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Tucson’s Market on the Move

November 2, 2013 — 2 Comments

The port of Nogales, AZ is the main entry point for Mexican produce to enter the United States. There are tons of fruits and vegetables traded daily at the peak of the season. Each winter the wholesale warehouses hum with activity.  The nature of the wholesale produce business requires that losses must be accepted when the goods can’t be sold or moved quickly.  The 3000 Club in Santa Cruz County has created a wonderful program to stem waste at the border, and provide fresh healthy foods in neighborhoods that need more access to fruits and vegetables.  They partner with churches and other facilities that have large parking lots in Tucson.  The volunteer crews load semi trucks full of produce that is at peak ripe condition and send them to the parking lots where anyone can buy 60 pounds of produce for $10.  This Market on the Move is saving people money, but what I like best is the distribution of fresh foods to those who might not otherwise buy  or try it.

I enjoy the challenge of filling my box (Since there are only two of us at home, I do not overfill it.) with the selections of the week, then making tasty dishes with them.  This week I went too late to score any tomatoes, which are always popular.  Tiny watermelons were limited to two each.  They look precious, and are fun to have in November.  Zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, and golden bell peppers were the featured crops on special.  I decided to juice the cucumbers, roast or grill the peppers, and make soup with the squash.  The Market on the Move is like the show Chopped on Food Network, in which you prepare dishes from what you find in the basket.  I try to recruit some help from my neighbors as soon as I get home.  My friend Mindy has just returned from Philadelphia where her son in law is a fancy chef.  She passed along a roasted bell pepper soup recipe while I convinced her to take some home.  The chef makes his soup with roasted peppers, a tiny bit of stock and cream cheese.  Mindy and I decided that this was very fine, but we are going to use mascarpone since we have no allegiance to Philadelphia.  If you have some good ideas that relate to bell peppers or squash I am very interested right now.  If you live in a city that offers this sport, the ingredient challenge, I urge you to try it.  For $10 you have little to loose.

Tucson Firefighters Chili Cook-off

November 1, 2013 — 2 Comments

I attended the anual chili cook off to support our local firefighters union. Each station designs a booth and makes a chili dish. The chili is judged by a panel, and the booth design is judged by popular Facebook vote.  The annual event is a really fun way to meet locals and enjoy time downtown.  The creativity of the booth design and the costumes always amuse.  This year the Drexel Heights Station outdid themselves with a Duck Dynasty theme.  I took my calendar with me and was able to find four of the guys to give me autographs on their pictures.  They serve beer and play live music, but it differs from other community events in that the firefighters union uses all the proceeds to adopt families in need to help them.  We don’t have the opportunity to see our firefighters all together at the same time very often.  Seeing them enjoy themselves so much and serve the community too is a blast.  We love our firefighters in Tucson.  They keep us safe and represent the spirit of the town in a friendly and creative way.  I bought a tee shirt for Bob which he will like a lot, and an apron for myself, to remind me not to burn down the house.

30 Days, 30 Posts: NaBloPoMo is here!

November 1, 2013 — 3 Comments

This is much more appealing than writing a novel.

Michelle Weber's avatarWordPress.com News

There’s a lot of buzz each November around NaNoWriMo — you may notice some of your favorite blogs dedicating themselves to churning out 50,000 words this month.

If 50,000 words seem like 49,000 too many or you’re more interested in blogging than writing a book, NaBloPoMo — National Blog Posting Month — might be your speed: a challenge to post once every day for the entire month of November. No theme, no word count, no rules; just you, your blog, and 30 new posts.

NaBloWhatNow?

NaBloPoMo started in 2006 in response to NaNoWriMo; not every blogger has the time or inclination to write a book, but the idea of a challenge that forces participants to stretch themselves, grow as bloggers, and be part of a supportive community is undeniably appealing. As founder Eden Kennedy, the power blogger behind fussy.org, put it:

If there’s one thing creative people…

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Maude le Vavasour, aka Maid Marian

October 31, 2013 — 2 Comments

Maud

Maud

Maud as Maid Marian

Maud as Maid Marian

My 21st grandmother married two husbands, the second of which (not my grandfather), was Robin Hood:

Maud le Vavasour, Baroness Butler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaMaud le Vavasour, Baroness Butler (24 June 1176- before 1226) was an Anglo-Norman heiress and the wife of Fulk FitzWarin,[1] a medieval landed gentlemanwho was forced to become an outlaw in the early 13th century. The legend ofRobin Hood is allegedly based on him.By her first marriage to Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler, Maud was the ancestress of the Butler Earls of Ormond.FamilyMaud le Vavasour was born on 24 June 1176 in Yorkshire, England to Robert le Vavasour, High Sheriff of Lancashire (1150- 1234), and his first wife Juliana de Ros. She had a brother Sir John le Vavasour who married Alice Cockfield, by whom he had issue. Maud’s paternal grandparents were William le Vavasour, Lord of Hazelwood, and Justiciar of England, and Matilda Perry. Her maternal grandparents were Gilbert de Ros and Matilda de Cauz.Maud was heiress to the properties of Edlington and Newborough in Yorkshire.Marriages and childrenIn 1189, Maud married her first husband Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler (died February 1206), son of Hervey Walter and Maud de Valoignes, and went to live in Ireland. His brother Hubert Walter was Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1185, Theobald had been given land by Prince John, who was then Lord of Ireland. He was appointed Butler of Ireland in 1192,[2] and High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1194.Theobald and Maud had three children:

  1. Maud le Botiller ( also known as Maud Walter) (1192- before 1240), married as his first wife Sir Gerald de Prendergast by whom she had issue, including Marie de Prendergast, who in her turn married Sir John de Cogan and had issue.
  2. Beatrice le Botiller
  3. Theobald le Botiller, chief Butler of Ireland (January 1200- 19 July 1230), who married firstly Joan du Marais, daughter of Geoffrey du Marais and Eva de Bermingham, and had a son Theobald le Botiller (1224- 1248), who marriedMargery de Burgh, daughter of Richard Mor de Burgh, Lord of Connacht, andEgidia de Lacy (daughter of Walter de Lacy and Margaret de Braose), and from whom descended the Earls of Ormond. Theobald le Botiller, chief Butler of Ireland married secondly, after 4 September 1225, Rohese de Verdon (1205- 10 February 1247), daughter of Nicholas de Verdon and Joan de Lacy, by whom he had a son and daughter: John le Botiller de Verdon, Lord of Westmeath (1226- 1274), who married Margery de Lacy (1229- after 10 June 1276), by whom he had issue, and Maud le Botiller de Verdon, who upon her marriage to John Fitzalan became the 6th Countess of Arundel, and from whom descended the Fitzalan Earls of Arundel.

Following the death of Theobald in early February 1206, Maud returned to England into the custody of her father, who, having bought the right of marrying her at the price of 1200 marks and two palfrys, gave her in marriage, on 1 October 1207, to Fulk FitzWarin.[3] Fulk was the son of Fulk FitzWarin and Hawise de Dinan, who subsequent to a violent quarrel with King John of England, sought refuge in the woods and became an outlaw. Maud accompanied him. The legendary figures of Robin Hood and Maid Marian are said to be based on Fulk and Maud.

By FitzWarin, Maud had a son and a daughter:

  1. Sir Fulk FitzWarin (1208-14 May 1264), married firstly, Clarice d ‘Auberville, by whom he had a daughter, Mabel FitzWarin (1248- 1296), who in turn married firstly John de Crevequer, and secondly, Sir John Tregoze, Baron Tregoze (1245- 1300), son of Robert II Tregoze, Lord of Ewyas Harold, and Juliane de Cantelou, and had issue. Fulk married secondly, Constance de Toeni (1225- 1265), by whom he had a son, Fulk FitzWarin and a daughter, Hawise FitzWarin, both of whom married and had issue.
  2. Hawise FitzWarin (born 3 February 1210), married firstly William Pantulf, by whom she had issue, and secondly, Hubert Huse.

DeathMaud le Vavasour died sometime before 1226. She had numerous descendants including the Earls of Ormond, the Earls of Arundel, Anne Boleyn, Mary Boleynand Elizabeth I.In fiction

Maud is the main protagonist in Elizabeth Chadwick’s The White Castle, which relates in highly fictional form, her life and adventures as the wife of Fulk FitzWarin.

References

  1. ^ peerage.com
  2. ^ Charles CawleyMedieval Lands, Earls of Ormond
  3. ^ 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica/Butler
Categories: 1176 births
13th-century deaths
Women of medieval England
12th-century English people
13th-century English people
People from Yorkshire
Hidden categories: Articles with hCards

Maud le Vavasour (1187 – 1282)
is my 21st great grandmother
Theobald II le Boteler (1200 – 1230)
son of Maud le Vavasour
Lady Maud Matilda DeVerdun Countess DeBoteler Countess Arundel (1225 – 1283)
daughter of Theobald II le Boteler
Matilda Tideshall FitzAlan Baroness Corbet De Arundel (1244 – 1309)
daughter of Lady Maud Matilda DeVerdun Countess DeBoteler Countess Arundel
Sir Thomas Corbet of Moreton, Knight of The Bath Corbet (1281 – 1310)
son of Matilda Tideshall FitzAlan Baroness Corbet De Arundel
Knight Sir Robert XII Corbet, Lord of Moreton Corbet (1304 – 1375)
son of Sir Thomas Corbet of Moreton, Knight of The Bath Corbet
Sir Roger XIII (Lord of Morton) Corbet (1330 – 1396)
son of Knight Sir Robert XII Corbet, Lord of Moreton Corbet
Robert Corbet (1383 – 1440)
son of Sir Roger XIII (Lord of Morton) Corbet
Blanche Corbet (1423 – 1458)
daughter of Robert Corbet
Humphrey Coningsby (1458 – 1535)
son of Blanche Corbet
Amphyllis Coningsby (1478 – 1533)
daughter of Humphrey Coningsby
Margaret Tyndale (1510 – 1555)
daughter of Amphyllis Coningsby
Thomas Taylor (1548 – 1588)
son of Margaret Tyndale
Thomas Taylor (1574 – 1618)
son of Thomas Taylor
James Taylor (1608 – 1698)
son of Thomas Taylor
John Taylor (1685 – 1776)
son of James Taylor
John Taylor (1727 – 1787)
son of John Taylor
John Taylor (1747 – 1781)
son of John Taylor
John Nimrod Taylor (1770 – 1816)
son of John Taylor
John Samuel Taylor (1798 – 1873)
son of John Nimrod Taylor
William Ellison Taylor (1839 – 1918)
son of John Samuel Taylor
George Harvey Taylor (1884 – 1941)
son of William Ellison Taylor
Ruby Lee Taylor (1922 – 2008)
daughter of George Harvey Taylor
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee Taylor

Samhain/All Saints

October 31, 2013 — 1 Comment

The Celtic holiday Samhain is still celebrated by some on October 31. The city of Dublin is embracing the ancient holiday in new ways.  Poetry is a way to create connection with the future and also with the past.  Some poems and songs survive from anonymous authors, while ancient Greeks are preserved in drama, ode and epic.  Translation is a tricky thing, especially when translating Pagan rituals to Catholic practices.  My ancestors, the O’Byrnes, came from County Meathe where Samhain was and is celebrated.  I hope someday to visit Dublin to see these Irish in action with their ancient tradition.

Since I am in Tucson, with a strong and popular All Souls’ Day party I plan to add poetry this year by attending the reading on Friday night at the U of A Poetry Center by our new poet laureate.  He is from the border, our own very specific and special place. This border has been directly responsible for plenty of death, and plenty of opportunity.  In a spiritual sense our border has never been real, but artificial, setting a trap, catching little prey.  It makes crime irresistible to the desperate. It works to incentivize illegal behavior. If the dead are visiting this week they will have no trouble crossing the border, even though they may have died trying.  I look forward to the experience.

Under the Influence

October 30, 2013 — 4 Comments

This holiday season I have decided to create a diet plan. Each year we splurge eating outside of our normal diet to enjoy some seasonal goodies both at home and out and about. I think it is silly to deny yourself all relatively unhealthy foods since it creates a special power around the food. You can taste almost anything, then put it down and walk away without harming yourself.  Moderation in all things may seem stingy in comparison to  the commercial holiday cheer with merchandise at the base of it all.  Gifting or not gifting is easy at our house. We like experiences better than items so very few presents are given unless they are special yard sale finds.  We love art, but filled our home already, so we have to go to galleries and museums to see anything new.  Our tradition involves making treats and attending special events.  This season I am mindfully setting a budget, not so much in dollars, but in calories, alcohol, and fat.

If I allow myself to be mindless at the supermarket I end up with a lot of unhealthy treat ingredients that will become cookies, etc.  I have become a creative bartender and now have a vast array of interesting liquor with which to mix cocktails.  The idea of the taste profile of the cocktail is to enhance your snacks or meal.  I enjoy creating new cocktails from recipes and sometimes by experiment.  Since I enjoy taking risks in the kitchen, my bar tending is a natural extension of that exploratory spirit.  I am carried away with using seasonal ingredients and the fruit from my garden in cocktail recipes.  I could not work at a bar since I know few classic drinks, but in terms of kinky creations I get better all the time. Therein lies the problem.  These tasty spirits take over the situation and decide that moderation is out the window for the night.  One good taste leads to another.  Last winter I did allow the spirit of alcohol to leave the barn door open for the spirit of sugar and other inferior foods to enter my body in mass quantities.  My general health suffered from this overdose, and required reform of my diet in order to recover.

This winter as the nights grow longer and the wood stove glows I am starting a written log of what I eat and drink.  This is not for publication, but for my own information.  I will not allow sneaky spirits, holiday or otherwise, make me fat this winter.  They have no power over me.  I never drank hard alcohol until a couple of years ago when I bought some cheap bourbon to pour on my dad’s grave on All Soul’s Day.  My parents both loved to cocktail way too much, which was responsible for many of their health problems.  I have chosen to have a different relationship with alcoholic spirits.  Cheers! Happy Holidays! Think before you drink!!!

Tethys, Water Goddess

October 29, 2013 — 2 Comments

Tethys was a titan, which means an original goddess, before Zeus and the Olympians took over the pantheon.  Her sisters were Nyx and Gaia, who ruled darkness and the earth. She was Mother of the Sea, ruling clouds, springs, rivers, and streams.  Her children were called Oceanids.  Water is the emotional element;  Tides, currents and undertows closely resemble human emotional forces.  The energy or wave of an emotion passes through the body as well as the life of the person involved.  Tethys is known as the goddess of nursing, and if you think of feeding the earth with clean water, her services are needed more than ever today. To get in touch with Tethys realize that flow and currents can be ridden, but it is folly to fight against them.  Emotional problems are the same; Denial or repression will not end them, but can make the ride much rougher. You can not change the waves, but you can learn to surf.

NaNoWriMo 2013: Want to Write a Novel?

October 29, 2013 — 2 Comments

The month of novels is almost upon us. Is this your year?

Cheri Lucas Rowlands's avatarWordPress.com News

It’s just a few days until November, and you know what that means: National Novel Writing Month, better known ’round these parts as NaNoWriMo, is near.

Have you always wanted to write a novel?

We know some of you have been waiting all year for this month! For those of you who are new to this project, here’s the gist:

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Beer Dinner at Zona 78

October 28, 2013 — 2 Comments

Last night I took Bob on a dining date featuring his favorite beverage, beer. I used to drink beer, but have all but given it up these days. I still like the taste, so the beer and food pairing was very appealing to me. I drove, so after the taste, I generally gave the rest of the glass to Bob. There was one exception, the Imperial stout. It was my favorite of the evening so I wanted to drink all of it. They poured 4 ounces for each course because the beers were very high in alcohol content.

The chef worked with Mission Brewery of San Diego to create tastes that paired with these strong beer flavors.  I did write on my reservation request a few weeks ago that I am vegetarian, but to make sure I mentioned it to our server when we arrived at the dinner.  It became obvious that they did not have the information.  I am not sure if the server did not mention it, or they do not read the reservations that people write down on paper. I give them points for thinking on their feet and kicking out very good samples for me.  The favorite of all the people at our table was the corn and ricotta fritter, which was a veg. item anyhow.  My plates were visually as good as Bob’s real street food with meat.  The ruben sandwich was superb; Mine had kale instead of corned beef.  The meal ended with a very light beer that I delivered straight to Bob.  We thought the meal and the company, as well as the education we got from the chef and beermeister were well worth the price and the short drive from our home.  This is our second theme dinner at Zona.  Our new beer drinking buddies at the table had been to dinners there featuring other craft brewers, which they enjoyed. The reasons we will return to Zona 78 for special dinners in the future:

  • The staff really enjoys putting on the special events, and it shows
  • The experts work hard to make a gourmet memorable meal
  • The learning component is just right, not too sales oriented
  • The people we meet there are fun, interesting, and jovial
  • We discover new recipes or new combos to try at home
  • The made from scratch food is always tasty and original

No Woman No Drive, The Perfect Protest

October 28, 2013 — 3 Comments

I must interrupt the regularly scheduled program to tell you how much I love this Saudi guy.  Humor is by far the best way to make a point, and he does so with brilliant technical quality.  Help this song go viral because it is both funny and meaningful right now.