New Year's Eve 161/365

Em was my date for New Year's Eve. We staged our own party with ham and cheese panini sandwiches, warm brownies and ice cream and three games of Uno. He won two and was crowned 2009 Uno Champion! I'll get even in 2010.

Today's News: Robert Morgenthau, the district attorney for the borough of Manhattan, retired today at the age of 90. He is the real-life model for the DA in the TV series Law and Order. He had announced in February that he would not seek reelection.

Today in History: 1904 - The first New Year's celebration is held in Times Square.

Urban Nanny Goat 160/365

I trekked back over to the urban farm today with my step stool and this is the best as it got -- a nanny goat sticking her tongue out at me. The animals are either too far away or they are pushing up against the fence right in front of you hoping that you have goodies for them to eat. So I promise: No more goats!

Today's News: Zonies feel earthquake shocks from 5.8 quake near the California/Mexico border 20 miles southeast of Mexicali today around noon. No damages reported.

Today in History: 1924 - Edward Hubble announces the existence of other galaxies.

Urban Billy Goat 159/365

About four blocks from my home in the heart of the nation's sixth largest city is an urban farm. It resides in a residential area across the street from a municipal golf course (which also used to include an urban farm) and on the next corner up is a large Lutheran church. I don't know that I would call it a working farm because all it seems to have is animals and old tractors. Perhaps they hire their animals out for living nativity scenes (but that's just a couple weeks each year) or maybe the sheep and goats get jobs eating the grass on a few of the large vacant lots that still exist in this area. It's very difficult to get a good photo of the animals through the wire fencing but I've decided that the next time I go by there I'll throw a step stool in the car and perhaps that will give me enough boost to clear the fence. They have lots of goats, some sheep, several pigs, burros or donkeys, a couple of ponies, lots of chickens and a few ducks. I don't see any cattle or turkeys or geese. The old farm across the street actually had a silo which is still on the premises, but most of the farmland has been taken over by a housing development. We do occasionally see a mother duck and ducklings wandering through the neighborhood. The moms tend to go away from their pond to lay their eggs and once the ducklings hatch they waddle through the yards and down the streets looking for their home pond. A few blocks away we have a flock of guineas that hold court down the middle of a minor thoroughfare and they are quite vocal on a summer evening going wherever it is they go. I remember as a child my grandmother had guineas and when the little kids (like me) came to visit we would have guinea eggs for breakfast. It takes three or four to equal a hen egg, but little eggs for little people is so cool! I so wish my grandson could experience those wonderful times. When was the last time you caught a lightening bug (that's what we called them in the South as opposed to fireflies) in a jar on a hot summer night?

Today's News: Terror, terror, terror. I'm terrified of terrorism. I want those days of guinea eggs and fireflies to return.

Today in History: 1998 - Leaders of the Khmer Rouge apologize for the 1970s genocide in Cambodia that claimed over 1 million lives.

Tri-Color Pearl Onions 158/365

Don't you just love baby vegetables? But these babies can be a nightmare to peel. Jus think about peeling fifty onions instead of two! Solution: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Dump the onions in the boiling water for one to two minutes. Drain and add cold water. The outer peels will slough right off.

Today's News: New restrictions on airlines go into effect after Christmas day attempted bombing on flight to Detroit.

Today in History: 1912 - The first municipally owned streetcars begin operation in San Francisco.

The Tomato Vigil 157/365

Remember the tomatoes that froze and whose fruit I picked and took inside to live on the kitchen windowsill? They are finally actually beginning to turn. I almost had ripe tomatoes for Christmas. The big red one should be ready to eat in a couple of days. I haven't a clue what it will taste like. Others are beginning to blush and I still have the one plant outside bearing fruit, although its blossoms have dried up.

Today's News: Doctors today in Lantana, FL, made public the US's first known case of a highly drug-resistant form of tuberculosis.

Answer: Vickie, the answer is no! So sorry. I have the same problem. They were only $15.99 so I am skeptical that they actually see in the dark anywhere!

Today in History: 1845 - Ether is used as an anesthetic for the first time in childbirth. We've come a long way, baby!

Pyracantha Berries 156/365

The Christmas spirit still lingers even after Christmas Day has passed.

Today's News: Heightened security measures go into effect at airports worldwide after yesterday's alleged terrorist incident.

Today in History: 1933 - FM radio is patented.

Night Vision Goggles ... 155-365

... were one of Em's favorite gifts from Gramma. Santa is still on the A list too -- he got the Nintendo and a cookie! A new bike was a surprise a little later in the morning after all the other presents were opened.

Today's News: A man from Nigeria attempts to deploy an explosive device on a flight headed from Amsterdam to Detroit.

Today in History: 1990 - The first successful trial run of the system which would become the Worldwide Web.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas 154/365

...and all through the house!

This is a magical night for children all over the world. Right now, as I write this, NORAD says Santa is making deliveries in Baltimore. He will be here soon!

And to all a good night.

Today's News: Lots of it, but the one that tugs at my heart is that David Goldman is back home from Brazil with his son Sean!
Also in today's news is that my son-in-law came over and fixed my profile and my computer settings so that I can reply to any comments on my blog if the commentor has an e-mail address in their profile! At my age I'm pretty good at technology but sometimes I just don't want to take the time to figure it out!

Today in History: 1955- NORAD tracks Santa for the first time in what becomes an annual Christmas Even tradition. (Since starting this post Santa has already moved from Baltimore to Pittsburgh, PA -- that man moves fast! Those reindeer must be going 90 miles an hour!)

The Art of Giftwrap 153/365

Em came for an overnight. We went to the mall where he picked out his own gifts for his mom and dad, then on to Sprouts for some special things, the video store for a DVD of Sponge Bob Square Pants, home to make an Hawaiian pizza, a little fun time on the computer watching the surprised kitten on YouTube, some Ellen Degeneres Know It or Go segments, played around with some Jacquie Lawson Christmas cards, and finally wrapped his gifts. He did a great job with only a little help from Grandma.

Today's News: Balloon Boy's mom and dad both get jail time for their flying saucer hoax - dad 90 days, mom 20.

Today in History: 1893 - The opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdink is first performed in Weimar, Germany.

To Answer Your Questions: I don't know how to answer people's questions who leave comments on my blog other than here. I know I can comment to a comment but it still just shows up on my blog rather than going straight to them, so here goes:

Lavosh (or lavash) is a Middle Eastern flat bread. When baked crisp it is sometimes called Armenian cracker bread.

No, the dental equipment was not hooked up to running water.
I noticed when I left comments on Mari's blog there was another person named Kathy, so I started designating my name as Kathy from Phoenix. I received a nice note from the other Kathy, who also happens to be from Phoenix (go figure!). She suggested she become Kathy No. 2, but since she was the first to comment on Mari's site, she should be No. 1 and I'll move to Ramblin' Kathy!

The New Dentist 152/365

I went to a new dentist today and part of the decor of his waiting room is some antique dental furniture and equipment. This "spitting" bowl with the little Dixie cup dispenser brought back some not-so-fond memories although I think the ones I was exposed to were a little more modern than this. Don't be afraid to question your dentist. Mine was recommending $2500 worth of work (in excess of $5,000 had I not had dental insurance) and there was one procedure that I was just skeptical of. I called some friends for referrals, paid a little under $100 to see someone else who told me it was his opinion I didn't need ANY of the proposed dental work and even volunteered that in this time of recession it is quite common for dentists (especially with those patients who do have dental insurance) to pad their treatment plans with unnecessary work. I'll be changing dentists very quickly, to say the least.

Today's News: Colo (named for Columbus, Ohio, where she was born) celebrates her 53rd birthday as the first and now currently oldest gorilla born in captivity. She has also lived at the Columbus zoo longer than any other resident. Colo has 3 children, 16 grandchildren (5 who are deceased), 4 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Her grandson Jungle Jack, born in 1957, shares the same birthday. You go, Girl!

Today in History: 1937 - The Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic in NYC.

My New Favorite Pizza 151/365

My new favorite pizza just happens to be one of my own concoctions. While shopping at Trader Joe's today I picked up a package of lavosh -- baked but not crisp. My first thought was, hum, thin-crust pizza. I added some mushrooms, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese to my grocery list and when I got home I drug out the pizza stone and got all the ingredients together. I even made my own homemade pizza sauce (easy - if you want the recipe, let me know!). A little bit of cornmeal on the pizza stone starts the process. Lay on the lavosh and slather on a thin later of pizza sauce. Cover with grated mozzarella. Add pepperoni and mushrooms. Next time I'll add more mushrooms because I forgot how much they would shrivel in a 450-degree oven. Throw it in the oven for about 10 minutes. Add Parmesan and some red pepper flakes, cut in squares and devour. I can't wait to try (1) spinach, mushroom, zucchini and goat and/or feta cheese; (2) margarita pizza with Roma tomatoes; (3) Hawaiian pizza with ham/Canadian bacon and pineapple; or (4) arugula, black olives and -- well, whatever!

Today's News: Senate Democrats return to the capitol at 1 a.m. to continue hammering out their version of health care reform while the rest of the city lays paralyzed under a crippling snowstorm. All goverment employees except for those in essential positions got the day off.

Today in History: 1913- "Word-Cross," the first crossword puzzle, is published in the New York World.

Deflated Santa 150/365

This deflated inflatable Santa looks like he is just awakening from a nap!

The One That Got Away: Seen Today: A taxicab with a lone passenger in the back and a live Christmas tree tied to the roof. You gotta admit, it takes guts to hail a cab while wrestling a Christmas tree to the curb! On the other hand, maybe the cabbie is the one with the guts! Wonder if he got an extra fare for the passenger on the roof?

Today's News: 5,000 flights are canceled and hundreds of thousands of travelers are stranded in airports all over the country due to a crippling blizzard on the East Coast. Prediction: Some may not make their destination in time for Christmas.

Today in History: 1973 - Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto in 1936 in the Bronx) died at the age of 37 in LA from complications of blood poisoning after failing to take antibiotics before a dental visit which resulted in damage to his already weakened heart. He is best known for recording such hits as Mack the Knife, Dream Lover, Splish Splash, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, and, of course, for his stormy marriage to teen idol Sandra Dee.

Friends and Sunflowers 149/365

I am mired in work. The dishes haven't been done in three days. I haven't finished my Christmas shopping. My hair is a mess. I will be lucky to take Christmas Day off! Today while downloading more work my doorbell rang, "Ta-ding, ta-ding, ta-ding." My first thought was my grandson had arrived as he loves to lean on the doorbell. My second thought was "No, it can't be him, so who the he _ _ is bothering me on this most busy of days?" When I opened the door it was my friendly neighbor who knows I take a picture a day. She had stopped by a florist shop and bought a sweet little arrangement of sunflowers and wondered if I'd like to take a picture of it! I grabbed the camera quick because anything that saves me the trouble of searching for a picture opportunity is a real gift. Thank you, friend. The sunflowers are lovely!



Today's News: Phoenix Greyhound Park, after being open for 50 years, runs its last live race. I think it's a good thing. I hate seeing animals exploited. Greyhounds love to run but I'm not sure God meant for them to run to fulfill some human's gambling addiction.



Today in History: 1777- American Revolution - George Washington's Continental Army goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge, PA.

A Dog Named Kitty 148/365

Kitty looks like an oversized bat at times. She is a teeny little Pomeranian weighing about four pounds and belongs to my neighbor's niece.

Today's News: Charles Gibson retires from ABC News after a 30-year career.

Today in History: 1620 - The Mayflower lands at present-day Plymouth, MA, with 120 Pilgrims aboard.

A Christmas Kitty 147/365

A quick trip to the nursery to look at their orchids revealed a big surprise. In the greenhouse back behind the orchids very quietly laying was this cute kitty, snuggling up in a red Christmas blanket. She was a little shy and wasn't sure she wanted me to take her picture. She is probably a feral cat but just used enough to humans walking around that she doesn't bolt. Doesn't she have beautiful markings? I keep saying she. Who knows?

Today's News: It was 71 degrees today in Phoenix while the AZ Snow Bowl in Flagstaff opened with two to three feet of packed snow! The updated El Nino forecast predicts that for the next three months we will have 50% more precipitation than usual. Not bad since our rainfall for the year is only about 3 inches -- down from our average!

Today in History: 1862 - American Civil War - Gen. U.S. Grant issues General Order No. 11 expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. I never realized that there was this act of anti-Semitism amongst the Union during the Civil War! I pledge to become more educated about this subject.

Christmas Flowers 146/365

Poinsettias, Poinsettias, Poinsettias!

Today's News: At the end of each year, there's always the best of this and the top of that and the most important of these. Here's what happened today:

Time's Man of the Year: Ben Bernanke.

Associated Press, Athlete of the Decade: Tiger Woods (humph, humph!)

Yale Book of Quotes: Number 1: Speaker at a health care reform town hall meeting in South Carolina in July: "Keep your government hands off my Medicare!"

Today in History: 1773 - Boston Tea Party

Santa and His Elf 145/365

My neighbor Eva has great Christmas decorations at her house and Em came for a visit wearing his elf hat so we had to go visit one of her Santas!

Today's News: The Boeing 787, the "Dreamliner," takes its maiden voyage from the Boeing plant in Everett, WA. It is being called the first aircraft of the 21st Century. The plane will be able to carry 250 passengers up to 9,000 miles; a stretch version will handle 290 passengers; and a short-range model will accommodate 350 people.

Today in History: 1939 - Gone With The Wind premieres in Atlanta, GA.

Decorations Galore 144/265

Seen in the floral department of one of our local grocery stores.

Today's News: Al Gore tells U.N. climate change conference that the polar ice cap may be gone by the year 2014 -- five years from now!

Today in History: 2008 - President George W. Bush dodges two shoes thrown at him by an Iraqi journalist at a press conference in Baghdad.

Bell Ringer 143/365

This Salvation Army Bell Ringer could double for a delightful Mrs. Santa.

Today's News: Italy's flamboyant prime minister gets busted in the mouth by a goofball with a statuette.

Today in History: 1950 - An undiscovered actor named James Dean appeared in a Pepsi commercial dancing with other teens around a jukebox.

A Contrast of Trees 142/365

Phoenix has one of the most prolific varieties of trees, shrubs, and flowers of any place in the world. When people began to populate this area in the late 1800s, they brought all their plants from whence they came. Even though we are in the desert, we have a very intricate system of canals that channel water throughout our Valley. Some of these canals were actually started by the Hohokam Indians between 600 AD and 1450! Pretty amazing, huh? So far we have no water shortage here, with our water coming from the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project canal system, which is primarily fed by the melting snows from Northern Arizona. This picture was taken on Central Avenue just north of Northern Avenue, about one mile from my home. Our pecan trees have finally (in almost mid-December) started turning a golden hue. Arizona is a major producer of pecans. The green tree in the foreground is an olive tree. Most of them in the city are sprayed to keep them from producing fruit (very messy!). Then of course to the left of the olive tree is a palm and the bougainvillea in full bloom. Across the street is shammel ash. We have very few red fall leaves in Phoenix. As you go north into Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona one can find beautiful red leaves. Some kind of oak, I believe. I think it's too warm here for maples.

Today's News: Annual tamale fest begins in Cesar Chavez Park. Oh, how I wish I could go. Last year 75,000 tamales were sold!

Today in History: 2001 - Winona Ryder shoplifted from Saks 5th Avenue.

Checking Santa's Schedule 141/365

A trip to Kierland resulted in a visit to Santa (and not even a waiting line, which is a Christmas miracle in itself), seeing some fabulous Christmas lights, a little bit of window shopping, and a great dinner at Green. Em told Santa he wants a Nintendo DS and a cookie. What a range!

Today's News: Diane Sawyer leaves Good Morning America.

Today in History: 1941 - Germany and Italy declare war on the US following the Americans' declaration of war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The US, in turn, declares war on Germany and Italy.

Wings Over Buffalo 140/365

This is the week for lunch with friends. GS and I met at Chili's and the only thing I EVER order is Wings Over Buffalo. GS, who is always so practical, ate a grilled chicken sandwich with veggies on the side. Phoenix is one of the largest wings market in the country. It is almost impossible to buy fresh chicken wings in the grocery store because the chicken distributors sell all their wings to restaurants.

Today's News: 50 snow-trapped hunters have been rescued by the Coconino County (Flagstaff) Sheriff's Office after the worst blizzard in a decade hit Northern Arizona this week. A multi-agency team consisting of 40 rescuers, two helicopters, two fixed-wing aircraft, snowcats, and a fleet of snowmobiles scoured an area of more than 18,000 square miles.

Today in History: The Grand Ole Opry premieres on the radio.

Corbin's, A Favorite Lunch Place 139/365

A great lunch today with my friend Chris.

Today's News: What once was the Phoenix Open and later became the FBR Phoenix Open will now, after the 2010 tournament, become the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Is our golf tournament getting trashy? Seems like the golf news has been rather trashy lately.

Today in History: 1979 - Smallpox is certified as being officially eradicated. To date it is the first and only human disease which has been driven to extinction.

Roses After the Storm 138/365

It's simply amazing that something so fragile could weather the storms we had last night. On my walk looking for my photo of the day I expected to see bare rose bushes, but I was surprised to find that roses survived torrential rains and winds up to 70 mph overnight. In my neighborhood we got about an inch of rain (almost doubling our to-date annual rainfall of 2.7 inches!) and other areas of the Valley received up to two inches. Flagstaff had blizzard conditions and two feet of snow! So those of you in the Midwest, batten down the hatches because it's coming your way!

Today's News: My mom (age 88) got an all clear today from her cardiologist. She called me this morning to let me know she thought she would be in the hospital by tonight because they put her on a Holter monitor yesterday and every time she's ever worn the monitor she's gone in for stent placement. Well, this year she's doing just fine. Last week she had a good report from the urologist - no new bladder tumors!

Today in History: 1980 - John Lennon is shot and killed in front of The Dakota in NYC.

Quick Monday Night Supper 137/365

Saute minced garlic and red pepper flakes in 1 T EVOO and 1 T butter. Add diced tomatoes (fresh or canned - no juice), cooked long pasta, a few cooked shrimp (I toss the shrimp in with the pasta and cook about three minutes until pink). Drizzle with a little more EVOO, add basil and Parmesan if desired. Serve with garlic bread. (Just remember to take it out before you spend five minutes trying to get a picture for your blog!)

Today's News: Big rain hits Phoenix.

Today in History: December 7, 1941, the day which lives in infamy when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

Preemie Orphans 136/365

Here are a few of my tomatoes whose mothers died Friday night before the babies reached maturity. The large one in the forefront is of slicing size. My mother suggested I pick them and leave them on the windowsill and hopefully they may ripen. Even if they do I'm sure they won't be as succulent as if they had been left to ripen on the vine. My grieving process is coming to a close. I may go looking for a couple more plants to put in pots so I can bring them in at night. My previous best crop of winter tomatoes yielded enough vine-ripened tomatoes for a lunch for a few friends on January 6 about six years ago.

Today's News: No news is good news.

Today in History: 1865 - The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, banning slavery, is ratified.

Gone but Not Forgotton 135/365

This picture does not do my disappointment justice. Friday night, with weather reports indicating that our low would be 40 degrees and knowing that I live in a cold zone, I covered my tomato plants. At 10 a.m. today it was still 41, although I had not heard what the low was. I waited until 11 to uncover my plants and imagine my shock to find eight of my nine plants black and limp! I almost cried. I had at least 50 tomatoes ranging in size from teeny babies to dimes and quarters and all the way up to beefsteak size. I just knew I would have ripe tomatoes for Christmas. I had just spent a couple of hours two days before cutting and placing bird netting around them because they were finally getting big enough that I was beginning to worry about them becoming bird food. Why one solitary plant survived I'll never know. It was flanked by two others that succumbed to the cold. It has three small tomatoes and lots of blossoms so hopefully it might make it through the rest of the winter.

Today's News: Isn't that enough?

Today in History: 1945 - Flight 19 - five Navy bombers from the Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station - disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.

Burgundy and White 134/365

A beautiful burgundy and white Christmas tree at my hair salon.

Today's News: American student Amanda Knox is found guilty of murder and sentenced to 26 years in prison in Perugia, Italy.

Today in History: 1991 - Journalist Terry Anderson is released after seven years in captivity as a hostage in Beirut. He was the last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon.

Frosty is Always ... 133/365

... WELCOME IN PHOENIX!

Today's News: ABC cancels Adam Lambert's appearance on its New Year's Eve show because of FCC concerns of indecency.

Today in History: 1967 - In Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Christiaan Barnard carries out the first human heart transplant on 53-year-old Louis Washkansky. Mr. Washkansky died 18 days later of pneumonia due to a weakened immune system.

Pepperoni and Crimini Mushroom Pizza at Sauce 132/365

The best thin-crust pizza in town!

Today's News: White House partycrashers decline "invitation" to testify before Congress. Will subpoenaes follow?

Today in History: 1988 - Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as PM of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of an Islam-dominated state. She was later assassinated in 2007 after returning from exile to again run for office.

Curb Appeal 131/365

A cute house on my block

Today's News: Florida authorities close investigation on Tiger Woods' mysterious car crash; will charge him with careless driving. Tiger successfully kept his personal problems private (at least for the moment), and good for him!

Today in History: 1955 - Seamstress Rosa Parks in Montgomery, AL, refuses to give her bus seat to a white man and is arrested for violating the city's racial segregation laws.

A new category, The One That Got Away, debuts today. It will appear periodically so I may record and share that fabulous photo opportunity that I missed. Today, there's actually two: 1. A man pedaling down the street on a bicycle with a pair of crutches in his hand; 2. A man in a motorized scooter talking on a cell phone, wearing a stocking cap and a pair of red flannel Santa pajama bottoms (it was approximately 71 degrees at the time!).