The Sonoran Hot Dog

I can think of several analogies that describe the phenomena of anticipation--long waiting--desire--hope--expectancy. I have been waiting for a sonoran hot dog since I was in Tucson with the Watsons when they moved at the end of July. Their friend, Josh, described this delectable hot dog--doesn't that sound like an oxymoron? For some reason unknown to me, we never fed me one while I was here, though Jaren had one. So, I've waited. Then Gillz comes for just one weekend and teases us, taunts us, with her picture of the sonoran hot dog. So, I've been waiting and anticipating. Seeing her picture, both Jen and Jimmy have drooled. Finally, last night, my time came. Was it as good as desired?

What do you think? What do you think? This hot dog is wrapped in bacon, smothered with beans, cheese, tomatoes, onions, mustard and mayo and served in a really soft, freshly-baked roll. Charity thinks the roll is like a potato roll. I detected a slight amount of heat that gently initiates the palate for what is to come. Please know that I prefer to ease into my food; I'm the one who takes 10 minutes to eat a fine chocolate because I want the flavors and textures to caress my tongue and taste buds before swallowing. So my first taste was just a nibble of the bun; just a tantalizing nibble.

Baby Emilia was fussy on the ride to El Guero Canelo so we debated whether we would eat in the car or go inside. To my delight, out was in. The eatery is an open air establishment and though we were sitting in the car, we were still a part of the environment. An open window afforded us access to the sounds and smells as though we were seated at one of the picnic tables.

As you can see, a roasted chile that none of us gringos can identify is served with the dog. You can also see that none of us ate them. Jaren explained there is a Spanish word that means "overcome with chiles." Thus, a quasi salad bar provides fresh cucumber to cleanse and soothe the palate.
So was it everything I'd hoped for. As with most anticipated events, it was different than I had imagined. I'm not a fan of heat so intense it overpowers the flavor. This dog growled subtly and then bit, but more a playful bite than a flesh-ripping tear. I could identify the meat, the beans, the cheese, the onions, the mustard, the smooth mayo. I could taste them individually and in total. It was moist; it was succulent; it was warm; it was more than the sum of its parts--synergistic. It made my taste buds pop. It slopped out of its bun to provide some entertaining licking. It was supreme.
Oh, sonoran; oh, somoran.

Look What It Did Today

Olivia and Lincoln had just arrived at my house when we heard a crash that sounded as if the house were splitting. Immediately following, we could hear the prancing and pawing of millions of hoofs. No, many Santas hadn't landed--we were being hammered by a wild hail storm.

My metal roof magnifies every sound; it can be quite frightening to someone who is not used to its aural theatrics. We rushed to the window wall in the big room to gape at the storm raging outside. Though daylight, the lightening flashes were increasing the intensity of the light outside followed closely by booming thunder.

I took the pictures right away, but couldn't make this post because the storm knocked out the cable internet in this area. Jennica called and told me not to let her kids go home because of the danger of the lightning. We were held captive by the storm for about twenty minutes. When it quit hailing, it snowed. About an hour later, the sky was blue and everything on the ground melted. All the cliches about Idaho's weather are true. I love Idaho but am really looking forward to my trip to Tucson and the sun and a Sonoran hot dog next week. Unfortunately, when I come home and get back into my thermal underwear, no one will notice my tan. They may notice the aftermath of several Sonoran hot dogs.

A Piece of Time

Nearly four years ago, I started these quilts. They were supposed to be baby quilts for Isabel and Claire. They have been hanging on my design wall for more than three years waiting for their final borders. Finally after my 60th birthday and my being able to reduce my hours at work, I have finished them both. The one on the top is for Isabel. The bottom one is for Claire. The girls are both four years old now.

Isabel will get hers tonight. Claire will get hers when I go to Tucson on the 27th. I am so excited to have these done and be able to give them to the girls. I love making quilts. It runs second place to my true love--my grandchildren. (My own children figure in here someplace, but it seems easier to show love to the little ones. At least they'll slow down and let me love them.)

My quilting has changed since my first attempts for Whitney and Morgan. Cierra's and Baylee's were a little more advanced. In fact, it was when I walked into a quilt store in Encinitas, Ca. looking for thread to finish the borders on Baylee's quilt, that I first discovered quilting/piecing as I now know it. Olivia, Lincoln and Kelton all have art quilts. Baby Josh, Ty, and Emilia all got "minky" quilts because there was not time to design blocks when they were born. Minky is one of the softest materials in the entire world. And there are some perks to having the children verbal when they get their quilts. Ty said his quilt made him "so happy." Jen said Ty had never used those words before.

Though these quilts are not going to newborns, I feel newly born. It is more wonderful than I can describe to get back a piece of my life as I once knew it. Working on a quilt for someone you love is a way to hold them mentally until the quilt can hold them physically.

Congratulations Dr. Watson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAREN

Your memory lane is getting longer.

Have a happy 31st.

I love you.

"Oh, What a Beautiful Morning"

Jennica called and woke me up this morning saying "Look outside."

I knew what to expect yet it still gave me a goose-bump rush. Palisades reservoir is at 1.8% capacity. We went into last winter with the level in the 40% and still ran out of pumping water for farmers. So, this is a wonderful blessing. Anyone out there who has spare room and words in their prayer time or who is willing to make it a priority, please remember to pray for snow for our area.

Last week when we received a skiff of snow, I was talking to Claire and after my telling her it was snowing here, she said, "Snow? Is it Christmas?" Her memories of two snow years have obviously melted in the warm climates of Louisville and Tucson. Josh and Emilia probably never had any memories. So, babies, this is what it looks like at Grandma's this morning.

I can hear the chilly squeals of Jen's children (except Lincoln, he's duck hunting) out my back windows as they go for the season's first snow man.

Last night, Cierra and I had a dinner, movie, and sleepover. It was comforting listening to her soft breath sounds and feeling her wiggle for more warmth as I lay awake during the post midnight hours. I was reading "The Winter of our Discontent." Here's praying for contentment for all my family and blogger friends. It's getting off to a good start.

My solution for Jaren and Charity

Don't you think this is a grand idea?

While this was sitting in my yard last week, several people asked me if my plumbing was malfunctioning. Duh--if my toilet wouldn't flush, I would just go over to Jennica's. I thought it should be obvious that there were men on my roof. Something to do with a leak.