mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
Pickle Meditation
April 16, 2016
— 2 Comments
dill pickles
Cucumbers enter the world with special qualties of crunch and quench
Yearning to find the dill, the garlic, and the fancy spices that make them sing
Zesty ballads of pickled adventure, hot, acidic, wild, delivering the punch
Choruses of colorful relishes add new dimentions to dishes on the table
Focus on fine results, packing spears with pickling ingedients full of zing
Salty to the perfect degree, seasoned on purpose, dry chile in each jar
Time spent alone blending harmony of flavors makes pickles the star of lunch
NaPoWriMo2016
Savor the work of poets from around the world this April. Submit your own poem or find new poets at #NaPoWriMo.
Dust and Dusk
April 4, 2016
— 1 Comment
dusk
sunset
sunset
Withering on the vine the dusty fruit of the season lingers
Waiting to be picked by hungry fingers
Color brightens and signals
The end of the cycle
of life
Painting crimson orange pink blue velvet purple sky
Sunset melts the day, seals the night
Pastels over brilliant hues
Unique curtain closure
daily
NaPoWriMo2016
Please enjoy the writing of poets around the world this April at NaPoWriMo. Submit your own work or find new poetry you love to read.
April is for Poets #NaPoWriMo
March 31, 2016
— 4 Comments
April in Tucson
During the month of April, starting with a bang on April Fool’s Day, I join fellow writers around the world writing poetry. The exercise of creating 30 poems in 30 days is inspirational, difficult, and self challenging. I think I would benefit greatly from writing a poem each day of the year, but I have at least made it my practice for April. Tomorrow I will begin, and true to form, I have nothing started.
On this, my third year as a participant submitting poems, I know I will meet new poets with styles and messages that call to me. The wide diversity is a big appeal, which has made me think about going farther afield with my subject matter than I have in the past. I have a desire to work up to writing an epic (story) about some figure in history. I like comedy in poetry, but have found it extremely hard to master. I read Dorothy Parker and Ogden Nash to keep my comedy poet muse fed. Dr Seuss shows us that simple words and concepts can go viral for all ages, forever:
I encourage all the gentle readers to throw your hat in the ring to create poetry this year for #NaPoWriMo. Reading and writing in this disciplined, yet mind expanding way, is an intellectual exercise to savor and share. Find the other poets boarding the train for the month long ride here. All aboard! It might be pretty corny on this train, but you can count on a really good time with words. All kinds are welcome.
Natural Grocers Grand Opening in Tucson
March 23, 2016
— 1 Comment
bulk grains
healthy desserts
specialty foods
wide variety of items
tasty probiotics
body care section
marketing and management
essential oils
ready to eat
organic produce
sauce of the gods
I arrived home after gym and shopping today and received a call from my favorite neighbor, Heidi. She advised me to check my mail for a coupon for a new store opening close to home. I was really not in need of groceries but she convinced me to visit the grand opening of Natural Grocers at Broadway and Country Club in Tucson. She was right that this is a very happy event to celebrate. This store is a treasure trove of shopping wonder for me. They carry all kinds of exotic and wonderful local health foods, very well priced. There are items available in bulk for those who can utilize a giant bag of oats or other grains. The produce is organic. The body care and vitamin section rivals Whole Foods for selection and beats them on price!!! We are so lucky to have this new asset in our ‘hood.
I cruised the store and tasted the various special offerings being sampled. I found many new products, of which I was unaware, now available right down the street. I am highly attached to grocery shopping at all price points and levels. I go grocery shopping when I travel just to have some fun and inform myself about the local market situation. It is how I bond with a community other than my own, through groceries. I am thrilled to see all the fun discount programs offered by Natural Grocers, as well as noting that the base pricing is very customer friendly. The staff was overcome with joy to receive the new shoppers. I have never been so well greeted and treated in a grocery store. Methinks they have training in the 5 and 10 rule….showing eye contact and acknowlegement to anyone within 10 feet, and speaking with uplifting gusto to any customer who is within 5 feet of the staff. They were giddy with welcome, happy greetings for me. What’s not to like? I will shop here for sure. Today I was crammed packed in my home fridge but found some great items to put in the pantry, very well priced. I am a huge fan already, and look forward to the fun events they have planned for education and enrichment.
Big Skye Bakers Mesquite Pastry
March 15, 2016
— 2 Comments
In Tucson we have an abundance of mesquite trees. The beans, which are the fruit of the tree, develop at the end of summer. In many neighborhoods they fall all over the ground and go unused. In recent years the practice of milling the mesquite beans to make flour has become popular. The taste of baked goods and tortillas made with this flour is exquisite. I am a huge fan of the taste and texture. Although there are plenty of native beans here, some local companies still import mesquite flour from South America. I am not sure why this gets my goat, but the imported flour just bothers me. I have a tree in my front yard and some very large ones in my garden lot that I have not tried to harvest, but maybe this will be the year that I do it for the first time. I am inspired by the way these tasty treats are created from beans in walking distance from the bakery.
The pie I bought from Big Skye was amazing. The pecans are a perfect companion to the mesquite flour crust. I plan to try more varieties, but have been dreaming of the flavor of that pecan pie I purchased. This bakery is a super asset to the community. They sell on Sundays at the Rillito Farmers’ Market, where I will go to get more pie this week. My mouth is already watering at the idea of it.
Bodie of Big Skye
pies
cherry pie with mesquite crust
What is a Milagro?
February 26, 2016
— 3 Comments
The custom of using milagros, or ex-votos, to remind one of a vow or a wish is common in may parts of the world. The custom was popular in Spain and came to Latin America with the colonizers. I have been collecting and using them for years. I like to find unusual ones to add to my collection. I put them in my change purse to protect my money. I don’t attach any saint or religion to them, but do like to see them every time I sort through my change to pay for something. They remind me of the intention I had when I placed them there. Some naturally get lost, but I have a some for so many years it is surprising.
friends enjoying Tubac
I recently found some great new ones in Tubac that I had not seen before. I was traveling with friends, so I purchased matching milagros for us as a souvenir of our trip to Santa Cruz County. I had just gifted a couple of charms to some guys from Wisconsin who were about to go on bicycles to Mexico. We met them leaving Tumacacori Mission ready to ride across the border. They were not afraid and felt fine about having no plans or accommodations arranged. They were some real adventurers. I was certain they needed some protection, so I gave them each a milagro. I am sure that milagros have been left at the mission for centuries, so it seemed right.
Tumacacori Mission
Tumacacori Mission
The Tucson Botanical Gardens has a craft project in the hispanic garden section now for visitors to design and leave their own meaningful charm in the trees. These handmade milagros are really fun to see as they decorate the garden. They signify whatever the maker has in mind at the time, and are very charming (pun intended). Do you have any personal milagros, gentle reader?
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
Chutney Freestyle
February 23, 2016
— 1 Comment
I followed the recipe above to make mango chutney last summer a couple of times. The first time I measured and made an effort to be accurate, even though I cut the sugar in half. The second time I whipped up a batch I made some changes to suit my own taste, but still kept to the recipe basically. This week I decided I was expert enough to make my third batch freestyle, and I am very pleased with the outcome. I only had three mangoes, so I roughly guessed about the proportions of other ingredients. I tasted my way as I added sugar, molasses and apple cider vinegar to discover the balance I like the best. I used the rest of my jar of molasses just because it was almost empty. The last bit was dissolved in vinegar to get it out of the jar. The extra molasses gave the product a darker color and a deeper taste as well. The biggest change I made was ramping up the spices, including the hot chile. The result is very spicy and tangy. The flavors meld over time, so the flavor will be more integrated after a few days in the fridge.
mango onion garlic
with brown sugar and molasses
extra spices in mortar
simmer
finished chutney
This has given me such a kick. I really enjoy improvisation in the kitchen because it thrills my creative side and expresses my own taste and personality. This is, in my opinion, the best batch I have made. I look forward to using it in many ways. If you have not attempted chutney making I enthusiastically encourage you to try your hand. The precess is very forgiving. You can change the end result if you want it more sweet, sour, or spicy. I plan to move on to other kinds of chutney, now that I feel confident in my skills. I think I will also try my hand at some ketchup, which is another take on the sweet/sour sauce. Do you like to follow the directions, gentle reader, or do like to freestyle when you cook? I have a peach tree, so I can well imagine fermented peach chutney in my future. Variety is, indeed, the spice of life.
What Law and Order? #BlackPanthersPBS
February 17, 2016
— 4 Comments
I am a revolutionary. I am in flashback mode during this political season. When I watched the PBS documentary about the Black Panther Party my mind was blown thinking about the similar tactics employed by our government today. Police are still outside the law, are still involved in brutality rather than community protection. In my neighborhood the police force protects criminals and refuses to respond to those who want to stop crime. I think it is scary that abuse of power continues to be our greatest obstacle to peace and prosperity. In 1968 J Edgar Hoover had absolute power to invade privacy and snuff Americans at will. Today the FBI is asking Apple to give them a back door to everyone’s iPhones. Today we have drones out killing people for our “freedom and democracy”. Have we ever had freedom and democracy for all our citizens? I think not.
I was involved, but not old enough to vote, in the 1968 election that sent Tricky Dick Nixon to the White House. I was in the audience at the University of Texas at Austin to listen to Eugene McCarthy, and later to Hubert Humphrey, during my freshman year on campus. I decided to register to vote as a Libertarian as soon as I was 21. The Democrats were more to my liking but both parties struck me as corrupt anachronisms dedicated to keeping war and prejudice alive around the globe. I was not alone in this belief. I am still not the only person who sees our system as dangerously off course.
We all feel that things have gotten out of hand, and we all want a better future for our country. I know that is true, even though the campaign rhetoric has become vile and toxic. With the new twist of a Supreme nomination stakes are high and emotions are higher. If we the people allow super pacs and nasty grudges to continue to drive our political outcomes we will all continue to feel let down by our government. This election, very much like the election of 1968, will have profound consequences on our image around the world as well as our own economy. No matter how you feel (Bern or no Bern) it is time to register to vote and exercise your right to elect officials you trust. History is being made very rapidly. Get out the vote, gentle readers. Do it now before all the hippies drop dead from exhaustion.
Tucson Hop Shop for Beer Week Festivities
February 12, 2016
— 2 Comments
Arizona Beer Week is being celebrated all over town with tastings, pairings, and special events. Next weekend is the big craft beer crawl downtown, but beer gardens all over town are gearing up for special toasts and tastes all week. Tucson Hop Shop is our very local beer garden (.7 of a mile from home) with a family friendly atmosphere. Food trucks are scheduled to cater for the patrons on the weekend. Picnics of any kind are permitted as well. Weather is expected to be perfect for a bike ride and a flight. My partner Bob is a big beer fan with a wide range of interests in beer styles. I am much more particular. I like porters, stouts, and some copper ale if it is not very hoppy. What I like about beer week is the fun we have meeting other happy beer drinkers in a community setting. We look forward to a festive time this week that includes new flavors and new friends in Tucson. Cheers!!! Enjoy in moderation and use a designated driver for best results.
Tucson Hop Shop
Community Spirit, Beer and Yoga
February 1, 2016
— 1 Comment
yoga class
art studio
art studio
stout
yoga class
yoga class
yoga class
yoga DJ
yoga DJ
yoga class
I was lucky to find a perfect celebration for my birthday this year. I just discovered my local beer garden, Tucson Hop Shop. I am not a big beer drinker but am enthusiastic about supporting local business and local craft products, including beer. This classy yet casual spot is perfect for our neighborhood, located in the Metal Arts Village, a space for metal artists’ studios. The Hop Shop has developed a following and has instigated new events that bring the community together for fun. My big birthday gift this year (besides Medicare) is a visit from two Swiss ladies on vacation. I have been enjoying showing them around town because they are really open to culture and ready to party. The SyncHOPation event not only happened on my birthday but was walking distance from home.
SyncHOPation
Spiritual Gangster is a team that teaches yoga classes around the city in pop up locations. I have never seen yoga with a DJ before, and now I am a complete fan of the idea. I have taught and taken plenty of yoga classes, with and without music. To have a creative DJ work the class is another level of wonderment. The other aspect of the pop up that can be very popular is beer. The participants in the class at the Hop Shop were presented with a pint of beer when they turned in their class tickets. The $5 fee for both yoga and beer is a screaming deal.
My visitors and I had a fine time meeting people, drinking beer and dancing. The art studios were open, the parking lot was blocked off for the event, and the crowd was in a very good mood. Pizza and popcorn food trucks were serving delicious snacks. We enjoyed both with our beverages. My friend Steffi took the yoga class while Pia and I watched from a table on the patio. We toured the studios, did some dancing to the DJ, then walked home. There could not have been a better way to celebrate. If you like beer I highly recommend a visit to the Tucson Hop Shop. It is the perfect place for a party.
mermaidcamp 