Black beans, Smoked Pork and an answer

 Getting ready to fire up the Trooper and make a grocery run to Douglas. That time again a little money in the bank and time to re-provision for a couple weeks. black beans are on the top of the shopping list, by popular request a pot of black beans a la' Jim on the menu for this weekend, along with pulled pork and some homemade Spanish rice. Other specials include homemade raviolis stuffed with mushrooms and ricotta cheese with a creamy sun dried tomato sauce, and the Sterling rib eye steak(hand cut of course). hopefully , if my computer skills are up to it, there will be a new web page just for the Portal Store and Cafe' in the near future. I have it started and will be able to give a blow by blow account of menus, recipes, and the general goings on here.
 An answer for one of my friends who asked why they didn't get a link to the blog after I had sent the first round out. If you want to see what craziness I'm up to there is a place you can subscribe to the blog on the sidebar and it will send the blog to you when I up date it, or just add it to your favorites list on whatever browser you happen to be using. You may notice there are no ads on this thing, I tried it when I first started and found I had no control over the content, the little bit of money that came from the ads surely didn't make up for the aggravation of seeing something pushed on my small group of friends and followers that I personally found offensive. so now if you see a link or recommendation here it's because I used it or have found the people involved are trustworthy. I don't receive any compensation from these folks, wouldn't put it in if I didn't like them or find the products/services reliable.
 On the bizzaro front today, I read the news this morning and the Casey Anthony thing is slowly fading from the front page. Now the Elvis-like sightings are spotting her all over the map. My word on this nutcake and to those who have nothing better to do Patience/Karma/Darkness. Somebody always pays, now or later. Nuff said.
 The local news is we are still in the monsoon season and are getting the much needed rain to cleanse the fire areas, so far no floods but the temps are reduced and unfortunately for me the humidity is up. Hit 35% the other day and thought my hips had frozen up! You get used to that moisture being down in the teens all the time, any little change is noticeable. The Park Service has re-opened the lower canyon at Cave Creek, and while there is still no camping allowed, you can go quite a ways up and some trails are open. Birds seem abundant, lots of small animals moving about and looks like eventually things will return to normal. The other side and the road over the mountain is still closed and is in bad shape. a lot of work needed before that area is available again. I'm not sure but I believe Masai point is open, will check with our friend Ron at the visitors center and let everyone know.
 The road is calling, need to get across that desert before it gets too hot. Stay tuned.

  Some pics of cooking large in the Caja China Box, 70lbs of prime rib, 80 lbs of 1/2 chickens, Mitch Webster(owner of the Portal store) and Chef Jeff handling the food.

 A little music from Sue Burkhart with some of my photos.