Have you noticed your feet turn gray when you walk around the house barefoot?

Do you see a fine gray dust in the furnace filter?

Vacuum filters really pick it up well. It is everywhere. I’ve lived in three different homes in Oro Valley and every one of them has had this dust.

Yeah! It is finally open

The official date was June 11, 2010. The first time we could get there to eat was today, June 13, 2010. It was worth the wait.

We drove by this morning at 6:30 am to get a shot of the new building while the sun was still on the front.

There was a crew there cleaning the outdoor tables even then; they were getting ready for the day and what a beautiful day it has been.

It was about 12:30 this afternoon when like kids on Christmas morning we couldn’t wait any longer.

It was a double double with grilled onions and well done fries for me. Barbara had a single (protein style), that’s no bun and wrapped in lettuce leaves. We ate outside on the covered patio. It was warm but not as warm as it has been the past couple of weeks. There was a cool breeze (any breeze under 100 degrees is cool) and the patio was filled with families and small kids enjoying their burgers and fries.

It is nice to have an In-N-Out Burger close and right here in Oro Valley.  We are big fans of In-N-Out Burger.  From their food to their service and community involvement, we love In-N-Out.

Time To Go

Bring your Old TV sets and Monitors to be recycled.  It isn’t free, well some stuff is free, but it is convenient.  The cost is $10 per TV (except for Sony, they are exempt) and $5 per computer monitor.  It doesn’t matter if it is working.  There is not fee for printer cartridges.  I’m not sure about printers, I couldn’t find any reference to printers themselves.  If you have one take it.  The most it can cost you is $10.  Better than having them in the landfill.

The times are from 8 am. to 1 pm.  I would guess the earlier the better.

Clean out the garage or office and get rid of those old electronics.

Need another reason

It was just two weeks ago an article stated that more and more infants are being killed by old TV sets.  With newer flat screen sets the old one are being moved to the “kids room”.  But many of those old sets are very heavy.  Most furniture in a childs room isn’t sturdy enough to hold those old sets.  The end result, they are being tipped over and onto very small children.

If you have a situation like this in your home.  Save yourself a lot of potential grief.  Get rid of that old 100 pound set and put something smaller and safer in your child’s room.  Books come to mind

The Oro Valley Mini Park

I’ve put off writing this post because I don’t quite know what to say about this project. I support involving high school students in summer projects. I also support Oro Valley Public Art and making our community attractive.

But I have to question spending $75,000 on this project and the end result for the amount of money spent.

This doesn’t look like $75,000 worth of improvements at this corner of the community. But it was grant money? From who . . . ? US?

From the Front

Corn Festival August 15, 2009

It was the middle of July when we had the Anti Vampire Festival, I mean the Tomato, Basil and Garlic Festival.  It turned out to be a Saturday when i couldn’t get to the Market.

I try and drop in each week for a few minutes at least if I’m in town.  I have a Twitter friend from Burnt Orange Foods that is there each week as well as Adventure Coffee.

I will admit when it is over 100 degrees I’m not one to buy a cup of coffee and stand outside and chat while sipping on coffee.

I distinctly remember not being able to come to last years corn festival.  I remember that because when I got home there were a few ears of corn waiting for me that Barbara had picked up in my absence.

The reason this memory lingers is the fact there were two ears of corn waiting for me.

I’m from Ohio and spent a great many years living and working in Des Moines, Iowa, specifically in Cumming, Iowa.  We had a lot of corn grown around those parts of the country and it was nothing for me to eat half a dozen large ears of corn for a meal.

Barbara has a 2 ear limit.  I attribute this to her petite size.  That should score some points. : )

By the time I had finished off my second ear it was 2 pm. well past the close of the corn festival at Noon.

NOTE TO SELF:

Next year (that’s tomorrow)  make sure you are around in the morning for the Oro Valley Farmers’ Market Corn Festival.

I’ve been in Irvine, CA for the past week attending my daughter Suzi’s “White Coat” ceremony as she begins her PHD program in Med School there.  While it was 109 here in Oro Valley it was a breezy 75 there.  Tempted to stay a few days longer I was reminded of the Corn Festival.

You are thinking “He can be bribed by sweet corn”?  Yes. I can.

Tomoto Basil & Garlic Festival

Saturday July 18, 2009 is the day you won’t find any vampires at the Oro Valley Farmers’ Market. While the tomatoes might look like blood, or be turned into a Bloody Mary that is as close as you will get to the undead.  The Farmers market is open from 8 am. to Noon every Saturday.

And what can I say about Basil, Oh, I know, he wouldn’t want me telling you this but,  he had a little too much to drink and is greener than ever.

During the hot summer months there are fewer snowbirds in town and let’s face it not many people want to go out in the heat.  I’ll admit it is harder these days to go buy my cup of coffee which is always good and hot in the winter.  It is just as good in the summer but it is still hot.

Tomorrow’s festival should be one you want to attend if you haven’t been to the farmer’s market in awhile. The whole day should be fun and interesting.

It is a rule around our house that if one had garlic, all have garlic. It does seem to work pretty well. Therefore, come prepared to sample and eat garlic. You might want to bring along some gum or breath mints for later.

Chef Improv by Ramiro Scavo

One of the things that makes this festival special Ramiro Scavo will be there preparing dishes from what is on site. You can get ideas, taste samples and I hear get recipes as well.

Ramiro Scavo is the chef at Harvest.

As always there will be a great selection of fresh produce and Arizona award winning products.

Commonly used to insulate pipes, roofs, floors and walls, homes built after 1980 could still harvest asbestos or other environmental defected insulation techniques. Asbestos is a form of insulation which is swiftly becoming obsolete because of environmental awareness and new protocols.

Improper insulation was used throughout the 20^th century and while it is safe when enclosed or in good condition, deteriorated and disturbed asbestos can cause a slew of health problems, such as malignant mesothelioma. With a latency period that lasts 20 to 50 years, it isn’t until the later stages of progression when physicians usually are able to accurately diagnose this disease. Mesothelioma prognosis from physicians varies from patient to patient, but is usually poor.

Energy and sustainability fuel many facets of life in Tucson. A catalyst for homes, schools, industries, universities and businesses, the diversity of enterprises is driven by a common bound to move to a greener, more sustainable form of living. Not only will these methods produce a healthier lifestyle, it will save you money!

Green insulation alternatives are quickly being implemented as viable replacements to asbestos. Building green with proper insulation will save you on bills. Rather than expensive and mal-treated wood, interior walls can be made from steel and concrete, avoiding many of the problems associated with asbestos and other insulation methods. Environmentally sustainable insulations are made from recycled materials including cellulose, polyurethane foam and cotton fiber. Statistics show that the lcynene foam, for example, can cut energy costs by about 25 percent annually.

Organizations in the southwest such as Environment Arizona have been important in removal methods of asbestos and other toxic materials which serve as a threat to many people’s health.  The organization is trying to attain tax credits for people and families who generate renewable energy.

Local Tucson Brands Around The Front Door

While technically not in Oro Valley, The Steak Out is closer to Oro Valley than Marana. Located near the McDonalds at Tangerine and Thornydale. One unique feature is the the invitation by area ranchers to come by and place their brand around the front door. It gives the place a real Southwest flavor. We think it is a great idea. We also hear the food and music are great. Check it out.

Braving the Sun

Want to learn about cooking with the sun? Going green with your cooking and just as the summer sun provides lots of free energy to do so. Learn all about solar ovens and cooking with the sun at the Solar potluck Tomorrow 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, April 25th.

The event is being held at: Catalina State Park I’m assuming the $5 per car entry will be required unless you have an annual pass.

I’m going to try and get over to see what’s cooking. Hope to see you there.

You can read all about the event on the event website Citizens for Solar

Tiger Woods announced today he will be returning to the PGA Tour and the Accenture Match Play for 2009.  I’m sure everyone associated with the Accenture in Tucson is breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Everyone has been holding there breath waiting and hoping Tiger would return to the Accenture.  Now the wait is over and the news is better than good, it is GREAT!  Tiger is coming to town and that town is Tucson.

Go to the Tucson Real Estate Blog for a complete run down on the Accenture Match Play for 2009