Something Old, Something New, Something Yummy

Corona de Tucson

December 4. 2022 

Something old...but it never really gets old !

I love those mornings when we wake up and and one of us asks, "What do you want to do today?".  Thursday was one of those mornings !  The weather was about as perfect as any weather can be for the end of November/first of December. There were no appointments, errands, or plans on the calendar.  My answer to the question is always, "Let's do a hike!".  Our choice for the morning was Sahaurita Trail about 6 miles from home.  Sahuarita Trail is a small section (17+ miles) of the Arizona National Scenic Trail system that goes from the Mexican border to Utah.    We get a good 3.5 miles on our "in and out" walk.  The "in" has views of the Santa Rita Mountains...

and the "out" has views of the Rincon Mountains.

 

   

           

In between, there are lots of prickly pear cacti...

mesquite trees...

winter grasses...

skeletons...

and grasshoppers...really big grasshoppers.

But the sky stole the show !

Something new...always fun to find new things to do !

The historic and art village of Tubac celebrates the Holiday Season with its Luminaria Nights de Tubac the first week-end in December each year. The festival is held Friday and Saturday nights from 5:00 to 9:00.  Wahoo, sounds like a date night to me !  The streets and walkways are lined with luminaries and lights... 

and shops, galleries and restaurants are open.  

We arrived about 5:00...just before sunset...

strolled down the streets...

and meandered thru a few shops.

Clay Rabbit House was my favorite shop.  I do have a soft spot for pottery.  Dean and Debbie moved to Tubac about three years ago from the Northwest and opened their potting studio complete with two wheels and two kilns.  Dean creates each piece by hand or using wheel thrown methods and Debbie completes each piece of stoneware by adding colorful animals and western scenes.  Beautiful cardinals painted on platters, bowls, cups, and vases caught my eye when we passed by.    Then, I saw the saguaros...

and I couldn't help myself !  

A hot sandwich and a mocha latte at the deli hit the spot although I really wanted a piece of peanut butter pie.  The couple in front of us bought the last piece.  

Something yummy...always the first December treat I make.

Back at the oasis, the first of the holiday goodies is checked off the list.  A counter full of yumminess...toasted in the oven for 2 hours at 225 degrees and stirred every 20 minutes.  So worth the effort as Joe and I love this crunchy concoction of cereals, pretzels and pecans covered with melted butter, Worcestershire sauce celery salt and onion salt. It never makes it to Christmas Day ! 

Jack had a spa day.  

The violas have a mystery plant.

Jena sent pictures of Felix and Edith opening their cliff dwelling ornaments.

We enjoyed mid-morning walks with the pups.

Dover and Sally keep a watchful eye.

Joe puts on the morning coffee.  Sally waits patiently for me to fix my cup and go outside with her. 

The globe mallow is blooming on the other side of our fence.

And Saturday delivered much needed rain.

Until next time, 

The Week After...

Corona de Tucson

November 30, 2022 

The week after Thanksgiving is one of my favorite weeks of the year.  There are lots of leftovers so meals are easy, fall is definitely in the air, but the best part about that week is that December is just around the corner. Last year we started a new tradition and put up our tree on Thanksgiving day.  It is the same tree,  the same lights, the same decorations (plus a new one) and the same (if not more) excitement felt again this year.  

As much as I loved the traveling years, it sure is nice to be in a sticks and stucco home at Christmas!  Just like last year, we added a new "westerny" ornament for the tree.  At the TMA Fall Artisan Market, we found this hand-made pottery ornament that reminded us of the cliff dwellings we visited earlier in the fall.  The potter who made these very unique ornaments is Susan Sarracino...Pueblo of Acoma Pottery...from New Mexico.  There is a hole in the bottom of the ornament for a light to be placed inside giving the dwellings a fire like glow. 

Acoma Pueblo is built on top of a near 400 ft mesa about 70 miles west of Albuquerque.  The Pueblo has been continually inhabited since sometime between 1150 and 1250 AD making it the oldest inhabited "city" in the United States.  Acoma is translated "people of the white rock".  The Pueblo covers some 70 acres and today the people of the Pueblo carry on the traditions of pottery making created by their ancestors.   

    

The week-end was spent adding Christmas here and there and everywhere... changing this and rearranging that...all the while enjoying the sounds of Christmas we only enjoy one month out of the year.  

This morning, we had to go to Home Depot on the south side of Tucson.  It is always a treat to hit the trails in the Tucson Mountains when we are on that side of town.  Our choice for the day was a combo of Cascabel and Bittersweet Trails for an enjoyable hike before shopping.  The weather was perfect !  

Cascabel has a nice stand of saguaros.  Some are pretty old and are looking rather tired.

But what is really great about this area are all the young saguaros.  They are everywhere.   

Cascabel has decent views...

as the trail twists and curves...

and makes its way up to Bittersweet Trail.

No editing on these photos...the sky really was that blue!

The section of Bittersweet Trail we hiked is more level, lined with Palo Verde trees, prickly pear cacti, spiky staghorn cacti, and beautiful rocks.

Such tiny leaves...

Back at the oasis, sunrise and coffee start the day.

   

   

And some evenings, vivid sunsets end the day.

Somehow, Jack manages to drag my sweater (one of those heavy sweaters that is knee length) from the foot of the bed to the head of the bed and wad it up for a nap.  He has always loved to lay on my clothes.  

Sally and Dover are forever hopeful (and patient) keeping me company in the kitchen.

Refrigerator art you get in the mail from your 2 year old granddaughter is the best.

And the snowman is still smiling (and puts a smile on my face too) !

Until next time, have a great week and...

HAPPY TRAILS !