Arizona VII

So, we've done all of this talking about some Arizona stuff and should mention one of the main reasons Erik and I went to Arizona: Bobby Ann and Vern's 50th Wedding Anniversary! :)


Don't we clean up nicely for their dinner?


Oh this cake ... it was spectacular! I think there was some apricots and white cake. Um ... yeeeeeeah. Yummie.


Poor Vern, not the most flattering photo, but excited about their gift certificates from their friends.

Arizona VI

Remember THIS post about San Xavier. Well, since I was *ahem* a bit under the weather, my mother in law was wonderful enough to bring me back again. And it was sunny. :)


But I'm really glad I was able to go back when it was sunny. Thanks, Bobby Ann!


I'd be interested to see this in black and white, but have been looking at about a million photos and just don't have the energy. So we'll see.


I wish the detail were closer to the ground so I could view more of it.


Cross on the hill. Nice.


A view from the inside.


Did I show a black and white version of this last time? I am digging this color. And the view. :)

Arizona V

More fun from Saguaro National Park ... who said a cactus couldn't wear Christmas lights? Not me!


Notice how Erik doesn't get too close ... even though it's just the cactus skeleton.

Arizona IV

On our way to see the San Xavier Mission near Tucson, we passed an Indian cemetery. What fascinated me were the iron crosses. Living in Ellis County, there are plenty of these to be found in the cemeteries in the area. (For anyone interested, I can take you on my back roads of Ellis County tour and throw in a few cemeteries for good measure. It's a good tour, just ask Erik. I gave it to him a day before I was diagnosed with mono. I gave directions while lying flat on my back in the passenger seat of his car). :)

Anyhow, the crosses at the reservation cemetery were way more colorful and visually interesting:



The San Xavier Mission near Tucson (oh, and it's pronounced like "Javier" ... FYI).


Also FYI, all of these photos were taken with my point and shoot camera. It's the eye and ability, not the fancy camera, people! :)


Evidently a LOT of restoration was done on the left side, the right side is awaiting renovation and a little TLC.





I was digging these little decorative holes in the wall ...


... so of course I made Erik go make an interesting picture for me. :)


I didn't see it until just now, but Erik is framed in the center one, and there's a headless statue on the right side of Erik, framed in the next opening .... creepy.


There was a courtyard with the Stations of the Cross built into the walls. Really nice. And interesting.


A nice pictoral.


And another.


Erik and I in front (notice how I'm wearing my WINTER coat in SOUTHERN Atizona!!!!) ;)


I'm not looking ultra-fab here. I think I had a bit of an ear issue going on that day. We didn't stay around too long because I was feeling rotten. Maybe it was a combo of the ear and the cold weather?

Things I love about my husband

In honor of Erik's 40th birthday, I've been compiling a list of my favorite things about Erik. Let's see where this takes us!

Things I love about my husband (these are in no particular order)

1. That he's my husband. That automatically makes him the smartest man on the planet.

2. His ability to raise one and only one eyebrow. It's a great parlor trick. One I can't replicate. And he can only raise his right eyebrow in a comic way. The left eyebrow wants no part in his silliness.

3. That he always refills the soap dispensers. I know it's silly and small, but it's one of the things I love about being married to him. It's as if the soap dispenser in the bathrooms and kitchen are endless supplies of soap.

4. His mad researching abilities. Seriously! When we were deciding where to honeymoon, Erik spent what I'm sure is the equivalent of days going over tropical locations. Same when it came time to buy a car. He researched the heck out of it. (which basically means he tells me a few options and I pick the one I like best, and don't have to go crosseyed over the whole thing).

5. That he loves him some big salad. Erik's affection for having a big salad at dinner is contagious. While a salad never quite fills me up, eating a salad most evenings before dinner is a new and good habit. If it weren't for you, honey, I wouldn't be so healthy! ;)

6. That in the beginning, Erik was not really a gardener. I simply love to go outside and see him checking out the tomato plants every morning. Usually, it's the first thing he does after he wakes up!

7. That he trusts me enough to saw holes into walls in our house. You're the bestest, honey! :)

8. Oreo ice cream. I'm not sure if it's his favorite, but I certainly associate it with Erik.

9. That since Esse moved into Erik's house, I haven't had to scoop kitty litter. Once. Nope, not once. Erik rocks out that household chore and I'm SO thankful he does it. Not that I mind doing it, but I have to admit, it's one of the more tedious tasks of being owned by a cat.

10. Chapstick. Seriously! If a girl ever needs chapstick, Erik has a tube on him. It's the middle of the summer? Not to worry, he has one! December? He probably has 2! Erik is the chapstick king!

11. That he makes a mean pot of chili. :)

12. On weeks when I am too buried in life to tackle the laundry, that he just does it without being asked or hinted at. Gotta love a fella who takes initiative, ESPECIALLY with the laundry!

13. He knows what shows I watch as a guilty pleasure. And he records them on TiVo for me ... really, could a girl ask for more????

14. That he'll eat anything I put in front of him. Even brussel sprouts. And he doesn't like brussel sprouts. Bonus points for that one, honey!

15. Flowers. Erik likes to surprise me with flowers, which is a wonderful treat. AAAAnd, the best part is that they are from a FLORIST. I can't explain why I feel so strongly about this, but I love it when a guy goes specifically to a FLORIST to get flowers. It sort of says to me "I made this special, out of the way trip to somewhere I don't normally go just for you." Yeah, that versus just grabbing some while in the checkout at the grocery store. It makes me feel more special.

16. That he's the grill master. Erik makes the most amazing pork chops and grills a MEAN steak. Yumminess!

17. His online bargain-hunting skills. I've never met someone who purchases their "forever" stamps online, but Erik always gets them at a STEAL on ebay.

18. That when I'm supposed to take a supplement or something as such (over the counter-ish), he often is able to find it at a better price online. THEN HE ORDERS IT FOR ME!!!!! I'm totally absentminded and often forget to purchase more supplements, but Erik is always on top of this. And I appreciate it immensely.

19. His attempts at eye rolling. Seriously. Funny.

20. Lastly, Erik is the world's best snuggler. But I better not catch any of you ladies trying to take a test drive!

Happy birthday, E! :)

xoxoxo, ~K

Tasty chili addition!

Somehow, we started adding chickpeas to our chili. I think it started when I was making hummus and had extra chickpeas with no purpose for them, so I just threw them over Erik's shoulder and into the pot. Sneaky Karen!

Same story this weekend. I had extra chickpeas I'd cooked, then put into the freezer to await a purpose. And Erik was making chili, so into the mix they went.

And know what? They really add SO much to chili! Not that Erik's super tasty chili was lacking before, but it gives it more chunky goodness ... and is nice and healthy for you ... and gives you overall more chili to eat, which is all good.

So ... if you feel adventurous, give it a try!

Christians during Lent

Growing up, I always did things "because you're Catholic." I didn't mind or think much of it. I just got the impression other faith denominations didn't really observe the liturgical seasons as we Catholics did. Especially Lent.

In high school, I had non-Catholic friends, but they didn't observe Lent in any way.

When I was in college, I had a college roomie who observed the practice of giving something up for Lent. She wasn't Catholic and I have to admit I was confused. But I liked it. Along life's path, I've met other friends who are not Catholic, but also give things up for Lent. Just today, I was talking with someone who is not particularly religious, but gives something up for Lent.

SO interesting.

Somehow, I thought only Catholics did this. Not in a "we're better than them" way. But perhaps because Catholics are "more strict" in some regards.

Boy howdy was I wrong!

I guess I wish somewhere along the way someone would have TOLD me that other Christians observe Lent. Not all of them, but other denominations give up things they enjoy for Lent, too. Seriously, how could is it possible that I've lived for more than a quarter of a century and NOT known this???

Chicken in the slow cooker!!!

Yeah, yeah. 2 posts in 1 day. Deal with it. We just ate a killer dinner and I have to share!

So, remember my post HERE about cooking a chicken in the slow cooker?

Well, we did it again today, and adapted it a bit. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! It was the most tender chicken I've ever eaten!!!!!

Here's the drill:
1 pkg of chicken thighs (w/ bones) - this cost us about $3, which is awesome! :)
1 onion
1 bay leaf
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 c. chicken broth or veggie broth or whatever
1 c. water.

Cut onion and place in bottom of cooker. Mince garlic and put at bottom, too, along with a bay leaf. Be sure to remove the skin from your chicken, then place it on top. Pour liquids over, then sprinkle with garlic salt.

Cook for 4 hours on low. ***IF YOU COOK IT LONGER THAN THIS, THE MEAT WILL START TO FALL OFF OF THE BONE. I HAVE WARNED YOU!!!!

Perfecto!!!!

And I'm excited to use the broth for other cooking later this week! EDIT: *sigh* someone was being helpful and poured all of the broth down the drain. I should have been on the ball. Grrrrrr.....

Also, with Lent starting tomorrow, feel free to check out some of my meatless recipes by CLICKING HERE.

No Phone Zone!!!

As Lent is drawing near, I've really been thinking about what to do.

I've also been thinking A LOT about an Oprah show I saw about the dangers of texting and driving. Let's just say I've been guilty of this in the past. WAY guilty.

(You can view the show and more info by CLICKING HERE).

Since I watched the show, I have not texted and driven concurrently. But, I have to honestly say I feel guilty when I'm on the phone in the car. Way guilty. I'm not sure what the stats are, but it shows that being on the phone while driving is extremely distracting. EVEN if you're on a hands-free device. It's STILL a distraction. And should be avoided.

I thought "this can't really be an issue" but as I've thought about it, I realize it IS. There is a driver or two who I know (names withheld to protect the guilty), who when the phone rings, they go digging through the car for it, and I seriously fear my life will end because they are NOT paying attention to the road, instead trying to grab the phone from wherever it has gone to.

So, as Lent sneaks up on us, I'm kissing everything talking on the phone while the car is in "drive" goodbye. So, if you *think* I should be accessible and am not answering, it is probably because I'm driving, so please don't have hurt feelings!

Arizona III

As I mentioned before, it was awfully chilly during our trip to Arizona, so we drove through Saguaro National Park near Tuscon.


Lots of cacti.


Erik and I are "one with the Saguaro" ;)


Here, I'm trying to give it a hug, but the booger bit me.


Another view.


Last one.

I would have liked to hike around some, but it was just too darn cold. Perhaps we'll visit again when it's not so freezing. I'd like that.