Christmas Cookies

I have been doing a lot of baking... I love making Christmas cookies!

Downtown Scottsdale

On Saturday nights in downtown Scottsdale at 5th Ave. and Goldwater, you can experience the food truck concept. There is an assortment of gourmet food trucks each week with casual, picnic-style outdoor seating and live music.
I had a King Crab Roll from a food truck from San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest.... delicious! My husband had crispy duck tacos.
Just down the street was the 5th Ave. Arts Festival where merchants set up their tents and sold their wares. A beautiful evening and fun to walk around and browse.

 

 

 

  

Celtic Thunder

Celtic Thunder is an Irish singing group known for its eclectic and theatrical style show. One of my favorite songs, a Christmas version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is performed beautifully..... enjoy!

Mary Did You Know

This song is performed by Pentatonix, an American a cappella group of five vocalists.
The name of the group is named after the pentatonic scale with five notes per octave.
It is sung beautifully and should get you in the spirit of the holidays.

God Only Knows

This music video is so beautiful.... done by the BBC.

Crosby, Stills and Nash

Last night I attended a Crosby, Stills and Nash concert at a relatively small venue. What an evening..... wonderful songs evoking so many memories of my youth!

The band had so many hits beginning in the late 1960's....Marrakesh Express and Suite: July Blue Eyes just to name a few. They were just starting out as a band when they performed at Woodstock in 1969.

It was truly a magical evening. They performed for 3 hours and not only sang their hits but new songs as well. I am so grateful that I finally was able to see Crosby, Stills and Nash!

"Live your life before the wind scatters you back home"
- a tribute to Levon Helm of The Band.

Massive Monsoon in the Phoenix Valley

The storm woke me at 2:30am this morning. I live in an area of golf courses and lakes where the water rises and flows over the roads. Right now there is no way out of my neighborhood as Hayden Rd. is closed as well as McCormick Parkway.
I grabbed an umbrella and headed out for a walk. I was not able to walk down the bike path as many areas were under water.
Fire trucks and police vehicles headed to a rescue on McCormick Parkway where two cars were stuck in the deep water. I watched them rescue a man from one of the cars.
Major freeways in the Phoenix area were closed this morning as well. It has been record-breaking rainfall!

The Cornish Pasty Company

The Cornish Pasty Company has a location in Scottsdale on Goldwater Blvd. The owner, Dean Thomas grew up in Cornwall in Southwest England and ate many pasties.

I had lunch there today and absolutely loved it! There were so many varieties to choose from....... I chose a Veggie Rosemary Chicken that had chicken, roasted red potatoes, brie, roasted red peppers and fresh rosemary served with a side of mustard cream sauce.

On the menu it gave the history of the Cornish pasty:

"The Cornish Pasty originates from Cornwall (Southwest England) and can be traced back as far as the 1200′s. Mining was once a thriving industry in Cornwall and at that time pasties were baked by the wives and mothers of the tine miners. Pasties were made with a thick crimped edge along one side so the miners could use the crimp as a handle to hold on to while eating. The miners hand would often be covered in arsenic from the mine, so the miners would discard the handle when they were done. The crusts were never wasted though, as many miners believed that ghosts, or ‘knockers’, inhabited the mines, and the leftover crusts would keep these ghosts content. Traditionally, pasties were made with different fillings at each end. One end containing meat and vegetables, and one end with a sweet filling. The sweet end would be marked with an initial so the miners knew what side to eat first. Today, Cornish pasties are filled with steak, potatoes, swede (rutabaga) and onions. At one time Cornwall had nearly 2000 flourishing tin mines, but by the 1880′s tin mining had become a rapidly declining industry. At this time, Cornish miners began emigrating to Michigan’s Upper Peninsular for copper mining bringing pasties with them."

I highly recommend this eatery!

Flagstaff

Flagstaff is a town located in northern Arizona at an elevations of 7000 feet. The town is situated in the largest Ponderosa pine forest in the world and we wanted to spend a couple of days in the cool mountain air!
Flagstaff's early economy was based on the lumber, railroad and ranching industries. The town also has a strong tourism sector due to its proximity to the Grand Canyon and the fact that is sits on historic Route 66.
On the morning of July 4th, we headed to the historic downtown area where we watched the 4th of July parade and wandered the "Art in the Park" craft show.
What a wonderful break from the heat in Phoenix!!

Arizona Wildlife

Javelinas are rather ugly animals. They evolved in south America and migrated north. One day we saw two javelinas wandering down our street looking for food. They eat flowers, nuts, berries and most succulent plants. I could hardly believe what I was seeing!

We also saw this lizard on a hike at Pinnacle Peak Park in Scottsdale. Hikers should not let the fairly minimal height gain deceive you. There are enough ups and downs on the trail to give even the most seasoned hiker a workout.

James Cotton Blues Band

James Cotton played at the Musical Instrument Museum last night. He was only nine when he first started performing. He would go on to make a name for himself as one of the most commanding blues harpist in the world. Cotton's spectacular sound won him several GRAMMY nominations as well as a GRAMMY award for Best Traditional Blues Album. Some musicians he has worked with include Janis Joplin, Santana, B.B. King, the Grateful Dead and Steve Miller. It was a very good concert!

Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market

This market is a vintage-themed flea market held at WestWorld in Scottsdale.
There were over 170 local artisans showcasing many items..... furniture, antiques, handmade jewelry, vintage clothing and other treasures for your home or garden.

Golfing in Arizona

We have had visitors for the past 3 weeks.... they love to golf here!
Playing golf in Arizona is uniquely different from the rest of the country. The golf courses are very diverse ranging from desert courses to links courses and alpine fairways.
Many saguaros situated near the tee boxes are riddled with holes from being hit by golf balls. You can also view much wildlife on the courses. Rabbits are very prevalent but you may also see lizards, coyotes, snakes and many species of birds. Below, I have a picture of a roadrunner.
On one particular course, we headed up the fairway only to see horses on the green. I don't know if they were wild horses or not. We asked the staff when we returned to the clubhouse and they said that they did not know where the horses had come from and they had been trying to get rid of them. How unusual.... only in Arizona!

Live from Laurel Canyon - songs and stories of American Folk Rock

My husband and I saw this concert at the Musical Instrument Museum.... it was so fantastic!!
It is a journey through a special time in American Pop music. Laurel Canyon is a neighborhood located in the Hollywood Hills region of Los Angeles. In the 1960s and 1970s, it became famous as the home to many of L.A.'s rock musicians such as Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison, The Byrds and Joni Mitchell who was living in a home with her then-lover Graham Nash. Steven Stills, Neil Young, David Crosby, the Mamas and Papas, Carole King, James Taylor, The Eagles and Jackson Browne were also part of the scene.
In the concert, the arrangement and the vocal harmonies were amazing. And the history of the artists and songs was fascinating. If you ever get a chance to see this show, you must go!

Singh Farms

This farmer's market is unlike any other in Arizona. In fact, you feel like you are not in the desert at all. It is nestled under canopies of mature mesquite trees and the soft ground produces the most beautiful herbs, vegetables and exotic plants. It is a sustainability masterpiece! Currently the Paulownia trees are in bloom and you can walk around the acres of property enjoying their fragrance and all the other trees and gardens. The Market sells fruits, vegetables, breads, pastries, handcrafted juices and much more.
Singh Farms is located on Thomas Rd. just east of Loop 101.

Chihuly in the Garden

Desert Botanical Gardens is hosting a Chihuly exhibit now through May 18, 2014. Dale Chihuly was born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. He was introduced to glass while studying interior design. Glass became his life's work. His work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide We were able to see his amazing works throughout the Desert Botanical Garden.......

The Embellished House

I have found a wonderful treasure in Scottsdale called The Embellished House. It is a small shop that specializes in vintage furniture, lighting and architectural salvage. The items are beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces. There are also new accessories for your home or gifts..... I could browse forever!

Turtles

Arizona is home to a diverse collection of reptiles and amphibians. There are 6 native species of turtles and 3 introduced species. They occupy diverse habitats and include lifestyles that range from completely terrestrial to semi or completely aquatic.
Sometimes when I walk around the lake by my home, I find a couple of turtles sunning themselves on the shore.

 

 

 

 

 

My husband has a friend who raises African Sulcata tortoises. Adults are usually 24 to 36 inches long and can weigh 100 to 200 pounds. They are herbivores and will keep the grass in the yard mowed. They lay their eggs in the ground. The babies are sold for about $30 each.

Arizona Sunsets

Sunsets in Arizona can be spectacular. This photo was taken from the patio of our friend's home in Carefree, AZ. The colors are amazing!

Fountain Hills Great Fair

Now in its 27th year, this fair features nearly 500 artists and artisans from around the country. You can find original works of art, hand crafted clothing and jewelry, knick-knacks, local food items and much more.
It is in a wonderful location in Fountain Hills, surrounded by mountains. Every hour on the hour, the fountain sprays water for about 15 minutes. The height is approximately 560 feet. The plume rises from a concrete water lily sculpture in the center of the lake.

The Maine Lobster Lady

When I heard that the Maine Lobster Lady food truck was going to be at Gainey Village today, I just had to go for lunch. She winters here and will return to Maine in April. I had a lobster roll.... what else!

Parada del Sol

The Parada del Sol is an annual event that has been in Scottsdale since 1953. The Pony Express completes a 200-mile trek from Holbrook, Arizona to the Main Post Office in downtown Scottsdale to deliver the mail. This exciting reenactment is one of the oldest events in the nation.
There is also the world's largest horse drawn parade in Scottsdale. Prior to the beginning of the parade, there was a cattle drive down the middle of Scottsdale Road!

Phoenix Open Golf Tournament

We went to see the first round of the tournament this year...... not as crowded so easier to walk around and also to get seats at the 16th hole, The Coliseum.
What a crazy and unique experience. This hole is surrounded by seats and annually attracts 20,000 spectators each day of competition. Players regularly interact with the crowd.
This year we enjoyed watching Canadian and ASU freshman, Ki Taek Lee. He is coached by Tim Mickelson, Phil's brother at ASU. He qualified earlier in the week at McCormick golf Course.
Ki threw ASU t shirts into the stands and had a great time with the crowd.

I truly believe that my favorite soup is the Chicken Tortilla Soup at The Yard House..... it is delicious!

Fresh squeezed orange juice...... what a delight!

The oranges are now ripe for the picking. I will have fresh juice every morning now for the next 2-3 months.

I am feeling a little smug but also guilty as I take my walk today around the lake.

My friends and family are living in a major Arctic Outbreak where there are record lows today and freezing temperatures.

Here in Arizona, there are some intermittent clouds but it is warm and our wildlife is enjoying our lake.