February League meeting filled with information

 Monthly meetings are busy with reports from committee chairs. Thanks to Lindy Isacksen, AHS Vince Bradley, Joclyn Clark, Pat Faur and Pat Grogg introducing guest and Diana Smith for keeping us informed of Historical League events. Thanks to Cathy Shumard for updating www.HistoricalLeague.org with event details.

AHS Vince Bradley

Pat Faur introduces her guest Ardon Tunell with Pat Grogg on mic

Joclyn Clark

Lindy Isacksen

Diana Smith on mic with Nancy Evans, Davie Garrison

Fabulous tour guides Linda Fritsch and Lindy Isacksen

Lindy and Linda displaying their Thank You necklaces and at Wisdom's Cafe in Tumacacori

Thanks to Lindy Isacksen and Linda Fritsch for organizing another amazing Historical League trip. They are the BEST!
We are so fortunate to have them take on this role providing us with so much history while touring in a comfortable bus, stopping at lovely hotels and dining at fabulous restaurants.

Mary and John Garbaciak present Lindy and Linda with a Thank You gift during lunch at Arizona Inn.

Group photo at Arizona Inn

Bad Hair Day

Did anyone mention the humidity in Texas? The fabulous Historical League trip included a few comments about having a "Bad Hair Day".  Curls, waves and frizz or straight and flat . . . what's a girl to do? Gifts of t-shirts to Linda and Lindy said it all! "Jeep Hair Don't Care" and "Lake Hair Don't Care".

Luckenbach, TX and backwoods BBQ

"Backwoods BBQ for dinner since no visit to Texas would be complete without a BBQ and unique evening entertainment." reads our itinerary.

Jan Murray sums up our appreciation to our tour leaders Linda Fritsch and Lindy Isacksen, "What a fantastic trip you girls planned.  You had it down to the minute and that is not easy with a large group.  We were like herding cats. I really enjoyed my first league trip and getting to know more league members. Looking forward to future functions. I admire all the work you did to make it such a success.  Thanks again."
The evening entertainment included roosters in the trees!

Somber Memorial at Fort Hood

Our tour guides, Linda Fritsch and Lindy Isacksen made sure we saw as much as possible in three days. Staying at the Shilo Inn in Killeen, TX we walked to the touching memorial dedicated to the 13 victims from the November 5, 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood.
It was a somber time to reflect and respect our military.
More information at
http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/-Dedication-set-for-memorial-to-victims-of-Fort-Hood-shooting-rampage-371799602.html

October Historical League Meeting

Thanks to an informative presentation by Dr. Jack August, the October meeting was very entertaining. He focused on Phoenix in 1942 when the city had problems with corruption.

 Jeannine Moyle, along with Cindy Tidwell-Shelton, Cathy Shumard and Pam den Draak talked about Historymakers Gala XII. Turquoise and Tuxedos celebration will be held March 4, 2017. Sponsorship materials and more information at www.HistoricalLeague.org

Linda Fritsch and Lindy Isacksen have organized the League overnight trip to Texas. The three-day tour has already sold out, but they have a wait list started.

Cameron Suspension Bridge history with Lindy Isacksen

Linda Fritsch, Renee Donnelly, Lindy Isacksen,
Sharron McKinney, Ruth Ann Hogan and Katie Tovar.

As we pulled into Cameron, AZ Lindy pointed out the bridge her grandfather had worked on. Lindy comments, "My Grandfather, F.E. Stearman, was the engineer who designed the Cameron Suspension Bridge. I remember staying in Cameron for a short time with my family in a trailer home in the mid to late 1950's while he and my father supervised and oversaw the constuction of this bridge."
Historical League bus tours are filled with so much history.

Tuscan Bread Salad from Lindy Isacksen

Lindy brought a delicious new salad to the October Historical League meeting. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Tuscan Bread Salad
Ingredients:

7 slices Panne Provincia roasted garlic bread, cut 1 inch thick
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 5-ounce package baby spinach
12 ounces cooked boneless, skinless chick breasts, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
4 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 medium red onion, sliced into thin wedges
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
1 cup prepared balsamic vinaigrette, divided

Directions:
Cut bread slices into 1-inch cubes. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes, or until hot. Add half of the bread cubes and cook for 2-3 minutes, turning the cubes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towl lined plate. Repeat with remaining 3 tablespoons oil and bread cubes.
Arrange spinach on a large platter. Top with bread cubes, chicken, tomatoes, olives, mozzarella and onions. Toss gently. Sprinkle with parsley and basil.
Drizzle 1/2 cup vinaigrette over the salad. Serve with the remaining vinaigrette on the side. Makes 8 servings.
Note: Substitute 4 ounces of perlini (mini fresh mozzarella balls) for the cubed fresh mozzarella.

Historical League lunches at Bistro du Lac

After the tour of the Udinotti Museum of Figurative Art, we lunched at a new French restaurant in McCormick Ranch. Located in a beautiful location overlooking the bicycle trail and a lake in Scottsdale, they served us delicious salads, sandwiches and desserts. Tour chairs Lindy Isacksen and Linda Fritsch presented the owner with a copy of Tastes & Treasures cookbook. 

Linda and Lindy explain the history in our cookbook

March tour of Udinotti Museum and historic adobe home

Rare artifacts include this 1803
book of the 4 Gospels

Museum filled with artifacts including many rare finds
from Africa

Historical League tours are filled with unusual and behind-the-scenes visits to historic homes and venues in the Phoenix area. Thanks to Linda Fritsch and Lindy Isacksen for arranging this March tour.

Tour chairs Linda and Lindy pose
behind recent artwork

Touring the historic adobe private Udinotti home after seeing the museum

Tour of Udinotti home and museum

Tour begins with Agnese talking about this hidden
museum in Paradise Valley

Agnese Udinotti had a vision when she created the Udinotti Museum of Figurative Art by her historic adobe home in Paradise Valley. This Historical League tour in March was fascinating and very informative. We thank Linda Fritsch and Lindy Isacksen again for their wonderful tours.

Separate structure built for artist in residence

Jackie Berkowitz, Jeannine Moyle, Deb Hester, Anne Lupica and Laurie-Sue Retts listen to Agnese

One of Agnese paintings

Subterranean gallery with courtyard and wonderful natural lighting

Linda Fritsch and Lindy Isacksen at the Udinotti Museum with the Praying Monk in the background

Dinner at Inn of the Mountain Gods

Linda Fritsch, Sharron McKinney, Judy Blackwell
and Lindy Isacksen share stories about the trip.

Many of us enjoyed dinner at Wendell's restaurant at Inn of the Mountain Gods on Day 2 of our New Mexico tour.  We relaxed and reminisced about the history we had learned during the day.

Mary Parker shows off her new jewelry
purchased at Mitchell's Silver and Turquoise Shop in Ruidoso.

White Sands Photos from Susie Brinegar

Leslie Christiansen, Laurie-Sue Retts,
Bonnie Newhoff, Nancy Evans,
Dianne Linthicum

Delores Tomasek feeling free!

Laurie-Sue Retts, Nancy Evans,
Dianne Linthicum, Delores
Tomasek, Carolyn Mendoza

Susie Brinegar left her camera at the top
before she rolled down this enormous hill!

Lindy Isacksen and Linda Fritsch
relaxing in the breathtaking view

Capturing the vastness of the White Sands National Monument, Susie Brinegar's pictures show how joyous we felt surrounded by all this beauty.