FARM FRESH

I tend to think of Farmers' Markets as a warm weather phenomenon.

And the Prescott Farmers' Market does occur during the warmer months.

But surprise!

Prescott Valley invites the growers to participate throughout the winter.

And today is the day.

I visited the market a week ago and took some photos.

One booth had a variety of squash and gourds, for eating or decorating.

I had never heard of arugula sprouts but there they were, alongside some pea sprouts.

Another booth had a variety of breads and cookies.

The Burning Daylight Farm featured home-made cupcakes.

And who knew that Paulden had a winery?

The judges at a Kingman wine festival did as the vintners came home with some ribbons in their first year of production.

And if the food and wine don't get to you, how about some hand-carved wooden spoons.

Or cutting boards in the rear.

The farms and ranches that produce these and other items are scattered from Chino Valley to Paulden to Williamson Valley to Dewey  to Humbolt to Mayer and even over the mountain to Camp Verde.

If you live here and care about farm-to-table food, you might want to stop by the parking lot with the white stalls in Prescott Valley Tuesday afternoons.

THE MID-POINT

We have just passed what I think of as the mid-point of the holiday season.

It begins with Thanksgiving and a feast.

Leftovers and pre-Christmas sweets occupy the period of the next few weeks.

Here's one that surfaced at my house this year.

Bread pudding which starts with a Chocolate Chip Panettone from Trader Joe's.

SWMBO made two of them this year and only a portion of one of them left the house.

The remainder is being scarfed up by we two gluttons.

I think it's good either hot, re-warmed or cold while the master chef prefers hers to be always heated.

Topped off, of course, with a splash of Reddi-Whip.

But to get back to the season, it continues up to New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The baked ham we had yesterday looks like it will probably take us this short week.

We got a good deal on some lobster tails at the grocery store the other day so that will take care of our New Year's Eve dining.

The next day will be the beginning of coming down from the holiday food splurge, cleaning up whatever leftovers are still around.

It may appear to you as if our holiday season revolves around food.

Yes, it does.

We have always been, in that somewhat disparaged term today, "foodies".

It has widened our horizons and broadened our . . . well . . . I guess you can guess how this sentence ends.

So I'll head for the kitchen and another piece of that Egg Nog Bread a wonderful neighbor gifted to us.

And I'll rely on kitty-kitty to finish off this post.

AN AMAZING WHITE CHRISTMAS!

"When what to my wondering eyes should appear . . ."

The 20 to 25 minute drive home from the BRD's new home last night took us an hour, in Jack's big SUV with 4-wheel drive.

As we neared our home the visibility dropped to near zero.

Outside, some 7 inches of snow had covered everything.

And this morning it's a winter wonderland out there.

It appears to be a wet, heavy snow clinging to everything.

But now the storm has passed, the sun is peeking through the clouds and as the temperature begins to rise again the big melt-off will start.

But in the meantime it's a white happy Christmas.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE CHRISTMAS

It looks like we're going to have a White Christmas in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

The rain just turned to snow and began to stick even though the temperature is still 38 degrees but dropping.

Time: 2 p.m. Christmas Eve, Mountain Standard Time.

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2:15 p.m.

THE EVE

Christmas Eve prompts one's mind to drift back into memory land.

To remember holidays good and merry and bright and some that didn't achieve that distinction.

Gifts I remember from my childhood like the Erector Set that I was convinced from shaking the wrapped box before Christmas was a box of rocks.

My big brother might have had a hand in that, too.

The year I got a magic set, embarking me on an interest in the dark arts that has lasted all my life.

I still enjoy watching a good magician on television these days.

Huge turkey dinners and a competition to see who could get to the couch (we called it a davenport) for a nap and to rest an overstuffed belly.

Some Christmases spent totally alone, far from family and friends.

Not good, those.

And so it goes.

We shall spend some time this evening at the new home of the BRD and her Beau Jack.

(Yes, they're back together.)

Remember this thought as you all celebrate Christmas this year.

If you, like SWMBO, hate puns, place the blame on Lori Down the Block, who shared this with me last night.

As for myself, I love it.

Happy Hollandaise!

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Ha Ha and Ho Ho Ho

Who's that out there in the snow?

Why I believe it's Santa Claus!!!

Well, it may be Bad Santa.

At any rate, here we are on the final sleigh ride toward Christmas and it's Friday.

Guess you know what that means.

I sincerely hope all of you Gentle Readers have the merriest of Christmases and that you fill them with peace, joy, good food and laughter.

Thanks to the many contributors who made today's post and Friday Funnies posts throughout the year possible.

Remember, whether it's amusement or bemusement always keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

THROWBACK THURSDAY

The big day is drawing nigh, which takes me back to a miserable Christmas I spent in the year 1952.

I was 12 years old and recovering from an emergency
surgery after my appendix ruptured.

I had spent a week in the hospital (things were done differently in those days) and was now at home but still an invalid.

My bedroom was upstairs in our house and I had to be carried downstairs and settled in on the couch for Christmas morning.

Surrounding me in this picture were my uncle Zenas from San Francisco, my mother, my grandfather and my dad.

Mom wrote on the back of the picture "Doesn't Bruce look pale?"

As you can see the house had been gaily decorated to cheer me up.

I don't look very cheerful though, do I?

THE BIG BLACK BANK

While driving in to town yesterday, I noticed what appeared to be a new paint job on one of the local banks.

It was so stunning to me that I had to stop and photograph it.

You can see one of the presumed painters just above the entrance.  

It appears the entire building will get the new color.

And just in time for Christmas.

As I commented to a man in the parking lot . . . "well, it's distinctive."

"We like it," he answered.

ROBIN REDUX

The robins were back again yesterday.

First this big fella, who kind of seemed like The Leader of the Pack.

Then this slightly smaller one, perhaps a female.

And, perhaps, her mate?

One drinks while the other watches for marauders.

Then the other takes his turn.

Then apparently satisfied that no peril is near they both drink as much as they can hold.

One has flown away but the other apparently has something else in mind.

Ah, nothing like a nice cool bath even though the air temperature was right around 30 degrees.

I noticed this time a curious trait.

The bird would sit in the water and flick the water up and around with his tail.

And he seemed to be saying "Are you lookin' at me? Well, are ya?"

Of course that could just be my poetic imagination.

I was so disgusted with the smears on the window inside and out that once the robins left I went out and washed the outside and wiped off the inside.

The spots on the inside, SWMBO helpfully pointed out, were probably "kitty snot".

Thanks, I needed that.

SUNDAY DINNER

Caribbean chicken, glazed carrots, mix of Arborio rice and Quinoa.

My wife is a damned fine cook.