July 2026
Skinny Dip Day
Join us for International Skinny Dip Day as we try to get as many people as we can in the pool and celebrate with our annual picture at 1pm.
Annual Membership Meeting
Our annual membership meting will be Sunday July 12th 8-9am in the clubhouse. This meeting is for all members, in good standing of ShangriLa Ranch. If you have anything that you feel pertains to the membership at large, and needs to be addressed, bring the subject to the attention of the office no later than 5pm Thursday July 9th.
What Is It Going To Take
This column is not for everyone. As a matter of fact, by reading it suggests that your stewardship for Shangri La Ranch already exists. It’s been published in the newsletter for two years now and yes, you are certainly appreciated. You are helping to keep the Ranch clean; pitching in to make Shangri La a safe neighbourhood; following the guidelines because you have civic pride; but what about the others?
It’s the “others” for whom this month’s edition is written. The people who use the fireplace as their personal incinerator; the person who weekly dumps Monster and soda cans in the dumpster instead of recycling them; the ones who leave a mess at the mulch pile; the smokers who use the grounds as an ashtray to deposit their cigarette butts; these are the individuals being addressed. The questions remain:
- What is it going to take to not bring food into the pool areas?
- What is it going to take to drive FIVE MPH on our narrow streets?
- What is it going to take to not toss bags of trash into the recycling bins?
- What is it going to take to bag Styrofoam before placing it in the compactor?
- What is it going to take to not throw trash or cigarette butts into the fireplace?
- What is it going to take to place clean, recyclable items in their respective bins?
- What is it going to take to not discard good, burnable scrap wood in the dumpster?
- What is it going to take to remind people to tie their garbage bags so they won’t spill?
- What is it going to take to not have people enter the pools or spa wearing a Band-Aid?
- What is it going to take to get bicycle, scooter, and e-bike riders to obey the speed rule?
- What is it going to take to not leave compostable green waste dumped on the débris pile?
- What is it going to take to flatten all cardboard boxes before throwing them into recycling?
- What is it going to take to not leave food waste in the trailer when the compactor is locked?
You get the message: these are not austere, hardline rules by which impossible to abide. They are common sense courtesies and principles to help make the Ranch clean, safe and healthy. Oh, it’s easy to blame visitors and point fingers at snowbirds, sunbirds – or any other birds – but when the same habits are seen week in and week out, those other three fingers point right back at us who live and work at Shangri La Ranch.
So, what is it going to take to get everyone to pull together as a community?
Wildfire Safety
It is wildfire season not only here but all across the country there are multiple fires burning some close to residential ares others in remote sections of desert or forest.
We are curretnly under fire restriction put in place by the Forest service. Here at the ranch we are not allowing anyfires unless it is contained within a grill for the sole purpose of cooking, as well as no fireworks of anykind especially those that stay on the ground or go into the air both of these emit sparks and shoot off embers that can start a fire extremely easily.
If you are traveling you can always look up what the restiriction level is where you are going and what those restrictions mean in regard to what types of fires you can have.
Some Tips for Wildfire Season
-Have an emergency plan, including a go bucket with all of your important documents and non replacable items.
-Do not flick ashes/cigarette butts out a window as you drive.
-Have a safe non flamable container (not on the ground) to dispose of cigarette butts or other ashes.
-Clear your yard space of all debris (if you need the yard clipping cart let the office know).
-Make sure your vents are cleaned out as well as any gutters you may have.
Mediterranean Grain Bowl
Ingredients
For the Bowl
- 1 cup quinoa, uncooked (or 3 cups cooked)
- 3/4 cup feta cheese
- 1 large cucumber, diced small
- 2 red bell peppers, diced small I used red/orange
- 1/2-1 lb. chicken breast, raw – diced into pieces or use about 2 cups of cooked chicken
- 1 (15.5 ounce) can of garbanzo beans, drained
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
Method
- Assemble all ingredients along with a cutting board, knife, pot for cooking the quinoa and pan to roast the chicken. I love using a vegetable chopped to ensure all the veggies are in small, bite-sized pieces!
- Cook quinoa according to package directions.
- While quinoa is cooking, heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add a little olive oil or avocado spray to the pan, and sear the chicken breast on both sides until cooked through. This should be about 6 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the chicken. Or, for convenience, air fry the chicken on parchment paper for less mess and cleanup!
- As the chicken and quinoa are cooking, use the vegetable chopped to dice red onion, cucumber, and red bell pepper. The bell peppers could also be chopped and cooked at the same time with the chicken, if you prefer.
- Measure 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup of red wine vinegar. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Whisk until combined.
- Divide the ingredients evenly across 4 bowls, or add to large bowl and combine. This is about a 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa in a bowl and top with diced chicken breast, red onion, cucumber, bell pepper, feta cheese, chickpeas and chopped walnuts. Drizzle 1/4th of the dressing over the bowl and combine.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days since the chicken was cooked. If you prefer a warm bowl, store the quinoa and chicken separately from the fresh vegetables. Or, just microwave the chicken and add on top. This bowl is delicious cold, too
Upcoming Events
RegisterBare Buns Desert Run
Come and experience the only nude run in AZ! This desert trail 5k will take you around the Shangri La Ranch property; up the hiking trail, along the dry wash, and through the majority of the ranch. Racers are encouraged to run with nothing on but tennis shoes, however nudity is not a requirement. Race registration includes a day visit so plan on spending the day with us to enjoy our pools, café, clubhouse, game room, more hiking, and meeting great friends. Sign Up Here
PLAN YOUR NEXT GETAWAY IN THE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS OF SHANGRI LA TODAY.
Call us at
623-465-5959
Email us at
joinus@shangrilaranch.com
