Pick’n’Citrus

JWise Photo of the Day

Jutta Engelhardt picking oranges in Phoenix, Arizona

Visited my mother and aunt Eleanor today. Caroline and her mom spent part of the afternoon picking fresh tangerines, tangelos, and grapefruit in the backyard. Afterward, we sat down for dinner featuring the leg of lamb Caroline and I had brought back from Brown’s Orchard in Wilcox, Arizona. My mom prepared the lamb along with half a dozen of the artichokes she had received as a gift from a friend in Monterey, California. At home, Jutta and Caroline made juice. All in all, a pleasantly nice slow day, the way Sunday should be.

Digital Yayoi Pollock

JWise Photo of the Day

From the exhibit "You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies" by Yayoi Kusama

“You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies” by Yayoi Kusama is on display at the Phoenix Art Museum. This light and mirror installation is a terrific work sure to disorient all who enter the darkened room on the upper floor of the new wing of our local art museum. The Ansel Adams exhibit in comparison is quite disappointing with prints no larger than 8×10 making detail difficult to come by. Demonic Divine, an exhibit showcasing Himalayan religious art, on the other hand, was outstanding. Sadly, instead of publicly celebrating the art that is here, there are very strict limits on photography so few photos such as this will be available that might persuade the general public to drop into our recently renovated museum.

Mandala Tearoom

JWise Photo of the Day

A tea sampling at the Mandala Tearoom in Scottsdale, Arizona

Could the Phoenix area be turning a corner? A recent newcomer to Scottsdale is the Mandala Tearoom, billing itself as an Urban Tearoom. Located on 5th Avenue near the new Riverwalk development, this new cafe features a wide assortment of gourmet teas and an interesting vegan menu – which we enjoyed and will return for. While on the pricey side, it is an improvement to the ever-multiplying chain restaurants that are wreaking havoc across our landscape. On a sad note, Henry’s Markets have closed shop. Owned by Wild Oats, the Henry’s Farmers Markets are thriving in the more sophisticated California market – here in the backwoods of Arizona our consumers would rather eat fast food.

Jutta Kommt An

JWise Photo of the Day

Caroline Wise and her mother Jutta Engelhardt as her mom lands in Arizona from Frankfurt, Germany

And here she is, Jutta Engelhardt, my mother-in-law on her 5th visit to America. Jutta flew from Frankfurt, Germany to Chicago, Illinois, earlier in the day, only to be overwhelmed by our draconian immigration processes to such an extent that she missed her connecting flight to Arizona. So, after 15 hours in transit, this 71-year-old potential threat to the security of the United States was fingerprinted, photographed, had her bags taken apart on the lookout for god-knows-what, to be finally sent on her way 5 hours later. She arrived in Phoenix by evening instead of the early afternoon – at least America is safe tonight.