Location: Tucson, Arizona
Diet: Steak, bluefin tuna, beer, apple pie
Environment: Lizards, beetles, furry critters that live in holes, something that looks like but is not a praying mantis, hot dry winds, scattered showers drawing out green from the mountains, desert cacti, mesquite trees
Daily Pattern: Long stretches of driving
One of the things Mike's family grows are pecans. The orchard comprises 550 acres, with three varieties of pecan trees. Water is drawn from an adjacent canal, and little horsepower is required for this transfer. It's almost time for ground harvest, which means shaking the trees and sweeping up the nuts from the smooth dirt between the rows of trees. Within weeks, I'm told, the soft outer green husk shown in this photo will turn brown and dry, splitting to reveal a brown nut shell.
My first trip to a Waffle House.
Next week is National Waffle Week, people.
This is one half of a breakfast meal. Shown here: grits, wheat toast with butter, 2 eggs. I'm resisting my inner American apologist.
The second half: One giant waffle, butter optional.
Driving around downtown Tucson, you might for a second think you're in the growing arts district in Santa Ana, California, or maybe Oakland. Mike was reminded of a young Austin, Texas. Here we are at Maynard's Market and Kitchen. No sight of that desert vista here!
Shelf after shelf heavy with preserved local fruits and vegetables
Fresh tortillas
I know you're supposed to treat your local produce with care, but these guys get their own bed!
Heirloom seeds from Native Seeds/SEARCH. I wanted to bring some home, but thought that it might be better to seek out plants native to Southern California.
Historic preservation
Neon signs above the doorways
Just blow up a ouija board and slap it on a coffee table! Mike, who is less snarky than me, really liked the table.
Telephone switchboard
Our endless fascination with examining old technology
No separate instruction manual required
Not featured: The barber shop and the casino
Just your average Tucson coffee shop, serving up midcentury furniture, industrial fixtures, a salvaged wood coffee bar, tattooed baristas, juice in recycled jam jars, and Blue Bottle coffee.
Hey, I recognize that neighborhood!
"Have you ever had our iced coffee before?"
