This Chica's Random Thoughts

New Mexico with family

2009-08-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

These are a few pics with the Alavarado family of our trip up to the Catwalk in NM during our last visit on the first week of August.

Payson with Family

2009-08-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

Here's some pics of us when we (my sister, nephew, my son, and I) took a drive up to Payson a few months ago. We went to the Tonto Natural Bridge, and also went to a local park which turned out to be quite the hidden treasure.

New Years

2009-01-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

We had friends and family over for New Year's and had a relaxing time. Ate a little...drank a little...and played A LOT!!!

Dad and sister
(just polished off some menudo...yummy)

Marco

Michael's goofy face

little werito chowing on some 7-layer bean dip

my beautiful niece

more familia
Mi amiga caught off guard
que pretty
cousins (in deep thought)

Rockband

2009-01-16T07:27:00.000-08:00

I am sure you all have heard of Rockband, right? Well I just recently learned about it. My son got it for his Christmas present...and we love it. Throughout the holidays we have had plenty of friends and family visiting and have all had the opportunity to enjoy it.

Marco putting the game together...

Cousins joining in on the fun

I have gotten pretty good at the drums, but have not mastered the guitar. And I love to get my hands on the microphone...that is when my son let's me. So come on over and join us for a mini concert anytime. :-)

Thanksgiving

2008-12-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving we had lots of company...some from out of town, and some local friends. It was a great time of fun, food, and fellowship. I felt very blessed to be honored with my guests. The preparation began on Wednesday. Everyone was good about chipping in and doing their part. Tita and kids.

Here's all the kids being goofy.

Michael had a little too much to eat...was in desperate need of a nap.

La Familia

2008-12-02T18:47:00.000-08:00

My dad came to visit last week from out of state. His presence was very much enjoyed by all of us. My sister and her kids came on Sunday afternoon, and we had an awesome time...it had been a while since we'd all had an opportunity to get together...it was very nice and special.His grandchildren were especially happy to see him and spend time with him. The only one missing is the great-grandson, Willy.

Hatch Chile - straight from Hatch NM

2008-09-13T22:59:00.000-07:00

Mis amigos los gringos have company this weekend. Wero loco's parents The Klugs came to visit from Nuevo (Las Cruces, NM). I'll have to explain the "Nuevo" some other day. Anyhow, before their trip to Arizona, they went to the Chile Festival in Hatch, NM and bought a huge burlap bag with about 20 lbs of green chiles to bring to los weros here in Phoenix. We thought we could go to one of the local grocery stores selling roasted chiles and have them roast the chiles for us, but unfortunately were turned down. Therefore, we were left with no other option but to roast the chiles ourselves, and with so many helping hands around we knew it'd be a piece of cake. :0) The Klugs were in charge of roasting on the grill outside, Mr Haney (Erin's Dad) was just the man we needed to make sure each and every chile was sprayed with cooking spray so the chiles would not stick to the grill or the cookie sheets. Between Erin, Chris and myself we would man the oven while chiles were roasting on cookie sheets. And before you knew it, all of the chiles were done. Afteward, Erin made some yummy quesadillas with the delicious chiles.

Now the weros are pros at roasting chiles. :-)

Here's the before...,................................and....................the after shots!

Hiking - Phoenix Moutain Preserve

2008-09-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

You all have heard (or read) me whine recently about missing our hikes and stuff. Well, guess what? We've officially started our hikes once again....whoo hoo!!! My hiking buddy, Grover, and I decided we'd start with an easy hike and begin working our way up to the more difficult / longer hikes. We invited our coworker, Bud, to come along. We had done this trail once in the Spring time. It is a fairly easy 4-mile trail that begins at the 32nd Street & Lincoln trailhead. Well, if you remember from my previous hiking posts, Grover tends to get us lost sometimes...actually most of the time. Well, things haven't changed. He decided this time were were going to do the trail the opposite direction from the last time...BIG mistake. We wound up on the wrong trail from the beginning, and it took us a while to actually get back on the right trail, but thankfully eventually did end up on the correct one. I know, I know, you all are probably asking yourselves why I allow him to continue to lead our trails...I guess it just makes it more adventurous and it gives me more reasons to talk trash about him. :-) Which I know he likes!!! Let's hope we didn't scare Bud!! I'll keep you posted...if I don't mention Bud joining us again, then you know what happened.

Betty's Birthday

2008-08-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated our dear Betty's 90th Birthday!! Whoo Hooo!!!! She was SO happy! And what a delight to have the pleasure of knowing her and spending this special day with her!! Yay!!

Here's Lori and her friend Eileen with Betty!

Pastor Michael, Mrs Fox and Rosemary
Pastor, Mr Fox and Breanna

Tish, Pat, Ramona & Dorothy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETTY!!!

What???

2008-08-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

How many of you having been reading the multitudes of reports regarding Henry Cejudo's awesome Gold Medal win? And how many of you have read the issues surrounding his mom's immigration status? Sick....isn't it. Why don't people leave this poor woman, Henry and their family alone and let them enjoy his victory? Here's one of the articles for you. Your thoughts???

Medalist's mom at heart of immigration crisis
It is not that we can't quite get to the heart of the immigration crisis. Our problem is that we don't allow heart to enter into the discussion.
Luckily – or not – we sometimes don't always have a choice. That's what happened Tuesday.
On that day at the Beijing Olympics 21-year-old Henry Cejudo, who attended Maryvale High School, won the gold medal in wrestling's 55-kilogram (121-pound) division.
He later told reporters, “This is cool, coming out of a Mexican-American background. It just feels so good. Not many Americans get to do something like this. I feel like I'm living the American dream.”
And he is. Following his victory there was an appearance on NBC's Today Show. There were highlights on ESPN. There were articles in newspapers from all over the United States and abroad.
All of which told the tale of Henry's hardscrabble young life and his dreams of an Olympic championship, and did so in a manner that was upbeat, inspiring, heart-warming and, ultimately… troublesome.
You see, there's one little problem.
In telling Cejudo's triumphant story, the media outed the young wrestler's mother for having entered the country illegally before Henry was born. (He is a citizen.) His father, who wasn't in the picture during much of Henry's life died some time ago in Mexico.
But what about his mother? Now that we know that she is not a citizen, what do we do? I posed the question on an Internet blog on azcentral.com Wednesday.
The information about the gold medalist's mom has been on TV and in the papers. It has been discussed everywhere. Should Sheriff Joe Arpaio send some deputies to follow her until she commits a traffic infraction that might allow them to pull her over and get her deported?
The articles that I've read talk about how Cejudo's mom has held down numerous jobs while raising her children.
Should we try to find out who those employers were (or are) and bust them for breaking Arizona's law against hiring illegal immigrants?
Or should we ignore her immigrations status and give this one woman a pass?
The Internet responses were fast and (as with any discussion of immigration) furious.
“Either you're pregnant or you ain't. Either you're an illegal alien or you ain't,” one reader wrote. “Deport all illegal aliens. No exception.”
Another wrote, “Are you kidding me Montini? His mother is here illegally and she should be deported. The issue of breaking the law has nothing to do with whether or not an individual is a good parent. Clearly, by breaking the law she really isn't a good parent. She has set an example for her children that it's okay to break the law when it's in your own self-interest.”
Others saw a more complex problem, like the reader who wrote, “Ignoring the commenters who are obviously blinded by their hatred (either of immigrants or Montini), obviously the woman should be allowed to stay, and in fact, a bill should be pushed through congress to grant her citizenship. It's just unfortunate that there are many, many other people in similar predicaments who will never have their stories heard. Perhaps if the true face of the immigrant were seen by the public, there would be less hatred.”
It's easy to reduce an argument about immigration to numbers, to describe people like Cejudo's mother as “illegals,” a word that makes them seem less than human.
But she is human. And so is her son, the Olympic gold medalist, the American. The two of them persevered. They have guts. They have heart. Do we?

Hiking Anyone??

2008-08-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning, and found the morning to be exceptionally pleasant. Sooooooo, I said to myself, "How about going for a hike this morning?" After all, I haven't been hiking in a while. I got myself ready, dropped my son off at football practice and headed over to the trail closest to my home, the LV Yates Trail. And, guess what? It was gorgeous out!! And it felt really, really nice being out there. Gosh I miss our hikes!!

Memed ... thanks Lylah

2008-08-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

I was memed by my friend Lyl ah a couple of weeks ago. I'm suppose to follow and post the following rules:

Here's the official rules as they are to be posted:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Oookaaay now to the 7 facts:

I am terribly afraid of public speaking, but I'll do it anyhow.
I was raised as an only child, and met my half sister and half brother as an adult.
I love being a mom to a boy/young man. Not knowing what it was like growing up with brothers, it has been quite the adventure to watch my son grow into a young man.
One place I would love to visit (maybe by my 40th bday) is Machu Pichu, Peru.
I would very much like to learn photography.
I was born in Mexico, and moved to the United States when I was 6 yrs old.
I've lived in AZ for over 17 years, and had never been to the Grand Canyon until this July.

This will have to do for now...I'll have to get back on finishing up with items 3 and 4...adios!!!

UPDATE: Okay, so I only have three friends to meme right now, so here they are: Linda, Jen, and Valorie.

Road Trip - July 2008

2008-07-26T20:04:00.001-07:00

We just returned from exploring the northern part of our beautiful state. Our trip lasted six days and we covered over 1000 miles. My sister and nephew joined us for the first couple of days, and then it was just my son and I. We had an awesome time. Below are several slides that capture some of the beauty that we saw along the way...

Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well, Sedona, and Oak Creek Canyon

Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon's North Rim

Page, AZ

Mi Familia (and Chente)

2008-07-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

The weekend of 7/11 my family came to visit from New Mexico and California. We had a great time just hangin' and enjoying each other's company. Us ladies also had a special treat...we went to a concert that Friday night. We went to go see Vicente Fernandez (Chente) at the US Airways Arena, and had a blast. Here's a few of the pics from the concert and our time together...

This is one my favorite Chente songs

House Maintenance and Stuff

2008-07-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

Being a homeowner is a great blessing, but also comes with its challenges, I'm sure you will all agree. Well, I am very thankful for my home, and also for my son who is learning some of the trades it takes for all of the maintenance a home requires. Recently he replaced the caulk around the bathtub...what a guy!! :-)

hmmm....let's see what else I'll have him work on.

Bare Walls

2008-07-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

The north wall of my living/dining room is a fairly large and tall wall. I finally found a very nice mirror to put towards one end of the wall (living room end), and the dining room end has a hutch next to it. The only section left was the middle. I visited my friend Lylah's house and noticed she had a nice assortment of pictures on one of her living room walls, and decided that is what I wanted to do, however instead of using white picture frames I opted for black picture. frames.

Here is the before....

...and the after...

what do you think????

HomeGroup - Father's Day

2008-06-15T21:40:00.000-07:00

This Sunday we had our homegroup at the Paul's house. Usually the men do the grilling, but since it was Father's Day, we decided to treat them and take care of the cooking. Mrs. Fox cooked up her yummy Italian Sauce with Meatballs and Pasta, and the rest of us took salads, bread, and desserts.

Here's the ladies making the last minute preparations...

It was a wonderful, relaxing time...

Happy Father's Day!!!

Check out the slide show...

Mi Familia

2008-06-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday, we met my sister and nephews for breakfast. We all decided we did not want to cook, so we decided to go out instead. It was very nice. Afterward, we all came back to my place and visited for a bit longer. We don't get to see each other that frequently due to busy schedules (life), so it is always nice when we do get together.

It was also especially nice to see my nephew's son, Willy Jr. Isn't he just the cutest little boy? He looks just like his daddy!!

Day at the groomers!!!

2008-06-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

Our four-legged family member paid a visit to the groomer this Saturday. She was in desperate need of a haircut, nail-trim, and most importantly a BATH. Don't think I don't bathe her in between grooming appointments, it's just that they use use the stuff that smells really, really nice, and leave her very pretty!! :0)

Take a look, here's the before .....

Check out all the leaves and twigs that get stuck in her feminine beard (that's how Marco calls it).
...and here's the after...

isn't she just a doll??

Summer Job

2008-06-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Marco got a job this summer!! Whoo Hoo!! Today is the end of his first two weeks, and PAYDAY!! He's learning to juggle both football practice and work, and has survived so far!

Very exciting, as you can imagine...for both of us...

...hmmm, let's see if I get a dinner invite!!! :0)

UPDATE: Got a dinner invite...Red Lobster....yummy!!! I just love that boy...and not just cause he took me to Red Lobster either!! :-)

What's been cookin'?

2008-06-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been on a bit of a cookin' adventure, and trying new recipes. Now, don't get me wrong, I like to try new recipes, it's just that all I can handle is one here and there. This week, I tried three...yes my friends...three...tres...that is what I said. I subscribed to the Cooking Light magazine, and mmmmmmmm....hmmmm...let me tell you...they have some yummy recipes on there...and they're "light" or at least that's what I hope, because in all honesty that is why I subscribed...to cook "light". :0)

Thursday, was the beginning of the adventure with a Grilled Vegetable Salad. Now take a look and don't tell me that doesn't look delicious?

Here's a closer shot...

Vinaigrette:
2 Tbsp sherry vinegar
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Salad:
8 ounces asparagus, trimmed
2 (4 inch) portobello mushroom caps (about 6 ounces)
1 med zucchini, but lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 yellow squash, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 small red onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 red bell pepper, halved and seeded
Cooking spray
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
6 tbsp crumbled queso fresco

Prepare grill to medium-high heat
To prepare vinaigrette, combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside
To prepare salad, coat all veggies with cooking spray, place them on grill rack; grill 4 minutes on each side or until slightly blackened. Remove veggies from grill, cool slightly. Cut veggies into 1-inch pieces.
Add veggies, basil, chives, and parsley to vinaigrette; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with cheese.

Yield: 6 servings (about 3/4 cup each and 1 tbsp cheese)

Friday, my friend Erin and little werito were over for dinner. I made Grilled Chicken Thighs with Roasted Tomatoes! Delicious!!!

Chicken:
1 tbsp grated lemon rind
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 lbs)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Cooking Spray

Tomatoes
2 cps grape tomatoes
2 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp grated lemon rind
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1tbsp capers
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Prepare grill.
To prepare chicken, combine first 4 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add chicken to bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 15 min., turning the bag occasionally.
Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Place chicken on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 min on each side or until done.
Preheat oven to 425
To prepare tomatoes, combine tomatoes and 2 tsp oil in an 8-inch square baking dish; toss gently. Bake at 425 for 18 min or until tomatoes are tender. Combine tomato mixture,parsley, and remaining ingredients, stirring gently. Serve with chicken.

Yield: 4 servings (2 thighs and 1/4 cup tomatoes)

This was yummy! After dinner we went and watched Kung Fu Panda...totally funny...I highly recommend it!!!

Sunday after church we had a salad with grilled chicken. Marco was not to enthused about the idea initially, but he soon warmed up to it.

Salad includes:
Spring mix
grape tomatoes
cucumbers
red onions
grilled chicken breast

Dressing (from cooking light magazine)

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp extravirgin olive oil
1 tsp finely chopped chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cumin

I'll tell you this is one of the best dressings I've tasted. Of course, Marco opted not to have any and instead poured about 1/2 the bottle of ranch on his salad!! :0)

Payson

2008-05-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

Today we drove up to Payson and visited a few very cool spots. First we stopped at the Knotty Pine Cafe for breakfast...very tasty. Then we went to the Tonto Natural Bridge. This place is amazing!! Truly amazing. We spent quite a bit of time there hiking and exploring God's beautiful creation. The hike down was very easy, but going through it became a little bit more challenging. I was the first to bite-the-dust there, thankfully nothing major though. :0)

Next we headed over the the Water Wheel and explored quite a bit there. Also a very nice place. You can't really tell from when you get there initially, until you begin hiking in. We visited a couple of swimming holes and just took nature in. We had also packed a lunch, and enjoyed it while there. Both Grover and Dan (Tracy's hubby) bit-the-dust there. Tracy was the only one to leave Payson without any mishaps!! :0)

We headed back into town around 4:30ish. Whew!! Thankfully we were headed the opposite direction than most of the traffic, and made it home at a descent hour.

These are definitely places I'd like to visit again, and highly recommend that you all visit.

Memorial Day Holiday

2008-05-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had the opportunity to visit our family in NM. We had a lovely time there, but as you can imagine the time flew by. Before we knew it, it was time to come back home. These two are pics of my dad and his wife.

This is my Nino and Nina (Godparents) also knows as Grandpa Juan and Nana to my son.

This is the Alvarado family. She is my sista and that's her hubby and their chamacos (sons).

The youngest son is quite fond of my chamaco, and thoroughly enjoys watching his every move...even while he's eating. I know, I know... family!?!?!

Cafe con leche

2008-05-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

All you coffee lovers out there have got to try French Press Coffee! It is the best. I first tried it at my friend Lylah's house, and absolutely loved it. Well a few weeks ago, my friend Chris gave me a French Press Coffee Maker. I KNOW....how awesome is that??? Anyhow, at first I was a bit hesitant to use it. In fact he asked me a week or so ago if I had used it, and I sheepishly admitted that I hadn't. But I am glad to report, that I finally used it. :0) And it wasn't that difficult!!! :-) AND IT IS DELICIOUS.

This Chica's Nachos

2008-05-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

A hit with us during our teen years, was nachos. While out an about, we were usually short on cash, so we'd try to get the most bang-for-our-buck...sooooooooo...more often than not, we'd opt for the nachos. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't just because they were one of the least expensive items at the concession stand...BUT because they were good. Of course the kind we bought then were just cheese nachos with lots and lots of jalapeños.

Today, nachos are still a big hit around our house, but I enjoy them with a lot more ingredients...I try to get in all of my food groups in. :0) Here's a simple recipe for all you nacho lovers out there:

Tortilla Chips
Velveeta Cheese
Refried Beans (or hamburger if you prefer)
Black Olives - diced
Onions - diced
Tomatoes - diced
Avocado - diced
Sliced jalapeños
Sour Cream

I melt the cheese on very low heat (you could add a little bit of milk)
Pour cheese over chips
Add as much of the rest of the ingredients as you'd like
Enjoy!!!

Chile Verde

2008-05-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

I tried a new Chile Verde recipe today that I found on this site. It is to die for...I am not kidding. I did customize it a bit and added more Hatch Chile ( that what the recipe called for because I love green chiles. Also I did not add as much fresh oregano as the recipe indicated, but kept the rest of the ingredients the same. Roasted tomatillos and garlic really add a very nice flavor. I will have to explore using them in other recipes. I also made spanish rice and refried beans to go with this tasty dish.

I highly recommend it for all you Mexican food lovers!!!

Why? Why? Why?

2008-05-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Why do these four-legged creatures love us so unconditionally? Why? Why? Well let me tell you why our little Chata loves us so mmm...maybe not unconditionally BUT more like conditionally. :-) It might be because she gets do lay her head down on the desk while I'm trying to work, and she also gets to hang out on the recliner. Plus she gets to lay on my lap and relax or take a nap whenever she pleases.

Oh, and not to mention she gets to hang out with her boy when he's around. He'll let her lay next to him while he's doing his homework, rubs her belly, lets her play with his stinky socks (she loves them stinky socks) and most importantly, he gives her Hot Cheetos...yep that's what I said...Hot Cheetos...she loves them Cheetos.

Oh, I'm sure the fact that we feed her occasionally also has something to do with it...and we take her on walks... she loves them walks. And I love my little chatita for the mere fact that when I walk in the door from a long hard-day at work, she greets me with a smile and a toy and doesn't yell out "what's for dinner?" like my 15 yr old!! :0)

Estrella Mountain Rainbow Valley Trails (East & West)

2008-05-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

We hiked at a different park today. Traveled all the way to the west side to take on the Rainbow Trails. Getting there wasn't too bad since we were traveling against the traffic. The hike included both east and west Rainbow Valley Trails, part of the Toothaker trail, and part of the Gadsden Trail for a total hike of 9 miles in 4 hours....not bad...ehh! Our plan was to get started around 7:30 but we ended up starting about 7:50 and ended at 11:45. We started the hike on the west end, which was a good thing since it appeared to be the most strenuous in my opinion. But what exactly makes the hike strenuous? The book categorized the hike as moderate, but the park map included strenuous in its description. Anyhow, some of the challenges we experienced on this trail that we hadn't on the others were the rocks along the trail...tons of rocks, and the dirt was very loose, so we had put on quite the balancing act.

You will also notice the "snakes are out" caution sign, which made me feel particularly vulnerable. The last thing I wanted to see, was one of those rattlers, but thank God we didn't....WHEW!!!

It was quite hot, but occasionally there was a cool breeze to help keep us going. There were a few times that I wondered, "what was I thinking in agreeing to do this long of a trail again?" Then I realized, those thoughts came a little too late. :0)
Estrella Mountain Park is not a bad area, during our hike we experienced a few nice valleys...lots and lots of Saguaros. Oh, and lots of ants, there were ant holes all over the place. Also, how could I forget too mention...other types of holes...BIG holes (like burrows)...don't know exactly what live in them, and certainly did not want to find out. Towards the end of our trail, we came across one particular hole that looked almost like an ant hole, but had rocks around it which appeared to be wet...very strange, we weren't sure what had built it. Being curious and all, I thought it was a great opportunity for a Kodak moment. So take a look, and if you know what it's from, give me a holler.

Next weekend is Memorial Day weekend, and we're taking a break from our hikes. But we will resume the weekend after that and will let you know all about it. We've not decided where we will be hiking, but since it's getting hotter, we've tossed around the idea of driving up north for the day...dunno yet...BUT will keep you informed.

Mi Padre

2008-05-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today is my father's 60th birthday. I called him bright and early to wish him the best, and told him we'd go see him very soon. So as you can see it's a very special day today, for a number of reasons. Back in the early 2000s my father was diagnosed with cancer, but thanks to the Lord, he is still with us today. I admire him for his strength not only during that difficult time, but for everything he has had to endure. He is a man of strong character, with good morals and values who helped shape me into the person I am today. My father is a jack-of-all trades, who is more than willing to lend a helping hand to anyone that may need it. He will not let an opportunity pass by to help someone in need, and will give you the shirt off his back if necessary. The man is a magnet, who has many, many friends. Whenever there is a gathering, he is the center of entertainment with his tall tales and ongoing jokes. My son and his other grandchildren absolutely adore him, and always look forward to the opportunity to visit "grandpa". So, today I celebrate my father, and am reminded of the Lord's goodness and blessings.

Tortilla Soup

2008-05-10T17:49:00.001-07:00

Before leaving for my hike on Friday, I put to cook a double batch of Lylah's Tortilla Soup. Yummy!!! When I returned from the hike, it was ready to be enjoyed. My nephew, Julian, who is staying with us at the moment loves this stuff. We also enjoyed some on Saturday. The recipe calls for fresh cilantro...good thing I have my own cilantro growing. I also have some spearmint, and cherry tomatoes growing. This is my first time attempting to grow something edible, and it seems to be going ok.
Anyhow, where was I? Oh, yes, yes, yes...this tortilla soup is delicious. I highly recommend that all of you try it, the recipe is very simple...trust me. ;0)

McDowell Mountain Regional Park

2008-05-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

This Friday we hiked the McDowell Mountain Scenic Trail near
Fountain Hills. The hike was about 4.3 miles, and it took us about 1.5 hours to hike it. Not bad, ehh?? Well, the trail was relatively flat, just a few little hills, so that made it a lot easier for us. The area was not bad, didn't have as many pretty views as some of the other hikes. And, also, there was a lot of poop along the trail, horse poop, dog poop, more horse poop, etc, etc....well you get the picture. Anyhow, getting around the poop was probably the most challenging part of our hike this Friday. Grover's friend, Tracy, went along with us again. Whew...thought we had scared her after last week's hike. She sure had some pretty nasty looking blisters from South Mountain's hike, though. But, she seems to be quite the trooper, and decided to come along.

Once we were done with this trail, we decided to go check out the fountain, and walk around the park, which is about 1 mile. Since we were already in the vicinity, might as well check things out. The park was full of lively children playing and running through the water fountains along with a group of seniors having a picnic. The fountain did go off while we were there, and we had an opportunity to get some lovely pictures. Oh, and we got so see a mama duck with all of her little ones, I counted 12, but Grover says 13. I don't know, those little suckers were hard to keep track of, going under the water and making it more difficult for us to count. Once we were done there, we headed back into town, and went out for Mexican food....YEAH!!!! This was an opportunity for us to replenish ourselves, and eat 3x - 4x the calories we had just burned. Afterward, we went to the movies and watched Baby Mama....mmmm....personally, not a very good movie. But I'll let you all decide for yourselves about that.

South Mountain's Alta and Bajada Trails

2008-05-02T22:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, 5/2, we hiked South Mountain (SM) again. This has been probably the hardest trail so far due to its 1,200 feet elevation gain and distance...by the time we were done we hiked around 9 miles. Access to the TH was closed so we had to park a bit further down the road which increased our hike by at least 1 - 1.5 miles. The trail is located in the Ma Ha Tuak Range within SM. We did not see not one soul out there (probably not as crazy as us). It sure was pretty up there though. First we had to cover a number of switch-backs going up the south side of the mountain and then hiked along the south side. Eventually we crossed over to the north side of the mountain and had a fabulous view of city. We proceeded to hike along the north side and then encountered a few other switch-backs which took us back to the south side. Once on the south side, we began to descend, and the rest was fairly flat, but looooooooooong, very looooooooong. We had a new hiking buddy today, Traci, Grover's friend from Michigan. We were all pretty whooped by the time we were done. Actually, who am I kidding, we were whooped before, but we had to keep going to get to the car. And, YES, well felt very proud...VERY, VERY PROUD!!!

Then we headed over to Tempe to try some vegetarian food at the Green Restaurant. It was very tasty...

Forgot my camera, so no pictures this time. Although, I did take some with my phone camera, but they didn't come out very good.

Kansas City

2008-05-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday, 4/27 I went to a work conference in Kansas City, MO. A couple of my coworkers also went (one being Grover). We flew in on Sunday, and had planned to check out the city a bit. Kansas city is known for its fountains, steaks and BBQ. So we decided that we were going to take pictures and share with you some of the steaks and BBQ we had while there.

These were taken at The Plaza. It was about 52 degrees there and I was very thankful I took my jacket. :0) We had an opportunity to walk around and check out the scenery. Only bummer was that all the shops close early there for some reason...by 6 o'clock they were all closed except the restaurants. Go figure? Doesn't make much sense to me, but that's the way it is.

This is a fabulous fountain located in a park right at the outskirts of the plaza. It's an amazing park. It always has lots of activity going on, many kids flying their kites, etc. It's very, very pretty. Plus its got these remarkable tulip flower beds. There were also these incredible trees full of lavender type colored flowers....maybe cherry blossoms...not quite sure.

The city is also full of all different types of
statues. So, we decided we'd have a little
bit of fun and "strike-a-pose" with some of them.

We also saw street performer, who enlightened us with quite the juggling performance. :-)

Kansas City

2008-05-02T22:10:00.001-07:00

Sunday evening we went to Jack's Stack at The Plaza in Kansas City. Its a very well known BBQ place we frequent on every visit to KC. There are a couple different locations, one conveniently located nearby the Hyatt where we stay, and this one at The Plaza.
Grover and I dragged our coworker along. We did give her a heads up as to what we were up to :0).
Both Bonnie and I ordered the same dish, and Grover ordered one with a bit more variety.

The dish on the left is what Grover ordered and the one on the right is what I ordered. Oh my gosh, by the time we were done, I could hardly move, but of course we could not leave not one little morsel behind. I thought I was going to burst before the evening was over.

Monday we had a reception after our sessions ended. It's an opportunity to mingle a bit, network, and visit with my peers from other states. Afterward, my peer, Debra, from Georgia and I went out for steaks to the Herford House. It was an enjoyable evening, and got an opportunity to get caught with Debra. Last time I saw her was during a meeting we had in Richmond Fall 2006.
Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, and did not take pictures of the HUGE steak that I ate.

Kansas City

2008-05-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

Tuesday - We went to a Dinner Theatre and watched a great Comedy Play called Rumors starring John Davidson.

They offer a full blown buffet which includes entirely too much for anyone, but of course our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and as a result we ate and ate and ate...well you get the point. The menu included four main entrees; chicken, fish, beef and pasta diablo (yummy), along with a huge assortment of side dishes. The first picture on the left is Grovers and the 2nd one is mine. And yes, we did eat it ... ALL OF IT!!!

BUT, that was not the end of it, we still had dessert. He had some sort of oatmeal type cake with the name mother-in-law in it, and I had a Creme Brulee dessert that was to die for.

Piestewa Peak - 1A Perl Charles Memorial Trail

2008-05-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, 4/25 we hiked a new trail in the Piestewa Peak area, Trail 1A. The trail itself was not bad, just long. It started west of the 51 and we had to take a tunnel under the 51, that was kind of freaky, saw some interesting graffiti on the way. This has probably been my least favorite of the ones we've done so far. Just took a few pictures...not as pretty as the others.

There were several other trails that connected to this one, so we had to be careful not to get lost....hmmm....I mean turned around. As you can see from the picture below, we now carry the handy dandy hiking book for just these types of occurrences.

Mis Amigos - Los Gringos (my friends)

2008-04-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

These are Klugs (my gringo friends). I have known them for almost 10 years. Erin and I have worked together for just as long, and well wero loco (crazy white boy) is part of her package. There's also a little werito (little white boy), but he's not in this picture. We have get-togethers with the Klugs often...either at their house, our house, or go off on some sort of adventure. A couple of months ago we went to a Mexican seafood restaurant in their neighborhood. Talk about culture shock. Not by them, but by all the Mexicanos in the place when they saw us walk in. :0) It was actually pretty funny...and the weros thought so also...that's how they roll, you know. Anyhow, as you can see I get easily distracted. Where was I? Oh yes, I was telling you about the weros...Wero is also my handy-man. I compensate him with Mexican food. :-) Erin is one of my very best friends, and I am so thankful to God for putting her and the Klugs in our lives. You'll be reading a lot more about them in the near future.

The weros love chile colorado. Sunday evening I had them over for

dinner. Along with the chile colorado I served beans and rice. Erin brought yummy mint brownies (from the Cooking Light magazine) for dessert.

Chile Colorado Con Carne (Red Chile w/meat)

2008-04-20T22:44:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite dishes growing up was my mom's Chile Colorado. It was the best! And now I get to make it for my family and friends. First I will share with you how to make the red chile sauce which you can use for a multitude of things (chile colorado, enchiladas, tamales, etc, etc). Then I will describe how to make the chile colorado con carne (w/the meat).

Red Chile Sauce

Dry red chile pods (you can use mild, medium or hot...depends on your preference...I like HOT)
Fresh Garlic
Salt

De-vein chile pods and wash with warm water
Put in container, and fill with hot water
Bring to a boil until chile pods are soft and turn a lighter red color
Remove a few at a time along with liquid into blender
Add garlic and salt
Puree
Strain sauce into large container

Meat

Pork shoulder or pork butt
Olive oil
Marjoram flakes
Salt

Cut into small cubed pieces and saute in warm olive oil on low heat. Saute until all pieces cooked thoroughly. The meat will release it's own juices. Add marjoram flakes (maybe a teaspoon or so) and salt. Continue cooking until liquids dry up.

Once meat is cooked and juices have dried up, add chile sauce. You can add as much as you'd like depending on the consistency you prefer. Let it simmer on low heat for at least 20-30 min.

Sunday Home Group

2008-04-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Today we had our Sunday Home Group after church. Our home group is made up of several of us families, mainly with teenagers, and we get together at least twice a month. We have a potluck, eat and fellowship, and then have some sort of activity with the teens. It can be either fun, learning, serving, or any other type of activity. The idea is provide an atmosphere for our children to learn and grow from each other. It is also an opportunity for us parents to be a support system to each other especially this day when there is some much bombarding our children.

This is Mike and Anita our hosts for home group. They are way cool, always willing to open up their home to us, and always there when we need a helping hand.

There's Mrs Fox digging into the Salsa...mmmm....

Pastor Michael and Lori having some salsa...see why I make it for these guys...gotta love it!!!

Our boys...texting away!!!

Fresh Salsa

2008-04-20T22:15:00.001-07:00

My friends all enjoy my salsa very much. I haven't had a recipe I use per se, I pretty much wing it. Many of them have asked me for my recipe, so I came up with the recipe listed below.

Ingredients:
1 jalapeño (fresh)
1 whole tomato – diced (can use 8 oz can of diced tomatoes instead)
¼ small small onion
¼ cup fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
1 lemon - squeezed
½ tsp salt
1 dash cumin (not necessary, only if you’d like)
Instructions:(if you like more of any of the above, feel free to add them) 1. Cook jalapeño in water (until turns light green) 2. Chop jalapeño, tomatoes, cilantro, onion, garlic, and tomatoes in food processor (to desired consistency- may add water) 3. Combine all ingredients in bowl 4. Squeeze lemon or lime5. Add salt and cumin (to taste)

Let me know how it works for you.

Squaw Peak

2008-04-20T21:54:00.001-07:00

This Friday we hiked at Squaw Peak for the third time. We have been hiking a trail called the Freedom Trail. It is essentially the circumference of Squaw Peak, and does include about 1/3 of the Squaw Peak Summit trail. My hiking buddy suggested that once we get to the area that connects with the Summit Trail we should hike up all the way to the top of Squaw Peak. I was not very willing to do this. By that time, we had already hiked over 3.5 miles, and I was somewhat tired. But of course he was trying to encourage me. He said, "you'll feel so proud once you're up there." I quickly responded, "I already feel proud, I don't need to feel any prouder." Yes, I know, I sounded a bit grumpy. That's exactly what he said. Actually he said I was being grouchy. Can you believe that? The nerve!!! Well, guess what? I did it. And this is what it looks like from the top. And he was right. I did feel proud! :0)

2008-04-20T21:53:00.001-07:00

Another one from up top.

2008-04-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

That's him way up there!

2008-04-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

And there I am!! Feeling proud...very, very proud!!!

South Mountain

2008-04-18T22:10:00.000-07:00

We've hiked South Mountain twice so far, and it's been quite interesting to say the least. The first time we hiked it, 2 weeks ago, our plan was to hike Mormon Loop, which is a balloon shaped trail that begins at around 24th St & Baseline. Notice how I said "intended". Well, we were not aware that there was also a Mormon Trail which connects to Mormon Loop and also the National Trail. As a result, we ended up hiking all of the Mormon Trail and Mormon Loop and part of the National Trail. (We made a few wrong turns on the way!!) So this increased our hiking distance to twice of what we originally intended. Thankfully, as some point (maybe a mile or so) while on the National Trail heading west, I mentioned to my hiking buddy that I thought we were going the wrong way. We debated a bit and eventually turned back. Thankfully, it was a smart move. So what should have been maybe a 1.5 - 2 hr hike turned into a 3.5 hr hike. Yikes...I know...I know. Now one thing you have to understand is that he is the guy with the book, so I trust that he's got these trails memorized by the time we get to the trail head. BIG mistake. But gullible as I can be, I let him lead (he sounds so convincing when he says "now we have to turn left", etc). I should have learned this from a conference we both attended years ago in Kansas City. We were going to Jacks Stack (bbq place) for dinner. It is about 3 blocks away from the hotel. Not bad, I thought. And my buddy said he knew where it was located. Ok, we set off to Jacks Stack. Well, about 6-7 blocks later, we get there. He took us through the scenic route!!! But anyhow, without digressing too much, I was pretty tired by the end of that hike. So, we went back the following week, and did almost the same trail, but started at a different trail head, and hiked the trail from the opposite direction...much easier that time. All in all, great hikes, and the area is beautiful. We had to pass through a few very cool places. And of course, also admired our precious city with its pollution. Gosh, really is an eye opener to what we breath in daily! Ughh!!!

This is the famous Fat Man's Pass. Whew, thankfully, I could still make it through!!!

Hiking 101 (for us that is)

2008-04-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

My buddy and I have recently taken up hiking. He's got this great book: 60 hikes within 60 miles, or something like that. Anyhow, we are determined to do all 60 hikes. Well, maybe not all 60, but at least 30. Well, that may even be a stretch, since we're fairly new at this. So, I'll just update you weekly, and let you know how it's going. Seeing as how each new trail we try, brings a new sense of adventure. First we have to familiarize ourselves with the trail, so we usually have to hike it at least 2-3 times to do that. Then familiarize ourselves with the additional trails we encounter, seeing as how we end up getting lost, hmmm I mean not lost, but maybe just a bit turned around. Whew...good thing we carry plenty of water with us! Anyhow, point I'm trying to make here, is that at this rate, it may take us a while to get through a number of those hikes. But bear with me, I will keep you posted on the progress. :-) Oh, and by the way, this is my hiking buddy, Grover.