Start the year out with some fun by coming to Kamikaze Karaoke on Friday January 10th. This is just like normal except with a twist, all you put in is your name to sing and the DJ will pick your song.

Karaoke Etiquette-

When you put in your pick to sing please make sure your writing is clear and easily legible. If you are requesting to sing more than one song keep in mind that your songswill be pulled separately and you will have to wait until others have sung at least one time before you get another song.

If you are not singing don't talk over the singer. You are going to karaoke to listen or to sing yes socializing is an aspect of Karaoke but not the main part. If you find the need to have such conversations that they are taking away from the singing please remove yourselves from the room. You can go into the library or go outside to the fire place, both locations still allow for you to hear the music but to also have a conversation.

Dance away the Winter Blues at the Caribbean Cruising Dance on Saturday January 25th. Wear bright colored Island vacation clothing, dress up as a tacky tourist, or just come to see it all but above all come and have some fun.

Now that the halls have been decked and Holly’s boughs have been cut for firewood, let’s consider how we, as a community, are throwing out the old and — well, since this is Trash Talk, let’s just concentrate on the throwing out part. As most of us know, we have but one compactor for a population of between 150 and 200 residents and guests during the holiday season. Even with the twice-weekly pick-ups, the bin fills rapidly and, before we know it, the overflow trailer looks like there’s a New York sanitation strike out there. So, as we’re clearing our homes and RVs of old boxes, wrappings, excelsior, trees and decorations, please consider these suggestions to help everyone in a supportive spirit:

• All (yes, ALL) boxes need to be flattened before being placed in the recycling bins Stack large boxes vertically if possible to keep from creating a “shelf” which wastes space. Pizza boxes are NOT recyclable if they have food or oil stains on the cardboard.
• Most foil wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbons and bows are NOT recyclable. Use the “scunci” test to determine yea or nay — squeeze the paper into a ball; if it stays in a ball, it goes into recycling but, if it unfurls, it goes into the compactor
• Styrofoam, packing peanuts, wood shavings and bubble wrap are NOT recyclable.Shredded paper can go into recycling if it is in a sealed box labeled SHREDDED (the only time a box need not be flattened). Brown packing paper is all right as long as it is clean.
• Place old Christmas trees or Chanukah bushes roadside in front of your lot. They will be collected by the Shangri La elves to be chipped into the mulch pile. Make sure all decorations, lights and tinsel are removed first. Flocked trees cannot be chipped. Most of the tree and home adornments are NOT recyclable either.

Time to talk trash! We are all eager to get rid of the old and begin the new; but as mentioned above, there are several dozen other people at SHANGRI LA RANCH with the same idea. Here are ways to minimize the impact on the compactor:

• Trash bags are essential. Loose rubbish from the compactor floats in the breeze, especially when the bin is collected. Also, tie bag openings so the trash stays contained.
• Collection days are Tuesday and Friday mornings. That means the compactor is locked Monday and Thursday evening. Avoid dropping rubbish on those evenings after dark. If you have several bags of trash, then consider taking some now and the rest after the next collection. We need not empty the entire household in one fell swoop!

Our goal is to minimize the amount of garbage left outside the compactor bin. Not only is it unsightly, it also invites vermin and other unwanted critters. Let the office or any of the staff know if you find the compactor stuffed to the gills. Try as we might, we cannot monitor the area 24/7 and your help is greatly appreciated.
With blessings and good wishes for the Nude Year (oh, cliché) from Trash Talk … naturally!

As it cools down around the country and here a little at the ranch please be safe when it comes to heating and cooling your self and your residence.

Never use your oven or stove top to create warmth for your residence.

Be smart about how long ceramic heaters and space heaters are on as they both get hot to the touch and can burn not only you but anything else that touches them.

Outdoor fireplaces that have an open flame are not safe or sustainable for creating heat inside of your place.

Sunlit Serenity, A ShangriLa Sojourn

In the heart of a secluded valley, where the sun gracefully bathes the landscape in a warm, golden light, lies Shangri La Ranch—a haven for those who seek refuge from the clinging garments of society. It was here that Maya found herself one serene morning, eager to cast away her city stresses along with her clothes.

As she stepped through the gates, a gentle breeze welcomed her, whispering through the towering Saguaros and lush desert greenery. Her toes embraced the cool grass, and with each step, she felt lighter, her worries falling away as easily as her floral dress had slipped to the ground back in the changing room.

Maya chose a spot by the shimmering pool, laying her towel on a sun-drenched lounger. The water, a mirror to the sky and creamy clouds above, beckoned. Dropping her towel, Maya admired the freedom of her own form, her skin tingling at the sudden kiss of sunlight.

There was a peacefulness to the Ranch that Maya had read about but only now fully understood. It wasn’t merely the absence of clothes that brought this tranquility, but the absence of barriers, judgments, and pretenses. Here, bodies of all shapes, sizes, and ages moved with a harmonious acceptance that the outside world often lacked.

She dipped a toe into the pool, the cool water a crisp contrast to the warm air. With a small smile playing on her lips, she dove in. The water enveloped her, a comforting embrace, silencing everything but the sound of her heartbeat and the gentle lapping against the pool edges.

Emerging from the water, Maya swam laps, each stroke smoothing her thoughts into nothing but the rhythmic motion of arms and legs. Eventually, she floated on her back, gazing up at the azure expanse, the sun drawing patterns on her closed eyelids.

Time seemed irrelevant under the open sky. Maya only moved when the sun shifted her shadows, turning her lounger into an island of warmth. Lounging, she reached for the book she’d brought along, but found herself more captivated by the live stories unfolding around her—a couple laughing softly in the Jacuzzi, a group engaged in a spirited game of water volleyball, an elderly man painting the picturesque view.

It wasn’t long before the scent of grilling vegetables and barbecued meats filled the air. Maya joined the line of friendly faces at the poolside grill, chatting amicably with a woman named Jill about the best hiking spots in the area. Plates laden with colorful food, they decided to share a table, exchanging stories between bites, their nakedness a normalcy that fostered an unusual depth of honesty and laughter.

As the sun began its descent, casting a soft pink hue across the sky, Maya felt a profound sense of renewal. She had not only shed her clothes but had also discarded the heavy cloak of societal expectations. She promised herself it wouldn't be her last visit to Shangri La Ranch, where she found not just bare skin, but a bare soul liberated in the acceptance of natural simplicity.

Tucking a wildflower behind her ear, Maya smiled at the setting sun, grateful for a day spent in such blissful and bare simplicity, already dreaming of her next visit to this secluded paradise.

Brittlebush–a widespread and very drought-resistant woody shrub with bright yellow flowers–is one of the most conspicuous desert plants when in bloom from late winter to mid-spring.  During really dry, hot years with little soil moisture, their green leaves can appear almost white because they are covered with soft, matted “hairs” that helps deflect the sun’s harsh rays; sort of like a sunscreen. 

In fact, the hotter and drier the growing season, the smaller and whiter are the leaves produced.  Smaller leaves transpire (lose) less water and the denser the leaf-hairs, the better the sun protection. During prolonged droughts, they will lose their leaves entirely and forgo flowering to conserve water and survive. Even in wetter years, you might also notice that there are few wildflowers growing with them. To compete for space and limited water, when it rains, seed germination-inhibiting chemicals leach out of Brittlebush leaves and into the soil so that few species of annual wildflowers can grow under them. Another amazing example of desert plant adaptations that enable them to compete for limited resources in a challenging environment.  

Source: A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert, 2015. Available in the Garden Shop and  Schilling Library.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 cup chicken broth

• 1 cup marinara sauce

• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

For the Topping:

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped

Optional Add-ins:

• Red pepper flakes for heat

• Extra garlic cloves

• Fresh oregano

• Sun-dried tomatoes

Instructions

• Season chicken breasts with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

• Place seasoned chicken in slow cooker.

• In a bowl, combine chicken broth, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning.

• Pour sauce mixture over chicken.

• Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.

• In final 30 minutes, sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan.

• Continue cooking until cheese is melted and bubbly.

• Garnish with fresh basil before serving

Upcoming Events Include

Valentines Dance on Saturday February 15th

St. Patrick's Dance on Saturday March 15th with DJ Andrea.

Keep your eyes open for updates and changes to membership prices. Also be on the look out for members first Summer Holidays reservation window.