Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Another Campfire Story from Joshua Tree — The Legend of La Llorona

 Another campfire story from Joshua Tree…


Tonight we wander far from the high desert, following a legend born in the riverbanks 

of Mexico and carried all the way into the canals, lakes, and dark waterways of the 

American Southwest. It’s a story almost everyone has heard — yet no one can agree on 

where it truly began.


They call her La Llorona.  

The Weeping Woman.


For centuries, travelers walking near rivers late at night have reported the same thing:  

the faint sound of a woman crying… long before they ever see her.


Some accounts say she appears in a white dress, soaked and heavy, drifting along the 

water’s edge with her head down and her hair hiding her face.  

Others swear she glides rather than walks, and that her voice echoes farther than any 

human voice should.


And the strangest part?  

The sightings haven’t stopped.


From Mexico City to New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and even pockets of California,  

people still claim to see her — not as a myth, but as a real presence that crosses 

borders, generations, and cultures.


In tonight’s video, we explore the origins of the legend, the divide between folklore 

and eyewitness reports, and the chilling modern encounters that continue to keep this 

story alive. Some are brief glimpses along lonely desert highways. Others involve cries 

that sound impossibly close… or figures that vanish as soon as they’re approached.


Why does this archetype appear in so many places?  

Why always near water?  

And why do the stories feel less like superstition — and more like something ancient 

that people are still trying to warn us about?


Whether La Llorona is a ghost, a memory, an echo, or something far stranger, one thing 

is certain: the legend refuses to fade.


And somewhere out there, along some forgotten riverbank, someone will hear her again.


Watch the full breakdown in the video below, and decide for yourself what the Weeping 

Woman truly is.


Until the next campfire…



Thursday, December 4, 2025

Cooking Tips From Joshua Tree: Sous Vide Boneless Pork Butt Roast




If you’ve spent any time browsing the meat section at Walmart here in Yucca Valley, you’ve seen it — the Smithfield All-Natural Boneless Pork Butt Roast, already wrapped in netting and just waiting to be turned into something comforting.

When I cook this cut sous vide, I usually plan it for the next day’s dinner. It needs time to work its magic, but the payoff is worth every hour.


Sous Vide Settings (The Most Important Part)

159°F for 24 hours

This temp/time combo creates a roast that is tender, sliceable, and incredibly moist. Sous vide locks everything in, so you don’t have to worry about dryness.

I turned mine into Chashu Pork — traditionally made with pork belly, but pork butt gives you a leaner, still flavorful alternative.


Chashu-Style Braising Liquid

Add these to a small pot:

  • 1 cup soy sauce

  • 1/2 cup Mirin

  • 1/4 cup Sweet Soy

  • 1/4 cup Xiao Xing wine (or dry sherry)

  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed

  • 2 tbsp ginger, smashed

  • White parts of 1 bunch green onion

  • ~1 cup water to bring it all together

Simmer until the liquid thickens slightly.

Add the liquid to the sous vide bag with the pork, seal, and cook for 24 hours at 159°F.


Finishing the Roast

When it’s done:

  1. Open the bag and strain the liquid into a small pan.

  2. Reduce it by half until it becomes a deep, glossy sauce.

  3. Season with salt and pepper.

  4. Optional: add 1 tsp sesame oil for extra richness.

As for the roast itself — it will already be deeply browned from the braise, so searing is optional.
If you choose to sear, pat it dry thoroughly with paper towels first.


Serving Suggestions

Slice the pork and serve it with:

  • Mashed potatoes, or

  • Steamed rice with the reduced gravy poured over the top.

Simple, comforting, and perfect after a long day exploring Joshua Tree.

Enjoy.

(I will update with a proper photo and maybe even video) I forgot.....


Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Want to save money while visiting Joshua Tree this season?

 


If you're staying at a short-term rental, bring your slow cooker.
Yes, there are plenty of amazing places to eat around here, but when you’re traveling with family, eating out can add up fast — especially during busy season.

If you're spending your days hiking, exploring the park, and trying to fit in as much as you can, the last thing you want is to spend your evenings cooking.
So here are 3 economical slow-cooker meals you can make with ingredients bought right here in town.


🍚 Teriyaki Meatballs (Walmart – Under $20)

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag Marketside Home Style Meatballs (Walmart Yucca Valley)

  • 1 bottle Soy Vay “Veri Veri” Island Teriyaki Sauce

  • 1 bag Great Value Fine Green Beans

  • 1 box Success Boil-in-Bag Jasmine Rice

How to make it:
Pop the frozen meatballs into your slow cooker.
Add half the bottle of teriyaki sauce + 1 cup of water.
Cover it, go hike your trail, and lunch will be ready when you get back.

Heat the rice according to the instructions and microwave the green beans.

Feeds a family of 4 for under $20.


🌮 Rotisserie Chicken Quesadillas (Stater Bros – Around $25)

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cleo & Leo Rotisserie Chicken (Stater Bros, Yucca Valley)

  • Mission Super Soft Tortilla Wraps – Carb Balance Spinach Herb

  • Stater Bros Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese (32 oz)

  • Herdez Mild Salsa Verde

How to make it:
Shred the rotisserie chicken.
Mix it with the shredded cheese.
Divide the mixture across 8 tortillas.
Toast in a pan until the cheese melts.

Serve with salsa verde for dipping.

Quick, easy, and feeds 4 for around $25.


If you want more easy road-trip meals for your Joshua Tree stay, let me know — I’ll keep adding to this series.