Getting Bugged

The saga of the money pit continues...

The chicken coop.  That cute little building that I wanted to turn into a garden/craft space.  The one filled with chicken filth.  The one I spent days cleaning, filling 3 huge trash bags with crumpled newspaper filled with chicken filth.  The one where I exposed myself to goodness knows what...yes, that one.

I figured out how to get a new power washer into my little car, and proudly brought it home.  More importantly, I figured out how to do the required assembly and get it running.  I donned protective eye wear, a dust mask, and a most fashionable lime green shower cap.  NO, photos of this do not exist.  I really should have had that HAZMAT suit.  I blasted that space with bleach and water, and more bleach and water.  The filth ran down the walls and out the door.  I was imagining how it would look, all spiffed up and painted.

Think again.

The next day, an exterminator came out to see about spraying for termites at the studio building.  (That's another sad story.)  I had him look at the coop because I'd seen these odd little bugs.  They appeared to be dead, and I had done a crazy "there are weird bugs on me" dance.  That shower cap turned out to be the best idea I had.  After closer examination, Bug Man determined that these critters - all of which were not dead) - are Mexican Bed Bugs (a/k/a Poultry Bugs).  WHAT?  I commenced to do the bug dance again, while my skin crawled and my stomach churned.  I'd had those things ON me.  I went back to the condo in those dirty clothes.  Bug Man said that these things are known to infest chicken coops and prey on birds.  And people.  They are apparently very difficult and expensive to remove.  He suggested just tearing down the coop.  I think something flammable would be better...never a good flame-thrower on hand when you need one.

I suppose this explains why the seller no longer had chickens, and why she left the filth for me.  Nice.

Perhaps someday I will laugh about this, but now - not so much. 

I have managed to get out to hike most days.  Not for as long as I'd like, but the trails will be waiting for me next time.  I'm trying to get into some shape for next month's Canyon hike, but fear I have a lot more to do.  As the sign at the Canyon reads "Getting down is Optional, getting back up is Mandatory." 

The highlight the other day was the small herd of javelinas along the Jack's Canyon Trail.  Such fun watching and photographing them.  Most locals have no affection for them, as they are known to devour landscaping with ease.  Perhaps my fascination with them will fade with time, but with our property being fenced I'm not too concerned at this point.  I did watch them walk right through a barbed wire fence.  They chomp on prickly pear cactus pads, so it seems those critters are tough inside and out.

I counted 12 plus one baby.  First time I'd seen a baby - a cute little sausage on legs.  A few of them looked up at me, and then returned to eating.  I stayed behind a shrub or small tree the whole time, being careful not to spook them (or antagonize them).  They moved on along the trail, and at one point I was nearly surrounded.  That was a little unsettling, but they paid very little attention to me and would scram at my slightest movement.  The sun was going down behind the hills and I needed to get back to my car.  One guy kept an eye on me, and when I tried to pass by he gave a snort and a stomp.  I raised my trusty hiking poles and said "Git back."  Apparently, I speak Javelina because he backed up and resumed eating.

Snarfing up dinner

Caught this guy scratching his butt on a post.

  Had to be a guy - no female would behave that way in public!

Hard to get a good shot of the baby - stayed very close to mom.

Hiking a bit later this morning, and then attending a wildflower program at Red Rock State Park.  Will be back in time to watch the Super Bowl.  Go Giants!

Getting Up and Down

With my next big adventure - hiking back to Phantom Ranch in early March - fast approaching, I've been trying to do some challenging trails here.  Hot Loop was a great hike the other day.  Glorious views of Woods Canyon and the Village of Oak Creek; running into my pal Kristi on her beautiful horse L; meeting a lady who moved here from Carol Stream. 

Two days ago - on the Bear Mountain Trail in Boynton Canyon...This is one of the more challenging trails I have done here.  A long climb with an elevation increase of 1000 feet, very steep and rocky in places.  Hauling myself up over some big rocks, around tight turns, stopping often to take in the view (and yes, catch my breath). 

Yes, this is the trail...

And so is this...

Going up, this trail is a quad-burning lung-buster; coming down is just, well, scary.  I pick my way very slowly over the rocks and around the turns.  But this view from the top is the payoff!

Gotta love that blue sky!

And speaking of blue...there was a small flock of Mountain Bluebirds.  Having breakfast of Juniper berries and showing off their beautiful hues.  A life-list bird for me - yay!

Male Mountain Bluebird in Juniper tree

After two challenging hikes in two days, I opted yesterday for the easy but beautiful Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point.  Started out early enough that I heard a few coyote yips as I headed toward the cliffs.  I think she was greeting the day with me.  I stopped at Chicken Point to enjoy the views and the solitude - one of the few times I've been there that no Jeep tours showed up...and then I realized the tile guy was headed to the house!  It was a fast 2 miler back to the car...but captured this view of the red rocks in the early morning light...

Cathedral Rock

And the update from the money pit...

Prep work for tile floors done yesterday; tile install may start later today.  Measuring done for screens for French doors - I want to be able to leave these doors open.  They lead from master bedroom to back deck but I don't want any uninvited guests (this means you, snakes and tarantulas!!!).

Working in the yard and right now it is like spitting in the ocean.  No sign of progress.  But I did see on-line that burn permits are issued and I will check into that today.  I have no other way to dispose of all this mess...and wish I had some KCCN'ers here to do a prescribed burn with me!

My shiny new power washer is assembled and ready to go.  I will try it out today and hopefully, get the chicken coop cleaned well enough that I won't need a Hazmat suit to enter.

Happy Trails!



Getting Thawed

I know, I know - so far our Midwest winter hasn't been bad.  I did miss out on the most recent storm and the chance to snowshoe with my pals.  But hiking in shirtsleeves?  Working in the yard in January?  Feeling the warm AZ sun on my face...what's not to like?

Haven't felt much like blogging.  Overwhelmed with chores/errands/decisions about the "money pit" and finding myself scattered.  Getting lots done, but also managing to do my usual stupid things.  Enjoyed a fabulous afternoon at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix on Tuesday.  That is, I enjoyed it until I accidentally deleted ALL of the photos I'd taken.  Later in Scottsdale, I was heading across a parking lot to the crosswalk when I walked smack into a low tree limb.  I hit the top of my head so hard that it knocked me on my ass.  One would think the second stupid act would have precipitated the first, but nooo.  I manage to do stupid things even without a head injury.

I have had some good hikes and lots of fun bird sightings!  The feeders at the house are attracting a great variety of birds - some of which I've never seen at feeders in the past.  The ones I've detected so far (you non-birdnerds can skip this part):  Northern Flicker (red shafted), Juniper titmouse, juncos (I believe they are the Oregon variety, which has a rusty patch on its back), house finches, Canyon Towhees, jays, Bushtits mobbing the suet feeder, Curve Billed and Crissal Thrashers (the latter of which sits in the platform feeder), Anna's and  Black-Chinned Hummingbirds, White Crowned Sparrows, Ravens, male and female Yellow-Rumped Warblers at the suet!  I bought a bag of mealworms yesterday - will be interesting to see who shows up for those.  There are Western Bluebirds all around, and I'm hoping a few of them might take advantage of free worms.

         Western Bluebird along the Huckaby Trail

Northern Flicker at my birdbath

 Another long drive down to Prescott yesterday for a variety of errands.  I was hell-bent on getting a pressure washer so that I can finally de-funk the chicken coop.  The problem was transporting it to the house.  Bought one at Lowes and had them remove it from the box.  Managed to fit it into the Z (amazing what you can get into that little car when you are as stubborn as I).

The challenge now will be to complete the assembly and figure out how to use the thing.

My reward for all those errands was a few hours spent walking the trails near Willow and Watson Lakes in Prescott.  I'm glad I found this spot and hope to go back when I have a whole day to spend.  It was a hot-spot for a birdnerd, as well as peaceful and scenic.  The Granite Dells are such an unusual sight, and there is lots more to explore.  Waterfowl were all over the lakes and side streams (N. Pintail, Coots, Canvasbacks, Green Winged Teal; as many as 7 Cormorants perched at once in a snag in Willow Lake; a couple of Great Blue Herons posing on the rocks; a N. Harrier fly-by; and a cute Black Phoebe on a nearby fence.  And those are just the ones my limited skills could view and identify.  And just to be sure I don't miss the Midwest too much - a few Canada Geese!  Had my lunch perched on a big rock near the water, and below is the view...

It is just getting to be daylight here now (a bit after 7 a.m.), and I'll be heading out for a hike after the mountain lions have had a chance to finish breakfast.  Will try the Hot Loop Trail again - last time I headed there, I missed a turn and got lost.  So...if this is the last you hear of me you'll know why.  LOL!

Getting on to a New Year

2011 is now a fuzzy memory - like one of those movie clips where they show calendar pages flipping by to represent the passage of time.  Most people I know agree that the days and weeks are flying by, and we are powerless to slow it down. 

There were certainly some bright spots in the year, with wonderful opportunities for hiking and exploring in the southwest.  Many great hikes in and around Sedona, a few days here and there at the Grand Canyon.  Accomplished a bit at the new house, getting the kitchen cabinets installed and some yard work done.  Progress has been slow, but am hoping that the next few months will see a completion of the kitchen and hopefully, flooring.

Despite the drenching rains from Hurricane Irene, I enjoyed the opportunity to attend my nephew's wedding in Mississippi, and the road trip that took me to the east coast. A great (but too brief) visit with my dear friend Teresa, a chance to see the wild ponies of Chincoteague, and tour some of our nation's most famous landmarks in beautiful Washington, D.C.

Nature nerd duties closer to home - seed team, tree steward, work days - all satisfying work done with fun and interesting people.  Wandering in a beautiful restored prairie, bucket and clipper in hand, collecting seeds that will eventually improve our natural areas - the smells of Mountain Mint and Gray-Headed Coneflower and Monarda seed heads, Big Bluestem waving in the breeze, a variety of plants still in bloom late in the season...perfect way to spend a few autumn mornings.

Our annual "seed mixing day" gave us volunteers a chance to see the results of our labors - giant sacks (and tiny bags) filled with harvested seeds.  Nearly doing a face plant into a sack of Mountain Mint chaff - aromatherapy at its best.  Delicious pot luck lunch and a chance to talk and laugh with staff and volunteers, and look back on another season in the fields.

     Sarah, Paul and Kim H. - cleaning Blue Flag Iris seeds

Huge sack of Mountain Mint chaff - heaven in a bag!

The holidays were enjoyed with family and friends, a bittersweet feeling knowing that this was the last season for us in Illinois.  As anxious as I am to be settled in Arizona, I know that I will leave here with much sadness as this nearly 30-year chapter of my life comes to a close.

In looking forward to 2012, I will continue to volunteer as much as possible with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and Northern Illinois Food Bank.  I have made many great friends through both of these organizations and have gotten back far more than I have given.  In early March, I will again hike to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  My friend Mary was kind enough to invite me to join her and her sister in this adventure, and I can hardly wait!  My experience in 2009 was amazing, and I am incredibly lucky to be going again.  

The other corny image running through my mind is that of the hourglass - I think it was an old soap opera that used it - like sands through the hourglass, so go the days of our lives.  Was that it? 

Wishing all of you health and happiness, and time to enjoy whatever you love.  Stop to listen to those bird songs - you don't have to know the type of bird to savor the singing.  Ditto for the flowers along your path, the trees, and the critters who share our world.  Don't hibernate all winter - our natural areas offer lots to see even in the cold months.  As the trees have shed their foliage, it is much easier to spot birds and nests, and a dusting of new snow provides a chance to to study wildlife tracks.  The best thing I learned in the Certified Naturalist Program - put down that cell phone, turn off that I-Pod - learn to be still.  The world is at your feet.

Purple Coneflower in my garden at home



Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

Haven't hit any trails for a while, so I wanted to write about an adventure of a different sort.  There's a vicious rumor about my having food issues.  Well, ok maybe it's not vicious.  And, uh, it's not a rumor...I think I have made amazing progress over the years, but there remain definite limits.  I will eat nothing that swims, no game and well, the list is long.

Ken and I were in Chicago for 2 nights this past week, as part of a wonderful reward from Acura. We enjoyed the beautiful Elysian Hotel and seeing the city in its holiday finery.  Our group of 20 headed to Moto on Thursday night.  This avant garde restaurant is located in the Fulton Fish Market area, with a very unassuming exterior.  Our group had a private room downstairs - an intimate space where the walls are decorated with squares representing the periodic table, and glass shelves hold beakers and test tubes and other science experiment items.

I had briefly looked at the restaurant's website, so I knew that it was quite out of the ordinary.  The understatement of the year!  Molecular gastronomy?  What?

We were in for a 14 course meal - one that is so unusual that a waiter explained each course as it was set before us.  We soon realized that the only predictable aspect to this meal was that it would be completely unpredictable.  The first course, quite frankly, scared me.  A large plate lined with a bamboo mat, a mini-menu printed on edible paper, minuscule bits of carrot, radish, and a near-microscopic mushroom - along with other things I can't recall.  My brain was having a really hard time with this!

                                           1st Course - Maki Menu

The idea for the first course was that we were to place this little rice crispy-looking thingy on the edible menu, add the teeny bits, squirt some sauce from an eye dropper, roll it up and eat it.  Oh seriously?  Turns out the menu was some sort of seaweed and I still can't believe I ate 2/3 of it.  I really tried to finish, but the seaweed was so fishy tasting that, well, I just couldn't.  I was thinking at this point - it's gonna be a really long night...

Course 1 - rolled and ready

The head waiter asked beforehand if anyone had food allergies or aversions.  As listing my aversions would have most likely made him quit his job on the spot, I simply said I would not eat anything that swims. 

And what happened next?  The "Black and White" course appeared and it was 2 different kinds of very fishy fish.  Whatever the "black" part was, it got that way from squid ink.  Oh no.  The pic is slightly out of focus, as I was momentarily traumatized by having it placed in front of me.  However, it was soon whisked away and replaced with the cauliflower dish, which was the best cauliflower I have ever eaten.  A few years ago, I would not have touched cauliflower, so this is definite progress!

Black and White

The cauliflower was perfectly cooked, trimmed with very thin fried onions, on a bed of celery root sauce.  Wow!

Course 3 was "Garbage Salad."  It was described to us as "what you'd find if you went dumpster diving behind a pizza place."  That sounded appetizing...but this seemed to be a very popular course as everyone cleaned their plates.  Along with some small bites of capicola, there were "edible packing peanuts" which represented half-eaten pizza crusts, edible cellophane, splashes of pureed romaine salad, pizza sauce, sausage crumbs. 

Garbage Salad

There was a large island near our table where a lot of the prep work was done for each course.  We were able to watch some of the craziness, but still could not guess what was coming next.  Clear glass globes were placed on the island and some sort of hose pumped fog into each one.  These were placed on the tables, where wisps of fog escaped thru a small opening in the top of the globe.  As the fog dissipated, we could see something under each globe...raw oysters.  Eek.  Due to my "no swimming" clause, my dome contained sea beans.  They looked like very skinny green beans, but had little discernible flavor.  I suppose that technically, sea beans would not swim so therefore could be placed before me.  These were used in a later course.

Globes being prepped

Course 4 - "Nose to Tail"  Seriously.  A thin trail across a plate with ham, belly, ears, shoulder, skins and loin.  I took only a tiny taste of the ears - which were like onion rings.  I just had a hard time eating a pig's ear!  I also skipped the skin - too much like those yucky things in bags at convenience stores.  However, the pineapple ham and the others were delish.  Oink.

         "Nose to Tail"                                          

 (with edible menu in upper left corner)               

                      Course 5 - Summer Breeze

We were next served a soup of sorts - the fish-eaters added the oysters, and I put a few sea beans on mine. There was something with tempura batter, and some things that looked to me like sliced squid. OK, so I've never really seen sliced squid...turns out it was kombu - edible kelp. This course was ok (and I ate something that floats rather than swims), but I found it to be quite salty.

Rather blurry photo of the Kentucky Fried Pasta

 - complete with spoon handle wrapped in fresh sage

Course 6 - Kentucky Fried Pasta, Flat noodles with mashed potato sauce, what I think was thin fried chicken skin. Kind of a Colonel's mish-mash. Comfort food, even tho it looked nothing like comfort food.

Earlier, lit votive candles were placed on the tables.  Ambiance?  Maybe, but Moto always has something else going on.  Course 7 was quail breast on a parsnip puree - soon to be poured on top was the warm rosemary oil from the candles!  I did not eat this course, but gave it to Ken.  I don't know what kind of quail is eaten, but I so enjoy the Gambel's quail that run amok in Sedona that I could not bring myself to eat it.

Quail breast and other stuff

Course 8 - cigars.  Cigars?  Definitely not the smelly kind that are lit and smoked.  This was the 2nd-most mind-bending of the courses.  This dish was served with 3 cigars in an actual metal ashtray.   The cigars looked quite real, causing the eyes and brain to say "ick - tobacco tubes" but the mouth to say "wow, yummy!"  Before eating, each of us had "ashes" added to the center of the ashtray and liquid nitrogen created  the smoke.  Turns out, the cigars were delicious!  Each was a differently flavored sandwich, with edible paper bands.  The wrappings were braised collard greens (another first!) and the red tips were sauce.  What kind of brain creates these things?

                  Cigars and ashtray

Cigars complete with ashes and smoke

Course 9 was Forest Foraging.  Food on a log.  Really.  We each had a stick that was spread with a mushroom puree, topped with fabulous braised short rib, salsify, mulberries and mushrooms.  Everyone seemed to love this one, and the guy next to me asked if he should "lick the log" - and then he did!

Forest Foraging - something to keep in mind for future hikes?

The most mind-bending course of all was the "Egg Drop Soup."  Coconut cream base with some kind of small cookie, mint leaves.  Topped with mango that looked exactly like an uncooked egg yolk, and lemon grass water that mimicked the egg white.  The appearance and consistency were exactly like a raw egg.  The brain was saying "eeuuwww, slippery raw egg" but the mouth was saying "Wow!"

Egg Drop Soup

Course 11 was a "Marshmallow Harvest" that included homemade marshmallow, toasted marshmallow crisps and pumpkin sorbet.  O M G.

Marshmallow Harvest                  

Cajeta Custard - Course 12 was a goat's milk custard - brain said "goat cheese - yuk", but this rich custard was wonderful, and topped with a small cookie with chai spices and uh, pine nuts?

Custard

Course 13 wins for most hilarious.  Dessert circa 1991.  This was served on the coolest, arched plate.  Smoked chocolate ice cream (oddly good), blackberry yogurt, chocolate mousse, and a cookie bearing the image of Michael Bolton.  Yes, that Michael Bolton, complete with the hair.  Delicious and so damn funny!

Dessert Circa 1991

Me, eating Michael Bolton's cookie-face            

And now the finale - Course 14.  I wondered what they might do to end this extravaganza, and thought it might involve fireworks.  That turned out to be rather accurate!  The sous chef and others came out to say hello and accept much-deserved accolades.  Then Richie Farina (recently on Top Chef), lit the fuse on chocolate "bombs" that were served to us while still lit.  We were instructed to eat them whole as soon as the flame went out.  This chocolate delight exploded in the mouth, releasing decadent melted chocolate.  I think I may have dreams about this one...

Sous chef Richie Farina lighting the ACME bombs

My very own ACME bomb

This was a dinner I will not soon forget.  Have never seen or eaten anything like it, and unlikely to have this happen again.  Although there were aspects of the food that I did not like, most of it was excellent and the innovation and creativity amazing!

Getting Out of AZ

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011

My last hike on Tuesday, Jack's Canyon trail

The hiking boots are packed away, along with the hiking poles and dorky pink hat.  It was another good trip to Red Rock Country, but time to once again return to IL.  Sigh.  I'm at the PHX airport, enjoying a yummy sandwich (Paradise Bakery is fab!) and killing time. 

Very glad to be out of the cramped van from Sedona to the airport.  And to no longer be listening to a guy loudly tell the captive audience about all of his UFO experiences.  I'm not sure if they exist or not, but how many people do you know that have "seen" one?  This guy claims to see them regularly.  Would that be before or after ingesting those funny mushrooms?  Our van driver joined the discussion, claiming several of her own "sightings."  Uh, this woman is driving 9 of us in a van at 75 mph down I-17.  Something about that is rather unsettling!

The woman seated next to me gave up on trying to read, and we had a nice chat for the last part of the trip.  Turns out she lives in Sedona, loves to hike, seems to like some of the same places that I do.  She is a children's book author/illustrator and very cool.  Gave me her email, so perhaps we can hit the trail together some time.

I would rather face tarantulas on a trail than get on a plane...but here I am.

Getting Dressed in the Dark

Saturday, October 29, 2011

OK, so I've never been known for my fashion sense.  But hiking has taken it to a new low.  I don't care, but I thought I should warn anyone who comes to visit.  Gray shorts, purple shirt, screaming green jacket, pink hat...I did have on gray socks that sort of matched my shorts.  Really, I did!  Oh, the black gloves keep my hands warm when I start out on these chilly desert mornings.  Don't need them for long.

Perhaps this is why I rarely see any animals???

It's the weekend, which means hordes of turistas coming into Sedona.  Which means I'm avoiding anything in "town."  I headed out to hike the Bell Trail - another favorite spot east of I-17 (Sedona is west).  Good choice!  I had at least 31/2 miles of solitude (read:  no humans) on the way in.   I have done this trail before, but had never crossed the creek to climb the other side of the canyon. 

Bell's Crossing

WOW!  New views at every turn,   Mother Nature's 3 lovely sounds - the breeze through the treetops, the songs of the birds (including western bluebirds), and the babble of Wet Beaver Creek down below.

                       A lovely spot above the creek

Red rock columns and desert greenery

    The long and winding road...           

Love the way this trail hugs the rock walls!

On the way back, I had a nice view of 3 mule deer making their way along the western slope.  A doe and 2 young'uns, white tails flicking as they went, huge ears at attention.

Very glad to be heading out as the humans began heading in.  I was just about back to the trail head...and along comes a group of young adults - a 400 lb guy not wearing a shirt, his friend yakking loudly into his cell phone, and bringing up the rear...a guy dragging a full-sized cooler on wheels.  Over the rocks, up the slope, bump-rattle-racket-racket-racket.  As we YATs say - GAWD.  I'm outta here!