April 24th, 2012 by Betty Ross
We had the pleasure of having Bill & Jeannine Becker as guests for a one night stay at our bed & breakfast . As innkeepers, we feel every blessed to have such a wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the world. It was great talking with them about their weekend adventures. Both Bill & Jeannine love to travel and see the local attractions. Desert Dove, being so close to a National Park, is a big plus for us and our guests. Thanks Bill & Jeannine for choosing to stay at Desert Dove Bed & Breakfast. We hope you can return in the future. Read their full blog on the Senior Citizens Travel Journal
Bill & Jeannine Becker write for the Senior Citizens Travel Journal
Beckers’ Second and Third Days in So. Arizona
We left Kartchner Caverns and continued driving south to Tubac having heard from senior friends that it was an artist’s colony and worth a visit. We discovered that Tubac was established in 1752 as a Spanish Presidio…that’s a really fancy word for fort, which I didn’t know. The village remembers this colorful history at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park with a museum that brings to life days of long ago. Here senior visitors could easily spend a day wandering amongst the wealth of paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, leather, crafts, antiques and jewelry shops…all hosted by the working artists whose studios fill the village. jeb found a cigar and I a bar of soap for my sister. We’re big shoppers as you can see.
Leaving Tubac, we returned to the southwest side of Tucson, to the area bordering the Saguaro National Park where our room at the Desert Dove Bed and Breakfast was waiting for us. What a wonderful choice my husband made with this B&B! Harvey and Betty were ready for our arrival. They showed us to our room, invited us to enjoy their outdoor garden, gave us a map of the park and told us how to get to our restaurant for dinner. I was already looking forward to coffee in the morning and some time in the garden before breakfast.
We drove a couple of miles and found ourselves in the Saguaro National Park, surrounded by a lush, green desert…that sounds rather oxymoranish to me…however lush green desert is exactly what it was. Although I doubt it stays this green or lush very long. Several of the cacti were flowering and there were trees and more green than brown color in the desert. Of course, lots of saguaro cactus, but we learned not nearly the number there were years ago. It’s a lovely drive through the park.
Tags: activites, Area Guide, Birding, desertdove, Saguaro National Park, Tucson
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April 24th, 2012 by Betty Ross
The Bird Garden is a popular spot for Quail in the morning. We are watching for the baby Quail, coming soon!
It’s that time of the year again! The Hooded Oriole is back.
Only for a short time, just passing through.
Our Penstemon is on it’s second bloom. Our bunnies cut the stalks down and now we have new blossoms! Never happened here before, humming birds are loving it!
Tags: Birding, desertdove, flowers, Small Gardens Magazine, spring, tucson az bed and breakfast
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April 16th, 2012 by Betty Ross
There are several wineries in Southern Arizona making local wines. You may wish to visit one or two during your stay in Tucson.
The guests at Desert Dove can enjoy a day trip to the wine country. An easy drive to Sonoita and Elgan. Taking in a wine tasting tour …. also, enjoying the drive threw some beautiful country. Rolling, grass-covered hills and enjoy wonderful blue skies and wide-open spaces.
Southern Arizona Wine Country
Only 30 minutes from downtown Tucson, Charron Vineyards is one of southern Arizona’s oldest vineyards. At 4200 feet the vines enjoy warm summer days and cool nights, the perfect growing conditions for our grapes.
Arizona’s Oldest winery
Cooking with Wine
One of many different fruit on-trays served at Desert Dove Bed and Breakfast
Pear Fans Peel the pears and cut in half length-wise. Core, using a melon baller to scoop out seeds. Poach the pears for about 10 minutes in a syrup of 2 cups liquid, water or water and wine and 1/2 cup sugar. (Red wine will turn the pears pink.) Cool the pears in the syrup. Remove the pears from the syrup and slice in very thin slices, leaving the stem end intact. Place the pear on a serving dish and press gently with your fingers to fan out the pear. Underneath it all you can make a pool of raspberry jam with wine or vanilla cream sauce. Add a mint sprig or vanilla bean pod to garnish. Also makes a great dessert . So Yummy!
Tags: activites, Bed and Breakfast, desertdove, recipes, tucson az bed and breakfast, wineries
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April 6th, 2012 by Betty Ross
Happy Easter everyone. Wishing you a great day. Whether you attend a early sunrise service and go on a Easter egg hunt, wear your new Easter bonnet and enjoy this wonderful holiday!
Judy Garland – Easter Bonnet Song – 1940. In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it, you’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade. I’ll be all in clover, and when they look you over. I’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade!
The guests at Desert Dove Bed & Breakfast will be enjoying a Easter breakfast of baked eggs in bread rolls. Fresh fruit and scones with jam and clotted cream. Yummy!
Our guests are enjoying a early morning walk in the Saguaro National Park only a short distance from Desert Dove. There still are a few wild flowers along the way and lots of yellow Brittle Bush.
Tags: activites, desertdove, Easter, Saguaro National Park, spring, Tucson
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March 22nd, 2012 by Betty Ross
It’s going to be a gorgeous weekend, so why don’t you spend some time outside at the Fourth Avenue Street Fair March 23-25.
The Fourth Avenue Street Fair brings together 400+ arts/crafts booths, 35+ food vendors, two entertainment stages, street performers, kids’ art area, and more. Stroll Tucson’s unique historic tree lined shopping district for the perfect Tucson experience.
There will be lots of great fair food. It’s possible to find just about any kind of food at the Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair, which is expected to draw 325,000 people this weekend.
Catch all the fun today (Friday) and into the weekend!
All metered street parking downtown is FREE on Saturday and Sunday.
Tags: activites, Area Guide, desertdove, spring, streetfair, Tucson
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March 21st, 2012 by Betty Ross
After a few days of cooler weather, we can now say it feels like spring. Spring has officially begun and the weather is beautiful! Stretch your legs with a walk through the gardens at Tohono Chul Park and Tucson Botanical Gardens
Our guests at Desert Dove get to enjoy both of these wonderful parks, along with the desert garden right here! Butterflies, hummingbirds, wildflowers. Such a relaxing and fun visit for our Tucson guests.
Tucson Botanical Gardens and enjoy the colorful blooms. All of the butterflies in the Gardens’ exhibit are hatched from eggs and live as caterpillars in butterfly farms in tropical parts of the world. When the caterpillars change into the pupae or resting stage, they are carefully counted, labeled and packed. In the pupae stage of the butterfly life cycle, no food is required so they can survive the two or three day trip to Tucson. Once they arrive at the Gardens they are housed in a climate controlled environment which allows them to emerge naturally from their pupae. They are then transferred to the Greenhouse where they are released to fly free in a beautiful tropical environment.
Tags: Area Guide, Arizona, chul, desertdove, flowers, Saguaro National Park, spring, tohono
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March 21st, 2012 by Betty Ross
Flowers may not be the first ingredient you think of when garnishing a dish, but they’re perfect for adding bright color — not to mention flavor — to a host of sweet and savory recipes.
The flowers I use to garnish a dish are from my own garden. The Nasturtiums I use for some of my egg dishes give a nice peppery flavor. The Pansy or Violet go well with fruit.
You can often buy edible flowers in the produce section of a grocery store and gourmet market. Do not eat flowers from a florist, they may have pesticides on them.
I have had a guest requests salad for breakfast, which I was happy to accommodate. Some folks just love their veggies!
We serve Cactus Jams, Jelly’s & Syrup for breakfast at Desert Dove. We have a small gift center where we sell these items along with our cookbook “Betty’s Favorite Recipes”
The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name “tuna.” Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They, too, are sold in stores under the name “Nopalito.” Because of the glochids, great care is required when harvesting or preparing prickly pear cactus. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that may help keep blood sugar stable.
Prickly Pear Products
Tags: Bed and Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast recipes, book, desertdove, recipe, Small Gardens Magazine, winter getway
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March 14th, 2012 by Betty Ross
The 25th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival is this weekend! Downtown Tucson hosts a parade with Irish dancers and music, floats, bands, food and more, beginning at 11:00 a.m. How are you celebrating St. Patrick’s Day?
Our guests at Desert Dove will be enjoying some Irish food and music this St Patrick’s Day.
Irish soda bread might not be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or the four-leaf clover that brings good luck, but its slightly sweet flavor and complex texture makes it a standout favorite for St. Patrick’s Day.
The desert garden seems to be a lovely spot for our guests this spring time to enjoy a cup of tea with a fresh baked snack along with the wildflowers and hummingbirds!
Tucson for places to dine.
Tags: activites, az, Bed and Breakfast, desertdove, StPatricksday, Tucson, winter getway
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March 10th, 2012 by Betty Ross
Major League Spring Training returns to Keno Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson.
Tucson Padres
Enjoy our great weather and catch some base ball fun! Nothing better than base ball, hot dogs & apple pie!
Sonoran hot dog recipe
Get a beef hot dog and wrap it like a mummy with bacon. Mesquite bacon is good.
Fry it on a griddle until the bacon gets crisp. Some people like to fry the bacon a little first and then wrap it around the hot dog and then fry them both in the bacon grease.
Take a hot dog bun or bolillo roll that has been slit to make a pocket in the middle. If you want you can toast them a little or, in the case of the bolillo roll, steam it for a minute to make it soft. Work with what you have on hand or what you feel like.
Put mayo, mustard and ketchup on the bun and insert the bacon-wrapped dog. If you want to squirt the mayo on top, like they do at the stands, mix it with a little lemon juice or water to thin it out. Put it into a squeeze bottle or sandwich bag with a corner cut off and squeeze it on top when you are done, along with the mustard and ketchup.
Add warm pinto beans, cheese (shredded Mexican cotijo cheese, cheddar, whatever), chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, sliced or blended jalapenos or some type of jalapeno/green chili salsa.
“Just stick whatever you want on there, and whatever amount, to make it taste good.” (You hear this talking to many Mexican cooks)
Tags: activites, Area Guide, baseball, desertdove, springtraining, winter getway
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March 5th, 2012 by Betty Ross
We do not host weddings at Desert Dove Bed & Breakfast. Saguaro Buttes wedding chapel is only a few miles from Desert Dove Bed & Breakfast. We can accommodate guests attending a wedding and the wedding couple after the wedding before leaving on their honeymoon trip. We have had many couples stay the wedding night, not wishing to travel far after a long and memorable day.
You will not find a more natural Mountain Desert experience. Up against the gorgeous Rincon Mountains, with thousands of towering Saguaro Cacti and panoramic views of the Catalina, Santa Rita, and Tucson Mountains, you literally have 360 degree unobstructed views, perfect for pictures. If you are looking for a uniquely Southern Arizona experience, something out of state guests will remember for years to come, then Saguaro Buttes is the perfect place.
Tags: activites, desertdove, Tucson, tucson az bed and breakfast, weddings, winter getway
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We had the pleasure of having Bill & Jeannine Becker as guests for a one night stay at our bed & breakfast . As innkeepers, we feel every blessed to have such a wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the world. It was great talking with them about their weekend adventures. Both Bill & Jeannine love to travel and see the local attractions. Desert Dove, being so close to a National Park, is a big plus for us and our guests. Thanks Bill & Jeannine for choosing to stay at Desert Dove Bed & Breakfast. We hope you can return in the future. Read their full blog on the Senior Citizens Travel Journal
