Today was the last day the Grasslands Bakery and Cafe was open; as I’ve explained here before, my parents decided earlier this month to close the bakery, mostly because of concerns about my mom’s health. It was an emotional day, because the few people who came in were really very saddened by the bakery closing; [...]
Archive for January, 2010
Grasslands Bakery and Cafe, Sonoita, Arizona: 1996–2010, The End of an Era
Posted in Grasslands Bakery, Uncategorized, tagged Grasslands Bakery on January 31, 2010 | 15 Comments »
Photography by Norma Jean Gargasz
Posted in Sonoran Desert, Southern Arizona Hiking, Uncategorized, tagged Arizona Trail, Norma Jean Gargasz, Sonoita Arizona on January 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
When Bearbear and I discovered the wildcat dog park in my neighborhood late last year, I met Norma Jean Gargasz and her demure but sporty dog Jazz. Norma Jean is a very talented photographer and her work is visible–and for sale–here. Norma Jean remembered me from my parent’s bakery in Tucson in the late 70s [...]
OMG It Finally Rained!!!!
Posted in Sonoran Desert, Southern Arizona Hiking, tagged Finger Rock Trail, Sonoran Desert, Tucson Area Hiking on January 23, 2010 | 1 Comment »
I’ve had no real measurable rainfall at my house since last July; 2009 saw Tucson get about 6 inches of rain. It was a disaster; even the saguaro in my yard looked parched. But all that changed this week: in the past 5 days I got 2.5 inches of rain at my home. And when [...]
Jon Stewart Reminds Me Why I’m Not a Democrat
Posted in The Daily Show, tagged Daily Show, Jon Stewart on January 19, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Here is last night’s hilarious first segment of the Daily Show; Jon Stewart uses today’s Massachusetts election for Senator as a launching pad for an all-out assault on the Democratic Party. They deserve every comedic salvo. Why is the best news on a comedy show?
Randal Bays House Concert
Posted in Irish Music, tagged Irish Fiddle, Randal Bays, Red Wellies on January 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
A couple of nights ago Randal Bays, a talented Irish fiddler and guitarist, was in Tucson for a house concert; about 40 people showed up. I never met him before but heard only good things about him. And what I heard was true; he not only put on a good show, he really made an [...]
Grasslands Bakery and Cafe Closing 01-31-10
Posted in Grasslands Bakery, Irish Music, tagged Grasslands Bakery on January 17, 2010 | 2 Comments »
My mom called me last Wednesday, January 13, to tell me that she and my dad just decided to close The Grasslands at the end of the month. My mom has some health concerns. Even though it’s very sudden, that’s just how it has to be. I think only people who’ve confronted a serious health [...]
Weeknight Sewing
Posted in Art Quilts, tagged art quilt design, Art Quilts, Captain Sully Sullenberger on January 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
I’m midway through Highest Duty by Capt. Sully Sullenberger and I continued listening to the audio book last night while I sewed; I think the story is very compelling. I love listening to a good story while I’m working on a creative project. When I’m finished I’ll write more about what I think about the [...]
Good Craic, Cookies and Tunes
Posted in Baking, healthy cooking, Irish Fiddle Tunes, Irish Music, Uncategorized, tagged Baking, Irish Fiddle, Tucson Irish Music on January 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
For those of you who don’t know what craic is, read the definition here. It’s my good fortune that David Levine and Roz McLean are spending part of the winter in Tucson; David has a great sounding concertina–for the life of me I cannot figure out how anyone can play that instrument, but he does [...]
“Highest Duty” Gets My Highest Ratings
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Captain Sully Sullenberger on January 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
I got the audio book of Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters by Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, and I got it just in time for the first anniversary of his spectacular landing of a US Airways flight in Hudson (January 15th). So far the audio book is really great! Right now I’ve finished the [...]
Clare Aylward on Youtube
Posted in Art Quilts, Design, Grasslands Bakery, Uncategorized, tagged Art, Art Quilts, Blacks Creek, Grasslands Bakery on January 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
There’s a video of me on Youtube called simply Clare Aylward. It wasn’t my idea. Enough people have found this video while googling my name so a small explanation is in order. My dad had an identical twin, Bill, who was very eccentric and just completely nuts (in a good way); he was also a [...]
