Showing posts with label Sedona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sedona. Show all posts

Thursday, February 19, 2009

lucky girls wear boots

Julie in the Sedona sun.

I'm a lucky girl in many little ways and some big ones. I scored big with my sister-in-law, Julie. My husband tortured this girl when they were growing up, and yet she still speaks to us. She is peaceful and fiery all at once. She is artsy and gutsy and tall and incredibly loving.

She is still the first one up on Christmas morning.

When I impulsively suggested that we get in the car and drive three hours to Gallup, New Mexico to check out the Native American jewelry there, she was totally on board. She's cool that way.

Julie also understands my struggles with infertility. She's been there herself. She is always willing to listen or pray or, in dire circumstances, buy me some fun thing to pick me up. Did I say she has great taste?

I love her.

My boots are covered in red dirt. One must always wear her boots in Sedona. I think it's written somewhere in the Bible.

The Boy is in pure dirt heaven. I've taken to calling him my little javelina. I think he only has one pair of clean pants left. He walked through three cactus plants yesterday. His dad carefully dislodged all known needles and he only whimpered a tiny bit. Ben is quite happy with the nature indoctrination program he has set forth for his son. They should be climbing Everest together by the time Thom turns ten.

I think I'll go to Gallup when they undertake their first expedition.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

aswirl

The air here in Sedona is so crisp it nearly crackles in your lungs. The red rocks are dusted with powdered sugar snow. The icicles in Flagstaff are as big as a man's arm and go all the way to the ground. And I forgot my photo card for my laptop.

Sooooo. . .

You get an iphone photo taken as I lay in bed last night with my head all aswirl with the beauty of nature, the charisma of the Native people, the sweet and amazing jewelry gifts from my husband and opportunities that may be.

I can't wait to share, but for now I will just say, dear readers, sweet friends from all over the globe, sometime you should come to Sedona. It feeds your soul.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

on the way. . .

Photo taken at Tlaquepaque.

Today I am on the road, headed home. Sedona has been wonderful. The boy has spent quality time with his Grandad, communing with nature. We shopped all the best jewelry places. We ate pizza in Flagstaff. My work here is done.

On the road to Flagstaff

Don't forget, you still have today to leave a comment on the previous post and enter to win the drawing! The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

a.k.a. Oola Johansen


I come to you today from Sedona, Arizona, blogging from the center of a vortex. Well, not really. But I am in Sedona and I am feeling some vortexty vibes. Or it may just be the poppy seed bagel I had for dinner.

I didn't mention this little trip earlier simply because I think you people would rather hear about wonderful artists and free giveaways. When it's just little old me, on vacation with the boy, there's not a lot of excitement. We are here and Sugar Daddy stayed behind so he can attend his first "survivorman" camp out.
Why Sedona?Only because it is a mecca of Native American jewelry and there is a big pawn sale starting tomorrow. There will be pieces there from the early 20's and 30's. I'm thinking Sugar Daddy was very, very foolish to let me come alone. With my checkbook.

I decided to chef up some CIA coffee cake, just like my mother used to make whenever our family took a road trip. This recipe was given to my mother in the 70's when my dad was in the CIA. We all love it and we don't even drink coffee. It slides down real easy with a glass of milk or a cup of hot cider.

What? I haven't ever told you that my dad was in the CIA? Well, we don't mention it much, but he was. He was a spy. Not the macho James Bond kind of spy. No, much to the chagrin of his children, he was a computer geeky type of spy. The one exciting event was that we had to travel with aliases when we flew. I asked my parents what my alias name was, because I was too little to remember, and they said they forgot! They forgot the one cool thing about my dad being in the CIA!* So this is why we don't mention it much. It's boring. You'd rather hear about cool art and free stuff.


Back to the cake. I made our family recipe and I thought I would share it here with you. You may be in the mood for a little cake with your coffee, or milk or whatever it is you drink to feel cozy this time of year. It's special, straight from the CIA cookbook. You know those law enforcement types, they like their sweets.

CIA Coffee Cake

Batter:
3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. sour cream
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 c. flour
Filling:
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. nuts
2 Tblsp. cinnamon

Cream butter, sugar eggs and vanilla. Stir in sour cream. Sift dry ingredents together and add slowly while stirring. Pour half of batter into greased bundt pan. Layer half of the filling. Add the rest of the batter and top with remaining filling.
Bake 350 degrees for 60 min.

Let me know if you make it and how it turns out. Tomorrow's giveaway is gunna be a goodie! Come on back now, ya hear?

*I like to think that my alias was Oola Johansen. I like that name.