Holiday Musings

I can't believe that this is my last blog of the year. Surprisingly, it has been nearly two years since my first post (which is about one year longer than I expected to last). Waking up the morning after Christmas, it feels a bit strange not to be doing some sort of holiday preparation. No more shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking or worrying about what I might have overlooked. It's over, and it was wonderful.

Maybe I should take just a few lazy moments and linger in bed with the latest John Grisham book waiting on my bedside table. After all, the idea of venturing outside on such a cold morning isn't so appealing. Nice thought, and I managed to read for about fifteen minutes before a "to do" list began forming in my mind.

At the top of my list is thanking my family and friends who made this particular Christmas so joyful. I am blessed to have you all in my life. You enrich me in so  many ways. Speaking of friends, I have some pictures of the birthday party given by my friend Sharon, celebrating our friend Penny's 60th birthday. The term "domestic goddess" definitely applies to Sharon, who is such a creative spirit and throws the most memorable parties.

  

The great room mantle decorated with antlers and old photos and a birthday banner to mark the occasion. The secret is out.

                      A knockout table setting with fresh greenery and vintage plates

                     

 

                                     Sharon presenting her incredible coconut cake to the
                                                           birthday girl        

                                           Love the birdcage chandelier Sharon made

                                                    Genius is in the details

                                                  Happy New Year everyone

  

Wreathology

'Tis the season to show your Christmas spirit and deck the halls,or should I say doors? These wreaths might be just the thing to give your front door a holiday jolt. Here are some of my favorite not-so-traditional wreaths. 

                                              
            

Normally I am not a fan of brussel sprouts, but
in this case I can make an exception.

                                                  

Wishing you lots of holiday inspiration

Cornbread Redux

Thanksgiving was over in a flash, but what to do  with all of that leftover cornbread dressing?  I decided to make a breakfast/brunch dish that I think turned out to be a winner.  Here is my recipe.


My dressing already had green onions and sausage so I added a can of green chilies and a cup of corn. I formed the dressing into individual patties or cakes and sauteed them in butter until browned on both sides. Then I topped them with eggs and some salsa
verde.  The eggs can be fried or poached depending on your taste.  The remaining cornbread cakes can be frozen before cooking.

So easy and delicious. Some things are just better the second time around.

Autumn in New Mexico

  
Here are some photos taken earlier this month on a trip to Santa Fe. Although I've been several times, this was the first time that I have visited in the fall. It was the perfect time to see the rugged landscape dotted with golden aspens, and enjoy the cool, dry desert air.

     It's that time of year when the dried pepper ristras have been strung and are hanging in the markets.      
                        

The first morning in Santa Fe we headed for Albuquerque early in the morning to see the balloon festival. We were in luck because the ascension of the balloons had been canceled for the two previous days due to winds.

Next on the list was a day trip to Taos which is a beautiful ride. About 30 minutes north of Santa Fe is the tiny village of Chimayo, where a chapel was built in 1816. It is now called el Santuario de Chimayo and is visited by thousands of pilgrims who come for physical and spiritual healing.

Taking the High Road back to Santa Fe offered some beautiful valley views.

There is so much to do and see in this large artist community with its rich cultural heritage. I had never been to the International Folk Art Museum and of course a trip up Canyon Road was a must.

Just a couple of pieces of folk art in the musem

I could spend hours along Canyon Road dipping in and out of the galleries. Here are a few shots I took along the way.

The next day we drove out to Tesuque to the Shidoni Foundry to see the bronzes. If you love sculptures, put this on your "to see" list.

Brent sketching in the sculpture gardens

           

Old mixing cauldron inside the foundry. Saturdays are the best time to go if you want to see the pourings.

Back in Santa Fe we stopped by the Loretto Chapel with its mysterious staircase where my son and his wife were married. Just inside the foyer is this beautiful holy water fountain.

The smell of pinon, adobe architecture and the Sangre de Cristo mountains-it is indeed the "Land of  Enchantment".

Guerilla Art

On Baylor, between 10th and 12th Street, is a growing collection of guerilla art that is drawing a lot of attention. I've been watching it evolve over time and regardless of how you feel about graffiti art, it seems to have become a permanent part of our urban landscape. 

Sometimes the art has a message, sometimes it's purely humorous, but it's often mysterious and provocative. 

It's kind of amazing when you consider that for the most part this is all done undercover in the wee hours. It would be fun if you could actually see the artists at work. On second thought, anonymity is part of its outlaw appeal.

Now that the mornings have turned cooler, it's fun to wander through the downtown farmer's market. They seem to have sprung up everywhere these days fueled by the growing interest in local, organic and sustainable food. There are always the regulars who bring their fresh-off-the-farm harvest, as well as the artisan food vendors who make their products by hand. For most it is a labor of love, and they are eager to share the stories of their boutique businesses. Half the fun of going to the farmer's market is sampling new foods and getting to know the people behind the products.

After nearly ten years, the Texas Olive Ranch in Carrizo Springs bottle the first Texas-made olive oil from their 60 acre orchard. At the Los Angeles International Olive Oil Competition in February, they won four medals for their olive oils, competing against 481 extra virgin olive oils from 13 countries. Who said South Texas was only good for growing grapefruit.

I had never heard of Russian kale before, but this farmer sold me on trying it. Below, top chefs check out what will be on tonight's dinner menu.

 

                                                        

Cake and Spoon makes hard to resist super-sized scones, mini quiches and cinnamon rolls

 A chair under the trees was the perfect place to stop and
listen to the lively zydeco band

Saturday and Sunday
Republic Square Park

400 Guadalupe St.
9:00-1:00   Limited free parking