The most amazing thing

Hundreds and hundreds of hawks circling over Chino Valley today.

I have no idea WHAT they were doing up there- just floating maybe. It really didn't look like they were eating anything. They weren't swooping and diving like they would have been if there were yummy bugs. They were just floating -- almost like what ravens will do durning the mating season. But, these were all different TYPES of hawks, so I doubt it was mating.



I photographed and watched them for over an hour. Of course, ALL of my photos came out blurry, but at least I was using my new camera. The one I've had for nearly a year and barely know what I'm doing? Yeah! That one!

Fair Pictures

So, last night, while Dad was at class Mom and I trimmed and framed 8 photos. (16x20 pictures so big BIG.)

Dad and I each decided to enter the Yavapai County Fair this year. I think it'll be even money between the two of us but I don't really know if we'll win, it's been years since I last went to the fair and I can't say I ever really paid much attention to the photography.

I had hoped to have pumpkins to enter, but that was not to be. Oh well, maybe next year!

Yard Mowing

So, I mowed both the front and back acre at my parent's house today. Dad was getting ready for his big hunting trip by getting his cargo trailer ready to go.

I'd never done the riding lawn mower before.


The excitment wore off quickly!

Dad's Turkey- Yum!

So, this spring, Dad got drawn for Spring Turkey. And, not only did he get drawn, he got a bird!

Now, I know dad isn't very tall but that was a BIG bird. His beard was about 7 or 8 inches long. Which is how you decide how old a turkey is and how close he is to trophy. He's big but not trophy size.

When we got him all cleaned up he was super duper long and really skinny. Not an ounce of fat on him.




Don't believe me?

Yum! He was a bit dry, but only because he was so lean. We ate him like a Thanksgiving turkey and later in albondiga soup. Albondiga, of course, means meatball in Spanish, so it was a bit of mis-nomer since there was nary a meatball to be found.

56th Annual FFA Corn Dinner

It was so nice not to have to WORK at this corn dinner. For three years in high school THIS was my Labor Day Saturday work. Get up early and go to Olsen's Grain in Chino Valley to shuck Young's Farm corn. (The farm is closed now) then go man a booth for a few hours and then go work the dinner from about 1pm to nearly midnight with all the cooking, serving and cleaning up.

And let me tell you, when they say "All the corn you can eat!" they MEAN ALL the corn you can eat. The record that I remember was 26 ears PLUS the BBQ pork, coleslaw and roll.

Me?

I only ate 6 ears and most of the pork. This was after having gone to a friends house for buffalo burgers (second lunch) and eating breakfast and first lunch. Wow!

Oh, and No, I'm not in these photos- I was behind the camera.

Jes-ka!

Just 'cause I like it.

Italian Class

So, I had my first Italian class this evening with Prof. Belvedere. He's really great so far AND he's a native speaker. I'm leaning on my Spanish a lot, but that seems to be okay 'cause he bounces around a lot.

I get the feeling that this class will be fun but harder than I anticipated-- the Prof seems to be the type who says "Don't worry, it's easy" out of one side of his mouth and says "You've gotta know everything I say and the final is cumulative" out of the other.

I haven't told anybody yet that I already have my Bachelors NOR that I am fluent in Spanish. Hehehe- my little secret.

Internet Issues

CableOne has been having issues with their internet service to Chino Valley all week! (Yeah, I know it's only Tuesday morning, but it's making me crazy)

So, I can't check email, review orders for eGuides, answer member's questions, or ANYTHING. Well, I guess I can still work on some things, but no Internet is just making me crazy. Of course, the other internet provider in this are is CommSpeed and if you dish loses it's view of Table Mountain (Like during a storm) then that doesn't work either.


Gross!

Jalapenos

For tomorrow's newsletter, I'm including a recipe that uses raw jalapenos as the main ingredient. Which, is a good thing- I planted SIX jalapeno plants in my garden and I have jalapenos coming out the wazoo!

Normally, jalapenos are to be pickled (i.e. they come in little jars). Well, I don't think Dad thought of that when he bought the plants for me! I am looking for an easy pickling recipe because I have more jalapenos than I can eat as the poppers and I don't know what to do with the leftovers!

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Kelly's Hiking Trip - Feet In The Forest

Kelly, a Feet In The Forest team member took these pictures on his hiking and camping trip to the Chirichaou Mountains last week. I'll be updating the site to include these ASAP!