Fajita Night

We had our good friends over for a birthday celebration.  The menu was casual:  cilantro and lime marinated chicken fajitas with all the fixings (caramelized onions and bell peppers, cilantro lime brown rice, refried beans, etc.), corn on the cob, and a southwestern green salad.  For dessert, Caribbean Bananas from the New York Times cookbook – topped with vanilla ice cream, of course.

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The Reality of Home Ownership

When our water bill spiked and we found tree roots in our pool fill valve tank for the second time, we knew that we’d probably have to cut down this beautiful mesquite tree.  Last week, after speaking with experts and much debate, that’s what we did (it was used for firewood).  Our backyard is walled in, so we knew the aggressive roots may cause other issues in the future, especially if any part of the pool leaked again.  I loved this tree:  it blocked the view to the neighbor’s house, created privacy, and offered some relief from the hot Arizona sun.  But, I’m looking forward to planting what I want in that space – something that provides the same effect, without the same issues.  More to come…

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