tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-205620542024-02-28T04:08:27.921-08:00Nancy's NotesTravel and stories.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-47451255753936825072018-12-15T13:43:00.003-08:002018-12-15T15:29:20.069-08:00Countdown to Our 50th Anniversary<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>December 1968</b></td></tr>
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Wow. Okay, how to celebrate. How would we want our granddaughters to remember our 50th anniversary? </div>
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In 1968, we had a low-key wedding. I was a sophomore in college and Dave was a senior. We surprised our parents. Dave's parents were happy (Dave's dad always referred this as an arranged marriage after we broke up for a day and Dave's mom called him crying and insisting that he rethink that decision), but my parents were concerned that this might prevent me from finishing college.</div>
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Our wedding party included Dave's sister Jessie, his neighbor Gerald,
high school friends Jim, another Jim, and Andy. Andy's wife Wendy, and Jim's future
wife Diane were also there. Jim who was a newly bonded minister, was getting married to Diane on the 29th so since he was in town (Lomita) we asked if he would marry us. He agreed.<br />
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My gold band wedding ring cost $10 and Dave's silver band was $4. The guys agreed that we should get married under a particular tree in Palos Verdes, overlooking the South Bay cities. Jessie sang Climb Every Mountain as Dave's best man Gerald drove us up the hill. Jessie made me a nosegay of roses she picked from Gerald's mom's yard.<br />
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Jim performed a traditional wedding ceremony except for the part where he pronounced us man and wife and then grabbed me and kissed me, a story he has apparently shared with many couples prior to performing their marriage ceremonies. But since Jim and Diane are also celebrating their 50th this month, I'd say it wasn't a problem.</div>
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We drove up to Dave's dad's office honking our car horns and dragging streamers we purchased at a variety store on the way into San Pedro. Commenting that the noise outside must be a Catholic wedding, his parents continued working, until we showed up to gather their congratulations. They took us all to the Ports of Call restaurant for lunch. </div>
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I called my parents from the restaurant. On the phone, my aunt, Una, who lived with my dad exclaimed "Oh, no!" before she called my dad to the phone. He agreed to come to Dave's parents' home for a dinner discussion. Then I called my mom. Mom's response was "Hmm, I figured." </div>
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At dinner my dad asked, "What ever possessed you to get married at the side of the road under a tree?" Then informed me that his parents had done the same thing in Oklahoma in 1896. At the end of the evening he said he was happy for us and he'd to pay my college expenses and help us with living expenses.<br />
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We spent our honeymoon that night at The Proud Parrot in Lomita, an inexpensive motel near Dave's
parents home, The Proud Parrot featured wrinkled sheets, torn curtains, and the
stained carpeting. We checked out early and went back to his parents' house to eat cereal for breakfast.<br />
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To bring this ongoing story up-to-date, we wanted to come up with an exciting location to celebrate our anniversary with our family. So here we are in Paris, France with Shaun and Saraphina and anticipating the arrival of Lillian, Michelann, and David in time to celebrate Christmas and then our 50th anniversary.<br />
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Of course we hadn't anticipated the gas tax protests with water cannons and rubber bullets being used by police in many parts of Paris, particularly near monuments, major museums, and tourist attractions. However, our hope is that a family-shared apartment in Paris will bring lasting memories for our granddaughters. And, for us, be more fun than the heart attack anniversary two years ago or the wildfire anniversary last year. <br />
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Undoubtedly it will be memorable and most likely a step up from The Proud Parrot.<br />
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Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-68263290276346300262012-03-02T05:22:00.013-08:002012-03-03T05:49:47.060-08:00Colors, Textures, and SnowThe plan was to get to Flagstaff on a scenic but paved route... and to avoid excessive wind, rain, and snow.<br /><br />We wanted to see a little of Monument Valley, which we missed when we were in Arizona last October. That meant taking a northern route out of Santa Fe, but iPhone weather told us we'd find cold temperatures and snow at the top of our route.<br /><br />Our first step was going north to Espanola, where I wanted to visit the <a href="http://www.evfac.org/">Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center</a> because they sell local spinning fiber. Nice big building, large sign.<br /><br />Uhh, this should have been easier to find. The GPS gave us a long convoluted tour of Espanola, taking us down country roads and to dead ends where it insisted that there was a connector street or telling us that we had just passed the building. At one point, it just gave up and couldn't even tell us where we were. We finally found the shop by accidentally driving by as the GPS was taking us somewhere else.<br /><br />But we were really glad we did because they had a great supply of natural dye stuff, like dried plants and bark. I can't wait to get home and start using it to dye spinning fiber. Plus the woman at the counter showed us a small but paved scenic road to help us avoid the sections of road that were already getting snow.<br /><br />We drove to Abiquiu to catch the 96 across to the 550 north to Bloomfield (where it hadn't begun snowing yet).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze8nuowh-b68vjkywEHKjyHP3_luzYx6NVFJIrgp9XPQU7FZJixWcgGH_WoF9Tmzu8-Y1rbnvJoqyKJiTXIpCxfABNQPuXpKnD0el4EqKkZjd2yFaiwRRjEBwRrOuUWp78HyXhQ/s1600/96_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze8nuowh-b68vjkywEHKjyHP3_luzYx6NVFJIrgp9XPQU7FZJixWcgGH_WoF9Tmzu8-Y1rbnvJoqyKJiTXIpCxfABNQPuXpKnD0el4EqKkZjd2yFaiwRRjEBwRrOuUWp78HyXhQ/s400/96_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715510675973961842" border="0" /></a>We drove to the restrooms at Abiquiu Lake.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkH0TY8PDDtx_3Sr8IHsg_bBdrCiwFDFQUArgotS5CftVTsOYb0KAL-luIjY0QBczrnjodo75JDNjn97bWhNE3BfpElHyeBbXIJI9b2NVTW2Vjz-M78dqlTZv59ubhNGjRUKDdA/s1600/96_5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkH0TY8PDDtx_3Sr8IHsg_bBdrCiwFDFQUArgotS5CftVTsOYb0KAL-luIjY0QBczrnjodo75JDNjn97bWhNE3BfpElHyeBbXIJI9b2NVTW2Vjz-M78dqlTZv59ubhNGjRUKDdA/s400/96_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715510686713134978" border="0" /></a> I actually got to take one photo in the parking lot... instead of through the window of a moving car.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBHmiI_VA_fM0-T80FQ263pvGtf3Unho0DfEGTCHsEUgdcz_TFTdvQwtz9NYP6y7nspHrkl3qpFSpYNeIMKdws98yLWOOirL2xfDuQAP1mF9h6OX1SwL4OJv70Zn-2ZeihnvC-g/s1600/96_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBHmiI_VA_fM0-T80FQ263pvGtf3Unho0DfEGTCHsEUgdcz_TFTdvQwtz9NYP6y7nspHrkl3qpFSpYNeIMKdws98yLWOOirL2xfDuQAP1mF9h6OX1SwL4OJv70Zn-2ZeihnvC-g/s400/96_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715510678848524466" border="0" /></a>The colors and textures along the road were stunning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DFdWXXPgYbJF0_F7BNG307kG7nZnmU58Muj0PZ5wEvS2Ppf9MUnaXs2ToQ0I6O3MGOBOtcxvtwxK6wQBc3_dRBpBzjqkLfldPrsKwxIbSS7PqSukphVYd8z1lGVDPBvpt4dVKQ/s1600/96_6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DFdWXXPgYbJF0_F7BNG307kG7nZnmU58Muj0PZ5wEvS2Ppf9MUnaXs2ToQ0I6O3MGOBOtcxvtwxK6wQBc3_dRBpBzjqkLfldPrsKwxIbSS7PqSukphVYd8z1lGVDPBvpt4dVKQ/s400/96_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715510688567228786" border="0" /></a>And the desert sculptures. How does this happen?<br /><br />Driving through Coyote, NM (a few houses along the road) we passed this shop.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjTCiuysZTfaXnC0nRhC08rTd8prlsl6JHuNb_f9KVU2UxTqEjh9mieMLk1wB6tCrCO3i8rgOWfvEDUsyXnxU8zcdH1JzcHPMAdTOJ6VmSCUjLJnodEhsvIjUBeiH5rvvnPxmpg/s1600/WeavingShop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjTCiuysZTfaXnC0nRhC08rTd8prlsl6JHuNb_f9KVU2UxTqEjh9mieMLk1wB6tCrCO3i8rgOWfvEDUsyXnxU8zcdH1JzcHPMAdTOJ6VmSCUjLJnodEhsvIjUBeiH5rvvnPxmpg/s400/WeavingShop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715513062653673298" border="0" /></a>We quickly pulled into the gravel in front, but the door to the shop was locked. We were intrigued at the combination of groceries and weaving. Turns out Santana Salazar is a well-known weaver who uses handspun naturally dyed fiber. Now I really wish he'd been there.<br /><br />Before turning onto the 550, we saw this.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-ugp-TfN-8uDfBFsk4FH9ZsfRTwavb3HGupBK9wJ6_nSEz56a4u-2xJaFtb3-git7abW4OgH06UofIIpNcGpZWaiNg3yHUn_XR4x_BV-z14Jy2XTSrQb4a-DQfmCclRmFe8G9w/s1600/96_9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-ugp-TfN-8uDfBFsk4FH9ZsfRTwavb3HGupBK9wJ6_nSEz56a4u-2xJaFtb3-git7abW4OgH06UofIIpNcGpZWaiNg3yHUn_XR4x_BV-z14Jy2XTSrQb4a-DQfmCclRmFe8G9w/s400/96_9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715510690339503490" border="0" /></a>Majestic!<br /><br />Now we were heading north to the part of New Mexico that promised to be much colder. We didn't know what to expect, but we were easily distracted by the painted landscape. (Note those ominous clouds.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkExuJwxnluoZuTQbRb4MnUTnZduitxLZ3XM0E6FSCdGIL0oqr9iEJ-VrzeN6WuQjo6mjddBqCnDw3Cbp4Bou7x3IwUrhdtXacZiv3DjO8dCwbT_PioBI91Jx4F1sQalXrg25xw/s1600/550_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkExuJwxnluoZuTQbRb4MnUTnZduitxLZ3XM0E6FSCdGIL0oqr9iEJ-VrzeN6WuQjo6mjddBqCnDw3Cbp4Bou7x3IwUrhdtXacZiv3DjO8dCwbT_PioBI91Jx4F1sQalXrg25xw/s400/550_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715512740819181826" border="0" /></a><br />And more!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCluCx1iA9Vb9FNXNn9V7k3NIzpuoKVxKT3GSYx5h_MGcLRiRYbPgGvbcOsTKaDL_F1kA5Wso6NjC9rrwnMqZ6SBbNBsrVPOVowF6KhopHvxRQzYgI-jVKdce8mQRlHdPmJQcA2w/s1600/550_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCluCx1iA9Vb9FNXNn9V7k3NIzpuoKVxKT3GSYx5h_MGcLRiRYbPgGvbcOsTKaDL_F1kA5Wso6NjC9rrwnMqZ6SBbNBsrVPOVowF6KhopHvxRQzYgI-jVKdce8mQRlHdPmJQcA2w/s400/550_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715512732367427634" border="0" /></a><br />But it did get more difficult to ignore the weather in the distance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDZOuEDE7xS2XuHJTDHWqLZrAPXu_ufO8SLS8RQO9ssELYzgy79J-BUUjzV8qdvzWBvuItPwqWbh-tJUWJi4j2bT7tvqo4xNufy_9lcLFdSeqqGm5FRZKbDVvYorUoVh-V5a9hw/s1600/550_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDZOuEDE7xS2XuHJTDHWqLZrAPXu_ufO8SLS8RQO9ssELYzgy79J-BUUjzV8qdvzWBvuItPwqWbh-tJUWJi4j2bT7tvqo4xNufy_9lcLFdSeqqGm5FRZKbDVvYorUoVh-V5a9hw/s400/550_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715512742235400402" border="0" /></a>It was clearly snowing to the north.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVcZJ8DtHJbUCvwOh_n7jGbkU82wmzawYr6G4bu_26k0S_I2NGgnG8Vlj1P5W8tdRGWCeUXqtjMIcSKSEBJn9ocxbcVO_jLQZf17mEEsUBfz61kxek9wE3mWm3IroOPx5h2l60A/s1600/64_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVcZJ8DtHJbUCvwOh_n7jGbkU82wmzawYr6G4bu_26k0S_I2NGgnG8Vlj1P5W8tdRGWCeUXqtjMIcSKSEBJn9ocxbcVO_jLQZf17mEEsUBfz61kxek9wE3mWm3IroOPx5h2l60A/s400/64_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715515955281491042" border="0" /></a>Each time we came over a ridge we'd see the landscape change dramatically.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNm5_m3PTE9xvnXZW1tr1lbsEUknX7R_4JoTzltUpRcLHoFt6CaY2a60ORp-4s1J_LStXmmOD-QUrYn_lmOamZRK6OpPz4t4c2XbzGMJtWMDhLUWG4HtsFcIopmVzdNjCwVHgVw/s1600/64_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNm5_m3PTE9xvnXZW1tr1lbsEUknX7R_4JoTzltUpRcLHoFt6CaY2a60ORp-4s1J_LStXmmOD-QUrYn_lmOamZRK6OpPz4t4c2XbzGMJtWMDhLUWG4HtsFcIopmVzdNjCwVHgVw/s400/64_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715515950668359538" border="0" /></a><br />It began to rain after we reached Bloomfield. Then the rain started bouncing off the hood of the car and smearing the windows. I suspected snow. Dave didn't believe me until we saw the swirling flurries of snow. It melted as soon a it hit the windshield but it was fun to watch.<br /><br />The town of Shiprock is located just east of the border crossing into to Arizona.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d53TYlM7fcSqSsAqjfqpbCY6DqnZ8dzSkifQDTaYRtiMV-3EGR9sI_uXOQ2UKrkCGhk8mOpTsnVaOJXbnavBwpR4R8mkDMxDlso2CYEMxaJKbfrR5rx442Oh3FoTIKbmNR7dVg/s1600/64_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d53TYlM7fcSqSsAqjfqpbCY6DqnZ8dzSkifQDTaYRtiMV-3EGR9sI_uXOQ2UKrkCGhk8mOpTsnVaOJXbnavBwpR4R8mkDMxDlso2CYEMxaJKbfrR5rx442Oh3FoTIKbmNR7dVg/s400/64_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715515950591814418" border="0" /></a>In this weather, the rock looks very much like a phantom ship. Gusts of howling wind only added to the ghostly mood.<br /><br />We reached Monument Valley just as the sun was beginning to cast long shadows.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfJUxCqsaVjjVldXaC7RGAibqup-0E2dJOSAg9VAy3H0mElOXKIbDg65dpXDKgo39QGKBGx3v69Q26hqxvH-oVF_LdkFPrByUqs1fTEqGvP8_KdHiFLj8lJT9UlECP9ugJliVvw/s1600/Monument1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfJUxCqsaVjjVldXaC7RGAibqup-0E2dJOSAg9VAy3H0mElOXKIbDg65dpXDKgo39QGKBGx3v69Q26hqxvH-oVF_LdkFPrByUqs1fTEqGvP8_KdHiFLj8lJT9UlECP9ugJliVvw/s400/Monument1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715518929651132130" border="0" /></a><br />We took the road in, but didn't go all the way. We still had a trek ahead to reach Flagstaff in the dark and avoid icy roads. But we saw a few monument rocks closer up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6bKcyS0xy228yOv8IYJs9YYIx3szGJzXcxuLSPhLC_o4xc8h6aIrG_irQBv4lcyNbGAgSpwdsgHLdqaIfohMXbfBwdFuxXlEEZ_wzgyk13N4RJVIr9b1IQoJ3HHYTX2HGO4X3g/s1600/Monument2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6bKcyS0xy228yOv8IYJs9YYIx3szGJzXcxuLSPhLC_o4xc8h6aIrG_irQBv4lcyNbGAgSpwdsgHLdqaIfohMXbfBwdFuxXlEEZ_wzgyk13N4RJVIr9b1IQoJ3HHYTX2HGO4X3g/s400/Monument2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715518935091889858" border="0" /></a><br />In the sunlight this would clearly be magnificent.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgifc7EaFiyVSuNh0u3Tcu44boOlyejUvEsadJe5NR6UK6ChNTc1zR9Ls9VxwyJcqUU6EeHRpTl9JxFjYNP6EEMwf50vUk3wYayhlDufgRi9zOZi4sTxbSvJcjGZVv_EqMg9KAQ/s1600/Monument3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgifc7EaFiyVSuNh0u3Tcu44boOlyejUvEsadJe5NR6UK6ChNTc1zR9Ls9VxwyJcqUU6EeHRpTl9JxFjYNP6EEMwf50vUk3wYayhlDufgRi9zOZi4sTxbSvJcjGZVv_EqMg9KAQ/s400/Monument3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715518939537573986" border="0" /></a><br />So much beauty, even as the sun was setting.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijk5FgAjpZqfVv6rRjPYJ8DPC4kuEpN4cF95FLe19e27nEdRWvMJtSo7HHJu2ttlRMY93sh-vkR-TSwHcIUsgC9wQq2LSxEublwyivFw3OBFLKfve0cGm1S9LCaWHObh70saTQ8Q/s1600/FadingLight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijk5FgAjpZqfVv6rRjPYJ8DPC4kuEpN4cF95FLe19e27nEdRWvMJtSo7HHJu2ttlRMY93sh-vkR-TSwHcIUsgC9wQq2LSxEublwyivFw3OBFLKfve0cGm1S9LCaWHObh70saTQ8Q/s400/FadingLight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715518944284618594" border="0" /></a>But the sun did set.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuHwNDeQ9C1neN_RS0yOhM2qVan3BuwD5x9fZLXGtbMI-OFWJBvO3zpRMkrSycw7wSemgZMkcUUuDqPpW1IGm_GPrgP3V7e9woZmkU1vx5g1RTIVVpH7K109jHlY64d4_IVxhaw/s1600/Sunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuHwNDeQ9C1neN_RS0yOhM2qVan3BuwD5x9fZLXGtbMI-OFWJBvO3zpRMkrSycw7wSemgZMkcUUuDqPpW1IGm_GPrgP3V7e9woZmkU1vx5g1RTIVVpH7K109jHlY64d4_IVxhaw/s400/Sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715518944811705522" border="0" /></a>And we finally arrived at the La Quinta in Flagstaff at about 9 pm, where it was 20 degrees and dropping. No fresh snow, just chunks of icy snow in the flower beds.<br /><br />Cold temperatures predicted for the next day, but sunny. Hooray.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-64065256521823242902012-02-29T22:35:00.011-08:002012-03-01T05:57:42.060-08:00A Day in Santa FeI never did find a copy of Edible Santa Fe today. But Maya from <a href="http://www.chocolatemaya.com/">Chocolate Maya</a> in Santa Barbara told me about a couple of chocolate shops in Santa Fe to visit, so that was at the top of my agenda.<br /><br />Selene fixed us breakfast first.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3jLhqjT-DUaz6d3ESCSYV2iEQLD-czRuTc_z52nxnL5735ZwsN2nbD8eXbX7K4xzLcoASLC5FtYQTHP0hAEYaoh5GygwAHqcMLbwinU4tLoEUaRbfQU2-1zm9jExf1Xh9BmMmQ/s1600/BFast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3jLhqjT-DUaz6d3ESCSYV2iEQLD-czRuTc_z52nxnL5735ZwsN2nbD8eXbX7K4xzLcoASLC5FtYQTHP0hAEYaoh5GygwAHqcMLbwinU4tLoEUaRbfQU2-1zm9jExf1Xh9BmMmQ/s400/BFast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714814459889080610" border="0" /></a>Our first stop on the chocolate tour was <a href="http://www.kakawachocolates.com/">Kakewa Chocolate House</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TTAK-sGOB1llBfNjyJlLsZ5bZkL3noQqW1S5dwHA05MpXgVpVvttwotipyB-aUzT0C7xIQ3e7rI3Cm5jKbx-nAE0lZX0H7zEi3Fr2PqWBPz-ftcdRfsuf3v1s5nugIUgNAa3EA/s1600/Kakewa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TTAK-sGOB1llBfNjyJlLsZ5bZkL3noQqW1S5dwHA05MpXgVpVvttwotipyB-aUzT0C7xIQ3e7rI3Cm5jKbx-nAE0lZX0H7zEi3Fr2PqWBPz-ftcdRfsuf3v1s5nugIUgNAa3EA/s400/Kakewa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714815616347993618" border="0" /></a>They specialize in drinking chocolate sweetened with agave or honey.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBuOu2NGGB2WG2hBZ0HlA-sYoVJ0ETIU6StG_rVbKbATsvwh8xK9yaN_G72CKswJpyyt6a8AaHkqw5slxdWdp0GRpUFWIcXhg11g8e4H_Exrr3ULZoFlBWgwzKt_BDz-Kq214Wg/s1600/DrinkChoc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBuOu2NGGB2WG2hBZ0HlA-sYoVJ0ETIU6StG_rVbKbATsvwh8xK9yaN_G72CKswJpyyt6a8AaHkqw5slxdWdp0GRpUFWIcXhg11g8e4H_Exrr3ULZoFlBWgwzKt_BDz-Kq214Wg/s400/DrinkChoc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714814465118497554" border="0" /></a>Eight of the flavors are available each day. First we had tasters. Then I chose the Zapoteca with chocolate nibs. Dave chose the Marie Antoinette with almond milk and orange flower water. The MesoAmerican style is made with water, while the European style is made with milk. I bought a bag of Rose Almond to take home (not on today's list prepared chocolate drinks).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji_rqIB1dLUC3-6FYmCuA3GlR7_DIHXrN2ZKnwVAfEcpJaa7rqYHBUBJEEXYnkaxkMVKoptN3IfpTR8cAJTIe7Em_MUELrnZzetozGKwPha6nBUhV4h5uLtTZKpnizNjz0ccmhQ/s1600/CuppaChoc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji_rqIB1dLUC3-6FYmCuA3GlR7_DIHXrN2ZKnwVAfEcpJaa7rqYHBUBJEEXYnkaxkMVKoptN3IfpTR8cAJTIe7Em_MUELrnZzetozGKwPha6nBUhV4h5uLtTZKpnizNjz0ccmhQ/s400/CuppaChoc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714818155677512770" border="0" /></a><br />We also tried a chili caramel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZc8XZMlGw-E6T8WeO6opf1I0WZ7cUk-Z6dEtklcS2lfzSWD1EePCm3D9oH5RXSEWAQHzsfljqYVAhlLjD3hhIJPd45xhmQUxHA96Ul9ZvI_qSzmDE1l7A2c718hifoAJhMeafzg/s1600/ChiliCaramel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZc8XZMlGw-E6T8WeO6opf1I0WZ7cUk-Z6dEtklcS2lfzSWD1EePCm3D9oH5RXSEWAQHzsfljqYVAhlLjD3hhIJPd45xhmQUxHA96Ul9ZvI_qSzmDE1l7A2c718hifoAJhMeafzg/s400/ChiliCaramel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714814469496311538" border="0" /></a>The caramel interior is soft and seasoned with Chimayo red chili. Powdered Chimayo is sprinkled on top. The flavor of the chili is enhanced by the chocolate.<br /><br />They also have chocolate-dipped whole chilies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cONM5yvOMVPg_G4zqrtgAEblCatIzd2iyvQKHXIlJ4vKj_-EpvE26lMXrGS3DnDlNTDttGBdubheM21FiTmSyw7S5IX8doWaqoTwfgaJuVHPkIJwpbeOvXF3QLrSbxe4Ga6DlQ/s1600/DippedChili.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cONM5yvOMVPg_G4zqrtgAEblCatIzd2iyvQKHXIlJ4vKj_-EpvE26lMXrGS3DnDlNTDttGBdubheM21FiTmSyw7S5IX8doWaqoTwfgaJuVHPkIJwpbeOvXF3QLrSbxe4Ga6DlQ/s400/DippedChili.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714818160704669570" border="0" /></a><br />Our next stop was Todos Santos Chocolates, but they are closed until next Tuesday. So we decided maybe we should have lunch before eating more chocolate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ4MdmcSXLewptd7fu1PXdeHw0hk9gMt_jkfQLh3Bg4LsmIQSmcqwWMS_mklbgGrObv1JPt-ZVg1XhLAwEr5ebRe7zAtaxwfhclvaP8vns7iIpdk8cdX_swrlRUrr0fSdyG100w/s1600/Kohnami.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ4MdmcSXLewptd7fu1PXdeHw0hk9gMt_jkfQLh3Bg4LsmIQSmcqwWMS_mklbgGrObv1JPt-ZVg1XhLAwEr5ebRe7zAtaxwfhclvaP8vns7iIpdk8cdX_swrlRUrr0fSdyG100w/s400/Kohnami.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714820661438631906" border="0" /></a>We chose bento lunch at <a href="http://kohnamirestaurant.com/">Kohnami</a>. No chilies or chocolate on this menu.<br /><br />Our last stop before the gas station, ready teller, and grocery store was <a href="http://www.chocolatemaven.com/">Chocolate Maven</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUPzwaxSL3PiUqM4N8iOTISw1mn8Cw05VcG-TKx7ohtuLFI0GOEVigVebsuK-IR-ZWbZn7hm-zYZbTfVWhvG-GBGSNeUMsBX4EtwnPK3Oec86LxD4TZbeZcYWb2tASvxnLUOVDg/s1600/ChocMaven.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUPzwaxSL3PiUqM4N8iOTISw1mn8Cw05VcG-TKx7ohtuLFI0GOEVigVebsuK-IR-ZWbZn7hm-zYZbTfVWhvG-GBGSNeUMsBX4EtwnPK3Oec86LxD4TZbeZcYWb2tASvxnLUOVDg/s400/ChocMaven.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714820664214448354" border="0" /></a>This is in an industrial type building but once inside it feels like a tea room with a large window into the kitchen so you can watch the bakers prepare the pastries sold at the front. We had tea and some simple chocolate cookies. At this point we were too full to even think about dinner.<br /><br />When we got home, Selene's dogs were ready for a walk... and so were we. Dave took Misty.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oppWyDIteCeX51-Eiabwv6ZgIpcgj-UYBijb0XrrTFUHEeBonDl6RG3Bmvoo7hM9vK7KYaSEvTIqEZD_M0tqtQzEErpF_c5SaBoFs5Z1NIEm60l3EdxQMec8Xyy2nChXSeN9uA/s1600/DogWalk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oppWyDIteCeX51-Eiabwv6ZgIpcgj-UYBijb0XrrTFUHEeBonDl6RG3Bmvoo7hM9vK7KYaSEvTIqEZD_M0tqtQzEErpF_c5SaBoFs5Z1NIEm60l3EdxQMec8Xyy2nChXSeN9uA/s400/DogWalk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714823346837272562" border="0" /></a><br />But Misty found it difficult to let Rosy get ahead of her.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdtl093jeFx0lG8OtCN_-ONTgyq5UPLQlh0GtiyccIlQC527M-40Mrv7FQWhSIYA1NaV5h1oMFaN46Crsz2JpKMX680Nxaby8YPTaY-GJKZceqj4rGF5SQcp3YGsD7Mcqoyfrzg/s1600/SeleneWalk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdtl093jeFx0lG8OtCN_-ONTgyq5UPLQlh0GtiyccIlQC527M-40Mrv7FQWhSIYA1NaV5h1oMFaN46Crsz2JpKMX680Nxaby8YPTaY-GJKZceqj4rGF5SQcp3YGsD7Mcqoyfrzg/s400/SeleneWalk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714823352624915490" border="0" /></a><br />So Selene ended up with both of them. Misty is always on the lookout for bunnies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Sg1RKpqCIrvQnuXaJgcBroqzqeweI9YtUShI_3RPTr-ptgyjGQQzfmZmw9_0GK-LHzRIQR4LcebND2B1UFuc4WeqVs_f4qDz7YpkkmR9rw0Z0cPKXsMXNuZzT4c0gvgcU6NsIA/s1600/MistyWaits.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Sg1RKpqCIrvQnuXaJgcBroqzqeweI9YtUShI_3RPTr-ptgyjGQQzfmZmw9_0GK-LHzRIQR4LcebND2B1UFuc4WeqVs_f4qDz7YpkkmR9rw0Z0cPKXsMXNuZzT4c0gvgcU6NsIA/s400/MistyWaits.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714823357882738962" border="0" /></a>Perhaps here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q69HUKyXntxt6IV3samaBXbgCACQ6KQK_qGB3h5jHliE_zU_eAUR4qSSWuvCSmUVStv_lx15f-FTQ2XegGQyp3qxtbGsSYQPyq41Y1bZB4dOODdZrSAbPbmQbotk7S7F44O_0g/s1600/BunnyHole.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q69HUKyXntxt6IV3samaBXbgCACQ6KQK_qGB3h5jHliE_zU_eAUR4qSSWuvCSmUVStv_lx15f-FTQ2XegGQyp3qxtbGsSYQPyq41Y1bZB4dOODdZrSAbPbmQbotk7S7F44O_0g/s400/BunnyHole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714823354858692466" border="0" /></a>This particular walk yielded no bunnies.<br /><br />After the walk, Dave and I returned to our room to plan tomorrow's drive to Arizona while Selene fixed us another delicious meal.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-5888522886943149592012-02-29T22:05:00.005-08:002012-02-29T22:34:36.512-08:00Gusty WindsThe forecast icon on my iPhone switched from snow to cloudy but there's no icon for wind. The wind started when we hit I-40 at Amarillo and moved westward.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXfJ0iP17j0DdgXXvLpTCKSTaIAJglR7J1C9Jiq90926Io27b4tZAM5yX3NeVpOB_C-J-ujRDtfta2zRHqKsE0MoEK91NIZdmmeMwt2mP0aEvO7oYhwVd-KnaU-b3R1PF0CUT-w/s1600/Bushland.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 371px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXfJ0iP17j0DdgXXvLpTCKSTaIAJglR7J1C9Jiq90926Io27b4tZAM5yX3NeVpOB_C-J-ujRDtfta2zRHqKsE0MoEK91NIZdmmeMwt2mP0aEvO7oYhwVd-KnaU-b3R1PF0CUT-w/s400/Bushland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714808031247852818" border="0" /></a>In Bushland, we passed rapidly spinning wind mills, forests of them. It wasn't difficult to figure out why there were placed here. A lot of oil derricks in this area too.<br /><br />We stopped at an information center to pick up some New Mexico literature. The woman at the desk said the wind was blowing 40 miles an hour with gusts up to 60 mph.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrvJoBC5HwYpUfSAiPtu89r5h1p8GjPtZ_eARfdNy1h-iDRoXAr-ClzJfLZU9jLG3sBj-P9M-ZMH32tayBrq7wSPnSqUD_ulh3pDNzIMTD2w82sGm28bjmMj7ovtrvS346AMHcg/s1600/WindHair.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrvJoBC5HwYpUfSAiPtu89r5h1p8GjPtZ_eARfdNy1h-iDRoXAr-ClzJfLZU9jLG3sBj-P9M-ZMH32tayBrq7wSPnSqUD_ulh3pDNzIMTD2w82sGm28bjmMj7ovtrvS346AMHcg/s400/WindHair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714808034580480578" border="0" /></a>Just getting the car door open was a challenge. At the gas station our parked car was lurching forward in the wind. I was really glad we weren't driving in rain or snow. We were being hit by tumble weeds bouncing across the road.<br /><br />We took a few Route 66 detours but most of the businesses were boarded up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yqv9JbSbl6bcS7tREBFzV7mL3fmkfN5Dm1NHV8YbgieDxyowIZ7DQrev5-K1KhszBO3zJpX97Ythfu8sNgc9Y0ZqbEejxTFfERgqADqjE6B5iK9-sa1nx0EP7nJA05vQncX9mw/s1600/Rt66Diner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yqv9JbSbl6bcS7tREBFzV7mL3fmkfN5Dm1NHV8YbgieDxyowIZ7DQrev5-K1KhszBO3zJpX97Ythfu8sNgc9Y0ZqbEejxTFfERgqADqjE6B5iK9-sa1nx0EP7nJA05vQncX9mw/s400/Rt66Diner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714808038013465618" border="0" /></a>We did find one roadside diner, so we stopped for lunch and a break from the wind.<br /><br />We arrived at Dave's sister's in Santa Fe at about 2:30.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh355fg-8x6gBK5RUqfyVJi486Ka8_Aixb4v273NYDvIk36yk9vryL4UeCq5YeTswlNxiZntk3U5evXVbBlWIpXE_vusfXO1VCG2-HzOI2NiU7l-nJ_t-2tAWQpBU4adREU0mMT3Q/s1600/SeleneVilla.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 354px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh355fg-8x6gBK5RUqfyVJi486Ka8_Aixb4v273NYDvIk36yk9vryL4UeCq5YeTswlNxiZntk3U5evXVbBlWIpXE_vusfXO1VCG2-HzOI2NiU7l-nJ_t-2tAWQpBU4adREU0mMT3Q/s400/SeleneVilla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714808043078012034" border="0" /></a>We were ready for a rest. Dinner with guests was set for 6 pm.<br /><br />I looked out the window at about 4:30 to see the setting sun light up the chamisa.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2yNKKvkj2xJlzeon8GGkoYTUuyyRbMqq_b_8WVepNlw-VxG-0-Nwg6ZAalPVLoPgGmyDJ4Bg3pC5jhlz4wUbq8ZwmchFVTDNcFyWrNHgcOFidN9dIYOiXFVCwkNkVbhw0yulbA/s1600/Chimisa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2yNKKvkj2xJlzeon8GGkoYTUuyyRbMqq_b_8WVepNlw-VxG-0-Nwg6ZAalPVLoPgGmyDJ4Bg3pC5jhlz4wUbq8ZwmchFVTDNcFyWrNHgcOFidN9dIYOiXFVCwkNkVbhw0yulbA/s400/Chimisa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714808048915482802" border="0" /></a>It is so quiet here. Not too cold. A few patches of melting ice, but no fresh snow. We were warmed by Selene's hospitality and good home cooking.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-59918381045852233022012-02-29T17:23:00.009-08:002012-02-29T20:45:50.544-08:00Driving Through Hill CountryWe chose a route through the hill country because for the most part we like taking the small black roads better than the thick red ones on the map. There are more interesting places to stop like this one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YNIVS6BNkhMh-GHwcnm_LZdrGZXG4UX-1lYaEdxCpPIN08x-n0K-HZ7m35ASrwTGdUM0HByWkeaDJ1Fr9327SYeLVErr9r6wih5zb5CQy13tZeeydp1tOvaOcNGgfJGQkLU0PA/s1600/Thyme.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YNIVS6BNkhMh-GHwcnm_LZdrGZXG4UX-1lYaEdxCpPIN08x-n0K-HZ7m35ASrwTGdUM0HByWkeaDJ1Fr9327SYeLVErr9r6wih5zb5CQy13tZeeydp1tOvaOcNGgfJGQkLU0PA/s400/Thyme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714734327892268146" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.thymeanddough.com/">Rolling in Thyme & Dough</a> is located at the side of the road in Dripping Springs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNTEkIyXEsB0nCKBMwdfHgzAMMqJ2x5-qsLa4sXTyEds9ru-jV8ehSFIGvWqqhJNZ8srjlqx6X9lg2UuWh94hwRiaCxk9Qx74ZrZ5rYAnRGHy3LrIafjp79uxx0OcuoZMkOv4MQ/s1600/ThymeCottage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNTEkIyXEsB0nCKBMwdfHgzAMMqJ2x5-qsLa4sXTyEds9ru-jV8ehSFIGvWqqhJNZ8srjlqx6X9lg2UuWh94hwRiaCxk9Qx74ZrZ5rYAnRGHy3LrIafjp79uxx0OcuoZMkOv4MQ/s400/ThymeCottage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714734331919012306" border="0" /></a>A cozy bakery cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. They also sell plants to brighten up your yard.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3jSMBda6QlMhOffDhWMQS5H8_cHWGAOGjVXbDGQTWu-vojm7B1RYUJ2c4fl9mqxJaWk0hBTdqkcY915QPfARCrE97qeVC8hOx_0y47KBFkCAaDcQhN0SefXivKPNdqPTUI3U9Q/s1600/FlowerTub.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3jSMBda6QlMhOffDhWMQS5H8_cHWGAOGjVXbDGQTWu-vojm7B1RYUJ2c4fl9mqxJaWk0hBTdqkcY915QPfARCrE97qeVC8hOx_0y47KBFkCAaDcQhN0SefXivKPNdqPTUI3U9Q/s400/FlowerTub.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714734333529545458" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted to stop at <a href="http://www.wildseedfarms.com/">Wildseed Farms</a> seven miles east of Fredericksburg.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU1DKK798TjJjrbFdaSrT1OF5v3MhsyahbBNVrdpi5y4mx0FsRNfUQ6eR8xLU7QUDki1BM69iSL5qeYg8WioTb5ApFsNicxMyA4jAgWiD_XdArOoulFus9731Ty0VaBDkiveQLw/s1600/Wildseed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU1DKK798TjJjrbFdaSrT1OF5v3MhsyahbBNVrdpi5y4mx0FsRNfUQ6eR8xLU7QUDki1BM69iSL5qeYg8WioTb5ApFsNicxMyA4jAgWiD_XdArOoulFus9731Ty0VaBDkiveQLw/s400/Wildseed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714735082777642146" border="0" /></a>The fields are not in bloom but they sell lots of gift shop floral ceramics inside. We moved quickly through those to the room where they have a vast selection of wildflower seeds. I bought a cut flower mixture. I was a little disappointed that they don't have an edible flower mixture. I'll just have to put that one together myself.<br /><br />Our next stop was <a href="http://www.chocolat-tx.us/">Chocolat</a> in Fredericksburg.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOqGGzCyHPe7FnQOancSzBakorka1s92CLxoktyp22O9RyvGLiyOnnJvkVPXunjpTunXQl47uf7NEp5b5xUF-Mc6IYAP0YIHKibPapeAtXIDr_yCmS8DStEKP4MZ5Lo6Y5etm0A/s1600/Chocolat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOqGGzCyHPe7FnQOancSzBakorka1s92CLxoktyp22O9RyvGLiyOnnJvkVPXunjpTunXQl47uf7NEp5b5xUF-Mc6IYAP0YIHKibPapeAtXIDr_yCmS8DStEKP4MZ5Lo6Y5etm0A/s400/Chocolat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714735084988490130" border="0" /></a>We'd passed it on our way to Austin. After reading that they specialize in liquid-filled chocolates--many using local wines, fruit nectars, and coffees--I wanted to check it out. These are not easy to make. The fondant liquifies after being encased in the shell so you have to get the shell sealed quickly before the invertase in the fondant begins to dissolve the fondant crystals.<br /><br />We were not disappointed and I'm really glad that they can be ordered online as well. They also had ganache-filled chocolates in different flavors so we picked out some of those. They might make it home... or they might not.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaf0BCW1WWHQe71uFAaKBVmTYN827wIU4wsk76H1_ZOUz2kAaL7OFPP3op1NOz8Fq-yTJGX5JS2Frdh8t7RVmCOilLODTiXYFGP4lOAud-364fUVZro-VUv8v2ntmsaAC-MlAtg/s1600/WhiteHeart.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaf0BCW1WWHQe71uFAaKBVmTYN827wIU4wsk76H1_ZOUz2kAaL7OFPP3op1NOz8Fq-yTJGX5JS2Frdh8t7RVmCOilLODTiXYFGP4lOAud-364fUVZro-VUv8v2ntmsaAC-MlAtg/s400/WhiteHeart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714735092156496258" border="0" /></a><br />We drove on towards a BBQ place I'd read about in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Hill-Country-Lovers-Paradise/dp/0940672804/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330567342&sr=8-1">Texas Hill Country: A Food and Wine Lover's Paradise</a>. Outside the door to the restaurant was a large food warmer filled with barbequed meats--brisket, chicken, sausages, and huge pork chops. You specify what you want the BBQ master to put on your tray and then you carry it inside where the cashier weighs it and you can choose additional items such as cole slaw, cornbread salad, drinks, and desserts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSylwuP9o8smAnAhXe3eB_mdDhS-cjQzfSf7ubzgVNZ22eJE9Nzlsf3XqfFBCCDNoCN2U0vM5Mp4t26XPxmWy_tMFJWF5j8lQpWi6imKXkLGcojyP8m2IHZquCvzKkxUogX1oCg/s1600/Brisket.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSylwuP9o8smAnAhXe3eB_mdDhS-cjQzfSf7ubzgVNZ22eJE9Nzlsf3XqfFBCCDNoCN2U0vM5Mp4t26XPxmWy_tMFJWF5j8lQpWi6imKXkLGcojyP8m2IHZquCvzKkxUogX1oCg/s400/Brisket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714742612521864146" border="0" /></a>It's all you can eat beans and bread.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjp20xMRCftKoepxITkTbh_n2yC_CKrAlkzADFI1hky0YlfeEHkFwUR0ZjgGzp_0SkDWsi6U3R04nk092Emgmiry1ySTV082BPzP1xMRq3tOy8XQXIVsS4hSVpjsPMZj4jZC41Q/s1600/BreadNap.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 378px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjp20xMRCftKoepxITkTbh_n2yC_CKrAlkzADFI1hky0YlfeEHkFwUR0ZjgGzp_0SkDWsi6U3R04nk092Emgmiry1ySTV082BPzP1xMRq3tOy8XQXIVsS4hSVpjsPMZj4jZC41Q/s400/BreadNap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714742614348998274" border="0" /></a>Salt, pepper sauce, and paper towels are on the table with the bread. Nothing fancy. Decor courtesy of the local taxidermist.<br /><br />As we moved north toward Lubbock, our destination, the sky looked ominous.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcbQ4yCT1PSWYsm6nC3gDeend4cyMX0JqnLks3UVfcIYeaukglkx6ORZAUFcNchHa96KTKZkzduHrLH5Ptcy-uDXpDG2CEkcP79Lr3vA7IWCDrMJqXfwYe10oS5NbwEJLdPuvHw/s1600/Rain.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcbQ4yCT1PSWYsm6nC3gDeend4cyMX0JqnLks3UVfcIYeaukglkx6ORZAUFcNchHa96KTKZkzduHrLH5Ptcy-uDXpDG2CEkcP79Lr3vA7IWCDrMJqXfwYe10oS5NbwEJLdPuvHw/s400/Rain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714742629897706274" border="0" /></a><br />But the rain was pretty mild.<br /><br />We arrived in Lubbock in the early evening but decided to eat the crackers, chocolate, salami, and the honey thyme <a href="http://www.purelucktexas.com/">Pure Luck</a> goat cheese we'd picked up at Whole Foods in Austin before we left. Good decision. Our hotel room at the <a href="http://www.arborinnandsuites.com/">Arbor Inn and Suites</a> was exceptionally nice and spacious and we had laundry to do before heading out for Santa Fe in the morning.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-74933550910245715422012-02-29T05:58:00.014-08:002012-02-29T15:48:47.504-08:00A Lazy SundaySunday morning breakfast at Chez Quimby.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes1T0MKV_Og9fzFMpwvyzPbVjMKaiV1nKdctMpqK-itbwN8Z0i-O76TtedBSw1PCLEPp1eLnuEyj0xnQlZPrnQ5Qc15dpTuvGoGX3ujALoh9bc2dzM8xzej72nJp3vv2iU5qg8w/s1600/Quimbys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes1T0MKV_Og9fzFMpwvyzPbVjMKaiV1nKdctMpqK-itbwN8Z0i-O76TtedBSw1PCLEPp1eLnuEyj0xnQlZPrnQ5Qc15dpTuvGoGX3ujALoh9bc2dzM8xzej72nJp3vv2iU5qg8w/s400/Quimbys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714558855620604530" border="0" /></a><br />When we arrived, Michelann was mixing scones--part whole wheat with dried fruit and a few white chocolate chips. Dave worked on chopping vegetables for a crustless quiche while I fixed Lillian's broken necklace.<br /><br />Then I washed the strawberries and chopped the broccoli tops, which we were substituting for asparagus. Grated gruyere on the bottom of the quiche plate, Sauteed onions and garlic on top of that, then a mixture of eggs and cream. The chopped broccoli went on top.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmN44K7Ch4oNEt65hNB23EuRwoWF05IAPlECDerPn32IW3M-Hiac7Yi4ZbKbwoTkVXp9lITWT9CKCzz2fqCEa3XfSZ9oW88Z2IeWOW7dPBhjgQlHNtzZVdl5I7XZCL8yC6J7BuA/s1600/QuimbyBFast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmN44K7Ch4oNEt65hNB23EuRwoWF05IAPlECDerPn32IW3M-Hiac7Yi4ZbKbwoTkVXp9lITWT9CKCzz2fqCEa3XfSZ9oW88Z2IeWOW7dPBhjgQlHNtzZVdl5I7XZCL8yC6J7BuA/s400/QuimbyBFast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714558848986285266" border="0" /></a><br />Good breakfast!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOzCt5QV011lG4Ym5rUGc8rmLj2GY34G0uPvuHpXtZcYzLAYax82A4wcaHSwokpvGHbD-aDB6m11KZ55d1U9ZOfU_QnbofyNAnRdzPvwxvnG8GyWIGTwuXAESkhOdYASbEuf5OA/s1600/LillianEats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOzCt5QV011lG4Ym5rUGc8rmLj2GY34G0uPvuHpXtZcYzLAYax82A4wcaHSwokpvGHbD-aDB6m11KZ55d1U9ZOfU_QnbofyNAnRdzPvwxvnG8GyWIGTwuXAESkhOdYASbEuf5OA/s400/LillianEats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714558861579798370" border="0" /></a>Lillian had her own version, which she kindly shared with nearby dogs Loki and Persephone.<br /><br />After breakfast Dave and I went back to the hotel to study the map and figure out our travel path for the next day's attempt to drive our way out of Texas (a really large state).<br /><br />We went back in the afternoon so I could go with Michelann to a restorative yoga class at <a href="http://www.yogayoga.com/classes/relaxation">Yoga Yoga</a>. This is the best yoga ever. First some stretching poses while tuning in to note your areas of tension, then relaxation poses to the sound of crystal bowls and other soothing sounds. David calls it nap yoga. It ends with the sound of a gong somehow made to sound like waves washing over you. And then small cups of warm ginger soy milk tea passed on a tray. I think every yoga class should end this way.<br /><br />We got home in time to get Lillian ready for bed and get ourselves ready for dinner at <a href="http://cafemaltaaustin.com/">Cafe Malta.</a> This is a newer restaurant in Austin. It features "Mediterranean style cooking with a Texas sense of place." That means <span class="ws11" style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span>a fusion style using as many locally sourced products as possible.<br /><br />Academy Awards night meant it wasn't too crowded when we arrived.<br /><br />We started with three appetizers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Cy65XmDIZ141pKxPesrHH9jBx7HikyGYQyfwhCpKhLOhaNRF8rektP8wuozrMBCfmaxz30SLgEihXFKrgTekPc3fP5tcE1BC2jlRmEM_DT4jBvpp8uYRX4DZnz0bsp2quujMow/s1600/SpanishTortilla.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Cy65XmDIZ141pKxPesrHH9jBx7HikyGYQyfwhCpKhLOhaNRF8rektP8wuozrMBCfmaxz30SLgEihXFKrgTekPc3fP5tcE1BC2jlRmEM_DT4jBvpp8uYRX4DZnz0bsp2quujMow/s400/SpanishTortilla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714558861719808290" border="0" /></a><br />The Gozo Express was a sardine and green bean topped wedge of Spanish style omelette with pickled vegetables, and two small Maltese qassatats (ricotta and golden raisin filled pastries). Loved those qassatats!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lAaVhFog_QM1iV9sGkG06ab_JgOIauERkhpK0GzxPPupL6gNE7a8fT-a8-T_s3Hsl8-svplIx0UlzoqEsPDzEvW1WBudhp5fx2_afnwxHFvBBnwqTlLjhNfI3Xe4BbMOMXFMXw/s1600/Croquette.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lAaVhFog_QM1iV9sGkG06ab_JgOIauERkhpK0GzxPPupL6gNE7a8fT-a8-T_s3Hsl8-svplIx0UlzoqEsPDzEvW1WBudhp5fx2_afnwxHFvBBnwqTlLjhNfI3Xe4BbMOMXFMXw/s400/Croquette.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714562964096744210" border="0" /></a>This was the appetizer special of the day. Brussels sprouts and potato croquette with slivers of jicama. The croquette was deliciously seasoned and had a light crisp outer coating. The sprouts were tender with caramelized outer leaves. Good texture and flavor contrasts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm99D2lMxUm3PbM7ri5mGcsrcdvRmv-xqfM5psEjixwqjFBZpwNQ-4zhFvuGs7bLDz4O24mxCQOegp9C58QAn7sudIZ37mMh8zEt9Z43MiLr45Lwv0tNBw7auL8Y7P1Aut-KcUug/s1600/PorkPasta.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm99D2lMxUm3PbM7ri5mGcsrcdvRmv-xqfM5psEjixwqjFBZpwNQ-4zhFvuGs7bLDz4O24mxCQOegp9C58QAn7sudIZ37mMh8zEt9Z43MiLr45Lwv0tNBw7auL8Y7P1Aut-KcUug/s400/PorkPasta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714563925004654706" border="0" /></a>This is Maltagliati--homemade pasta with roasted pork and brisket in tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and olive oil. The pork and brisket were tender. Locally grown and raised ingredients are combined to produce a Maltese dish (they call it Tex-Med).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5HTshQ6R3zCXE4Ocm6y9NTr6yp1Th69Ngg_kW9Dq_7_9fEgDDQ5LA0zr-ojMAMdzChGlbHzkpsEavf-y656syzZVkDmKCtpK5KueDqluipsrGAPQDFqvg-uIf_4gdSSQ9ygLmg/s1600/Meatballs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5HTshQ6R3zCXE4Ocm6y9NTr6yp1Th69Ngg_kW9Dq_7_9fEgDDQ5LA0zr-ojMAMdzChGlbHzkpsEavf-y656syzZVkDmKCtpK5KueDqluipsrGAPQDFqvg-uIf_4gdSSQ9ygLmg/s400/Meatballs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714562971159043426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> </span>For the entree I chose fresh linguini with homemade meatballs.<br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9HugAtyWWh9QAgR6MeZJXb5krassQfA3OH-QAYRXQHq1oe0bxFkZrlSUAB0agw9bZKYIYUz3j9p6uu6yy-RgfsuYME4YvucDUiuJkZJ8tLLo6Wcg9CB9rGCioytaGEf_3kSgWg/s1600/SearedTuna.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9HugAtyWWh9QAgR6MeZJXb5krassQfA3OH-QAYRXQHq1oe0bxFkZrlSUAB0agw9bZKYIYUz3j9p6uu6yy-RgfsuYME4YvucDUiuJkZJ8tLLo6Wcg9CB9rGCioytaGEf_3kSgWg/s400/SearedTuna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714563917052468002" border="0" /></a>Michelann had seared tuna in a deliciously fruity sauce served with those perfectly cooked brussels sprouts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntYhFploTU6Wf2EBDqwSIfWHp_MAbOi1bRhd3C6UQchNymBajzvrTYhzTK2S7kPSMj3-SYQK1pXGZLcsqc8Wy_C5vUnlR2nX0E1qXbQ_VLPCHuTj1gz6-nANY5DqjOfSKMvYupg/s1600/PorkEntree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntYhFploTU6Wf2EBDqwSIfWHp_MAbOi1bRhd3C6UQchNymBajzvrTYhzTK2S7kPSMj3-SYQK1pXGZLcsqc8Wy_C5vUnlR2nX0E1qXbQ_VLPCHuTj1gz6-nANY5DqjOfSKMvYupg/s400/PorkEntree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714566595816615634" border="0" /></a>Dave chose the roasted pork shoulder with a date demi-gace over roasted apple couscous.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2ozca884CLMhOA0KxJnf1u8dCYogJRyJEWe7XTj7GsvyWcLB9APoE0uUv5FkIamHW1RhXYQ3jAm8wGhEFWoyEYjlxUhFb0GpjUemoRp89wVNQ9WLsDeubjC1kyi0-_YKubhGBQ/s1600/Chicken.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2ozca884CLMhOA0KxJnf1u8dCYogJRyJEWe7XTj7GsvyWcLB9APoE0uUv5FkIamHW1RhXYQ3jAm8wGhEFWoyEYjlxUhFb0GpjUemoRp89wVNQ9WLsDeubjC1kyi0-_YKubhGBQ/s400/Chicken.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714566264833543490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><b><br /></b></span>David had the Maltese chicken with homemade preserved lemon beurre blanc and rosemary potatoes.<br /><br />For dessert we had lemon curd on a shortbread biscuit and a tall shot glass of creamy smooth panna cotta with a basil gelee layer on top. Oops, forgot to take photos.<br /><br />The restaurant was filling up as we got up to leave. I guess we weren't the only ones who chose Cafe Malta over the Academy Awards.<br /><br />No Lick ice cream after dinner, we were satisfied.<br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><b></b></span>Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-2284143250737440492012-02-25T19:48:00.014-08:002012-02-26T05:29:47.001-08:00Lillian's BirthdayOkay this is weird.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZuD4o0ZYeeUVtxuR-eMhSjqqeewpe28mk6oPmZtwRh1v_xzWnF-2E-LK5YHhYtgG8lQF0qej2ZMTr_yMYxKT0NjvujXej7HkSBfgaqQRUECHcVTVUw2x48GQdxTHdgiyo-mtAA/s1600/Pancakes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZuD4o0ZYeeUVtxuR-eMhSjqqeewpe28mk6oPmZtwRh1v_xzWnF-2E-LK5YHhYtgG8lQF0qej2ZMTr_yMYxKT0NjvujXej7HkSBfgaqQRUECHcVTVUw2x48GQdxTHdgiyo-mtAA/s400/Pancakes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713301290465854978" border="0" /></a>When you press the "OK" button, the machine sounds like a photo scanner. Then 45 seconds later two perfectly cooked pancakes come off the roller and drop onto your plate. We're at the Holiday Inn Express. We actually had a pretty good breakfast for a self-serve dining room.<br /><br />Then we were off to the Barton Creek Farmers Market. Lots more prepared food here than at the farmers markets in Santa Barbara. Places to sit and eat, while listening to live Austin music.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4dIqKSEhvQWObdC6M9CCjnlWakJwKz21RbEMjvYzbS72QGkmXe8L-iSTA5S2HePw8cJZ8Bd6bsKxPPvJryvV1YDdKCrxofwRqNlAviAkC40Uif36IhpArzEwxvFr1SGRo0D6qA/s1600/LiveMusic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4dIqKSEhvQWObdC6M9CCjnlWakJwKz21RbEMjvYzbS72QGkmXe8L-iSTA5S2HePw8cJZ8Bd6bsKxPPvJryvV1YDdKCrxofwRqNlAviAkC40Uif36IhpArzEwxvFr1SGRo0D6qA/s400/LiveMusic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713301302992731858" border="0" /></a>There is less fresh produce here this time of year but the market includes things like soaps, prepared Indian food, jewelry, organic composts, pottery, and meat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQaGqBZy7vXVkrII7Ifo423ZyeaW3q-auLV9U6k81tP0S8fGnWchG8tVUJtclTzFVeOHEvixFvZfmreYOJ0Qg2ZWse_s6c1GI-kFZC5pRwCNvIBlxJHS0ktjt_g8fz1vWJQpw5g/s1600/Meat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQaGqBZy7vXVkrII7Ifo423ZyeaW3q-auLV9U6k81tP0S8fGnWchG8tVUJtclTzFVeOHEvixFvZfmreYOJ0Qg2ZWse_s6c1GI-kFZC5pRwCNvIBlxJHS0ktjt_g8fz1vWJQpw5g/s400/Meat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713303787532108402" border="0" /></a>We stopped at the <a href="http://thegardenersfeast.com/tamales.html">Gardener's Feast</a> stand to buy some tamales.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqufgikOzko9xWnzXvvrPP-ahlb9MjXhNZwZ4pnJyEbOmVUAQ_fRK1Z_oNGAuuEfIN4kCa6Nic0XiIc8k2_btQVx4iWAEC2JNS8gcKCQpmRrq9jF5O6yx8GXoI9bZXrb13ylJEQ/s1600/TamaleStand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqufgikOzko9xWnzXvvrPP-ahlb9MjXhNZwZ4pnJyEbOmVUAQ_fRK1Z_oNGAuuEfIN4kCa6Nic0XiIc8k2_btQVx4iWAEC2JNS8gcKCQpmRrq9jF5O6yx8GXoI9bZXrb13ylJEQ/s400/TamaleStand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713301295918364194" border="0" /></a>We chose banana leaf wrapped Chiapaneco (shredded chicken, mole, prune, plantain and green olive) tamales to take home for lunch.<br /><br />Nap time came early in preparation for the afternoon birthday party.<br /><br />Lillian's Music Together teacher opened the party with some movement and music.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL-HV7a7r4iatUyekcs53CgNwRrVi9cOjR1MSiimAAaNYKe4cPufOIp_TlFTic3tvtliyAr8RJwuRdmtU68TKA6GEmJMKmIeDi3Zuqd5UJiIDyjl5c0qTl6inqBzypmoU9USK_A/s1600/RainbowLil.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL-HV7a7r4iatUyekcs53CgNwRrVi9cOjR1MSiimAAaNYKe4cPufOIp_TlFTic3tvtliyAr8RJwuRdmtU68TKA6GEmJMKmIeDi3Zuqd5UJiIDyjl5c0qTl6inqBzypmoU9USK_A/s400/RainbowLil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713307365697144882" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zbQO4YSMAlmvjEFw-gVUmqFIuGFy5RzanM3Hs1c99oSer2apiiA9sr_rf4Au47Fk7ZPrIY1fvkAFPUBGPSFM6LlTnhdem2yqcsyJdhsD1ZMbT5VPpzID72RG3GPSle8PcvV9nQ/s1600/Parachute.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zbQO4YSMAlmvjEFw-gVUmqFIuGFy5RzanM3Hs1c99oSer2apiiA9sr_rf4Au47Fk7ZPrIY1fvkAFPUBGPSFM6LlTnhdem2yqcsyJdhsD1ZMbT5VPpzID72RG3GPSle8PcvV9nQ/s400/Parachute.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713308537715948066" border="0" /></a>A rainbow parachute, then the ribbon dance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO-JAVX9dc-f0hHkHSKiptLMP7EChdaw7NW7M-EwlBw2NFsN3amgjJiymVNmvuhORWE2BUS4CLmiXrXz0gtLoqwYWE5sfAV3ult0VlpAyHxVtlmDAIkCGB3yC4sW8M3Gicgi_9w/s1600/StreamerGirl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 373px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO-JAVX9dc-f0hHkHSKiptLMP7EChdaw7NW7M-EwlBw2NFsN3amgjJiymVNmvuhORWE2BUS4CLmiXrXz0gtLoqwYWE5sfAV3ult0VlpAyHxVtlmDAIkCGB3yC4sW8M3Gicgi_9w/s400/StreamerGirl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713307365435042034" border="0" /></a><br />Followed by delicious birthday cupcakes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS-fMuYJFQqZHDJGDYj6mIzJxdqJIWw1jBDzEBkxOyksDkhazJ2VkEMdTRt5Ai3dgJ3xT19X_iC0Vfu4IXox9rxNFhZe-rd9YivOD14b0rHX4kZFDyxnGDzVoFbpWmo1h8E-WnQ/s1600/BiDayCandle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS-fMuYJFQqZHDJGDYj6mIzJxdqJIWw1jBDzEBkxOyksDkhazJ2VkEMdTRt5Ai3dgJ3xT19X_iC0Vfu4IXox9rxNFhZe-rd9YivOD14b0rHX4kZFDyxnGDzVoFbpWmo1h8E-WnQ/s400/BiDayCandle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713307370521930050" border="0" /></a>And some presents.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp4HgDrILuJbsCWjnK-T5xRLMovg6gBnlqSwIug4tIAnJu19xiCZQ6zZX-LPziec_mH-0TRBKRVLIW1pcSTRPlW2rGYwQ-TNy7cwp6R8JlzcT0_M2BU2gKMxJ1pFTrBLHf9IDVQ/s1600/DollHouse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp4HgDrILuJbsCWjnK-T5xRLMovg6gBnlqSwIug4tIAnJu19xiCZQ6zZX-LPziec_mH-0TRBKRVLIW1pcSTRPlW2rGYwQ-TNy7cwp6R8JlzcT0_M2BU2gKMxJ1pFTrBLHf9IDVQ/s400/DollHouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713307374301947570" border="0" /></a><br />A happy girl.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6l2Z-DFVV2YbDhHLvtyLhxDN9SdkauDjZFZXLjBS0C3xJm3DwphkUvMLeknYmG9QDiFvFYGdRfNcwUrUIMdTqAo5WAlZjG-9zcXnMeueVkJQVb8VhrN5U0ASOSKZerktSLvuFg/s1600/Happy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6l2Z-DFVV2YbDhHLvtyLhxDN9SdkauDjZFZXLjBS0C3xJm3DwphkUvMLeknYmG9QDiFvFYGdRfNcwUrUIMdTqAo5WAlZjG-9zcXnMeueVkJQVb8VhrN5U0ASOSKZerktSLvuFg/s400/Happy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713310227831308770" border="0" /></a>After birthday party pizza, we opted for an ice cream dinner so we headed back to Lick.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXUWiwHB6TZVOethJy68ON99rTYopsusP7LEVTjpMv-008Pdt9B0bmPhsy9-0Cm-vdw9OamlT_6tjPiTuRARGdQk1VyXS-baEoaDnn6b7qOL396myQP1f9rw4_QR_Fq4_LRzaFA/s1600/LickCrowd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXUWiwHB6TZVOethJy68ON99rTYopsusP7LEVTjpMv-008Pdt9B0bmPhsy9-0Cm-vdw9OamlT_6tjPiTuRARGdQk1VyXS-baEoaDnn6b7qOL396myQP1f9rw4_QR_Fq4_LRzaFA/s400/LickCrowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713311223994529266" border="0" /></a>See all those people inside? This is a really small ice cream shop. The word is out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EN2qtOrqe8Ja7fj38dHTqDkF9UPoF8dpWvy3uzB4d0SPPzfg9t2OLcpWpUP3EoVm8EHceMXWJGD1t2wm7_WAQ4HwYNQDRPjATWPred4HRApkGgNrWHIvmY2Hevz9j-t1ScMFsQ/s1600/Strawberry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EN2qtOrqe8Ja7fj38dHTqDkF9UPoF8dpWvy3uzB4d0SPPzfg9t2OLcpWpUP3EoVm8EHceMXWJGD1t2wm7_WAQ4HwYNQDRPjATWPred4HRApkGgNrWHIvmY2Hevz9j-t1ScMFsQ/s400/Strawberry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713311232495070546" border="0" /></a>The flavors are posted on 3x5 index cards. I chose the Sweet Cream with Champagne Strawberries and the Caramel Salt Lick. Dave chose Lone Star au Lait (coffee) and the Caramel Salt Lick. Tomorrow? Another day, another flavor.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-13129452783239960162012-02-25T07:01:00.008-08:002012-02-25T19:34:43.994-08:00Goodbye Fort StocktonWe got up early to get a head start on our drive to Austin. We wanted spend a little time with Michelann, Lillian, and David in the afternoon and early evening.<br /><br />Dave opened the curtains to the morning sun and called me over to see the view.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2NyiAOsEse9uDakrCyc-LoVYuEVDnEjL-yDGvPm2dtXvEgKVIZ_gC_R9xbSiNq1Mo2Gdd6OCbbam8Jt5DCoBwWLfCXcqOhRKuFZ-0Aw4JZhYz_OTrLuZK9PhbQe_uFRU9fLz0A/s1600/MorningView.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2NyiAOsEse9uDakrCyc-LoVYuEVDnEjL-yDGvPm2dtXvEgKVIZ_gC_R9xbSiNq1Mo2Gdd6OCbbam8Jt5DCoBwWLfCXcqOhRKuFZ-0Aw4JZhYz_OTrLuZK9PhbQe_uFRU9fLz0A/s400/MorningView.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713089041048526114" border="0" /></a><br />Yeah, time to leave.<br /><br />Our hotel room has plenty of signs about things not to steal and how to conserve energy. At check-in we had to sign a declaration that we would not smoke anywhere in the hotel, but they missed the opportunity to put a sign on our window warning us not to smoke in bed. Apparently the neighboring hotel didn't provide enough warnings.<br /><br />We took I-10 to the 290, heading towards Fredericksburg and eventually Austin. This is the hill country. Lots of farms. Fredericksburg is a German community with a charming Main Street and we arrived about lunch time. However our first stop was <a href="http://www.littlechef.com/">Der Kuchen Laden</a>, the cookware store I discovered while looking through Edible Austin for a good place to eat in Fredericksburg.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuSaosVa3wa4DKTifXg_9ySN2Aj9ufvS3_U54uq_k9pvL2t45OOB2-RNQAsMr3SdFRFaom7DOul6UWNyDwjdJMNMAg7OjxvgIinBCfHvW9TN76zcIBrQRut1ptgPH4Wu6Qm9G5g/s1600/DerKuchen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuSaosVa3wa4DKTifXg_9ySN2Aj9ufvS3_U54uq_k9pvL2t45OOB2-RNQAsMr3SdFRFaom7DOul6UWNyDwjdJMNMAg7OjxvgIinBCfHvW9TN76zcIBrQRut1ptgPH4Wu6Qm9G5g/s400/DerKuchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713159737296167298" border="0" /></a>I found a few potential miracle devices. The Garlic Machine was recommended by my sister Karen. I finally found one. Dave chose the tenderizer and I thought Shaun would like the corn de-silker when he makes tortilla soup.<br /><br />Edible Austin pointed me to the <a href="http://www.navajogrill.com/">Navajo Grill</a>, but it turns out they are only open for dinner. Across the lot was <a href="http://www.ranchroadroasters.com/">Ranch Road Roasters</a> which features on-site roasted coffee, normally open but the sign on the Rosie the Roaster truck said "Closed, wife having a baby." So we figured we'd snack our way to Austin on crackers and cheese. But then we passed "<a href="http://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/food-wine/some-kinda-bbq/">Some Kinda BBQ</a>."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2v8TeNTgpyTGeC-YWRaJdXQaO1O7TEkbEPZ7WXMaIW9iuh14Z_dQn1GMFhwCGUvzPVQnF5_u7AQ5praZHxjqFTi_tPqgZm2cFq8tQyzQZJyYGna7wfnkCVvZT0l7DpHEBVgqVA/s1600/BBQ1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2v8TeNTgpyTGeC-YWRaJdXQaO1O7TEkbEPZ7WXMaIW9iuh14Z_dQn1GMFhwCGUvzPVQnF5_u7AQ5praZHxjqFTi_tPqgZm2cFq8tQyzQZJyYGna7wfnkCVvZT0l7DpHEBVgqVA/s400/BBQ1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713089041227952162" border="0" /></a>We circled around and went back. This is TX.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSg-03nC0r6Tu9kEBy4-CEnCMQ9ftcj87O6GsMdP3B9bQ_Yn3EjtVY74WN5jP-urDOgdKbsdVb9ImQqQ5GjuV_mWOwDJN_XnvBbBudmlUae8qobMZhmNMcVQ-tshivDl02obbb8A/s1600/PorkSand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSg-03nC0r6Tu9kEBy4-CEnCMQ9ftcj87O6GsMdP3B9bQ_Yn3EjtVY74WN5jP-urDOgdKbsdVb9ImQqQ5GjuV_mWOwDJN_XnvBbBudmlUae8qobMZhmNMcVQ-tshivDl02obbb8A/s400/PorkSand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713089051297557938" border="0" /></a>Shredded barbequed pork with onions and pickles plus chips and soda for $5. Yes, it was really good. We tried to remember to eat light because Michelann was taking us out for a hamburger and fries dinner in Austin.<br /><br />We arrived in Austin just as our granddaughter Lillian was getting up from her nap and getting ready for a walk to the park. After the park adventure, we drove to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.philsicehouse.com">Phil's Ice House</a> where Lillian articulately pointed out we'd get fries (by energetically interjecting the word "fries" into our conversation at regular intervals). Turns out she's right, we got a mix of potato and sweet potato fries with each burger. I had a 78704 Burger (grilled onions, jack cheese, avocado, chipotle mayonnaise and jalapenos on a jalapeno cheese bun). Delicious!<br /><br />Next stop was Lick for homemade local seasonal ice cream. Not only is <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lick-Ice-Creams/113240015426387?sk=info">Lick</a> mentioned frequently in Edible Austin, it's this issue's cover story.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDFUuDk6phf3X1naJp81ieRLuTg327IeKH8N3vJ1eLclwfIY1UCcSc_iVQVJTvnIvMxHzRuU-y0lzLbsr6-fOWF6D5Fq-4rblqDmxfgb259ArtrOIGjORdEOLBxu75phzGkmogA/s1600/EdibleAustin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDFUuDk6phf3X1naJp81ieRLuTg327IeKH8N3vJ1eLclwfIY1UCcSc_iVQVJTvnIvMxHzRuU-y0lzLbsr6-fOWF6D5Fq-4rblqDmxfgb259ArtrOIGjORdEOLBxu75phzGkmogA/s400/EdibleAustin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713254007001807714" border="0" /></a><br />When we arrived they'd just received the new issue. I quickly took one from the top of the stack and started collecting tasting spoons. The flavor on the cover is cilantro lime. I ended up choosing a scoop of Pure Luck goat cheese with thyme and honey and a scoop of caramelized carrot with tarragon. Uhh, I was too busy eating to take photos. That means we will go back. So we can take photos! I also loved Roast Beet with Mint and Caramel Salt Lick. So many flavors, so few days.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-38668107213276009062012-02-23T19:57:00.011-08:002012-02-24T03:46:54.939-08:00Notes to SelfI'll remember to bring paper towels and window cleaner on my next long road trip.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWDCyZTN9wv7hYN6KJhG80WLwiUz9Lkvqe3hJmLQuGaar-WbAxOOoncZSt7zqnvNpEfU58Tea7Vp8qdJa__kvObfystv-ZW6-9Mq2fH1sJicGxgpNN1HRojTyh8N2w5FCeR9ovA/s1600/WindowWash.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWDCyZTN9wv7hYN6KJhG80WLwiUz9Lkvqe3hJmLQuGaar-WbAxOOoncZSt7zqnvNpEfU58Tea7Vp8qdJa__kvObfystv-ZW6-9Mq2fH1sJicGxgpNN1HRojTyh8N2w5FCeR9ovA/s400/WindowWash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712552520952552386" border="0" /></a><br />We stopped at a gas station to buy some heavy duty window spray before getting back on the road.<br /><br />No, this is not the Frontierland ride at Disneyland.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZAJPUH9zQF-7Q8VjwS1NQIEUqGJGzJncLPLJ2mRdNTKoc8C33XpY1aK30Gw9ocAJbaVKPu2WWEpLGjgdvfQsNvjBFoNGMz0tfzaEppGisnbkhqTULZX4GQduPFpN7lnloTVYdQ/s1600/AZRocks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZAJPUH9zQF-7Q8VjwS1NQIEUqGJGzJncLPLJ2mRdNTKoc8C33XpY1aK30Gw9ocAJbaVKPu2WWEpLGjgdvfQsNvjBFoNGMz0tfzaEppGisnbkhqTULZX4GQduPFpN7lnloTVYdQ/s400/AZRocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712552523542916706" border="0" /></a>We saw these rock clusters on the drive between Tucson and New Mexico.<br /><br />As the land flattened out, signs along the road warned us to pull off and turn off our lights during sandstorms. In New Mexico a sign urged "Extreme Caution." It was windy as we left Deming, and we could see a sandy haze in the distance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNpw94H168hrfX8WArjyVfsu86zxSqIWPoILPfEoh9CcIf0s8nWomNMOaVycE6saFrsh9d1igDokq6SilbVvRBfSsrwIzgd3-pHLKPNsWD3bd31iM0RU34LMIaGLkdZiDRrtsPA/s1600/NMSandstorms.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNpw94H168hrfX8WArjyVfsu86zxSqIWPoILPfEoh9CcIf0s8nWomNMOaVycE6saFrsh9d1igDokq6SilbVvRBfSsrwIzgd3-pHLKPNsWD3bd31iM0RU34LMIaGLkdZiDRrtsPA/s400/NMSandstorms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712552527868281218" border="0" /></a>Fortunately we didn't experience any extreme conditions.<br /><br />As we drove through El Paso and Juarez, I checked the online Edible Santa Fe hoping they might mention some place to eat in Las Cruces. I came across an announcement of Restaurant Week in Las Cruces. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/u/peppers-lunch-menu/">Peppers at the Double Eagle Restaurant</a> in the plaza at Mesilla was listed. They are known for their very large green chile cheeseburger. They were listed in the <a href="http://www.newmexico.org/greenchilecheeseburger/">Green Chili Cheeseburger Trail</a> 2011. I also consulted the <a href="http://newmexico.org/culinarytreasures/">New Mexico Culinary Treasures Trail</a>.<br /><br />The timing was right for lunch as we approached Mesilla, a tiny town that feels like a mini Santa Fe. The restaurant was easy to find on the central plaza. The restaurant is inside an historic adobe house built around a garden courtyard.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL84N-H_Ooi_z0XdPFMRy6oGr5k2SDwXmmYnkBMjL4WMrby8q2_o06Ia-v5mCOnPSpKmXT9RdCH1s66ikB-O5qFGzuz-bJdHiARzhQ-7qvUlKpEHI07pbWkVgv6f3D7ScQM0w18Q/s1600/Ctyard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL84N-H_Ooi_z0XdPFMRy6oGr5k2SDwXmmYnkBMjL4WMrby8q2_o06Ia-v5mCOnPSpKmXT9RdCH1s66ikB-O5qFGzuz-bJdHiARzhQ-7qvUlKpEHI07pbWkVgv6f3D7ScQM0w18Q/s400/Ctyard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712561807837513202" border="0" /></a><br />We decided to split the 1/2 pound burger (they also offer an 1-1/4 lb version). And we ordered the smoked salmon appetizer to start.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirmRVGjdbt7JhBSIn0ZPN7WOHs2H9z_2u280twYI0zGNSDBqZyyrvwnsp9K6nP0HxmuoWBocYRRnhZtj_EOZDBSO1_i8-zzZzAQ9TxadwZOQY_XAAZD2V5LJJQsk26-veIIDI8w/s1600/Appetizer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirmRVGjdbt7JhBSIn0ZPN7WOHs2H9z_2u280twYI0zGNSDBqZyyrvwnsp9K6nP0HxmuoWBocYRRnhZtj_EOZDBSO1_i8-zzZzAQ9TxadwZOQY_XAAZD2V5LJJQsk26-veIIDI8w/s400/Appetizer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712561774198227282" border="0" /></a>A squeeze of lime and a dab of sour cream accent the salmon on top of cheesy toasted sourdough.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGqvTO8u_-fmXI90axwEao7gC1MG8b4LZI5PMcyDdpwFf4zYliRCKUVYmZVyC7NOEExHmajO1qeWP8DXfVdtR5gtr9UpC6gAtgK21DKUfkd_ZDPyapBuDGVLGImtON6WjxXgmVQ/s1600/Hamburger.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGqvTO8u_-fmXI90axwEao7gC1MG8b4LZI5PMcyDdpwFf4zYliRCKUVYmZVyC7NOEExHmajO1qeWP8DXfVdtR5gtr9UpC6gAtgK21DKUfkd_ZDPyapBuDGVLGImtON6WjxXgmVQ/s400/Hamburger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712561803541841218" border="0" /></a><br />Half a hamburger was plenty. We should have asked for medium rare. They have their own beef aging room so the flavor was good but we would have preferred it rarer.<br /><br />For dessert we ordered a Banana Brulee Cheesecake.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyEa4zFwqAkSIkiBZbUe28TU_ICf1gnkgG1wL7CjSPlne4KX4LojEUYB05S-_AItOxbMFGeNoXNqh8HIUhg52NUz1AC_lEl83dfF0YKwxNYMpHeb6FekUbvr-oZahH3n2VutV_w/s1600/BruleeCheeseck.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyEa4zFwqAkSIkiBZbUe28TU_ICf1gnkgG1wL7CjSPlne4KX4LojEUYB05S-_AItOxbMFGeNoXNqh8HIUhg52NUz1AC_lEl83dfF0YKwxNYMpHeb6FekUbvr-oZahH3n2VutV_w/s400/BruleeCheeseck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712561812022338274" border="0" /></a><br />The cheesecake and the bananas were sprinkled with sugar and then caramelized with a torch. The glaze drizzled on the top appeared to be honey. The whipped cream and cherry weren't important additions. The cheesecake was light and flavorful without them. This turned out to be our favorite part of the meal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second Note to Self</span>: Don't believe everything you read on TripAdvisor or Yelp.<br /><br />We'd been warned that Fort Stockton is a place to sleep on the way to your destination so not to expect too much. I read as many hotel reviews as I could find and chose the one currently at the top on TripAdvisor.<br /><br />I suspect this hotel has the same interior designer as the hotel we stayed at in Kingman on our last trip. Like that one, the textures in each area compete rather than work together, creating a cacophony of colors and textures.<br /><br />Here's the hallway outside our room.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6yEzmvurQPQoKdNrXbqLE_qa4u6dqTZvH_-xeVa1JkC6VtaTo7j1e6GfHD2IWtzGObsCayWEXdvdiAjStuvmSeqInn5ET2yv2ovjfxfk1qNzTvUerNcftF6tjecjGDYs-MJaJQ/s1600/Hallway.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6yEzmvurQPQoKdNrXbqLE_qa4u6dqTZvH_-xeVa1JkC6VtaTo7j1e6GfHD2IWtzGObsCayWEXdvdiAjStuvmSeqInn5ET2yv2ovjfxfk1qNzTvUerNcftF6tjecjGDYs-MJaJQ/s400/Hallway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712566050788304642" border="0" /></a><br />Inside our room.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0CZnOG7768PjdNhyT7ol2QLoCw2sJUjg28iBoITgt3i8jgc1eCPDi8zEXmtGeJyP7FvdNfLaSV1emzEYqkXwJWj8KCi3BpxkxxCjr9ZU6OlyRtFIi6prgxRwhEWXdGYdCIp3sQ/s1600/Bedroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0CZnOG7768PjdNhyT7ol2QLoCw2sJUjg28iBoITgt3i8jgc1eCPDi8zEXmtGeJyP7FvdNfLaSV1emzEYqkXwJWj8KCi3BpxkxxCjr9ZU6OlyRtFIi6prgxRwhEWXdGYdCIp3sQ/s400/Bedroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712570658451375202" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>The colors sort of work but there's no place in this room for my eyes to rest.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQHjhbr2Gvr1vMXaBP6SzU6Av1ydQ5HFHUMJLyRV_kdON3xKO0-dkcVHGZgpjJYbSFj-8M8-f26e0NISdPISslaOMziXJYN85dEnIwd4-bXoQtneEVd488_ac5c4y_CL6jYegww/s1600/Bathroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQHjhbr2Gvr1vMXaBP6SzU6Av1ydQ5HFHUMJLyRV_kdON3xKO0-dkcVHGZgpjJYbSFj-8M8-f26e0NISdPISslaOMziXJYN85dEnIwd4-bXoQtneEVd488_ac5c4y_CL6jYegww/s400/Bathroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712569244937770338" border="0" /></a>This is my favorite room. Nothing seems to work together tastefully. It feels like they used leftover materials in similar colors.<br /><br />Okay, so we escape the room for dinner at the highly Yelp rated restaurant next door... a Chinese buffet. But according to Yelp reviewers it's an exceptionally good Chinese buffet... and I believed them.<br /><br />In retrospect the pizza in the car left over from last night would have been a better choice. Granted fresh vegetables and fruits may be hard to get out here in the middle of Texas, so they are probably a bit floppy by the time they get here. But to top off the experience we were seated in the Fox News TV section of the restaurant. A huge serving of the O'Reilly Factor pretty much rounded out the meal.<br /><br />We'll be leaving early in the morning.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-45636196585074605542012-02-23T03:13:00.000-08:002012-02-23T04:41:39.977-08:00Road Trip to AustinWe left Santa Barbara yesterday morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE94MzAdqmTiONnvi48ugN_cBTyVV8F9Onr0sxCPrfCTKRyfl7CraTgKY-zu8GMLcn3sPhNuvlRha12nX_v92ZBscSRIeFtO7wsc5ZDDYwF059OfTfVrnlb94fmq19pFwoxiaEuQ/s1600/LeaveSB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE94MzAdqmTiONnvi48ugN_cBTyVV8F9Onr0sxCPrfCTKRyfl7CraTgKY-zu8GMLcn3sPhNuvlRha12nX_v92ZBscSRIeFtO7wsc5ZDDYwF059OfTfVrnlb94fmq19pFwoxiaEuQ/s400/LeaveSB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712288633408961090" border="0" /></a>We are headed for Austin. Our granddaughter Lillian's 2nd birthday is Saturday.<br /><br />A large black crow stared at us from the roof of the garage as we pulled out of the driveway. A portent? What was he trying to tell us?<br /><br />Then we saw another crow hopping around garbage on the driveway that the raccoons had left after knocking over the trash can in search of gourmet leftovers. A less romantic but more realistic reason in crow world to be on the roof watching us leave.<br /><br />We set our GPS for Tucson (once we figured out how to spell it). Deciding against the GPS lady's advice, we chose to take the 126 to the 5 to get to the I-10 and miss some of the LA morning traffic. That meant I could search <a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/ojai/">Edible Ojai</a> online to find an interesting breakfast stop in Ventura. I found one!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxVrDOtzLXcfspG80Q2l5-mgr7XzTaNxaf3ppdumYe7n1lFbkU45Zkq4L9GjBdDmgN4YKB3PlePe53deRUCwkqrST0Dcpr4R73ez06UsGajle1u6MKDlli0RSo85QD49Ij5vYyw/s1600/BakeShop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxVrDOtzLXcfspG80Q2l5-mgr7XzTaNxaf3ppdumYe7n1lFbkU45Zkq4L9GjBdDmgN4YKB3PlePe53deRUCwkqrST0Dcpr4R73ez06UsGajle1u6MKDlli0RSo85QD49Ij5vYyw/s400/BakeShop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712288650143921858" border="0" /></a><br />We arrived at <a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/ojai/fall-2011/edible-notes.htm">Brio Bake Shop</a> ten minutes before it opened. The fragrance of warm pastries and hot fresh bread in the parking lot kept us from moving on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbazNSk0Vdt0_GpkhyRdimBMbTMMDeN9WtGHJBdUHQNRPqo_LWMSG5p3XVvaTCW7mCv4eaEbU3d4v9GrPmHuPMLD8L1faCEW13W9iG_AdGVLEjBGvEFkNKF3iCkhrMgVzwKt1oNw/s1600/Scone.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbazNSk0Vdt0_GpkhyRdimBMbTMMDeN9WtGHJBdUHQNRPqo_LWMSG5p3XVvaTCW7mCv4eaEbU3d4v9GrPmHuPMLD8L1faCEW13W9iG_AdGVLEjBGvEFkNKF3iCkhrMgVzwKt1oNw/s400/Scone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712288661004428002" border="0" /></a><br />It was worth the wait. The Apricot Almond Scone was still warm and definitely the best scone I've ever eaten. Light, buttery, and not too sweet. Owner Dina Collins was just pulling a batch of focaccia from the oven. She agreed that it would go well with the salami and cheese we'd be having for lunch on the road.<br /><br />With restroom stops and a 1-hour time change, our 8-hour driving day became a 12-hour trip. We opted to drop down to the I-8 instead of going through Phoenix during early evening traffic.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPkSpXgcxd0xQ3z8A8WFGM7_xRAQ_W6uThHv5m38YA-HPsIMqSjcr2UGAvLo13IuYb-TPyINdzy2e-gimkKPBDldbSRhkwaYAgc4KrDg4i6aPp2hloVuP55wbfiWhndjJaVBdHA/s1600/Map.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPkSpXgcxd0xQ3z8A8WFGM7_xRAQ_W6uThHv5m38YA-HPsIMqSjcr2UGAvLo13IuYb-TPyINdzy2e-gimkKPBDldbSRhkwaYAgc4KrDg4i6aPp2hloVuP55wbfiWhndjJaVBdHA/s400/Map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712298151002920354" border="0" /></a><br />That meant no <a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/phoenix/">Edible Phoenix</a> recommended dinners in Phoenix or Tempe but we did get to see the Sonoran Desert at sunset, while listening to Lyle Lovett sing about Texas on iPhone-driven radio.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvGl4KiFdqFt-e_FX3li9Op_NmcDA8GjVjiHO8MOVkUu3DvGdmsTxlOiqcbBdNE9w24S5HwhTYUxtadkGBizneLRbQabJJJXH6kk9arW9EOgQ1ABGasUYbNM3NZQhoMx8Qc6rFg/s1600/SOLSunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvGl4KiFdqFt-e_FX3li9Op_NmcDA8GjVjiHO8MOVkUu3DvGdmsTxlOiqcbBdNE9w24S5HwhTYUxtadkGBizneLRbQabJJJXH6kk9arW9EOgQ1ABGasUYbNM3NZQhoMx8Qc6rFg/s400/SOLSunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712298159086097010" border="0" /></a><br />A little speed-of-light photo (smeared foreground from a fast-moving car window), to give you an idea of the twilight colors.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXII-ISDuCM-j_mCXp-3jWinKzhBfwq904rHmHiLMk_O09uuczaPqMLy40cafMcg4sjjhCvXZa0HMhvFcjwB82-5kWQzwuiJBOJ_fT_ZJJ1xKiSKxDRVOMsCo8KwpGBAwpWWuGQ/s1600/SunsetColors.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXII-ISDuCM-j_mCXp-3jWinKzhBfwq904rHmHiLMk_O09uuczaPqMLy40cafMcg4sjjhCvXZa0HMhvFcjwB82-5kWQzwuiJBOJ_fT_ZJJ1xKiSKxDRVOMsCo8KwpGBAwpWWuGQ/s400/SunsetColors.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712298164291986066" border="0" /></a><br />Here are the sunset colors through our bug-splattered window.<br /><br />We arrived in Tucson at 8 pm, too tired venture out beyond the Airport La Quinta Hotel to find <a href="http://www.janos.com/?splash=no">Janos</a>, a restaurant owned by chef Janos Wilder, who is mentioned frequently in Edible Phoenix for his use of local foods. We chose pizza delivered to our room instead.<br /><br />We plan to start out early this morning for our 8-hour drive to Fort Stockton, TX... but not quite this early. Think I'll head back to bed for a little more sleep.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-71011555029776124862011-11-04T23:41:00.000-07:002011-11-05T01:15:36.413-07:00Unexpected GrowthWe've been home for a week and I'm still thinking about the beauty of the high desert. I want to go back to the Anza Borrego in the spring to see the wild flowers.<br /><br />October is the beginning of the tourist season in the desert. It's too hot in the summer for visitors. It's has been deadly hot there. The plants are dry and the flowers that are left are turning a brittle brownish gold and rusty red. But they have survived.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz6uw3HVlg2qYAfb6u1DIv3HSiZwWVKGqj5kMI3Vq4e3CIhPBwXRwoR0MTc9qHm6PFXQdhVOGXPuBCSYtXHqYGzpf72UkM9GHeiaJSKWxm-ueHRIHGC3mh3JFATSyoPSeo21eBg/s1600/rustyred.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz6uw3HVlg2qYAfb6u1DIv3HSiZwWVKGqj5kMI3Vq4e3CIhPBwXRwoR0MTc9qHm6PFXQdhVOGXPuBCSYtXHqYGzpf72UkM9GHeiaJSKWxm-ueHRIHGC3mh3JFATSyoPSeo21eBg/s400/rustyred.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671401246263028850" border="0" /></a>It amazes me how the plants endure. Even in the most inhospitable areas they find a bit of soil to sink their roots into.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvgYWi8XToltg7o3klaqxVECfrEVfUUCed__HCkagqTQzeE_Z9aeyRX1j2QWqBUShy9aDMVBCPXAmhkt04LZv4Klu-kNUPWWlGPQ1SRKsCOC-yy7o2EEilknnzBxX2gHbrRyrHg/s1600/RockFlower.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvgYWi8XToltg7o3klaqxVECfrEVfUUCed__HCkagqTQzeE_Z9aeyRX1j2QWqBUShy9aDMVBCPXAmhkt04LZv4Klu-kNUPWWlGPQ1SRKsCOC-yy7o2EEilknnzBxX2gHbrRyrHg/s400/RockFlower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671401256397326642" border="0" /></a><br />One single flower or maybe two.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_HmvHdShOXo6OrQ1innQAg_tDrFQNmEUdCjBHCXN53OCkm1olv_mfs6Wody8IBvm8XlomejSMRx8iZdjY8QqE4JIWP46eA6ZoNrweyTHL88JSPY_29Uy_nVfp5Jzuv15jO1kfQ/s1600/CreviceFlower.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_HmvHdShOXo6OrQ1innQAg_tDrFQNmEUdCjBHCXN53OCkm1olv_mfs6Wody8IBvm8XlomejSMRx8iZdjY8QqE4JIWP46eA6ZoNrweyTHL88JSPY_29Uy_nVfp5Jzuv15jO1kfQ/s400/CreviceFlower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671403253451449874" border="0" /></a>A whole tree grows out of a huge rock, where nothing else grows.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0mASsZjFRTFyOFvpkUC3LQ6k98Pt6Ls_cJkv3dCskOzzl26_WriHxXzaKEtENYk5VEO74ELpLW4axpgOht1q3LQz9bpugndb2Jfl_Qo4zrLQobqCmkX579V4YF5w4q9yhF1R5g/s1600/RockTree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0mASsZjFRTFyOFvpkUC3LQ6k98Pt6Ls_cJkv3dCskOzzl26_WriHxXzaKEtENYk5VEO74ELpLW4axpgOht1q3LQz9bpugndb2Jfl_Qo4zrLQobqCmkX579V4YF5w4q9yhF1R5g/s400/RockTree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671403244573522738" border="0" /></a>But when the dead leaves fall onto the rock, they will form a tiny bit of soil that just might host another plant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Lr6CskexEJbZwdfjsCw2WWa-KNagqDcSAnj4XmRKywYJG9FtxNyvnC4uRxpzi8XcqXUPI6acT3uoETfKRAIY-o9weu0DtKcAi4Ihzgwng2PWqTJvswp1h1WmP0KG7Zk3wM293Q/s1600/LavaTree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Lr6CskexEJbZwdfjsCw2WWa-KNagqDcSAnj4XmRKywYJG9FtxNyvnC4uRxpzi8XcqXUPI6acT3uoETfKRAIY-o9weu0DtKcAi4Ihzgwng2PWqTJvswp1h1WmP0KG7Zk3wM293Q/s400/LavaTree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671405868440749746" border="0" /></a>This lava flow, which hardened 1000 years ago and shows little sign of fertility, has a tree growing out of it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCs6oErQaM8ZcGQ_-_MzkaByeJkP5Pwbq8BnG5rg70RfObfFH41NKEZ_sg6EVZSM-XPPJFGDva_flw3TdwRUpFaIvSOIZcii9-TflyuboxRstGlzy9zT83evwfiRIhG13H47Tpw/s1600/LavaGreens.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCs6oErQaM8ZcGQ_-_MzkaByeJkP5Pwbq8BnG5rg70RfObfFH41NKEZ_sg6EVZSM-XPPJFGDva_flw3TdwRUpFaIvSOIZcii9-TflyuboxRstGlzy9zT83evwfiRIhG13H47Tpw/s400/LavaGreens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671403262691707266" border="0" /></a>And this cluster of plants has taken root in a lava bed. I guess these would be considered the early adapters.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-16708471869476151522011-10-30T16:41:00.000-07:002011-10-30T18:14:13.179-07:00IKEA Trading PostWe ate a light complimentary breakfast at the hotel and set the GPS for The Cinnamon Lady bakery. Sadly, we arrived at an empty storefront. No longer in business.<br /><br />So we headed out of town.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83kEcflBLu128ILnZ9lhSsFhyphenhyphenwcfnGR2Wp2p7Vq7absNBpxXXG3ZKE7yyOf6yGTCH2rlavUKP9ju_skqFvC4-qwjpS1VByvzHeOj22PLbm7UxrDjKequ9oHZiwEf8VisfVYaz5w/s1600/DavesNose.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83kEcflBLu128ILnZ9lhSsFhyphenhyphenwcfnGR2Wp2p7Vq7absNBpxXXG3ZKE7yyOf6yGTCH2rlavUKP9ju_skqFvC4-qwjpS1VByvzHeOj22PLbm7UxrDjKequ9oHZiwEf8VisfVYaz5w/s400/DavesNose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669436209402823234" border="0" /></a>That's our hotel in the distance. For perspective, notice how many rooms could fit into Dave's nose. This town is actually bigger than it looks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR3tvyu5E4GQEcpsfbGeTAzQx0yfrplU_XeGxdb1K-LGnDG50GdRwoqxQ8AHAtf_f47TbcKEycP_HBJoHF7idVGRSlte2OrKEvi9_6JfNYJwI1y0wZBetvjCntPhApb7W6MktMg/s1600/JoshuaGoodbye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR3tvyu5E4GQEcpsfbGeTAzQx0yfrplU_XeGxdb1K-LGnDG50GdRwoqxQ8AHAtf_f47TbcKEycP_HBJoHF7idVGRSlte2OrKEvi9_6JfNYJwI1y0wZBetvjCntPhApb7W6MktMg/s400/JoshuaGoodbye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669436213205459330" border="0" /></a>Goodbye Hesperia, Apple Valley, Victorville, and Joshua Tree.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8spa3hytvbrwbzJf88tL1fawrYdEbnO3rBSODCp_eRf9n2TrTOCd7JesHh1rUddDBFAsM0yV4BnR_5AAT44YeOWYF2Pb6GqkXi4MD1YyMRxdscfz7eGOZCv8_y0Lli3o4vqYyBg/s1600/Shrubbery.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8spa3hytvbrwbzJf88tL1fawrYdEbnO3rBSODCp_eRf9n2TrTOCd7JesHh1rUddDBFAsM0yV4BnR_5AAT44YeOWYF2Pb6GqkXi4MD1YyMRxdscfz7eGOZCv8_y0Lli3o4vqYyBg/s400/Shrubbery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669442329691766738" border="0" /></a>Anyone know what this rusty red bush is? It looks like it would make a good fiber dye but I want to be sure it is non-toxic before I collect any to try.<br /><br />Sometimes my speed-of-light photos have an artistic look--like a pastel where the blending of the colors makes the scene more abstract.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fhiOHZG8tacEnY0e49oY7XEHwwZMSxymyfky7VstK5GeE784YpkN1Y5Nej7ZWkJOq5iXA_WW-BHZYqkMWKi9c6I59vbsGCXr63KKf29CPIGOrrcdz36UsecU6VAmP2hKG9ZxbA/s1600/DesertPastel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fhiOHZG8tacEnY0e49oY7XEHwwZMSxymyfky7VstK5GeE784YpkN1Y5Nej7ZWkJOq5iXA_WW-BHZYqkMWKi9c6I59vbsGCXr63KKf29CPIGOrrcdz36UsecU6VAmP2hKG9ZxbA/s400/DesertPastel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669442322511759890" border="0" /></a><br />We stopped at <a href="http://www.charliebrownfarms.com/">Charlie Brown Farms</a> in Littlerock, CA when we saw they sold eggs, jerky, goat cheese, farm products and 50-cent coffee. The website will give you a pretty good idea of what the store is like. It's really not a farm unless you count the life-sized plaster replicas of cows and dinosaurs.<br /><br />I wish I'd taken a photo of the candy display. One piece of dipped chocolate probably weighs in at 1/4 pound.<br /><br />We decided to wait to get lunch at IKEA, our final detour on our way back to Santa Barbara. Yes, we had the Swedish meatballs and mashed red potatoes. And we managed to only buy the things we actually needed.<br /><br />It was good to be home with the family, unpack our things, and share our stories.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcqRO_yIGvTzicOo4Nj8vMjGX9br2cJ7VKSzKdtAWsn6y36WdtScwkikEJj4m7YNe6V0m_7zCK4vMEPWCLgL68S6rdm03g8kM5KEETl-lynfBa7w9ivkyWikGQ1SRF44cMGOjIg/s1600/Home.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcqRO_yIGvTzicOo4Nj8vMjGX9br2cJ7VKSzKdtAWsn6y36WdtScwkikEJj4m7YNe6V0m_7zCK4vMEPWCLgL68S6rdm03g8kM5KEETl-lynfBa7w9ivkyWikGQ1SRF44cMGOjIg/s400/Home.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669442348854599250" border="0" /></a>Thanks for joining us on this trip.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-75797694028299645612011-10-30T12:25:00.000-07:002011-10-30T16:20:19.600-07:00The Road to HesperiaI have to admit that I had an anxiety breakdown Thursday night, trying to figure out where to spend Friday night and which route to take to get there.<br /><br />I think it was either the creepy neon green lighting in the hotel, or the nearly fatal head-on accident I'd avoided earlier when a VW bug decided to pass a truck on a narrow 2-lane road without allowing enough time to get back into his lane before we met. My sudden turn into the gravel just before the bridge allowed him time to overtake the truck and sail on by, in my lane. Passing an occasional cluster of artificial flowers stuck into the ground alongside the road, I gained a more vivid understanding of just what that meant.<br /><br />Anyhow, I scoured the Internet and referred to Yelp to find some place smaller than Barstow and larger than Joshua Tree to spend our last night. I finally settled on Hesperia (because it had a cinnamon roll bakery), but I was totally stressed out over how to get there. I-40 would get us there quickly, but what if there was nothing to see or do in Hesperia? How far away was Apple Valley? Victorville? Joshua Tree? How could we make these last two days interesting... not just a rush to get home? It would be a shame to waste the end of our trip. Right? But then I didn't want to get stuck out in the burning desert without water.<br /><br />Dave suggested we go to Big Bear but then commented on the possibility of icy road conditions. Strike that one from this list!<br /><br />I finally gave up and went to sleep.<br /><br />Nothing was quite so scary in the daylight, although the hotel was still a little weird.<br /><br />We decided we'd take a chance on the desert roads and called ahead to reserve our room in Hesperia so I wouldn't need to worry about finding a room. I'd found a bead store in Apple Valley I wanted to visit. I figured Apple Valley had to be a pretty good place to visit since it had 2 bead stores. My cousin Mary Lou grew up there, which means I'd probably visited there at some time in my childhood.<br /><br />This bird was a good omen.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrF_9ki45KL6JvSGFGpnVEcJ3bxlJL9SgaT048pfCsgs8f9wQlTcRwkBjZU6ccIgtTHf1rB2R0ivtvqix0agOXm6NyRht9zrbty5GhPlZECLajPDW0ZwBOL7Om8YI6oHC0Bx71w/s1600/Bird.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrF_9ki45KL6JvSGFGpnVEcJ3bxlJL9SgaT048pfCsgs8f9wQlTcRwkBjZU6ccIgtTHf1rB2R0ivtvqix0agOXm6NyRht9zrbty5GhPlZECLajPDW0ZwBOL7Om8YI6oHC0Bx71w/s400/Bird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669379704800047746" border="0" /></a><br />And the weather was perfect. Blessings and safe passage from these rock faces.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_aeIR678E9MwpTBp8OFE6krDQE63svgsUSX9mCIdGxdFDlqmZrjOpo8ma2e2c89NdpGWQtcmfG2XcsZU1cgZUh8jKkOdhCx8H3l9x80jbAB2g4NAA_2aTHBbLBYRysrrw1rZSA/s1600/RockFaces.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_aeIR678E9MwpTBp8OFE6krDQE63svgsUSX9mCIdGxdFDlqmZrjOpo8ma2e2c89NdpGWQtcmfG2XcsZU1cgZUh8jKkOdhCx8H3l9x80jbAB2g4NAA_2aTHBbLBYRysrrw1rZSA/s400/RockFaces.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669379709418682722" border="0" /></a>It really was hard to leave Arizona.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAdV_uOOEYKN_-aGPoLl5iemxeiNY7vTE5nJiUD-NZK69__GO-XFOEVXQMzmCDqfIW9M_7LzNbPASwW-ZEodOiF9oEQIMzyoiYoImChWd7JcYfTPNUlQKIz53rlczEvHMyOzTCg/s1600/LavaRock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAdV_uOOEYKN_-aGPoLl5iemxeiNY7vTE5nJiUD-NZK69__GO-XFOEVXQMzmCDqfIW9M_7LzNbPASwW-ZEodOiF9oEQIMzyoiYoImChWd7JcYfTPNUlQKIz53rlczEvHMyOzTCg/s400/LavaRock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669379711536457058" border="0" /></a><br />So much color and visual evidence of our ancient geological history.<br /><br />And then we were in California.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdYkrId-AGRmEd6AnkMF9j8SjAdvSAv_E69PRzqYcEsLXfPQPySK6t4HDJ4dw9cWFO2PKrH4gXBbnBA1zuDMV-vIph5NlI1Ft4W7_ZEVRN0MQTtB-F-jXh-pilLITHkmdjdhyphenhypheniQ/s1600/California.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdYkrId-AGRmEd6AnkMF9j8SjAdvSAv_E69PRzqYcEsLXfPQPySK6t4HDJ4dw9cWFO2PKrH4gXBbnBA1zuDMV-vIph5NlI1Ft4W7_ZEVRN0MQTtB-F-jXh-pilLITHkmdjdhyphenhypheniQ/s400/California.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669379727022783538" border="0" /></a>Where they took away my last delicious apple--from the roadside stand in Sedona--but refused to take the bag with the banana peel and an apple core. Wouldn't they be equally dangerous?<br /><br />We decided to take the desert roads, but wanted to get a full tank of gas before we headed out on the roughly paved road shown on our map.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltOmb3gXO9FVZZeEYjy6GL8DKDXfJ6Ev6wNSkfsRFY46fN31QzkbWMmPQI44hwLtAyoPfqN9rbjHI4W1U3hbKg5cc_aNFKND2-2VpQZxRK31N6N91nPxydvCFLatSPA1nDS_GKQ/s1600/Abandonned.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltOmb3gXO9FVZZeEYjy6GL8DKDXfJ6Ev6wNSkfsRFY46fN31QzkbWMmPQI44hwLtAyoPfqN9rbjHI4W1U3hbKg5cc_aNFKND2-2VpQZxRK31N6N91nPxydvCFLatSPA1nDS_GKQ/s400/Abandonned.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669383027146423218" border="0" /></a><br />Fortunately there are two gas stations at this junction.<br /><br />Our first stop on the desert road was at the honey trailer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EveQuZ6uu01A17XPc4QwzKZ7Hkqn5AnC-ksbcK6RJXdGAdAkIXN8NOEC4uOPLiEh0XH4uB0PNzKgm0xoVJUIj2Gjakeg9xSQiKdg62Strgs_u6UY6dtQ228SzC83GvS2FApfBA/s1600/HoneyTrailer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EveQuZ6uu01A17XPc4QwzKZ7Hkqn5AnC-ksbcK6RJXdGAdAkIXN8NOEC4uOPLiEh0XH4uB0PNzKgm0xoVJUIj2Gjakeg9xSQiKdg62Strgs_u6UY6dtQ228SzC83GvS2FApfBA/s400/HoneyTrailer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669383032151102482" border="0" /></a>This made me really happy that we'd chosen this route. It was self-serve. Put the money in the envelope, drop it in the box, and take your honey.<br /><br />Then we stopped at the Desert Information Center for a more detailed map. The tourist adviser assured us that the road was safe and well-paved, but to watch out for snakes, scorpions, and spiders if we got out of the car to look for rocks.<br /><br />We had plenty of water in case we got stranded in the desert. Cellphone coverage is limited out there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebTkxsID_A8soXoLoDiPRUZIbJ6mWOcwsIToqtexRMl5s7H9kh-CUiPt3HgG_0qJIdyyd_9xPsanDUlHDBYlinedVsmECOKUCo1jaMk7DNb8xC9AbpIbvxQpB8GVDyxCAPiH4gg/s1600/SlowPass.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebTkxsID_A8soXoLoDiPRUZIbJ6mWOcwsIToqtexRMl5s7H9kh-CUiPt3HgG_0qJIdyyd_9xPsanDUlHDBYlinedVsmECOKUCo1jaMk7DNb8xC9AbpIbvxQpB8GVDyxCAPiH4gg/s400/SlowPass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669386697767998642" border="0" /></a>But it turns out the road south to Blythe is popular with truckers, so getting stranded isn't a big issue.<br /><br />Dave, of course, decided to search the next available dry stream bed for rock souvenirs. The guy at the information center said the stream beds are a rock hunter's paradise and the area is open to rock hunters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-F8cSCHkeVJipndONcGyoEvAOtMQdcI8qMXlIKkQ0cZfOJ2ORBoEfalBAX1MBWdOawPyAlgMiWniq4tjjm0i4AVkWJUzJAggyOjdZ5xm61Flq4iqFs5p_f4FDgqTyCYqTSSq5A/s1600/RockCollect.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-F8cSCHkeVJipndONcGyoEvAOtMQdcI8qMXlIKkQ0cZfOJ2ORBoEfalBAX1MBWdOawPyAlgMiWniq4tjjm0i4AVkWJUzJAggyOjdZ5xm61Flq4iqFs5p_f4FDgqTyCYqTSSq5A/s400/RockCollect.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669390614490053186" border="0" /></a>I reminded him about the snakes, scorpions, and spiders but he ignored me and came back safely with a handful of rocks with various mineral compositions including some nice sparkly ones.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmR7vJh2mYbSyzv0J-KpUMahCcEf1sSP-KZDmLsVHyaqSR9JtYJOLmj1o1Qn7MpD-UtDoK8yDUp54CL31nTkZlG9ALbfRcey47Gjek2dQV9Drdl0FDT9o30MBxWNCYimvTLNWNg/s1600/MirrorPhoto.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmR7vJh2mYbSyzv0J-KpUMahCcEf1sSP-KZDmLsVHyaqSR9JtYJOLmj1o1Qn7MpD-UtDoK8yDUp54CL31nTkZlG9ALbfRcey47Gjek2dQV9Drdl0FDT9o30MBxWNCYimvTLNWNg/s400/MirrorPhoto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669383041298217890" border="0" /></a>In addition to choosing the hotel and stressing out over the route, it's my job to take photos from a fast-moving car with dirty windows. Most roads we traveled had soft-shoulder edges so almost all of my photos have to be cropped to take out the "speed of light" smear at the bottom of the picture.<br /><br />This is one place we did pull over to take some photos, look for more rocks, and snack on the bread and goat cheese left from our previous adventures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5m0P6TIS39LCHWCnZMZWF2WlKrOPswUuaenbLnP-6CBUySl-3k1mnF6453GXf5FSuDn337iej1q_poSVXtbl_9u2qbZ-D-jLQ-ruHqMOODg250Va25pXmrYW5_Q-vHzrPLQw2Ow/s1600/Backdrop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5m0P6TIS39LCHWCnZMZWF2WlKrOPswUuaenbLnP-6CBUySl-3k1mnF6453GXf5FSuDn337iej1q_poSVXtbl_9u2qbZ-D-jLQ-ruHqMOODg250Va25pXmrYW5_Q-vHzrPLQw2Ow/s400/Backdrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669393169969317906" border="0" /></a>The road ahead goes west toward Joshua Tree. Doesn't this look like the fake backdrop in an old western movie? I have a lot of photos that came out with this flat effect. It must be an atmospheric effect.<br /><br />It didn't take us long to reach Joshua Tree.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgVhR5-K9KS1B9bfU4w3fd0RNFQQV6EZMa9hhHeZinLWr1f0nnLNxHIUFYkZs2DQ1AjIU1T3QZTpXC1YJqyOP0trEjjA_l2ZM9PkmCBqkIwSdd3UoC0JsVY6E0YVXMuazogyZzg/s1600/JoshuaTree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgVhR5-K9KS1B9bfU4w3fd0RNFQQV6EZMa9hhHeZinLWr1f0nnLNxHIUFYkZs2DQ1AjIU1T3QZTpXC1YJqyOP0trEjjA_l2ZM9PkmCBqkIwSdd3UoC0JsVY6E0YVXMuazogyZzg/s400/JoshuaTree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669393171656270930" border="0" /></a>We stopped for a vegan lunch (all we could find on Yelp were vegan cafes). It was a little disappointing--beautiful and well-meant, but bland.<br /><br />GPS Lady tried to direct us into a field, so we backtracked until she'd <span style="font-style: italic;">recalculated</span> us onto a course that actually existed. I wanted to get to Apple Valley before <a href="http://desertriverbeads.com/">Desert River Beads</a> closed.<br /><br />Just before coming into Apple Valley we passed this monument to the modern desert.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPP2C7GKoTwBjxQ6yWzbxztj-FZd2gC8XFKjGSG809I6GR7hBd4iW4btgAtEkUuMLBfrXhoRhWMBPynNNaS2UtRl1iZzVjD05GiNKzKWq_RWx7LBZZ34wJR7gvTTbSRMfQAiJJQ/s1600/RockPaint.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPP2C7GKoTwBjxQ6yWzbxztj-FZd2gC8XFKjGSG809I6GR7hBd4iW4btgAtEkUuMLBfrXhoRhWMBPynNNaS2UtRl1iZzVjD05GiNKzKWq_RWx7LBZZ34wJR7gvTTbSRMfQAiJJQ/s400/RockPaint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669393186872374418" border="0" /></a>We'd just read about desert varnish in one of our desert brochures. It's that black and reddish brown coating on the rocks. A thin patina of clay minerals and oxides of iron and manganese is cemented onto the rocks by microscopic bacteria that live inside and under the patina coating.<br /><br />The bacteria absorb the oxides from the air and precipitate them onto the rock. The clay coating protects the bacteria from the dryness and heat of the desert. Manganese oxide blocks ultraviolet radiation. Desert varnish is a healthy living environment for these bacteria.<br /><br />The varnish is used to help date landforms. Undisturbed varnish may be well over 10,000 years old.<br /><br />Early people carved petroglyphs into the patina, revealing the lighter colored rock beneath the varnish.<br /><br />Drawings painted onto the rock surface are called pictographs (often painted with a red dye). So the designs on the rocks above are modern day pictographs but more ephemeral than the ancient ones.<br /><br />I was surprised to discover that Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Victorville have blended together, sort of like communities in Los Angeles. Apple Valley has a beautiful mountain backdrop and really well-stocked bead stores.<br /><br />Traffic was heavy on the road to our hotel and fast food chains beckoned us from every corner.<br /><br />This was our corner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pj1_sID5fZdwf1woEU3e5_NFWShu7MgWtdYcpObW5Qwwz9NzFZiYIb_4_zEPZdFA0DkuRGvV3t0eAjwCFj5heIWiUDbKwzWQnlS4O61R2sLvIMWmJ5NcMgroYC2C9KimR0f7Rw/s1600/BurgerKing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pj1_sID5fZdwf1woEU3e5_NFWShu7MgWtdYcpObW5Qwwz9NzFZiYIb_4_zEPZdFA0DkuRGvV3t0eAjwCFj5heIWiUDbKwzWQnlS4O61R2sLvIMWmJ5NcMgroYC2C9KimR0f7Rw/s400/BurgerKing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669425069358282658" border="0" /></a><br />And on the opposite corner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXvTQe2SsJcBQyOpg5d9Faf7ie9KsTEAboD1wzMM-HAgIY99m5ekhyDZsAqjRBsCEfjF2hsR8lwDdtDdn6BKCGmjeub1OTc1OyRZJqVylvxmsvfzNZBxE1yXkzhmThNK3LF_vuQ/s1600/InAndOut.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXvTQe2SsJcBQyOpg5d9Faf7ie9KsTEAboD1wzMM-HAgIY99m5ekhyDZsAqjRBsCEfjF2hsR8lwDdtDdn6BKCGmjeub1OTc1OyRZJqVylvxmsvfzNZBxE1yXkzhmThNK3LF_vuQ/s400/InAndOut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669428392454515858" border="0" /></a><br />The good news--no neon lighting in the hotel lobby or halls and our room was comfortable and tastefully decorated. We ordered Papa John's pizza and buffalo wings to be delivered.<br /><br />One more travel day.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-32526988622281254872011-10-28T06:50:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:04:16.892-07:00ArcosantiPerfect traveling weather today.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyJ8jHz65er_Tra-lMNAr6YAW6XzNAesdMac_b5ut8nOpAF9bhv3fhwiNwq7WeiBH5ldaeUbrzLbUFWpoiMHwpzCgVJR6QoMo1riRLJ33xrP5nARhveYEBtLERFEYC0BBQGjOoA/s1600/TravelDay.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyJ8jHz65er_Tra-lMNAr6YAW6XzNAesdMac_b5ut8nOpAF9bhv3fhwiNwq7WeiBH5ldaeUbrzLbUFWpoiMHwpzCgVJR6QoMo1riRLJ33xrP5nARhveYEBtLERFEYC0BBQGjOoA/s400/TravelDay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668901590625138498" border="0" /></a><br />We decided to visit <a href="http://www.arcosanti.org/expArcosanti/main.html">Arcosanti</a>, south of Flagstaff before heading to Kingman on our trip home.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZd_ty-mSzzAq33M6JlkuIAGUQEhri4FFOFl9mjlXCgCQjb3824v6DPNZMTvkBfeHG2gdwkdvO8jmIUuzHzG4tngQq2m_NPUN5IG0r6yZ5r0n6GzDioU0JxtCTHJOchPDpYCqEQ/s1600/ArcosantiSign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZd_ty-mSzzAq33M6JlkuIAGUQEhri4FFOFl9mjlXCgCQjb3824v6DPNZMTvkBfeHG2gdwkdvO8jmIUuzHzG4tngQq2m_NPUN5IG0r6yZ5r0n6GzDioU0JxtCTHJOchPDpYCqEQ/s400/ArcosantiSign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668901584547390658" border="0" /></a><br />Arcosanti is a planned urban village located in the desert between Flagstaff and Phoenix.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz_VJE3ANL3Oxuce-PDKO8zeyu10y39cad8zYJ9CkVYa-pDPoZkLckHbgjCvxNFqEYz8CfSMyLzHKv5apI5BXYYSxYl1rZ6vv1OzsxNQNgBAS6i4Mq7uFHD0qgl-XkYj74WohpQ/s1600/DesertComm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz_VJE3ANL3Oxuce-PDKO8zeyu10y39cad8zYJ9CkVYa-pDPoZkLckHbgjCvxNFqEYz8CfSMyLzHKv5apI5BXYYSxYl1rZ6vv1OzsxNQNgBAS6i4Mq7uFHD0qgl-XkYj74WohpQ/s400/DesertComm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668901589045500546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Architect Paolo Soleri conceptualized it as a solution to urban sprawl, which he felt was making people feel more isolated from their local communities and was not providing efficient use of our resources. He coined the term <span style="font-style: italic;">arcology</span>, which combines the words architecture and ecology.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ikCM-ORLXp8HPRkgt088tEN4XXO5jSWyjso9WAj6puGX-uuWEgh680PJ0KdQFOyAy6fYF0RAwOA3z50JqCKwGnpCOpY1Okq9eS_u5zqDDmUy6mcgdgMKybPed38UPgDA1AQMZw/s1600/Entrance.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ikCM-ORLXp8HPRkgt088tEN4XXO5jSWyjso9WAj6puGX-uuWEgh680PJ0KdQFOyAy6fYF0RAwOA3z50JqCKwGnpCOpY1Okq9eS_u5zqDDmUy6mcgdgMKybPed38UPgDA1AQMZw/s400/Entrance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668904585175924002" border="0" /></a><br />He began work on Arcosanti in the 1970s hoping to provide a model environment to draw a population of about 5000 people. Today there are fewer than 100 people living there, but they remain passionate about the vision.<br /><br />We arrived just before lunch. We were invited to join the residents for lunch in the cafeteria. Lunch was prepared by resident volunteers. It was generous, healthy, and flavorful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEMnI4jvRV4_3Rxe3JmSu4qGoD4gsNWVnDOu3bK-FGT4UXHy9HeFxGTS4nHH8dSOjNgbt8Ooeoi1A8yPOkkrBouIjWI0mvl6ZguSKW9jknU6ybai30iYt4qg0wpB1z3DBz7JZUg/s1600/Lunchroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEMnI4jvRV4_3Rxe3JmSu4qGoD4gsNWVnDOu3bK-FGT4UXHy9HeFxGTS4nHH8dSOjNgbt8Ooeoi1A8yPOkkrBouIjWI0mvl6ZguSKW9jknU6ybai30iYt4qg0wpB1z3DBz7JZUg/s400/Lunchroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668904592974128546" border="0" /></a><br />This chair gives you a sense of the reuse of materials seen throughout the site.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8YaVdsYwKyJNn5AZlV0DtoavmlTuXqK6rYvfQXXCHsFoo6fdaVKzxlfQZcOsj5-a3CWli5QoQwctJiCuZgtWzG7-tG7AjJq7wu_-_R5bcFcYdMqOnHdXXd1jGvB4fYbjRgxtMA/s1600/Chair.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8YaVdsYwKyJNn5AZlV0DtoavmlTuXqK6rYvfQXXCHsFoo6fdaVKzxlfQZcOsj5-a3CWli5QoQwctJiCuZgtWzG7-tG7AjJq7wu_-_R5bcFcYdMqOnHdXXd1jGvB4fYbjRgxtMA/s400/Chair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668904602957887890" border="0" /></a><br />Efficient use is made of the sun's heat throughout the living and work areas, using passive solar methods.<br /><br />The heat rises up four floors and vents out the domed ceiling.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVia_hhA1T760s8BGvnt91DMgSxTAoPTem8691sPPhU901pWW8V5L6W52NYaOaesaIvybo0UUWUuSj4uQwhZYm_q-5fAQIGEL6o_YCN3e0NJs41BreBm3pn62O8edKIS_gBzkC3Q/s1600/HeatVent.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVia_hhA1T760s8BGvnt91DMgSxTAoPTem8691sPPhU901pWW8V5L6W52NYaOaesaIvybo0UUWUuSj4uQwhZYm_q-5fAQIGEL6o_YCN3e0NJs41BreBm3pn62O8edKIS_gBzkC3Q/s400/HeatVent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668905973343654290" border="0" /></a>When it's cold, they attach a wind sock and use the fan to move the warmer air back down.<br /><br />Here is a dining nook, off the main dining room.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a25WISw5EHEGp619b-0snjeXVJNh0SfJRLYjC0rrOAN8owxb06VXLFLoW4SzPAuadGc4KnBbAUdykrs60ONq77pWye0E1-Sao3BD-QSTvmdb7WPHgbQ0EAuc2QTVelRwiQyHyw/s1600/DiningNook.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a25WISw5EHEGp619b-0snjeXVJNh0SfJRLYjC0rrOAN8owxb06VXLFLoW4SzPAuadGc4KnBbAUdykrs60ONq77pWye0E1-Sao3BD-QSTvmdb7WPHgbQ0EAuc2QTVelRwiQyHyw/s400/DiningNook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668908000858519618" border="0" /></a>Here's the dining room from the outside.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0u3vIHoCPtWJUl6ZVmZ2WOXZsy5KWMVjbMmufl0YmCpKxQ6pM70eNqzGsa7-a8nLlNztCFRIUnA0a1GQG9GyRpXyphvKxarsH-akPKE05CO-VnNXIG4Zlcb7l0kJs0tk4W8pbg/s1600/NookExt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0u3vIHoCPtWJUl6ZVmZ2WOXZsy5KWMVjbMmufl0YmCpKxQ6pM70eNqzGsa7-a8nLlNztCFRIUnA0a1GQG9GyRpXyphvKxarsH-akPKE05CO-VnNXIG4Zlcb7l0kJs0tk4W8pbg/s400/NookExt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668908004883534994" border="0" /></a><br />Some of the residents are full-time and some are people who have come to attend workshops where they learn about the vision for Arcosanti and help with construction or casting Soleri's famous bronze and ceramic windbells.<br /><br />A 5-week workshop is a prerequisite to becoming a resident. There is one couple who has lived here for 40 years. Soleri continues to live at Arcosanti but has passed his leadership role on to a new director.<br /><br />After getting his degree in architecture in Torino, Italy in 1946, Soleri, came to the U.S. and spent a year and a half at Frank Lloyd Wright's school of architecture. In 1950 he was commissioned to build a large ceramics factory in Italy. That led to his development of the casting methods he uses for both the ceramic and bronze windbells as well as some of his building techniques.<br /><br />Sale of Soleri's windbells help to fund the project.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-ooAjiy2zC3WoR43Ly3Sw6hrnVI1WSXrgrRaFNYjtVEugt_Y2W3bS1KinOgKzF8aJK7Jx3S0DOm-tgZRkHtxx3VqHDC9apKdD9qrS8CJOiDPXvrYbh_G_xDc4RcEkuEgccsc9A/s1600/Windbells2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-ooAjiy2zC3WoR43Ly3Sw6hrnVI1WSXrgrRaFNYjtVEugt_Y2W3bS1KinOgKzF8aJK7Jx3S0DOm-tgZRkHtxx3VqHDC9apKdD9qrS8CJOiDPXvrYbh_G_xDc4RcEkuEgccsc9A/s400/Windbells2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668911716103799378" border="0" /></a>These are bronze cast bells either acid etched to create a patina, or burnished.<br /><br />This is one of the ceramic windbell designs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAPq19jVrGQNdLV4UmKlGgWGnX6edAU82-xdc5PrScrTxZ1rnSvgb2XW0yw9OcDTIBbov7465GUdHPzupGbD8ZHY3GW9v6rBAY09Zku_62cY2NkJqBI-Fma61sMs9NbcBYeQrYg/s1600/WindbellCeramic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAPq19jVrGQNdLV4UmKlGgWGnX6edAU82-xdc5PrScrTxZ1rnSvgb2XW0yw9OcDTIBbov7465GUdHPzupGbD8ZHY3GW9v6rBAY09Zku_62cY2NkJqBI-Fma61sMs9NbcBYeQrYg/s400/WindbellCeramic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668911722681473874" border="0" /></a>All of the molds--plaster or formed in sand--are Soleri's original designs.<br /><br />The tour met just after lunch in the gift shop on the top floor, up where the domed ceiling vent releases the rising heat and provides natural light.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTSInmF6FKsCpgUyzqBHcnb4iaksB1_BJTiPp0T568RSykRllpItbSHbYI_l1lWcr_BYuAQQY_QnYmStHP0-DJUx6bKXbZaFwG56TDEw7KufQoOAbAxCSihHYbX3sQ3ydTlu4fA/s1600/giftshop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTSInmF6FKsCpgUyzqBHcnb4iaksB1_BJTiPp0T568RSykRllpItbSHbYI_l1lWcr_BYuAQQY_QnYmStHP0-DJUx6bKXbZaFwG56TDEw7KufQoOAbAxCSihHYbX3sQ3ydTlu4fA/s400/giftshop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668913805817404098" border="0" /></a>Here is a model for the full design of the project. The parts in darker gray (at the center) show what has been completed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafMzJykJF090ufKMjM6kGrR4809T1OdLrM_sxKNhiVzyuTTqTqsyODuvKwJNUkXrZDX4h8TRzmRMa4g92zsrYlu-C69B8yb51qct2ZzvNMB9sF1LytWgE2ERvnQgLANx5cRxtSw/s1600/Model.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafMzJykJF090ufKMjM6kGrR4809T1OdLrM_sxKNhiVzyuTTqTqsyODuvKwJNUkXrZDX4h8TRzmRMa4g92zsrYlu-C69B8yb51qct2ZzvNMB9sF1LytWgE2ERvnQgLANx5cRxtSw/s400/Model.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668915463891614658" border="0" /></a><br />The next phase is building the greenhouse apron along the front. The heat from the greenhouses will be channeled into the area under the living quarters.<br /><br />The orientation of the buildings allows for maximum use of natural light and regulation of heat throughout the year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv81SKrs5g2N8u9NqZ6huPbZiDHCU7kucn4l5OsXbKkEaX3ZIjG4CE-qoZ3qgV0N3kX__4oFj6S55AxHDYQr9nGOFeHpm-QUlwSviboORpfyOV0j8ygqtOF_febVKu7dItd8j-8Q/s1600/Tour.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv81SKrs5g2N8u9NqZ6huPbZiDHCU7kucn4l5OsXbKkEaX3ZIjG4CE-qoZ3qgV0N3kX__4oFj6S55AxHDYQr9nGOFeHpm-QUlwSviboORpfyOV0j8ygqtOF_febVKu7dItd8j-8Q/s400/Tour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668916928518745026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the ceramics workshop. During the summer the dome shades the workers from the sun. In the winter, the sun warms the cement and the workrooms inside.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDesHgHXznQWGztAsAQt_UkoUPIYkJdNsy1JJtbQKS7_tXW4tAXlkqfW3q2Va7ywhC3i51Swi7xKxUQsjJGbziPyGkYPaBsGBalujzQvP8i5k1iAZnPFhcPpmNBn7r2iFye50_bw/s1600/CeramicsDome.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDesHgHXznQWGztAsAQt_UkoUPIYkJdNsy1JJtbQKS7_tXW4tAXlkqfW3q2Va7ywhC3i51Swi7xKxUQsjJGbziPyGkYPaBsGBalujzQvP8i5k1iAZnPFhcPpmNBn7r2iFye50_bw/s400/CeramicsDome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668916933875637970" border="0" /></a><br />The cement dome, called an apse, was made with a combination of pre-formed concrete and concrete poured in-place over a plywood and silt structure, which was removed when the concrete dried.<br /><br />Soleri uses slip made from chunks of clay soil soaked in water to make the silt he pours into his pressed sand molds or plaster molds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Uep0MkOftH34MOAk3kmS2ZD3scnTcxhQ7ZRLEQLM_U42ttKUXqVDkZW1JMNSyrSlizCHnqC6jNUXCKhRQ6ucOiR33mLhlB8UiSqJD9NZA6OEERydg-OWbLkeLgWlEeAlIa-vzw/s1600/Claypit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Uep0MkOftH34MOAk3kmS2ZD3scnTcxhQ7ZRLEQLM_U42ttKUXqVDkZW1JMNSyrSlizCHnqC6jNUXCKhRQ6ucOiR33mLhlB8UiSqJD9NZA6OEERydg-OWbLkeLgWlEeAlIa-vzw/s400/Claypit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668920042952818530" border="0" /></a>The raw chunks of clay dirt are in the round pit at the center. After soaking, the sediment becomes the slip used to cast the bells.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QdK04ZSrugxgA_ZFMoCtm5eJ0d_XBegu4aFcF-3ePmAnh7ojtyd1XsGrtJtRB4g3kVXw6L6ko3_eZaiDlm-ONRjeGNtt0MmPkQEFSGaBqpIMP_lorkOAYbtf818AcWoPJAm1IQ/s1600/SiltBells.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QdK04ZSrugxgA_ZFMoCtm5eJ0d_XBegu4aFcF-3ePmAnh7ojtyd1XsGrtJtRB4g3kVXw6L6ko3_eZaiDlm-ONRjeGNtt0MmPkQEFSGaBqpIMP_lorkOAYbtf818AcWoPJAm1IQ/s400/SiltBells.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668920049972397810" border="0" /></a>These are the sand cast bells. Forms are pressed into the sand to create the molds and then slip is poured directly into the sand depressions. When the edges dry to the correct thickness, the liquid silt in the center is removed. As the bells dry, the slip shrinks away from the sides of the mold. When the bell is removed, designs are carved into it and then it's fired. They also use plaster molds for casting some of their bells.<br /><br />This workshop area doubles as a performance amphitheater when center pit and the sandcasting boxes are covered with a stage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRi2UfP-QbOd25er6D3ZsrjTPhg8ode5wLWXgclXE2YS02NwE-ii5sM-W-DlaZ1e63hRvqu-5VhONOeqNcBoqzYYAf6wGcCoOJZe_pGhil60PPNv3LsfbyM9oVFyW0i7AhgmKuw/s1600/CermicsStage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRi2UfP-QbOd25er6D3ZsrjTPhg8ode5wLWXgclXE2YS02NwE-ii5sM-W-DlaZ1e63hRvqu-5VhONOeqNcBoqzYYAf6wGcCoOJZe_pGhil60PPNv3LsfbyM9oVFyW0i7AhgmKuw/s400/CermicsStage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668923621359661330" border="0" /></a><br />Resident housing is integrated into the work areas. These homes are right next to the ceramics workshop.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7poRPjWWffPVYNzKyrnFVwmGQKTIgMHEpJ07InBCnCvi0BXn1Px-UlV6JTEj6aAZMzOeAPbyVLPi1XEZlyS3jiDfTefS3rvPVr6EKicfgL71v82hGmaVLBxmjlwY8xfZZVFE__A/s1600/ResHouse1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7poRPjWWffPVYNzKyrnFVwmGQKTIgMHEpJ07InBCnCvi0BXn1Px-UlV6JTEj6aAZMzOeAPbyVLPi1XEZlyS3jiDfTefS3rvPVr6EKicfgL71v82hGmaVLBxmjlwY8xfZZVFE__A/s400/ResHouse1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668924559940780914" border="0" /></a><br />There are also residential units behind this art studio.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzBDAsAPGTximEOgsB6_6lu2BhPjOnNrl4YUwURcrXFZpIOX-MTxCola8ollGdj8YES4YSC_L86ckpEfnPhlGwiOb-iCziLi0dOTOaCQVJFtTPC30_Tl8tNvBOHHyZpMr5K3cXA/s1600/ResHouse2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzBDAsAPGTximEOgsB6_6lu2BhPjOnNrl4YUwURcrXFZpIOX-MTxCola8ollGdj8YES4YSC_L86ckpEfnPhlGwiOb-iCziLi0dOTOaCQVJFtTPC30_Tl8tNvBOHHyZpMr5K3cXA/s400/ResHouse2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668924341542091426" border="0" /></a><br />A community meeting was taking place in this building so we didn't get to go inside.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFL7YUIJ5ojc7pW2qXCCWsm-I5kDXx4e0H70cSbBpXB5NeI9md2MnkL65TvUy5edrCUlOAB2txUDtS73RuISQw3R2QJ7yeMFNKqzaglDhZvlRbAjq_YZKl61DHjIV-hB6XhWrkg/s1600/MeetingSpace.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFL7YUIJ5ojc7pW2qXCCWsm-I5kDXx4e0H70cSbBpXB5NeI9md2MnkL65TvUy5edrCUlOAB2txUDtS73RuISQw3R2QJ7yeMFNKqzaglDhZvlRbAjq_YZKl61DHjIV-hB6XhWrkg/s400/MeetingSpace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668925881662556962" border="0" /></a>Use of solar panels has been limited because they've been too expensive in the past. But you can see they are using some on this garden-type room.<br /><br />The greenhouse guest cottages are here along with a large swimming pool. There are plenty of areas to hike on the property.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDtcO6vxz1FTPkTCTHsraZMmLIhPsBr-qvV8iwZV1C0PZR4Z-rKlOLd0ybTt2RFJiKjcO6JLZCgdXT69mfLbUKvzSiudFIRvfpV2V2t730AHHkOeIXSOkP_GVG1_JMcy64lFeZw/s1600/hiking.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDtcO6vxz1FTPkTCTHsraZMmLIhPsBr-qvV8iwZV1C0PZR4Z-rKlOLd0ybTt2RFJiKjcO6JLZCgdXT69mfLbUKvzSiudFIRvfpV2V2t730AHHkOeIXSOkP_GVG1_JMcy64lFeZw/s400/hiking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668927870715843698" border="0" /></a>Anyone is welcome to come spend vacation time here. Room rates are currently $30 to $100 a night, with meals from $5 (breakfast) to $9 (lunch and dinner).<br /><br />The area in the back, houses the building and maintenance workshops.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FDtR0XQupUWn-DJiF6vLaazjHAX7eQyUQ7sooqWj8Vf53YWBbmBf0LVx5vIvUuROY0y_7r4hae8YaRDQFwyKcu57Mas-CwDYmUYhAtAlPDp5T1nI4jizx3lpxRAmAv7ebxI-fQ/s1600/Workshop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FDtR0XQupUWn-DJiF6vLaazjHAX7eQyUQ7sooqWj8Vf53YWBbmBf0LVx5vIvUuROY0y_7r4hae8YaRDQFwyKcu57Mas-CwDYmUYhAtAlPDp5T1nI4jizx3lpxRAmAv7ebxI-fQ/s400/Workshop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668930259306562226" border="0" /></a>This front area used to be a work area too but has evolved into a meeting place. Morning meetings and special events take place here, like Solari's recent 92nd birthday party.<br /><br />This passageway is the most used walkway in the community.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdN8AywBunEArwSuiAALxbTwldR98zY64cce3tqKEhyphenhyphenDIO2LvNingyZvW7j14rvIuQ7KP-r_o4c2C-X0s6YuTx8-MfACgoYha52nJf8O36NiD28L7IbCj-N0pYaWF-F4ljvy6ASQ/s1600/MainSt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdN8AywBunEArwSuiAALxbTwldR98zY64cce3tqKEhyphenhyphenDIO2LvNingyZvW7j14rvIuQ7KP-r_o4c2C-X0s6YuTx8-MfACgoYha52nJf8O36NiD28L7IbCj-N0pYaWF-F4ljvy6ASQ/s400/MainSt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668930265794450066" border="0" /></a><br />Most residents use it morning and evening to commute to and from their work areas. There is no need for cars in this community.<br /><br />This is a heat tunnel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxq8YqF2Ostt-o9u88oSL_O44-5CZ3GzTX4TEZjdRFBdyal92kxh-SduJEGXxPNBRBpkpF4badWYNBBmwKSLOcpMRrcpTUkefGv2iT83NOuzXrZHtWG5iuVOZ0NtkEpSALQnxh0w/s1600/HeatTunnel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxq8YqF2Ostt-o9u88oSL_O44-5CZ3GzTX4TEZjdRFBdyal92kxh-SduJEGXxPNBRBpkpF4badWYNBBmwKSLOcpMRrcpTUkefGv2iT83NOuzXrZHtWG5iuVOZ0NtkEpSALQnxh0w/s400/HeatTunnel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668930284396413074" border="0" /></a>It passes under the residences and will be used to draw in heat from areas that are still to be built, like the greenhouse apron. It is also an useful storage area.<br /><br />Most of the landscaping plants are local drought-tolerant varieties. These herbs and fig tree are an exception. These are watered and used in the cafeteria.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhq84iWZWS1rnrCl6Fbans23e06Yi4CfA2w3exv7_QdRPNohAkmbhBAM5Uj98FGc4SKm3YwLUzLUGXIzFSnUrqMZY5j-7p3MMombz1B6k0B6NK9zk6rEjAUq9Ql846HGh2wsSGQ/s1600/greenplants.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 364px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhq84iWZWS1rnrCl6Fbans23e06Yi4CfA2w3exv7_QdRPNohAkmbhBAM5Uj98FGc4SKm3YwLUzLUGXIzFSnUrqMZY5j-7p3MMombz1B6k0B6NK9zk6rEjAUq9Ql846HGh2wsSGQ/s400/greenplants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668932480441113730" border="0" /></a><br />In the past they've had more extensive gardens. They grew and sold garlic from the open space out beyond the buildings. However they are letting their planting areas rest while they focus on the greenhouse project.<br /><br />This amphitheater hosts performers from around the world. Jackson Browne has performed at Acrosanti.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWDRsiLd35rTci-B-B6wm5LUogRzJG5ATIxKyDD1JbBzvCTbfD3koNad7Ippe8AYv13oLdd3HpRSONwG9JrRHJ-9gG1ZdnCT660yQSJYTl8fNiwFUulljcBVFtU4uDaejlf1dqg/s1600/Theater.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWDRsiLd35rTci-B-B6wm5LUogRzJG5ATIxKyDD1JbBzvCTbfD3koNad7Ippe8AYv13oLdd3HpRSONwG9JrRHJ-9gG1ZdnCT660yQSJYTl8fNiwFUulljcBVFtU4uDaejlf1dqg/s400/Theater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668934794752335506" border="0" /></a><br />The rooms above the amphitheater are residential. and the spaces below are planned to be used for shops where residents can buy things they currently drive to Phoenix to get or to sell more of their own products to visitors.<br /><br />On the other side of the amphitheater apse is this stargazing area.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qOyg-bru4DSfPUGmPtSK9Bck6ROkKRsCKBc-Kx7juZ8Aqnmo7Z6QauEW_8iWB9-fRYOi1Xe7pF_6oEHVjc3IBeYq7Y8lhqpDJyAMiS4uhzY8zs4ZitNUAxRs2_TKb6UOiYiFMQ/s1600/Skyview.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qOyg-bru4DSfPUGmPtSK9Bck6ROkKRsCKBc-Kx7juZ8Aqnmo7Z6QauEW_8iWB9-fRYOi1Xe7pF_6oEHVjc3IBeYq7Y8lhqpDJyAMiS4uhzY8zs4ZitNUAxRs2_TKb6UOiYiFMQ/s400/Skyview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668934802485435410" border="0" /></a><br />The seating is angled so gazers can lean back for a comfortable view of the dark sky.<br /><br />This is the area where our guide works, casting bronze bells.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitdSGlQeF6ZxfxPutgXIs2io8fS85pGJlMSbPi6t-bYfzpIvMdFseSpY16Y8VR91N7G0pfOL0FAm5LXUUDXr2IFmZUrZzPvytvKUDPXVbYdfFh8-PaqgpfmNVgVQFC1szDF_Ajg/s1600/bronzeforms.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitdSGlQeF6ZxfxPutgXIs2io8fS85pGJlMSbPi6t-bYfzpIvMdFseSpY16Y8VR91N7G0pfOL0FAm5LXUUDXr2IFmZUrZzPvytvKUDPXVbYdfFh8-PaqgpfmNVgVQFC1szDF_Ajg/s400/bronzeforms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668938609132456770" border="0" /></a>These metal forms are used to create the shapes in the sand casting boxes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRv8VRYcu4J9Q4RbDMjjXTM_24M0f63lrkab-L22cr6PnRcK9pvMV1UBTtiIeBRFoZqP9-8IqsaQj1uvhyphenhyphenAcOlNFY6HJxSeVDQcGPqI_s3V0jVdFrDr2XelpZWCu7EZvoXemfkA/s1600/MoldBoxes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRv8VRYcu4J9Q4RbDMjjXTM_24M0f63lrkab-L22cr6PnRcK9pvMV1UBTtiIeBRFoZqP9-8IqsaQj1uvhyphenhyphenAcOlNFY6HJxSeVDQcGPqI_s3V0jVdFrDr2XelpZWCu7EZvoXemfkA/s400/MoldBoxes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668938627750236242" border="0" /></a>Molten bronze is poured into the cavity created by the forms in these two boxes which will be filled with compressed sand.<br /><br />They carve the design into the sand mold depression before the bronze is poured.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7D71A62YbNFfaYpJPgI3JRRHHcLVkh7CN_nYDYq1RO_KmAqzHp_Y52z7vSD1QDsouYqbIfI-8rj9AzK5viz4DMdpQEvO7Q227OdnhnXP80m0AvWXSh69ode2ZP_vgj1-RYr3jA/s1600/DesignerBell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 347px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7D71A62YbNFfaYpJPgI3JRRHHcLVkh7CN_nYDYq1RO_KmAqzHp_Y52z7vSD1QDsouYqbIfI-8rj9AzK5viz4DMdpQEvO7Q227OdnhnXP80m0AvWXSh69ode2ZP_vgj1-RYr3jA/s400/DesignerBell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668938621736232546" border="0" /></a>The cooled bells are given a patina bath or they are burnished. Here is a stack of bells still being processed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jHSRpIUcTrLDPAol1mKj9ObJhvunTGxHNNW4RCq730y7QqIwXCT6qok9d6rq8xKZi9oWfpWaEXXI4FuBRzUOIQ12Dli4Kc3r52lbfPnDO5ySZquVmdm3TsmY0e5cVTBKIZaojg/s1600/BellProcessing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jHSRpIUcTrLDPAol1mKj9ObJhvunTGxHNNW4RCq730y7QqIwXCT6qok9d6rq8xKZi9oWfpWaEXXI4FuBRzUOIQ12Dli4Kc3r52lbfPnDO5ySZquVmdm3TsmY0e5cVTBKIZaojg/s400/BellProcessing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668938613515317538" border="0" /></a>This is the end of our tour.<br /><br />We headed on to Kingman where we stayed in my least favorite hotel of the trip. The lighting had a Las Vegas feel, kind of a neon glow. The interior designer must a had a wee bit too much coffee.<br /><br />Here's the hall carpeting.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbwKoRWerODce-h4nEx3R2vNwH-ze42iNAgnbFMoBhwzzAuogBZdu2U80rTUz5kSjqXwvm1OwxdrrmUo63-J-X-I5ax6bhi9Lnr71K5b_GECInEBLRGSPTNKqc6PgNgM6QTJx0g/s1600/Carpet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbwKoRWerODce-h4nEx3R2vNwH-ze42iNAgnbFMoBhwzzAuogBZdu2U80rTUz5kSjqXwvm1OwxdrrmUo63-J-X-I5ax6bhi9Lnr71K5b_GECInEBLRGSPTNKqc6PgNgM6QTJx0g/s400/Carpet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668942725766990514" border="0" /></a><br />Competing patterns and textures:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9oYVY1M7twKap7Ja7n33DT_Di9Ym1b3eYxHBdihcXlqT8bPZALizPTnT2e1cVGsdJ1C0zXlTDY6frHmpuZ8iLTdkYCm17wP7bGWXFAexLAWJa85OYjtMYx8EeHrkr0cmGLeCQA/s1600/BusyPatterns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9oYVY1M7twKap7Ja7n33DT_Di9Ym1b3eYxHBdihcXlqT8bPZALizPTnT2e1cVGsdJ1C0zXlTDY6frHmpuZ8iLTdkYCm17wP7bGWXFAexLAWJa85OYjtMYx8EeHrkr0cmGLeCQA/s400/BusyPatterns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668942728071484114" border="0" /></a>And what is this?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutSSek1tGFVqLTuSBrDUNMvVSduejm-nkB4VJiT0g-SbIcW9EoEEJj3pMFOITPe4RrgaayZwMdfqJU4VOjN1Dm72nOUH3mmty5LNXLW5OGPQYQBDSNy-SsTOQPUAwyPUFo95qnw/s1600/Vase.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 236px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutSSek1tGFVqLTuSBrDUNMvVSduejm-nkB4VJiT0g-SbIcW9EoEEJj3pMFOITPe4RrgaayZwMdfqJU4VOjN1Dm72nOUH3mmty5LNXLW5OGPQYQBDSNy-SsTOQPUAwyPUFo95qnw/s400/Vase.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668942733480294178" border="0" /></a>Maybe it will look better in the morning when the spooky neon lighting is turned off.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-89429786576008442672011-10-26T21:23:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:10:55.751-07:00Lowell Observatory & Diablo BurgerThis morning was reserved for a thunder and lightning experience. This was the kind of thunder that makes the windows shake. Definitely stormier than yesterday. We stayed inside.<br /><br />We decided it might be a good day to go visit the Lowell Observatory to learn about the telescopes that have been housed there since 1894 (when Flagstaff had far fewer city lights).<br /><br />The heavy storm had lifted when we left the hotel at about noon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmAop9f0lVvNpJMDkFE8ldq_Tu3PayVlRB6fVFwWp6coJOUt1gWOnWC-ViIPpF76Y1KLly0WY4TVJCaIktyl5cIAfahkNHsLC4ihmXsvwgIItvX_iSyASMb0yp4gsx5T1xthYyw/s1600/RainDay.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmAop9f0lVvNpJMDkFE8ldq_Tu3PayVlRB6fVFwWp6coJOUt1gWOnWC-ViIPpF76Y1KLly0WY4TVJCaIktyl5cIAfahkNHsLC4ihmXsvwgIItvX_iSyASMb0yp4gsx5T1xthYyw/s400/RainDay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668031589111068322" border="0" /></a>On the way we decided to have lunch at <a href="ttp://www.diabloburger.com/Diablo_Burger/ho">Diablo Burger</a>, a restaurant recommended by our waitress last night. The beef is sourced from the Diablo Trust ranches just southeast of Flagstaff.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25vDgClfdjkXk1nbGxs2k7wqcPcJJhZ86LxLLH6_B7gZmw9tFBPe8vyYuCM6gnMS7jJO3w-AFI6-KKzhc5Hjy8IoprERVDvtOPSZaN7HO4NhTiA2vtnLi-9DfrQ8_6X5xiankEQ/s1600/DiabloBurger.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25vDgClfdjkXk1nbGxs2k7wqcPcJJhZ86LxLLH6_B7gZmw9tFBPe8vyYuCM6gnMS7jJO3w-AFI6-KKzhc5Hjy8IoprERVDvtOPSZaN7HO4NhTiA2vtnLi-9DfrQ8_6X5xiankEQ/s400/DiabloBurger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668031588939892450" border="0" /></a>We chose to build our own burgers. Mine had cheddar cheese and grilled onions on it. Dave choose homemade red cabbage sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. The burgers are served on a branded English muffin sitting on top of a pile of rosemary fries. We didn't think we'd be able to eat the whole burger but guess what? After one bite, we both knew it wasn't going to be a problem.<br /><br />Lowell Observatory is located on Mars Hill, close to our hotel (nothing in Flagstaff is really far away).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31Z-qMOK9OH79QhQEy472AK27xtRpAgCNYOBVsZKHyIYflxCM_snablaZYAelRZXZxz7pJZiPYRgJ1rUK_ZJ9-hCFOT0-k6DsZ-8M5hEsSUOrvKu6dcxvrhmbchlLJjp7shCXBQ/s1600/Mausoleum.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31Z-qMOK9OH79QhQEy472AK27xtRpAgCNYOBVsZKHyIYflxCM_snablaZYAelRZXZxz7pJZiPYRgJ1rUK_ZJ9-hCFOT0-k6DsZ-8M5hEsSUOrvKu6dcxvrhmbchlLJjp7shCXBQ/s400/Mausoleum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668031598486249218" border="0" /></a>After the founder Percival Lowell died in 1916, his wife built this mausoleum. It sits next to the dome that houses the first telescope in his collection, the 24-inch Clark Refracting Telescope, built in Boston for $20,000 and shipped by train to Flagstaff.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9inzVI_nhoTY-oBzZpKR8FRNCbK2w0L7XUpfI9oP-aaD8MqaeHZdT5Y8khNMAMM0cGKsj0Ym7JD-GS3uoA_8qDOrp96WftslHHiwA81zR_-wGf1nbZPMFBM3r0YGqxYK2jsh5tw/s1600/ClarkDome.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9inzVI_nhoTY-oBzZpKR8FRNCbK2w0L7XUpfI9oP-aaD8MqaeHZdT5Y8khNMAMM0cGKsj0Ym7JD-GS3uoA_8qDOrp96WftslHHiwA81zR_-wGf1nbZPMFBM3r0YGqxYK2jsh5tw/s400/ClarkDome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668037308854773330" border="0" /></a><br />Lowell believed the Mars might support life and that was sufficient motivation to dedicate his life to this study. He used this telescope to observe and draw diagrams of what he saw. He discovered lines that looked like canals on Mars. He theorized that they were waterways used for transport.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhFfULxUOe6YQZoERkYw5Sw2kUE9iw6KhkjZaPqnrJjUK2gOK5QW9RRQU0-rVrITlWuiC_yzrvqZUD3sJhvD4FrtzE5v8qd2EEsWOnt2PQsYrhC4lTsw06nLnvCXMu9Y9jIrT1g/s1600/ChairTires.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhFfULxUOe6YQZoERkYw5Sw2kUE9iw6KhkjZaPqnrJjUK2gOK5QW9RRQU0-rVrITlWuiC_yzrvqZUD3sJhvD4FrtzE5v8qd2EEsWOnt2PQsYrhC4lTsw06nLnvCXMu9Y9jIrT1g/s400/ChairTires.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668036796529909058" border="0" /></a>His chair was designed so he could sit in different position to study the stars and draw his diagrams. Note the tires around the upper wall. These 1950s era truck tires are used to rotate the dome so the opening will line up with the angle of the telescope.<br /><br />Here's a shot of the Clark telescope.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd96-nuNnmglcDTj-JNhOd5sX6K9_OwnDTrqIc8KzHmK5Imci8LCcN9BfMNtDF9IIQpfYKbTZ7oQ1l0UG14vREBZBJN-rawopunnnZ6XORrAuLfyP94RMANxjCKoIL8saT4JbuJg/s1600/ClarkScope.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd96-nuNnmglcDTj-JNhOd5sX6K9_OwnDTrqIc8KzHmK5Imci8LCcN9BfMNtDF9IIQpfYKbTZ7oQ1l0UG14vREBZBJN-rawopunnnZ6XORrAuLfyP94RMANxjCKoIL8saT4JbuJg/s400/ClarkScope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668036781669419490" border="0" /></a>This same telescope was used by NASA to diagram the craters of the moon before the first space flight. NASA eventually placed another telescope nearby for this purpose, so the astronomers working at Lowell could get back to their work with this telescope.<br /><br />Here's a close-up view, looking up at it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjTK5Pluw27FtpNURYwP8aC16UQziAxqO0oAuHGns45IpO6uEKRJfQN_YjoXlyM1swesSQ2bqHVGwZ0mI8yBJyslEz6rwe1ZpSrYaKwzKfNpCVYrzNe4WnrFXhCEQ8RfgLONaBw/s1600/ClarkClose.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjTK5Pluw27FtpNURYwP8aC16UQziAxqO0oAuHGns45IpO6uEKRJfQN_YjoXlyM1swesSQ2bqHVGwZ0mI8yBJyslEz6rwe1ZpSrYaKwzKfNpCVYrzNe4WnrFXhCEQ8RfgLONaBw/s400/ClarkClose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668036788451052178" border="0" /></a><br />There is a smaller starfinder scope attached to the left side. When the lens cover for that disintegrated from age, the astronomer who was working here found that one of his wife's frying pans would work just as well. That frying pan is still used as the lens cover.<br /><br />The other telescope we saw was the 13-inch Pluto Discovery Telescope. Lowell was convinced that there was a ninth planet, Planet X. He worked on that project as well until he died. After his death, his brother, who was the President of Harvard University, donated the money to buy this telescope in 1929. It's used for photographing the sky.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUXfKHV9vNFsn-b3yFtvBP0nxqoZmunrQPIFRNLCWa0XMmZQvjLUVuieUUqFrzWnT42Ur3sk8sITERz5K-cYK5uRnJuCg9GOx4edAN_krlexBrnrK0yFcFSVle8zi_jQlf9IzoA/s1600/PlutoScope.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUXfKHV9vNFsn-b3yFtvBP0nxqoZmunrQPIFRNLCWa0XMmZQvjLUVuieUUqFrzWnT42Ur3sk8sITERz5K-cYK5uRnJuCg9GOx4edAN_krlexBrnrK0yFcFSVle8zi_jQlf9IzoA/s400/PlutoScope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668174667554681906" border="0" /></a>That square piece of metal at the bottom is a photographic plate. Twenty-three-year-old Clyde Tombaugh, who was not an astronomer but loved astronomy, was hired to do the job the astronomers didn't want to do, which was to sit in this cold room to take photos of the area Lowell had designated as the path of what would become the ninth planet Pluto. During the day he would compare these photos to determine if there was a planet moving through the solar system. By 1930, he had identified a tiny dot that was moving quickly relative to the stars near it. This officially became the planet Pluto (named for the God of the Underworld in a naming contest won by an 11-year-old girl in England).<br /><br />More recently, however, Pluto has been demoted to dwarf planet status. There are several other bodies like Pluto that orbit around the sun but don't claim their own space. Our major planets dominate their area of the solar system. Because Pluto is so small and low mass, it competes for space with even with its own moon, and its orbit is so elliptic that sometimes it is in front of Neptune relative to the sun and sometimes it is behind.<br /><br />Telescope work is now mostly done at darker locations nearby. The 19 astronomers working at Lowell Observatory do their daytime studies here and their night observations at the darker locations. Tracking near-earth asteroids is one of the projects they are working on.<br /><br />Lowell Observatory has partnered with the Discovery Channel to build a telescope right on that road we took to Fossil Creek yesterday. The new Hubble type telescope will be completed in January. We will be able to see the resulting photos of space on the Discovery Channel in about June.<br /><br />The New Horizons satellite is expected to pass Pluto in 2015 and send back images that will tell scientists a lot more about this dwarf planet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkolVMhDy_gYbNMNbwnZn8EdqNOfPPOLYnXS8McHR6QSnVB45ZhyebPhRzHVE0OlFtv5Qp69TW0-7BiqG7k66u_5LCII5U8khNv0_bPYyG_EHjFAPJOHY-DqjVrKnXgSF9DBD20w/s1600/Squirrel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkolVMhDy_gYbNMNbwnZn8EdqNOfPPOLYnXS8McHR6QSnVB45ZhyebPhRzHVE0OlFtv5Qp69TW0-7BiqG7k66u_5LCII5U8khNv0_bPYyG_EHjFAPJOHY-DqjVrKnXgSF9DBD20w/s400/Squirrel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668174674366616306" border="0" /></a>None of this, however, is terribly interesting to this squirrel who was collecting acorns for winter storage. According to our tour guide there was recently a major territorial sqirmish between one of these Lowell Observatory squirrels and a resident woodpecker over storage in a particular tree.<br /><br />The weather has turned very cold relative to when we got here last week. After the tour we went to Barnes and Noble to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate. Then we stopped by the Village Baker for a loaf of bread to eat for dinner with the leftovers we'd stashed in our hotel room refrigerator. We are heading back toward California in the morning.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-62949056455952499772011-10-26T18:39:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:11:33.839-07:00Fossil Creek Creamery & BrixThe forecast for today was for thundershowers and lightning, so we changed our plans from driving around mesas and flash flood areas to taking a trip to Strawberry, Arizona. Never heard of it? Me neither.<br /><br />Our plan on this trip was to use Edible Community magazines to guide us to interesting places. Unfortunately there is no Edible Flagstaff... there should be because this town takes local sustainable foods very seriously. Most of the restaurants we've eaten at will tell you exactly where they source their beef, fish, cheese, fruit, and vegetables. It's often listed on the menu. If not, the server doesn't have to go to the kitchen to find out the name of the farm.<br /><br />When we were in Phoenix, I'd read about <a href="http://ranchatfossilcreek.com/ranch_at_fossil_creek_creamery.htm">Fossil Creek Creamery</a> in an issue of Edible Phoenix. I'd also seen Fossil Creamery goat cheese on the menu in the restaurant in Scottsdale. I looked it up on the web but Strawberry is outside Phoenix, not on our planned route north.<br /><br />However it's not all that far south of Flagstaff and doesn't involve mesas and flash flood areas. Here's what the weather looked like when we left Flagstaff.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhZhgB7lMjrkuTiLzqzgDejA1Wp1zID_maZfv-3KrC1IM38SXChbRvJa9n7ejsfGf2AsPnXql-Wl1XT9mP-r7VUlWNJGFryvq1rYiAVDw7BokddQ1X_hz7aQhzaXjeMiMBvDrvA/s1600/FlagstaffClouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhZhgB7lMjrkuTiLzqzgDejA1Wp1zID_maZfv-3KrC1IM38SXChbRvJa9n7ejsfGf2AsPnXql-Wl1XT9mP-r7VUlWNJGFryvq1rYiAVDw7BokddQ1X_hz7aQhzaXjeMiMBvDrvA/s400/FlagstaffClouds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667984194812626594" border="0" /></a><br />The road took us past Lake Mary and into the mountains.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoTKDvI5yqaAHaThXJBNvomh0aeeH6CS0a6vbrwwfJS7qMAHVyUknr8V0uzXFfXYpQxZ2yAMepKer4T0qhZQO13QU49Jj-RuykRLwG81kyd8U4VeBkKIDQF2BIB_Ia4WgcBpGhg/s1600/IntoMtns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoTKDvI5yqaAHaThXJBNvomh0aeeH6CS0a6vbrwwfJS7qMAHVyUknr8V0uzXFfXYpQxZ2yAMepKer4T0qhZQO13QU49Jj-RuykRLwG81kyd8U4VeBkKIDQF2BIB_Ia4WgcBpGhg/s400/IntoMtns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667984946460733410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the Mormon Lake area this part of lake bed was dry, but the colors of the ground cover were lovely.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegahtiSK6tGKfwTECyLAbtVkhYKmg-D3_mZceH1XxZoexwmv0PEtpiZUWFf4tmLuG8uF0rIAeV1DHPeuCZSvmZXUoRssK1fgYH9T9KCUM3nO-jjOIdAaWo3C1kEuxlaLNcGVOCQ/s1600/MormonLake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegahtiSK6tGKfwTECyLAbtVkhYKmg-D3_mZceH1XxZoexwmv0PEtpiZUWFf4tmLuG8uF0rIAeV1DHPeuCZSvmZXUoRssK1fgYH9T9KCUM3nO-jjOIdAaWo3C1kEuxlaLNcGVOCQ/s400/MormonLake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667984211492283986" border="0" /></a><br />And further on, Aspen trees were glowing gold in the distance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU9xSKh_1WkfguP2VlCVrduXCujrZxgcc-Kvv1YoxQ4uVwDmjRY0-sBIJ8iMXch34v0baI43CjHeZhOy6VjbpiON3vNXtJRdZpaCg7X7huk7Z_vSEun_8yWVVHc9oKfzLJUApnw/s1600/AspenGlow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU9xSKh_1WkfguP2VlCVrduXCujrZxgcc-Kvv1YoxQ4uVwDmjRY0-sBIJ8iMXch34v0baI43CjHeZhOy6VjbpiON3vNXtJRdZpaCg7X7huk7Z_vSEun_8yWVVHc9oKfzLJUApnw/s400/AspenGlow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668012703594855250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, there really is a town called Strawberry near Fossil Creek. And yes, it was raining when I took this photo through the wet windshield.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPRz6-kNG8ksjfdXZNt7dDvlHZqzFwnDshg3r_86gMzdIu3CmREtH0jpXMYfia4UTCqPAdd0aoXSs1WJOx52pGIegFDpqUa8mXDm5yhjLgVPdW49tvGnrwVprXx6E4_yPq95lKg/s1600/Strawberry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPRz6-kNG8ksjfdXZNt7dDvlHZqzFwnDshg3r_86gMzdIu3CmREtH0jpXMYfia4UTCqPAdd0aoXSs1WJOx52pGIegFDpqUa8mXDm5yhjLgVPdW49tvGnrwVprXx6E4_yPq95lKg/s400/Strawberry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667990684396919730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had called ahead because they aren't usually open on Tuesdays during the fall and winter. Owner Joyce Bitner answered the phone and assured us that they'd be home and encouraged us to come visit. We were greeted by the goats when we arrived.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJ1YE1nERBlYg4lUaJSzlCdUxx1ZoD0_Zg93w3aHuLJTDtTjcHm7bHQpx_xM1RrihvTyvmjdedFeiwyknkQSnKl4u8GXrqXSC3FKUjr4Lv9KdjlGKoKKavCKRc0W4anAkCKxo1w/s1600/Creamery.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJ1YE1nERBlYg4lUaJSzlCdUxx1ZoD0_Zg93w3aHuLJTDtTjcHm7bHQpx_xM1RrihvTyvmjdedFeiwyknkQSnKl4u8GXrqXSC3FKUjr4Lv9KdjlGKoKKavCKRc0W4anAkCKxo1w/s400/Creamery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667987949989435666" border="0" /></a><br />When we rang the large bell nearby, John Bitner came to greet us as well. Turns out his son lives in Santa Barbara near San Marcos High. We shared some Santa Barbara stories as we tasted a variety of creamy goat cheeses. Then we tasted his goat's milk havarti and a goat's milk cheddar that had just come out of the press. They also make goat's milk fudges and the outstanding goat's milk caramels. Caramelized goat's milk... yum!<br /><br />We planned to have a car picnic around our purchases, choosing a wedge of havarti some plain and strawberry chili flavored soft goat cheese. Plus chocolate pecan fudge and a couple of those caramels (wish I'd bought more).<br /><br />We met Joyce briefly on her way out. She asked us which festivals around Santa Barbara they might want to bring their products to. They just recently got into Whole Foods, but they like doing festivals too.<br /><br />John took us out to see the goats. Each goat has a name. During birthing season in April, they invite children to visit and bottle feed the babies. During the summer, if you show up at milking time around 4 pm, you can help milk the goats.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi9LiFPg8P_y6RTdh53j6WPRQu2jrko0jflIRN1g88RfFQsaHOsQ2Xx-q6O3BL6ITql4hDvzmOjXXgy9jKIXb2hjnP7rbk7Qy-0ehgzTHcyCXSpuonGAa4proeSSDpjngjIaZew/s1600/Leashes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi9LiFPg8P_y6RTdh53j6WPRQu2jrko0jflIRN1g88RfFQsaHOsQ2Xx-q6O3BL6ITql4hDvzmOjXXgy9jKIXb2hjnP7rbk7Qy-0ehgzTHcyCXSpuonGAa4proeSSDpjngjIaZew/s400/Leashes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667993108731905426" border="0" /></a>These goats are really pets that share their milk to be made into cheese and fudge. They live good lives. All their milk goats live out their lives on this farm. When they are past milking age, they just become part of the extended community.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc88rCoS5hN4iaCZYhT-xWqJsgtef5UIX5Kwn3JF2eK6MRFh2sh5O0WCYmbOUDQXHxhP-LrBsdAMSSAJcH4fpTCb9jBSaNPd66Tt0Ii8rao_3wHWPfiRdOeT-VkSrqz6tvrWDGoQ/s1600/CarwashBrush.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc88rCoS5hN4iaCZYhT-xWqJsgtef5UIX5Kwn3JF2eK6MRFh2sh5O0WCYmbOUDQXHxhP-LrBsdAMSSAJcH4fpTCb9jBSaNPd66Tt0Ii8rao_3wHWPfiRdOeT-VkSrqz6tvrWDGoQ/s400/CarwashBrush.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667993111692586274" border="0" /></a><br />This is a car wash brush that the goats use to scratch their heads and bodies.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjB5HoR3fxGdeYAKh9Hqi1l4EoQ820N1ViVIJ_RY0JQ4-KND0mQNP2jpaA34tLnYuIYOsafcsxXljCPy-ZIcDjBe59v4u57hrJf2f4DbyRclFIyLNJxF2NVZR7Z_CY1_50lfeUw/s1600/KingofHill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjB5HoR3fxGdeYAKh9Hqi1l4EoQ820N1ViVIJ_RY0JQ4-KND0mQNP2jpaA34tLnYuIYOsafcsxXljCPy-ZIcDjBe59v4u57hrJf2f4DbyRclFIyLNJxF2NVZR7Z_CY1_50lfeUw/s400/KingofHill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667989273178257026" border="0" /></a>The climbing equipment in the background allows them to climb and to play King of the Hill. The turnaround time at the top is pretty short. However, getting your photo taken apparently trumps standing on top of the cable spools.<br /><br />John explained the keyhole feeding boxes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNAjLOtpBOgH7jbv2TMShE14QtQCHUihs_71gDau_i8hdZ9SWEBdgXZg7XNTRXb2P0t8tbnoWrQeARPCfEQb6kGjWVhyxmHqvZaAZcpwWTl0OuFW2G9RoeCj7cC7V17spBUkO5A/s1600/KeyholeFeeder.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNAjLOtpBOgH7jbv2TMShE14QtQCHUihs_71gDau_i8hdZ9SWEBdgXZg7XNTRXb2P0t8tbnoWrQeARPCfEQb6kGjWVhyxmHqvZaAZcpwWTl0OuFW2G9RoeCj7cC7V17spBUkO5A/s400/KeyholeFeeder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667995250126547218" border="0" /></a>Goats take a mouthful of feed and shake it before they eat it. If the feed lands on the ground, the goats won't eat it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjQ2tP-L4kD2Hj76mcDPdDNDSOW3EU3cvgjS8z4Oms8VbIStYb1bOhaBcU7McJ8vG3Q2XOXzmsvglqyUBJzSkf2umfmqb6ODH6g-S-qfucqQSNSTODmbV9M_IQaH23bqb_olM_Q/s1600/KeyholeEater.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjQ2tP-L4kD2Hj76mcDPdDNDSOW3EU3cvgjS8z4Oms8VbIStYb1bOhaBcU7McJ8vG3Q2XOXzmsvglqyUBJzSkf2umfmqb6ODH6g-S-qfucqQSNSTODmbV9M_IQaH23bqb_olM_Q/s400/KeyholeEater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667995987891153266" border="0" /></a>However if shaken over the trough, the food lands back in the trough, and gets eaten. Very tricky.<br /><br />John and Joyce also raise llamas but not for milk. The llamas guard the goats.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlLN_XknaS3LP8aEK7UI_kJyDt6uwaVWqCDJY8GeUYXWZU1PyJDtqOgDJQpGIuz1gDOeu2Aj0_K-OMOZSQCXOqtjBMEK79o4bQ0baV6M4m2M9A8BM06zgtPTrFB32kroeCUAfrQ/s1600/LlamaSentry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlLN_XknaS3LP8aEK7UI_kJyDt6uwaVWqCDJY8GeUYXWZU1PyJDtqOgDJQpGIuz1gDOeu2Aj0_K-OMOZSQCXOqtjBMEK79o4bQ0baV6M4m2M9A8BM06zgtPTrFB32kroeCUAfrQ/s400/LlamaSentry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667995991636257346" border="0" /></a><br />Leaving, we headed out on the road to Camp Verde hoping to have dinner at the casino restaurant we'd stopped at last week, but missed because we were too late for lunch and too early for dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVPG6BXQg5ij2O6Jq0EX6VbU8MXOSUrf_vQeGdo47qzlbtt4D1nkHgj1_lccwJjGnN2Qzgw4KVRj_63goPY7PWSRfxDfFCYCVIA8xzJiwAqvLHQSjcUSpMhkZNCXj1mfUekZqUQ/s1600/StormApproach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVPG6BXQg5ij2O6Jq0EX6VbU8MXOSUrf_vQeGdo47qzlbtt4D1nkHgj1_lccwJjGnN2Qzgw4KVRj_63goPY7PWSRfxDfFCYCVIA8xzJiwAqvLHQSjcUSpMhkZNCXj1mfUekZqUQ/s400/StormApproach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667999006169495538" border="0" /></a>We'd had a rain-free visit at the creamery but our luck was running out. We went through this heavy rainstorm before we arrived at Camp Verde to find out that the restaurant is not open for dinner on Tuesdays.<br /><br />Luckily, there was a fry bread stand across the street. Hmm, best fry bread we've had... topped with honey. We were glad we had a box of Saraphina's Princess baby wipes in the car to use after we finished licking our fingers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9928xQPT-XUp_PDDtPSdalyNReitSM4Kl3AohtMm7wUM0LsgnNx8Fq8ZG8tfImG4n6epAGmT0iQIZOIdfML7qknSMshP4X8CO-dslYATxP-A-CzbN9BiVVz6kx_LEINrhYsCilw/s1600/Rainbow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9928xQPT-XUp_PDDtPSdalyNReitSM4Kl3AohtMm7wUM0LsgnNx8Fq8ZG8tfImG4n6epAGmT0iQIZOIdfML7qknSMshP4X8CO-dslYATxP-A-CzbN9BiVVz6kx_LEINrhYsCilw/s400/Rainbow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667998999323028210" border="0" /></a>This was our reward for the trip, along with the delicious fry bread.<br /><br />We headed back to Flagstaff on I-17 as it was getting dark. We set the GPS for <a href="http://brixflagstaff.com/">Brix</a>, the sister restaurant to Criollo Latin Kitchen, where we'd eaten dinner on Day 7. I'd been reading about this restaurant on Yelp and in the local food reviews.<br /><br />It was a cozy romantic setting with friendly staff and great food choices. It was difficult to narrow down our selection.<br /><br />You know a meal is going to be good when the bread they bring to the table has a good texture, crust, and flavor. They brought us ciabatta slices baked nearby at the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Village-Baker/153714272216">Village Baker</a>. A special touch was the small pot of European style cultured butter with Hawaiian pink salt sprinkled on top.<br /><br />Our first course was agnolotti (a small ravioli).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmw28RwVmmpCpRQCn9GsLYsSXFnc9uqfxLMo0Pw1RVtgHGfUlDi4pgmLfKiyb-jbrjHzVulZbDzzqBFo4g2VSaOYO7V5NSYdDYWZHQfS5C2sycgJR_eVTCbtPvO2eCJP6531asA/s1600/agnolotti.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmw28RwVmmpCpRQCn9GsLYsSXFnc9uqfxLMo0Pw1RVtgHGfUlDi4pgmLfKiyb-jbrjHzVulZbDzzqBFo4g2VSaOYO7V5NSYdDYWZHQfS5C2sycgJR_eVTCbtPvO2eCJP6531asA/s400/agnolotti.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668002557170588450" border="0" /></a>It was filled with cheese and served with chanterelles, baby spinach, and topped with cheese shavings.<br /><br />Our next course was a red pepper parsnip soup.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhwF4raBGxo9LS_w7AChjh9_yHuNByQJCV6BWC_ODNnqCJPvIfSZmrRK4PBqUD8Xc1hcHFFTHMOzO6ZfsxKDxdiH5_8ZMZPYhHyoMITKwXPzs0JTqnBJPjkb2zR0CG3o1J1sTOQ/s1600/ParsnipSoup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 354px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhwF4raBGxo9LS_w7AChjh9_yHuNByQJCV6BWC_ODNnqCJPvIfSZmrRK4PBqUD8Xc1hcHFFTHMOzO6ZfsxKDxdiH5_8ZMZPYhHyoMITKwXPzs0JTqnBJPjkb2zR0CG3o1J1sTOQ/s400/ParsnipSoup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668002562245311090" border="0" /></a>That's a drizzle of chive oil on top. Who would have thought of putting parsnips with red pepper? This combination works!<br /><br />I have to apologize. I generally use my iPhone for the food photos because it's not quite so annoying to people at neighboring tables, but the lack of a flash makes the results unpredictable. The other photos don't do the food and plating justice so I'll just describe them.<br /><br />After I gave our server a copy of the current Edible Santa Barbara, the kitchen graciously sent out an <span style="font-style: italic;">amuse bouche</span> of Creekstone Farm grassfed short rib finely chopped with thin-sliced green chili and pasta served over a small grilled carrot. Just the right amount of heat and the great flavor of grass fed beef.<br /><br />Our main course was house-made tagliarini and chantrelles served with a plum and white wine sauce, onions, greens, and topped with shaved cheese.<br /><br />We ordered a side of brussel sprouts. They were small and delicate with a lightly browned surface, served with onions and mushrooms.<br /><br />We had no room for dessert but couldn't pass up the Almond Brown Butter Cake with whipped cream fraiche and Fuji apple syrup.<br /><br />In addition to a relaxing delicious meal, we got a tip from the waitress on where to get the best grass fed burger in town. More about that tomorrow!Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-16261567893097615132011-10-24T21:54:00.000-07:002011-11-04T15:43:17.181-07:00Antelope Canyon & Cameron Trading PostI am on complete beauty overload. The diverse range of rock formations and rainbow of colors we've seen today is mind-boggling. At the moment our photos are on Dave's computer and he has fallen asleep.<br /><br />Rain and lightning are on the schedule for tomorrow so we'll probably have time to finish sorting through the 200 photos we took today to give you a small taste of Northern Arizona beauty.<br /><br />I do have a couple of food photos on my iPhone I can share. On our way back to Flagstaff we stopped at the <a href="http://www.camerontradingpost.com/">Cameron Trading Post</a> for dinner. The trading post is one extremely large souvenir shop with a restaurant and hotel. The restaurant features Navajo tacos so we ordered a mini Navajo Taco and Navajo Hot Beef.<br /><br />Both are served on top of a dinner-plate-sized fry bread.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DBYWQ6cnKMhT3Y5Oq2p3GqLp2u2CnBYuFs8eCoEyIPq2IsqHzI8c9L6SAifiD0Mta6Hwe0oWPlzxP0ZBpDjMetno4rc_JBCaTGTOBpmoHEk6Z3xgLby2JrlEvJ1SzmbrimIEjQ/s1600/NavahoTaco.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DBYWQ6cnKMhT3Y5Oq2p3GqLp2u2CnBYuFs8eCoEyIPq2IsqHzI8c9L6SAifiD0Mta6Hwe0oWPlzxP0ZBpDjMetno4rc_JBCaTGTOBpmoHEk6Z3xgLby2JrlEvJ1SzmbrimIEjQ/s400/NavahoTaco.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667294393909507874" border="0" /></a><br />A Navajo Taco is served open-face. The fry bread is topped with chili beans, beef, green chili, lettuce, and tomatoes.<br /><br />For the Navajo Hot Beef, the fry bread is topped with slices of roast beef, a homemade gravy, grilled onions, and a green chili pepper.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvK2fA06Cm2ddxDOU4ajXT9emFCjk3xGM3jHrsWODL5RIrLp88a1mZbx39XR28BAx-g3zEYeyXxT70HUevJMNsuWRqSxqewdABHhvxHJWfmibTNt3NO3juzKyG_gc1n-gCmGwwg/s1600/NavahoBeef.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvK2fA06Cm2ddxDOU4ajXT9emFCjk3xGM3jHrsWODL5RIrLp88a1mZbx39XR28BAx-g3zEYeyXxT70HUevJMNsuWRqSxqewdABHhvxHJWfmibTNt3NO3juzKyG_gc1n-gCmGwwg/s400/NavahoBeef.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667294812653420018" border="0" /></a><br />This was a generous amount of food. I left most of my fry bread so I could eat a piece of their homemade apple pie. That was a good decision.<br /><br />It took longer than planned to sort through the photos but here they are. These were take on the drive from Flagstaff to Page, Arizona.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHoSYHEuTkZF5OYh3usWsPRpBEYyHc4zNByAU_V2yrhf-TmjOx5uXRW45udzQJ8VCB0Cw35SJdX9BDAZGkEC9i1BMrQO_Nzw8EVOhWJOYbqfcDLpeI5lYe1XNWu45qFhNmZSh-g/s1600/Paint1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHoSYHEuTkZF5OYh3usWsPRpBEYyHc4zNByAU_V2yrhf-TmjOx5uXRW45udzQJ8VCB0Cw35SJdX9BDAZGkEC9i1BMrQO_Nzw8EVOhWJOYbqfcDLpeI5lYe1XNWu45qFhNmZSh-g/s400/Paint1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667775247722986642" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IZnlb2QfV11yAza_MVVBN3OHToZWtnpnTbUJdigKhmADMkvFw5pQurgrHONmlmQOmH0h7Id_Xx6h89o2htf6jyTWDtXJk-6Gp0ZvtVQ7YPEdVouvnm1vNfbhhEoj9ZIczAvZFQ/s1600/Paint2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IZnlb2QfV11yAza_MVVBN3OHToZWtnpnTbUJdigKhmADMkvFw5pQurgrHONmlmQOmH0h7Id_Xx6h89o2htf6jyTWDtXJk-6Gp0ZvtVQ7YPEdVouvnm1vNfbhhEoj9ZIczAvZFQ/s400/Paint2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667775254062635426" border="0" /></a>The brown formations are chocolate-colored mudstone formed about 230 million years ago (Triassic period).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWXnbASSEiYFwPj-I6PTpo5hqHske5ECfR_xdBLorC4gE6cWq6iA-CuHwaRldhYU7x6230VndNVW2WFDcmoi4p1BNQIp-Zo6IiN5lhjj5qSFmPsfZAib4s5NldNZfHwH2B6cGfg/s1600/Paint4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWXnbASSEiYFwPj-I6PTpo5hqHske5ECfR_xdBLorC4gE6cWq6iA-CuHwaRldhYU7x6230VndNVW2WFDcmoi4p1BNQIp-Zo6IiN5lhjj5qSFmPsfZAib4s5NldNZfHwH2B6cGfg/s400/Paint4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667777559253758930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_niBmlklbS1YJ1dbluvcSqf8HnAvKuY3VG5f1BP295z2O5ZFm5wZdBN3BvjDHJxUCvrsxqHnnO6uSb1ocCOZ03vl2kd2mbc6sSrMP4sNTCqF5-D52KYks2ReUF9vxICwwfSBjuw/s1600/Paint5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_niBmlklbS1YJ1dbluvcSqf8HnAvKuY3VG5f1BP295z2O5ZFm5wZdBN3BvjDHJxUCvrsxqHnnO6uSb1ocCOZ03vl2kd2mbc6sSrMP4sNTCqF5-D52KYks2ReUF9vxICwwfSBjuw/s400/Paint5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667778583280593378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqstW786Tn-ARFL7qU1mzWDso0jvcCsycQSQvRPA_0jg1-fG2X9EBzXHDf5HEpq5bjyYRzF67UTVsRzRxsiSyhZq5fg35wXm1e3EeUpG6gPt6k8lln6pPKByBdt5712z_skGvsw/s1600/Paint7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqstW786Tn-ARFL7qU1mzWDso0jvcCsycQSQvRPA_0jg1-fG2X9EBzXHDf5HEpq5bjyYRzF67UTVsRzRxsiSyhZq5fg35wXm1e3EeUpG6gPt6k8lln6pPKByBdt5712z_skGvsw/s400/Paint7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667780343237780978" border="0" /></a>Looking down on the Colorado River Gorge. Vermillion Cliffs in the distance.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtZhV7Xgt7FsB7GGaDkoGsQqnSBVnHf5mAkwmWRQdJAgZJCKWwsokSxpU6NM0KrmGU57rZTm64LYbWoPjRlRSg0IvoYJwBMtpNullRu3OojsV6GKJebXEouh9xJIj8Rao-vE_PQ/s1600/Paint6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtZhV7Xgt7FsB7GGaDkoGsQqnSBVnHf5mAkwmWRQdJAgZJCKWwsokSxpU6NM0KrmGU57rZTm64LYbWoPjRlRSg0IvoYJwBMtpNullRu3OojsV6GKJebXEouh9xJIj8Rao-vE_PQ/s400/Paint6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667778591380705186" border="0" /></a>We stopped at a small store to get directions to <a href="http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm">Antelope Canyon</a> since we didn't have a specific address for the GPS.<br /><br />There are two slot canyons you can visit with Navajo guides. We chose the upper canyon, which doesn't require descent on a rock wall ladder. We did, however, take a bumpy 3-mile ride on the back of a transport vehicle. The road is a very dusty riverbed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DRC-V5QiAWVXm1oLTIBAxTEn1HaiJII4O-jsD_-XmgV-wuiJ_h2azzI0LhbVUHT0RNNby8otzRVxZCLE2FK3RV159G247rf4U5FXUdFVdpHy55Y-yfnIPX7XOB_oa7qIiz2RtA/s1600/entrance.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DRC-V5QiAWVXm1oLTIBAxTEn1HaiJII4O-jsD_-XmgV-wuiJ_h2azzI0LhbVUHT0RNNby8otzRVxZCLE2FK3RV159G247rf4U5FXUdFVdpHy55Y-yfnIPX7XOB_oa7qIiz2RtA/s400/entrance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667783758577940450" border="0" /></a>Entrance to upper Antelope Canyon<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUounSNQotkf3P86fRR-fw9KTFkf4SIN_q4uFTbmlT6bomrKunFSPQOqJgkMri4gBvvVIF630dxxF1C9a3GKqP5QcvVN7agVjXX1NSaKp-OhlSlUhJEF59V9fjm1O3eDitl0YZA/s1600/Canyon1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUounSNQotkf3P86fRR-fw9KTFkf4SIN_q4uFTbmlT6bomrKunFSPQOqJgkMri4gBvvVIF630dxxF1C9a3GKqP5QcvVN7agVjXX1NSaKp-OhlSlUhJEF59V9fjm1O3eDitl0YZA/s400/Canyon1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667783762211816914" border="0" /></a>The colors change with the light. When the sun is overhead, light beams come into different sections of the canyon for brief appearances. We were too late in the day and in the year to catch a sunbeam. But it was not disappointing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi3F8J8fntcvy5cgDgW9Rk13y10dJEpz89hRH3tjYgyiHNm1CTT9DVvR8hjkVuB46177GIin3xTxWyJk1UIbqJCi1pmSqMv_0u99d3LtNOIPRyQvoMZkLWBWWchyphenhyphenQRycg-dfgOw/s1600/Canyon3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi3F8J8fntcvy5cgDgW9Rk13y10dJEpz89hRH3tjYgyiHNm1CTT9DVvR8hjkVuB46177GIin3xTxWyJk1UIbqJCi1pmSqMv_0u99d3LtNOIPRyQvoMZkLWBWWchyphenhyphenQRycg-dfgOw/s400/Canyon3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667785683153365938" border="0" /></a>The shutter speed on our camera slowed way down because the light is low. You have to stand very still or use a tripod.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTXg0cUlrQKZvtWNofYuaL3BN18Zzxuw2fL2EEp_1svxB3KXbVTlXWrrLCn2dCyZrAaZSuL01udFHOVvkUN4DOCDQvMGhcYQkFrruYGrBTVu0NflJpQV8XHbuwdkbLmGYEkhnTw/s1600/Canyon2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTXg0cUlrQKZvtWNofYuaL3BN18Zzxuw2fL2EEp_1svxB3KXbVTlXWrrLCn2dCyZrAaZSuL01udFHOVvkUN4DOCDQvMGhcYQkFrruYGrBTVu0NflJpQV8XHbuwdkbLmGYEkhnTw/s400/Canyon2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667785673469743202" border="0" /></a>The guides know where to stand to get the best photos. Our guide took this one. If you rotate it clockwise 90 degrees, it forms a heart.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjel3UYyppoCaFxqZZTEfiy_pbRt81BBwSylptHU6TPIcvHXfawPKmz9gqaBE3dPcWqPBcVBgyJAbmTRuDK83WoVUDj9w1UEw9ZYk9lK4cXGszzZQhMwqhccGHYijSEVZS45GjuEA/s1600/Canyon5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjel3UYyppoCaFxqZZTEfiy_pbRt81BBwSylptHU6TPIcvHXfawPKmz9gqaBE3dPcWqPBcVBgyJAbmTRuDK83WoVUDj9w1UEw9ZYk9lK4cXGszzZQhMwqhccGHYijSEVZS45GjuEA/s400/Canyon5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667787735882129458" border="0" /></a>That's me on the right, standing in the exit. We went back through to the entrance. The light had totally changed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyG10v5reCb97KLomErRwf2HNzI2Fsvgo0YfvJKYbY5nuz1y_MoRPPE-eTbpQ3-fpef0mTNXARD5JAbO3L7T8qEqR3rKl8aQD1-0Oj-bv7cI-s_P228-gbAOBTmnUw5ooTjrwdJw/s1600/Canyon6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyG10v5reCb97KLomErRwf2HNzI2Fsvgo0YfvJKYbY5nuz1y_MoRPPE-eTbpQ3-fpef0mTNXARD5JAbO3L7T8qEqR3rKl8aQD1-0Oj-bv7cI-s_P228-gbAOBTmnUw5ooTjrwdJw/s400/Canyon6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667787745424141602" border="0" /></a><br />These canyons are formed by fast flowing water. Runoff from even a small storm will quickly fill the cavern.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZQyj88w1cB2x2RQfMV-xKXTZc_7ReFN5-qLlcN4SnK4vJOCnURFUxA0AuNUAcSz8QP4BXGm_gkiTTPVzOFNKAx-cs_p-19RyvWjbYUxq8G3mjvcXut_xEt2HxHqCqSkGJXOxnA/s1600/Canyon4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZQyj88w1cB2x2RQfMV-xKXTZc_7ReFN5-qLlcN4SnK4vJOCnURFUxA0AuNUAcSz8QP4BXGm_gkiTTPVzOFNKAx-cs_p-19RyvWjbYUxq8G3mjvcXut_xEt2HxHqCqSkGJXOxnA/s400/Canyon4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667787730218058738" border="0" /></a>This photo shows debris on a ledge left by the last rain storm. (The water was that high.) The wet sandstone erodes easily. The water washes out sand as it exits the canyon, so the floor is lower after a storm. Then winds blow in dry sand, which falls down from the openings on top to refill the canyon. The floor level changes all the time.<br /><br />This photo shows a branch that was washed in during a storm in the past.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIHFy4hzX3CoRpG6nVK5RrN1w6TZYbP5u7pF6sfPnPtbEGKkGCl9Rb1aBr824H7ax0Zoh4c0m4HQyQi8CrdXo9lctkvhmsENqR4kvRR8rybb9_WQxVzxbh_Xg4FAfGeWu-ikF-A/s1600/Canyon7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIHFy4hzX3CoRpG6nVK5RrN1w6TZYbP5u7pF6sfPnPtbEGKkGCl9Rb1aBr824H7ax0Zoh4c0m4HQyQi8CrdXo9lctkvhmsENqR4kvRR8rybb9_WQxVzxbh_Xg4FAfGeWu-ikF-A/s400/Canyon7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667791848098767266" border="0" /></a>The sand on the ledge was left from the most recent storm.<br /><br />Tours are cancelled for about three days after a storm. It rained the day after we were there.<br /><br />Here is one last photo, taken on our drive back to Flagstaff.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYXzoLORLFPrflglkzz3XCB14DO9Iwk3pdzqIpy5sJYSowDvS8rBv3jNfJo9lNFmShZa18ZfAgVeAAg1lVexkF3wtS5kZk-cUdVN8D1pSaP2Nbgov_xS61vtkpoqpSAiqkVYVMg/s1600/BackFlag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYXzoLORLFPrflglkzz3XCB14DO9Iwk3pdzqIpy5sJYSowDvS8rBv3jNfJo9lNFmShZa18ZfAgVeAAg1lVexkF3wtS5kZk-cUdVN8D1pSaP2Nbgov_xS61vtkpoqpSAiqkVYVMg/s400/BackFlag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667793139886729346" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-40783449493487082152011-10-24T04:58:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:03:49.564-07:00Meteor Crater & Petrified ForestOur goal for the day was to visit the <a href="http://www.meteorcrater.com/">Meteor Crater</a> and then drive further on I-40 to see the Petrified Forest and some of the Painted Desert.<br /><br />Here is a fragment of the meteorite that hit the ground near Winslow, Arizona about 50,000 years ago. It went into the ground and then exploded, killing everything within a 14 mile radius, and leaving a large crater. The blast was 20 megatons, or 1000 times the blast of the Hiroshima bomb.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif33_hnoRz04wbgG4fcU2tinpq9INaZtDsABnQXuSkWhP3sV503UiiLjuqAP2UIM86B1FSucYU0cEr5o2XIX6nyHBhKCaY0qAdb2lw4FJ_raGkKe9spp0KFNHGd2c4V27nDbtM2g/s1600/Meteorite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif33_hnoRz04wbgG4fcU2tinpq9INaZtDsABnQXuSkWhP3sV503UiiLjuqAP2UIM86B1FSucYU0cEr5o2XIX6nyHBhKCaY0qAdb2lw4FJ_raGkKe9spp0KFNHGd2c4V27nDbtM2g/s400/Meteorite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667031134650570034" border="0" /></a><br />As meteorites go, it wasn't that large but it was dense (made of nickel and iron) and is estimated to have been traveling about 26,000 miles per hour when it hit.<br /><br />Based on the shape of the crater, which is round but has four distinct corners, the angle of entry could have been anything from 30 degrees to 90 degrees. An angle of less than 30 degrees produces an oblong crater.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxzMg-NHXxua4Z5zv0Ypxk2_xQx2cXbfn948nIJGnzbYvncGVKLCALQEmQunJ9P33mTR7H4hQKOVEv-GGsm312HiBbLU9sedgUoZUoSiwuRf_gUiySvIwzqM5Y302AHVzodxt-Q/s1600/RimGuide.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxzMg-NHXxua4Z5zv0Ypxk2_xQx2cXbfn948nIJGnzbYvncGVKLCALQEmQunJ9P33mTR7H4hQKOVEv-GGsm312HiBbLU9sedgUoZUoSiwuRf_gUiySvIwzqM5Y302AHVzodxt-Q/s400/RimGuide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667031144394011138" border="0" /></a><br />Our guide on the walk on the rim told us that initially the crater was believed to be the result of a volcanic steam explosion. But mining engineer and property owner Daniel Barringer believed it was an impact crater. He invested many years and a lot of money mining the area at the center searching for the buried meteor to prove his theory.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvAH-qc0Fe1Q77slrbZWijHkFotYaTqmeZ5bU5gmDFOf6rZnrw6sCqxZz84mNM0bYPyJQueh-96NCNLT1nss6cUnS53wMLJqOCbY1XGve2kH9q28uCmPAD2ZF4hNKpyJDquCMxw/s1600/Crater.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvAH-qc0Fe1Q77slrbZWijHkFotYaTqmeZ5bU5gmDFOf6rZnrw6sCqxZz84mNM0bYPyJQueh-96NCNLT1nss6cUnS53wMLJqOCbY1XGve2kH9q28uCmPAD2ZF4hNKpyJDquCMxw/s400/Crater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667042394418906674" border="0" /></a><br />It turns out he should have been searching the area outside the crater, where the explosion had thrown the fragments.<br /><br />It was Eugene Shoemaker, the first geologist scheduled to walk on the moon, who finally proved that this was an impact crater. One hint was the inverted layers at top, along the rim. The oldest rock now rests at the top.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8OgUGuYkJUF7zWAvb3ymQrviaRK0OabnubK0XSqrRGpG56i2avBfsyB09w4HD8SsgUMWgmPEBeAekByJSIqMKwjVWUocAqEJPpy8Z8lr2rx8W9au0_GofCSaWpp1ghQc_iOKlg/s1600/UpliftRim.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8OgUGuYkJUF7zWAvb3ymQrviaRK0OabnubK0XSqrRGpG56i2avBfsyB09w4HD8SsgUMWgmPEBeAekByJSIqMKwjVWUocAqEJPpy8Z8lr2rx8W9au0_GofCSaWpp1ghQc_iOKlg/s400/UpliftRim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667043303332106914" border="0" /></a><br />Shoemaker was disqualified from the Apollo astronaut program when he was diagnosed with Addison's disease. Instead, he trained future astronauts--bringing them to the Meteor Crater and to Sunset Crater (the volcanic area we visited on Day 7). Both areas are similar to terrain the astronauts would experience on the moon.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Shoemaker continued to look for scientific verification that this was an impact crater. He found it on a visit to the atomic bomb test site in Nevada. At the test site, he found shocked quartz--created by the blast. The same shocked quartz is present in the soil at Meteor Crater. Since then, scientists have found shocked quartz at other meteorite impact sites around the world. There are about 150 known meteorite impact sites worldwide.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcajnGjec68-2thiSpJJj6Rh5x61vFu4uX48wnpfzLQMg0mDNxBaEBQz8DuDIILnZTe7Om4wqcpEQgtwNZrHjP9B-Pzxlgluv8yLHYWcbzIHSL6ZIZglQgTCGO5_zlCtv5Yce9pQ/s1600/Outcrop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcajnGjec68-2thiSpJJj6Rh5x61vFu4uX48wnpfzLQMg0mDNxBaEBQz8DuDIILnZTe7Om4wqcpEQgtwNZrHjP9B-Pzxlgluv8yLHYWcbzIHSL6ZIZglQgTCGO5_zlCtv5Yce9pQ/s400/Outcrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667044720012149474" border="0" /></a><br />The property is still privately owned by the Barringer family. We paid $14 each to get in. There are viewing platforms as well as the walking tour on the rim with the guide. Only a few people get permission to take the primitive path to the bottom.<br /><br />The rocks in this area contain many fossils. Here are a couple of examples the guide showed us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG8ghPFApiMpnGqzMVH8YOLVpAJeNzpGQT1s7NO73RopA3BZOFhJDGVIAn7OnfDn6Tc5GE8SZKghzo_ZI64sEfdCJT95QJoIkG6fK5uHfAcIZm23LDizEgifXWeO4dFGfIGu2Ww/s1600/Fossils.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG8ghPFApiMpnGqzMVH8YOLVpAJeNzpGQT1s7NO73RopA3BZOFhJDGVIAn7OnfDn6Tc5GE8SZKghzo_ZI64sEfdCJT95QJoIkG6fK5uHfAcIZm23LDizEgifXWeO4dFGfIGu2Ww/s400/Fossils.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667046520941097906" border="0" /></a>The movie Starman with Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen was filmed at the crater.<br /><br />Back on the I-40 we decided to stop for lunch in Winslow at the <a href="http://theturquoiseroom.net/">Turquoise Room</a> in the La Posada Hotel, another railroad hotel designed by Mary Colton. This one is the site of the Winslow Amtrak stop. You can sit outside in a rocking chair while you wait for your train to arrive. The inside is similar to La Fonda in Santa Fe, NM, which she also designed.<br /><br />The food was outstanding. I ordered the Lamb Churro Posole.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dJ2fDxQHeU67-62VODCEid-MKUCtGDjbcHEe4NXJlIPLR6JuT_u7ohbV8osMCcRZ_xtxCqO_MZqRC5Pf5SS8_XsVQYh0QEod9JfpN81BRp8jir5CdBJ4zbZKqCBs6fbS3fjhqw/s1600/BBQBison.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dJ2fDxQHeU67-62VODCEid-MKUCtGDjbcHEe4NXJlIPLR6JuT_u7ohbV8osMCcRZ_xtxCqO_MZqRC5Pf5SS8_XsVQYh0QEod9JfpN81BRp8jir5CdBJ4zbZKqCBs6fbS3fjhqw/s400/BBQBison.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667053935786508402" border="0" /></a><br />The free range heritage breed lamb comes from a ranch in Newcombe, NM. It was tender and the broth intensely flavorful.<br /><br />Dave ordered the Barbequed Bison Short Rib Sandwich.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaVVCDdQc3UpcKMGrcUzURqO-cFjgimFjGyVdO9Z1QPS9BClVPMBFNN7Jzr_06OagkM-WWuPRyYFFdaSDjrCSO9GBei-BQnE_TEE_68aBUTRxsiu9awvI9quPi2mnBtALcwEVXA/s1600/BisonSand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaVVCDdQc3UpcKMGrcUzURqO-cFjgimFjGyVdO9Z1QPS9BClVPMBFNN7Jzr_06OagkM-WWuPRyYFFdaSDjrCSO9GBei-BQnE_TEE_68aBUTRxsiu9awvI9quPi2mnBtALcwEVXA/s400/BisonSand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667058439253459618" border="0" /></a><br />The chef used a blackberry barbecue sauce on the pulled meat and topped it with a chipotle slaw. The bun was a La Brea Telme roll, slightly crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. The sweet potato fries were lightly crisp.<br /><br />All entrees are served with Mesquite glazed cornbread.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpq0Bmt6qmdt_Zlmq9HfJ2NDjZZkjoa-dOwVAsQHkiVocDx3GKbY7iCV4t29qdq2aOT1mPOW2efNDpC6uAvCLPjRe5_QngvWNMjmUDoGmsR4TwBA8G59hSge0VGfBBCPHi0Tkqw/s1600/MesquiteSyrup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpq0Bmt6qmdt_Zlmq9HfJ2NDjZZkjoa-dOwVAsQHkiVocDx3GKbY7iCV4t29qdq2aOT1mPOW2efNDpC6uAvCLPjRe5_QngvWNMjmUDoGmsR4TwBA8G59hSge0VGfBBCPHi0Tkqw/s400/MesquiteSyrup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667057125829063378" border="0" /></a><br />I'm guessing the glaze is made with a mesquite tea that is made into a glaze.<br /><br />After lunch we continued east to Holbrook and then took the road to the Petrified Forest National Park. I noticed that as we got closer, the landscape still looked like a desert, with no large trees.<br /><br />Uhh, there is no forest. Well, there was a forest here 225 million years ago, but that was when Arizona was close to equator.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2yzMMVEKuH9Rh96W5dU5-wtjwugePe6eOBsIO9Wym1viwzNV6b3BxFiH-cGrRuXMDglWxtUcIsh21hADDqNW9xNSgoVcx-bx9LOAoj-ev_iNhcT2VAwI3AZiOPsXjfOcn1bGuw/s1600/PetrifiedLogs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2yzMMVEKuH9Rh96W5dU5-wtjwugePe6eOBsIO9Wym1viwzNV6b3BxFiH-cGrRuXMDglWxtUcIsh21hADDqNW9xNSgoVcx-bx9LOAoj-ev_iNhcT2VAwI3AZiOPsXjfOcn1bGuw/s400/PetrifiedLogs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667279619460448002" border="0" /></a>These trees died along the waterways, floated downstream, formed log jams, and became buried under layers of sediment.<br /><br />Silica from volcano ash gradually replaced the organic wood. Iron, manganese, and carbon also replaced the wood, adding to the range of colors as the trees hardened into petrified wood.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xENGwwYCtFCnq4BFDjtaadeoZHbREeuA8kP6WAPJz8utUoI-lVYIJDlw69FqHjeNRY8t2jfXgCk2uM2ga12RZpHjtSFgy0Z8pY1u-g1Ar4QLtgqgif4QT8eP9KElYiM7ZYS3Fw/s1600/InsideLog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xENGwwYCtFCnq4BFDjtaadeoZHbREeuA8kP6WAPJz8utUoI-lVYIJDlw69FqHjeNRY8t2jfXgCk2uM2ga12RZpHjtSFgy0Z8pY1u-g1Ar4QLtgqgif4QT8eP9KElYiM7ZYS3Fw/s400/InsideLog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667279623730990802" border="0" /></a><br />The park is trying to preserve these specimens but theft is ongoing. They are truly beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnMlf9oJMThWrIhBxtzg7Gpq0i2-01ifec1pjcBuhYhDLuAlxQfJ5INdEK60REk-nzeMOoZmWXniFbcmgakxXkaFiNQaBaVDpsOI6XED3QdVuhLMY8RQsB-tFJI18TrDAJViMhw/s1600/Petrified2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnMlf9oJMThWrIhBxtzg7Gpq0i2-01ifec1pjcBuhYhDLuAlxQfJ5INdEK60REk-nzeMOoZmWXniFbcmgakxXkaFiNQaBaVDpsOI6XED3QdVuhLMY8RQsB-tFJI18TrDAJViMhw/s400/Petrified2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667283449178093458" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-u5L0oXy5eOoRR4WJzFk_0KmVq4x40RWjk-xKThp2sNw3Ty6B3yl4Kt5yjRLlFnpMAi4sO92G5LAtYTRmcvKnCcyWzdgovy0mpBOvZn0NZ5UEakDG3gP6zrhVhQCXo-rdA1YLg/s1600/Petrified3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-u5L0oXy5eOoRR4WJzFk_0KmVq4x40RWjk-xKThp2sNw3Ty6B3yl4Kt5yjRLlFnpMAi4sO92G5LAtYTRmcvKnCcyWzdgovy0mpBOvZn0NZ5UEakDG3gP6zrhVhQCXo-rdA1YLg/s400/Petrified3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667283456261721234" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlmMcKLKmlRnkS0vtGMBpZykxKMYg2hF-pkYRcH3_8Z42kzkE9CHaCaIl5VFnxTRpEj2k6RyMIVOe8nVGxzJtpqMN30U64BPMRxy87BTFH0fVnn5H_je3MUvv7nFGYqUggpSLWw/s1600/Petrified1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlmMcKLKmlRnkS0vtGMBpZykxKMYg2hF-pkYRcH3_8Z42kzkE9CHaCaIl5VFnxTRpEj2k6RyMIVOe8nVGxzJtpqMN30U64BPMRxy87BTFH0fVnn5H_je3MUvv7nFGYqUggpSLWw/s400/Petrified1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667284406005654642" border="0" /></a>They do sell petrified wood at the National Park gift shop, but it's from private property, not the National Forest property. Fines for picking up "free" samples are $350.<br /><br />If you continue on the road through the forest back to I-40, you go through Painted Desert. We were leaving after 5 pm so we weren't allowed to stop to take photos. These are photos taken from the car window.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3DZKKqMTqFef2F6e7kapmStvWQ9Bs7Y94NSQcVbe1x_IUxZ_BzHRERRrR1TP1aaLshvIxrVGK-MBW7-Ll9Oc7qsnNjxBTG3STNqtT2vne1bvZDj3hU9J6dgMWtINn9UY8XQFZA/s1600/PaintedDesert.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3DZKKqMTqFef2F6e7kapmStvWQ9Bs7Y94NSQcVbe1x_IUxZ_BzHRERRrR1TP1aaLshvIxrVGK-MBW7-Ll9Oc7qsnNjxBTG3STNqtT2vne1bvZDj3hU9J6dgMWtINn9UY8XQFZA/s400/PaintedDesert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667287352362511906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK50_KIL6oxsddzkTNBbYrY2flp0XI-W0PNE4oNzAk9UYG7mO2BuaLPpnDsOOYP-_SVrOBNxFsU8UFjxs03zIRIZeDxumBDtRdsOXGbdR92aIxauEKs2E5U19b6s_YTRgpYGHklg/s1600/Texture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK50_KIL6oxsddzkTNBbYrY2flp0XI-W0PNE4oNzAk9UYG7mO2BuaLPpnDsOOYP-_SVrOBNxFsU8UFjxs03zIRIZeDxumBDtRdsOXGbdR92aIxauEKs2E5U19b6s_YTRgpYGHklg/s400/Texture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667287361156770162" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemSFvg_EIiUibCEFMjkVoJ4AKZLIM7uTVwvNLIwoDp_Ljj9ChH-F8Ozvx3tUklqH9lCJqaZl0Ysksc9mZVbvGkMpD8nZZw8De2ziPix29GfpqhqHtioKQ_rveGJRZVXOKfRLckw/s1600/PaintColors.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemSFvg_EIiUibCEFMjkVoJ4AKZLIM7uTVwvNLIwoDp_Ljj9ChH-F8Ozvx3tUklqH9lCJqaZl0Ysksc9mZVbvGkMpD8nZZw8De2ziPix29GfpqhqHtioKQ_rveGJRZVXOKfRLckw/s400/PaintColors.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667287348489371634" border="0" /></a>Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-35881479302145789822011-10-22T23:45:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:13:23.001-07:00Sunset Crater, Cafe Daily Fare, & Criollo Latin KitchenToday was a short travel day. We've decided to stay 3 nights in Flagstaff. I had work to do in the morning so Dave went out look for a UV filter for our camera.<br /><br />He was back in time for lunch. I'd read about <a href="http://www.simplydeliciousflagstaff.com/dailyfare/index.html">Cafe Daily Fare</a> on Yelp. What drew me in was the mention of Blackberry Duck Tacos. Owner Nancy McCulla has been a caterer for 30 years. Three years ago her friends and clients finally convinced her to open a restaurant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvheAp5re3v5DLZDLIRc2IqQ-BoW4LHm2s1oLwmrplDD1QjD0isqb4YQxWDDlf-4bMOY1Lfa2twsvE6ZOhihlRlN0SKYA6W5yqoeYs-WYYa_ikNSzrr2yE7SbCS8vv4pCqh8gOw/s1600/DuckTaco.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvheAp5re3v5DLZDLIRc2IqQ-BoW4LHm2s1oLwmrplDD1QjD0isqb4YQxWDDlf-4bMOY1Lfa2twsvE6ZOhihlRlN0SKYA6W5yqoeYs-WYYa_ikNSzrr2yE7SbCS8vv4pCqh8gOw/s400/DuckTaco.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666582349318632674" border="0" /></a><br />The duck tacos consist of blackberry marinated duck, with habanero aioli, goat cheese, arugula, jicama, and toasted pumpkin seeds.<br /><br />Dave had a poblano chili stuffed with pumpkin, corn, zucchini, red peppers, and a queso type cheese.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRh-31PMjXq-u4Pqh9MSKNpY_WenpDqbKWA3roPgT8CtazrBOXheo_u81zpR94GTD0MU3thzDBnBNpY-1aOMcDhYhbw9rqJ0bOCOPzFFExrkR2-8QGJtbrS_paQIzdnYgH4mvSQ/s1600/Poblano.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRh-31PMjXq-u4Pqh9MSKNpY_WenpDqbKWA3roPgT8CtazrBOXheo_u81zpR94GTD0MU3thzDBnBNpY-1aOMcDhYhbw9rqJ0bOCOPzFFExrkR2-8QGJtbrS_paQIzdnYgH4mvSQ/s400/Poblano.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666582353946537138" border="0" /></a>Both items came with a house spring green salad with apples, smoked gouda, and toasted pine nuts in a curried cider vinaigrette. Mine also had a corn and black bean salad.<br /><br />We were so happy to have found this small cafe.<br /><br />We headed up Hwy 89 to visit the Sunset Crater. This volcano erupted 1000 years ago.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy84MtWOLJtVO_asTvhlV6SZ1yeA1sHBhtF5slRNTBTdOWBR-89poAqpfOiBjNM1rDGT9PbGKx358yRyzw6XuipbJk-FzTDjU_d6Kjop-MBcGKfSbdmBQ8sLOzaJR-cqhcAo-xFQ/s1600/Sunset+Crater.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy84MtWOLJtVO_asTvhlV6SZ1yeA1sHBhtF5slRNTBTdOWBR-89poAqpfOiBjNM1rDGT9PbGKx358yRyzw6XuipbJk-FzTDjU_d6Kjop-MBcGKfSbdmBQ8sLOzaJR-cqhcAo-xFQ/s400/Sunset+Crater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666582371064880930" border="0" /></a><br />The red is lava that had iron in it. The iron has oxidized, like rust.<br /><br />But there is plenty of black lava flow to see alongside the road.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr-LCCsgWGlyuuPN_WsEL8PAWunIgLX-X-PorWdp8UF7TAmmjwflgZ3AsSNapcYeH3E37bQ43CD37RyK_A6N22xyQmeMStDW-di_zrB7VIxwCLYCTU3f5AZZKD_8CJoX5-TWksw/s1600/Lava.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr-LCCsgWGlyuuPN_WsEL8PAWunIgLX-X-PorWdp8UF7TAmmjwflgZ3AsSNapcYeH3E37bQ43CD37RyK_A6N22xyQmeMStDW-di_zrB7VIxwCLYCTU3f5AZZKD_8CJoX5-TWksw/s400/Lava.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666575920632552322" border="0" /></a>The appearance of green lichen is a good sign.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZU-_XcoYLuPSebBVA_7XnNkgI5DymliSaAlF1WHWnKLpq52dASAQfZipwczc7VQ7cvp_I4dDpmAvNzAnMk-u_sSwsvRK6pqy2XicHgwOMIAUEt8d7PTkilz9Iy1oD6Df1jjlDg/s1600/Lichen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZU-_XcoYLuPSebBVA_7XnNkgI5DymliSaAlF1WHWnKLpq52dASAQfZipwczc7VQ7cvp_I4dDpmAvNzAnMk-u_sSwsvRK6pqy2XicHgwOMIAUEt8d7PTkilz9Iy1oD6Df1jjlDg/s400/Lichen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666575924408434866" border="0" /></a>Lichen that is green is healthy lichen and it helps to break down the rock... although progress is slow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJcAYNOoBi0zNTd-mQczjSjp89_MNja9zJnAI7keoJiKlTmL75hEwsalYv1Fpqvo6zWlWJ75PBwbc41oLiFMXtQg9KY_zdiW-hwECmO07sYLNbMmG505bVFvSdeUEbLyMCiGblg/s1600/Trail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJcAYNOoBi0zNTd-mQczjSjp89_MNja9zJnAI7keoJiKlTmL75hEwsalYv1Fpqvo6zWlWJ75PBwbc41oLiFMXtQg9KY_zdiW-hwECmO07sYLNbMmG505bVFvSdeUEbLyMCiGblg/s400/Trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666584736442703842" border="0" /></a>This part of the lava flow trail didn't seem too inviting. We opted to take the shorter version.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpKS0iNiXczv-8L4l_dK6cDkqt8WB2Llgzhfo6F7iRtyg2-S2NREa3YYMc9M2sXTzozrvSwylrfufmnwUzuqy5yWdzhru8TmXWcSLcVYYCV7VSzHTh3-Jxise8OlL6YoyaMvGhQ/s1600/Sidewalk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpKS0iNiXczv-8L4l_dK6cDkqt8WB2Llgzhfo6F7iRtyg2-S2NREa3YYMc9M2sXTzozrvSwylrfufmnwUzuqy5yWdzhru8TmXWcSLcVYYCV7VSzHTh3-Jxise8OlL6YoyaMvGhQ/s400/Sidewalk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666584742659003794" border="0" /></a><br />The shorter trail had sidewalk. Note how the lava flow stopped right at the edge of the sidewalk... 1000 years ago.<br /><br />Leaving the volcanic area, we entered an adjacent area with ruins of dwelling built by native people who lived there 800 years ago. There are several ruins to visit. This is the Wukoki site.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC2krQRcUK9nHB0JUyP0OrM_LzNw2c8FkJ5L8KEogYMI4YTHBmPVc-nGpm4OjiBzCEVGH-ghz65nUytcbpXgJHnaYbH2dUx_yom923IUzMvtuelakjw6FpvmCspIXkptCuskeQg/s1600/Wukoki+Ruins.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC2krQRcUK9nHB0JUyP0OrM_LzNw2c8FkJ5L8KEogYMI4YTHBmPVc-nGpm4OjiBzCEVGH-ghz65nUytcbpXgJHnaYbH2dUx_yom923IUzMvtuelakjw6FpvmCspIXkptCuskeQg/s400/Wukoki+Ruins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666586363246991090" border="0" /></a><br />They clearly used local materials in building this three-story dwelling. It is built right on top of a rock outcropping. The view was panoramic. Unfortunately we got there too late to visit the other ruins.<br /><br />For dinner I checked Yelp again looking for another organic seasonal restaurant. <a href="http://criollolatinkitchen.com/">Criollo Latin Kitchen</a> looked good. It was. The local food standards in Flagstaff are high. The waitress told us they'd changed one of the menu items because they had been unable to get a sustainably caught fish of that variety.<br /><br />We chose two appetizers and a main course.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1W7AIRLELBGl4UOztl9Q_l1XMyGwsQAO3rVdblKGRRgAAdpCnSkJ8vkaP8akvW2tIiOfo-M1zZMokpcbDGi7qnOSq96_4GQRpxkh7krxP2UkCcQRvdj-yvSXnIIPY2ZAImozoOg/s1600/PorkTender.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1W7AIRLELBGl4UOztl9Q_l1XMyGwsQAO3rVdblKGRRgAAdpCnSkJ8vkaP8akvW2tIiOfo-M1zZMokpcbDGi7qnOSq96_4GQRpxkh7krxP2UkCcQRvdj-yvSXnIIPY2ZAImozoOg/s400/PorkTender.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666589357988725394" border="0" /></a><br />The main course was Mojo Marinated Pork Tenderloin with grilled potato cactus cakes on a bed of Spanish lentils in a red chili sauce. Incredibly tender pork sourced from Heritage Foods. For appetizers we had Diver Scallops with quinoa mixed with finely chopped vegetables and sliced almonds. The other appetizer was their Criollo tamale filled with roasted corn, green chili, and served with Tajo cheese.<br /><br />Much as I would have liked to have tasted the Tres Leches Cake with homemade pineapple ice cream, I just couldn't eat any more. Perhaps another visit.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-26916438900270601212011-10-22T07:05:00.001-07:002011-11-04T15:47:09.914-07:00Grand CanyonYesterday was a light on food and heavy on photography. We got a good space in the Grand Canyon visitor parking lot and ate a quick car breakfast (crackers, cheese, local apples, and local water). Then we were off to catch the free shuttle to the western side of the south rim. Our planned destination was a short walk down the Bright Angel Trail.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcpetOTV0TS1cAZuuT1v61hDmLbssf1IaJFChEHgU57ecrzXmheu9LVU6hkUeAOpa7KLNXKvCLRwuhXS-le1GVBbhRJiuoEe4NnfpngjwLgyVHnrPVzUhS6Fs0FPJCjhb74TQ5Q/s1600/BrightAngel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcpetOTV0TS1cAZuuT1v61hDmLbssf1IaJFChEHgU57ecrzXmheu9LVU6hkUeAOpa7KLNXKvCLRwuhXS-le1GVBbhRJiuoEe4NnfpngjwLgyVHnrPVzUhS6Fs0FPJCjhb74TQ5Q/s400/BrightAngel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666317578426033058" border="0" /></a>Lots of hikers coming up from spending the night at the bottom and more hikers going down. We saw one guy running up. Some hikers we met told us about a guy they'd just met who had hiked to the bottom from the north rim and was hiking up to the south rim all in the same day... in spite of the frequent warnings not to hike down and up in the same day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt9mr-k6w7f0ngplr0kX1fn0ovqIdFZA2kSZODMLQMK9Q4MoF1Iz5dRlKba3AhEep_I2flg0tQxjHb2XoytyCFQOHOEJ6Fzs2HMMBTQvigsUqhuh-D1hogKv0662cx2auuG7QrA/s1600/TrailPeo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt9mr-k6w7f0ngplr0kX1fn0ovqIdFZA2kSZODMLQMK9Q4MoF1Iz5dRlKba3AhEep_I2flg0tQxjHb2XoytyCFQOHOEJ6Fzs2HMMBTQvigsUqhuh-D1hogKv0662cx2auuG7QrA/s400/TrailPeo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666318533905544818" border="0" /></a><br />No, we didn't walk the 7.8 miles to the canyon floor. Although going down would probably have been fine. We need some serious training from Wolfgang, our endurance coach, before we attempt the full walk. It was coming back up that worried us and we had lots more to see before dusk.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4UIE2IGzOCAG2Agkk_yLSmGbKIT7N1qjlqNLDTqRYnXc7m8IeJLzF1bCpTRyYkD0Dj26wgxOyfQUP1jWBi_wevJgEaTapJfm8LSkUH9i2HLv1rgFbpqb0FmjuqS-A-53tkd61A/s1600/RockWindow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4UIE2IGzOCAG2Agkk_yLSmGbKIT7N1qjlqNLDTqRYnXc7m8IeJLzF1bCpTRyYkD0Dj26wgxOyfQUP1jWBi_wevJgEaTapJfm8LSkUH9i2HLv1rgFbpqb0FmjuqS-A-53tkd61A/s400/RockWindow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666319154596251746" border="0" /></a>This doorway through the rock looks man-made but I think the round window on the left was nature-made.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19Kj2-eowHY_owUtgIzxcIa83nam4_4QH2gmnH7dZil7IiEDd1MHlaCNRFZuHbAoeQLnb5D2ChThNNXwh8Mpty9W-oTC201Zewl01O-KE532QR2mDQAErP_hmnzlpQeAmEno1NA/s1600/Treads.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19Kj2-eowHY_owUtgIzxcIa83nam4_4QH2gmnH7dZil7IiEDd1MHlaCNRFZuHbAoeQLnb5D2ChThNNXwh8Mpty9W-oTC201Zewl01O-KE532QR2mDQAErP_hmnzlpQeAmEno1NA/s400/Treads.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666319617362719458" border="0" /></a><br />Note the number of footprints from people who had already been on this path. Ours are somewhere in this mix. This is reminder to pay attention to the shoes you buy, because your footprint could become art.<br /><br />Back at the top, we caught the red shuttle which stops at multiple lookout points. We got off at Monument Creek Vista and took some photos.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0wRt3GNAyOhBQSmGXEsQ7DRMwX4E1NMV-0TMO0w9vWitl_kgAoVpOvbZ-F7FcwDMGkxdGWm6jnNimtgU3PTh7u2d302-dAc8DphPBzdJCYsXUQzCR44y6NOa1rJfESOkxHfkyw/s1600/TreeRock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0wRt3GNAyOhBQSmGXEsQ7DRMwX4E1NMV-0TMO0w9vWitl_kgAoVpOvbZ-F7FcwDMGkxdGWm6jnNimtgU3PTh7u2d302-dAc8DphPBzdJCYsXUQzCR44y6NOa1rJfESOkxHfkyw/s400/TreeRock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666320740832993906" border="0" /></a><br />That small tree on the left is growing out of the rock. Life is persistent.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfMCZX7XwW86hyRO7kl0yiqTaWMfuAP0yJAb8vtHmyktZBVJjXeV_nfLavr1pe6K7gbF7bb0JhT55XNEpvcykw00m8ITWwqtE4OX7VWPQTs4-vGWTQoVot_vW4H318ZJ73dt-YQ/s1600/TakingBreak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfMCZX7XwW86hyRO7kl0yiqTaWMfuAP0yJAb8vtHmyktZBVJjXeV_nfLavr1pe6K7gbF7bb0JhT55XNEpvcykw00m8ITWwqtE4OX7VWPQTs4-vGWTQoVot_vW4H318ZJ73dt-YQ/s400/TakingBreak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666321264987775346" border="0" /></a><br />The silence is restful. While we waited for the next shuttle, Dave took a break. Note the cool camera bag Dave is wearing. Thank you Maya!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-o0qY1fDg7UW43_0M56KyER-Ts5iO-jiF-BT4u-GjbVmsbCIR0e5gdH6S8-AMGPpYdkdcgnYZfFQC3etTvRpu2HwQyrbgH_rL_iKRbdNLlxfs09D-O-X3beHC6agpabUkiVeQg/s1600/HermitsRest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-o0qY1fDg7UW43_0M56KyER-Ts5iO-jiF-BT4u-GjbVmsbCIR0e5gdH6S8-AMGPpYdkdcgnYZfFQC3etTvRpu2HwQyrbgH_rL_iKRbdNLlxfs09D-O-X3beHC6agpabUkiVeQg/s400/HermitsRest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666327243806582546" border="0" /></a><br />The end point on the red shuttle is Hermit's Rest. This structure was designed by Mary Colter in 1914 for $13,000. We've been enjoying her architecture in the area. She worked with Fred Harvey as he built hospitality sites at railroad stops throughout the southwest. She concentrated on using local materials to create structures that blended into the surrounding environment.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikda1LuLP0eTAVB0m7fL5ZkFHPw-pg6GeBOx9NS8F5_FTdYCLwSGNY9lOEbI9yNoBhBec4k6wlw8F7VtAP8AKhMr3ok0ajHO2JrBfnnjPL6Forz2hZ2xXGNkouilLNUcoxa2UnRg/s1600/Ampitheather.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikda1LuLP0eTAVB0m7fL5ZkFHPw-pg6GeBOx9NS8F5_FTdYCLwSGNY9lOEbI9yNoBhBec4k6wlw8F7VtAP8AKhMr3ok0ajHO2JrBfnnjPL6Forz2hZ2xXGNkouilLNUcoxa2UnRg/s400/Ampitheather.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666323610911760898" border="0" /></a>We decided to walk the part of the rim between Mohave Point and Powell Point. The path there is close to the edge... but not too close. We thought the red structure in the distance looked like an really large amphitheater.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cz626HLSVChkYeK5mT_C38kZpjb8RUrO4C2jTTgo1stEyY9iyjqo2Qnxxm7jDlNhojjD1Bfv6WoajASXr0tD7lazV-nq0qo0YuTNmxyWXbd0ruI-Gig_Gea5idivYctwwh0pAw/s1600/GlowPlant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cz626HLSVChkYeK5mT_C38kZpjb8RUrO4C2jTTgo1stEyY9iyjqo2Qnxxm7jDlNhojjD1Bfv6WoajASXr0tD7lazV-nq0qo0YuTNmxyWXbd0ruI-Gig_Gea5idivYctwwh0pAw/s400/GlowPlant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666325415261573522" border="0" /></a><br />Along our path we saw this glowing plant. Like everything in the Grand Canyon, the right light at the right moment makes it magical.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3szzzkPWcqqqT-nGFWZsd0BsOixcZeyTTnpZhCzSHsAbxaRbfHjlMjvkb24GPPHzIiidQqgDrDB3WiV7UxJyrUKyDIUaWUk-G2DLWqKS37Yp8sXXtjNq57rIk0tV8PbFIIuwew/s1600/RedSkirt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3szzzkPWcqqqT-nGFWZsd0BsOixcZeyTTnpZhCzSHsAbxaRbfHjlMjvkb24GPPHzIiidQqgDrDB3WiV7UxJyrUKyDIUaWUk-G2DLWqKS37Yp8sXXtjNq57rIk0tV8PbFIIuwew/s400/RedSkirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666327885442971826" border="0" /></a><br />This rock face has an unusual depth of color and interesting erosion pattern. I think it should be called Fiesta Point.<br /><br />We took the blue shuttle back to our car and had a car picnic lunch. we made sandwiches with the leftover chicken strips we'd kept cold in our makeshift cooler. Even the lettuce was still crisp. We drank fresh water from the thermos we'd filled at one of many fresh water filling taps around the canyon (they are encouraging visitors to bring refillable bottles instead of discarding one-use plastic bottles). We finished off the meal with a little cranberry nut trail mix. Not bad!<br /><br />Then we headed east out of the park along Desert View Drive.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWKXy_BWg13ldKkW586sRBZDLUW4fgW_UlXNbaxoTlhsrGMGYCb9yN3WFQr0LSI0CU2wPmwsrcHWIQm5XX7YdvPisULlp4Zjhzh4jlHy5Y6NAjCogENC8mg-YPR1gztGEZb3NDA/s1600/RimShot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWKXy_BWg13ldKkW586sRBZDLUW4fgW_UlXNbaxoTlhsrGMGYCb9yN3WFQr0LSI0CU2wPmwsrcHWIQm5XX7YdvPisULlp4Zjhzh4jlHy5Y6NAjCogENC8mg-YPR1gztGEZb3NDA/s400/RimShot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666329765111208066" border="0" /></a> At one scenic stop a woman offered to take our picture. The shadows were growing longer in the canyon and our photos were losing their crispness. We were on Grand Canyon overload anyhow. We'd absorbed our maximum concentration of Grand Canyon beauty for one day.<br /><br />But when we left the park we entered Navajo lands, which surprised us with its own beauty.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Sgz8IxytfMsAuXgkc83dG6Eg6338qd9oddSiPQ22pvSrX9lb_EdEr2zMDWz9DeW6otcKAGBkyhr1xW6Z4vMI7z1qhZLWynIpJ12pPoqGJD_aANz3Wf3CmUqKzQszbIyyBSvHbA/s1600/NavahoLand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Sgz8IxytfMsAuXgkc83dG6Eg6338qd9oddSiPQ22pvSrX9lb_EdEr2zMDWz9DeW6otcKAGBkyhr1xW6Z4vMI7z1qhZLWynIpJ12pPoqGJD_aANz3Wf3CmUqKzQszbIyyBSvHbA/s400/NavahoLand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666328463356987218" border="0" /></a><br />The range of colors of soil in these hills was breathtaking--the colors of Native American blankets and pottery.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCeNw69yTXd4ZIipnPcU6SyL5s0BMMad9H9z3Y8Lg4FIUSMALXGBqd5GycRj9pWe2-MTnhsuwshbfBdEfIa3hKkpidjgvFNImgC8C7Y_wGrq0aCtSwervucP1_TDVKsYLmkqJ5g/s1600/NavahoSunst.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCeNw69yTXd4ZIipnPcU6SyL5s0BMMad9H9z3Y8Lg4FIUSMALXGBqd5GycRj9pWe2-MTnhsuwshbfBdEfIa3hKkpidjgvFNImgC8C7Y_wGrq0aCtSwervucP1_TDVKsYLmkqJ5g/s400/NavahoSunst.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666330248028730066" border="0" /></a>The sun was beginning to set so I wasn't able to capture many of these painted hillsides with my camera. We are going back that direction today to search out a little more.<br /><br />We spent Friday night in Flagstaff and have decided to spend another night here.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-o0qY1fDg7UW43_0M56KyER-Ts5iO-jiF-BT4u-GjbVmsbCIR0e5gdH6S8-AMGPpYdkdcgnYZfFQC3etTvRpu2HwQyrbgH_rL_iKRbdNLlxfs09D-O-X3beHC6agpabUkiVeQg/s1600/HermitsRest.jpg"><br /></a>Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-80492559898575060872011-10-20T19:59:00.000-07:002011-11-04T15:45:16.331-07:00Grand Canyon & Bright Angel LodgeIt is really difficult traveling outside the range of any Edible magazines. I've been trying to use Yelp but some of the posts aren't really all that helpful. At this point we are traveling somewhere between <span style="font-style: italic;">Edible Phoenix</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Edible Salt Lake</span>.<br /><br />Our bakery breakfast this morning was disappointing. Although the bread pudding was pretty good, the breakfast burrito wasn't, and the service was impatient.<br /><br />Good feelings were restored as we drove though Oak Creek Canyon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-7WHHwDUoX-6bTU05d5blXi-zHHDkaUhSHNH9dgE5wFAaBvZ_qW1AlfkiozCY8v-nBh-mEzMBcGEOsmGdqlfLqq2kX0v4hD8Cn-GJTRlOtTpzdLnduAQUXIVpOsndFKYhDDDZA/s1600/fall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-7WHHwDUoX-6bTU05d5blXi-zHHDkaUhSHNH9dgE5wFAaBvZ_qW1AlfkiozCY8v-nBh-mEzMBcGEOsmGdqlfLqq2kX0v4hD8Cn-GJTRlOtTpzdLnduAQUXIVpOsndFKYhDDDZA/s400/fall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665777214295570082" border="0" /></a>The fall colors are beginning to emerge. We also figured out how to hook my iPhone up to the AUX so I could play a little <a href="http://www.ctatheband.com/">California Transit Authority</a> on our car speakers. That was after we decided that even the BBC news wasn't making us feel better.<br /><br />At Williams, we stopped to get gas. Several Navajo jewelry makers had set up tables. I asked one of them about his juniper berry bracelets. The berries are dried after the chipmunks pierce an end to drink the juice. The jeweler uses an awl on the dried berry to extend the hole that the chipmunk made. These bracelets are believed to protect the wearer from bad dreams and evil spirits. Seems like an inexpensive alternative to a sleep study. The one I chose includes Blue Lace Agate for intelligence, warmth, and friendship. All worthy goals.<br /><br />In addition to the bracelet, we got some good advice about what to see when we go into the Navajo lands.<br /><br />We were too early to check into our room so the hotel clerk suggested we go see the IMAX movie of the Grand Canyon, buy our passes to the park, and go to the park for lunch. We thought the movie would be a cheap substitute for a helicopter flight. Unfortunately it didn't eliminate the airsickness part. And rather than focusing on the rock formation and erosion geology, it was more like a wild ride on the rapids posing as historical narrative.<br /><br />Afterwards we bought a lifetime senior pass for all National Parks (maybe it isn't so bad being a senior) for $10.<br /><br />When we got to the Visitor's Center we saw there was a ranger-guided geology walk starting at the Yavapai Geology Museum scheduled in an hour. So we went to the restaurant at the Yavapai Lodge for a quick lunch. The cafeteria-style format should have been our first hint that we would have been happier eating the stale olive bread and warm cheese in the car.<br /><br />We still hadn't seen the Canyon. It's strange, you really have no warning that it's there until you are suddenly at the rim.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5t2yhAvM3zOTnOZ11wJUMezBXwiflbjxVDnZ_GJC4pOHR4u7FIB7GZasf9L_SQG0rwBmC-BgE8yoJAozhA9R6EyXR07n6ycHT8bMJkjhvS1U5tD72fA03_q2JcDpbmyURoIsQA/s1600/FirstView.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5t2yhAvM3zOTnOZ11wJUMezBXwiflbjxVDnZ_GJC4pOHR4u7FIB7GZasf9L_SQG0rwBmC-BgE8yoJAozhA9R6EyXR07n6ycHT8bMJkjhvS1U5tD72fA03_q2JcDpbmyURoIsQA/s400/FirstView.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665785592580461010" border="0" /></a>This was our first view.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedEYgyiWCXsRBJUftmE8iGJsuGukTRbPGivETFd-_lEImU-uYjX7pdWapapLZ4zKXmBmPz1SppDa8MhcI8zlBubYf3J9_k706e5n9V990fsCtNh7aVlJhmgc5haRR2zgjmY_AsA/s1600/Canyon2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedEYgyiWCXsRBJUftmE8iGJsuGukTRbPGivETFd-_lEImU-uYjX7pdWapapLZ4zKXmBmPz1SppDa8MhcI8zlBubYf3J9_k706e5n9V990fsCtNh7aVlJhmgc5haRR2zgjmY_AsA/s400/Canyon2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665786857306817234" border="0" /></a>This is just before 2 pm. Note the shadows.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R4UqRobQsLYEqeSD9mz_49Gg1J4BCE1n3hL9w9-DDRC4YnFyeLH9ZtxVnTP1FNFHG8rxEp43Wnf517SUuyZi_O8JRHkuyA5l_Kul49o622m8l6jMBLruOvgRC43YRQ2iH499cg/s1600/GeoRanger.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R4UqRobQsLYEqeSD9mz_49Gg1J4BCE1n3hL9w9-DDRC4YnFyeLH9ZtxVnTP1FNFHG8rxEp43Wnf517SUuyZi_O8JRHkuyA5l_Kul49o622m8l6jMBLruOvgRC43YRQ2iH499cg/s400/GeoRanger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665788791032508002" border="0" /></a>We walked with the ranger to several viewing spots where he pointed out the types of rock and explained how the canyon formed over 5 million years. The hardest rock, igneous and metamorphic, is at the bottom. Sedimentary rock forms the upper layers. One of the unique things about the canyon is that the layers are mostly horizontal. An unusual type of collision of two tectonic plates (one slipping under the other) raised the Colorado River plateau rather than tilting it. Erosion continues to widen the canyon. I would have remembered more of what he said, but I was worried about how close he was to the edge.<br /><br />He told us that there are two ways to view the sunset. One is to watch the lengthening of the shadows and the other is to watch the sun move down below the horizon. Note that the shadows have begun to lengthen in the canyon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dUaWzQx02yJK1B1Rfoli97rNh_rCubynpwSYgzT2gKZQM0UqO0WSCsz1-hD5cWAG3FEG-wRBBmsCaROAme51sO62Q5B4l4QBX0dcv5veXQim8wyhWhlwMwb5bf10DVCjp4O3iw/s1600/LostLayers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dUaWzQx02yJK1B1Rfoli97rNh_rCubynpwSYgzT2gKZQM0UqO0WSCsz1-hD5cWAG3FEG-wRBBmsCaROAme51sO62Q5B4l4QBX0dcv5veXQim8wyhWhlwMwb5bf10DVCjp4O3iw/s400/LostLayers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665792105808985154" border="0" /></a><br />These red slopes are especially pretty and apparently somewhat puzzling to geologists.<br /><br />He asked us to think about how much dirt eroded away in the creation of the canyon and where it went as it washed away (about 4 trillion cubic meters or enough to enlarge the Great Wall of China all the way to Venus). That's 650 miles of sediment, or new land. He mentioned that the Imperial Valley in California is one of the resting places for the dirt that left the canyon via the Colorado River.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXVpOFxdKn6xGlueluuuZFkwutprTmtxwsbOz8ayiAe5_US9TprGEL8UuH35HQrV6vS0EAsghOQPQ5ibX2p4ZL11YVqUD2CcpFivY-jb7ai8Dx678QHayO_8DlUbyVhs8JTCajQ/s1600/Shadows.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXVpOFxdKn6xGlueluuuZFkwutprTmtxwsbOz8ayiAe5_US9TprGEL8UuH35HQrV6vS0EAsghOQPQ5ibX2p4ZL11YVqUD2CcpFivY-jb7ai8Dx678QHayO_8DlUbyVhs8JTCajQ/s400/Shadows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665795857447462882" border="0" /></a>Dave took this photo from a very precarious looking viewing place. Look at the shadows now.<br /><br />We drove down to Bright Angel Lodge for another view. Since sunset was imminent, there weren't a lot of people in the restaurant. After looking at the menu, we had hopes that this might be the meal that saved the day (foodwise), so we skipped the sunset in favor of getting a table.<br /><br />We shared a lettuce wrap stuffed with chili and pistachio seasoned chicken strips, served with a lime sour cream dip. Then we shared a rosemary prime rib with baked potatoes and fresh green beans. It came with a roasted red pepper soup. Delicious!<br /><br />The hotel and restaurant were originally part Fred Harvey'a empire of Santa Fe Railroad Hotels and Dining Stations, worthy of an Edible article for sure.<br /><br />We couldn't eat all our food so we've turned the ice bucket in our room into a mini ice chest. We can have the leftover meat for lunch tomorrow on car-warmed olive bread.<br /><br />The evening temperature has dropped dramatically so tonight the car will act as a second refrigerator.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Good night Grand Canyon!<br /></div>Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-34211081133711281232011-10-19T19:55:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:19:14.641-07:00Sweet Republc Ice Cream & Oak Canyon VillageI watched <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dirt-Movie-Jamie-Lee-Curtis/dp/B00366E1AK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1319079685&sr=8-3"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dirt! The Movie</span></a> in our hotel room this morning to help me think about the article I'm writing for the next issue of Edible SB. This trip through the deserts of the Southwest brings me new appreciation for the beauty and resilience of the dirt that feeds our plants the nutrients that are needed to sustain their lives and ours.<br /><br />On our way out of Scottsdale we stopped at Trader Joe's to get some bread, cheese, and nuts to carry in the car. Then we set GPS lady to the task of finding the ice cream shop I'd read about in <span style="font-style: italic;">Edible Phoenix</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lQLFfllbV7PfpVBLFCqobsS_nkES3Urke2oePUg-Gxf_sBIVPXfJ2XyqW_FR-2P_edyj6XMeunj5Jhpb0NPbasETepWd35O4RieWIerGpsMdzYuOj1FYawnHEZwYRlmEKlKMQg/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lQLFfllbV7PfpVBLFCqobsS_nkES3Urke2oePUg-Gxf_sBIVPXfJ2XyqW_FR-2P_edyj6XMeunj5Jhpb0NPbasETepWd35O4RieWIerGpsMdzYuOj1FYawnHEZwYRlmEKlKMQg/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665405666024654818" border="0" /></a>The important thing about this photo is the word "OPEN." We'd waited until the shop opened at noon to include this stop in our plans. It was worth it. <a href="http://sweetrepublic.com/home.html">Sweet Republic</a> uses local milk and cream from independent dairies, local honey, and as many other fresh ingredients as they can find locally.<br /><br />We tasted:<br /><ul><li>Brownie Swirl<span class="style1">: Rich chocolate brownie chunks and chocolate swirls in creamy vanilla</span></li><li> Honey Blue Cheese: Creamy savory combination of blue cheese and local honey</li><li>Salted Butter Caramel: Soft buttery caramel ribbons in creamy vanilla with a sprinkle of salt</li><li>Maple Pecan: Real maple syrup laced ice cream with toasted pecan chunks</li></ul><span class="style1"></span><p>Dave decided on a cup of the salted caramel and I had the brownie swirl in a freshly made cone. Afterwards we realized that the flat cookies we'd seen cooling are used to make ice cream sandwiches filled with the ice cream of your choice. Great idea!</p><p>They also make their own salted caramels, English toffee, brownies, almond brittle, and bacon brittle. I really wanted to taste the bacon brittle but wasn't sure I'd want to eat a whole bag, so I bought the salted caramels instead.</p><p>Then we left the perfectly manicured streets of Scottsdale to head for the red hills of Sedona. Both places are very upscale and quite beautiful. The only car dealerships that have closed in Scottsdale are the low-end manufacturers. Lexus and Lotus seem to be doing great. It's rare to see an older car in a parking lot, even at Trader Joe's.<br /></p><p>We made a lunch stop at Camp Verde to eat at the restaurant in the Cliff Castle Casino Hotel. Their menu features items like squash blossom cream puffs with chipotle sauce, saguero (cactus) glazed quail, and chollo (cactus) bud risotto. Alas, we were too late for lunch. We should have realized that when we saw all the people from the shuttle bus pushing their walkers back into the casino with happy smiles on their faces. </p><p>Good thing we had bread and trail mix in the car.<br /></p><p>On my friend Catherine's recommendation, we'd booked a room in Oak Canyon Village rather than Sedona. It's close-by, cheaper than rooms in Sedona, and has less of a focus on boutique shopping. Here's what we saw as we approached Oak Canyon Village.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R4C6Zr4yl1JKZ2tcT8u6RzzwBXiY8Jd8XbiFukoez3p3QRRyT1N42ZVIFoQZL0JqmJEGa1rBb9sXAUKkEEo-9Co8100XjVSdee-1nPLWa1QECg1jhLtTHuYbfuBlXdXyTMADRA/s1600/DSC_0014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R4C6Zr4yl1JKZ2tcT8u6RzzwBXiY8Jd8XbiFukoez3p3QRRyT1N42ZVIFoQZL0JqmJEGa1rBb9sXAUKkEEo-9Co8100XjVSdee-1nPLWa1QECg1jhLtTHuYbfuBlXdXyTMADRA/s400/DSC_0014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665413643242009186" border="0" /></a></p><p>Our hotel is nestled among these amazing rock formations.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhley1Gt42e7IBPT8iYIaLA_9HRFG_wGp3Tbd9E3Eu2u81ZsiZUZTjfJspcB_Yhe3T_oZPBkB67YpCxFe5nm7Ztfwlc6eWU9BQv1t17ffV5RVxELMb0LBrRKhid9eE74a1PHBceTg/s1600/DSC_0015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhley1Gt42e7IBPT8iYIaLA_9HRFG_wGp3Tbd9E3Eu2u81ZsiZUZTjfJspcB_Yhe3T_oZPBkB67YpCxFe5nm7Ztfwlc6eWU9BQv1t17ffV5RVxELMb0LBrRKhid9eE74a1PHBceTg/s400/DSC_0015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665417571681691266" border="0" /></a></p><p>And I thought Santa Barbara was beautiful! Well, it is, but these are breathtaking.<br /></p><p>We drove to Sedona (about 15 minutes north) for dinner. It would be easy to spend a lot of money in Sedona and then wonder where you are going to hang all those crystals. I'm glad we're staying in Oak Canyon Village instead.<br /></p><p>We found a bakery nearby that we'll visit in the morning before we get on the road to the Grand Canyon. We're booked at the <a href="http://www.grandcanyongrandhotel.com/">Grand Hotel</a>, on Wolfgang's recommendation. I like that I can email Germany to find out where to stay in Arizona.<br /></p><p>(Thanks Catherine and Wolfgang!)</p>Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-14719185981301633022011-10-18T21:02:00.000-07:002013-07-12T12:37:06.140-07:00Borrego Badlands & Rancho PinotWe got up late this morning, had breakfast in Borrego Springs, then took the roundabout exit that heads towards the Badlands and out of town (there are 5 options).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhz-tCDlZ3vk1Rl3n6SvA0KF0YHeal35QTc9jTnLKXS_XUhqfMIqfRcymj17QqHoaJW3Tzemrmh7eXEnDJzAb6cMiyNjGM5owQflD8lBZUlcb66xHimjivcyzje6h7IXS7hhvHQ/s1600/DesertShrub.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665050257973731826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhz-tCDlZ3vk1Rl3n6SvA0KF0YHeal35QTc9jTnLKXS_XUhqfMIqfRcymj17QqHoaJW3Tzemrmh7eXEnDJzAb6cMiyNjGM5owQflD8lBZUlcb66xHimjivcyzje6h7IXS7hhvHQ/s400/DesertShrub.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Those are Badlands in the distance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90hZFygiIxTdSom3YDBp0ROmt85Bcu_8SCMPvQTqR4ny9E-UIQIgWVZcTuwIETB7k6NX9y5OdqyVRlOBgQTTMH-_yv1R5-u5odSb2eZ6UL7_9R3LOVcUuEXsFM9TmQK4gjxNQ9w/s1600/Badlands.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665050956243908274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90hZFygiIxTdSom3YDBp0ROmt85Bcu_8SCMPvQTqR4ny9E-UIQIgWVZcTuwIETB7k6NX9y5OdqyVRlOBgQTTMH-_yv1R5-u5odSb2eZ6UL7_9R3LOVcUuEXsFM9TmQK4gjxNQ9w/s400/Badlands.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 256px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90hZFygiIxTdSom3YDBp0ROmt85Bcu_8SCMPvQTqR4ny9E-UIQIgWVZcTuwIETB7k6NX9y5OdqyVRlOBgQTTMH-_yv1R5-u5odSb2eZ6UL7_9R3LOVcUuEXsFM9TmQK4gjxNQ9w/s1600/Badlands.jpg"><br /></a>Lots of gravel in these hills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEC2xNy8k7dyb4gjxdlacl9_E-HU-cQ0SZ3iu9Qp73lUtqfZazi6to3wZQdOE1wu4XkJ_EAZTUD4DWRhh5mA-xoM_reeLptrqGXSHaKhMTDuG-uQw0HYu1x7NiRg9YgWsQ2OB4Qw/s1600/BadlandRocks.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665051702485360034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEC2xNy8k7dyb4gjxdlacl9_E-HU-cQ0SZ3iu9Qp73lUtqfZazi6to3wZQdOE1wu4XkJ_EAZTUD4DWRhh5mA-xoM_reeLptrqGXSHaKhMTDuG-uQw0HYu1x7NiRg9YgWsQ2OB4Qw/s400/BadlandRocks.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Dave picked up some rocks to examine them more closely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVltGYmg-m7wxC0_MO8swT8ky71-AoPzQx0Gjo_isX9swobEDahFRZk1NkHuSv-ecTD569Z42w7KW31C8cfrNiFDoCbHoEMawKBqwl9V4T2PT2uNTn5aCHdQoQZs_TeTOnUp07w/s1600/Boulders.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665051930953104770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVltGYmg-m7wxC0_MO8swT8ky71-AoPzQx0Gjo_isX9swobEDahFRZk1NkHuSv-ecTD569Z42w7KW31C8cfrNiFDoCbHoEMawKBqwl9V4T2PT2uNTn5aCHdQoQZs_TeTOnUp07w/s400/Boulders.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 301px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Flash floods rush through here during heavy rains.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBvUm9Fj4_036PLS3sBesZGdcaSxpHbvkSKeReIVhn5i1LU53HCnYQZdjM-_yg_xgkS90GpBZ7s75bJ7OZHbkNHZMLVtNzvm8ao_E2dDioBdXkpVKHXAMjqy-6x8gfS_bU1YiOw/s1600/StarkTree.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665052259082254114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBvUm9Fj4_036PLS3sBesZGdcaSxpHbvkSKeReIVhn5i1LU53HCnYQZdjM-_yg_xgkS90GpBZ7s75bJ7OZHbkNHZMLVtNzvm8ao_E2dDioBdXkpVKHXAMjqy-6x8gfS_bU1YiOw/s400/StarkTree.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>But not everything gets washed away.<br />
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The road we were on ended at the Salton Sea, where we turned north to get to the I-10.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb2NI-Q2P2YqjgHa05qbw4SnR4OP4QHt-wiPCU7iTGC3ZIQMwhPZ4d4cHkMNANfApSQWb4cCampbzraknLAKjgvAh9lW-glR0T6W6FfQaJuuFBTYVsYQDwrv_c8RBbChg0kGHNA/s1600/SaltonSea.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665052647277135938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb2NI-Q2P2YqjgHa05qbw4SnR4OP4QHt-wiPCU7iTGC3ZIQMwhPZ4d4cHkMNANfApSQWb4cCampbzraknLAKjgvAh9lW-glR0T6W6FfQaJuuFBTYVsYQDwrv_c8RBbChg0kGHNA/s400/SaltonSea.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Back in the 50s, TV ads encouraged us all to buy property at the Salton Sea. We didn't see a lot of homes there but we did see a lot of palm trees.<br />
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Once on the I-10, we put away the camera for the long drive to Scottsdale. We did stop at one exit to see if we could find a place to have lunch. All we found was an abandoned gas station.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0DXMuvzAuGJslWwNGSy4rhVr7Gz3kGMSSOl_RqVTJcCn6p7JsGOVtytSdUSRnZGGmdkm5EyXnsy5HyZL5dQTbqGFbWaOiXOvKaakjq1NufyWTgYzb1xZRc8OtkEKHwhspkjPng/s1600/24Hours.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665054336893900322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0DXMuvzAuGJslWwNGSy4rhVr7Gz3kGMSSOl_RqVTJcCn6p7JsGOVtytSdUSRnZGGmdkm5EyXnsy5HyZL5dQTbqGFbWaOiXOvKaakjq1NufyWTgYzb1xZRc8OtkEKHwhspkjPng/s400/24Hours.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>It looks like we weren't alone in our disappointment.<br />
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We settled for a car picnic at a rest stop further on--a slice of the homemade bread I made before we left, pears we picked at the orchard yesterday, and Santa Barbara Pistachio chile lemon pistachios. Not a bad lunch.<br />
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We are now happily resting in Scottsdale after eating dinner at <a href="http://www.ranchopinot.com/">Rancho Pinot</a>. Last night I read an article in <span style="font-style: italic;">Edible Phoenix, </span>"<a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/phoenix/fall-2011/harvesting-the-desert.htm">Harvesting the Desert</a>." Chef Chrysa Robertson has been preparing locally harvested meals since Rancho Pinot opened in 1993. The waitress told us that the menu changed twice last week in response to the range and quality of ingredients available. This is a good sign.<br />
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Attention to detail is reflected in the flavors and beauty of the food that comes to the table. Sorry, my camera doesn't work well in low light and I didn't want to use a flash in the restaurant. We chose a collection of small plates to share (you'll have to imagine these):<br />
<ul>
<li>Diver scallops on a bed of Thai slaw with a few noodles, peanuts, sesame seeds, and a bit of mango salsa</li>
<li>Crispy squash blossoms stuffed with a creamy ricotta and goat cheese mixture and a tomato vinaigrette made with small sweet vine-ripened cherry tomatoes</li>
<li>Spaghetti squash with sage honey butter and hazelnuts</li>
<li>Baby artichokes and grilled baby red potatoes with caper aioli</li>
</ul>
Each dish offered a delightful combination of colors, flavors and textures. Tender scallops, crunchy squash blossoms, spaghetti squash not trying to be spaghetti, and artichokes toasted to caramelized perfection.<br />
<br />
For dessert we had hand-foraged prickly pear sorbet and a rice custard made with Arborio rice (risotto style) topped with salted caramel. My deep gratitude to <span style="font-style: italic;">Edible Phoenix </span>for publishing that article and leading us to this restaurant<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br />
<br />
So, it's 80 degrees outside (down from 100 degrees earlier) and it's about 35 degrees in our room. We had to turn on the heater to try to warm it up a little. Weird.<br />
<br />
We're thinking Sedona area for tomorrow.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-4040202563116969592011-10-17T21:43:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:22:49.083-07:00Wynola, Buffalo Burgers, Pears, & Borrego SpringsAlthough we didn't get to visit the camel dairy, we did pass it on our way out of Ramona.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknkEOWumLYV90pgG6_jShbTIdRHCVI3tf2V_vZv5GXzxX5JoH9tz0DXw0LttuvlLnGE2vQfRhJskVBLIJH_qyfPof53PA7JSkgax4vPK65lgMhKhVN4DxZDSN5ALYVpBJZDC-XA/s1600/DairySign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknkEOWumLYV90pgG6_jShbTIdRHCVI3tf2V_vZv5GXzxX5JoH9tz0DXw0LttuvlLnGE2vQfRhJskVBLIJH_qyfPof53PA7JSkgax4vPK65lgMhKhVN4DxZDSN5ALYVpBJZDC-XA/s400/DairySign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664809092547878914" border="0" /></a><br />We made a quick turn around when we passed a roadside shop in Santa Ysabel that said <a href="http://ramonajournal.com/at-home-with-her-looms-local-artist-specializes-in-wearable-art-p1759.htm">Weaving Works Fiber Art Gallery</a>—a small shop packed with handspun yarn, delicately woven scarves, shawls, stunning horse blankets, and several floor looms. Owner Beryl Warnes invited us in and told us that just up the road in Wynola we'd find a <a href="http://www.specialtyyarnandllamas.com/">shop</a> selling local llama fiber.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hzl0d8wTVRUStMBMfMxRZoGEnHV40wpQKpJsfZYNZE3ql5_1QiQER8HLeaQX-YDRwNUEybuBJ8CcE8OAafvOrYW_Ol9IX_n5YDGjXYbs7nwDa1NmIfWtSPYvJuzJcRAmwPyy4A/s1600/Yarn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hzl0d8wTVRUStMBMfMxRZoGEnHV40wpQKpJsfZYNZE3ql5_1QiQER8HLeaQX-YDRwNUEybuBJ8CcE8OAafvOrYW_Ol9IX_n5YDGjXYbs7nwDa1NmIfWtSPYvJuzJcRAmwPyy4A/s400/Yarn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664811246858953442" border="0" /></a><br />What she hadn't told us was that we'd find this <a href="http://www.mountainbeadworks.com/">shop</a> nearby as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSHeevNNW6ksuAoTMsQB23O0VYXzpT9sWrPsI8qEXWYZKgLl-dy8mcyfoOd2oKqUWDJdoIL2PN8iO-6L5V9AF4CJB1-uf4TSCjAAo3mqIbCXjZGKOxpbuIfw-B2VatakQ-lRn1w/s1600/Beads.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSHeevNNW6ksuAoTMsQB23O0VYXzpT9sWrPsI8qEXWYZKgLl-dy8mcyfoOd2oKqUWDJdoIL2PN8iO-6L5V9AF4CJB1-uf4TSCjAAo3mqIbCXjZGKOxpbuIfw-B2VatakQ-lRn1w/s400/Beads.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664813461767536354" border="0" /></a><br />We left Wynola with some beads, a bag of llama fiber, and directions to Buffalo Bill's where we ate local grass fed bison burgers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOWP4rVqjGE6DOHbqyz3kRNi8AOWILFLjX1cXyK_1JOZ-9nJCorVtRsXep1-1N1ecEUYUBeRY7Xzje_7eECNGKTaFn-DcZQREv6Q_2FcprDjGwQeFNewqYZG39vhBZIX6h-sfaA/s1600/Bison.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOWP4rVqjGE6DOHbqyz3kRNi8AOWILFLjX1cXyK_1JOZ-9nJCorVtRsXep1-1N1ecEUYUBeRY7Xzje_7eECNGKTaFn-DcZQREv6Q_2FcprDjGwQeFNewqYZG39vhBZIX6h-sfaA/s400/Bison.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664811514706463314" border="0" /></a>Great burgers!<br /><br />I set our GPS for <a href="http://odellsorganicorchard.com/default.aspx">O'Dells Organic Orchards</a> so we could stop on our way out of Julian to pick a bag of pears. It's pretty much the end of pear picking time but we found a colorful variety of really sweet juicy pears that had recently fallen to the ground. So delicious!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv0WnzxgUOLx1WoQt0qKQu7B1tVvp4rS79cGWWhjYASNU6FGyK8R55_CRajKafuS4BdwgVhM2kT7AgAL6EaqyUX0LzPXOoGgJWto7qhBdiQDx0gid6u7pfr5RS6UfjAL1nNXVWQ/s1600/Pears.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv0WnzxgUOLx1WoQt0qKQu7B1tVvp4rS79cGWWhjYASNU6FGyK8R55_CRajKafuS4BdwgVhM2kT7AgAL6EaqyUX0LzPXOoGgJWto7qhBdiQDx0gid6u7pfr5RS6UfjAL1nNXVWQ/s400/Pears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664812544824881938" border="0" /></a><br />Then on to the Anza Borrego desert. The geologic landscape here is fascinating.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-EjxD_s-VSQlKnPcOA6oSuKEMmVoKQm5-QNilPKSu_xF6orK2UDG9-ZzoRF-ySss5lhKU27LSCf6BcEAtW6Ox9MPo9bpNtDVgVQZVow1_Ih1MFcxEv1scMoiHkjYmwV65cOeew/s1600/AnzaBorrego.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-EjxD_s-VSQlKnPcOA6oSuKEMmVoKQm5-QNilPKSu_xF6orK2UDG9-ZzoRF-ySss5lhKU27LSCf6BcEAtW6Ox9MPo9bpNtDVgVQZVow1_Ih1MFcxEv1scMoiHkjYmwV65cOeew/s400/AnzaBorrego.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664815208849951042" border="0" /></a><br />This is the start of their tourist season. We're just a little ahead of the crowd. Summer is the off-season here because it gets up to 124 degrees.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWv6i8sVCxHP1h5hV16MRhHYYEdD_TPHJ_CNMRyBxroM5uc0-_IJyLmiZqxi5nEaOdr4vJ9tYrEvRT0r8qe9Sz9L9-283lpTYlcIZlQ0R-TMxXhEkro_QXOe6c3fLs0wKWFD8gg/s1600/BorregoLand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWv6i8sVCxHP1h5hV16MRhHYYEdD_TPHJ_CNMRyBxroM5uc0-_IJyLmiZqxi5nEaOdr4vJ9tYrEvRT0r8qe9Sz9L9-283lpTYlcIZlQ0R-TMxXhEkro_QXOe6c3fLs0wKWFD8gg/s400/BorregoLand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664816544963420610" border="0" /></a><br />Spring is the peak season, when the desert comes alive with colorful wildflowers.<br /><br />Coming into Borrego Springs was a little surreal. Can you create an oasis in the middle of a desert?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadIZ63ethM7auLwAIiuuRfBBrnCGuuo8sOOCOdcOu3NbjSWefGWpVe4iXyONsAF4aV_wHP0030QUAMGafa7q9g6WcYoTb75WRK2vF9epFQ5zv9AyVI9Io3QQZgJW1KvVFbN8jLw/s1600/ForSale.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadIZ63ethM7auLwAIiuuRfBBrnCGuuo8sOOCOdcOu3NbjSWefGWpVe4iXyONsAF4aV_wHP0030QUAMGafa7q9g6WcYoTb75WRK2vF9epFQ5zv9AyVI9Io3QQZgJW1KvVFbN8jLw/s400/ForSale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664818177359585106" border="0" /></a><br />We passed this building on the way to the palm-lined entrance to the spa resort where we are staying. The population is pretty sparse right now and a night at the spa resort is really reasonable. At the visitor center they told us that the population swells when the weather in Canada and the Eastern US gets really cold.<br /><br />Today we'll visit the Badlands on our way to Phoenix or possibly Sedona. I'm be checking <a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/phoenix/">Edible Phoenix</a> to look for food destinations in that area. Tempe looks interesting too.Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20562054.post-61947955380828000512011-10-16T21:48:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:24:58.968-07:00Mystery Restaurant, Cups, & Stone Brewing Co.Dave and I are on the road. We left this morning at 10:11, heading south. We set our new GPS to a La Jolla cupcake shop I'd read about in <a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/sandiego/winter-2010/11/michelle-larach-and-goats.htm">Edible San Diego</a>, called <a href="http://cupslj.com/">Cups</a>. No deadlines, so we took our time driving down the I-5.<br /><br />Guess where we stopped for lunch?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRSVKjtGvVLSXd9cHiL_-jJJz_q0xl9tL6pSYygCJSsIv0EC8Lo0_fDvLz2b238JzQNnDRsPhvqqkaQsOsIqQBlMi8KYFB-n21LIeWAaD5hcVeOhyRqO1TaLVMCFRNcla4mxEYQ/s1600/Sawdust.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRSVKjtGvVLSXd9cHiL_-jJJz_q0xl9tL6pSYygCJSsIv0EC8Lo0_fDvLz2b238JzQNnDRsPhvqqkaQsOsIqQBlMi8KYFB-n21LIeWAaD5hcVeOhyRqO1TaLVMCFRNcla4mxEYQ/s400/Sawdust.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664324081459697426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">(Sawdust on the floor)</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Here's another hint:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9RMtpniEtosZqn4c-vv9C35okUqSz7twyqPqEL-p-mDq8ImTJJuvTMffXT-l9pLSgZFnIos-HwkRylax1itF4mUKZrCA5_7I0TqizXBHp7ixWGdipzTxUGweZt2sewOgkF50-w/s1600/Pickled+Eggs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9RMtpniEtosZqn4c-vv9C35okUqSz7twyqPqEL-p-mDq8ImTJJuvTMffXT-l9pLSgZFnIos-HwkRylax1itF4mUKZrCA5_7I0TqizXBHp7ixWGdipzTxUGweZt2sewOgkF50-w/s400/Pickled+Eggs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664324547226042850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">(Hard-boiled eggs in beet juice)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, it's in downtown Los Angeles and has been there so long that my parents went there when they were dating in the late 1940s.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUpF7KBygzq6Vr9utxdo15PuORONz_b5BJ3ZSCbecRoFHq45M8pDslPs2pDGkHu1GFUeQ6x4BSQH4iDvnokLZTuugS8_3-t9kvCXFLxGBrq8yJwyL81el4SaGQFRF54owEIIHCw/s1600/OrderCounter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUpF7KBygzq6Vr9utxdo15PuORONz_b5BJ3ZSCbecRoFHq45M8pDslPs2pDGkHu1GFUeQ6x4BSQH4iDvnokLZTuugS8_3-t9kvCXFLxGBrq8yJwyL81el4SaGQFRF54owEIIHCw/s400/OrderCounter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664325794332364162" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.philippes.com/">Phillipe's<br /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br />Phillipe's opened in 1908. They are known for their French dip sandwiches and cheap coffee... and delicious pies, and pickles, and potato salad and their hot mustard. The lines are long and you sit at long tables to eat with lots of other people. It's walking distance from the train station and right on the edge of China town.<br /><br />Afterwards, GPS lady got us back onto I-5, heading for "lay joe-la." Honest, that's what she said. She clearly needs some help with pronunciation. (Her Santa Barbara street names are equally difficult to decipher.)<br /><br />We arrived at Cups just in time for a tea snack.<br /><br />My cupcake choice was Caramel Apple (spicy apple cake, apple compote filling, a light airy caramel frosting, and thin slice of apple). Dave chose the Brulee-J (custard filling, crunchy glaze on a vanilla cake, topped with a raspberry).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV5qEa8QT1brZ-ugZOtiCZYbyUiry5JC7eq7feq6Uhi5o-Tv_DdXIvih8YOMIINrJazA0rYO9jO0VgTe3qqL_ufFtc6NnGqQyHts5ezHZfXPwFr1A8ahnNF0AzZ4RKDwdTkbAIw/s1600/CupsCakes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV5qEa8QT1brZ-ugZOtiCZYbyUiry5JC7eq7feq6Uhi5o-Tv_DdXIvih8YOMIINrJazA0rYO9jO0VgTe3qqL_ufFtc6NnGqQyHts5ezHZfXPwFr1A8ahnNF0AzZ4RKDwdTkbAIw/s400/CupsCakes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664346670951956674" border="0" /></a><br />Each day there are about 12 flavors to choose from. It looks like they have good coffees too. It's a lounge so you can sit at the counter, lounge on a cushioned bench inside, or sit on benches outside. They have a pup patio for canine fans as well. They source organic and as local as possible. Their chocolate comes from <a href="http://www.sweetearthchocolates.com/">Sweet Earth Chocolate</a> in San Luis Obispo.<br /><br />We Yelped some local hotels and decided to drive on to Escondido where the Holiday Inn Express is $20 cheaper than the one in La Jolla. And it's on the road we are taking to the Anza Borrego desert tomorrow.<br /><br />I used the Edible San Diego website to scout out a restaurant for dinner. Several were closed on Sunday. We settled on <a href="http://www.stonebrew.com/">Stone Brewing Company</a> because they had baby back boar ribs in appetizer portions. I ordered a glass of smoked porter to wash them down.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGqePkgUHLcca3O4ho44_nCSnhZD55JaPXBGPoSB-Xe_9yTgCngJHDJJ2OaqepQvTzBD84SLDXVakFcdFc_KpS0HKV8dQjSdfdKRR4O2kW2SPxdLoH9o6leFiSismNYk_L8GjAQ/s1600/StoneBrew.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGqePkgUHLcca3O4ho44_nCSnhZD55JaPXBGPoSB-Xe_9yTgCngJHDJJ2OaqepQvTzBD84SLDXVakFcdFc_KpS0HKV8dQjSdfdKRR4O2kW2SPxdLoH9o6leFiSismNYk_L8GjAQ/s400/StoneBrew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664338518406069922" border="0" /></a>Rich and flavorful. Delicious, but I only drank about a quarter of the glass and was glad I wasn't driving.<br /><br />Time for bed. We have a viola player in the room next to us who must be practicing for an audition. What a treat to listen to the silky rich soothing sound of a professional violist.<br /><br />There's a camel dairy farm in Ramona on our route tomorrow, but I don't think they take walk-in visitors. They make camel milk soap and sell camel milk chocolate online. It's called <a href="http://www.cameldairy.com/">Oasis Camel Dairy</a>. I'm hoping someone in the town sells their soap. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvnR55mbIgk&noredirect=1">Mountain Meadow Mushroom Farm</a> here in Escondido sells compost, but not on Mondays. Oh well.<br /><br />Must sleep.<br /></div></div></div></div>Nancy Osterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08701814844162910733noreply@blogger.com0