Garden Veggies - Baked Up.

When taking the photo for this - Bend wanted to model the zucchini pretty bad. I figured I'd post one photo of him trying to be a vegetable model.


The garden is starting to kick with veggies and the question of what to do with loads of zucchini always comes up. Thanks to Courtney for planting these seeds - she was helping out in my garden this spring and she is the actual person that pushed the seeds into the ground.





This is a modified recipes from another blogger. I love putting ginger into my sweet breads and have used it with zucchini and banana before. Here is a wonderful bread recipe for your Monday work day -- I hope you enjoy. I like to make these loaves of bread all summer long and freeze them for the winter.

2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup mix of wheat flour and rolled oats
1 teaspoon salt, baking powder and baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini (roll in a paper towel to dry off some). The single zucchini in the photo was the perfect amount.
1 lemon zested up
1 cup candied ginger - diced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8 1/2 x 4-inch bread pans. Mix all the ingredients and pour into pans. Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.

Jasmine Tea.

A while ago, Mike got back from China and he brought me a lot of tea. I looked into one and it was the "flowering" type. You know where they have rolled and bound the tea so that when you heat it - it opens up into a large flower? I haven't made any of it, because I didn't have a glass tea pot (I thought it was a shame to not look at it and just drink it). Yesterday I found a lovely pot at Cost Plus World Market and made my first pot of the jasmine tea. It was incredible. I had a little hot, and more iced. I will probably make some more today and try the little weight that the tea pot came with. You can hook it on the tea so that it floats at the bottom a bit more and you can see the flower better!

What Is Happening?

The weather around here has been crazy. I posted about the massive hail storm (that damaged the car), there has been rain, winds, and just plain hot humid days. All of this is very strange for the high desert where we live. Night before last was one of the works lightning/thunder/wind storms we have in years. And then yesterday it hailed again - and the hail just hung around in my garden for the rest of the night.

There was an article a while back about global warming and sun spots. Actually there has been some pretty interesting new research into it - and with this new system it predicts heating and cooling cycles. It predicts our weather right now. Darn it - does this mean I need to just not fix the car and wait for all the hail storms to finish?? And why wont I be around for the next ice age? I'd really like to see that!

When Biking Inside.

I was suppose to go for a bike ride yesterday with the ladies. My bike was having issue though and Mike couldn't get to fixing it until after work (he only found the problem when he was putting the bike on top of the car :(). Anyway - after he fixed it I tested out my new trainer. Thirty minutes was some of the hardest biking I've ever done. I'm amazed at how a trainer will kick your butt but biking outdoors wont. I guess it has to do with the fact that you can't coast or stop.
This is the trainer (not rollers - I hate those things).


On another note I've decide that today is Twinky Tuesday. Just an FYI - eat a Twinky today!

A Cats Dream.

It is odd to find Bend passed out asleep. When I asked him what he was dreaming about - it turns out he was dreaming about a Bird Tree (a tree with birds hanging off of it .. that are there for the picking ... like a fruit tree).





I guess his wish - has just come true.

Fauxoasis.

Mike and I are trying to finish up back yard projects - before fall comes. I know, great plans and yet getting stuff done is tough with work and life in general. We finally replaced the umbrella that broke during a wind storm a while back and put a nice outdoor rug down. We also finished off the side of the garden and I moved rough tomato plants. It is currently stormy out - so I hope the rain helps the plants come back to life.

Car Damage

We took the FJ down to Santa Fe to have the damage accessed. Look like it will take 2 weeks to fix :(. After that Mike and I got dinner at The Flying Star Cafe. Oh goodness I love that place!!!

Welcome To The Real World

You might be wondering - how are things going now that you have returned from AZ. Well work is crazy (loads going on), we got a new cleaning lady this week (who is fantastic), Bend got new medication (trying to heal up his poor little kidney), and my garden is growing very fast with all the rain.



While in Arizona a British man asked me, "Are you a hooker or a shagger?" I had no idea how to answer this question. I said, "Can I be neither." Mike was standing to me dumbfounded when another British guy says, "You didn't understand him. Are you a huger or a shaker, as in greetings."

First time to ever be asked if I'm a hooker though.

Weekend At Home.

This was a long awaited weekend. It seems like forever since we spent a weekend at home and relaxed. I'm not sure how many of you out there watch the Tour - but after each race the riders get massages and a body wrap. Mike needed one this past weekend. I think he looks more like a taco than a wrap.


The humming birds have been going crazy these days. I guess they know that fall will be here before they know it - and are trying to keep full bellies. I believe we are going to start doing more yard work next weekend. I'll take photos and post.

Summer Fruit.

The fruit trees are finally producing again. Birds have been all over the apple tree. I think I'll slowly pick all the apples over the next few weeks.

Arizona Time.

P7160093
Originally uploaded by RocketGirl*

I'm testing posting from flickr to my blog directly. I hope this comes through okay. This is a video of my father playing piano last week.

Love My Garmin 405.

I finally got the software put back onto the home laptop (it was killed when we had to replace the hard drive). I can now keep track of all of my runs and rides. Today's bike ride looks like this (1038 feet of elevation gain total).

Ah - vacations end.

We are back on the road. It is 4am and currently 90 degrees. This is a very hot place. I have a bunch of fun photos to post and will do so when I get home. Last night we had dinner with my dad and saw a dead havalina on the road (it was pretty sad).


I did not get all the work I wanted to done on this trip. But it was great to hang out with my dad and relax a bit!

Respect Their Authority.

Humans are very interesting creatures. This photo was taken last night at the hotel where every night at 5:30 they have free shots of tequila. What do free shots of tequila mean? Even most people who don't drink show up for something FREE. Weather they enjoy it or not - aren't you suppose to rush for something FREE?



It was 111 degrees yesterday. Even with sunblock and sitting under an umbrella at the pool I got a bit of sun. I believe it was the few times I walked to the bathroom and also radiating off the concrete.

Finally I read this article and found it fascinating. I always knew that my cats were controlling me - now I have scientific proof!

Arizona Day 1.

Well we hung out by the pool, drank, ate and relaxed in the 108 degree sun. Mike got a bit of color (I sat with a large hat and under an umbrella). I'm getting a little bit of work done and thinking about hitting the pool. There was a fantastic green bug hanging out during the free 5:30 tequila toast. We had to play with him a little.

Arizona.

It is currently 102 degres outside. We are just getting to the hotel. At our last stop though there was a 24 flavor soft serve place. I got watermelon flavored!

Road Trip.

We are currently in the car driving out to Arizona. It isn't often that I get up at 3 in the morning. But this morning we are behind the wheel early and drinking coffe like it is going out of style.

Courtney is taking care of the cats - and we are testing out a new diet for them. I hope that they don't injure her (while demanding more food).

UFC 100

Saturday night is for fighting!

Lavender in Summer

Summer Rains Cause...

A large cactis in bloom!

Fourth of July BBQ.

Sunday Rains.

Early this morning there was a down pour mixed with lightning and thunder. The cats were scared enough they wanted to snuggle in bed. This afternoon while driving up to LA it is dumping rain and hail pretty hard. Ah - summer in the high desert!

Happy 4th of July

Bend's Ultrasound.

We just had another ultrasound for Bend and his left kidney and bladder are perfect. She did find a tiny (1 mm) crystal in his right kidney. He also got his tummy and sides shaved - but I'm sure that will just be his summer look!!

Back Home.

We finally got home and had a restful night in our own bed. There is really something to be said for this. The cats are all wigged out and have been fighting all night. As a matter of fact Methow was kicking the crap out of Bend when he ran across my face and gave me a nice scratch. Awe - the joys of cat ownership (although I'm sure they would say that they are not owned!).

While in Nashville we went to the Grand Ole Opry (which was a very fun experience). We saw a 4'11" guy named Jimmy Dickens (who told jokes and sang some pretty old country).

Traveling From Nashville.

We are on our way home from the APS conference in Nashville. It was a very fun trip and we both really had a good time (even with all the meetings). Mike was getting over jet-lag and has only been home 1 day in the past 3 weeks ... We are both pretty anxious to get home.

On another note Bend is going in for an ultrasound again tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed!

Relaxing With The Stud.

We've had a great day of treats and relaxing at home. Although the girls think Bend smells funny and they keep fighting. More on him once we hear from the specialist!

Oh Bend .....

(I just noticed that this photo - taken before I took him to the vet - was Bend napping while I watched Blade III)

For those of you that don't know, Bend has been having accidents for a while. This has been painful in oh so many ways. Trying to figure out what is wrong with him. Vet appointments. You might remember the ultrasound just a few weeks back. Well this past week I was talking with the vet and she decided that the best course would be to flush his bladder. Which is putting a hose up there and washing the whole thing out. I was to leave him there for the weekend.

I dropped him on Friday morning and have been missing him terribly. Saturday morning I called to check on him. Just to see how his first night away from home went. Turns out they found that he has bladder cancer. Looks like all the crap they saw in the ultrasound is actually cancer. I'm getting a second opinion (they are sending off all of the results to Colorado). But, it doesn't look good. According to the vet, if this is what he has, then we should put him down. I've been crying all weekend and can't really think about it. I get to pick the big guy up Monday morning - hopefully he is feeling more comfortable by then.


Methow has been spending most of the weekend napping (like normal) - but every once and a while she notices that I'm upset and she tries to make me feel better. What a nice girl!

What's For Dinner?

Came from the farmer's market this way - yes - very creepy!

Birthday Wishes.

Well today is my birthday. I was hoping for a relaxing day with rain. Hoping for lighting and thunder as well. Just a little bit ago the storms started up. Oh it is wonderful. Mike mowed the lawn and the smell of wet grass and rain is intoxicating.



On a side note Moab's bottom has been really irritated by the latest food - so another bath was in order. Mike got a lovely photo of her right after we took her out of the sink and I spent the next ten minutes trying to dry her off. Funny little girl.

Strange Habitat.

After doing the back yard bird count I got an email for strange locations of bird houses. I took a photo of the bird house out front (which houses normally more than one bird family).


The ice plant is blooming and always looks incredible. Strange how something that appears to need a ton of water, but really doesn't, blooms all summer long here!

Garden Work.

Today we spent the morning working on the garden. Here are some before and after photos. It is hard to tell but now there is a little gravel walk way and the sides of the garden are held up with wood. It was a fun way to spend the morning and VERY rewarding!

Feeling Right.

I believe that Bend is starting to feel better. He is on a regiment of vitamin C, antibiotics and hyper tension medication (talk about a lot to get down one kitties mouth in the morning). But, he seems to be feeling a bit better and is very busy paroling the house for intruders.

I went to the Farmer's Market today and got delicious pecan pastries, cherries, sugar peas and bratwurst. Our local Farmer's Market is a fun place to go in the morning before work (plus it makes the week feel like it moves much faster).

Update On Bend.

Bend went down to Santa Fe for his ultrasound today. No cancers or stones. But, his bladder is filled with stuff (that shouldn't be there). We aren't sure exactly what that means. The vet hasn't called us yet. But, there are crystals and all kinds of other gunk in his bladder. The long and short of it is that he will need to be on medication probably - but hopefully he will feel much better.

Being around as a cat has an ultrasound is a very strange and bizarre experience.