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Tucson’s Iron Chef Goes Hog Wild

June 1, 2013

Tucson’s own Iron Chef, Ryan Clark of the Lodge on the Desert ,is committed to sustainability and creativity.  He butchers and cures the meat served at his restaurant.  This very special Berkshire pig has been served recently to guests.  This attention to detail is one reason his cuisine reigns supreme in Tucson.  July 7 he will face a challenger in the cook off competition.  If the secret ingredient is a whole pig, this chef is ready.

Heidi and the Goats

May 28, 2013

My neighbor Heidi loves to farm. She and I both enjoy vegetable and flower gardening in Tucson. She took me to the goat pen this morning to bring home a big load of goat manure for fertilizer.  Heidi has her own chickens at home, but her goat coop arrangement is a shared experience with the owners of the goats, a Waldorf School, and other goat lovers.  She does her duty at the goat pen weekly, and takes home all the milk she gets during her shifts.  I had a French Alpine goat for years, and I made this same arrangement with a friend to do goat care and milking when I went out of town. Fresh goat milk is worth the work.  Heidi makes incredible cheeses from hers.  It was fun to meet the animals who have provided all those fabulous cheeses to our house.

Iron Chef Competition Heats Up in Tucson

May 27, 2013

I had the pleasure of spending some time yesterday with Tucson’s Iron Chef, Ryan Clark. His kitchen at Lodge on the Desert pumps out cuisine that is much adored by my highly evolved and somehow still carnivorous partner Bob and me. We are farmers in our own tiny right and both enjoy dining, although we eat at home or carry out from home 98% of the time.  We go to Lodge on the Desert for our special occasion and holiday meals, when we feel particularly festive.

Recently we attended a Slow Food tasting set up for 250 guests to try local wine beer and food.  It was fun for us and did expose us to new places we have tried since the event.  Now Chef Clark is preparing to host twice as many tasters to Lodge on the Desert this Thursday as part of the Iron Chef competition for this year.  The challengers will bring samples and vie for the chance to try to take the title from Chef Clark in July.  The chef with the most votes from the public will be the challenger, so there is a lot at stake.  Stella Artois is the sponsor, so the blonde Belgian beer will flow freely.  The challengers are not too shabby, and chef Ryan exceeds all expectations as a host in my experience.  This $5 tasting will be a happy hour of outstanding opportunities for those who want to find out what is happening in the kitchens of Tucson chefs.

Christopher Lynn Foster, 13th Great Grandfather

May 25, 2013 — 6 Comments

Forster Coat of Arms

Forster Coat of Arms

My 13 Great Grandfather was born in England and died in Long Island. He came to America at the age of about 35.  He was a founder of the town of Lynn,MA before moving to New York.

Christopher Foster — He came from England in the “Abigail”, in 1635, age 32, with his wife Frances, age 25, and children Rebecca, Nathaniel, and John.  The “Abigail” embarked from London, June 4, 1635 and arrived in Boston about Oct. 8, 1635 with small pox aboard. He was made Freeman in Boston, April 17, 1637.  In the same year, he was a resident of Lynn, MA, where in 1638, sixty acres of land were alloted to him. He came to Southampton in 1651. He had a previous spouse name unknown who died in 1628.  Sally’ s Family Place-Wheeler  Christopher Foster was born in July 1603 (Ewell, Surrey, England);  He married there 24 Dec 1628 Frances Stevens, born 1 July 1610 daughter of Alice Stevens (will 1645) of Ewell in Surrey, England.  Chrostopher Foster styled himself a husbandman on his shipping, embarked in London, June 17, 1635 in the “Abigail.”  “In the Abigail from the minister of their conformitie and from the Justices, that they are no susidy men.  Christopher foster ae 32, Bxofr ffrancis ffoster ae 25, Rabecca ffoster ae 5, Nathaniel ffoster ae 2, Jo, ffoster ae1, Alice Steevens 11, Tho Steevens 12. New pp.  C. E. Banks in the book Planter of the Commonwealth, “which traces 2,646 emigrants to America for whom there is a clear record says that Christoper Fostrer was a “husbandman (farmer) of Ewell, County Surrey,” and that Alice Stevens was “probably sister of Mrs. Foster.”  He adds the following about the “Abigail” on which others of the passengers were John Winthrop Jr. age 27 and his wife Elizabeth and son Deane.  “Abigail of London, Richard Hackwell, Master.  She listed passengers fo New England from June 4 until July 24, and sailed from Plymouth as her last port of departure about Aug 1, with two hundred and twenty persons aboard, and many cattle.  She arrived in Boston about Oct. 8, 1635, infected with smallpox.  among those coming in this ship, but not listed, were Sir Henry Vane, son and heir to Sir Henry Vane, Comptroller of the King’s Household, traveling incognite, the Revernd Hugh Peter, pastor of the English Church at Rotterdam, and the Reverend John Wilson, who was returning to Boston, with his wife, hr first appearance in New England.  They were part of the Puritan migration and Hugh Peters, later Cromwell’s chaplain, was on the same ship and helped form the church congregation to which Christopher belonged.  Some of the passengers with Christopher Foster are also connected to Sir Thomas Foster.  Sir Henry Vane’s son who is the Comptroller of the King’s Household is connected to Sir Thomas Foster household because of the Comtroller for King Henry VIII is entombed next to Sir Thomas Foster.  This is amking a clear connection to the royal family especially with Governor Winthrop’s son aboard also and Christopher Foster with them.  Further Info on Christopher: He was made a freeman at Boston (or Lynn) April 17 1637.  In the same year he was a resident of Lynn where in 1638 sixty acres were allotted to him.  At one time, the Fosters lived in Nahant St., Lynn.  In 1647, he went to Hempstead, and then to Southampton in 1650, both in New York.  In October of 1650, we find him as a townsman or selectman to manage the affairs of the town, being one of the 41 propietors.  He mny have been part of the originlal Lynn group that setled Southampton LI; Christopher first appears in records of Southampton in 1651 and he was living there in 1670.   His son Nathaniel removed to Hungington LI and their resided.  Christopher Foster died 1687; he resided Lynn, MA. and Southamptoin LI (Long Island, NY).

Christopher Lynn Foster (1603 – 1687)
is my 13th great grandfather
John Christopher Foster (1634 – 1687)
son of Christopher Lynn Foster
Rachel Foster (1675 – 1751)
daughter of John Christopher Foster
Abraham Sr Reeves (1699 – 1761)
son of Rachel Foster
Hannah Reeves (1720 – 1769)
daughter of Abraham Sr Reeves
John McGilliard Jr (1759 – 1832)
son of Hannah Reeves
John McGilliard III (1788 – 1878)
son of John McGilliard Jr
Mary McGill (1804 – 1898)
daughter of John McGilliard III
John Wright (1800 – 1870)
son of Mary McGill
Mary Wright (1814 – 1873)
daughter of John Wright
Emiline P Nicholls (1837 – )
daughter of Mary Wright
Harriet Peterson (1856 – 1933)
daughter of Emiline P Nicholls
Sarah Helena Byrne (1878 – 1962)
daughter of Harriet Peterson
Olga Fern Scott (1897 – 1968)
daughter of Sarah Helena Byrne
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Olga Fern Scott
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse

He first came to Boston, where he was a Freemen on 17 April 1637. In 1638, he moved to Lynn, Massachusetts. In 1647, he went to Hempstead, and then to Southampton in 1650, both in New York. In October of 1650, we find him as a townsmen or selectmen to manage the affairs of the town, being one of the 41 proprietors.

HISTORY: Christopher Lynn Foster is the son of Sir Knight Thomas Foster (FORSTER). He (Thomas)changed his name because he married a close cousin named Susanna FORSTER. They had the same Great Great Great Grandfather. This family tree goes back to Sir Knight John Forster and Sir Knight Richard Foster. Sir John rode with King Richard I the Lion Heart to Palestine in the late 1100’s. This family was given the Bamburg Castle by Queen Elizabeth I. The family went bankrupt in the 1700 or 1800 hundreds and sold the castle the the Armstrong family of Adderstone, Northumberland, England which is where the castle is located. The FORSTER FAMILY came to England in the 1000 AD time frame to escape the Saxon invasion into Flanders. The Forster family changed from FORESTER (THE FAMILY were the Counts of Flanders) and evolved from the de FORRESTER of Belgium. The de FORRESTER FAMILY was by record the Prince of Dijon, Belgium in 740 AD. The Counts of Flanders (Anacher Great FORESTER, BALWIN I through the V, Arnulf Forester had marriages to Princess of England, Princess of France, Princess of Luxemboroug, etc. One of the Baldwin’s daughters married William the Conquer. Her name was Matilda. (Info received from Leroy Foster Nov 2002)

Bird Houses

May 24, 2013 — 4 Comments

Have you ever thought about all the different ways birds design?  What do birds look for in a piece of real estate?  There must be a very wide variety of tastes.  For an exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Garden artists have designed bird spaces from all kinds of materials.  They are for sale.  Birds have so many choices from rustic to modern.  I love all of them, so it is good that I am not a bird.

Tucson Farm Report

May 15, 2013 — 2 Comments

My garden grows more important to me all the time.  Growing fruit trees and grape vines is satisfying and tricky too.  We have to keep the birds and pests from consuming too many of the products.  This year we are lucky with a big peach crop.  They are tiny, cling peaches you can pop right into your mouth in one bite. Leaving them on the tree to ripen fully makes for a very full flavored peach.  They are getting ripe this week, and I plan to get more than the birds.  We are eating and sharing globe artichokes now, and starting to have ripe tomatoes.  We make and drink lots of tea and flower essences.  The herbs are used for baths, cooking, and tea mixtures.  The Lakota squash might be a healthy crop, but it and the Jerusalem artichokes are new crops for us this season.  So far, everything looks happy and healthy.

Extended Spring

May 11, 2013 — 1 Comment

I had the super fine opportunity to extend the season of spring this year in the most pleasant way.  By visiting New England I had the chance to study my ancestors in the places they lived and died.  One of the strongest impressions I have of my visit is of the flowering trees.  The botany of the ancestors reminded them of spring and hope in a way that was dramatic every year.  To witness the return of color, warmth and spring fashion unfold before my eyes was a treat that stays in my memory. Hope is the motto of Rhode Island.  I have a dreamy set of images that express hope through blossoms.  I will not forget how happy all the flowers made me feel.  I am comfortable and at home with all the people I met in Rhode Island.  I love the way Jamestown, an island where my ancestors had dairy farming business in the 1600’s, is still a place for dairy and produce farming.  They are completely rural and close to town at the same time. Hope springs eternal.

Urban Delight

May 2, 2013 — 5 Comments

Providence, RI is a wonderful city to visit for many reasons. The steeple situation makes it very easy to navigate around the town.  The landmark hills are conveniently located on each side of the river. Downtown is mixed old and new buildings, but College Hill houses Brown University and RISD campuses. The preservation of history is important on both Federal Hill and College Hill, so the architecture is in fine shape.  The trees that are blooming now enhance the beauty of both neighborhoods.  Since I am a fan of both the building shapes and the trees I am very pleased to be here while the blooming is showing off the colorful past of the people who planted them.

Private Museum Tour

May 1, 2013 — 1 Comment

I came to Rhode Island to visit the land of my ancestors.  Today we set out for Newport, where some of mine are buried, but we did not make it.  I wanted to explore Jamestown, a small island between the mainland and Newport.  I knew that Caleb Carr, my ancestor and the first governor of Rhode Island, was buried there with his family.  My friend Deborah from Boston was my companion on this day trip.  We drove through downtown Jamestown and followed the main road north just looking at scenery. We passed  Carr Rd, and I felt a true excitement which I noted to Deborah.  We had entered a designated historic district with beautiful stone walls and working farms.  I was entranced as I am everywhere in New England right now with the flowering trees and the architecture.  When we headed back toward the Newport bridge I turned onto Carr Rd and drove toward the ocean.  On my left I saw Carr homestead circa 1690, and I had a giant chill/thrill/goose bump kind of an experience.  I found a place to make a U turn to take a look.  The narrow road had no real place to park, but the lady in the yard next door saw me and beckoned me to park in her drive.  I felt lucky, but I had no idea how extravagant the jackpot was going to be.

I told her I had come because Caleb Carr is my ancestor.  She welcomed me and said she is a Carr also.  Then she blew my mind completely by asking if I wanted to see the inside of the house.  She and a group of the family still keeps the house in tact by taking care of it, then renting it in the summer months by the week.  The rent paid by these shareholders when they bring their families to visit pays state taxes and upkeep expenses.  It has never left the care and ownership of the family.  She graciously toured us through the house which was THE peak experience of all my museum/travel/adventure life up to this point.  I had an extreme love for all the rooms, and the trees in the yard which were brought from Japan.  I was guided to be there when by botany loving cousin, however many times removed, was outside gardening.  Although the farm had initially been a working dairy farm, at some time two lovely evergreens were imported from Japan to grace the front yard.  I wondered how much plant love we both might have inherited from the Carrs.  She said the land had all been cleared for pasture, but now the 10 acres that remain are wooded.  It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  We stopped around the corner to see the family graves.  It was all much more than I expected.  Jamestown is a very special place for me.

Federal Hill, Providence, RI

April 29, 2013 — 3 Comments


I am so happy to be moved into my new neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island. We are on Federal Hill, the oldest part of the city. My ancestors founded this city, but have left long ago. Now it is an historic collection of houses and buildings in glory, faded, glory and total disrepair. The good news is all the Italian groceries and restaurants. The people are ultra friendly ( ready nosey) and wonderfully opinionated. Grocery shopping is like going to heaven.