I hope all those that celebrated enjoyed a Happy Thanksgiving and managed to make it home alive if you braved the shops on Black Friday! Personally, I can think of nothing worse - I hate crowded shops, loathe queuing even more and if I had my eye on something specific would much rather order it online from the comfort of my sofa with a glass of wine - much more civilized! Don't get me wrong - I love a bargain as much as the next person, however, the timing of Black Friday always seems rather comical to me when I see pictures on TV of hoards of people trampling each other (literally to death a couple of years ago!) and fighting in the aisles over cheap goods just hours after being thankful for what they already have. No thanks. I think I'll wait for one of the other 927 sales that seem to happen here almost weekly.
This year, as Ethan's 'Fall Break' coincides with Thanksgiving and Mr B has had another crazy schedule of traveling over the last couple of months, we decided on a relaxing week in a cabin up at Pinetop, a small town up in the 'high country' of NE Arizona to do nothing but spend time together as a family - eating, drinking, playing games and getting outside to enjoy the fresh cool air of the White Mountains (a welcome change from the record heat we have had for the past 6 months) - just how every 14 year old boy wants to spend his school holidays right?! Lol.
What?!? ... no signal?! My life is over.
We have actually stayed at this resort before. 6 years ago in fact, whilst on holiday from the U.K. Never in a million years did I think that a few years later we would be making our home just a short 3 hours drive away! You never know what's around the corner do you, which I think is what makes life such a fabulous adventure.
On our first morning we looked for somewhere to continue our Sunday brunch ritual and were directed to a place called Darbi's, 5 minutes down the road. It was a very homely place and clearly popular with the locals - one of whom seated at the next table to us was also proudly displaying his right to the 2nd amendment. I have to say I didn't feel entirely comfortable gazing at a holstered pistol whilst trying to enjoy my breakfast, however, I did find it slightly hilarious when the waitress delivered his order to watching a large gun toting cowboy sitting alone at a table tucking into .... Desperate Dan size steak and eggs? Bacon, sausage & grits (bleugh by the way)? ... No. A bowl of yoghurt with granola and fresh berries! Obviously a healthy cowboy.
I opted for the more traditional eggs, bacon & hash browns, which came with a choice of biscuits & sausage gravy, toast or pancakes. I thought I would go with the biscuits and gravy as I haven't had these yet ... and I can report that it is unlikely that I will be having them again! Whilst the 'biscuits' themselves were ok (a cross between a scone and a dumpling I guess), if a little on the dry side (hence I suppose the gravy), the 'gravy' was more like a luke warm tin of Campbells mushroom soup poured over the top ... ugh! (and probably not too far from the reality as tins of Campbells soup seem to feature heavily in a lot of recipes I have seen here!)
Bleuugghh!
The Teen decided on a breakfast burrito - a flour tortilla filled with cheddar cheese, scrambled egg, green chilis, hash browns and bacon. From being a toddler, Ethan has always turned his nose up at eggs and would never eat them. Since we moved here though, he surprised us both by announcing one Sunday that he would try an omelette, promptly pronouncing it as 'delicious'! He had refused to expand his egg repertoire any further though until today's breakfast burrito.
"Oh. It tastes just like omelette!" he announced after the first tentative bite. Well, who'd have thought. **face palm**
After we had finished stuffing out faces we embarked on our first hike of the week along the Mogollon Rim Trail. Ethan kept us entertained by reading out each informative sign we came across in the voice of Brian Cox, complete with northern accent - hilarious! Interestingly, it seems that the Ponderosa Pine, which featured heavily on our walk, has the largest population here in Arizona of anywhere in the world. No small feat for somewhere you automatically associate with the desert.
Also, co-habitating happily beside the pines were both Aligator & Utah juniper trees (I immediately thought of you Donna!) which is unusual apparently as both types of tree generally require very different types of habitat.
Aligator Juniper
Utah Juniper
Anyway, botony lesson over.
The next day we woke up to pouring rain so after a lazy morning catching up on some reading and Mr B's obligatory visit to the gym **rolls eyes** we decided on a trip to the local cinema to see Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them followed an early dinner at the local steak house.
Well, when I said we went to the movies to escape the rain, that wasn't entirely accurate! Halfway through the film there was a strange noise that got louder and louder. I looked across at Ethan who clearly thinking I had morphed into some neurotic old dear, whispered "it's ok, it's just rain on the roof". A few minutes later, very realistic sound effects of a full blown waterfall could be heard coming from down at the front of the theater ... I was confused ... there was no water scene in the film? After another minute or so I realised that it was an actual waterfall as rain poured through the roof! Nobody else seemed to bat an eyelid though - weird! The film was great viewing by the way although don't go expecting it to be like Harry Potter. It is connected yes, but is quite different and as this is the first of reportedly a series of 5, it builds up the story gradually leaving you ready for the next one - especially after the introduction of one of my favorite actors at the end (I won't spoil it for you if you are still planning to see it but he was made to be in this series!). Afterwards, we stopped off at Charlie Clark's, the local steak house, for an early dinner. Hmmmm ... disappointing to say the least ... but then as I am not easy to please as I love to cook and love to eat, and therefore am really fussy when I eat out. I really resent paying a fortune for something that I could have made better myself at home for a fraction of the price (but clearly I wasn't at home and just wanted to eat a tasty dinner that I hadn't had to make myself). The salad tasted of stagnant pond water, the steak had a very odd earthy flavour, my mashed potato was cold and the peppercorn sauce which accompanied it was a lukewarm congealed mass with a skin on top which wobbled in the gravy boat it arrived in. Yuk! I can feel a Yelp review coming on as we speak ...
The next day awoke to blue skies and sunshine again and we had planned to go to Fort Apache, which was a short car ride away, however, after chatting to the resort manager when we popped in to get a map who told us there wasn't really much to see, we decided to give it a miss in favour of a forest hike just at the back of the resort instead. It was a 4 mile loop and whilst it was nice to be out in the fresh air getting some exercise, I have to say it was a little monotonous (or in the words of The Teen ... "boring as").
" ... is that Fort Apache?"
"shoot me now ...!"
We were all tired and muddy when we got back and so opted to cook burgers on the grill on the decking rather than going out, although what Mr B thought he looked like when he ventured out to cook later that evening I do not know!
Bobby Flay never looks like this when he does BBQ! ...
Wednesday's adventure was a trip to explore the Petrified Forest National Park. Ethan was beyond thrilled.
... when you're a Teen and have to go sightseeing with your Mum & Dad
Sport the bored 14 yr old - "I'll just wait here ..."
The Petrified Forest is known for its fossils, especially fallen trees that lived in the late Triassic period, about 225 million years ago! It was incredible to see what were once these huge trees now littered across a vast area, crystallized into hard rocky quartz. Some of the colors were amazing and photographs didn't really seem to do it justice.
Petrified Wood
The landscape changed in each direction you looked and you could be forgiven for thinking you might had inadvertently fallen through a black hole and landed on some obscure planet ...
From rocky outcrops ...
miles of deserted plains ...
strange rocks that looked like giant sandcastles (called 'the teepees')
and rocks covered with ancient petroglyphs ...
created by Puebloan people living along the Puerco River between 650 and 2,000 years ago!
The petrified forest finally gave way to the area known as the Painted Desert, which was equally beautiful and well worth a visit if you are ever in the area (but maybe not if you are a 14 yr old boy!)
Painted Desert
Finally, on Thanksgiving itself, we attempted a full roast turkey dinner, cooked in the tiny cabin kitchen which turned out surprisingly well considering the limited cooking utensils and amount of space available! Just before dinner Marcus popped across to the Resort Reception to see if he could get more dishwasher detergent (a must after a big roast!) and came back to advise that Christopher, the young duty manager, was working until 7pm and then going home to spend the evening in the company of his 14 yr old dog :( We all felt a bit sorry for him and so as we probably had enough food to feed the entire resort (Northern habits die hard!) I plated up one extra and sent Marcus back with it. Hope he liked sprouts! :D
Now back home to reality, 4 loads of laundry and a week's worth of mail to open ... oh look another letter from the IRS addressed to Ethan.
"Dear Mr Barlow, unfortunately your request for a Tax Identification Number has been rejected due to insufficient identification records ..... "
OMFG!!!!!!!! What is wrong with these people?!? To be continued no doubt after Mr B wastes another half day trying to get through to someone with half a brain on Monday morning ...
Have a good week friends and see you next time
TTFN
Bev x
Just a very short post this week as we are taking advantage of the school Fall Break and have driven up to the high country for a week of rest & relaxation and general battery recharging. Nothing much planned other than eating, drinking, reading, walking (a necessary evil following the first two items on the list) and generally spending some quality family time together. Bliss!
As we drove up through the White Mountains along the wide empty roads, we watched as saguaros became pines, desert became forest and temperatures dropped from a warm 82 degrees to a rather chilly 58. Arizona you constantly impress me with your beauty and the huge variations in both landscape and temperature, all within a few hours drive. Amazing!
After unpacking what seemed like half the house from the car (why is it when you drive anywhere on holiday you end up chucking all manner of random crap into the car ... just in case?) we all decided we were suddenly very hungry and could murder a beer or two ... or a coke in the case of the Tween.
After a recommendation from the resort manager we headed off in last rays of the afternoon sun to a local bar where their speciality was a 'wine burger'. Well, that just has my name written all over it!
The burger was delicious, as was the mojito I ordered to go along with it (which arrived in a pint glass!)
I think we may be frequenting that estsblishment again before the week is out.
I hope all those that celebrate have a wonderful Thanksgiving later this week. I certainly have a lot to be thankful for and right now I am extremely thankful for being able to count all of you as my lovely friends and family!
Hi de hi Campers! How was your week? It has been a bit of an eventful (to say the least!) week here as you are probably aware and emotions have been running high. I don't want to get involved in political debate here so am carefully keeping my opinions to myself, but .... seriously?!! **puffs out cheeks whilst exhaling deeply**
Roaring Fork, Scottsdale
So last night in an effort to escape the endless loop of political TV bickering, we managed to nab the last table for Happy Hour at The Roaring Fork, a place that had been recommended by a couple of different friends but with the added caution to 'get there early' due to its popularity, especially on a Friday. You all know I live for our Friday Happy Hour outings, so I am always on the look out for somewhere new to try. This was our second attempt however, as the last time we had arrived just after 4.30pm ... early we thought as it doesn't open till 4 ... to find it already completely full and every last table taken - even at the bar! This time as Mr B had managed to escape from work early (well, I say early, but as he is in the office for 6.30am every morning technically anything after 2.30pm is 'late' in my book!) and the Teen wasn't bothered about coming, we decided to give it another go.
We got there just after 4.10pm to find just one table left, which was right by the hostess station, but beggars can't be choosers. The food looked great and with wine and cocktails $5 each and beers $3 we could see why it was popular (particularly it seemed with the snow bird community!). With drinks and appetisers delivered we settled back to watch the entertainment. Not in the traditional sense ... there was no band or singer ... but watching the continuous stream of people constantly arriving (too late) and walking up and down the length of the bar in an effort to find a free table that perhaps the rest of the people now waiting patiently in line by the hostess station might have missed (as the bar, very wisely it transpired, operated a self seating policy).
Well, by 5pm it was bordering on anarchy. People were jostling for position as those that had been queuing patiently began to panic as more thirsty Happy Hour seekers began to arrive and saunter straight past, casting a beady eye on every table in an attempt to work out who was likely to be leaving first and once all bets were closed, trying to nonchalantly hang out nearby, like some uber
competitive game of musical chairs. It was hilarious!
Suddenly two stools became available at the bar. We watched as couples eyed each other nervously, like duelling cowboys at the OK Corral, until finally two broke out into a sprint in an effort to be the first to reach the prized stools. By the time they had raced to the finish line, another couple, who had opted to adopt the pincer movement approach, had already secured the seats and for a brief moment it looked like there may be pistols at dawn. Thankfully the startled barman managed to spy another table nearby which was just about to become vacant and tactfully steered them in that direction. It was the best free entertainment we had had for ages. Lol!
After a rather brazen sixty-something woman, who had clearly decided that intimidation tactics were now her best chance of getting a table before the end of Happy Hour, worked her way around the room pausing at each table to scowl at the occupants, we were determined not to be rushed and ordered more drinks before returning our attention to the menu.
Oops!
As Mr B was once again the designated driver (funny that) he could only have two small drinks, but even so, we had to laugh at the size of the glass that came with his beer which wouldn't have looked out of place on a kiddie's dining table ...
Mr B's dinky beer glass
By now starving, I turned my attention to the food on offer. The 'Big Ass Burger' looked amazing ... smoked pepper bacon, cheddar, poblano pepper, lettuce, tomato, pickles and fries ... as did the Rotisserie Chicken Flatbread ... basil pesto, roasted chillies, pepper jack cheese ... however I decided to go for the 'Pork Wings' (clearly flying pigs are alive and well in Arizona) ... Dr Pepper BBQ sauce, Hominy (? ... still none the wiser), pickled vegetables, Cotija cheese. When they arrived, they were basically like big spare ribs but less bone, more meat - and utterly delicious (if a little messy but after two margaritas I was past caring by that point). Mr B went for the Fish Tacos, which whilst they too looked delicious, I'm afraid meat wins every time for me!
... the flying pig ... no, on the plate!
Finally, after managing to hang it out till 6.30pm - a heroic effort - we headed home completely stuffed and I was in my PJs with a cup of tea watching last week's episode of Strictly by just after 7pm - a perfect end to a rather frenetic week week if you ask me.
I fear there could be more to come before the next couple of months is out!
Thanks for stopping by - I loved chatting with you :) Until next time ...
I hope all my friends across the pond enjoyed their bonfire celebrations last night. I really miss Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes Night to give it it's proper title). Last year (our first in Arizona), as the 5th November approached, I couldn't understand why there were no bonfire or firework displays advertised anywhere, until it dawned on me that as the very essence of the occasion centers around the commemoration of a foiled plot by Guy Fawkes in 1605 to blow up the British Houses of Parliament along with King James I, there probably weren't going to be any either ... oh yeah ... that'll be why then. What an idiot **snort**
I miss getting wrapped up in warm coats, hats, scarves and wellies and stepping out into the chill autumn darkness to join friends and neighbors as we walked to the end of the road to wait for the village Bonfire Procession.
I miss watching all the local Bonfire Societies file past in their stripey jerseys and looking out for our friends Richie, Gini and Sam as the Chailey Bonfire Society pass by in their yellow and green stripes, with blackened faces and flaming fiery torches lighting their way.
I miss following along behind the floats at the back of the procession in the crisp night air (or the pouring rain as was the case a couple of years I recall!) listening to the kids all chattering excitedly and watching them shining their torches into each others faces, giggling hysterically as they skipped along holding on to each other's hands in the darkness.
I miss the traditional 'half-way pit stop' at the Horns Lodge pub. Just time enough for a swift pint (which I always regretted an hour or so later when I was standing in the middle of a dark field dying for a wee!) before the procession set off again on it's final leg to the village green.
I miss the anticipation on the faces of all the children gathered excitedly, waiting for the fireworks to begin as we adults complained about frozen feet (and needing a wee!).
I miss the chanting of the old 17th Century Bonfire nursery rhyme ...
Remember, Remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.
By God's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.
And what shall we do with him?
Burn him! ....
... and the ceremonial lighting of the Bonfire with the Guy on top.
I miss the crackling of the fire and the sweet smoky smell of burning wood as the flames leapt higher and higher and the black night sky sparkled with flecks of gold.
Most of all, I miss the fabulous fireworks. Explosions of glitter and sparkle ... silver, gold and every color of the rainbow ... each one more magnificent than the last. I have to say I wasn't that keen on the loud ones, (which seemed to get louder every year - or maybe that was just me getting older!) nor was I as keen on the 1.5 mile walk back in pitch darkness afterwards (by now desperately needing a wee!) which always seemed twice as long as it was on the way there. I don't think Chailey Bonfire is until next weekend this year (as they never clash with Lewes which is always on the 5th), so to all my Sussex readers, why not try and get along?
When I was little, although there weren't really any organized firework displays as such then, we would always build a small bonfire in the back garden, complete with a 'Guy' for the top. For my American friends who are wondering what on earth a 'Guy' is by the way, it is traditionally an effigy of Guy Fawkes (although at various points in history other unpopular figures have also featured!) made when we were kids, by stuffing old clothes with scrumpled up newspaper but nowadays often much more elaborate ones are created for big organized displays.
Dad would come home from work that day with a small box of fireworks and a big bag of treacle toffee (or 'Bonfire Toffee' which was always a tradition in our house). I remember being so excited I could hardly contain myself as I watched Dad nail the Catherine Wheel to the fence post, place the Rocket into a milk bottle at the end of the garden and prepare a bucket of soil in which to light the Roman Candle, Squib and Volcano. Best of all though, was always the packet of sparklers!
As soon as it was dark, we would all troop outside whilst Dad lit the bonfire and Mum served steaming hot tomato soup in mugs, which was almost as exciting to me as the fireworks ... not only to have 'tea' outside (I was a Northern girl remember ... it was 'tea' in the evening, dinner was at dinner time ... obvs), but to be allowed to slurp soup out of a mug and not have to use a spoon! That would usually be followed by steaming hot baked potatoes and crisp pork sausages (I'm salivating here!), followed by a big chunk of sticky homemade parkin (another Northern tradition ... kind of like a more cakey gingerbread) before the fireworks were allowed to begin.
Parkin ... Mmmmmm!
I can still see that Catherine Wheel now, spinning faster and faster on the fence post, shooting out colorful sparks as it flew round and round whilst I jumped up and down, beyond excited, before fizzling out all too soon **sad face**
Finally, when all the fireworks were finished, (more often than not there were always a few that disappointingly never even got started - hence, I suppose the expression 'damp squib'!) came the bit I had been waiting for ... the Sparklers! Once the match had been struck (if I close my eyes I can actually smell the sulphur as the pink blob fizzed into a golden flame) and touched to the end of the sparkler, I watched with pure joy as it leapt into life and was carefully passed to me to hold in my, by now grubby, mittened little hand. I can remember whizzing it back and forth as I tried to write my name against the blackness before it gave it's final splutter and fizzled out. Sigh.
Here's a quick clip from the legendary Peter Kay (also from 'up North') describing what was pretty much everyone's bonfire night experience when I was a kid ...
Yes .... I really miss Bonfire Night, but I'm thankful that I have all those memories to pull down from the shelf when I want to watch them all over again, which is kind of the next best thing.
I hope you all had fun and stayed safe whether you were busy creating new memories with your friends and family or just recalling old ones.
