You have to do it yourself

Remember the old saying "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."

In search for the delicious vine ripen tomato? Go out and pick yourself which is what I did early Sunday morning.

This is a picture of the first tomato I picked at Gilcrease Orchard. We picked several pounds we also scored beautiful eggplants, spaghetti squash, zucchini, cantaloupes and the juiciest watermelon.

I spotted at couple of pumpkins already in the works. I can only imagine how big they will be come October. As for now I have a few tomatoes to eat!

Nature Discovery Park's Farmers Market

This explains how I missed the Farmers Market.This was one of perhaps 3 signs advertising the market.

The Market was held at the Aliante Nature Discovery Park which is off Aliante Parkway and the 215 beltway. (This is a busy area a couple of banner signs would be appropriate.)

We arrived at 6:00 filled with hope to purchase farm fresh produce that we would create some culinary masterpiece with and instead found disappointment in a extremely small selection of produce. I purchased a tomato, a head of garlic, a red onion and 2 yellow onions. That was entire selection of produce.

A few other vendors offered barbecue, hot dogs and fruit smoothies. They even had a booth with a couple of women selling their candle creations. These things were all nice but not what we came for.

I spoke with the owner and she assured me that there would be more next week as 2 other farmers would be joining her with their produce next week.

I will give it another shot next week and see if it improves.

Wine Tasting

I managed to stop by and check out Bella Vino about a week ago. It's a great shop. I bought a bottle of French Merlot that was reasonably priced. The owner was friendly and helpful.

Bella Vino is tucked away in the newCentennial Plaza shopping center at 2745 W Centennial Parkway #120, North Las Vegas 89084. Telephone #396-8700. Major cross streets are Aliante Parkway and Centennial. http://www.bellavinowinecompany.com/

Bella Vino has Complimentary Wine Tastings on Thursday evenings between 5:00-8:00pm. Tomorrow's tasting will be Perfect Summer Reds.

Cheers!

Stop to smell the roses and the tomatoes

Sometimes I forget to stop and smell the "roses".

Years ago I can remember asking my Dad where he got the pale purple roses that were on the kitchen table. He rolled his eyes and replied "the front walk". Oops, how did I miss that! Right under my nose all the time.



I felt the same way the other morning when I picked up the newspaper and read that Aliante's Discovery Park has a Farmer's Market on Fridays. How many times do I pass that park and I missed that? Well, not this Friday. I can't wait. Produce can sometimes be kind of iffy here in Las Vegas. It seems like the Hotels and Casinos get the choice stuff.

A Farmer's Market in the neighborhood means I could possibly score a vine ripened tomato or some fresh corn on the cob for the weekend and that makes me happy.


The Farmer's Market is from 4:00 to 9:00 pm on Fridays. For more info check out http://www.ci.north-las-vegas.nv.us/DynamicContent/NewsEntry.cfm?NewsEntryID=2106.

Cross your fingers!!

Not your everyday pole dancing story..........

A guy spends most of the night drinking and watching strippers pole dance, he then gets kicked out of the Palomino club and tries to run the security guard over.
Next the drunken fool gets into a high speed chase with the police.

Here's my favorite part....he wipes out and hits a truck with his SUV.....and then a pole!

I swear its true. This is what I woke up this morning on the news.http://ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6891532

I love the irony. Only in Las Vegas. I love Las Vegas.

The Champs Decatur

No, this is not the Champs Elysees, it's Decatur and Grand Teton in Las Vegas. The Mountain range is Sheep Mountain Range. There were about 20 cyclists in this group.
I took this shot on my way home from Starbucks Sunday morning. I was watching the finale of the Tour de France and ran out for a latte before the peleton entered Paris.

I was glad I had my camera with me to snap this shot!

Gilcrease Orchard, Las Vegas NV

So you thought nothing but cactus grows in the desert. Well I'm here to tell you that is not the case. Around for years and little know to Las Vegans is Gilcrease Orchard.

The orchard is situated in northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley. The 50 acre orchard is located at the corner of Whispering Pines and Tenaya. They are open the end of May until November. The hours are 7:00 am until 12:00pm Tuesday through Sunday.

The admission price is $2.00 for Adults and $1.00 for children over 3. You have to pick your own produce.

Right now there are tons of zucchini waiting to be picked, apples, tomatoes were green last Sunday but should be ready this weekend. I even picked my own watermelon. I bought a ripe cantaloupe that didn't make it past breakfast that morning.

It really is fun and reasonable morning activity. Though, I tend to get carried away and end up with way to many zucchini. I then spend my time researching new zucchini recipes and the rest of the day stalking my neighbors trying to get them to take some off my hands.

I am interested in any zucchini recipes that anyone is willing to share. Please leave me comment if you have a favorite.

And what kind of orchard would they be without fresh apple juice? Make sure you buy some on the way out.They have it by the pint, quart and gallon.Be sure and buy the gallon, the quart goes much to fast.