phx 2020.

After I came back from New Orleans last year he asked if he could go on a plane one day the next time I went on a trip.  I said 'yes,' and that was that, and he didn't really bring it up much after that.  Until about last fall, and then he really started asking about going on an airplane ride in earnest.  So I booked a short flight two and from Phoenix for us, and last month we got to surprise him with the trip!

It was my first time flying with a kid, and I have to admit I was pretty nervous.  (A million times more nervous than I've ever been flying by myself, that's for sure.)  I figured it was either going to go extremely well OR extremely terribly.  Jon was pretty convinced that he would have to drive down to Arizona to pick us up in the event that Theo would not get back on the plane to go home.

But he loved it!!  He was so excited and cute the whole time.  He had the hardest time waiting (try teaching an autistic 5yo that the majority of the time spent flying by plane is WAITING), but he wasn't scared or nervous in the ways I thought he might.  It definitely helped that he slept through the most intense turbulence I have ever experienced in my flying life.  I will be eternally grateful for that nap he took during that portion of the flight.

I also made sure that we stayed close to the light rail, which was our transportation source AND a chance for Theo to also get to ride a train.  He loved it, but again had trouble waiting for our stop.

I kept the itinerary light, which is to say that it was basically non-existent.  I knew that Theo (and me, honestly) would not be able to handle an even remotely-full schedule, so we essentially did one quick trip to a bookstore and then spent the rest of our trip at the library.  And good grief, did I miss the Phoenix Public Libraries.  The Burton Barr branch looks amazing post-renovations, and it was so nice to be in a place with a wide selection of books and activities for kids.  I definitely had library envy while we were on this trip, both as a patron and as a worker.

I also remembered how important the Phoenix Library system was to me, especially when I was postpartum with Theo.  There are so many different ways that the library, in its proximity or in its vast collections, helped me get through one of the hardest times of my life.  I know it sounds dramatic to say that the library saved my life, but at the time it really did feel like that.

(Also, just for fun: throwback to baby Theo on a walk to the Agave branch of the Phoenix library :)

We stayed in the cutest and most amazing Airbnb I've booked to date.  Theo was in love with it and when we he was tired of being out and about, he would ask when we were going back to the White House, which is what he called the place.  It had a few toys for kids, tons of snacks, and Netflix cued up, which is basically the Holy Trinity of necessities for traveling with kids.  We definitely will try and stay here again if we were go back to the area.  (Theo keeps asking me if "next time" we can take Dad and Vivi to the White House)

Now.
In case you're confused and thinking,

SERIOUSLY.  YOU WENT BACK TO PHOENIX AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT IT FOR A DECADE.  WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU.

I KNOW.  I get it, okay?!?  I thought the exact same thing.  In fact, in preparation for this trip, I had this scene from Avatar: The Last Airbender constantly going through my head:

I think Phoenix will forever be my "Failure at Ba Sing Se."  Don't judge me if I decide to open up a tea shop there years from now.


Have I mentioned how freaking perfect the weather was when we stayed??  One day on a walk in the beautiful neighborhood where we stayed, I caught myself thinking Why did I ever hate living here??  It's because there is a special power that comes from Januarys in Phoenix that magically wipes your brain of all the weather trauma the place inflicts on you the rest of the year.

Anyway, Theo's first trip via airplane was a success!  I'm so glad we got to experience this trip together, and it also proves we have a whole world open for visiting with this boy when he's ready.

(But also when Vivi's older because the thought of taking her on a plane right now makes me break out in a sweat.)

a tale of two januarys.

I knew that once all of the holidays were over and just the cold was left I'd be thinking about "winters" in Arizona.  While that ended up being true, I was surprised to find that we have all weathered the colder temperatures here much better than I expected (minus that one day our heater broke, but whatever).  And so, I can't say that my pining for Arizona during this time of year has been that strong, save for one aspect I was really missing last month.

I was remembering what I call The Great YA Fantasy Binge of 2017, which began in January of that year.  I read so many books in those two weeks outside on a blanket in our yard that was always at its best during Arizona winters.  The sad realization that I'd never be able to comfortably read outside in January again hit me, and I was really missing our old home and yard.

Theo and I in our yard, January 2017.

And then, what do you know: the snow on the south side of our house melted and the sun made mid-30 degree temperatures feel closer to the 50s.  It was like a visit from The Ghost of Arizona Winters Past (hiya Dickens reference #2!!) and a peek into Spring.  Theo broke out the sidewalk chalk and I took up a lawn chair and began what has turned into The Great YA Fantasy Binge of 2019 (more about that later).

Theo and Vivi in the driveway, January 2019.

It has since snowed again, the chalk has disappeared, we have a snowman in our front yard, and Spring seems a long ways away again.  But we had that one beautiful, sun-warmed week where I didn't really miss Arizona all that much anymore.  I'm nothing if not a cherisher of the little things brought on by favorable weather.

(Like these little footprints! 😍)

goodbye to the first house i ever loved.

Goodbye to the living room that we eventually grew into and made into a place that was nice to be in and look at.

Goodbye to the long runway from living room to kitchen wherein Theo clocked hundreds of miles on foot and bike.

Goodbye to the kitchen that was too dark for my liking but had a layout that made it a dream to work in.

And goodbye to that backyard where Theo left babyhood behind and turned into a boy. (😭)

(And good riddance to all of the abuse this house inflicted on us, in spite of all my love.  I hope our next home is a lot nicer to us.)

the good season.

I've had these thoughts lately about the fleeting nature of things that are good.

For the last two weeks, and for the foreseeable future, we've essentially been living in a one bedroom, one bathroom home.  Long story short: our home's plumbing turned on us once again and there is now an incomplete wall between Theo's room and the master bathroom.

(Theo thinks this is actually the funniest thing ever.)

Each time we've needed a home repair, it's been a huge (though annoyingly costly) relief after everything is fixed and we have our house back in working order.  I live in peace and happily express gratitude every day thereafter for a newly working {insert "house body part" here}.  Home life is good again!

And then we find water pooling in the yard, or realize there isn't cold air blowing out of our vents anymore, or discover the wall alongside our son's bed is totally soaked through.  The good time ends.


Last week here in Phoenix was beautiful.  It was cool and breezy; the "Spring" that everyone here said has been here for weeks. (In actuality Spring doesn't exist here.  It's pre-Summer.)

Anyway, we all went on long walks every day last week and I was crazy about these pretty flowers that were blooming on the Argentine Giant Cactus beside our house.  I couldn't stop taking pictures of them.  Partly because they were so gorgeous, but also because I knew they wouldn't last long.  And sure enough, the flowers were alive and beautiful for no more than two days before they began to die.

I'm not sure what my resolving thought is here.  I understand the cyclical nature of, well... nature.  I'm not angrily shaking my fist right now or saying why me or life's not fair or anything like that.

I guess maybe I'm just trying to remind myself to appreciate the good when it's here and in season.  To let myself dorkily take a million pictures of a few flowers in as many good angles as I can find without stabbing myself with cactus needles.  And to remember that when the good season leaves it will always come back, however short it may be.

return to schnepf farms.

On Saturday we returned to Schnepf Farms to pick peaches.  After last year's trip, I'd eaten our peach haul in about a week and was pretty regretful that I hadn't picked more.  So this year I picked a whopping 13 pounds.  I will probably feel like I didn't get enough a week from now.  I think it's safe to say that peaches are my favorite fruit and though I generally dread the start of summers here in AZ, it's always softened by the fact that it coincides with the beginning of peach season.  It's finally here, and this year I am going to make that peach pie that I always say I'm going to make but never do because I already ate the peaches.

Theo was quite enamored with the peacocks.  His interest should come as no surprise, seeing as they're birds and he loves birds, but I'm not sure he actually knew they were birds. (birds)

At the bakery/country store, we picked up some fresh vegetables for our dinner the next evening.  (More about that later!)  We also picked up the peach cinnamon rolls I'd ordered the day before (just to be safe!)  I've basically been craving them every since we got one (only one, sadly!) last year.  They are decadent, but they also have peaches inside so it feels kind of healthy...??

It was possibly the very last perfect, not-too-hot Saturday of this part of the year, and it was well spent.  We love you, Schnepf Farms, and your perfect peaches.

bruce munro at desert botanical gardens.

Three years ago (!!!) Jon and I visited Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania to see a special light-art installation but Bruce Munro.  It was an incredible magical experience and one of the coolest things we have ever seen.  Sadly, I'd forgotten a tripod and so my pictures weren't amazing, but we've never forgotten what we saw.  Jon even had grand plans to feature fiber optic lighting and decoration at the open house before our wedding.  Sadly it didn't work out, but I'm sure we will throw a party someday with some fiber optics at some point in our lives.

Anyway, we were thrilled when we found out that many of Munro's pieces were coming to Phoenix.  We visited the Desert Botanical Gardens (with a tripod!) a few weeks ago, and were happy to see old favorites and new beautiful installations.  You don't often get to repeat an amazing date, and we're glad we got to do it with this one.

Water-Towers

Field of Light

Fireflies

Eden Blooms

We love you, Bruce Munro.  Could you design something for our house, please??  Will pay in cookies and amateur-level pictures taken of the art.  Thanks!

downgrade / upgrade: cinnamon rolls.

Growing up when school was cancelled for a snow day, my mom would make those cinnamon rolls that popped from a can.  (The can literally pops, you know the ones.)

Here where we live there are definitely not going to be any snow storms, and if there were it would probably be the end of the world and there wouldn't be any time to make cinnamon rolls.  Instead we get dust storms and rain storms, which don't sound as awesome as snow storms, but every once in a while a good hard rain comes and makes you feel alive*.

Today we had one of those storms and I decided to make cinnamon rolls.  In terms of the tradition, the snow storm was downgraded to a rain storm, but the cinnamon rolls from a can got upgraded to cinnamon rolls from scratch.

I admit that when I made cinnamon rolls a few weeks ago I was a little disappointed.  They tasted good enough, but they weren't as spectacular as ones I'd remembered making before.  So this time I combined my favorite parts of a few recipes and the result was a batch of rolls that I am pleased with for now.



Kristin's Cinnamon Rolls

For the Dough:

1 cup whole milk

one 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

1/4 cup plus 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 2 tablespoons more (softened) for the bowl

1 large egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3-4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

For the Filling:

All-purpose flour, for dusting

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for the pan

1 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the Frosting:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

8 tablespoons butter, softened

1 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon lemon juice

Make the dough: Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until it reaches about 100. Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar. Set aside until foamy, 5 minutes. Whisk in the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla.

Whisk 3 cups flour, the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, the salt and nutmeg in the bowl of a stand mixer. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until thick and slightly sticky. Knead on medium speed until the dough gathers around the hook, 6 minutes. (Add up to 1 cup more flour if necessary.)

Remove the dough and shape into a ball. Butter the mixer bowl and return the dough to the bowl, turning to coat with butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm oven until doubled, 1 hour 15 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 10-by-18 -inch rectangle with the longer side facing you.  Spread with the 6 tablespoons softened butter, leaving a 1/2-inch border on the far long edge. Mix the sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the butter.

Brush the unbuttered far edge with water. Roll the dough away from you into a tight cylinder and press on the long edge to seal.

Slip a long taut piece of thread or unflavored floss under the roll, about 1 1/2 inches from the end.  Lift the ends of the tread and cross over the roll, pulling tightly to cut off a piece.  Repeat, cutting every 1 1/2 inches, to make 12 rolls.

Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; place the buns cut-side down in the pan, leaving space between each. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Bake the buns until golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Cool in the pan 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the frosting: Beat the butter and cream cheese until mixture is light.  Add the sugar and beat until smooth.  Add the vanilla and lemon juice.  Frosting can be stored in the fridge until ready to use.

Kristin's notes:

(1) You can use a glaze instead of a cream cheese frosting, but... the cream cheese frosting makes all the difference.  It definitely takes the rolls to a whole new level of indulgence, but it is so much better.  The slight acid from the lemon juice in the frosting works so well with the sweetness of the rolls.  Just trust me.

(2) Every recipe I've tried has called for the 12 tablespoons of butter when you're ready to fill the rolls, which is an insane amount.  And honestly, every time I have made cinnamon rolls I have never used 12 tablespoons.  At most, maybe 6.  I just do enough to cover the surface of dough that's to be topped with cinnamon-sugar.  But if you want more butter, hey.  More power to you.  It certainly can't make these babies taste worse!

Cinnamon rolls are the best.  They are also probably the worst for you, but if you live in a place that doesn't get much rain/snow, then this tradition won't kill you anytime soon.

* Speaking of feeling alive, at one point today there was this huge crack of thunder that came out of nowhere, shook our house, and had me so freaked out I swore loud enough that our neighbors might have heard it.  I can't even explain how startled/shocked/scared I was for two or three seconds, except by telling you that I was all shot up with adrenaline and shaking for twenty minutes after it happened.  So I guess my fight or flight instincts are off and I just yell out expletives and stand in one place shaking.

(Theo was totally unfazed, by the way.  Thinks he's super brave or something.)

june eats.

In June we ate at two new restaurants for Jon's birthday and our wedding anniversary.  The first (which was actually just new for Jon), was Distrito, a Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale at the Saguaro Hotel.  I visited here last October with my parents and really liked it and was excited to take Jon there.  We went for the lunch special and I got the shrimp ceviche and the skirt steak tacos.  The shrimp dish was amazing: it was sweet and a little spicy, but the slight heat was tempered by the avocado, and it was perfect.  The tacos were also delicious.  Even though they were steak, it was somehow refreshing.  The steak flavor stood out and wasn't masked by a sauce.  It was clean and simple and so good.

The second restaurant was Carvalho's, a new Brazilian place that opened up in the Valley.  Up until now there hasn't been an Brazilian place in town in our price range that offers the kind of meals that Jon had when he was in Brazil for two years, so we were very excited to visit.

We started with pastéis, which were small beef turnovers served with a spicy emulsion-sauce.  Interestingly these reminded me most of the fried wontons that had growing up, which is a completely different cuisine, but whatever.  They were very delicious and oily in the right way.  For main courses, Jon ordered what he knew would be closest to what he had every day in Brazil - a beans and rice dish.  His plate was served with a small steak but a ton of rice and beans and some greens on the side.  I ordered the Feijoada, which as I understand it is Brazil's signature meal.  I was surprised when the server set down five plates in front of me and told me that it was up to me to assemble my plate to my liking with each of the elements.  It was slightly overwhelming, but also fun.  As I was eating, the thought entered my mind: This is comfort food.  It made me wish I could transport myself to a cool fall day, perhaps a little rainy, and I'm inside wearing thick tube socks and eating these beans and rice to stay warm.  It was a great moment, and I definitely mean to learn how to make this dish by the time it cools down around here.

And of course Jon had to order Pudim de Leite for dessert, which is Brazil's version of flan.  I personally cannot eat it, no matter how many times I have tried it.  But this is good for Jon because it means he doesn't have to share it with me.

I highly recommended both of these restaurants.  I have been wanting to back to Carvalho's ever since we left, and I actually went back to Distrito with my mom and sister shortly after Jon and I went.  Definitely keepers for me!

peaches at schnepf farms.

Last Saturday we make the trip down to Queen Creek to visit a farm and pick peaches.  For me one of the best things about summer is that peaches are in season.  Peaches are my absolute favorite, and I try to take full advantage during the months they are available.  Last year I ate at least twenty pounds of peaches over the course of the summer.  Chalk it up to a serious love of peaches and pregnancy cravings.

Since we have a freakish climate in the valley, any peaches grown here are ready a little bit earlier in the year.  We spent some time picking our own to get a head start on the peach-eating season, as well as snatching up any of the farm's peach goods that we fancied.  We used the excuse "this place is so far away, this is the only time we will be here!" to buy everything up.  And honestly, it's a good thing it's far away from us because we LOVED the peach cinnamon roll and peach pie we got.

Peach season has officially begun, hollaaaaa!!

desert botanical gardens.

It's getting hot again and the past couple of weekends I've been trying to cram in everything that we could possibly want to do while the temperatures are reasonable.

Two Saturdays ago we visited the Desert Botanical Gardens.  The thing about desert landscaping for me is that it often feels like once you've seen one type of cactus you've seen them all.  So the main area I wanted to see was the Edible Garden.

For pretty much all of my Arizona life I've bitterly worn the Black Thumb badge.  Either seeds don't sprout or already living plants die.  At one point the allure of low-maintenance succulents got to me, and I bought some with lots of hope.  I somehow managed to kill those, too.  Currently I have a few herbs that have been alive for around a month, so I'm feeling a little better about myself.  We'll see how things go once the high heat kicks in.

Anyway I wanted to see the Edible Garden, and it was wonderful.  It was a little depressing to see what the possibilities are and know that I probably have no chance of being that successful.  But it did give me a little more motivation to do everything I can to keep what I have now alive.  Then maybe I can work my way up to some of the herbs/veggies/flowers the gardens had.