Tucson's Throwback Thursday - Rudolph time again!

30 NOVEMBER 2010

Winter watering hole ~

In my neighborhood Rudolph and a friend take a sip from a cool blue pool. I thought this simple light display was charming.

Color Choices Revealed!

On November 12 I posted my neighbor's house with their paint swatches for new exterior choices. See below for the original colors. Looks like they picked a warmer maize for the exterior walls, sage green for their entry, and a grape color for the garage door. I think it looks great! What do you think?

Tuesday = Tucson Trivia Day!

Did you know that Calle Carlos Arruza is a Tucson street named after a famed Mexican matador? Arruza was an international sensation and was nicknamed "The Cyclone." Here is more info on him and his career.  

Need something yummy to take to a holiday party? THIS IS IT!

WHO KNEW that cheesecake could be an amazing dinner party APPETIZER? That's right - this isn't a dessert cheesecake - it is SPICY and yummy. And it's easy to make! This just might be your standard thing to bring to every party this season. Read on for the recipe...

Southwest Cheesecake Appetizer

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 

Crust
1 C finely crushed tortilla chips (I like to use blue corn or spicy ones)
3T melted butter

Mix chips and butter together and pat firmly into bottom of 9" springform pan.

Batter
16 oz cream cheese
2 eggs
8 oz shredded cheese (Monterey Jack and Sharp Cheddar are a good combo)
1 pkg taco seasoning 
1 4 oz can of green chilies, drained

Beat cream cheese and eggs in mixer until well blended. Add cheese and chilies and mix well. Pour VERY SLOWLY over crust. Pouring slowly helps to minimize the air bubbles that will cause your cheesecake to crack while baking. 

Bake 30 minutes or until center is almost set.

Let cool. Run a knife or spatula around the cake before you pop the rim off. 

Refrigerate cake 4 hours or overnight. Top with 1 cup sour cream and whatever toppings you choose to decorate. You can use diced green, red, or yellow peppers, diced chilies, sliced black olives, or even put salsa or guacamole over the sour cream topping.

Serve this with crackers or tortilla chips. It is scooped (not sliced like a dessert cheesecake) onto a plate.

Let me know how you like this and what your guests say! Bon appetit!

The Truth About Rudolph...

Thinking about post-holiday dieting?

Here is a delicious recipe that was shared by our site sponsor, Susan Dodson, of Long Realty. This salad can help you combat the Thursday dinner extravaganza! Enjoy! 

Coup de Pooch

Whenever my boss travels overseas my Australian Shepherd, Jasper, makes a coup attempt to run the Institute. This holiday weekend was the perfect time to make an attempt to grab power. As you can see, he is VERY comfortable in the CEO chair! 

Thanksgiving, Giving Thanks ~

I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with food and friends and fun! What is your favorite part of the meal? 

Just one more day!

This smart turkey has to hide for just one more day! This is one of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving images! Are you cooking? Going somewhere? Dining at a restaurant? Whatever you are doing, have a safe holiday! 

Tucson welcomes the exotic SNOWBIRD!

Yes it is the time of year when we welcome our huge influx of "Snowbirds" who flock to Tucson for the weather. Ah... the weather! Right now it is still in the 80's during the day and drops to the 40's and 50's at night. The Snowbird population is huge and I learned today that the RV parks that many of them occupy are called "White Cities" because of the aerial view of the sea of white RV rooftops! I refer to Tucson at this time of year as "The Land of No Left Turns."  Traffic gets a bit snarly with the many thousands of extra vehicles on the road and sometimes you can sit through a FEW red lights waiting to make that turn. 

Highlights from Tucson's 2017 El Tour!

The fun and exciting El Tour de Tucson was held yesterday and there was much stamina and persistence in evidence. Our local hero, Gabby Giffords, rode in El Tour and served to inspire everyone around her. Here are two of my favorite guys riding in the tour (Hi Ken! Hi Mark!) and a wonderful sign that I saw at the finish line. Great fun! Congratulations to all who rode in this event! WOW! 

Advice for all El Tour de Tucson Riders ~

Today is the world-famous Tour de Tucson! Bicyclists from all over the world travel here to compete in this event! I salute all riders - YOU ROCK!  

Best Tire Cover Ever!

WOOF! I only wish that I could have gotten a photo of the big dog in the back seat who kept hanging his head out of the window! WOOF! 

Throwback Thursday in Tucson - still beautiful!

16 NOVEMBER 2010

Tucson's Historic Barrio ~ beauty

THEN & NOW:

Check out this beautiful arbor ~ what a lovely entrance to this home in Tucson's barrio. Love that pierced tin lamp!

You lookin' at ME? You lookin' at US?

At first glance you might see only one owl perched in this tree. Look again and you'll spot the second one. BEAUTIFUL!!  To learn more about Sonoran Desert owls (including listening to them screech), click here. 
Photo courtesy of George Goldman. 

Tucson Trivia - Golf Capital!

It's Tuesday so time for some Tucson trivia! Did you know that Tucson is considered a world class golf capital? Golfers know you can play golf in Tucson nearly every day of the year. And the variety of courses is amazing! Several courses have been PGA tour stops and many of Tucson's resorts have their own golf courses. There are also city-owned public courses. Fore! 

A SORT OF "Where is this?" for today ~

Yes, Yes, it's easy to identify that I took this photo of the NYC skyline. But can you guess from where? This isn't an official contest - just for fun to see if you know your NYC geography!  I was somewhere for a wedding....   

Decisions, decisions....

One of my neighbors is debating on new garage door colors and new exterior walls colors. What do you think? 

Coffee can make you sassy!

Seen in a coffee shop! GREAT!  (:

Throwback Thursday - 7 years ago today in Tucson

09 NOVEMBER 2010

Tucson's Fantastic Day of the Dead Parade

THEN:

Each year Tucson hosts a fun, creative, and amazing event - the All Souls Procession. People gather to honor departed loved ones and to revel in extraordinary costumes. The procession extends for miles and culminates in a spectacular finale with fire & flames. 

Photos courtesy of Chance Agrella.

http://www.allsoulsprocession.org

NOW: 

The Festival is celebrating its 28th year! WOW! Stay tuned for tomorrow's posting of two participants from the 2017 celebration. 

Funny Coincidence?

So yesterday I posted about Tucson being selected as the only US city to be recognized as a Gastronomy capital and today I notice a TACO WAGON license plate. From the sublime to the simple. Also funny, I think, that the TacoWagon is a TACOma truck! HA!

Did you know? Tucson is the 1st US City to receive this award....

Tucson was selected to receive the "Capital of Gastronomy" designation bestowed by UNESCO. Our food cultures are diverse in Tucson and that, along with the robust local farmer's markets and imaginative and award-winning chefs catapulted Tucson to the first city in the United States to be so recognized. Here is the full story in the Smithsonian Magazine. 

Day 3: All is revealed ~

Day 3:  Good guess, Roseann but not a winner this time (you are probably the record holder in that department!). This is one of the wall displays at Caffe Milano, one of my favorite restaurants in Tucson. For more info about it, click here.   

Day 2: Not a single guess? Jeez! Here are two clues -- this music-themed location is in downtown Tucson and it has a foreign name.

OK you Tucson gurus.... this wall decor is pretty distinctive. Anyone want to guess where this is? For previous winners, please sit on your hands for a day and give others a chance to try their luck!  (: First person to identify this location wins a "fabulous" TDP t-shirt! Good luck! 

...and an Owl in a Palm Tree...."

Now that Halloween has past, the stores are filling up with Christmas decor and gifts. How about instead of a partridge in a pear tree we suggest an owl in a palm tree? Actually this is pretty unusual to see an owl in a palm tree! They prefer cypress trees or tall mesquites with lots of foliage cover as they watch for prey. What a beautiful bird!
Photo courtesy of George Goldman. 

All Hats off to the Tucson Botanical Gardens!

02 NOVEMBER 2009

All Hats off to the Tucson Botanical Gardens!

THEN:

Through November 30 the gardens are featuring "Scarecrows in the Garden," a collection of whimsical, colorful, fun, or just plain strange scarecrows. The scarecrows/sculpture were hand made by local businesses or artists. Each is different and they are placed throughout the gardens.

This flamboyant lady scarecrow is a tribute to the famous milliner, Lilly Dache. (Unfortunately the official signage misspells her name.) Photos of many of the others will be posted throughout November so check back!
http://american-fashion-designers.suite101.com/article.cfm/lilly_dache

NOW:

To see what special exhibits are going on now, click here: Tucson Botanical Gardens or call (520) 326-9686.

My Terrifying Neighborhood!

There was definitely a party going on all over my neighborhood on Halloween night! My neighbors were serving jello vodka shots to the adults and hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy to the kids. Block party!! Gave me lots of decor ideas for next year....and a whole year to plan!  (: