Family, Friends and Feasts

     For those of us who consider ourselves full-time RVers, the expression so often goes "home is where we park it."  But when the holidays roll around, the familiar adage, "home is where the heart is," begins to gnaw at the soul.  A few years ago, after spending several of our winters south, the kids talked us into coming "home" to Minnesota for Christmas.

I taught my daughter, as the saying goes, "when the hills turn pink, it's time for a drink!"

   Our concerns up to that time had been leaving the motor home and our dog for an extended period of time.  So we left the Mandalay in the good hands of neighbors who had become friends and packed the dog and gifts in the car and headed from Phoenix to Minneapolis.  We enjoyed spending time with our families, and were surprised to become stranded on our way back in Gallup, New Mexico for three days due to a blizzard which closed down Interstate 40.  Oh yes, and how we were reminded that there really was a good reason we had chosen to stay south for the holidays.
   The day before Thanksgiving this year began quite early for me, first dropping George off at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport around 6 a.m. and returning to finalize my tasks and cooking for the weekend so I could relax for some quality time with my daughter.  Just before lunch I again made the airport drive to pick up my daughter, Lindsay, (an acupuncturist by trade), who flew in from Boulder, Colorado to spend her holiday here.

My mother's hot rolls prepared to share with our table

   For our table at the Meridian dinner, I prepared my mother's hot roll recipe (one pan of wheat and one of white) in my Sharp convection oven. These are so delicious and not too difficult to make.  Needed ingredients are:  1/4 C melted butter in small bowl, 3 C flour (can use half wheat), 1/4 C sugar, 2 heaping Tbsp. shortening, a pinch of salt and 1 pkg. yeast dissolved in 1-1/4 C warm (not hot or you'll kill the yeast) water. Directions:  In a cup, dissolve yeast in water and stir.  Mix dry ingredients in large bowl.  Cut shortening into dry ingredients with a fork.  Stir yeast into flour.  If necessary, add more water.  Stir and cover.  Set in a warmish spot (again, not hot) until mixture doubles in size (about 3 hours).  Punch down and allow to rise again (about 1 to 1-1/2 hours).  Turn dough out onto floured board or counter.  Knead enough flour into dough that it can be rolled out to 3/4" thick.  Using a glass with edge dipped in flour, cut circles with dough.  Dip one side into bowl of melted butter.  Fold roll in half, butter side in, and crimp rounded edges together with fingertips.  Place rolls in a 9 x 13" pan that's been lightly greased.  Cover and let rise until double (about 1 hour).  Bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes.  Yields about 24 rolls.  These freeze well and reheat in the microwave.

Thanksgiving hike at Lost Dutchman State Park

   Lindsay helped pay for her trip by beating out 14 players for the Texas Hold 'Em jackpot upon her arrival Wednesday night.  We hiked a trail at Lost Dutchman State Park before an early afternoon community pot luck with turkey and trimmings provided by park management.  

Clever salt and pepper holder!

   
   Friday we embarked on a 37-mile guided ATV tour of Box Canyon about mid-way between Tucson and Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert.  Our guides were terrific, provided training on the RVs and all the needed gear, helmets, bandanas, gloves and goggles, as well as snacks for a fun and informative three hour adventure.  We saw ancient Native American petroglyphs, an adobe stagecoach depot and a huge tarantula!  It was a great time!  azatvfun.com

No Black Friday shopping for these two ladies!

 We had just enough time to rinse off the dust and walk the dogs before we picked George up at the airport and ended the day with entertainment and dinner at Organ Stop Pizza in nearby Mesa.
   

Organ Stop in Mesa -- A great place to enjoy pizza and an amazing musical performance!

   George filled us in on his Twin Cities adventure and how he enjoyed surprising each of his four kids one at a time by showing up unexpectedly.  Saturday morning it was breakfast and another trip to the airport to send Lindsay back home.  One holiday down, and two to go!