Day Two of Vacation- Sunday

Today we went over to the condo to bring back our entertainment center and TV for the second time. Phil told Missy that he probably only has a few more years of moves up and down those steps! Mike came to help, thank goodness! They also brought back the other TV back to our house.

While we were at the condo, Christine called to see if we were home for them to stop by for a visit. Herb and Christine gave us a few hours and came over around 6pm. I pulled out a lasagna from the freezer that I had made and they joined us for dinner. I have spoken with Christine every 2-3 weeks or so but we hadn't seen them since August.

Day One of Vacation- Phil @ The Good Guys Car Show @ Westworld of Scottsdale

This morning @ 7:30am Phil took off to pick up his buddy Mike B. to head up to North Scottsdale for the Good Guys Car Show.
Missy called this morning around 10am to see if Phil had left yet because she was sitting in bumper to bumper traffic trying to get up to her job this morning in north Scottsdale. Her job is a couple blocks away from where the car show was taking place. Phil and Mike B got in ahead of the traffic. Phil saw lots of old cars, muscle cars and hot rod cars. Mike B did pick up some chrome "thingies" for his car. I posted Mike B's car last year. Can't remember right now what it is though. They had a good time and didn't get home until 5:30pm. Phil's legs were sore from walking all day and his face got way to much sun!

Hooray! First Night of Our Week Long Vacation!

Phil and I are both on vacation next week. As you might remember, it was just last month that I was back in MI for two weeks. Boy, it sure seems longer than that. Anyway, I get 5 weeks PTO a year, so always have plenty to carry over. Anyway, Phil doesn't get as much as I do, so he has really been looking forward to this week, plus he will be off for two weeks at Christmas. You can't beat that!

When I left work tonight, I swung by IKEA to check out their supply of Scandinavian Christmas items. I usually don't check until after Thanksgiving and they are already sold out. I got smart this year and went earlier. I was able to find a number of items with Tomtes on them.


When I got home, I made a pizza from a package of dough mix that I had ordered from King Arthur Flour. They make the best products! On top of the dough I put- pesto, fresh chopped garlic, sliced fresh mozzarella, grilled chicken breast, sliced artichokes and topped with crumbled feta cheese. Wow, was it ever wonderful. The dough mix made a real deep dish crust. I think that the next time I want a thinner crust so as not to take anything away from the toppings. I had a real winner with that!


I also ordered from King Arthur, a flavoring called Fiori di Sicilia. It is a combination of citrus and vanilla. It is great in Panettone! I will be making some this week.

Missy stopped by after dinner. She had some pizza and gave it a thumbs up. Here she is talking to Robert.

Beautiful Sunday in AZ

Today was beautiful! This is the weather that I love in AZ. Sun was shining brightly, but there was no body sweat!!!! Just nice cool temps with no overheating on the internal engine! After breakfast this morning, Missy and I met up at our favorite coffee shop for our large iced mocha's. When we got back to our house, Missy worked on an online quiz for school and Phil and I took off for a drive. We had gone for a drive last night after dark and headed up north of us towards Saguaro Lake. We hadn't been up there for quite some time so we got a little disoriented on the lights that we were seeing. So we decided to head back up there in the daylight to see how the area had changed. It turned out today that what I thought was the lake was actually the Salt River. That area sure has grown! Heading back south we stopped by Mike's house for a quick visit and then back home.



Scarface Mountain Straight Ahead
Superstition Mountain
"Mike's" Mountain- This "hill" is seen outside Mike's back door
By the word "PHOENIX" on this mountain- this mountain obviously guides planes into the valley!

Saguaro Cactus
View into Mike's living room
Rocky
Mike's gorgeous backyard "oasis". Gotta love the lush green. He planted rye for the winter.

Farmers Market @ Vincent's on Camelback- Scottsdale

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This morning, Phil and I took off for a drive up to Scottsdale. I am on a mission to find a nice farmers market. Mom and I missed the one in Holland due to "inclement" weather! Today, we went to the Camelback Market @ Vincent's on Camelback. I got my new AZ Magazine the other day listing places to go on the week-ends, and it listed the market as an upscale farmers market and bistro. The weather was gorgeous, so that made for a nice drive into Scottsdale. I would say that the market was mostly food from Vincent's- very nice quiches, croissants, paella, etc. There were also some booths with: pastas, honeys, mustards, balsamic vinegars, olive oils, breads, cookie mixes (made and sold by Brophy Prep boys- local Catholic high school) , some produce, wines, jewelry and purses. We bought a pkg of whole wheat/garlic fettuccine and a jar of oatmeal/raisin cookie mix.

Pasta from Pappardelles Pasta


Brophy College Prep's "Dan's Dessert's"-
cookie jars are sold to raise money for local families in need

asparagus, corn on the cob and mushrooms

string beans, snow peas, chiles, peppers, eggplant and squash
radishes

my purchases of the day!

The "Impractical" becomes the "Practical"!

Well, as is our "rule", when one of us has our vehicle paid off, then it is time for the other to get their new vehicle! Phil got his yesterday. Phil will park the truck in the garage and will only use it when needed. So what would have been impractical when the kids were still at home, this little two seater now will become the best gas saver (21 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy) for Phil's commute into Phoenix every day. Plus he is reliving his teen-hood. He had a 1967 Sunbeam Alpine that he bought off his brother Greg that he really enjoyed. I'm sure that his new Miata will be taken much better care of though! What a fun little car! We ditched the "Trick -or-Treaters" last night and took a drive up the "hill" to Superior for a soft serve cone. Top was down, and actually it wasn't cold until we started heading back down the hill that Phil turned the heater on. The car wouldn't be my cup of tea as an every day drive but could be fun on weekend drives around town and the state.

Fall Soups- Gotta Love This Time Of Year!

Fall is Finally Here! And I made some Roasted Squash Soup w/ Sage. It was just awesome! And that is coming from someone who would sit for hours at the dinner table growing up as a child not wanting to eat the acorn squash that Mom would make with sausage and maple syrup. I would gag on it! It's been probably forty five years or longer and this is a winner in my book. This recipe was just published in my new Sunset magazine. Actually, Sunset has made me a fan of another dreaded vegetable growing up and that was Brussel Sprouts. Last year I posted pics of a Brussel Sprout/Andoulie Sausage Soup that was in Sunset and now a favorite of ours when the cooler weather hits. Phil saw the Dentist today because of a toothache so wanted to make something for dinner that didn't put any pressure on that side of his mouth. I think what made the flavor "pop" was the smoked paprika that I used. What a wonderful flavor!