Ninja Warrior

We had a very mysterious and very silent visitor at the house last night. Can you see him?


Now can you see him?


Using the flash on the camera, I caught a split-second glance. Holy crap! That's a ninja in the office!!

Aspiring ninjas may find this link helpful.

Orbit and his prey

I was sitting quietly working at the table this afternoon when I feel this little tickle on my foot. It happened twice. I kicked my sandals off and lifted up my feet to find Orbit with a lizard in his mouth! He was dropping his lizard right on my foot! So I got the camera...



I was going to let him have it, but Katie convinced me to let it go. This video makes me sound like I have a lisp. I don't. Maybe the microphone has a hard time with s's...



I also don't know why I look angry. Maybe the sun was in my face. Anyway, the lizard is doing just fine now, but he's still hanging out on the fence for safety.

Electrifying

Overall, this has not been the best day ever.
First thing in the morning, R. went to go check the load of clothes that had been in the dryer overnight to make sure they were finally dry. Our dryer doesn't do a very good job, so there was a good chance stuff was still damp. Sure enough, the clothes weren't dry, so R. turned the dryer on for another cycle. But it didn't work. Some piece of the stupid machine wasn't doing its job, so R. unplugged it and looked around to see if the problem was obvious. It was not, so he tried to plug it back in. He couldn't fit his arm behind the dryer to plug it back in, so I said I would do it. I climbed on top and reeeeeached behind to put the big, scary plug back in the big scary socket. All of a sudden my arm that was in the air for balance began to feel all buzzy.
Then I jumped off the dryer, and maybe I screamed.The stupid dryer shocked me! Everything was fine at first, except that for some reason, my thumb was all achy. Then my arm went kind of tingly and numb. Then, my, um, backside, got all sore. Then I got a huge headache and started to feel all queasy. It was weird. It really felt like I had hiked about ten miles, and then was a little drunk.
Needless to say I freaked out. I called home, and then I called all kinds of doctors.
I feel fine now and I think there was no real damage, I just got scared. Still, the dryer is broken, and now we're afraid of it. R. installed a very nice retractable clothesline in the backyard this afternoon. It will probably dry clothes faster than the stupid machine anyway. Also, it will help us use less energy and will keep our house cooler in the summer. So green! Lessons learned today:
1.When plugging in big scary appliances, shut off the breaker first.
2. Don't play with electricity
3. Don't yell at your husband. He didn't make the dryer break and he didn't shock you. Plus, he brought you chocolate.
4. Don't go to Urgent care without an appointment.
5. Don't to be shy about saying you've received an electric shock in your butt.
6. Clotheslines must be anchored well because wet clothes are heavier than you'd think.
7. Clothespins hurt when you try to attach them to other people.
8. My Dad tells me that when you are testing to see if something will shock you, you should use the back side of your finger, not your palm, because when you're shocked, your muscles contract and you will end up grabbing onto the thing. So, if, say, you were thinking about breaking and entering, but you aren't sure if that fence is electric, don't use your palm to check, because then you'll be shocked, and you'll get caught for sure.

Turn around, bright eyes

It's a total eclipse of the moon!
Look at what an incredible photographer I am. Here is a National Geographic-worthy shot of tonight's eclipse. I know, I know. I'll make prints available later.
R. and I went outside in time to see the last half of the moon disappear. We performed special dances in the front yard and sang the "Moon!" cheer to make sure that it would come back. That's right, you have us to thank for the return of the moon. Next time you're at the beach watching the tide, be sure to remember what we did for you.


Also, remember how this is the year of cake? Here's February's cake. I made this for the lovely Katrina for her birthday. It is a version of my mom's favorite cake ever. It's chocolate on the inside with 1/2 buttercream and 1/2 cream cheese icing on the outside. The red drizzles are white chocolate dyed red. Happy Birthday, Katrina. Welcome to Tucson

Mexican coke

I'm very sad that my dear friend Ashley is moving away. I've been thinking about all the stuff I'll miss when she leaves, all the things that would make me too sad to list in a blog. Instead, I'm going to start a list of all the things Ashley will miss when she moves away from the Old Pueblo.
1. calling your hometown "the old pueblo"
2. Rodeo break
3. Thursday drink specials
4. Mexican coke.

Mexican coke may just be the biggest perk to living in a border town. You see, as an Atlanta girl, I have to say that American coke is the finest thing ever invented, but when you taste Mexican coke, you'll know that we Americans have sold out.

Autumn's friend Mike enjoying Mexican coke in Sonora

Mexican coke is still made with sugar instead of corn syrup. It makes a huge difference and Mexican coke is delicious. You can't get it everywhere, but at certain restaurants and burrito shops, you can get rebottled, imported Mexican coke. Which brings me to #5,
5. Really great burrito places.



To be continued...

p.s. still messing with blog colors. Don't worry Whit, I don't think this is permanent.

New colors?

what do you think? Do you like them? Can you still read it? I messed around with so many different combinations, I don't really think I'm impartial anymore.

Valentine's Day #2

What's the most effective way to get a date for St. Valentine's Day?


Oh that's riiiight. You spray paint it right on the sidewalk. Nothing says romance like grafitti.


p.s. we made these little blackberry tarts for dessert. I topped them off with sugar cookie dough, just like Ashley taught me to do.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Will you be my Valentine? I got you these pretty flowers from my walk this morning.

And I also got you this Gila woodpecker.

Hummingbird

I've been walking to work lately and I really enjoy it. It's been great exercise and I like spending the time alone in the mornings. I see a lot of really pretty things on my walk, but this morning might take the cake. Here is a hummingbird sitting in her nest. How about that! Can you see her? She's right in the middle of the picture peeking out of a teeny round nest.
I spend a lot of time griping about Tucson, but I guess it really is ok sometimes.

Biscuits- oh yeah!

I've been wanting to learn to make biscuits for a long time. Lately, I've been inspired by Wildernesse and Daily Thread to go ahead and try it.
Our friend Joe came to visit this weekend, and we had a fantastic time. On Sunday morning, Joe taught me how to make biscuits like his mama and grandmother. It seems so easy, only a couple of ingredients, right? I tried them again this morning on my own, and I don't quite have the hang of it, but at least they weren't thin hard rocks like they used to be before Joe taught me.
I bought all the stuff I need to keep practicing, and that's what I'll do until I am fully qualified to be an old Southern woman. I'll be the only one in all of southern Arizona who can make a biscuit! Hmm, I might be a little ahead of myself here, but they sure are yummy!

Coolest toy ever

In case I don't manage to post tomorrow, I want to share what I think is probably R.'s and my favorite kitchen utensil:
Imagine the possibilities!
Below you see the 2 packages of lime jell-O version, but imagine some sort of opaque pudding, or filling this with juice, freezing it, and then letting it float in a punch bowl. I don't know how I made it all these years without a brain-shaped mold.
ahh.. The benefits of zombification.

pillow hog

I woke up with such a crick in my neck this morning. I think this picture R. took may explain why...
The darn cat was sleeping all spread out on my entire pillow. I had one eensy little corner and my head was all crooked. Thanks Orbit, hope you were comfy.

p.s. sorry for the blog break. It's been a busy week. We have company coming this weekend, so I'll try to get some shots of the cool stuff we're going to do.