Holy Mother of Pearl! Where have I been?

Ha! Bet ya thought I was dead, didn't ya? Sorry to disappoint but I'm still here. Time goes by so fast plus I really haven't had much to say. With the rains, I only left the ranch once, maybe twice in a month.

One of my favorite places to eat is Macaroni Grill which we don't have within a million miles from here. My all time favorite meal there is Penne Rustica. I found a copy cat recipe here : http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2010/04/copycat-macaroni-grills-penne-rustica.html
The recipe is so intimidating, I'd never made it......until today, that is.

Does this not look heavenly? Living in Country Bumpkin land, my local Walmart (60 miles away) had no idea what pancetta is so I had to substitute with prosciutto. Heck, never having cooked with it or eaten it except at Macaroni Grill, I had no idea either but I think the pancetta has more flavor that explodes in your mouth when you eat it. This recipe calls for 4 cups of heavy cream!!!! and that's just half the recipe!!!! Did you know that you can substitute heavy cream with 3/4 cup of milk and 1/3 cup of melted butter? I didn't have to because I planned ahead and had the cream. It also calls for Marsalla wine which we couldn't find at Walmart either. But once again, thanks to Google, I discovered you could substitute dry white wine mixed with brandy and get the same thing. I know, I  know, you are thinking this dish is going to turn out to be a disaster. The intimidating thing about this recipe is : first, all the ingredients and second, you have to cook two sauces down to half of their original size before putting everything together and popping it into the oven.
When we go out to eat at an Italian restaurant, being the adventurous person he is, Pa ALWAYS orders spaghetti. I can never get him to try something else. You can imagine my hesitation in serving him this exotic dish. Well, I'll be darned! He really liked it! (Knock me over with a feather!) He had two helpings!!!!
Here are some pictures of the garden before the monsoon rains. Can you believe we got 4000 gallons of rain water stored in the month of July? Our 3000 gallon tank is full and so were all the tanks at the corner of the house, plus the two tanks at the garden. We ran out of places to store rain water. Pa hooked up a pump to each of the corner tanks and we have been watering out of them so they will be empty for the next big rain.

 Here are the strawberries. They are standing about 12 inches high. We didn't get many but they should produce a lot next year. They've put out lots of runners.

 This is a new kind of broccoli I tried this year. It's called Di Ciccio or something like that. It's a great producer and we've eaten some already.

 This box has a conglomeration of broccoli, dill, lettuce and ever bearing strawberries.

 Green beans are kind of spotty but I got enough to can two pints today!

 Bell peppers and a different kind of broccoli.

 This is a new grape we planted this year since the other two died.

 Sweet potatoes which have doubled in size since the rains.

 These tomatoes are now chin high to me. Lots of foliage but not a lot of tomatoes. Don't know if I will get enough to can or not.

 Cantelope....there are 7 or 8 growing on the vines.

 Early girl tomatoes which are now twice as tall

 Yellow squash which we like better than zucchini. For the two of us we only need two of each plant.

 Grape tomatoes. Tons of tomatoes on these vines.

 My first pickings.

 During one of our monsoon rains, it hailed and damaged the garden. You could see bruises on the tomato vines and it tore holes in the leaves of the other plants.They all survived tho

 That white stuff is hail.

 I found this tiny horned toad in the yard. I let him go after taking his picture.

 Wow, isn't this beautiful?

After being stuck at the ranch for a month, I was feeling like I needed to get out and see the world so I told Pa that I was having a girl's day out and was spending the day in Flagstaff. This was on the 14th of August. Just as I pulled out of the ranch, I glanced down and spotted a purse lying along the side of the road. I thought it might belong to the rancher's daughter since that is where they wait for the bus. It looked like a kids purse to me because it was small. My purse is like a saddle bag. I need room to stick my head in there to see where things are. I examined the contents of the purse and discovered that it belonged to an adult and they were in the process of moving because I found a receipt from Uhaul. I stopped in St  Johns at the police station only to discover they didn't open till 8 a.m. Call me naive but I thought police stations were open 24 hours a day. Not in Saint Johns! There were no phone numbers in the purse except one for Uhaul. (There were lots of credit cards and $280.00 in cash. ) I called them but they weren't open either. I was in a quandry, wait two hours for something to open or go to Flagstaff and get on with my day. I opted for Flagstaff. Even tho I was by myself, I had such a great time hitting all the thirft stores and craft stores. By the time I was done with the craft stores, I was ready to come home but I still had to stop by Sam's Club. And  Tuesday Morning. I had the energy of a snail by that time. As I was leaving Tuesday Morning, I called Uhaul again and told them I found the purse and could they call the owner and have her call me so we could make arraignments to get her purse back to her. I ended up driving from Flagstaff to Springerville and met the lady at McDonalds to give her the purse. Turns out they broke down and were staying at a cousins in Alpine before continuing on their journey. The day ended up being 7 hours of driving and 7 hours of shopping. When I finally dragged myself into the house, I told Pa I was only bringing in the food and the rest could wait till the next morning. I didn't spend much money but did find some crafty things at the thrift stores. I'll show you my big project when I get it glued together. I did feel a bit guilty not taking Pa with me but he is not a shopper and even tho he doesn't mean to, I always feel like I need to rush around because he is bored and not a happy camper waiting around for me. I was flabbergasted at the prices in Sam's Club. $35.00 for two Flank Steak! ! The watermelons were more expensive there than they were at Safeway. I was going to buy some mini bell peppers but they were almost $6.00 a bag. I ended up buying two bags at Basha's for $2.00 each. Am I so out of touch? I couldn't believe the prices. Guess it will be mostly Walmart and the sale things at Safeway and Basha's from now on. We've heard rumors that Costco is coming to Show Low. We sure hope so.

 Pa fixed up this watering barrel for his cotton wood tree. I bought him the tree a couple years ago for Father's Day. When it gets big, it will shade his shop.

 With all our rains, everything is so green and beautiful .I know, hard to tell here but the grass all over the ranch is tall and very green.

 My Spiderworts are doing really great. I transplanted an Indian Paint brush last year and thought it had died but this year , it came up and is blooming!!! They are so pretty. You see them all along the road going to Show Low.

 I made this to put in my kitchen. It's all out of cardstock.

 One of our snakes was out the other day. It is about 5 feet long. It's not doing a very good job at keeping the pack rats down. Pa found a huge pack rat nest under the hood of my truck. It filled up a plastic grocery bag. He also found a cooked pack rat, serves the little sucker right! That's what happens when you don't go to town very often. Things take up residence where they can.

 I made this card the other day....just because.

 My dear friend, Katie came over last Thursday to play in my craft room. I love her so much! We had a great time catching up since we hadn't seen each other in a few months.

 So far, I've made 8 jars of kosher dill pickles. This time I used Mrs. Wages Kosher dill pickle mix. I'm still throwing away the pickles I made a couple years ago. They taste like pure salt!!! I canned two pints of green beans today plus 4 jars of pickles. I bought a huge bag of baking soda to use as a cleaning agent. I found a couple of recipes for making my own fabric softener and laundry soap and a general purpose cleaner. I need a couple more things before I put it together.

 

Yesterday I went to the card making class in Joseph City. Katie teaches the class. On my way out of the ranch I saw 12 elk!!!!!! 6 cows and 6 yearlings. They were so pretty. I was wishing I had a rifle but it would be just my luck, I'd get caught hunting out of season.
Guess that catches us up for now. I'll take some picts of my mile high tomato plants and post them next time.

Not much going on

 Since it has been raining, I've made a couple of things to keep me busy since I am out of reading material. The topiary took oodles of cardstock to make the 38 flowers. I had no long stick pins with pearl heads on them to stick the flowers on so went to Pa's shop and found some 2 1/2 finishing nails. I glued half pearls on them and attached the flowers to the styrofoam ball. I sprayed the flowers with glitter spray for a finishing touch. I really liked how it turned out.

The piano is actually a box. Took me all day to make it since I had so much trouble with it. First of all, I had no 12x 12 black cardstock on hand. I found some at Walmart when we went shopping last week. It was nothing but crap! So I threw everything I cut out away. I had some good quality 8 1/2 x11 and after looking at the cutting pattern discovered only the piece that surrounds the top of the piano needed something larger than what I had on hand. I put the piece on my virtual mat on my Cameo, cut it in half, made a tab and welded it on one piece, cut it out and glued the two pieces together. Turned out just great!
    We've had so much rain, that Pa has collected close to 2000 gallons of water for our garden tank. That was just from two rain storms. The weather has cooled down a lot which makes my body feel better. The garden is loving the rain and the tomato plants are getting huge. Unfortunately for some reason, there are no tomatoes. Lots of blossoms. Probably due to not much flying around to pollinate them. We do have lots of lady bugs this year and not too many potato beetles which love tomato plants. We've also seen little ants crawling around on the squash and I have a yellow squash almost ready to pick. I can hardly wait.
    We had a nice visit with some new friends who have property at Sierra Highlands. They came over for a couple of hours, first time we've met in person. They were so nice! Unfortunately, they can't move until they retire in 9 years. I guess I'm destined to have no close girlfriends who live nearby. Two friends are 60 miles away in Holbrook and one is 60 miles away in Show Low!
   My grandson might be moving in with us until he can get on his feet. His mom and stepdad are kicking him out of the house this weekend. He just graduated from high school, has no car, no driver's license and no job. He's been searching every where for a job. His stepdad can't even find a job so I don't know what they expect. It breaks my heart that they are treating him this way. He is a good kid, not into drugs or anything bad. I told him I would find a way to get him here by bus or something. I'm so upset with my daughter. She had better be prepared for him to move out and never hear from him again. Can you imagine how unloved and unwanted he feels? It will probably damage him for life.

 We had a new visitor to the bird feeder. No idea what it is but it likes sweet water!

 Just in the past couple of days, our feeder has attracted around 15 hummingbirds. They didn't appreciate the new visitor.

My windows, as usual, are dirty thanks to Tilly's nose prints. We won't mention the dirt on the outside of the windows. As soon as the monsoon season is over, I'll wash the outside. I haven't washed the outside since we moved in. Hey, I never said I was Ms. Housekeeper of the world. It won't last long with all the dust and sand blowing around anyway.

Since our little ranch fire, I decided to take pictures of all our stuff in the house so I'd have a record for the insurance company. I can't imagine anyone believing all the stuff  I'd have to claim just in my craft room alone. I have a few more to take and then I'll burn a copy and send it to my daughter in Vegas for safe keeping.

At the end of our fence line, Pa piled a bunch of tree branches to close the gap between the fence and the state land fence. Of course, the needles from the juniper trees broke down and made the brush fence lower. A cow and her calf jumped the barrier and were munching to their hearts content in the front yard. Pa and I rounded them up and herded them thru the front gate and down the road. I told Pa that we needed to check the fence line to see where they got in. I had no idea Pa had just piled brush up for a fence. Lo and behold, the cows just jumped over the brush and got back in. They were in the back part of the property. Took us forever to find them again. I was using the grannie mobile and Pa was on foot. We finally found them and I herded them off the property with the grannie mobile. This time I got them going in the other direction and down the road. That mama cow was so pissed that I wouldn't leave them alone. Fortunately, I stayed on her heels and got her to move on to greener pastures.  Pa piled more branches across the gap. We discovered the next day that they ate part of my apple tree. Dang their hides!!!  The other morning I woke up around 4:30 and heard this weird growling sound. I looked out all the windows and back door and couldn't see anything. It kinda creeped me out!  I heard it again the next day and discovered a bull wandering down the road.....growling. I had no idea they made a noise like that. Learn something new every day!

Rain, Glorious Rain!!!

Yesterday we had our first real rain storm. We went grocery shopping in Show Low in the morning and then had a visit with our friends who had just moved into their new home in Show Low. Show Low is surrounded by forest and right off one of the main roads, you wander thru the roads and forest to find their home. It is so beautiful, home and forest alike. From their backyard deck, all you can see is forest. Simply breath taking. You feel like you are in Oregon. We had a rain shower when we were there. Unfortunately, when we got home, not a drop of rain was to be found. We unloaded the truck, opened up all the windows in the house and started putting the groceries away. All of a sudden, it started to downpour! We ran around shutting the windows on the front side of the house, closed both front and back door. I forgot about my craft room, oops! The carpet got wet and so did some of my scrap paper/cardstock. The leftovers from projects so no loss there really and I think most of it is fine. We got 3/4 of an inch in the rain gauge and 1000 gallons of water off the roof in 30 minutes. Pa is in the process of transferring everything into the big rainwater tank which holds about 3000 gallons. What a blessing the rain is. Everything is so dry here. My garden was under water for a short while but this morning, the water has soaked in and every thing looks so happy. My body is so happy too. The hot weather really is hard on me so when it is cool, it feels alive and so much better. I feel like jogging for a million miles but can't because of my knee.

 We have a new young snake prowling the property. It was about three feet long and as big around as a pencil.

 They are so pretty!

 When we got home yesterday as I was opening the gate, I saw a chipmunk or ground squirrel running across the driveway. First time we've seen one on the property. I wonder if it was here and eating my garden last year. Hopefully, our snakes will get it.

One of my favorite online stores, SVGcuts.com offered their customers a gift certificate to their store if you would submit your version of one of their purse files. They gave us the file for free. I used some old fashioned print cardstock and ran the front panels thru my Cuttlebug machine and glued some pearls onto the front panel. Instead of a paper handle, I used some chain I had laying around. People submitted some stunning purses. If you have a Facebook account, you can see them.  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152045461652067&set=a.10152045458382067.1073741856.109879932066&type=1&theater

With so much rain, we won't be leaving the ranch anytime soon until the roads dry out. Where we live, you can get out most of the time after a rain except for a quarter mile spot where it is slimy clay. We've asked over and over for the POA to put some gravel down there but that request has fallen on deaf ears. UPS and FED-Ex will not deliver here when the roads are bad but they will meet you down by the highway.
40% chance of rain all day so I'll spend it playing in my craft room. I want to do laundry but won't because I hang everything out side to dry.

That catches us up for now. I found a bloom on my green beans!!! My grape tomatoes have about three baby tomatoes on them.

Windy, What else is new?

Hello friends and family!
  Remember when I was whining about the spring winds? Now that the weather has gotten hot, I'm not complaining anymore. It helps keep the house cool, especially now that we have a security screen on the back door. The breeze/wind can blow right thru the house. Who cares about dust and sand? Who cares if it feels like you are walking on the beach in the kitchen. That's what they make brooms for, right?
   Pa wasn't happy about it, but I did not attend the annual POA meeting. Why sit there having steam come out my ears, blood pressure going high enough to blow my eyeballs out listening to the lies put forth by our POA president? They allowed voting by emailing your ballot in and then didn't let anyone see the emailed ballots, just said they'd already been counted. They allowed proxy votes even tho they are illegal in Arizona. The state legislature let the bill allowing HOA/POA's to vote by email die and didn't vote on it so I guess emailed votes are illegal also. No one saw the proxy votes either. But those in the know, know that the POA prez, stuffed the ballot box with proxy votes to get his "yes" men on the board so they will do what he wants. They are talking about forming all sorts of committees to make sure we are all towing the mark and seeing what else they can make us do. One of the reasons people bought out here was because the CC&R's were so easy to abide by. There were some very unhappy people at the meeting.
   An interesting thing happened to one of the new property owners out here. They were driving down the road in their truck, minding their own business when the Rodeo Queen (rancher's wife) pulled them over and told them they had better keep their dog on a chain or she would kill it. She was armed with a shot gun or rifle. A big argument began with her threatening the property owner . He complained to the sheriff's department but they didn't file a report. Then he went to the judge and tried to get a restraining order against her and the judge refused to do it (being a friend of their family). He told the property owner never to leave his property without a gun. What kind of a judge is that? Then he called the real estate office and told him he wanted his money back and they wouldn't do anything either.
    Some days later, one of the board officers saw the Rodeo Queen riding around with a rifle and he asked her what she was doing and she said "Hunting dogs"!  He either went to or called  the sheriff's office since it is illegal to shoot out here and they didn't do anything either. Both these people need to file a complaint with the AZ attorney general. As you can see, it is still the Wild West out here.
   My dear friend, Todd, sent me some iron on vinyl to try. Today I cut out some dragonflies and ironed them on to a new t-shirt. It seems pretty easy to do. He may have created a monster and I may need to buy a heat press!

So, what do you think? too many dragonflies? Too late now, cause they are on to stay. He also sent me some outside vinyl so I made a sign for the gate.

I should have made the NO Trespassing sign larger and put it on straighter. I really like the little guy with a gun tho.
  Lo and behold! Wayne met a lady and is now living with her on her ranch closer to Holbrook. Good for him! I thought it would be next to impossible to meet some one out here who was still free for the taking. He seems to be pretty happy so we are happy for him.
Toodles for now!

My Stunted Garden

 My first strawberries! They were so tasty. Can't wait till more ripen.

 This is one of my garden boxes with different things in it. It started out with only strawberries and onions in it, wintered over from last year. A bunch of the onions died and I didn't want to take a chance replanting the berries so I left things where they were and planted lettuce, brocolli, dill, and cabbage (I think) in all the empty spaces. You notice the milk cartons. This is the way you have to plant in Northern Arizona to protect the plants from the wind and sun.

 The milk cartons not only make little green houses, they also give the plants shade. When the plants are strong enough and big enough that the birds and mice will leave them alone, the cartons will come off for the summer.

 I cover the tomatoes up every night but leave them uncovered during the day.

 I made these tomato cages last year using hog wire and compactor trash bags. The trash bags are so darned sturdy, they last for a couple of years. This not only gives the plant shade but keeps the ground moist after watering. I need to get some sturdy tomato cages pretty soon. The plants surrounded with the trash bags seem to grow faster than those left unprotected.

 Sweet taters! We never get many but they sure do taste good.

Looking down into a tomato cage

 If I remember correctly, these are cantaloupes. Ya have to replant so many times, ya forget what went where. I'm not a good one for taking detailed notes unlike our neighbor Tom who takes notes on everything. He can tell you what the temperature was 4 years ago!

 These are early girl tomatoes. I have these, Mortgage Lifter, Pruden's Purple and grape tomatoes.

 The strawberries are doing best of all.

 I keep them covered 24/7 to keep out the birds and mice.

 My Moss Rose is doing nicely especially since it is protected from mice and birds.

 Lavendar is starting to bloom. It does well here.

 Desert Spiderwort is doing great. The rabbits figured out they could at least eat the tops off the plants. Last year they were turning the cages over and eating as far down as they could.

 Petunias do great here. I'll bring some in for the winter but not all of them.

 Moss Rose again. It was doing great until something ate it down to the dirt level

 For some reason, purple petunias smell so good, kinda spicy

 I got so tired of my lemon tree in the house, I took it outside where the wind promptly blew off all the leaves.

 It seems to love it outside because it is not only putting out new leaves but is putting out new branches.

 This is the second or third year for my Peony. It has never bloomed....maybe this year?

One of our wild cactus. It's amazing how something so prickly could put out such a delicate flower.

We had a jack rabbit nibbling on the straw bale by the garden and was driving the dogs nuts. He didn't mind them barking at him and when we tried to chase him off, he would go a few feet and then stop. Pa finally got out the pellet gun and shot him. Well of course all Tilly could think of was bunnie, bunnie, bunnie so we let all the dogs out to investigate. Tilly dashed out and "killed" the bunnie and then tried to pick it up. She couldn't figure out why she couldn't pick it up. Maybe because it was bigger than she is? She couldn't even drag it anywhere. Meantime Harley was licking it's face, he's got such a killer instinct! Pa finally picked it up and threw it out back for the ravens to eat. He said it was surprisingly heavy.
The weather has turned hot and next week is the official start of our monsoon season. Come on rain! The garden will really start growing then.
Pa is calling me outside to do something so I gotta run!