Happy New Years!!!

"Two more years and your ass is mine..."

Quetzalcoatl

Veagans may want to leave the room...

Nothing says love like a standing rib roast

All over but the shouting

This has been probably one of the nicest Christmases I can remember in some time, not that they didn't all have their good points. What made this one so nice is that we had everyone together over the span of two days, the Tucson branch of the family came up earlier in the week and the Chandler branch came out on the 26th, including my son-in-law's family. Tiny House was bursting to the seams with love and laughter - doesn't get much better than that!!! What are the chances of one great Thanksgiving followed by an even better Christmas? Hard to believe how lucky I have been.

Now on the verge of a new year and I can't wait to see what it brings. Hope you all have a good New Year!!!

Merry Christmas!

Just a few short hours until the sound of tiny hooves will be heard up on the roof, and a fat dude in a red suit (not me) will slide down the chimney or vent pipe as the case may be and leave toys under the tree from his big bag of dreams. One of my favorite things (certainly not snow on eyelashes) is "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.

Though an old story, the values put forward hold as true today as they did the day Dickens penned the original story. Of all the lines in the story, Jacob Marley comes out with the best - "mankind should have been our business." No truer words have ever been spoken. Merry Christmas!

Never met BBQ I didn't like...

Yep, big smile, and who wouldn't be smiling next to all that barbecued ducky goodness. It was tough opting for the sizzling seafood platter, though that was very good! Next time it is the duck for sure. This all took place in the Hong Kong style restaurant with in Lee Lee's market. I nosed all the tables to see what was being eaten and didn't spot a bad dish in the place, so it was hard to choose. I do have a passion for duck meat in any form, but the seafood was just too tempting. The platter had fish, octopus, scallops, shrimp, and assorted veggies, all sizzling away on top of onion, peppers and broccoli, covered with a sauce (no one would divulge the secret as to what went into the sauce, but it was excellent none the less) all for around $13. Mrs Phos shared, but isn't a big seafood fan so only made a way with a shrimp, one scallop, and some of the vegetation.

After lunch I went in search of the elusive black mushroom, which interestingly enough may not be black at all. In fact, as I found out later it may also be called "White Flower Mushroom," go figure. I get a chance to dine at the temple from time to time and they serve up some awesome vegetarian dishes. Unfortunately for me, the cook speaks no English and her husband who does, doesn't cook, so trying to figure out the ingredients is a challenge. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that one item might have several names, such as the boxthorn seed, which is also called wolfberry. And the greens? No one seems to know what they are. I took a stab at guessing in the produce Asile at Lee Lee's so tonight we'll find out how well I guessed. Fortunately if I screwed up too badly Rosati's pizza is just a phone call away.

The dinner bell

Never adopt animals that talk...

Huskies: Nature's slackers

I know, everyone has seen pictures of huskies pulling dog sleds through the arctic, but if left to their own devices they are the laziest beasts on God's green earth. They are also experts in comfort and are able to sense pillows from 1/2 a mile. Mrs Phos has always wondered why a creature wrapped in so much fur needs a pillow or blanket to lie on.

Yukon demonstrates the fine art of skiving below. He is a master slacker, a triple black belt in lazy, and has a PHD in sleep studies...

The Arctic Curl

Using found objects (such as a footstool cushion)

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I will follow the way of the husky and go kip out a bit myself!!

Greetings from Tiny House.

Another year come and gone, sort of, and things at Tiny House remain the same for the most part. In this economy and climate the same is pretty good and I have to thank God for that. Things that have changed are the blessing of yet another grandchild, bringing us up to two grandchildren and two grandpuppies. A soul can’t ask for much more than that.

Tiny House is still tiny, but still ours, which is saying something as Obamanomics fails to bring any really relief to the common man. I have the love of a very fine woman who has been more than patient and loving. She needs to be placed on the fast track for sainthood. I also have two wonderful kids that have turned out spectacularly and have brought two wonderful people into the family through marriage. Both my son-in-law and daughter-in-law are tremendous people and a fine addition to our family. I miss having them all here in fact. Fortunately Christmas is coming up and we’ll have a wonderful time together, filling the Tiny House with noise, love, and laughter. Best of all, I get to cook to my heart’s content.

I am personally taking a new path. It is high time to embrace some sort of spirituality and I think I have found a philosophy that is a good fit. I was fortunate enough to receive the Dao and will now embark on an adventure as I learn more about it, while coming to accept the fact a God does exist. I enjoy the company of the others on this path, and am looking forward to growing in this new direction. I am still jobless, but am confident things will work out.

I hope that whatever you celebrate over the next few weeks will fill your houses with love and laughter, and want to wish everyone a great Christmas and a plentiful and wondrous New Year.

Here's a picture specially for Die Murane, he said I post too many cloud pictures, so here's one with no clouds...

Husky Patrol

The weather is cool, perfect for huskies or at least as perfect as it gets in AZ. The past rain cleared the brown cloud hovering over Phoenix out of the air so everything is just sparkling. Very nice day to be out and about with the pack.

Happy Pearl Harbor Day

I sometimes think too many people have forgotten the lessons learned in the past world wars. It saddens me to see NAZIs marching down American streets today, when many of their grandfathers and fathers sacrificed life and limb to stop the very thing their kids and grand kids now seem to espouse. Few seem to realize the dangers of strong nationalism and a resurgence of facisim whether on the part of foreigners or at home.

This is also a day to remember those who were caught in the attack and those who went on to defeat the Japanese.

The Art of Tiny House

This first piece is one of Max's latest. Using a limited color pallet Max began the creation on the hallway wall. Unfortunately we'll never know what he was striving for as mom caught him in the act and cancelled the project.
This second and earlier fresco was completed during "nap time," where his muse overpowered the sandman, and a crayon and so much blank wall was just too big a temptation.

Grandpa doesn't mind that Max is turning Tiny House into a living gallery. I wouldn't take a sponge to the murals - that would be like using a pressure washer to get rid of all the graffiti on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.