tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36204271252389772532012-01-26T14:30:10.538-07:00Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.comBlogger5011100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-38072908143353888632012-01-13T14:26:00.000-07:002012-01-13T14:26:28.859-07:00

The garden has been more than a little neglected this season. With my being out of town for so long tending to things in Michigan, Daddy-O had to play double duty: dad and mom, lawyer, cook, chauffeur, homework checker, grocery shopper, bill payer, etc.  You get the picture.  Gardening was the least of his worries. We went out over the weekend to have a look around and discovered, amazingly,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-13083340106503901422011-12-30T11:56:00.000-07:002011-12-30T14:12:22.018-07:00

I've missed November completely, and December has disappeared without anything to say.  Not that there hasn't been anything going on; the goings-on have just been really, really sad. I lost my mom on November 29, 2011.  It was entirely unexpected.  It was not supposed to be this way.  I simply wasn't ready.  But, who is?  Even if I'd had her for another decade, I wouldn't have been ready.  The

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-80687735346065610932011-10-14T14:31:00.002-07:002011-10-14T14:32:00.034-07:00

When we leave for school in the morning, Kat inevitably lugs along a lot of unnecessary stuff - like, 7 stuffed animals, or the biggest coloring book she can find and a basket of 113 crayons, or a pair of butterfly wings!  Monday she climbed into the car with her Royal Recipe Collection cookbook.  I have no idea why. Generally, the 15 minute drive to school is full of chatter and questions and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-39721366374420562562011-09-21T11:56:00.000-07:002011-09-21T11:56:30.406-07:00

I found this cute idea while having lunch and trolling the Internet one afternoon; the Mistress of Multitasking that I am.  Well, that's probably a bit of an exaggeration, but at least I managed to keep my Siggi's yogurt off the keyboard. Anyway, I don't normally pack a banana in Kat's lunch because, like the chicken breasts you find in the grocery store these days, the bananas are always so

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-51551298700397392202011-09-19T20:29:00.002-07:002011-09-19T20:30:00.605-07:00

There is a group at our church that does a regular monthly hike once the weather starts to cool down.  That's a relative term, of course.  "Cool" doesn't mean the same thing here as it does in most other places.  Let's just say, they start to hike again once the temps hover only in the low triple-digits.  Usually, though, early in the season they choose hiking locales with a little elevation, so

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-1929445173439748092011-09-08T09:18:00.001-07:002011-09-08T19:12:54.063-07:00

Way back in June (it does seem like years ago at the moment), we celebrated our 7th anniversary with dinner at Quiessence in The Farm at South Mountain.  I'd heard about the restaurant a number of years ago, but in February 2011, Travel and Leisure Magazine put Quiessence on their list of America's Most Romantic Restaurants.  This year it also received a "Four Diamond" rating from AAA.  All the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-46201596596966966922011-08-23T10:51:00.012-07:002011-08-23T12:54:50.249-07:00

We did this craft while we were in Michigan over the summer. You see, Kat's a "trinket" kind of kid. She loves all things small. Tiny things. Random, unrelated little toys and pieces of toys. Sparkly little baubles and beaded things. The kinds of things I inevitably step on when I walk into her room in the dark. In my bare feet!.I saw this craft on a great website called Free Kids Crafts. They

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-83634774548936219712011-08-18T15:04:00.002-07:002011-08-18T15:36:01.357-07:00

We had what seemed to be the makings of a monsoon storm kick up the other night. Out of nowhere the wind really picked up and, when I went outside, I could see the clouds building to the east. This, of course, started to get my hopes up. But that's pretty much all it amounted to: wind, some puffy clouds, and my elevated hopes. Maybe next time!

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-2041547391560007712011-08-17T19:40:00.001-07:002011-08-17T20:04:38.336-07:00

In honor of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore being named Good Morning America's "Most Beautiful Place in America," I thought I'd post a few pictures from our dune trip this year. I feel extraordinarily blessed to be able to spend so much time in this amazing place. The Leelanau Peninsula and the National Lakeshore have long been a stomping ground of mine and I hold them very near and dear

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-14815815979569012932011-08-16T10:54:00.001-07:002011-08-16T10:55:34.991-07:00

One of the many super fun things we did on our annual trip to the Leelanau Peninsula was take a cruise on Grand Traverse Bay on a 112 foot wooden schooner. The Traverse Tall Ship Company runs the tours, sailing three times a day, every day. The also book specialty tours, including the one we were on: The Moomers Ice Cream Sail! What's not to like about sailing and ice cream? And what's really

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-6576932761861305022011-08-15T12:34:00.000-07:002011-08-15T13:44:43.147-07:00

Anytime you hear people (and I don't mean trained dietitians, but people in general), talking about food and eating right and diets, yogurt seems to be at the top of the list of the things they believe they should be eating, or believe is good for them. And it is, of course, good for you. And you should, undoubtedly, eat more of it. But my personal opinion is that's only true if you're eating the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-91138030709146107622011-08-12T07:19:00.006-07:002011-08-12T09:50:47.388-07:00

I haven't blogged a Foodie Friday post in a long time what with posting more food related articles over at Zoup to Nuts. Can you say, "Too many irons in the fire"? Photos at Click! Food at Zoup to Nuts. But this blog was my first baby and I should probably make an attempt to do what I used to do - i.e., blog with some consistency. So here's a good recipe I had lurking about (the original date in

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-49753483120916599312011-08-04T11:16:00.002-07:002011-08-04T21:14:33.073-07:00

I can't believe we've been in Michigan for nearly 8 weeks and I've only managed to squeeze in a couple of posts. What on earth have I been doing with my time???? .Oh, yeah...pretty much single-mothering it; the sole source of food, fun, baths, bedtime stories, and everything else necessary to satisfy the demands of, um, The Princess. (Tongue in cheek, she's really not one of THOSE girls).

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-59150056581309717722011-07-24T07:47:00.000-07:002011-07-24T07:52:45.254-07:00

I'll preface this by saying there are crafts for kids which are kid-friendly and they can do pretty much by themselves, and then there are crafts for kids created by parents. This particular craft falls into the latter category. While Kat was of some minimal assistance, mostly her much appreciated help turned me into a nervous, twitchy lunatic. Be prepared for multiple steps, a good investment

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-52374028736541093402011-07-11T15:27:00.006-07:002011-07-11T21:20:24.638-07:00

We arrived in Michigan on June 12, for our annual summer sojourn. There are days I lament not working full time. But the day I'm boarding a flight out of the desert for seven heavenly weeks of summer is not one of 'em. I stuff a couple of bags full of clothes, beach essentials, photo equipment and we're outta there. Frankly, it could rain every day all summer and you wouldn't hear a peep out

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-10616384869295328552011-06-27T20:34:00.023-07:002011-06-28T16:17:05.753-07:00

Summer is here! I say that with verve for one reason and one reason, only: summer vegetables. As far as a favorite season goes, summer squeaks in dead last in my book. I'm not a fan of hot. Or hot and muggy. Or hot and dry, for that matter. But I do love what the arrival of warm, sun-drenched days does for the produce at the farmers' market.This recipe is a yummy variation on a favorite

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-59432435409653495802011-06-05T20:19:00.007-07:002011-06-07T22:52:46.758-07:00

A couple weeks ago, we caught up with some friends and took the girls out to Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek for the last weekend of the Peach Harvest Festival. Another one of my bright ideas: a really hot weekend, long drive into the desert, swarms of people (arrgh...the general public), dust in every nook and cranny. If it hadn't been for the spectacular peaches, the day might have been a bust. (

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-49376858149301468992011-05-18T22:46:00.012-07:002011-05-18T23:08:16.729-07:00

I think this kid is part fish! The End.With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-16785302102978018712011-05-13T13:12:00.000-07:002011-05-13T14:04:17.899-07:00

This garden has taken a whole heap of sweat equity - none of which is mine, if I can be perfectly honest. I find desert gardening fraught with too many complications, not the least of which involves having to provide every drop of water because 7 inches of rain a year just doesn't cut it, shade from the scorching sun, and protection from the ravages of hard frost (believe it, or not).The hard

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-80793476926037403762011-05-08T13:23:00.008-07:002011-05-08T13:50:30.880-07:00

For my mom, who continues to teach me how to be a better mom to my own daughter. I love you, Mom, with all my heart and soul. Thank you!Love, Lizziexoxoxoxo

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-40887607159045405312011-04-29T13:49:00.000-07:002011-04-29T14:27:54.755-07:00

Don't think the rolling hills of Tuscany. I did and I was wrong. This is a desert, after all, and a valley, to boot - which means we're surrounded by rolling mountainous foothills, but we live on the flat part. Alas!Anyway, if you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, I'd highly recommend taking in the final weekend of the Olive Blossom Festival at Queen Creek Olive Mill - Arizona's

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-58365104938705596152011-04-19T18:49:00.000-07:002011-04-19T19:10:00.497-07:00

We did a cute little project recently that's perfect for spring and Easter; what with baby chicks and Easter baskets on our minds. Ok, how about egg shells and grass seed?You'll need a cardboard egg carton (I used half because we only filled 6 egg shells), acrylic paint (any color, but preferably something spring-y), egg shells, top soil, and grass seed (I used Rye grass).This project is

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-31021783266639871242011-04-13T12:51:00.002-07:002011-04-13T14:09:17.534-07:00

Who knew, by the time Kat was 3/4 of the way through Kindergarten, we could have amassed such a priceless collection of art. Every week, the collection gets bigger and bigger and bigger, and I think, "I need to get rid of some of this stuff."When the mountain of projects threatens to consume the laundry room and a good part of the kitchen counter top, we try to weed through. There's only so much

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-83626428345176492092011-04-08T18:55:00.018-07:002011-04-08T21:26:20.296-07:00

It's no secret I'm a reluctant desert dweller. It takes a conscious effort on my part to come up with nice things to say about life in God's Brown Earth. It's hot. It's brown. The air is barely breathable. The plants are weird. And, while all those things are true...the plants are actually starting to grow on me. Because given the growing conditions, poor soil quality, lack of water, etc., etc.,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-61951906990852522362011-04-04T14:42:00.001-07:002011-04-14T12:59:47.098-07:00

I've had this recipe hanging out in my in-box for a while and, despite the fact I've used it many times, I hadn't gotten around to sharing it. It's a great, easy alternative to store-bought teriyaki sauces we all know are heavy laden with frightening amounts of sodium. Also, it relies on really only a handful of ingredients you'll have in your pantry, so no running to the store looking for some

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-24051807844263575742011-04-01T12:25:00.007-07:002011-04-01T12:32:12.855-07:00

Sounded like a good idea at the time. It was 95 degrees, the sun was hot, the breeze was hot, the concrete was hot. But it was only March 31. Not exactly swimming season, even here in God's Brown Earth. We'll need a few more of those 95 degree days before the water in the pool doesn't make you say:With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-47075139995591219052011-03-25T15:30:00.001-07:002011-03-25T17:11:39.455-07:00

I'm a little late (what's a week??) in posting this, but I finally got around to uploading the pics from my camera. Spring break last week, remember? Longest week of my life? Yeah, I'm a smidge behind.I was going to make the Guinness cupcakes for St. Patrick's day, but realized it would never be fair to make a cupcake Kat couldn't eat. So I went back to the drawing board. I found the link to this

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-125785948441565842011-03-23T13:48:00.000-07:002011-03-23T14:20:06.651-07:00

We've made it to the end of Spring Break. At this point, I should be breathing a sigh of relief that I haven't completely lost my mind or started drinking heavily in the middle of the afternoon. But it didn't end quite as expected. Monday we were at the doctor's office and Kat was diagnosed with, "...a classic case of pink eye." So, we were homebound for a couple more days. Keep the wine stored

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-89632209990001517722011-03-12T18:42:00.001-07:002011-03-12T19:42:49.498-07:00

We've had this butterfly hatching kit in the closet collecting dust for a long time. We finally dug it out and ordered the caterpillars a couple weeks ago. I like butterflies just fine, but the whole process from insect to chrysalis is, frankly, kind of disgusting. Think a jar full of the poop of five caterpillars! Actually, there's a technical term we learned from the instructions: frass.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-59310622553896034812011-03-10T06:24:00.003-07:002011-03-10T10:03:20.532-07:00

It couldn't have been Fat Tuesday without them....even here in the desert (where we apparently have 5 Polish residents). So, I was bound and determined to find Paczki. I'm not talking about garden-variety Safeway Paczki, here. I was bound and determined to find authentic Paczki.After a fair amount of searching and an "I-need-Paczki-in-Phoenix" tweet on Twitter, I found what appears to be the only

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-28411341131376378912011-03-07T05:07:00.003-07:002011-03-07T11:01:15.161-07:00

Kat and I went out to Mesa last week to visit the Arizona Museum of Natural History. We hadn't done it in a few years and it seemed like a good way to kill a few hours. But I admit to having had an ulterior motive. Sure, the museum is educational and all that jazz, but just around the corner is a little bakery featured on the TLC show Best Foods Ever a couple of years ago.I figure any bakery

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-43251200613158743612011-02-26T21:35:00.012-07:002011-02-26T21:57:46.596-07:00

Our pollen count is through the roof. If you've ever heard you should move to the desert because your allergies will improve, guess again. Oh, sure, you'll no longer suffer from hay fever, but you'll now be allergic to any number of flowers, grasses, crops, molds, or just dust, generally, prevalent in the desert 9 months of the year.Despite the cough, congestion, and runny nose, I've been

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-28432778697994310622011-02-25T12:14:00.003-07:002011-02-25T12:16:59.278-07:00

I hiked out at Squaw Peak last Friday - actually, Piestewa Peak, renamed to honor Army Spc. Lori Ann Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat in the U.S. military, and the first female soldier to be killed in action in the 2003 Iraqi conflict. My original intent was to hike the base of the mountain, or the Circumference Trail, since I had to be back at school to get Kat by 3 p.m

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-79897671667534439532011-02-16T13:20:00.002-07:002011-02-16T14:42:54.160-07:00

We went downtown to the Willo Historic District Home Tour on Sunday afternoon. Or, should I say, "we" and 300,000 other people looking for something fun and interesting to do on a gorgeous weekend.This was our second time on the tour, but it was easy to see how its popularity is growing and growing. There were only 12 houses open, but gobs and gobs and gobs more people; which made for slow going.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-87378284417414835442011-02-13T19:23:00.004-07:002011-02-13T20:20:33.060-07:00

Sometimes I shock myself. Really, I've never considered myself a "crafty" person. Michael's gives me the willies. I don't own a glue gun. I can't and probably never will sew. But since taking this sabbatical from practicing law to raise one awesome, amazing, sweet little girl, I've had to tap into a whole new level of...well, me!Which means I've become keenly adept at using other peoples' ideas

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-15080570589843295602011-02-07T12:02:00.001-07:002011-02-07T12:06:18.315-07:00

There's enough going on in my kitchen to occasionally suffer a disaster, or two. It's rarely dinner. Cooking is too freestyle for any serious disaster. Generally, it's baking; the chemistry class I should have taken in high school but knew I would end up studying law, instead, so why bother?But, cupcakes? Don't those seem pretty disaster proof? Well, guess again. I can't pinpoint exactly where

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-79682627623584215142011-02-04T10:42:00.013-07:002011-02-04T11:04:56.453-07:00

Or, should I say, "treat." Here's a hint about upcoming Valentine fun. Plus also (a la Junie B. Jones), there will be chocolate involved. Stay tuned!With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-51621426327652361582011-02-01T19:43:00.001-07:002011-02-01T19:46:05.511-07:00

The winter garden is coming along. It never ceases to amaze me how much work it is to garden in a desert; the polar opposite of gardening in Michigan when you worried it would rain too much, or your plants wouldn't get enough sun. But, on the other hand, we've had some freakishly cold weather, too, necessitating tenting and heat lamps and all sorts of pampering.Personally, desert gardening is

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-25557595423594449402011-01-30T18:46:00.002-07:002011-01-30T19:00:31.033-07:00

...we have T-Th, our two days a week when Kat's not in school and I have what seems (sometimes) like a weeks worth of hours to fill. Don't get me wrong: being able to stay home with her is a blessing beyond all blessings. But I'd be lying if I said every waking moment of it was candy cane dreams and reindeer games. Yeah. No. It's not. It's a lot of work. Hard, conscious, prayerful work. God and I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-65629255517424713192011-01-26T14:03:00.000-07:002011-01-26T14:06:26.039-07:00

Kat and I toured the Oldtown Farmers Market a while back and one of the vendors was selling pre-packaged apple pie filling made from apples grown on their orchard in Snowflake, Arizona. They had samples of the filling which we, of course, had to try. This, naturally, turned in to a purchase. The vendor assured me the filling would remain stable in the refrigerator for many months and months and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-14854167349243847212011-01-22T14:57:00.004-07:002011-01-22T15:12:25.622-07:00

Being a purist of sorts, I like things simple. I don't like to tamper with perfection. Change is not my friend. This thought process doesn't always carry over into the kitchen, because I do like to experiment with all kinds of new recipes, but there are a few things I believe should remain pure. Like brownies, for instance (which is not at all what this post is about, traditional brownies, that

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-65739387611073400372011-01-19T16:20:00.000-07:002011-01-19T17:08:21.773-07:00

Our church/school had an open skate at the Alltel Ice Den on Monday, since school was closed for Martin Luther King Day. We went last year and Kat had a great time, so we gave it another go. She didn't get to skate in Michigan this winter because the weather was so spring-like, so I was a little uncertain how willing she would be to give up the skate-walker. To my surprise, she gained confidence

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-53003285253744376312011-01-18T17:29:00.002-07:002011-01-18T18:33:17.757-07:00

While I was back in The Motherland after Christmas, I hooked up with good friend and neighbor Cathy Ross (you can find her here and here), for a fun photo shoot around D-town. It was New Year's Day and, needless to say, there wasn't much going on in the city.But the city of Detroit has a way of offering up a lot of interesting subjects even when the streets are quiet.Our destination wasn't really

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-62565002363935345452011-01-16T06:12:00.000-07:002011-01-16T06:12:00.805-07:00

I have somehow managed to avoid the tradition of baking seven different kinds of Christmas cookies, three dozen of each, because who would eat them? Right! Me, that's who!! And I don't need that temptation. I'm not sure I could justify more time at the gym since I've already been told the gym is a bit of an obsession.So, while I don't want to deprive Kat of having Christmas cookies (I did as a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-37532313702298147142011-01-14T22:04:00.001-07:002011-01-14T22:06:46.737-07:00

Sooooo....one minute I'm thinking, "Pleeeaaaase could Christmas just be over?" and the next minute, the tree is down, the house has been purged of the Christmas trappings, and we're barrelling in to spring. Alrighty, then! (Dusting off my hands and moving right along).As usual, lately, I have some catching up to do. Like holiday lights at the train park and Zoolights at The Phoenix Zoo and a week

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-22556972840398309022010-12-29T21:10:00.002-07:002011-01-02T18:09:22.715-07:00

Scale is everything.This became even more obvious after the new sectional was delivered, but before the end and console tables arrived. I was using anything I could get my hands on to serve as a place to set down a glass of wine or lay a magazine. My temporary fix (top pic) was low and awkward, with the top of the bin sitting too far beneath the arm of the sofa. But the tables have arrived

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-32102952068338628832010-12-21T12:08:00.001-07:002010-12-22T12:13:15.421-07:00

I know people who don't let their kids in the kitchen with them. They say it's stressful (yes, it is), too much mess (ditto that), and takes too long to get anything done (can I get an Amen??!!). Is it easier for me to cook without having to worry about the mess, or hot burners, or egg shells in batter? Of course. But Kat loves, loves, loves to hang off the counter top measuring and whisking and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-18414448156284505852010-11-25T08:22:00.000-07:002010-11-25T08:49:52.007-07:00

I've pretty much neglected this blog since last spring. Once Kat was finished with school, my little bit of down time was cut way back. Then, of course, we were busy preparing for our summer sojourn to The Motherland and, well, I can't explain much beyond that. You'd think with the dawn of Kindergarten and three full days of school each week, I'd find time to fill in the blanks.But that just

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-28780271783178409762010-10-01T09:25:00.005-07:002010-10-01T09:31:26.413-07:00

I'm totally cracking up about this little bit of wisdom. I mean, lemonade is good and everything...but, this would be much, much funnier. Well, maybe not for the other person. But, it's still funny.With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-76265097686376148152010-09-21T19:31:00.000-07:002010-09-21T19:33:49.245-07:00

We went to our first birthday part of the season a few weeks ago. One of Kat's classmates turned five and celebrated with a classic tea party which was...amazing! The table was set with mismatched china and bouquets of fresh roses and balloons and linens. Real ones! The birthday mom offered two types of tea, finger sandwiches, crumpets with jam or lemon curd, and chocolate covered strawberries.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-51487415449255293242010-09-10T13:15:00.002-07:002010-09-10T13:17:52.078-07:00

I think the heat has made me a little absent-minded lately. Last week we met Kat's best pal, Emily, and her mom at their gym for a play date, of sorts. The girls played, the moms worked out, then we had lunch and spent some time in the pool. That was all fine and good.What wasn't so fine and good was the fact my car sat in an unshaded parking spot for an extended number of hours on a day when the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-86560602551022284172010-08-30T21:41:00.001-07:002010-09-09T17:50:12.912-07:00

We've lived in this house now for just over three years. I'm sure I've said it before, but I'll say it again: this is not my death house! You know, the one they'll take me from to deliver me to my final resting place, scattered over Lake Michigan. So I haven't wanted to invest a lot in the space. No bathroom gutting, no moving walls, no blowing out the back wall to expand the kitchen. I'll keep

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-8423695517550968872010-08-23T13:49:00.001-07:002010-08-23T15:42:26.299-07:00

I have a lot more free time on my hands now that Kindergarten is underway. Three full days to myself. Whew! I honestly thought this time would never come; the ability to sort of re-develop my former self. But here it is and I have 18 hours of "me" time during the week and...well, you know what?I miss her.Not that I didn't think I would. I just didn't think I would miss her this much. But now I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-49352275473141260422010-08-21T14:33:00.000-07:002010-08-21T15:23:14.279-07:00

Pop-Tarts! Weren't they a staple in pretty much every household throughout the seventies and eighties? I haven't had a Pop-Tart in years, and Kat has never had a Pop-Tart - not that I don't occasionally pass them in the "breakfast" food aisle at Target and wax fondly over gooey brown sugar cinnamon warm from the toaster. But you can't send your kid out the door to school after having served

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-3584100641017252662010-08-18T12:18:00.000-07:002010-08-18T12:29:53.501-07:00

We've been back in the desert for a little over two weeks now and seem to have resigned outselves settled in. School started last week, which means summer should be nearly over, right? Wrong! We're under the standard "heat advisory," and trapped indoors. Even a walk to the mailbox comes with a whole lot of wailing and caterwauling (mostly mine). Well, I guess this just means I can no long put off

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-12297846757257688052010-07-15T20:28:00.008-07:002010-08-03T10:53:29.302-07:00

...I'm on vacation? Yep. We have been... for something like four weeks now. Sadly, only two more to go. I'll be back. Maybe.With love from The Motherland.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-29888595483261697802010-06-04T14:04:00.020-07:002010-06-04T15:01:35.550-07:00

We spend a lot of time on the patio which is, thankfully, a large chunk of shaded space. But along with the covered patio space, there is space at the deep end of the pool where I'd like to put a couple of chairs, a side table, and maybe another umbrella. The problem is it gets intense sun for the better part of the day, so chairs with any metal components are out. And, because of the intense sun

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-52843079537279696972010-06-01T19:32:00.001-07:002010-06-01T20:49:14.434-07:00

Memorial Day weekend is the kick-off to summer in most parts of the country. Here in the desert, it's been summer for a long while and it's going to be summer for a while longer. We have 333 days of sunshine every year and don't lack for time spent outdoors with the grill fired up and smoking. As part of the holiday celebration, a lot of people fall back on the standard grilling fare: hotdogs,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-63465864082795075772010-05-27T22:31:00.009-07:002010-05-28T07:14:10.742-07:00

It's getting to be that time of year, again. The dog-days of summer threaten and it's only May. The fight for shady parking spaces heats up and I find myself willing to drive around and around and around until the spot opens up. I stop wanting to go outside..Which leads me to the escape. We leave for Michigan in a few weeks. Six weeks of glorious Michigan summer are ready to unfold before me. I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-56957405305267371712010-05-21T04:42:00.004-07:002010-05-21T07:51:08.385-07:00

My all time favorite cookie is, by far, chocolate chip. I do love me some snickerdoodles and molasses cookies, but chocolate chip cookies speak to the traditionalist in me. It's probably the first cookie I ever baked on my own without parental assistance. It's chewy and comforting and works well in any season. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who would turn up their nose to a stack of

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-28102591987898042752010-05-20T09:37:00.015-07:002010-05-22T19:13:30.411-07:00

...and I'm feeling verklempt! My baby is...well, not so much a baby, anymore. Where has the time gone? Can I get any of it back? Slow it down? Bottle it for those days down the road when she won't have the time or inclination to lay in a shady spot on the grass and make silly faces? From endings to new beginnings, she'll always be my baby. Love you, Sugar!!!With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-8990081570799499942010-05-18T11:00:00.009-07:002010-05-18T12:28:18.146-07:00

We've been busy gardening here in the desert. The veggies are tented to keep the sun at bay during the hottest part of the afternoon. So far, so good. There are oodles of green tomatoes rippening and we've been eating them in salads and entrees as fast as we can pick the red ones. I've yet to find a store-bought tomato to rival the flavor of these home grown goodies. Not to mention they're too

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-63442189754752928062010-05-15T19:06:00.008-07:002010-05-15T19:24:16.295-07:00

Aside from gobs of hugs and kisses and lots of lovin' and a hand drawn mural on the patio proclaiming my World's Best Mom status, Kat made these for me at school; a set of five homemade note cards. They're so incredibly simple, but touching and heart felt and gorgeous all at once. In fact, we used them as a little inspiration when we made a card this morning for Miss Jessie, Kat's dance teacher.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-52896308262349464552010-05-09T13:47:00.007-07:002010-05-09T13:56:49.306-07:00

I hear these words a lot. Believe me, I know what a blessing they are. But I say them a lot, too, and know what a blessing it is to be able to speak them to my mom. She's an amazing woman. I love her more than she'll ever know and thank God for her. Every day!I love you, Mom. With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-86518694122633927702010-05-05T11:02:00.005-07:002010-05-05T15:09:17.404-07:00

Kat and I took a nature walk yesterday afternoon and happened upon a front yard awash in bright red poppies. It stopped both of us in our tracks. Since I don't travel much without camera in hand, and she is quite content to gather "nature" things while I snap away, we hung out for a while enjoying them in our own ways. Frankly, I think she was just happy not to have the camera lens turned in her

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-73928462792957787722010-05-04T06:10:00.003-07:002010-05-05T07:52:06.320-07:00

There are days I find myself staring in to the refrigerator at 4 p.m., wondering what's for dinner. It doesn't happen all the time, but often enough I know to keep a half dozen or so "go-to" recipes on hand which call for pretty standard pantry items. This recipe is perfect for just such a fridge-staring occasion. It's easy and quick to assemble, and has a relatively short baking time.I adapted

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-27553596079286358742010-05-01T07:18:00.000-07:002010-05-01T13:47:17.615-07:00

We had a stretch of days, recently, that felt an awful (and I do mean AWFUL) lot like summer. Since my Wednesday Bible Study has adjourned for the summer, we took the opportunity to meet up with some friends at the zoo this week to beat the heat at the splash pad. Kids and water are such an awesome combination.With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-92107307063932090732010-04-26T05:48:00.001-07:002010-04-26T05:48:00.597-07:00

On Tuesdays, I sometimes link up over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam for Tasty Tuesday. A lot of other bloggers; a lot of them moms, all of them food lovers feeding someone, post recipes and photos of what they've been cooking. More often than not, I try out at least one. More often than not, I'm really pleased with the outcome.Last week, I needed a snack for my Wednesday Women's Bible Study at

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-75550986012628765862010-04-23T07:23:00.000-07:002010-04-23T07:35:01.377-07:00

Kat brought home another seedling on Tuesday. Her pre-school class experimented with bean seeds wrapped in damp paper towel. I'd have thought the likelihood of germination under those circumstances would be pretty slim, but apparently bean seeds are hearty. I put it in the laundry room with my own scraggly herb garden - hoping to keep it alive, but uncertain how we'll fair.Our outdoor sugar snap

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-37587025547503486252010-04-20T10:30:00.000-07:002010-04-20T11:06:52.762-07:00

This recipe is one of my "go to" favorites. I love, love, love me some shrimp, so I almost always have shrimp in my frozen pantry items. Since we've been pouring our hearts and souls in to our desert garden, we also had 29 home grown sugar snap peas. They were absolutely delicious and crisp and flavorful. I don't know how much longer the vines will produce, but this meal was all the better for

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-45126769359603955792010-04-19T10:42:00.008-07:002010-04-19T10:52:17.560-07:00

I was waiting in line for the hand sanitizer at the gym this morning when I read this on the back of the shirt of the guy in front of me:"The guy with the biggest stomach will be the first guy to take off his shirt at a ballgame!!!"Which, of course, reminded me of this picture I took at a spring training game last month: You have to admit...it is a little funny!With love from The Valley of the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-74103420640991982372010-04-15T08:42:00.001-07:002010-04-16T12:52:51.087-07:00

Among other things, a fair amount of baking goes on in my kitchen - equal parts something fun to do with Kat, and wanting to control what ingredients go in to the food we eat. I don't generally buy cookies or other sweet treats at the store. If I'm pressed for time and can't pull it together to bake, I'll fall back on something like Back to Nature honey graham sticks or crispy oatmeal cookies

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-39206562480065325582010-04-06T04:24:00.001-07:002010-04-06T06:58:07.691-07:00

A fellow Arizona blogger kindly shared her recipe for homemade granola recently. I'd been scouring recipes for a while and found a few that looked good. But it's always a relief to have a recipe someone else has made and loves..Because I love granola. Yet, I hate granola. I love it because it's easy to grab a handful for a quick pick-me-up before heading to the gym, or toss it over yogurt for a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-9950703324927234932010-04-05T05:27:00.001-07:002010-04-05T05:27:00.285-07:00

The spring butterflies are at the Desert Botanical Garden until May 9, 2010. We took an afternoon recently and spent some time in the butterfly house. I love the Monarch exhibit when it comes in the fall, but the spring butterflies are probably my favorite. There are so many different types and colors and textures, and they're all really social. The social part hasn't always been a good thing,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-71126321254258614542010-04-04T05:38:00.001-07:002010-04-04T05:38:00.226-07:00

Easter: the season of renewal..Happy Easter from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-5675579683781396622010-03-25T05:12:00.002-07:002010-03-25T05:12:00.395-07:00

Gosh, I love my kid. She loves to bake and cook with me so I know what her answer will be whenever I suggest we head in to the kitchen. Being able to snitch scraps of cookie dough is never a bad thing.Or decorate with copious amounts of sprinles.She definitely has her own unique style and way of doing things.And she's always willing to pose with the finished product. I'm never sure what I want

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-63256470254757447812010-03-23T05:06:00.005-07:002010-03-23T05:06:00.226-07:00

There are five citrus trees in the backyard. Not a one of them is a lemon tree. What I want more than anything is a lemon tree. Fortunately, friends and neighbors have lemon trees and, for the most part, people are pretty generous with their citrus.A friend from Kat's pre-school overheard me lamenting my over-abundance of oranges and admission I was completely coveting my neighbor's lemon tree.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-73538872582030462972010-03-21T15:01:00.006-07:002010-03-21T15:16:39.297-07:00

I've been taste testing a few new yogurt brands lately - instead of habitually loading up my shopping cart with Yoplait and then feeling not quite right about offering it to Kat as a "healthy" snack. If I'm completely honest with myself, Yoplait yogurt qualifies more as dessert. And if I take that train of thought a little farther, it doesn't even qualify as dessert since I wouldn't fill my

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-34550570794730373472010-03-16T06:19:00.002-07:002010-03-16T06:19:00.557-07:00

I'm currently experiencing a slow cooking fixation. As I speak, stew is simmering away in my dutch oven. And then, yesterday, I had me a hankerin' (don't ask) for slow cooker oatmeal. I've collected a few recipes for this particular breakfast favorite, but I'm lazy. Let's face it -breakfast is super easy when all you have to do is pour boiling water over a bowl of quick cooking oats. Voila!

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-53079742582643313102010-03-11T06:34:00.000-07:002010-03-11T09:18:31.427-07:00

It's sunny right now, but...according to the weather guys, The Valley has received 7 months worth of rain in something like 66 days. By July, we've normally had about 4 inches of rain; just over half our yearly total rainfall. So, to have reached that number by mid-March is really strange. I don't mind this sort of weird weather pattern (El Nino, I love you), so you won't hear me complaining -

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-2472624644891756292010-03-09T10:15:00.001-07:002010-03-11T07:26:59.031-07:00

This past weekend, I needed a dessert for our church picnic. I know life would be amazingly less complicated if I would just give myself over to the pre-made baked goods at the local Kroger affiliate. You know...cupcakes piled mile high with frosting so sugary it feels gritty between your teeth? Yeah. No. I'll stick with more complication, less grit.I found this recipe in a Twitter stream from

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-45789410859229787212010-03-05T05:00:00.001-07:002010-03-05T05:00:08.087-07:00

Earlier this week, dinner included (much to Kat's despair) sauteed brussel sprouts as the green veggie. She refuses to eat them, but I love them and so...I make them. Really, I can't say as I blame her. They're an acquired taste. But look how lovely and delicious they are tossed with a little olive oil, sea salt and some freshly ground pepper. I'm confident she'll eventually come around.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-66735107606746435512010-03-01T11:06:00.008-07:002010-03-01T11:12:48.145-07:00

I'm not sure it's so much easier......as twice the fun!With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-73972290612518015002010-02-26T05:20:00.002-07:002010-03-01T15:44:24.487-07:00

I'm singin' in the rain.Just singin' in the rainWhat a glorious feelin'I'm happy againI'm laughing at cloudsSo dark up aboveThe sun's in my heart.And I'm ready for love Let the stormy clouds chase.Everyone from the place Come on with the rainI've a smile on my face With a happy refrainJust singin',Singin' in the rain.With love from The Valley of the Sun.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-49980460896894650372010-02-25T05:06:00.001-07:002010-02-25T05:06:00.237-07:00

Kat and I were out playing in the yard yesterday and I, of course, was shooting random pictures - trying really hard not to over-shoot my welcome with my sweet daughter, who does, I think, wonder why my camera has to go with us everywhere.We'd already made "strawberry pies" in the sandbox and played trapeze on the swing set and narrowly escaped a band of marauding bears by taking shelter in the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-57772197968692452242010-02-23T06:04:00.001-07:002010-02-23T06:04:00.685-07:00

I know a lot of people have trouble keeping their carb intake to a reasonable level. I know people who are addicted to carbs. I know people who are so terrified of carbs they do things like eat spaghetti squash in place of pasta. I'm not one of those people, so...be forewarned if you are. This might not be the recipe for you.Now that I've risen to the challenge of biscotti, I thought I'd tackle

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-44664381809561699222010-02-22T05:37:00.002-07:002010-02-22T12:13:47.346-07:00

On my hike at Lost Dog Wash a couple weeks ago, I was struck by how quickly the desert is "going green." We've had some decent rain this winter and we're getting more this weekend. It's a blessing and a curse, of course, because increased vegetation dries up and becomes kindling for wildfires through the long, hot season.But, at least temporarily, the desert is taking on a definite green hue. The

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-2443484987500087592010-02-19T05:54:00.006-07:002010-03-01T15:44:46.847-07:00

Before winter ends - something it's doing pretty quickly here in Arizona, we decided to take a quick trip up to the mountains with some church/school friends for a little sledding and fun in the snow. Kids love snow, right? Right. Especially desert kids who spend 75% of their year wearing flip-flops, slathered in sun block. Besides, a good, healthy dose of cold, mountain air is good for the soul.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-48077144599225528492010-02-17T07:19:00.008-07:002010-02-18T10:44:43.649-07:00

I was coming through the kitchen yesterday when something caught my eye in the grass in the backyard. It was under Kat's play structure. Normally I'd have expected to see a rabbit or two nibbling grass in the shade, but it was a bird - and not the kind of bird we generally see out here in God's Brown Earth..If you know me at all, you know I had my camera within arm's reach, but I had to shoot

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-26131204182052071272010-02-16T06:02:00.002-07:002010-02-16T08:44:13.545-07:00

A friend of mine from church (and pre-school) makes fabulous biscotti. She brings me samples every time she makes it and I, in turn, don't give her samples of my biscotti because...I've never baked biscotti.I've thought about it but, for some reason, have always been intimidated by biscotti - better known as cantucci to the Italians; the history alone screams of my impending failure. This cookie

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-82789823818986623602010-02-11T14:21:00.000-07:002010-02-11T14:24:09.042-07:00

Kat needed Valentines for her class party today. Last year I think I found some at Target; generic Disney princess type Valentines. They worked out just fine and, honestly, I was in a bit of a funk and couldn't have mustered much more creativity than it required to drive to Target and buy generic Disney princess Valentines..This year, happily funk-less, I opened up my February issue of Family Fun

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-28435470421415433522010-02-09T09:30:00.001-07:002010-02-09T12:16:03.043-07:00

Another soup and, yes, I'm completely on a roll, here. It's a near obsession to make as many as I can before the weather deteriorates and I'm crabby and irate and don't want to slave over a hot stove because it's 109 degrees outside. I've got to take advantage of our lingering winter weather. Bear with me..So, I've made this soup a few times dating back to 2005, when Kat was an infant and I could

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-27848012250234923672010-02-07T20:15:00.005-07:002010-02-07T20:26:38.154-07:00

I've been away. In the snow of northern Arizona. I know many of you are really tired of seeing snow, and the bleak, colorless skeleton of winter. So, although I have a lot of really cool snow pictures to share, I figured I'd give you this...while I edit. You can warm up a bit before I show you more pictures of snow. And my cute kid in the snow. And trees draped in snow. And really tall snow piles

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-62013149573050830282010-02-04T15:40:00.000-07:002010-02-04T15:51:07.306-07:00

Or because our weather is - beautiful, that is.Yeah, I know I gripe about desert living, but, I have to admit there's something enticing about it right now. It's darn near...perfect:for going to the zoo; sipping Pomegranate Mimosas at an outdoor concert;and, planting a garden. Of course, even if you're hating us now, give it a couple months. It's all downhill from February. Until then, I'm

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-51631256444265582562010-02-02T05:57:00.002-07:002010-10-18T12:51:56.276-07:00

I'm all about the "chilly" desert weather. I love to dress in layers and turn on the seat warmers in the car for the morning commute. It's safe to say I'm a cold weather kind of girl. So, this desert living is tough on me. Nine months a year I yearn for something....well, colder. Less sunny. Not so hot.From December to late February everything is all good, though. We get some clouds and rain. We

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-55759773564550365542010-01-29T05:45:00.000-07:002010-01-29T05:45:00.787-07:00

I've had a couple conversations recently about my cast iron skillet. I don't know why it has suddenly become a frequent topic of conversation; however, I thoroughly enjoy the discussions. This is one of my favorite kitchen utensils. I love the way it feels. I love the way it looks. I love it has a family history.Marked on the bottom is the Wagner Ware insignia, made in Sydney, Ohio, many, many,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-53739302050431707382010-01-28T11:47:00.011-07:002010-01-28T13:50:06.264-07:00

After dropping Kat at school this morning, I headed to the gym for a quick cardio workout and then home to...clean my pantry. Or, at the very least, the snack drawer - which has a tendency to take on a life of its own, all overflowing with protein bars and organic suckers and opened bags of chocolate baking chips and fortune cookies!!.Now, I like Chinese food and we have a pretty good Chinese

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-44090046477765326482010-01-26T05:54:00.003-07:002010-01-26T07:44:50.770-07:00

There is inspiration in just about everything - or I'm just getting better and better at finding it, or creating it, or not overlooking it when it stares me right in the face. Especially in light of project365.We do a few things here almost constantly; play with food, read, and do art projects. Over Christmas, I picked up a pack of Crayola True-to-Life Twistable Crayons for a stocking stuffer.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-42143758382536702142010-01-24T19:58:00.009-07:002010-01-24T20:19:56.696-07:00

When this sweetheart asks for a fruit salad after dinner, then wonders if I might have some whipped cream to make it extra, extra special...well, I just can't turn her down. But I don't keep "Cool-Whip," on hand. Not that there's anything fundamentally wrong with Cool-Whip. Much. I mean, I've eaten it. It's sweet and lovely and...oh, so generic. (Never mind the fact a while back my mom had a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3620427125238977253.post-32726503439591866412010-01-23T19:00:00.013-07:002010-01-23T20:24:14.216-07:00

We spent the morning roaming around The Desert Botanical Garden this morning - post rain, a little overcast and chilly, it was not overrun with tourists. The Allan Houser exhibit was moving and gorgeous. The Agave Yucca forest was really interesting: who knew there were so many, many species of agave?Of course, it was also fun for me to get out and shoot with my new camera in a setting with

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176640352067647780noreply@blogger.com1