dust storms

Guess What Blew In The Other Day?

A couple of days ago, I was busy cooking dinner when I got a call from my husband who was on his way home from work.  He said that there was a haboob on the way. Okay, some of you may be wondering what the heck a 'haboob' is. …
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July 4th on the Farm....

July 4th on the Farm….

Did you travel out of town for the 4th of July?  We normally don't.  But before you start to feel sorry for us, I would love to share with you what we did this 4th. We spent it with my sister and her family on their farm, which…
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used coffee grounds

Help in the Garden, Courtesy of Starbucks….

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The other day, my husband and I stopped by Starbucks for some coffee.  Starbucks for us is a guilty pleasure.  We don't go there all the time.  Maybe 3 - 4 times a month. Well, as we were waiting for our coffee to be ready,…
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San Marzano tomatoes

Joy and Sadness in the Midst of a Bountiful Harvest

I have been very busy in both my kitchen and garden lately. San Marzano Tomatoes and fresh, Sweet Corn I have been busy preparing my San Marzano tomatoes for freezing so that I can use them in marinara sauce this winter. On the…
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Yucca whipplei

My Husband, Agave and Yucca….A Losing Battle?

I have been fighting a losing battle for over 16 years and it involves my husband, agave and yucca. Yucca whipplei Okay, here is a yucca (above).  One of the many different species that occur throughout the Southwest. And…
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farmer market

Saturday at the Farmer’s Market

I am almost ashamed to admit this to you, but if you have been reading my blog for any length of time  - you know that I am far from perfect.  So here it is.....until a few weeks ago, I had never visited our local farmer's market. So,…
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cool-season annuals.

A Special Gift of Service…..

Some of you may remember my mentioning that my father-in-law is suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).  The type that he has is very fast moving and in the eight months since he was diagnosed, he can no longer talk, has difficulty…
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Interesting fountain

A Fountain Transformed Into a Planter

I often take my camera with me wherever I go, because I never know when I will see something that I want to share with all of you. So, I was spending the other evening looking through my pictures on my laptop, while my kids were watching…
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hollyhocks

Beautiful Flowers and New Seeds

A couple of weeks ago, I visited our local Farmer's Market with my mother and my two youngest kids.  Along with the fresh produce, bakery items, ice cream cones, kettle corn, petting zoo and other tempting treats - I happened across a…
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Saguaro bacterial necrosis

Dangerous Saguaro Infection

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Whether or not you live in the desert Southwest, most people are familiar with the iconic Saguaro cactus. To be honest, they are even more beautiful and impressive in person. Unfortunately, like most plants, Saguaro cacti are susceptible…
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