Storybook houses

Saturday evening we picked up Heather and then drove to the F. Q. Story neighborhood in Phoenix for their annual home tour. The neighborhood may be named after Mr. Story who started buying the land where this neighborhood sits in the late 1880's, but Heather and I thought the houses reminded us of those one might find in a storybook.


We walked 10 blocks along luminaria lined sidewalks south of McDowell Street and between 7th and 15th Avenues with the lights of the tall buildings of downtown Phoenix as a background and the noise of cars swishing by on the freeway to the south. It was lovely.


If the luminarias followed the front walk that was an invitation to come on inside. We were allowed to walk through the houses and on into beautiful backyards. The homes were charming and were built sometime between 1920 and 1940. Smart Heather could quickly calculate in her head how old a particular home was upon looking at the informational sign on the porch, "Oh, this house is 87 years old."

Her next remark might be to the owner, "When will this house be for sell?" She loved the cozy cottages with their beautiful windows, roof lines, and fireplaces which were all blazing. I think she would move into one in a minute! Back in the 20's a fully improved lot would have cost $750.

We were glad to have her company. As we exited the 202 on our way home, Grandpa Glen said, "Heather, there is one more house I just have to show you." We were soon parked in our own driveway and Heather was getting a personalized tour of Grandpa's Christmas lights. Then she came in to see Grandma's trees and help us eat our Golden Spoon frozen yogurt before being delivered home.

This year we chose to use our monies for this tour instead of visiting the Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Gardens. It was a good choice because we still had the Dickens Carolers!

"all gardens are a form of autobiography"

In this morning's Arizona Republic, Cathy Babcock, quoted Robert Dash from a book called "Notes from Madoo." Dash wrote, "all gardens are a form of autobiography."

Cathy Babcock states that "all gardeners have their own style and personality, all reflected in their landscapes."

What do you think? Does your garden reflect enough of you to truly be your autobiography?

Let there be light

Arizonans are used to sunlight, lots of sunlight. Each year as the shortest day of the year approaches I wonder how those who live in Alaska or Scandinavia survive on just an hour or two of sunlight. Every morning at sunrise, I open the garden gate so that my tomatoes can move out of its shadow and soak in just a bit more sun. This week those tomatoes have also worn a nightly frost blanket. We've been unseasonably cold, which of course makes it feel all the more like Christmas.

Hubby spent a week and with the use of helpers brought some light to our home. Perhaps the extra darkness drives the urge to add lights to one's world. This year's favorite new addition is these sparkling "gum drop trees."

I was the special helper who got to pull out my reasoning skills to help make perfect drapes with a set length of light strands along the Italian cypress flower bed wall.


Those colored lights hanging above the flowers look pretty in daylight as well.

I also put up tree #1 today. Let there be light inside as well!

Our first Thanksgiving

Sons number "3" and "4" became the fathers of Mabel and Oscar this year. Here they are digesting their first Thanksgiving feast. Well, maybe not Mabel who is now 4 months, but Oscar at 6 months sat at the table where he tried the mashed potatoes and the yams. He preferred the yams. His father preferred seconds!

They also have beautiful mothers who knew each other long before they met my sons. It's nice that way, having a long time best friend in the family.

Aren't they both just the cutest little patooties?! The babies that is!!

Thanksgiving Eve

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I love Thanksgiving because it is full of family, food, and my favorite fall things. It feels so good to think about what one has instead of what one wants. Blessings are acknowledged and gratitude expressed. What more could one ask for?

I had the privilege of visiting Ruby's 1st grade class as they presented a little program about Thanksgiving and then shared a meal with their families. As a part of the program, each child told of one thing for which they were thankful. My sweet Ruby was thankful for her family, not her dog or her wii or her bedroom. I was thankful for Ruby sharing the true love of her little heart.

Tonight the pomegranate beating crew arrived.

In no time at all, they had knocked loose the golden seeds of 15 pomegranates.

At the end, we calculated that we had freed at least 1000 pomegranate seeds which would surely make enough salad for 18 people after we added diced apples and bananas, walnuts, and whipped cream.

Heather was ready to tackle a few more. I told her I would have her come later to help me get the remaining pomegranates seeded and in the freezer. Thank you Bunker family for gifting us with a pomegranate tree start those many years ago and then passing on the tradition of pomegranate salad for Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow I am expecting the mashed potatoes, green bean snapping, and roll shaping crew that is Nate and Nichelle. The Palmer family will arrive with the stuffing and yams. Sally will keep it healthy bringing a fresh veggie tray after running the Turkey Trot. We will be off to Eric's home after dinner for pies and Julianna's birthday celebration. I also heard that Grandpa Glen has Bingo planned as well.

The turkey and I will be going solo. I'll be out first thing in the morning cutting fresh herbs from the garden to make it extra delish. There is an abundance of thyme!

Pumpkin Bars

Here is another easy bar cookie recipe. We served these at the Relief Society Broadcast dinner two years ago. They remind me of a pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling in taste but are so much easier to make. They are also nice to serve or share this time of year. So when you go to the store for Thanksgiving supplies, pick up an extra can of pumpkin and some cream cheese.

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
2 cups canned pumpkin ( not pumpkin pie filling!)
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda

Beat eggs until fluffy. Add sugar, oil, and pumpkin. Mix remaining dry ingredients and add about 1/3 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly. Spread on an ungreased 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese softened
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar ( or more as needed)
1 tsp. real vanilla extract

Beat together cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until proper consistency. Spread evenly on cooled bars.

Toby, TBall, and Pomegranates

Toby, who loves Grandpa Glen sooo much, turned six this week. Toby got to spend the night with grandma and grandpa last night. It was definitely his turn as all the cousins except those living out of the country or not potty trained, had come other times in November.


He built Fort Apache in the backyard.

He wanted me to be sure and tell you that the room in the corner is the jail. He also played with the magnets, blew up rocket balloons, and played with grandpa's "gizmo" toys.

Toby helped me harvest pomegranates this morning. I climbed the ladder and he put them in the basket. I usually wait until the day before Thanksgiving, but a storm front is moving in and I didn't want them all splattered on the concrete. We must have pomegranate salad on turkey day. Anybody want to come on Wednesday evening to help get all the seeds out? This is how it's done. That Martha Stewart is pretty clever.

Those are golden pomegranates. The seeds are golden colored and a bit sweeter than the red. My BIL, Lowell, brought us a start from his mother's trees in Bunkerville , Nevada many years ago. Glen has patiently trained it to arch over our garden gate. The harvest this year is the best ever.

After a breakfast of the only sugared cereal he could find in the pantry (not really a breakfast of champions :) we were off to a tee ball double header at the park. He continued on to the end of the season team party at Peter Pipers Pizza. I did not.

Grandpa and Grandma loved your visit cute boy!