February 6, 2013

Desert Sky

(San Tan Flat Steak House)

We must have really been exhausted from yesterday’s hike because we ended up sleeping almost 12 hours.   After picking up some grocery items at Walmart, we gathered up the laundry and went to Renee’s house.

 

At 4pm we headed out to have dinner and celebrate Renee’s partner Deb’s birthday at the San Tan Flat Steak House. 

 

We enjoyed the scenery on the short eight mile drive to the restaurant.

 

When we arrived to stopped to take a few pictures at the entrance.

Kennedy & Daphne

Me with Deb (the birthday girl) & Renee

 

 San Tan Flat Steak House is a unique restaurant.

 

 Diners have the option of table service or ordering at a window, getting drinks from the beverage dispenser (or if drinking an alcoholic beverage ordering from the bar) and then finding an empty picnic table outside in the courtyard.

 

There are fireplaces staggered about so any table can benefit from the warmth of a fire on a cool night.

 

 

 

 

 

There is an electronic sign that displays numbers so you know when your order is ready to be picked up.

Next to the pick-up window there is a condiment bar including lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc. in addition to a large ketchup bottle dispenser.  

While we were waiting for our order number to come up, Monte and I took a walk around the courtyard taking pictures.

 

 

 

Our twin granddaughters have had the San Tan Flat Steak House experience already so they kind of gave us a little tour.  They showed us where the caricature artist was set up and ready to start on his first drawing

 

 and then to one of their favorite places, the game room.

 

I gave them each a dollar before continuing on with our tour. 

 

 

Entrance to the courtyard from the parking lot.

Giddy-up horsey.

Howdy Partner

 

 

 

When we got back to the table, we asked the girls to fetch some wood for our fire.

 

It was cute watching them filling up the box and then trying to figure out how they were going to carry the heavy box back to the table.

 

 

Being the smart girls that they are it didn’t take them long to realize that working together would get the job done.

 

 

 

Kennedy doesn't have to be asked twice to pose for a picture.

Daphne is a little shy.

The girls went to other tables and asked

 if they could take these chairs back to our table.

 

 

Finally our number was displayed so we went inside to pick up our order.  The birthday girl chose a steak,

 

 Kennedy and Renee went with a hamburger

 

 and Daphne chose a half rack of ribs.

Daphne let her sister have a taste of the ribs but pretty much ate her order by herself.

 

 Monte and I shared a full rack of ribs that came with a dinner roll, creamed corn and steak fries. 

 

 Oh my goodness they were delicious.

 

 After dinner, Grandpa Monte was in his element as he placed the wood the girls had gathered in the barrel fire pit.

 

 He enjoys tending campfires.  When he was satisfied with his arrangement he signaled the “fire starter” (an employee whose job it is to light the fire).

 

 

I wanted to light the fire!

 

Not satisfied that we were going to have enough wood, he went back to the pile, chose the sizes and shapes he desired

 

and returned to the table with another boxful of wood. 

 

At 6:30 the live entertainment began.  Mike Easterday played a medley of country songs.  Country music is not my favorite type of music but the singer has a great voice and I did enjoy the show.

 

 Daphne and Kennedy were enjoying dancing to the music. 

It was great seeing them out there on the dance floor so uninhibited.

 

 

Renee and I took a turn on the dance floor with the girls and I even coaxed Monte out for one dance.

Deb bought the girls a package of marshmallows to roast.

 

I think they just like the roasting part and don’t like actually eating the marshmallows.

 

We knew it was time to call it a night when the smoke from all the fires was starting to bother my eyes

 

 and the twins were getting tired.

                                                                      (Cranky)

All good things must come to an end.

 

When we got back to Renee’s house I still had one load of clothes to dry so we decided to play a few games of Skip-Bo.  In between games, Deb made some brownies.  Renee and I were still full so we passed on the brownies but Deb served herself and of course Monte, who would never turn down anything sweet. 

It was 10pm by the time we loaded up the laundry baskets and drove home.  Everyone had a great time and it was wonderful being present to help Deb celebrate her birthday.