Bubbles The Goat

JWise Photo of the Day

Jutta Engelhardt and Bubbles the Goat getting to know one another at Chile Acres in Tonopah, Arizona

After visiting one farm it was off to another, this one being Chile Acres. Here my mother-in-law, Jutta, is meeting Bubbles the Goat – ya, I know, it’s kind of like two old goats getting to know one another. Chile Acres is owned by Jimmie and Celia Petersen. Not only do they raise goats, but they have their hands full raising Saluki dogs and dachshunds, caring for a dozen or more cats, more horses than you can shake a stick at, a donkey that thinks it’s a horse, and chickens; lots and lots of chickens. We originally met Jimmie at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market where he hawks the eggs from all them chickens. Well, he doesn’t really hawk them, he’s actually quite pleasant and quiet about it, but I thought you might go for the pun, chicken, hawk, chicken-hawk!

Farm Tour

JWise Photo of the Day

Farm tour at Tonopah Rob's Vegetable Farm in Tonopah, Arizona

Took Jutta out to Tonopah Rob’s Vegetable Farm so we could pick up some veggies, talk with some folks, tour the farm, and spend a lazy morning amongst the birds and lizards. We have been taking home a lot of collard greens lately and would like to call them our current favorite veg from Tonopah Rob’s, but the carrots, broccoli, and radishes have been awesome, too. My mother-in-law is no help figuring out if there is a favorite amongst all the veggies we drag back to Phoenix, she loves them all.

Mother-In-Law

JWise Photo of the Day

Jutta Engelhardt and Caroline Wise - mom and daughter in Phoenix, Arizona

After only a brief 11 months away, my mother-in-law, Jutta Engelhardt is back for another vacation. Arriving in January allows her to avoid some of the worst winter weather back home in Frankfurt, Germany. This trip will be her longest in America at a grand total of 85 days, just 5 days short of what is allowed on a tourist visa. Jutta’s first visit to the United States was back in 1996 for a brief couple of weeks and then in 1997 for 21 days. The next visit was in the year 2000 for 30 days, followed by 2003 – 21 days, 2005 – 57 days, and then 2006 – 65 days. To date and including the days she will spend on this vacation, Jutta’s time in America adds up to 293 days. Maybe we’ll consider 2 more vacations for her here, each being 36 days to bring her to 365 days of vacationing in America.

Next To My Cheek

JWise Photo of the Day

My pillow case covered with a colorful insect pattern handmade by my wife

The closest thing to my cheek is my beard, after that the closest thing is my wife’s cheek, the beard is there for her comfort as she finds it absolutely cozy. Next up is my pillow, this is my pillow where my cheek and headrests – I find it absolutely snuggly. It was made for me by my wife, next to it is a matching pillowcase on her pillow. Caroline and I still find delight in so many little things that make our lives simply wonderful.

Dinner

JWise Food, Photo of the Day

A plate of veggies for dinner from Tonopah Rob's Vegetable Farm

Told you that I was at the farm, well it was from that farm that tonight’s dinner came from – most of it anyway. The previous weekend we bought a bunch of kaleidoscope carrots, beets, potatoes, mazuna, onions, spinach, broccoli, and turnips. We still had some of those leftovers this weekend and so into the pot they went. Dinner was steamed carrots, steamed broccoli greens, steamed beets, and southern style collard greens over brown rice and barley. This was our first time ever eating broccoli greens; I never even knew they existed. You will probably never find them in your grocery store, and for good reason, their smell is not a nice one. But once cooked, wow, they are terrific. As for the collard greens, they went into the crockpot with garlic, chipotle, plenty of onion, and some stock – yummers.

Hoop House

JWise Photo of the Day

Tomato plants growing in a hoop house at Tonopah Rob's Vegetable Farm in Tonopah, Arizona

These tomato plants are growing in a hoop house waiting for the frost danger to pass so Tonopah Rob can get them in the ground and start growing us some tomatoes. I visited the farm early this morning to pick up some collards and broccoli greens. While on the farm, I meandered about looking for photo opportunities. That moment was best had in Rob’s greenhouse, in this case, a hoop house. It was nearly raining from the humidity but was nice and warm compared to the frigid air just the other side of the plastic covering. You can get an idea of what time I was out on the farm by looking at how low the sun was in the morning sky seen through the plastic sheeting.