monkeychatter

No-no…don’t worry. It’s not like flea & tick season or anything close to that.   It’s little league season.

And the Sand Gnats…that’s OUR TEAM.

Yesterday was the BIG day. The first game of  the year.

(insert smiley face here.)

Baseball makes me happy.

Especially the little Sand Gnats. Even the name is growing on me. Sure, it’s not as cool as that team name “the Hot Rods” but it’s not like you get to choose the team name.   The players however, they were chosen. Well chosen.

And all the Gnats did a grand job!

I do have to admit,  I was a little miffed at  that ump we had.  I mean what adult would steal 15 minutes—AN ENTIRE INNING—from a bunch of 9 & 10 year olds?  Seriously, who would do that?  Our game was scheduled  to start at 4:30 (for 6 innings or 90 minutes, whichever comes first) yet started around 4:45.  The ump STILL ended it at 6:00 pm.  Then as what seemed like EVERYONE from BOTH TEAMS started asking him why & questioning him on time—even after HE ADMITTED he cut the game short—he turned his back & walked away.  Cheap shot.  Stealing time from the bats of boys…in their FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON.  That’s not cool Mr. Ump.  Not cool at all.

But baseball, it still makes me happy.

Strong work boys!

TALENTS?

Man…

he’s got ‘em!

He’s clever.

He’s witty.

He’s wise.

 
AND, he can paint.   Like nobody’s business, THIS GUY can paint.

Of course I am speaking of the one and only,  David Dauncey.

Mr. Dauncey hails from Bromsgrove (that’s in England) and is a self-proclaimed soccer obsessive. David currently calls Phoenix (that’s in Arizona)  his home,  where he resides with his lovely bride Judi & their 2 delightful kids.

Happily I can say I know David and honestly I can add that he’s one of my FAVORITE painters.

~

Mr. Dauncey has been kind enough to answer a few questions for me,   so you can all get to know him a wee bit better.

1. Name something from your ‘top 5 favorite foods’ list.

i do like the burrito.

2. What’s your favorite place (so far) to visit in the U S of A?

New York.

3. What are some or what is one of your fondest memories?

smells.   cut grass,  oncoming rain,  cow-shit smell wafting over the fields,   public transport fumes,  White linen perfume that my mom wore.

4. Where did you meet your lovely wife?

front desk of an art company. I felt like I fell for her a bit right away.

5. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Blizzards with chunks in them, Oreo is nice, Snickers too.

6. What do you drive?

‘99 Nissan Pathfinder,66 Ford truck (occasionally)

7. Do you have any PETS?

Yes, Edison and Millie (dogs) and Squeaky and Minge (cats)

8. Do you have any pet peeves?

People who dump their ashtrays in the street, people who walk cross busy streets really slowly, loud cellphone talkers, Argentinian soccer players, poor coffee that I have paid for.

9. Have you ever changed a flat tire?

Yes, a few.

10. Are you a nighttime guy or a morning man?

Lately a bit of both,but mainly morning.

11. Share with us, a  favorite quote or two.

“One of us isn’t as smart as all of us.” or,  “Take what is yours.”

12. Can you choose a local favorite restaurant?
(if this is tough you can pick more than one)

Pepe’s, Thai Rama.

13. Do you have one movie you’ve seen that stands above all others as TOP NOTCH…why?

The Deer Hunter. I watched it when I was about 13 and it put me through a whole lot of emotions.

14. What’s the largest size painting you’ve ever done?

15. Do you have any upcoming shows so the folks can check out your fabulous-ness?

Showing at Monorchid in November with James Angel and Randy Slack.

(TRUST ME, this will be a triple dose of WOWIE KAZOWIE!  DO—NOT—MISS—THIS show! )

 

Here’s a sampling of  Dauncey’s  work.

These hang in the Hall+Ford home and although it would surely be

against the advice of the Phoenix Fire Department

I would find it hard not to spend a few moments longer in my burning ranch,

just to rescue these beauties.

above is an actual photo of Hank and

below,  Dauncey’s painted version of that photo image.

Perfection!

…and this post wouldn’t be complete without introducing the lovelies in David’s life, Ruby & Judi

…and Dave’s boy Jack, he’s lovely too!

(Jack’s the kid on the left, not the ham hock on the right.)

 

David Dauncey can be reached via email @  ddauncey68@yahoo.com

 
If you’re on Facebook, be sure to check out  “INTRODUCING DAVID DAUNCEY”, a group celebrating the many talents of  this praise worthy local painter!

You’re the MAN Davey, you’re the man!

Meet Mr. Bacon Lips.

He’s the king of dogs.

For real.

You knoooooooow you want him…BUT,  you can’t have him.

He’s  mine.

Mine ALL MINE!

Leave it to Avon to whip up a masterfully-kitschy designed after shave decanter of each. I do believe the Deep Woods fragrance smells even more regal, more manly (if possible) when poured from a gilded presidential vessel.

Happy birthday to you Mr. Washington & Mr. Lincoln!

…and NO ONE croons it better than the hunk-o-hunk-o-burnin’-love.

(Don’t miss the end of this video, for an ultra-deluxe “throwing of the claw”.)

Admittedly I have a ‘problem’ with my t-shirt addiction.  Luckily I can medicate my problem with a home remedy.

My groom & I print tees…whatever tees you need, we print ‘em.  Own a plumbing biz…need shirts?  We can do it.  Have a softball team…need jerseys?   We can do it.   From design to printing to packaging, billing & delivery, we TWO crank it out—-from start to finish, under the watchful eye of Hank, (you know Hank, our 10 year old -’only child’ -son) who is always telling us what we “should do the next time”.

My groom however has taken it one step beyond that small family owned business & opened a cyber shop of cotton goodness.  It’s called Tangible Threads.   Here are a few of my favorites.

Tangible threads, a locally owned & operated tee shirt biz…click on the girl with the accordion to visit the Tangible Threads site & be sure to join the Tangible Threads “fan club” on Facebook!

…and remember, for every dollar you spend with a local company, .45 cents stays in the state…when you shop at a ‘big box’ retailer, that amount drops to just 13 cents.  So remember—SHOP LOCAL Arizona!

Sandwiches.  Something makes me smirk when I hear that word.  Not sure why but it’s a funny little word (to me).  But THIS sandwich, well there’s nothing funny about it—-it’s a flavor packed power house & it’s oh-so-simple.

The ham & Swiss with marinated veggies.

Make a simple vinaigrette with a good olive oil, vinegar (I use red wine), salt, pepper, dried basil & oregano.  You can make it to YOUR taste…mix it together, taste it & tweak it as needed.

Be SURE not to slice your veggies too thin or the marinade will break them down to a veggie mush.

I use red onions, tomato & cucumber but you could add carrots, zuchini, red or green peppers, the list is endless & you could leave out the meat & make a cheese only version.

Place the veggies in a container with a GOOD SEAL, pour your vinaigrette concoction over them, seal up the vessel & give it a good shake & twirl until all veggies are coated…then put in the fridge to marinate.  I’d leave it a minimum of an hour but you can leave it as long as a day…if you can wait that long.

Then break your bread & load up your sandwich.  My favorite is Boar’s Head ham & Swiss but you can use anything & any brand…the veggies will make even mediocre brands of these staples taste heavenly.  I promise.

mmmmmmmm, beautiful.

It helps speed up the process if you  have a mandolin…but it’s not necessary.  It does make nice, even-thickness cuttings of your veggies & it’s speedy to boot.  Mine is old & was very inexpensive, around $20…it’s a madman in the kitchen—–proof you don’t need to spend $100 and up for a fancier version.

*Up North on Cave Creek there’s  German deli called Edelweiss.  They have an unassuming ham & Swiss on their menu.  I ordered it one day…and it was nothing of the ordinary.  It was the kind of sandwich that makes you make noises while you eat….not that I do that, I actually don’t care for that noise making thing while eating.  My husband actually moans sometimes & I have to remind myself that it’s a “compliment” in his manly world.

Anyhow, Edelweiss is THE inspiration behind my concoction.  Thank you Edelweiss!

For more than half my life,  I have enjoyed the Middle Eastern Bakery & Deli,  just around the corner from my house.  I sing her praises by referrals, whenever I get the chance.  Right now, I feel the need to sing her praises in written format.  We’re in a terrible economic “situation”  and our local small business are surely experiencing a notable amount of financial pain.   This place is economical so if you are cutting back on eating out, trying to save a few bucks, you love to support the local economy and live for perfectly spiced kabobs, hummus, falafel or baba ganouj, you really MUST visit this local favorite.

Our plan this afternoon was to hit up the antique store on the corner, in hopes they still had that economical pair of vintage cowboy boots, so we could snag them for Hank’s upcoming Doc Holiday costume.  But woe is me, the boots were gone.

We didn’t plan on stopping in Middle Eastern Bakery & Deli  this afternoon (although gyros & falafels are ALWAYS on my radar)—–but I caved at Hank’s request for a gyro, a quick fix for dinner AND I am fresh out of tahini, which I could pick up in their grocery area.

A charming gentleman named Isam was working this afternoon.  As I placed my grocery purchases on the counter to ring up and added 2 gyros, Isam asked what we’d like to drink.  He ran down the list of beverages, (in a manner  only someone who loves their job can do) “freshly made iced tea”,  “freshly made BEST OF lemonade” and other fountain favorites.  But wait—did he say lemonade?   Who doesn’t LOVE lemonade?  Especially THIS lemonade.    It’s made with rose water & honey.

It was the winner of New Times Best of…2009

And it is, like nothing else on the planet.  Unless the planet you are speaking of is Planet Divine.

Describing it would not do it justice.

It’s something your taste buds need to experience.

It’s my new favorite beverage.

It made my heart pound.

And now on to the gyro.

This was not your run of the mill gyro, it was a historic moment in gyro experiences.  Historic in nature simply because it was the FIRST time Hank actually left the lettuce & tomato on & ate it as is!  Even after the foundation of said gyro suffered a catastrophic quake, falling to pieces in the tray it arrived in, we improvised, cutting it up and he then ate it like a salad.

LETTUCE AND ALL.

That—-my friends—is a historical moment.   Just as my head stopped spinning from this unreal experience, Hank informed me “I am going to  start eating salads.” The spinning resumed.  We’ll just wait & see how that works out.

While dining we were entertained with conversations about Lawrence of Arabia & the television up high in the corner playing Arabic music videos & belly dancing on orbit showtime tv.

Isam came out to check on us.  We shared Hank’s obsession with Lawrence of Arabia & he shared funny stories of the early 60’s when he first arrived in America…and camels.

If I had to pick my TOP 10 local favorite restaurants,  THIS IS ONE.

Go here.

Experience it.

Breathe in the fragrant atmosphere & taste the spices of somewhere far, far away.

You’ll wish you would have sooner, so don’t wait.

And tell Isam we said hello.

rescued from a certain doom…no longer destined to be land fill.

I know, I know.

It’s always about food with me, BUT…I have a hankerin’ for some Thanksgivin’ vittles.

Not so much the turkey part but everything else that goes along for the ride.

And yea though I am small, I can put away the grub.

Well, not as much as the tall guy (he went back for seconds) but I don’t do so bad for bein’ so “small-ish”.  I finished it all-except the roll-which I later I made into a tiny,  “snack-ish” sandwich.

Waste not, want not!

Thanksgiving, in mom’s kitchen.

So BIG DEAL if he has 4 legs & he sheds.  He’s still the most unconditional love a girl could ask for.

He is “Mr. Understanding”.  Mr. Cool, Calm & Collected.

He never asks questions, complains about what’s for dinner or makes lots of noise when I feel a need for peace and silence.  And he never seems to be more than 5 feet from wherever I am.

Yes, I’m in love with all 110 pounds of him.

My giant sweet black pony-mutt, Elvis.

“>

my modern ranch (part 4)

Thrift store pottery.  I love it when I can get it…especially with a good dose of lava glaze.

This is what sits smack-dab in the middle of my kitchen work triangle.

There are obstacles.

Giant obstacles.

Furry obstacles.

I love these obstacles.

I wouldn’t have them any place else.

Besides, they keep me nimble…it’s like navigating an obstacle course.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And here’s a closer look at the little mutts.  I mean ‘not so’ little mutts.

Elvis,  weighing in at 110# & Boscoe,  just a wee bit on the ‘lighter side’, at around 95#.

I sure love my mutts.

Funny how pint sized versions of cleaning accouterments once brought me such joy.

The sight or thought of a broom would never again make me this happy.

my modern ranch (Part 3)

a bathroom.

a work in progress.  a Hank compilation years 1-8.

Saturday I traveled out to Sun City to see what I could dig up in the second hand stores.  The sight seeing was actually more rewarding than my thrifty finds.  Check out the “Born to Golf” mobile.

The gentleman that owns this great little ride caught me snapping pics of it as he came out of a second hand furniture store.

“Is this your cart?”  I asked him, like I was cool with golf lingo or something.

He graciously confirmed it was.  I told him I “LOVED” it & that it made me happy just looking at it….to which he replied  “That’s how we do it around here.”

Then I went in to the furniture store, regretting not snapping his pic or asking him to take me for a spin in his truly fine,  smart car.

I caught this little bird sitting on top of this deer’s head.

…and this house had an entire family of deer in its front yard.

oh how I would LOVE to score some of these cement lawn ornaments.

maybe some day.

I’m on a weird kind of on a sandwich kick.  And “the club” is one of my favorites.  Must be the bacon.

Next time I’ll share my ham, Swiss & marinated cucumbers with you—it’s a culinary powerhouse.

Caesar’s Palace, Snake River Canyon,  riding wheelies, Wild Turkey, stars & stripes, tight white pants.

I’ve been thinking lots about Evel lately.  They just don’t make ‘em like EK anymore.  Packed with absolute coolness.  Straight to the bone.  So cool, in fact, that when I was very naive & just legal to drink, I decided (before even tasting it) my signature cocktail would be…are you ready…wild turkey, on the rocks…just like Evel.  It didn’t matter that I am a girl.  It didn’t matter that I didn’t know it could easily be mistaken for gasoline.  Needless to say I changed my mind quickly after I took  my first swig.  I immediately changed to California Coolers.

I’m SUPER-DUPER lucky to have grown up with the likeness of MANY Mr. Cools and this daredevil extraordinaire is at the TOP of my list.

my modern ranch (part 2)

Our milk box-

reminding us of a simpler time when there

were no cell phones or laptops

and milk was DELIVERED fresh,

in glass bottles.

The gate my groom built.

I’m sure that inside, he bursts with

happiness when I approach him with a little sketch

asking “Is it possible for you to build this?”

Nice shadow it casts.

Happy birthday to you, the KING of rock & roll!

Elvis Aaron Presley

January 8th 1935 ~ August 16th 1977

Hank’s FAVORITE accessory is the fake ’stache.  Trust me on this, it’s true.  Tonight he had one on…a brown one (he has them in every color) & he was fake-rockin’ out with his dad’s red bass guitar, his ’stache & a ball cap, singing a Weezer tune.  He suddenly discovered that his ’stache had fallen off, leaving only tape behind.  So he ran to the bathroom, tearing off his tape ’stache.  Then he exclaimed, in the most horrified of voices “MOM!  That tape tore of the beginnings of my REAL MUSTACHE!”.  When I stopped laughing & picked myself up from the floor, I reassured him his REAL mustache would grow back.  Even thicker than before.

in his warrior pose, donning a black cookie duster.

so long.

farewell.

auf weidersehen.

good bye.

au revior.

Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you.

I will surely miss YOU the most.

But don’t tell the others.

Well it’s THAT TIME.  Time to put away the Christmas chotskies, until next year.

Since our landscaping consists (mostly) of succulents & cacti, I have to rely on the neighbor’s plantings to give me the visual sense of a new season. Sometimes—a neighbor’s tree—with the help of the wind, will drop a few leaves on our lawn.  I like the contrast.

Yesterday, after visiting with friends & throwing down some mean vittles,  our dear friends, the Daunceys, loaned us their son Jack for the night.  So cowboy Hank and cowboy Jack gathered all the sheets they could find (I hope it didn’t freeze last night or my succulents are toast!), the crate full of shop towels & some croquet mallet sticks & they built a fort…in the back yard.

They must have worked up quite an appetite because no sooner than the last sheet went on, they were at the kitchen door—asking “what’s for dinner”.  hmmmm, I hadn’t thought about THAT.  So I made them a perfectly cowboy-ish meal which they ate by fireside.  Chili—served hot—which they ate out of cans, kinda like cowboys would—with Tillamook cheddar and a dollop of Daisy on top.  Alongside that, a plate of hot nachos & homemade salsa.  Some ice cold Coca Cola from a thermos & they were set.  Then they did what all good cowboys would do while dining, they watched Mars Attacks on the portable dvd player.

After dinner they hollered in the saloon door “what’s for dessert?”.  What else would a cowboy have for dessert—milk shakes with mounds of whipped cream.

My thought is that IF your first meal on the first day of the new year consists of massive amounts of calories, you can only IMPROVE your diet from that point. I mean, a pound of butter, 8 cups of buttermilk, a half gallon of whole milk, 1# of bacon & 1 # of sausage all by 2 pm on the first day of the new year doesn’t necessarily HAVE TO spell disaster to the rest of your year’s caloric intake…does it?

Anyhow, every year, every New Year’s day,  we feast on biscuits & gravy. It’s just something we do. It gives us that cozy (or maybe it’s the other 4 lettered word containing a “z” ~L-A-Z-Y) winter feeling.

Eating biscuits & gravy & watching the Winter Classic hockey game.

Something about it just feels right.

mmmmmmmmmmm, bacon

sizzling…

…crispy bacon.

mmmmmmmmmmm, sausage.

delicious pork sausage.

bacon AND sausage, together, at last!

ahhhhhhh, gravy. yummy, delicious gravy.

butter.  need I say more?

…ok, after this, the wheels fell off my photo documentary wagon.  I am NOT an award winning blogger, far from it.  So read this & imagine what came next…I poured the wet biscuit mixture out onto my “well-floured bench”, patted the dough out to an even, 1 1/2″ thickness.  Cut it into 28 biscuit sized circles & baked them to perfection.   Then, hot from the oven, we smothered them with gravy & ate, ate, ate.

Then we watched hockey.

The Bruins beat the Flyers.

I like the Flyers.

The end.

If you’ve seen Lawrence of Arabia, you’ll get this.  If you haven’t, my apologies.

Ladies & gentlemen, Lord Weissel (pronounced WHY-zool)~

He’s the leader of the new tribe.   Note the croquet mallet (stick only) which he can use to create a lean-to, shielding him from the blazing rays of the hot Summer sun, whenever he feels the need for a desert nap.  I’m sure the cozy fleece blanket will keep him quite cool.  No matter, he’s Lord Weissel.  He is courageous, strong, energetic & a complete goofball.

Here are a few of the amazing things he can do:

• blows fire
• disappears
• electrocutes
• throws fire balls
• has laser eyes
• can create a sonic boom
• can control others by putting his mind in their’s

Lord Weissel’s cape is indestructible (so is that fleece blanket),   his stick has a powerful, electrifying end.  His headband is solid gold and that makes him a really good dancer (just kidding, I added that part).

I’m not sure if this means my 10 year old has:

A- a normal imagination

B- an overactive imagination

C- we’ve been on Christmas holiday too long

D-he is missing some vital form of the nutrition group

Here’s  hoping it’s “A“.

It’s what’s for breakfast.  At least while on Christmas break.  Besides, there’s bacon in the mix & THAT makes everything alright with the world.

mmmmmm, challah bread French toast

…aren’t they just precious?

Each year I scour thrift & vintage shops just to find the perfect fix for my vintage Christmas addiction.  This year I wasn’t left empty handed.  Luckily, I made it in to my favorite local vintage shop & found these delights, before anyone else did.

If you haven’t already ventured in to Hollywood Regency, you MUST.  There is no other shop in the city with as much of a selection of vintage Christmas items.  It’s fantastic-vintage-Christmas-supply-o-rama!

Hollywood Regency also stocks—what has to be—the city’s LARGEST supply of vintage clothing.  Garments that will leave you speechless…amazing one of a kind pieces.

Hurry down to the Melrose curve & see for yourself!

Hollywood Regency

708 W. Montecito Ave

Phoenix, AZ 85013

602.277.5765