Summer Ensues + McClintock’s + Kirei Nest

Hot summer days continue to drift in and out, from hot to hotter, and then back to hot again.  Nights are still very warm, but lovely as the midnight hour approaches…

      

I have so much to tell you that I am getting behind in what I can jam into one blog post.  I'll have to save some of my tales for next time.  I am still addicted to making the tin can-dle holders from the previous post.  They looked so pretty last night…

      

I even made a large one out of an old rusty paint can.  Perfect ambience lighting for our summer grilling adventures…

My basil, Chinese Parsley and rosemary are crazy plentiful.  Which inspires me to-

      

Throw together some summer salads to accompany our flame cooked dinner.

       

 

The air fills with the delicious aroma of grilled goods, as we stand around and chat, and get bitten by ants who share tiny jolts that make us dance around in spurts of pain… 

 

Why two little ole people have 3 grills puzzles me.  Alas, we choose a small one for our dinner, and then move on to sharing our melodies…

Me on piano, he on bass - not necessarily playing at the same time.  I go through a song book and improvise.  It's like, name that tune.  My favorite game.  Song after song, we laugh and sing.

      

I play some older tunes that I have never heard, but can play all the same.  I suppose that is the good thing about being able to keep time and read music.  I am not Liberace of course, but I am okay.  Although, my 4 year old self did not find amusement in forced piano lessons of the technical variety.  I am ever grateful for those unrelenting parents, who sent me to my piano teacher every year of life that I lived under their roof starting at age 4.  The piano is a huge part of who I am, and I can't imagine my life without it…

Anyhow, I am veering, big surprise 😉

I have oodles of things to share.  I started this post yesterday at 9 a.m., but all sorts of things have gotten in my way.  Yesterday was such a bizarre & random day.

Anyhow, I wanted to take you to a desert wonderland, before I forget.  Would you like to come along?  I hope I don't bore you on my wee visits to places…

It was a surprise of sorts.  Mister Lovee said we were going to a place in the Tortolita mountains. Truth be told, I think these mountains get totally taken for granted…

 

As we drove and drove, we came upon a tunnel…

The sky was holding buckets of water that it would splash on the earth sporadically. 

  

Through the tunnel we ventured, and emerged to the sight of a desert wonderland… 

 

Right outside the tunnel was a huge windmill, and tiny signs of human life here and there.  We came upon a stone cottage. 

 

Guards would not only approve us going through the gates, we were to be escorted by a little white SUV to our destination…

 

In to Saguaro Ranch we went, driving for what seemed like forever…

 

But it was a good forever because the view was incredible…

   

Caves in boulders and Saguaros everywhere…

 

As we approached a building, giant clouds started drifting rapidly towards us.  The building said, "General Store."  How charming I thought…

 

I turned to my right and saw the city lights start to twinkle.  Rain poured down on us…

  

 

A gorgeous girl appeared by my window holding the hugest umbrella I have ever seen in my entire life.  It was a black Mary Poppins style umbrella, only it was 5 times the size of a standard large umbrella.

She was ever so kind and greeted me, then took me on to the patio, while a young man went out with a monster umbrella for Mister Lovee…

  

 

As I stood there, people swarming me, asking me if I wanted a cocktail, etc. etc. I thought – "You know, even if it is just once a year, everyone should take an evening of enchantment and go out and be treated like a princess."   

I am one of those people that would choose my garden over a night out on the town.  I was sooo glad Mister Lovee dragged me out.  My soul needed a little of this, and I didn't even know it…

We went inside and took our cozy places.  We were the only people there, as it was early, around 6 p.m.

 

The rain was just the perfect icing on the cake…

  

 

There was a fabulous bar that I didn't photograph.  There was also a cigar bar, where fellas came in and chose a cigar, then went outside to smoke and have drinks on the patio.  

Mister Lovee was being very pushy, in a nice way, for me to order anything I wanted.  What a funny little character I thought…

 

We had calamari as an appetizer (which was piled beautifully on the plate in the shape of a fish) and so much other delicious stuff.  Our entrees were beyond words.  I had to take most of mine home.  Our dinner was incredible, and I got to enjoy it the next day…

 

In between courses we escaped outside to just stare…

 

The gentleman who took care of us was called BJ (or was it DJ?).  He was delightful and took us onto the roof before dessert…

  

 

On the roof there is a huge grilling area, with a more casual fare for families with children.  Burgers and such.  And of course, more views…

 

It was a lovely time indeed.  Poor Mister Lovee got stuck eating two desserts (I had a couple small tastes), I just couldn't muster one more bite.  But I will tell you, the crème brûlée (my fave in the world) was better than anywhere on the planet.  And I thought I already had my favorite crème brûlée place.

The second dessert was berries tossed in pepper, inside a fried tortilla, atop some sinful ice-cream, then drizzled in a vinegar that has been cooked so long that it turned into a chocolaty syrup.  You couldn't even taste the pepper or the vinegar at all.

 

A glorious evening…

  

 

The music was fantastic also – It was a night to remember, and a night I didn't want to come to an end…

The place?  McClintock's in Saguaro Ranch. Truly a magical experience…  A wonderful place for Tucson and Marana to cuddle under its wings…

And, since were are on the topic of fun places in the Tucson Area – have you been over to visit the lovely Nicole at Kirei Nest?  She lists all sorts of places with fun shopping spots, gift ideas and cozy retreats.

She asked me to do a little tid-bit on Tucson so, here is a list of Welcome Basket Ideas. You can also find a list of places around Southern Arizona that will knock your socks off (I hope).  If you can't see the pictures on the above links, click on Nicole's main site and scroll down to "Locale Lovelies: Arizona {Tucson}, Part Two" – the pictures will be there.

Well, I guess that's all the food for thought I have for now.  There are little faces waiting for me…

Paint me, paint me….

       

Much more, very soooooon 😉 :)  Along with more parcel love.  OH HOW I adore parcels!!  I hope you are all doing wonderfully 🖤

🖤,V