My dear friend, Susan invited me for a day trip to her ranch.  I have been decluttering our home for weeks now, and quite frankly, after hours upon hours of shlepping stuff to the thrift store and the professional shredding place, I was ready for a day away with my friend. We left at the crack of dawn when the roads were fairly empty and we witnessed this incredible sunrise. What a way to greet the day! Lucky me!

The car ride was a little over 3 hours, with the last 45 minutes on unpaved state roads.  Once you arrive down the long and bumpy drive, you see this stunning meadow. This ranch is so photo-worthy~~so there are LOTS of them in this post! I used my iPhone camera so the quality is what it is.

The original adobe one room house with its screened in porch is still there and has been restored and renovated as the gathering hub of the ranch.

The ranch is self-sufficient.  All the appliances run off propane; there is a well for water and a generator for electricity. And if you need to make a phone call, you saddle up a horse, ride up to the rim with a satellite phone and hope for a signal.  Seriously.

In order to accommodate family and guests, there are two large tents on platforms with this quaint outhouse located in between.

Susan and her husband recently added two new guest cottages~~manufactured homes by Cavco Industries, Inc.  Sided in rustic cedar and upgrades of ship lap and exposed beams, these homes architecturally complement the surrounding forest.

There is more work to be done~~ stone skirting needs to be added and a propane tank will be installed and connected.

The interiors are light-filled and feel very spacious providing approximately 400 square feet of living space.  Like a boat, every inch is designed for efficiency and comfort. The high quality sleep sofas and mattresses are provided by Cavco and were included in the units when they were delivered.  Each cottage sleeps 8+.  Susan, a talented and thrifty Connecticut yankee,  cleverly decorated the rest with 2nd hand shop finds and items discovered around the ranch.

There is a loft which provides the ideal play/sleeping niche for children.

Bunk beds are perfectly tucked into the hall leading to the master bedroom~~each with a small window for light. Plus there is so much storage!

These certainly don’t look like your typical mobile/manufactured homes, especially with the gorgeous forest views from every window.  If you have a remote location, these manufactured homes are ideal.  This is my kind of roughing it!!

Horses are boarded here for the summer as Susan and her family are avid riders. I wasn’t raised with horses, but I felt comfortable enough to pet their heads and create a wide berth when I walked behind them.

The ranch has many places to get away and be on your own as well as gathering spots for all. There is no internet service and I can honestly say that a day without technology in the fresh mountain air was very rejuvenating.

It was such a gift to spend the day with a great friend~~we got the chance to catch up and our laughter out shined the flat tire we experienced.  Thank goodness for the manly propane guys who kindly changed the tire for us.

Happy Sunday!

Collection: the act or process of getting things from different places and bringing them together 

As much as I would like to downsize, I do admit to collecting a few things.  For each of my children, I started their first collections with a new Christmas tree ornament and snow globe every year….the collection will stop when they reach 21 years old.  Once they have their own apartments or home, then those collections will be sent to them.

I tuck a note in each ornament box sharing a few words about their stage in life, what they were interested in and how we spent that holiday.  I hope they will enjoy those messages and their holiday collections as they grow older.

I will share two of my personal collections with you.  One is sand…..yes, sand.  As you have heard me say before, I love the ocean.  Each time I visit a different beach I collect a small amount of sand.  The sand is from:  Mexico, Hawaii, Jamaica, Maine, California, Texas, Rhode Island, France, Russia and Greece. Along with the sand, there are shells and sea glass.

I am amazed how different sand is ~~ from color to texture to size of particles.  The whitest and finest sand is from Mexico. My daughter brought me red Sand from Red Sand Beach, Santorini, Greece and black sand from Perissa Black Beach in Santorini, Greece.  The sand most similar to each other is from Newport Beach,California and Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

I have mixed feelings about the sand I gathered from Omaha and Utah Beach during a tour of Normandy in France.  I considered this sacred ground and keep it with the upmost respect.

The Maine and Jamaica sand have similar shades of what I would consider “sand” color. I display the sand jars in the family room on shelves.  I think they do deserve better labels vs. ones from my label machine, but I’ll get to that someday!

My next collection is rosary beads.  When the World’s Fair came to New York City, I remember being in awe of seeing Michelangelo’s Pieta, which was on loan from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy.  It was sculpted in 1499 when Michelangelo was 24. My mother purchased The Pieta rosary and I was so fortunate to get it after her death.

Another favorite rosary I purchased was from the Vatican during our Italy trip in 2014. Each and every one is different~~the crucifix, centerpiece and beads.

I have my Aunt Gail and Aunt Jerry’s rosary beads and others I have collected from various parts of the world.  The one with the crystal crucifix is from Waterford Crystal in Waterford, Ireland and the red and blue rosaries were purchased in Mexico.

So what do you collect?  Please let me know!

It is STILL very hot here in Phoenix and this recipe is cool and refreshing.  Wherever you are celebrating Labor Day, this salad is full of fresh, summer ingredients and is very simple to make.  With just a few ingredients and a light dressing, this is a perfect accompaniment to something off the grill.

Since access to the Farmers Market is still a few days away, I purchased the tomatoes and peaches at our local Safeway.  The tomatoes are a deep, dark blackish red heirloom tomato called Eclipses.

Aren’t these flat peaches fun? They are like regular peaches that someone sat on~~these beauties are called Saturn, donut or saucer peaches.  The reason I chose them is they were the ONLY peach that wasn’t hard as a rock and these actually smell like peaches.

The dressing is a Honey Vinaigrette ~~which is a lighter, slightly sweet dressing.  My relatives, Bruce and Janiece, have their own bees and make the most delicious honey.  We are always so excited when we get a shipment of their honey and I added this golden elixir to the recipe.

I adjusted the recipe a bit by adding cilantro.  I felt like it needed some green and who doesn’t love cilantro?

This recipe was in the July 2017 edition of Southern Living magazine on page 62.

Have a Happy Labor Day!!!!

This post shared with Tuesday Turn About #58 Fun in July

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Is cold brew coffee all the rage in your area?  Two years ago, I never even heard of cold brew….naturally thinking it was maybe some new kind of beer.  I began noticing it at the Farmers Market and occasionally on the shelves at the grocery store, but until recently, I never tried it.  I’ve always been a “brew your own/hot cup of coffee in the morning” gal.

Since then, I now notice it EVERYWHERE and it appears to be a marketing phenomenon. So what’s the big attraction?  I finally did some research and if you are as unfamiliar with cold brew as I am, then hopefully this will be the Cliff notes on cold brew.

Why is cold brew coffee different from hot brewed coffee?  According to ToddyCafe, a roasted coffee bean contains many compounds that are extracted during the brewing process. Some of those compounds, including certain oils and fatty acids, are soluble only at a high temperature. During the cold brew process, coffee beans are never exposed to high temperature. Deceptively simple, cold water brewing extracts the delicious flavor compounds (and some of the caffeine) from coffee beans, but leaves behind myriad bitter oils and biting fatty acids, including undesirable elements such as ketones, esters and amides.  You can serve cold brew coffee concentrate either hot or cold.

Cold brew coffee is not iced coffee, either. Iced coffee is pouring hot brewed coffee over ice.  Cold brew coffee is like sun tea~~naturally extracting the flavor with water and time.

You can certainly buy cold brew coffee but it’s very simple to make yourself at home.

I am experimenting with 3 different brewing techniques using a French press, a Ball mason jar, and a Teavana strainer. Plus I am using 3 different types of coffee: 1) old (really old) Mexican coffee beans from my freezer; 2) French Roast beans from Peet’s coffee; 3) already ground coffee from World Market.

There are many theories as to the perfect ratio of bean to water, however, it appears that the ratio is from 1/4 lb. of coffee beans to 4 cups of water. I used this ratio~~ 1/4 cup of coffee grounds to 1 cup of water.  You can adjust the strength based on your personal preference.

In the Ball mason jar, I added 1/4 cup of medium coarse grounds  from the freezer beans.

Then I add 1 cup of filtered water from our reverse osmosis system. Stir well and cover with cheesecloth.

Next, I added medium coarse Pete’s coffee grounds to the French Press and filled with water.

And lastly, I added regular Italian Roast ground coffee from World Market to a Teavana tea strainer with the appropriate amount of water.

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Now all three were ready to sit and wait 12- 24 hours.  I couldn’t fit the French Press into the refrigerator so it sat out on the counter for 24 hours.

The next day, I strained the coffee grounds out of all three. The jar with the cheesecloth was the most difficult.

Both the French press and Teavana strainer were extremely easy due to the built-in straining system.

Here’s the VERDICT!!! The old coffee beans brewed in the Ball mason jar produced the weakest brew and was a bit lifeless.  No surprise there and just confirms that you should discard any coffee beans that have been sitting in your freezer for years (embarrassing…).  Not the fault of the coffee bean.

The winner:  The strongest and most flavorful coffee was the Peet’s French Roast coffee in the French press.  The pre-ground coffee from World Market (done in the Teavana tea strainer) was also very good.  I’ve come to the conclusion that it may not be critical to grind your own beans, but to use a fresh coffee roast that you like.

Some stronger brews can be diluted with water or milk~~and of course it is fun to experiment with flavorings.

We use our cold brew concentrate for iced coffee, however, it can be heated also.  Below I’ve added my homemade almond milk.  For the blog post on making nut milks, click here.

From what I have read, cold brew coffee concentrate will last up to 2 weeks in your refrigerator. It does have a smoother taste, yet all the flavor of coffee…and very handy to use.

I love our neighborhood as it provides the best of both rural and urban living.  Even though we are 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix (the 5th largest city in the US), our North Central neighborhood feels like it is miles away.

A few years ago, my friend and neighbor, Bo Mostow, called me to discuss her idea of starting a farmers market.  Bo’s dream has now become one of the most successful farmers market in the country.  I was so inspired to see her take her idea to fruition and as a result we all benefit from this wonderful addition to our neighborhood. USA Today has listed Uptown Farmers Market as one of the top 50 markets in the United States.

Every Wednesday and Saturday, the Uptown Farmers Market gathers at the corner of Bethany Home Road and Central Avenue, within walking distance to our home.  In the summer, they house nearly 100+ vendors in an air- conditioned space at a North Phoenix Baptist Church on Saturdays only.  Come September, all the vendors and white tents will again be outside for the cooler, fall weather twice a week.

Going to the Farmers Market is such a joyous event.  There is such a wide variety of food choices- from local farmers, small businesses, and home cooks.  In addition, there are handcrafted goods, food trucks, musical performances, activities for children. All the vendors and customers are genuinely happy~~it has such a nice family feel.

Fresh produce from the Farm Club. Look at these gorgeous pickled items by Lillie Mae’s Blue Ribbon Pickled Garden.

In spite of the heat this time of year, the market was heavily attended.

I have been craving heirloom tomatoes and really good peaches, so I decided to see what I could find at the market. Look at the incredible displays of fruits and vegetables from Abby Lee Farms. Fresh, local and delicious.

The absolute BEST cinnamon raisin bread is made by Capistrano’s and purchased from Rowland at the Noble Bread tent. If you don’t get there early, the bread sells out very quickly.  Just seeing Rowland on Saturday makes my day!

I purchased two loaves of this bread and it is chock-a-block full of raisins.  A quick breakfast before a workout will be one slice of this toasted, with almond butter, sliced bananas and chia seeds. Delicious!

I typically buy one loaf of sourdough, slice it and freeze it with a piece of paper towel in a zip lock bag. I use the sourdough bread to make my daughter her favorite sandwich~~grilled brie cheese with sour cherry jam.

So here is my haul from the market~~eggplant, zucchini, arugula, kale, brussels sprouts, peppers, tomatoes, peaches, French breakfast radishes, romaine lettuce, lemons and fresh herbs.  Plus two smoked bones for the dogs from Ruff Life. I would have bought more if I had more arms/hands!

I can only lay claim to a few of the photos in this post.  The balance of the Uptown Farmers Market photos were done by Kinita Albertson, from Caught by Kinita.

Kinita is doing a project for our neighborhood group where she was tasked to capture the essence of our area.  She was kind enough to give me permission to use her farmers market photos for this blog post.

For more information about the Uptown Farmers Market, please click here.

I just returned from a 7-day trip to the east coast.  5 flights, 3 hotels, 2 different rental cars and lots of driving and a wide variety of activities. There is quite a bit to share with you so please forgive the longer post.

Monday, I flew into Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. and stayed at The Hive Hotel, which is walking distance to the George Washington University campus, where my son has been staying for the summer during his internship.

This is a very cool boutique hotel, based on a beehive concept. Mixing smart design with the unexpected, The Hive unites modern innovation with historic character.

With its prime location, Hotel Hive guests can buzz about the city and return to a unique and innovative hotel experience. Their efficient rooms provide guests with everything they need and nothing they don’t.  The rooms range from 125–250 square foot hives are anything but ordinary and are perfect for one or two guests.

They serve a limited menu at their bar and rooftop deck~~excellent pizzas and a fun cocktail menu.  This place is “buzzing” after work hours and on weekends.

The staff is young and upbeat and their customer service is superb.  I would definitely stay here again.

The next day, I attending a military interment service at Arlington National Cemetery for my dear friend, Bob Garrett. The service was done with all the precision, respect and honor that the military represents. I didn’t realize Arlington has 30 burial services each day.

The reception following the ceremony was at the Officers Club where old friends shared their favorite stories about Bob. It was a fitting send off to a dear friend. I was especially glad that my son and my brother, Mike were able to attend. Arlington is a somber reminder of all the brave men and women who have served and fought for our freedom.

Tuesday night, I connected with a long-time friend and business associate, Bob Pikora.  We met for hors d’oeurves and drinks at the stunning restored post office on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Old Post Office, the city’s original postal center, has endured a series of uses throughout the years. Opened in 1899, it included a Clock Tower, which at 315 feet, remains the second tallest building in the city and provides panoramic views of Washington, D.C.

In 2013, the building had a $200 million dollar restoration and is now Trump International Hotel.  As one who loves historical buildings, this one is an architectural Romanesque Revival gem. Hard to believe this was once slated for demolition.  We sat at the outdoor cafe on this beautiful evening, had wonderful conversation and delicious bites.

On Wednesday afternoon, I flew up to Connecticut for a very quick trip to take my Aunt Gail out for her 97th birthday.  Yes, 97!!! The last remaining member of my father’s siblings, Gail is sharp as a tack, lives alone, still drives and has a very busy life.  We had an enjoyable lunch at the Norwich Inn and I am always in awe of her good health, quick wit and sharp memory.

While there, I stayed at my sister, Susie and her husband, Ned’s home in Old Saybrook, CT, which is right on the water. Lucky me!

The weather was absolutely perfect-in the 70s, low humidity and slight ocean breezes.  Having my cup of coffee in the morning and overlooking this view at low tide, was balm for the soul.

Even though I was there for less than 2 days, I was able to get in a few invigorating walks, where again, I coveted those flowers that cannot grow in Phoenix.  This seashore community has very attractive homes and beautiful landscapes.

The weather was perfect for boating. Here are some pictures from our dinner boat ride from Old Saybrook, CT to Stonington Borough, CT.

Just before I left on Friday to fly back to Washington, D.C.,  I met my siblings and their spouses at Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough in Noank, CT for their famous lobster rolls and seafood.

I landed late in the afternoon in D.C. in time to go out to dinner with my son and celebrate the last day of his summer internship.  He is a big foodie so he chose The Dabney for dinner.  The evening was overcast and drizzling and the atmosphere at The Dabney was perfect~~with its open hearth cooking.

As quoted from their website, “At The Dabney, we source our food from the Mid-Atlantic’s finest farms and purveyors. The centerpiece of our open kitchen is a wood-burning hearth that allows us to showcase the region’s versatility while staying true to its classic cooking methods.” It was truly a culinary experience and such fun to share it with my son.

The next morning we drove from DC to Charlottesville, VA to begin the move-in to his new college room, which is in a 1919 brick 2-story house.  Naturally, the t.v. went up first!

For the next 3 days, we cleaned and scrubbed, assembled furniture, hung window coverings, and got his room in tip-top shape for the start of school next week. Here’s the finished product!

It was a VERY busy and productive week and it’s good to be back home.  All 3 children are now settled into school and we are back to some semblance of a schedule again.

Hope this finds you happy and healthy and enjoying the balance of the summer.