Flowers & Feline

Today is Memorial Day and I enjoyed my walk around

the resort because the Argentine Cactus had been busy

overnight getting ready for this day of celebration.

  I spied 3 different species in my short

two mile walk at 5:35 a.m.  

I  had never seen this pointed variety before so

it received a special close-up shot.

This is what an Argentine Cactus looks like when

it's not in bloom...

and other blooms I saw were fake but showed off

nicely in the early morning light.

As I walked the greenbelt, even the cottontails were

looking good while trying not to be seen.

After my walk, Don and I were sitting out back

enjoying the shade when something caught our eye.

(Sorry the first couple of photos weren't as good

as I wanted, but I was zoomed in pretty tight.)

It was very wary and only took a step or two at a time

before it stopped to look around and  

 then hid  behind the walk way light post.  Don and

I tried very hard to to move or make a sound

because we didn't want it to run away.

A feral cat an un-owned domestic cat (Felis catus) that lives outdoors 

and avoids human contact: it does not allow itself to be handled 

or touched, and usually remains hidden from humans.

They are more likely to be nocturnal; occasionally out during the day

and we were honored to have seen it up close and personal

before it snuck away.

A great way to start off Memorial Day.

 

A Day with my "Oldest Friend"

Susan & Breck ( from Roseville CA), were staying in Scottsdale so we 

decided to spend the day together.  Susan is actually only 73, but we

have been friends for over 50 years, that's how she got the title

of being my "Oldest Friend".

After a variety of photos and lots of talking, we 

headed out for lunch.

"Queen Creek Olive Mill is a unique agri-tourism experience and marketplace. 

As a local sustainable farm, they produce Arizona's only extra 

virgin olive oil. Visitors from all over enjoy "Olive Oil 101"

 an educational tour where you'll learn how they

make extra virgin olive oil, how to use it in your kitchen, 

and why it's so darn good for you! 

This shows only a small portion

of their menu which

also included Antipasti, Bruschetta

Pizza and full entrees in addition to a kids menu.

(Remember to click on any photo for a larger view.)

The men opted for the Kalamata Sandwich to get a meat fix

to go with their beer.  Susan and I both ordered the Lucca Sandwich

which went nicely with our ice tea.  

While we waited for our lunch, the men sat and visited 

while Susan and I toured the gift shop and 

did some olive oil tasting and picked up a variety

of free full color recipe cards (which are featured in

the last photo).

Perry Rea, owner and master blender, said, 

"Queen Creek Olive Mill opened its eatery in 2007

 to share my passion for simple, delicious and healthy

 cuisine with the guests visiting the Olive Mill."

You could select seating on the patio under the misters,

an outside table in the shade under the olive trees!!! 

We opted to sit inside in the a/c since it was already

97 at 1:00 p.m.

Susan and I did shop on the way out, selecting a

variety of items.  They had many wooden items made

from what else... olive wood, so I added that to my basket.

  This is a great tourist/luncheon

opportunity to share with your "old friends".

Till next time Susan...   Thanks for visiting us.

 

Family Food

It all began when daughter Kristine and I headed to the grocery

 store within an hour after she & Richard's arrival from CA.

We have what is commonly called  a "one-butt kitchen"

but, Don & Kristine managed to work together

putting all the food away.

Then Kristine and hubby Richard got to work (after a few

cocktails),  and prepared a special diner for us.

Portabella Mushroom Pizza crust is made from Portabella

Mushrooms, of course, to which are added many typical pizza

ingredients including Don's favorite, sliced pepperoni as well as

lots of sauce and cheese.

We had fun taking pictures of each other as we admired the

end result which looks good enough to eat...

and it was.   And yes, the four of us polished of

a dozen in one sitting!!!

Sunday morning at 7:00 we headed for the pickleball courts

to work off some of those calories.

Wayne was kind enough to show up too, so we could

have a foursome.  Wayne  is also left handed  and 1 year older

than I am.  Let's hear it for the over 80 group!!!

Kristine and I gave them a run for their money...

and Wayne and I showed those kids how the game was played.

After the games, we headed out for a drive to Payson AZ,

elevation 4999' where it was much cooler.

The scenery was pretty nice also...

and Kristine & Richard were happy to see that AZ had

something other than Cactus!!!  

All of the talking and oooohhhing and ahhhhhing made

us hungry again as we returned to Payson after site seeing

along the Mogollon (pronounced Mog y umm) Rim, so we stopped 

for a bite to eat in Payson at Filberto's Mexican food. 

The Chilli Relleno combo platter was more than a "bite to eat"!!!!

And after all that,  it was my day to cook,

 so I prepared a yummy (if I do say so myself) Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe,

 which I doubled because I just happened to have

a 2 lb bag of Costco "peeled and deveined" shrimp on hand.

Sticky rice and bacon seasoned Caesar  salad completed the menu.

(Who needs dessert?)

Monday was Kristine's 57th birthday so we headed to

the Superstition Springs Mall in Mesa while the "boys" stayed

home.   We wore ourselves out shopping so we had to sit 

down for a break at the food court where we both polished off a

smaller version of Charleys Philly Steak sandwich - minus 

the cheese!

"The Boys" had cocktails waiting for us, so we showed

off all of our mall purchases, which they would find out

about anyway when they saw the credit card bills!!!.

Later that evening, Kristine prepared the colorful

bell peppers,

while Richard slaved over a hot stove as he browned 

and  seasoned the beef/turkey mixture and

filled and backed the stuffed peppers in a hot oven.

Yummy

Kristine & Richard, thanks for coming for a 3 night

visit.  Don't think we could have taken any more...

food that is.   I should have titled this blog

Family Food & Fun...

 

Never to Old... to Learn Something New

Actually Quilting is not NEW, but doing it is new to me. I've always

admired the process and have had many friends over the years

who were/are quilters... and some of them were/are weaving persons!!! 

This "Flower Garden" quilt was made as a crib quilt for my oldest brother Roy, 

who was born in 1936.  He is 3 years older than I am and when I was about

6 it was passed on to me and was daily folded & placed at

at the end of my bed.  I gave it to Roy's granddaughter Gracie when

she became interested in quilting 5 or 6 years ago.

When Don and I traveled the U.S. in our 5th wheel in 1980,

we stopped in KY at Donna Sharp's quilt shop and purchased

this quilt for our 5th wheel queen sized bed.  Today it is still

with us in our home in AZ in our guest room. I created the paper collage

piece above the bed as well as the sand hill crane stained glass

piece to the right.

 

One night a few weeks ago I had a dream about quilting so I 

decided to pursue that idea the next morning.

 I already had a sewing machine that had proudly taken over the location

 where my last loom lived.  My New Home Memory Craft 8000

computerized machine which does everything except sing & dance

was a leader in its time (1994)  and still amazes me today.

So I gathered up some of the many cross-over tools 

from my stained glass and mosaic days and jumped in head first.

In addition to watching many on-line how-to videos 

I purchased  couple of how-to books to learn the vocabulary

of quilting as well as many time saving tips.  Ideas were

rapidly developing in my head.

I got together with Rebecca (who created this beautiful

king size quilt, and donated it to the local Cancer Fundraiser

Auction where we live in AZ)  She loaned me a couple

of books and other people gave me a heads-up on local 

quilting stores that they liked.

After viewing many YouTube videos I was fascinated with

one process called Raw Edge Quilting with Appliqué.  And another 

 video that taught a design  process that used 

"freezer paper" and glue to create individual pattern pieces.  

In this close-up you can see that I trimmed all my fabric pieces 

and placed them on a black background fabric to replicate

 the look of stained glass and/or mosaic.

Then I choose a decorative stitch to secure all the

pieces to the black background fabric and

a different decorative stitch to appliqué a couple of 

Saguaro cactus on top, 

Once I sandwiched the quilt block, the batting

and the backing fabric in place I quilted the piece

with a black running stitch in the center of the

decorative stitch between shapes which continued

across the saguaro shapes as needed.  You might want

to click on this image, to see more detail.

My inspiration for this sample project 8" x 11" was a layered 

cut glass mosaic I had created 4 or 5 years ago. All I have

to do now is bind the edges of this "quilted/raw edge/appliquéd piece". 

As far as additional equipment was concerned, this 13" x 19"

brief case style

combination cutting matt and pressing  board was my best investment.

When I need a larger space I'll just stroll over to the "Fiber Arts" 

room here at our 55+ community and use their large cutting

tables and rulers and....

sewing tables while being inspired by the quilt covered walls.

And it's a great place to learn new techniques from other

quilters.  My friend Barb is showing me a great way to bind

the edge of a quilt, regardless of size.  And that's just

what I needed to know to finish my sample project.

And, speaking of size, Rebecca shows me how she uses

this "Long Arm Quilting Machine" which allows her to

machine quilt her large art pieces with ease.  She can either

select a quilt design pattern from the computer screen or

free form it as she goes, which is what she is doing here. 

I don't plan on doing large pieces like this, but one never knows...