Posts Tagged ‘Inn’
April 20th, 2013 by pattiebell
Early birds!
This morning when I popped out of the dining room door I scared up a covey of 5 Gambel’s quail chicks and their chattering parents. I don’t usually expect to see them until well into May, so I was a bit surprised and pretty excited. Chick sightings are one of those things Arizonan’s brag about like the number of fish caught, or the size of bears encountered.
Gambel’s quail primarily move about by walking and can move surprisingly fast through brush and undergrowth. They are a non-migratory species and are rarely seen in flight. Any flight is usually short and explosive, with many rapid wingbeats, followed by a slow glide to the ground.
In the late Summer, Fall, and Winter, the adults and immature young congregate into coveys of many birds. In the Spring, Gambel’s Quail pair off for mating and become very aggressive toward other pairs. The chicks are decidedly more insectivorous than adults, gradually consuming more plant matter as they mature. Gambel’s Quail are monogamous and rarely breed in colonies. The female typically lays 10–12 eggs in a simple scrape concealed in vegetation, often at the base of a rock or tree. Incubation lasts from 21–23 days, usually performed by the female and rarely by the male. The chicks are precocious, leaving the nest with their parents within hours of hatching.
Here’s a link to some great video of chicks in motion: Gambel’s Quail chicks emerge from their nest – YouTube
Tags: Bed & Breakfast, Inn, Tucson, Tucson AZ, Tucson Inn, Tucson Treasures, Wildlife
Posted in Spring, Wildflowers | No Comments »
July 5th, 2010 by pattiebell
THIS COOKIE RECIPE CAME TOGETHER AS I WAS TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO INCORPORATE MESQUITE FLOUR INTO SOME OF MY BAKING.
SIFT TOGETHER: 1 C FLOUR, ½ C MESQUITE FLOUR, ¾ C UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER, ¼ t SALT, ½ t CAYENNE POWDER, 2 t CINNAMON, ¼ t CLOVES
CREAM TOGETHER UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY (3 MIN. IN ELECTRIC MIXER): 1 C SUGAR, ¾ C BUTTER
MIX IN: 1 LARGE EGG, 1 ½ t VANILLA
ADD FLOUR MIXTURE. MIX UNTIL JUST COMBINED. TURN OUT DOUGH ONTO PARCHMENT PAPER AND ROLL INTO LOG 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. ROLL LOG IN THE PARCHMENT PAPER. REFRIGERATE AT LEAST 1 HOUR OR OVERNIGHT.
PREHEAT OVEN TO 350. REOMVE LOG FROM PARCHMENT. LET SOFTEN ABOUT 5 MIN. ROLL LOG IN RAW OR SANDING SUGAR, PRESSING DOWN TO ADHERE TO DOUGH. TRANSFER LOG TO CUTTING BOARD. SLICE INTO ¼ INCH ROUNDSNN. PLACE 1 INCH APART ON PARCHMENT LINED COOKIE SHEETS.
BAKE 12 MINUTES AT 350, UNTIL SET AND RICH BROWN. COOL COMPLETELY ON WIRE RACKS. MAKES ABOUT 4 DOZEN.
NOTES: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MESQUITE FLOUR YOU CAN USE ALL REGULAR FLOUR. TRY USING OTHER KINDS OF CHILE, LIKE CHIPOTLE, WHICH HAS A NICE SMOKY FLAVOR, OR MILDER CHILE COLORADOS.
Tags: AZ, B&B, Bed & Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast, Cookies, Inn, Recipes, Tucson, Tucson AZ, Tucson Inn, Tucson Treasures
Posted in Food, Recipes | Comments Off
July 5th, 2010 by pattiebell
These simple crunchy cookies are packed with flavor and super easy to prepare! I felt they could handle the addition of whole wheat flour, but you can use all white flour if you wish.
3/4 C white flour, 3/4 C whole wheat flour, 1 C sugar, 1 t baking soda, ½ t salt, 1 t ground ginger, ½ t ground cloves
½ C melted butter, 1 large egg, ¼ C molasses
¾ C oats
¼ C sugar for rolling
Heat oven to 375. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
Sift first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Add next 3 wet ingredients. Mix well. Add oats and stir to incorporate.
Scoop dough into balls using 1 oz. scoop. Roll balls in sugar and place 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool on racks. Makes about 18 cookies.
Tags: AZ, B & B, B&B, Bed & Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast, Cookies, Inn, Recipes, Tucson, Tucson AZ, Tucson Inn, Tucson Treasures
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June 19th, 2010 by pattiebell
Thanks to West Tucson guest Hope Green for sharing these great photos of our huge night blooming cereus. Thanks too, Hope, for the shoe sharing!!!
Tags: AZ, B & B, B&B, Bed & Breakfast, Inn, Tucson, Tucson AZ, Tucson Inn, Wildflowers
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June 19th, 2010 by pattiebell
Tags: AZ, B & B, B&B, Bed & Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast, Inn, Tucson, Tucson AZ, Tucson Inn, Wildflowers, Wildlife
Posted in Wildflowers, Wildlife | Comments Off
June 11th, 2010 by pattiebell
Green Valley guest Ken Van Horn got up close and personal with this Bobcat as he and Mary Ann were about to depart. After posing for this shot, the cat sauntered around to the patio off of our kitchen, where she took a 3 hour nap under the night blooming cereus (more on that subject next week) . When I went out to water my drooping herb pots she just sat there and watched me before stretching and strolling off.
The Bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a North American mammal of the cat family, Felidae. With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. The Bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy.
With a gray to brown coat, whiskered face, and black-tufted ears, the Bobcat resembles the other species of the mid-sized Lynx genus. It is smaller than the Canadian Lynx, with which it shares parts of its range, but is about twice as large as the domestic cat. It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs and a black-tipped, stubby tail, from which it derives its name.
Though the Bobcat prefers rabbits and hares, it will hunt anything from insects and small rodents to deer. Prey selection depends on location and habitat, season, and abundance. Like most cats, the bobcat is territorial and largely solitary, although there is some overlap in home ranges. It uses several methods to mark its territorial boundaries, including claw marks and deposits of urine or feces. The Bobcat breeds from winter into spring and has a gestation period of about two months.
Although Bobcats have been hunted extensively by humans, both for sport and fur, their population has proven resilient. The elusive predator features in Native American mythology and the folklore of European settlers.
Tags: AZ, B & B, Bed & Breakfast, Cookies, Inn, Tucson, Tucson AZ, Tucson Inn, Wildlife
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May 28th, 2010 by pattiebell
- Yucca in the Moonlight
- Close-up of Yucca blossoms
Tags: B & B, B&B, Bed & Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast, Inn, Tucson, Tucson AZ, Tucson Inn, Wildflowers
Posted in Uncategorized, Wildflowers | Comments Off
April 13th, 2010 by pattiebell
Beginning at the center.
Day 6 – Stakes are set to locate the center and 16 radial points. String connects the center and a stake (used for scoring a line) at the radius for the center and the first path. Next, the radials are tied off to locate each change in direction.
Rock is collected from the site in various sizes with one dimension approximately 3 inches wide. The scored lines are deepened using each unique rock so that they set securely into the earth. Water compacts the soil at the end of the day.
More lines drawn, more rocks laid
After work is done for the day, water and compact.
Day 7 – Scoring, laying rock and watering continues.
Same process, another days work
Future home for a modern petroglyph
A pictograph on this rock will indicate the entrance to another alcove leading to the labyrinth. The landscape light will illuminate the sloped surface at night.
Tags: B&B, Bed & Breakfast, Inn, Labyrinth, Tucson, Tucson AZ
Posted in Construction, Labyrinth, Uncategorized | Comments Off
April 8th, 2010 by pattiebell
Phew! That was a lot of work!
Designing maze puzzles for my sisters was a favorite childhood pastime. Now I have the chance to build a labyrinth and have chosen the respected Tohono O’odham Man in the Maze pattern.
The desert gardens south of the Ranch House are extensive. A fire pit, horseshoes, bocce ball, stargazing patio and a profusion of wildflowers are playfully encountered along the meandering paths. The desert landscape, like the Ranch House, seems to absorb activities without feeling crowded.
There is a very special place bordered by mesquites to the east and south, the path to the north, and creosote to the west. The area is a natural 32-foot arena. Two creosote, some weeds and a few wildflowers lived here. This area will be the future home of the El Rancho Merlita labyrinth.
Day 1 – My daughter, Valerie, and I dug up the creosote for transplanting. 2 hr.
Day 2 – My husband, John, and I dug up all the weeds. We staked the center and marked the circle with the radial points. 4 hr.
Day 3 & 4 – Decomposed granite was spread about 1” thick to create a clean smooth level surface and watered to begin compaction. 5 hr.
Day 5 – More watering.
**Next step: Lay out the path.
Tags: B&B, Bed & Breakfast, Inn, Labyrinth, Tucson, Tucson AZ
Posted in Construction, Labyrinth, Uncategorized | Comments Off
