Taboule is a popular dish of Middle eastern origin.

According to legend, Taboule was also known as Cleopatra's salad. The main ingredients of taboule are parsley and bulgur wheat. It makes a wonderful dish. It's often served with lamb, but it is equally good by itself or on a bed of lettuce with feta cheese sprinkled on top. Taboule can also be served on a sandwich, wheat or regular bread, on pita bread, or wrapped in a burrito. Most important, Taboule is a health conscious meal that can also be garnished with sliced cucumbers and carrots. Please try and enjoy!

The recipe for Tabouli is as follow if one works from 1 box of NEAR EAST TABOULI mix.

• In large bowl, combine wheat and contents of Spice Sack. Stir in 1 cup boiling water. Cover, let stand 30 minutes in refrigerator.


• Chop three small roma tomatoes, 1/2 red onion, 1/3 cup black olives and a half clump of parsley.


• After chopping, stir above items into the large bowl with TABOULI mix from the refrigerator.


• Add and stir in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of olive oil


• Cover and then chill for 1 hour or overnight. Toss well again before serving.


• Enjoy!

Prince Piano Man and Desert Princess

Baby Princess Iris is named after the National Flower of Jordan

Baby Princess Iris is named after "Iris Petrana" which is the National Flower of Jordan. The entire flower is dipped in dark purple which looks black, and appears as a round sphere 12 to 15cm in diameter. The flower has a glassy luster, which simmers so beautifully in the blowing wind.

Thanksgiving Feast!

A wonderful feast was prepared by Erica and Joe. Everything was so delicious and so filling. So good!!

Our grandchildren, piano man, and his sister desert princess were so helpful in setting the table, showing their excellent manners, taking care of baby Princess Iris and giving thanks for the many blessings they enjoy.

Watch out for the mountain lions!

Mountain Lions are always nearby in Tucson. This photo is taken in Northeast Tucson in Sabino Canyon. Here hikers, walkers, runners and even families with strollers enjoy a beautiful pave road that winds up into Sabino Canyon. The original work on this road and the nine bridges that are a part were all built back in the 1930's by the WPA, under the Roosevelt Administration. At the time, the WPA was a way putting people back to work... and wonderful work they did!

National 8.0 Mixed Doubles Championship held in Tucson, November 20th-22nd.

My good friend Jim was participating in tennis nationals this past week in Tucson. Jim and I were college buddies and team mates, many years ago, and we're both still playing and staying vertical. Jim is the second on the left standing next to team mates Marsha, Jerry and Carol. During Jim's stay we had many other adventures, which included historical missions, canyon hiking, mountain biking, and visiting the world renowned Sonora Desert Museum.

This is me!

This is a picture from one of the many Native American Historical sites in Arizona. On this particular day, I was visiting cliff dwellings just outside Flagstaff, Arizona.