Tag Archives: Cities

Activities in Cities

How AZ deals with the heat

Every year I forget what 110 degrees feels like. I think the subconscious mind makes a clear decision at the end of the hot season to block out what a painful experience the body just went through. I guess like childbearing,  we forget quickly so that we are willing to do it again. We all tell each other that we are not allowed to complain, we live here and we know what it is about. I have to say however, that first 110 degree day always hurts and no amount for spiting misters can make it better. Walking outside instantly drains the body and we all start to nap more, get up earlier and drink more then our normal gallon of water a day required to live in the desert. For anyone reading this who does not live in AZ I will say yes it is a dry heat and yes all we prefer it over the eastern humidity but there is just no way for me to describe the feeling of a blast furnace heat smacking you in the face. That said, I love living here and would never trade it for a mid-western winter of my youth. To kick off summer in AZ and celebrate our first 110 degree day I share these pictures of foam taped to door handles so patrons do not literally burn their fingers. It’s that hot!

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Calling all Tweens: WIYS WRUD?

I am teaching a workshop once again this summer in the city of Glendale, AZ at the lovely fruit packing shed.

Sahuaro Ranch Park - Glendale AZ

The workshop is called: WIYS WAYD? (What is Your Story? What Are You Doing?)  It will take place from Monday June 28 through Thursday July 1. There are two sessions daily.  The morning session  is 9 a.m.- noon and then the workshop repeats from 1-4 p.m. So two options to join the fun! Ages 10-13 will get their creative juices flowing in this class. We kick it off with a brainstorming session on characters. Each participant will dream up a cast of characters, then decide what they look like, what they like to do and what adventure they will have in the story. Days two and three will be spent refining the story and illustrating the characters and the background on each page. During the final day, participants will put it all together into a bound book that they will share. Class takes place in the Main Room of the Fruit Packing Shed at Sahuaro Ranch, 9802 N. 59th Ave. The workshops, sponsored by the Glendale Library and Arts Department

To register online, go to www.glendaleaz.com/ParksandRecreation and click on “Classes and Programs.” There is a $20 non-refundable application fee per workshop and student. For more information, call 623-930-3557.

A selection from 2009's workshop

A selection from 2009's workshop

A Student from the 2009 workshop hard at work

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Summer Begins – Time for my Resolutions

Time for my Summer Resolutions. I can’t ever do them in January because that is the busy season. Today my summer begins. I am officially done with all teaching responsibilities. I now get to hang with the girls, make stuff and read. Oh and begin my many organizational projects (Resolution 1). One of these includes creating a baking studio in my pantry – it is going to be so so cute and this will be my first undertaking so I will post about it in the next week. I will also take on files, drawers, binders – oh happy joy making – I am so excited! I hope to also be able to cook a great deal more over the next few months (Resolution 2). Cooking has fallen short of anything fabulous over the last few months as I have been working so much. Therefore Resolution 2 started with a recipe search and a massive grocery shopping trip to stock up. Tonight I decided to kick off this Resolution2 with a great dinner of Cabbage/Apple/Yogurt Slaw, Almond Cous Cous and Cranberry Pork. I remembered to take pics of the two sides as I made them earlier (they were served cold) but I forgot to shoot a pic of the pork.  It is in the bellies now – darn!

My Slaw - mmm so yum!

Cous Cous - equally as yum!

Some of my other Resolutions include reading a lot, fun outings with the girls and plenty of time to make stuff and be creative in my studio. I love Summer in Arizona because everyone leaves, everything slows way down and no one really needs me! It is like winter in the Midwest sort of,  but better because there are no holidays to contend with. Ahhhh . . . I am so happy.

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