THE DELLS

 This is a small portion of the Granite Dells.

Commonly known as just "the Dells" to locals, it is an area of exposed bedrock and large boulders of granite that have eroded into an unusual, lumpy, riddled appearance.

At least, so says Wikipedia.

In the early days of Hollywood, the cowboy actor Tom Mix had a home nearby and filmed some of his movies in this area.

Nowadays the area has become popular with hikers and rock climbers.

Two lakes, Watson and Willow, are actually reservoirs formed by man-made dams.

(Above photo by Kevin Spencer of Phoenix)

You may have noticed electricity poles and it's true, not all of the Dells are as remote as one might imagine.

There are a number of private homes scattered through the area, many with spectacular views.

Thirty years ago, when I was much younger and much more agile, I clambered around on these boulders.

I'm not as old as the Dells.

The granite has been dated at 1.4 billion years old.

But age has taken the spring out of my step and in these times I'm content just to watch.

STREETSIDE BEAUTY

 While on a drive yesterday, we ventured into a fairly new subdivision of Prescott that houses many medical offices.

And found this.

Just planted by the side of a street.

No placard.

No explanation.

Just a bit of beauty by a developer, we can assume.

Here's another one.

It's nice to see that someone rates flora right along with all those steel and glass and concrete buildings.

Very nice.

Norsk uavhengighetsdag

That seemingly meaningless conglomeration of letters titling this post is actually Norwegian, for Norwegian Independence Day.

In Norway it's more commonly called Syttende mai: Seventeenth of May; or Nasjonaldagen: National Day; or Grunnlovsdagen: Constitution Day.

It marks the day in 1814 when the Constitution of Norway was signed.

It is the third oldest written constitution still in use.

There are parades past the Royal Palace and throughout the country.

Wikipedia tells me people eat hot dogs, waffles and ice cream on this national holiday.

Hot dogs?

As a Norwegian American I can tell you that lefse (a soft flatbread spread with butter and sugar and rolled up), meatballs, and rutabaga are culinary delights of the day.

But many of my Norwegian friends and relatives would scorn me for telling you to never, ever try lutefisk (cod cured in lye and served with lots of butter).

The smell alone would kill you.

But that's my final negative warning for the day.

By the way, it's also the 126th birthday of my late uncle, Zenas Howland Taylor.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Yes.

The blue bag is still up in the tree.

Actually, as many of you already know, it is separated by the winds of time (or Prescott Valley) into two pieces, both caught high in a tree I can see from my desk.

Either that or a second blue bag has joined the first, but I doubt it.

Unfortunately I have no photograph of this phenomena today but I think y'all know what it looks like by now.

What I DO have is a collection of Friday Funnies!

Wait just a second!

Did those guys just before the Trekkies think they ARE Trekkies?

Oh well, have yourselves a finely tuned or hilariously random weekend, Gentle Readers.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . oh, yes, I know how that feels . . . )

MOM'S DAY

My wife, Judy aka She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) is not a sentimental cuss.

She has always said Mothers Day is the busiest restaurant day of the year and a great time to stay home.

So we did.

I fixed or rather heated some Mandarin Orange Chicken and Seeds of Change (brown rice and quinoa) and she fixed a mango-apple salad and we dined at home.

Peacefully.

But today was her birthday and since we figured everyone had spent all their energy and money on meals for mommies yesterday we should go to a favorite Mexican restaurant for her dinner today.

AND a Margarita each!

They make BIG Margaritas there! 

Sorry I didn't think to photograph it until it was half gone.

I was surprised when SWMBO told our waitress early on that today was her birthday.

Then I was amazed when she revealed her usually well kept secret: her AGE!

It's 89, folks

89 years old!

The waitress told her she would get a free dessert for the celebratory day and she said "Flan. Always flan!"

At the end of our meal the flan arrived.

Along with a Mexican sombrero which was clapped on her head as all of the waitresses joined in singing her the Happy Birthday song.

Fortunately there were only a couple of other people in the restaurant at the time so she wasn't too embarrassed.

Our waitress was excellent.

She earned a nice tip and a great time was had by all.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Just a minute for a bit of sobriety before the humor begins.

There is a new Pope, born in Chicago of a French father and an Italian mother.

The newly-elected Leo XIV is the first Pope from the United States and the first Augustinian.

But as one of my Roman Catholic friends, who also hails from Chicago, and I both asked each other nearly simultaneously, the real question is "Is he a Cubs or a White Sox fan?"

Sorry, but you knew I couldn't stay serious very long.

Let's get onto the humor bank and see what it's got this week.

And that, my friends, is that!

Now I should be pleased to learn that you all have a monumentally grand weekend and are ready to tear into Monday.

But always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . . 

( . . . oh, yes, bring your friends . . . )

GOIN' TO THE BARS

Lest you think evil of me, I haven't been leaving the house to visit places of purveyors of alcoholic spirits.

I can do that right here at home!

Oops.

I temporarily lost the subject.

Here are the bars I was speaking of in the title of this post.

Yes!

A pan of Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars!

Recipe courtesy FiveHeartHome's Samantha Skaggs of Fort Worth, Texas.

Rich in lemony flavor with a wonderful topping of a sugar crust.

SWMBO and I were discussing them (in between bites) and I said they could be taller if they were made in a smaller pan.

But, said she, then there would be fewer of them!

Good point.

CONFUSION

Today is May 5th, or in Spanish - cinco de mayo.

In some parts of Mexico and widely in the United States of America, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with tacos and beer.

On May 5th, 1862, a vastly outnumbered Mexican force defeated the French army in what became known as the Battle of Puebla, southeast of Mexico City.

But the war of independence from Spain is said to have begun on September 16th, 1810.

That date is considered as Mexican Independence Day and it's a much bigger celebration in Mexico.

Probably because "cinco de mayo" is easier to say then "dies y seis de septiembre" Americans hoot and holler on May 5th to celebrate what they mistakenly take to be Mexican Independence Day.

So I'll not drink a bottle of the Mexican beer Negra Modelo that rests in my refrigerator nor indulge in tacos or enchiladas today.

Instead we'll dine on Judy's wonderful bean soup and cornbread and I'll show you yet a different recent meal: a store-bought chicken pot pie alongside some steamed green beans.

Just as good.

And no, no one painted it.

It's altered to look like a watercolor through the wonders of computer wizardry.

Have a nice day!

SUNDAY UPDATE

 In response to many, many requests . . well okay, one . . here's the latest fuzzy picture of the Blue Bag in the Tree.

Zoomed in but even fuzzier.

Yes it clings to life, or some tree branches high above us all.

And so far it has defied the Weather Gods, though in the next few days they are promising thunderstorms.

Or as they tend to hedge their bets, "possible thunderstorms".

We'll see what happens if heavy rain and high winds actually do enter our area.

In the meantime, back here on earth, the Taylor Family Bakery continues to churn out edible food.

One of our latest, Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins with walnuts and coconut.

Terrific!

And our tiny Snapdragon Plant out front continues to defy all the odds and keep blooming.

That's another view of it in the header up top.

So on this fourth of May, brace yourselves . . .

FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL

I'm not sure how it started but it's become a ritual now.

Friday Night Pizza.

One of the few meals I can prepare without a recipe.

It starts with a frozen, thin crust, pepperoni pizza from the grocery store and then gets loaded with ingredients before going into the oven.

Last night as always it was extra pepperoni because Judy and I both love it.

Then a sliced leftover smoked sausage link, a chopped yellow pepper, some pared Parmesan cheese because I was out of Mozzarella, and topped with some minced fresh chives from a pot on the patio.

Normally I add a generous dash of Italian Seasoning, some Oregano, and a slash or two of Crushed Red Peppers but last night I forgot.

Here's the pie ready to go into the oven.

And here's how it looked about 15 minutes later.

It's probably not gourmet food but it's our Friday Night Ritual and we're keepin' it!