opportunity to visit here you won't be disappointed. Their dining room is always packed so be sure and make reservations if you intend to have dinner.
It had been two years since we had stayed here and it was like going for the first time with all the changes they have made. If you don't know anything about Fred Harvey I would encourage you to do some reading about him.
How fun to enjoy the snow but not full time.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

Some Christmas scenes

My daughter gave me the little Santa and dog....You squeeze his hand and they sing "Jingle Bells".... My parrot goes nuts with this duet.


Got this at Savers one year for near nothing....love how relaxed he looks:)


This is my new addition...a wine bottle Santa Sweater and hat....just couldn't resist!
Good thing I didn't see this while out shopping....My dogs would hate me!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

These cinnamon ornaments are wonderful!!
You can find the recipe here. I got this info from farmchick but what I didn't know is that they make quite a few, so along with having enough to hang on my mantle, I will have a few to give away.....There are two ladies at my church in wheelchairs and they live in care facilities so think it will be a perfect little gift for them and also for a deaf friend who is single and lives in an apt. I can't wait to give them to them and hang mine up.......smells so good.

Here is a side tip for you........
These really work!