odds and ends
Haven't updated in a coons age. So, here goes. Karen flew up to see us 2 weeks ago. She and I went around to various mountains and museums and volcanos and stores and trains and petroglyphs etc! Made Navajo tacos and cheese and green chile tamales. Then, we drove to Texas to visit my parents. Long old drive. Karen turned down the opportunity to see "the REAL grave of Billy the Kid", twice! We saw pretty mesas, boring plains, and about a gazillion giant windmills on wind farms. I was very excited about the windmills.
Visited with parents, found the lost quilt-of-contention, and then left - leaving my laptop on the dining room chair. Dang, I'd have rather forgotten my suitcase! Mom and Dad say they will mail it to me. I wish they'd overnight it! Came back with about 10 century plants, 2 devil's pincushions, a couple of gallons of prickly pear fruits, a trunk full of rocks to line my garden, and 15 lbs of pecans from San Saba.
While I was gone, great strides were made on the fence. We may have a fenced yard some day.
Its gotten stupid hot here, and we have misplaced our monsoonal rains. Looking forward to fall.
Went to the grocery store today and they had burlap bags of Hatch mild chilies. (thats about 40 lbs) Bought a bag. A guy in the store said I should go to Corrales and get some Sandia hot peppers. Since that was nearby, went there and got a bushel (about 20 lbs). They had roasters outside, so got the whole mess flame roasted (you must do this to peel the suckers) This poor guy roasted my peppers (it was 104 out) and stuffed them in these heavy duty plastic bags. They steam in the bag, so the skins come off easily. One bag leaked on car seat. Scrubbed car seat. Peeled allll those chilies (with karen's help).
Ended up with 30 quarts. Singed the spines off the prickly pear fruits on the gas stove top. Chopped and sugared them, and froze to make jelly later.
Saw "Watermelons Blessed by Jesus". Maybe should have bought one - perhaps it would have warded off the god awful mess. While I was draining black chile water (from the roasted chilies) and grinding up lil bits with the disposal, the pipes under the sink came loose somehow. This slung glop all over under the sink. Then water started going everywhere. I thought I was just making a mess rinsing peppers and cactus. Then the dishwasher decided it couldn't drain, and it chucked water all over too. Finally discovered this and spent an hour cleaning up. Bah!
Watched "Wild Hogs". Got a kick out of seeing it, as it was filmed in Madrid. We visited Madrid when Karen was first here.
Karen is flying back home tomorrow - I will miss her! Kathy - she is bringing your ring, one earring you left, and Blake's belated birthday present. Oh yeah, also your hat. Wish my kids weren't so far away!
Visited with parents, found the lost quilt-of-contention, and then left - leaving my laptop on the dining room chair. Dang, I'd have rather forgotten my suitcase! Mom and Dad say they will mail it to me. I wish they'd overnight it! Came back with about 10 century plants, 2 devil's pincushions, a couple of gallons of prickly pear fruits, a trunk full of rocks to line my garden, and 15 lbs of pecans from San Saba.
While I was gone, great strides were made on the fence. We may have a fenced yard some day.
Its gotten stupid hot here, and we have misplaced our monsoonal rains. Looking forward to fall.
Went to the grocery store today and they had burlap bags of Hatch mild chilies. (thats about 40 lbs) Bought a bag. A guy in the store said I should go to Corrales and get some Sandia hot peppers. Since that was nearby, went there and got a bushel (about 20 lbs). They had roasters outside, so got the whole mess flame roasted (you must do this to peel the suckers) This poor guy roasted my peppers (it was 104 out) and stuffed them in these heavy duty plastic bags. They steam in the bag, so the skins come off easily. One bag leaked on car seat. Scrubbed car seat. Peeled allll those chilies (with karen's help).
Ended up with 30 quarts. Singed the spines off the prickly pear fruits on the gas stove top. Chopped and sugared them, and froze to make jelly later.
Saw "Watermelons Blessed by Jesus". Maybe should have bought one - perhaps it would have warded off the god awful mess. While I was draining black chile water (from the roasted chilies) and grinding up lil bits with the disposal, the pipes under the sink came loose somehow. This slung glop all over under the sink. Then water started going everywhere. I thought I was just making a mess rinsing peppers and cactus. Then the dishwasher decided it couldn't drain, and it chucked water all over too. Finally discovered this and spent an hour cleaning up. Bah!
Watched "Wild Hogs". Got a kick out of seeing it, as it was filmed in Madrid. We visited Madrid when Karen was first here.
Karen is flying back home tomorrow - I will miss her! Kathy - she is bringing your ring, one earring you left, and Blake's belated birthday present. Oh yeah, also your hat. Wish my kids weren't so far away!