Bandelier National Monument - Threatened by Wildfire

Yes, that's really us - even though it looks like we're ants.

Bandelier National Monument - (Next Door to Los Alamos)
Honeymoon, September 2010

As of Sunday, the New Mexico wildfires were 1/2 mile away. National Park Service is removing some artifacts from the monument for safekeeping

There are thousands of these "cavates" produced by voids in the volcanic tuff of the canyon wall and carved out further by humans. The area dates from 1150 -1600. There are so many cavates that were were allowed to climb into some as you can see.


On Sunday, June 26, 2011 Bandelier NM closed due to a large wildfire that ignited today west of the park. The fire behavior is extreme and poses a danger to the park. The park will be closed until conditions are safe. The park website won't be updated again until the park reopens.

I pray for the firefighters as they try work to protect N.M and other states from loss of life, protect homes, reduce threats like Los Alamos...and also protect National Parks such as Bandelier.

For latest tweets, see http://twitter.com/#!/search/bandeliernps or the New Mexico Fire Information site.

$1 Jimmy John's - Customer Appreciation Day!

Are you a fan of Jimmy John's?
Want a $1 sub?

Count me in!

Details are available here.

Thursday, June 9, 2011 is Customer Appreciation Day!
Chicagoland, this is from 11-3pm.
Enjoy!

Cherished Memories - Make Them Today! Tell us Yours!

They're only young once.
How true.
The homemade donuts that we made 2 Thanksgivings ago might not hold as much fascination anymore. We were lucky enough to have our camera on hand the day Grandpa taught him how to make meatloaf. (Grandpa makes a mighty fine meatloaf.)

Time moves so fast - and not just with your kids, if you are blessed to have them.  There are your best friend's kids, maybe your nieces and nephews.  Maybe the neighbor's kids.  YOU have the chance to make cherished memories with them.

My sister remembers the Christmas when my mom "volunteered" the entire family - who were staying overnight - to make Christmas card placemats. (Pretend I inserted a photo here, would ya? Thanks!) She gathered up the other Grandma, aunts, the munchkins, and plopped everyone down at a table, assembly line style.

We were in Michigan.
Henry Ford would have been proud.

One person sorted through the old cards with nice decorations while others traced a pencil line around a drinking glass so others could cut the circles out. Then, each decided on their favorites and lined them up in a 10x5 square or so, overlapping just a bit. Clear contact paper was placed over the top and other contact paper with tiny flowers was placed over the back.

Either my Mom or my sister had the wonderful idea to have each of the participants sign one special white circle and we set it as a cornerstone on one of them. That was likely my sis' idea - she gets a feel for when memories are being made.

(I do have a pic of this assembly line. But, I'll have to post that at Christmas time. I think it's packed away. But, the memories are right in reach.)

We used those placemats year after year - and it was a treat to see who had the one with all the signatures. Last Christmas my sister suggested I take some of those placemats home for my new family. We looked through the stack of 12 or so and reminisced. I selected a few. My sis made sure I took the one with the signatures. I'll keep it safe and we'll use them with joy!

What are some of your cherished memories?
Who were they with?
Who is growing up too darn fast?
What new memories do you want to make?

Share with us below!

Giveaway! Win a copy of Rick Bayless' Book

Do you find yourself wishing you had help in the kitchen?
Could your kids use some practice in math and science?
Are you blessed with a child who loves to cook?

This is one blog giveaway that you don't want to miss!
Not only is this a very fun book...which it is.
From a very talented and respected chef...which it is.
And, his daughter...which she is.
Who are both from Chicago...which they are.

(Well, granted, he started out in Oklahoma, but I'll claim him as a native with all of his restaurants employing lots of wonderful folks and a TV show filmed in Chi-town.)

But here's the most important reason you should head over to Lisa's blog,The Cutting Edge of Ordinary, and tell her your favorite kind of pie to enter her giveaway.

Lisa's blog is amazing. FULL STOP.

Whether it's appetizers, entrees, desserts, or game day snackage - her sons, husband...and the whole neighborhood are up to their ears in good eats. She's been featured online in Bon Appetit, Food Gawker, Glamour Magazine...the list goes on.

NOW go visit her for the cookbook - but stay for the dessert, so to speak. You're gonna love her. And, leave me a slice of pie :)