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#WeekendCoffeeShare, Quick Break Edition
March 11, 2018
— 5 Comments
Giant
If we were having coffee I would offer you a drink and a cozy place to sit while I tell you about the short trip from which we just returned. This weekend was the perfect time to visit Santa Cruz County, AZ. The birds are returning to Madera Canyon, a National Forrest area very popular with many species of migratory birds and their fans. We spent an afternoon in Tubac enjoying art and an excellent meal. My partner had a specific purchase in mind, but we always like to see the galleries and the shows at the Tubac Center for the Arts. The town is walkable with plenty of parking, even on the busiest days. This weekend they held an art walk to attract customers. It worked for us. Bob found the belt he wanted. We enjoyed seeing paintings, sculpture, and lots of lovely jewelry. We took in the current exhibits at the Center for the Arts, a small and very high quality museum in the middle of town.
glass ceiling at Elvira’s
Chile Relleno Frida Kahlo
Mango Margarita
His belt needed to be sized, so we went to Elvira’s, a restaurant we like, for lunch. I tried the chile relleno Frida Kahlo , which is an elaborate version of the stuffed classic fried whole chile. Bob order tongue with two kinds of mole. The place was jammed, so service was understandably slow. The waiter gave us an apology up front, and brought us some free guacamole to pass the time. We were in no rush. The mango margaritas with tajín and salt on the rim are excellent, as is the very exotic cheese crisp, not your standard tortilla. The place is decorated with thousands of glass drops, and many mirrors, which gives it a super festive look. It was the perfect place to spend our lunch break.
wild turkey in Madera Canyon
Today we walked around in Madera Canyon, enjoying a cool misty day. We saw a few species of birds and a porcupine, but our big nature thrill was wild turkeys. We ran into several groups while we walked. We stopped to see the feeders at the Santa Cruz Lodge, a famous place for bird watching. The gift shop carries excellent merchandise. I came home with a small piece of pottery that I adore and can exhibit in my china cabinet. Our trip had a little bit of everything. It felt as if we had been away on a longer vacation. We got a full recharge and rejuvenate on about 24 hours away from home. It feels a little bit magical. I am refreshed for work tomorrow.
#weekendcoffeeshare
Let me pour you another cup, or glass, of whatever you are drinking while you tell me about your week. I have been a lazy writer, but I hope this fate has not befallen any of you. How is the writing going? And life? If you are still thirsty for more digital coffee, please join us each weekend at Eclectic Ali’s. You are welcome to read, comment, or submit your own coffee share post here. Cheers! I hope your week will be rewarding and fun.
#WeedWednesday Welcome To Arizona
July 4, 2017
— 1 Comment
cannabis
cannabis
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Arizona made medical marijuana legal in November, 2010 by enacting Prop 203, which won by a narrow margin. The health department of the state regulates and licenses dispensaries. The number of dispensary licenses issued is linked to the number of pharmacy licenses in the state. Prop 203 calls for no more than one dispensary license to be granted for every 10 pharmacy permits issued by the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. As of 2010 when the law was passed, that equates to 124 dispensaries statewide. Patients who live more than 25 miles form a dispensary can apply to have a caregiver grow for them, or be their own caregiver. Many rural areas of the state are more than 25 miles from a dispensary, most of which are concentrated in the urban areas of Phoenix and Tucson.
In Nov 2016 Proposition 205 was defeated by the voters, 51.32% to 48.68%. Had it passed Arizona would have joined the adjoining states of Colorado, Nevada, and California in legalizing recreational marijuana. This makes Arizona a less well-funded state, and creates a tourism draw for the other three. The marijuana tourist tax dollars Arizona turned away will visit Las Vegas and have no remorse.
Canadian firms have started to invest significantly in the AZ market, buying dispensary management companies and making other large investments throughout the state. The cannabis business will grow at a slower rate than our adjoining legal states, but still contribute much to the economy under the current medical law. Most people think it will eventually be legal in all states soon. Investors and consultants are setting themselves up in business within the law and are also preparing for the future. New products and product lines are brought to market and management contracts are being signed. Weed is big business, a growth business. The expanding market will be served in new ways, yet to be discovered. This is an interesting segment to watch. What are the marijuana laws in your state, gentle reader?
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#WeekendCoffeeShare Cannabis And Lavender
June 17, 2017
— 11 Comments
Red Rock Lavender Farm
If we were having coffee this weekend I would offer you a large helping of iced tea. The heat is scorching with no end in sight. The heat draws the moisture up from the south to create our monsoon season, but so far there is a tragic lack of moisture. We are baking in the desert. Stay in the air conditioned comfort and drink loads of tea to stay hydrated during your visit. I will send you off on your trip home with fresh watermelon juice, which I find is the most cooling beverage in the world. Relax and tell me about your week. Did your writing go well? How about life?
If we were guzzling iced tea together I would tell you how much fun I am having at my new job. I am now licensed as a dispensary agent by the state of Arizona. I work at a medical marijuana grow harvesting and trimming weed. I only work 12 hours a week in that capacity, but I am developing new ways to serve the patients. I want to create a cannabis catering department as well as an excursion department. I am new at this business, but have lots of experience in the travel industry. I believe the patients are a perfect group of people to put on a party bus for short trips.
The best part of my job is getting to know all my new colleagues. They know a lot about cannabis, but I have miles to go before I will understand all the various new concentrates being made, and the various strains being cultivated. I learn every time I go to work for my four hour shifts. It is surprising to me how much finesse is required to trim buds. Each variety has different qualities and must be handled differently. It takes focus, but we can still chat and listen to music as we work. The people with whom I work are very good natured (as you might expect). I plan to feature short educational segments on Wednesdays, #WeedWednesdays, featuring our expert grower. There is endless information as well as interest in this subject.
Cannabis
Big Farma
If we were on our third glass of iced tea by now I would tell you about our plan to escape to the White Mountains of Arizona next weekend. We are going to a lavender festival near the town of Snowflake. Just saying the word Snowflake is pretty exciting when it is 115 outside. We will drive up on Friday and stay in Show Low, AZ. On Saturday we will attend the Lavender Festival at Red Rock Farms. This event promises to be the exact opposite of burning up in the heat. We will romp through the fields of lavender on a pick your own adventure, then attend cooking demos and wine tastings at the farm. I can’t wait!!!! Saturday night we will check in to an historical bed and breakfast downtown Snowflake, which I will also like a lot. We have to drive home on Sunday, but we can linger in the mountains on the way back. We need to make the most of our “cool down” because the following week will be a furnace down here.
Thanks for joining me today. Use sunscreen on the way to your vehicle. You would not believe how quickly you can be burned to a crisp. Please visit our hostess Emily at Nerd in the Brain for more coffee shares. This movable feast takes place every weekend. Join us to read, comment, or submit your own digital beverage post.
Biblical Hospitality in Sonoita, Arizona
February 9, 2016
— 1 Comment
I took a trip last week with my Swiss visitors to discover nature and culture in southern Arizona. I shopped extensively for the right location to make our headquarters for exploration. I was rewarded for my effort by spending two nights at the Hetrick’s Cozy Wine Country Retreat in Sonoita. It is situated on 16 acres of land with spectacular views in all directions. As with all air bnb listings, the hosts provided everything we needed. They have three cute dogs that have the run of the house, which made me very happy. The dogs are friendly and playful. The large fire David built for us in the evening was a focal point for conversation and some local wine sipping. Our hosts retreated to their offices and gave us the living room for our conversation. The Hetricks provide exactly the amount of privacy the guests desire. They are available for guidance and local knowledge, but allow the guests to use the kitchen, dining room, and beautiful patios of the home to their hearts’ content. We arrived on the two coldest days of the year, so we did not enjoy any patio time. We were very pleased to see the roaring fire in the living room to welcome us.
The Hetricks are involved in a Christian congregation and have a unique viewpoint on hosting. They practice biblical hospitality. They are both proud of this philosophy which honors every guest as a special gift. The home is filled with very tasteful Christian art, including a wall of crosses collected from around the world. There is no attempt to convert or even to discuss religion, but when I brought up the subject they explained their special mission within the hospitality industry. The attitude is palpable. We felt like part of the home, if not related to the family. The labyrinth was the last place we went before we drove home to Tucson. The site is incredibly scenic and moving. To walk the pattern into the middle and back out is symbolic of inner and outer life. The meaning is always personal and takes some contemplation. For me the sunny morning labyrinth meditation was a strong message of spiritual intention. Our trip had been blessed by the practice of biblical hospitality. If you are in Arizona looking for a very good deal on some biblical hospitality do check out Cozy Wine Country Retreat. It is a special place.
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zorro
Wild West Hospitality in Arizona
February 5, 2016
— 3 Comments
I am lucky to have visitors from Switzerland who are interested in Arizona culture and art. I am also interested, but not inclined to get out on the road on my own to seek more than I have right at home. In order to show my friends part of our state and share a couple of days sight seeing with them I booked an air bnb accommodation for us in Sonoita, AZ. It was a perfect central location to explore Santa Cruz and Cochise County. These sky islands are unique habitats that are completely different from Europe. The vast expansive views and the snow on the mountains (it was snowing in Sonoita and Patagonia when we arrived) made this area very attractive for movie makers involved with cowboy flicks. The movie Oklahoma was shot down there in the picturesque grasslands south of Tucson. The Swiss ladies loved the landscape, the little towns and the people. To complete the western experience we drove to Tombstone to see the courthouse museum, the restored part of town, and the specialty shopping only the town too tough to die has to offer.
My friend invited me to go to the comedy gun fight show, something I am sure I would not do on my own. It turned out to be very entertaining and well produced. I enjoyed it and give props to the actors that play the gun slinging characters. They do an excellent job of making it look spontaneous while keeping it safe for everyone. One of the actors is a real Arizona Ranger, which I think is very cool. All of them need a good sense of humor as well as much skill with firearms to do this show. The audience easily gets involved with the action which is slapstick. If you are visiting Tombstone this show will add to your enjoyment of the town. If you still want more gun fights they also do the gunfight at the OK Corral reenactment several times daily. Both are done well, but we already know how the OK Corral ends. The actors walk around town to promote the shows, so if you skip the performances you still get a glimpse of the fine costuming. Everyone is extra friendly because tourism is the only reason Tombstone is so tough. People from all over the world have a good time hanging out there. For an authentic welcome and some very hospitable local color, check out the town too tough to die.
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gun fight
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Tempting Tempe
December 9, 2015
— 1 Comment
Beer flights on the balcony
A quick weekend trip to Tempe to take in the sights and sounds of the Festival of the Arts was a perfect get away (but not very far away) for us last weekend. I found a great Air bnb apartment in the perfect location for walking to the action. We discovered new places to drink and dine, and purchased a few pieces of original jewelry at an artist’s booth. My parter Bob is a big beer fan, so we sat for a while overlooking the fair on the balcony of the famous landmark Gordon Biersch Brewery. The beer is okay. The view is fabulous.
Our favorite new spot for food drinks and a lively crowd is Culinary Dropout. We enjoyed wonderful service in a very jovial atmosphere there before we went to the fair. The menu was innovative bistro style food. It was tempting to eat all our meals there, but we wanted to do some investigating into other places. Tempe is full of bars and food offering of all kinds. If there is nothing you like to eat or drink there, you are just too picky.
Culinary Dropouts
Culinary Dropouts
appetizer Culinary Dropout
cocktail menu
Culinary Dropout
The Arts Festival turned the town into a large outdoor party with plenty of opportunity to people watch. We had such a good time we may just make a habit of visiting Tempe. There is much to discover.
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reflection
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