First off, I want to thank all of you for your support. In my last entry I expressed some doubt as to the direction this blog was taking.
Now, having heard from so many of you, I'm quite comfortable writing about whatever I like! And I want you to know that I have two entries I'm working on, one of photos from around Socorro and another of an event we sort of fell into that was just delightful (more serendipity).
BUT
I just took a look at the Cholula Red site, and realized that I haven't updated it for close to eighteen months, OOPS!
I started that site as both a travel log and a diary of the changes we made to the motorhome, but this blog has completely replaced the travel log portion of that site (although some early entries still remain posted). That said, we have made so many changes to the rig that I feel that site needs some attention.
Unfortunately, that site is all done with html, something I can struggle by with, but I am by no means proficient, so it will take a while.
I'll be here, but the entries will be sparse for a week or so, or at least until I can get some of that site up to date,
Keep in touch, I'm still here.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Thoughts on the Blog
Let me start out by clearing something up . . .
I started this blog thinking it would be just about our travels in Cholula Red, but it seems to have evolved into something else entirely.
I enjoy sharing recipes and it seems that many of you like this also, so now I do that every once in a while.
Then there's my soapbox, which I just can't help but get up on every once in a while
Then there's the random thoughts that seem to flutter through my mind, willy nilly. I try to keep these to a minimum, but sometimes, of their own volition, they seem to pop up.
And then there's the various books, movies, etc that I particularly like to share.
I just wanted to let my readers know that I am drifting away from the absolute stated purpose of the blog and I hope it's OK.
I don't get a whole lot of feedback about the blog, so I'm not sure if this matters a lot. Still, I wanted to put it out there.
So I hope the direction the blog is moving is something you might want to continue reading.
Life is good.
I started this blog thinking it would be just about our travels in Cholula Red, but it seems to have evolved into something else entirely.
I enjoy sharing recipes and it seems that many of you like this also, so now I do that every once in a while.
Then there's my soapbox, which I just can't help but get up on every once in a while
Then there's the random thoughts that seem to flutter through my mind, willy nilly. I try to keep these to a minimum, but sometimes, of their own volition, they seem to pop up.
And then there's the various books, movies, etc that I particularly like to share.
I just wanted to let my readers know that I am drifting away from the absolute stated purpose of the blog and I hope it's OK.
I don't get a whole lot of feedback about the blog, so I'm not sure if this matters a lot. Still, I wanted to put it out there.
So I hope the direction the blog is moving is something you might want to continue reading.
Life is good.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Serendipity Part 3
Life is good. I sure hope you aren't sick of hearing this, but it's just a fact!
So here's the story.
We had decided to leave the bosque on Tuesday, Jan 22. Note the word had in that sentence. Like all our plans, this one was written in moving water, and once we got to talking about it we decided we still hadn't quite finished with this area. I know, but we like to be thorough, you know? After a bit of discussion, we decided to stay another ten days, promising ourselves that we would actually leave after that time.
Now why did we REALLY decide to stay? Because good things were coming our way, even though we didn't know it!
On Monday night, we decided to go to the movies, a HUGE event, since we are so rarely near a movie theater (and lately, when we are, our choices are often something like Alvin and the Chipmunks, NOT). This is such an event for us because when we lived in Felton, we had access to over a dozen movie screens, at least half of them obscure titles. A week never went by without us going to a movie theater at least once a week, usually more. I believe our record was three in one day.
Anyhow "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" was playing and we figured it would be at least one step up from singing rodents, so off we went. It was pretty mediocre, but entertaining in a mindless sort of way. I love the premise of these stories, but do they not know how to edit a film? They go on way too long and have no timing or momentum. I really want to see "No Country for Old Men" but I think that's an extremely long shot for Socorro. . . National Treasure and its mediocrity aside, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Disney has once again started making original animated shorts for theater viewing. This was a continuation of the old Goofy "How To" series titled "How to Hook Up Your a Home Theater". It was a delight, hitting on the universal frustrations of modern electronics, funny and true. Let's hope they continue the tradition.
After we left the theater and came back to Cholula Red. To our surprise, parked right next to us was another Lazy Daze, small world! Nosy girl that I am, I went right over and knocked on the door, and was greeted with a brand new friend.
Her name is Marie and she is from Louisiana (a wonderfully spirited Katrina survivor). Just a few weeks ago she picked up her brand new 2007 Lazy Daze midbath and is slowly wandering home. We talked on into the night, finding that we had a lot more than Lazy Daze in common. She is a wonderfully talented nature photographer (you can see her work here) and we had the best time! Geez, once again, Serendipity strikes home. It's sure a good thing we didn't leave, huh?
The next morning we spent some time sharing and commiserating. I taught her a little about the computer and she filled my head with new ideas for photography (the more I learn, the more I find I need to know . . .)
Marie has been visiting the bosque and Birdwatchers RV Park for years. She mentioned that she was taking Jackie, the owner of Birdwatchers, to lunch and asked if I would care to join them. Of course, I said yes.
Jackie is a delightful lass who was born here and lived most of her 80 plus years in this area. We've enjoyed talking with her during our stay, but the afternoon was a real eye opener. After lunch (hamburgers at the Buckhorn, of course) we went on an extended tour of Socorro and surrounding areas. I have to say, there's nothing like a personal guide for learning the history of an area! In case you've forgotten, let me say how much I love New Mexico.
So once again, we've stumbled onto a new adventure, complete with new friends and wondrous experiences.
Life is good.
So here's the story.
We had decided to leave the bosque on Tuesday, Jan 22. Note the word had in that sentence. Like all our plans, this one was written in moving water, and once we got to talking about it we decided we still hadn't quite finished with this area. I know, but we like to be thorough, you know? After a bit of discussion, we decided to stay another ten days, promising ourselves that we would actually leave after that time.
Now why did we REALLY decide to stay? Because good things were coming our way, even though we didn't know it!
On Monday night, we decided to go to the movies, a HUGE event, since we are so rarely near a movie theater (and lately, when we are, our choices are often something like Alvin and the Chipmunks, NOT). This is such an event for us because when we lived in Felton, we had access to over a dozen movie screens, at least half of them obscure titles. A week never went by without us going to a movie theater at least once a week, usually more. I believe our record was three in one day.
Anyhow "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" was playing and we figured it would be at least one step up from singing rodents, so off we went. It was pretty mediocre, but entertaining in a mindless sort of way. I love the premise of these stories, but do they not know how to edit a film? They go on way too long and have no timing or momentum. I really want to see "No Country for Old Men" but I think that's an extremely long shot for Socorro. . . National Treasure and its mediocrity aside, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Disney has once again started making original animated shorts for theater viewing. This was a continuation of the old Goofy "How To" series titled "How to Hook Up Your a Home Theater". It was a delight, hitting on the universal frustrations of modern electronics, funny and true. Let's hope they continue the tradition.
After we left the theater and came back to Cholula Red. To our surprise, parked right next to us was another Lazy Daze, small world! Nosy girl that I am, I went right over and knocked on the door, and was greeted with a brand new friend.
Her name is Marie and she is from Louisiana (a wonderfully spirited Katrina survivor). Just a few weeks ago she picked up her brand new 2007 Lazy Daze midbath and is slowly wandering home. We talked on into the night, finding that we had a lot more than Lazy Daze in common. She is a wonderfully talented nature photographer (you can see her work here) and we had the best time! Geez, once again, Serendipity strikes home. It's sure a good thing we didn't leave, huh?
The next morning we spent some time sharing and commiserating. I taught her a little about the computer and she filled my head with new ideas for photography (the more I learn, the more I find I need to know . . .)
Marie has been visiting the bosque and Birdwatchers RV Park for years. She mentioned that she was taking Jackie, the owner of Birdwatchers, to lunch and asked if I would care to join them. Of course, I said yes.
Jackie is a delightful lass who was born here and lived most of her 80 plus years in this area. We've enjoyed talking with her during our stay, but the afternoon was a real eye opener. After lunch (hamburgers at the Buckhorn, of course) we went on an extended tour of Socorro and surrounding areas. I have to say, there's nothing like a personal guide for learning the history of an area! In case you've forgotten, let me say how much I love New Mexico.
So once again, we've stumbled onto a new adventure, complete with new friends and wondrous experiences.
Life is good.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Italian Sausage-Tortellini Soup (and cranes!)
It's time for another tasty treat, and this one has a small history.
Several years ago we spent Christmas in Death Valley with a group of Lazy Daze owners. One night we had a potluck (I LOVE potlucks!) and there was the most wonderful soup. I asked around and It turned out that it was made by Barbara Berggreen. At the time I hardly knew her, but we've since become friends, and she was gracious enough to share the recipe.
And is it ever yummy! Thanks Barbara!
You start out with a pound or so of sweet Italian sausage (although I once goofed and bought hot sausage and the soup was still good, just different). Brown the sausage along with one chopped onion and as much garlic as you like (I like about five cloves, but we LOVE garlic).
After this is all browned, if there is too much oil, drain the mixture. Then you'll want to add two cans of stewed tomatoes and a box of beef broth. At this point I add my spices, which vary from batch to batch, but usually include basil fennel, rosemary, oregano and whatever else strikes my fancy).
Bring this up to a boil then simmer for about ten to fifteen minutes.
After the flavors are nicely blended, add a package of fresh, uncooked tortellini. I prefer Buitoni, and I use a twenty ounce package, but you might like a smaller package. We like a LOT of tortellini, and usually prefer the three cheese flavor, but use whatever you like. You could use dried tortellini, but we like the fresh, again, it's a personal preference.
ANYHOW, once you put the tortellini in, just let is simmer till the pasta is nice and tender. Now you want to check your broth because depending on the pasta, you may need to add a bit more. At this stage, either beef or chicken broth works just as well, you just want to make sure you have enough to make a nice soup.
When serving, we like to shave a bit of fresh Parmesan to put in the bottom of the bowls, then a bit to float on the top. This is a perfect winter meal, especially with a nice crusty warm bread, and oh so easy!
I just wanted to recommend it to any of you who are in cold climes and wishing for a nice hot meal.
To make things easy for you, here's and ingredient list
That's it!
Oh, and about the cranes . . .
Several of you received an email a while back with a teensy tiny slide show from a program I was trying. I found the program unsatisfactory, but kept looking and finally, found a program that suits my needs.
If you click here, you'll see a smallish slide show of some of my favorite pictures I've taken while we've been here at the bosque. Most of them have already been posted here on the blog, but I liked the idea of a slide show. It's rather large, so give it a while to load. If I get a good response, may add more of them later.
We will be leaving here next week, so hopefully I'll have pictures and stories of somewhere new to post!
Life is good!
Several years ago we spent Christmas in Death Valley with a group of Lazy Daze owners. One night we had a potluck (I LOVE potlucks!) and there was the most wonderful soup. I asked around and It turned out that it was made by Barbara Berggreen. At the time I hardly knew her, but we've since become friends, and she was gracious enough to share the recipe.
And is it ever yummy! Thanks Barbara!
You start out with a pound or so of sweet Italian sausage (although I once goofed and bought hot sausage and the soup was still good, just different). Brown the sausage along with one chopped onion and as much garlic as you like (I like about five cloves, but we LOVE garlic).
After this is all browned, if there is too much oil, drain the mixture. Then you'll want to add two cans of stewed tomatoes and a box of beef broth. At this point I add my spices, which vary from batch to batch, but usually include basil fennel, rosemary, oregano and whatever else strikes my fancy).
Bring this up to a boil then simmer for about ten to fifteen minutes.
After the flavors are nicely blended, add a package of fresh, uncooked tortellini. I prefer Buitoni, and I use a twenty ounce package, but you might like a smaller package. We like a LOT of tortellini, and usually prefer the three cheese flavor, but use whatever you like. You could use dried tortellini, but we like the fresh, again, it's a personal preference.
ANYHOW, once you put the tortellini in, just let is simmer till the pasta is nice and tender. Now you want to check your broth because depending on the pasta, you may need to add a bit more. At this stage, either beef or chicken broth works just as well, you just want to make sure you have enough to make a nice soup.
When serving, we like to shave a bit of fresh Parmesan to put in the bottom of the bowls, then a bit to float on the top. This is a perfect winter meal, especially with a nice crusty warm bread, and oh so easy!
I just wanted to recommend it to any of you who are in cold climes and wishing for a nice hot meal.
To make things easy for you, here's and ingredient list
1 pound Italian sausage
1 onion, chpped fine
garlic, chopped fine
2 cans crushed tomatoes
1 large box beef broth (you may need more)
italian seasonings.
1 onion, chpped fine
garlic, chopped fine
2 cans crushed tomatoes
1 large box beef broth (you may need more)
italian seasonings.
That's it!
Oh, and about the cranes . . .
Several of you received an email a while back with a teensy tiny slide show from a program I was trying. I found the program unsatisfactory, but kept looking and finally, found a program that suits my needs.
If you click here, you'll see a smallish slide show of some of my favorite pictures I've taken while we've been here at the bosque. Most of them have already been posted here on the blog, but I liked the idea of a slide show. It's rather large, so give it a while to load. If I get a good response, may add more of them later.
We will be leaving here next week, so hopefully I'll have pictures and stories of somewhere new to post!
Life is good!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Serendipity, Part 2
Several days ago, I wrote about Serendipity, and here it is again!
For the last several months, I've been considering learning to paint with watercolors. I've always been attracted to the subtleties and shadings in both watercolors and pastels, but recently the light and skies of New Mexico have drawn me more and more towards the idea of trying to put brush to paper.
Now keep in mind that I do not have an artistic bone in my body. I've never even taken an art class and the few attempts I've made at drawing convinced me that if I had a future in art, it was not down that road! Still, the idea of watercolors keeps nagging me like a squeaky wheel.
So while the spirit is willing, the flesh and brain is kind of weak.
Where do I start? Well, duh, the internet of course! And if you want to experience complete overwhelm, I suggest you google watercolor lessons. To save you the grief, I'll just let you know that you'll get one hundred and thirty two THOUSAND hits.
So what to do????
Well, I found a beginner watercolor set for $15.00 online and ordered it, only to find that most of these kits are total garbage. Something about how much pigment they put in the wells or something. A total disaster.
So I'm getting pretty frustrated and figuring maybe I should just learn how to take better pictures and forget watercolors. Depression begins to set in . . .
I take a few days off from the idea of becoming a person who can paint a passable watercolor.
Then a few days ago, a rig pulls into the park where we're staying. Because we're nosy (sad but true) we watch as they try to park and get set up. In a few minutes the park owner comes out with like a two hundred foot extension cord and plugs one end into the new rig and then starts plugging it in to all the different posts in the park. Well. this is more than I can stand, so I jump out of the rig and go over to the newbies.
Hi I ask, having problems? Well, they say, everything was working fine, then we went to make a up of coffee (electric coffee maker) and the power just went blooey!
So while Terry and the park owner were checking the power at the pole, I ask "Have you tried resetting the GFCI switch" (ground fault circuit interrupter switch? The gentleman in the rig states that he's tried all the fuses and breakers, and I say, no, go for the GFCI switch. he says OK, and in half a shake of a lambs tail, they're back in business! Now, I'm not an electrical genius by any means, but I do know that when that happens to us, nine times out of ten, it's the GFCI switch.
They say thanks and I go home, happy to have been of some assistance
An hour or so later, we get a knock on the door and it is the lady half of the couple we helped. She introduced herself and we started chatting. She asked how long we'd been here and I told her several months, and we got to discussing the bosque. I then asked how long they planned on staying, and she said that they had to leave on Sunday morning because she was the President of the Watercolor Club an Las Cruces and they had to be back for the monthly meeting!
Serendipity!
Of course, I pumped her for all the information I could think of (and probably scared her half to death!), but angel that she is, she agreed to help me get started. She made me a list of what I need to begin, told me what to avoid (like the cheesy set I already purchased) and was just a wonderful boon to my confidence and my budding watercolor career!
We spent the evening together, they're a great couple and new friends I'm sure. As I've said before, the people we meet and the new friends we make are the best part of life.
And boy howdy, is life ever good!
For the last several months, I've been considering learning to paint with watercolors. I've always been attracted to the subtleties and shadings in both watercolors and pastels, but recently the light and skies of New Mexico have drawn me more and more towards the idea of trying to put brush to paper.
Now keep in mind that I do not have an artistic bone in my body. I've never even taken an art class and the few attempts I've made at drawing convinced me that if I had a future in art, it was not down that road! Still, the idea of watercolors keeps nagging me like a squeaky wheel.
So while the spirit is willing, the flesh and brain is kind of weak.
Where do I start? Well, duh, the internet of course! And if you want to experience complete overwhelm, I suggest you google watercolor lessons. To save you the grief, I'll just let you know that you'll get one hundred and thirty two THOUSAND hits.
So what to do????
Well, I found a beginner watercolor set for $15.00 online and ordered it, only to find that most of these kits are total garbage. Something about how much pigment they put in the wells or something. A total disaster.
So I'm getting pretty frustrated and figuring maybe I should just learn how to take better pictures and forget watercolors. Depression begins to set in . . .
I take a few days off from the idea of becoming a person who can paint a passable watercolor.
Then a few days ago, a rig pulls into the park where we're staying. Because we're nosy (sad but true) we watch as they try to park and get set up. In a few minutes the park owner comes out with like a two hundred foot extension cord and plugs one end into the new rig and then starts plugging it in to all the different posts in the park. Well. this is more than I can stand, so I jump out of the rig and go over to the newbies.
Hi I ask, having problems? Well, they say, everything was working fine, then we went to make a up of coffee (electric coffee maker) and the power just went blooey!
So while Terry and the park owner were checking the power at the pole, I ask "Have you tried resetting the GFCI switch" (ground fault circuit interrupter switch? The gentleman in the rig states that he's tried all the fuses and breakers, and I say, no, go for the GFCI switch. he says OK, and in half a shake of a lambs tail, they're back in business! Now, I'm not an electrical genius by any means, but I do know that when that happens to us, nine times out of ten, it's the GFCI switch.
They say thanks and I go home, happy to have been of some assistance
An hour or so later, we get a knock on the door and it is the lady half of the couple we helped. She introduced herself and we started chatting. She asked how long we'd been here and I told her several months, and we got to discussing the bosque. I then asked how long they planned on staying, and she said that they had to leave on Sunday morning because she was the President of the Watercolor Club an Las Cruces and they had to be back for the monthly meeting!
Serendipity!
Of course, I pumped her for all the information I could think of (and probably scared her half to death!), but angel that she is, she agreed to help me get started. She made me a list of what I need to begin, told me what to avoid (like the cheesy set I already purchased) and was just a wonderful boon to my confidence and my budding watercolor career!
We spent the evening together, they're a great couple and new friends I'm sure. As I've said before, the people we meet and the new friends we make are the best part of life.
And boy howdy, is life ever good!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Cranes (finally!)
We finally are well enough to go and see the cranes, HOORAY!
Most of these shots are silhouette shots since it was just that time of day. A lot of them are repetitive but I already cut this album down from over 300 photos, so bear with me!
PLEASE, remember to click on the photos for a much larger, more detailed shot. They really do look so much nicer when viewed at a larger size.
I have very little to add to these, so I'll just post them, OK?
Bosque del Apache is like a little slice of heaven on earth, and Life is Very Good!
Most of these shots are silhouette shots since it was just that time of day. A lot of them are repetitive but I already cut this album down from over 300 photos, so bear with me!
PLEASE, remember to click on the photos for a much larger, more detailed shot. They really do look so much nicer when viewed at a larger size.
I have very little to add to these, so I'll just post them, OK?
Bosque del Apache is like a little slice of heaven on earth, and Life is Very Good!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Shepherd's Pie
Because we're still not getting out a lot, this will be another recipe post (which have been pretty well received!)
Probably twenty years ago we went over to a friends for dinner and were served Shepherds Pie. Well technically if it's not made with lamb or mutton, it's cottage pie, but what the heck. Anyway, we loved it and I have been making it in various forms ever since.
Start with a pound or two of hamburger, sauteed with garlic and onions till its nice and brown and the onions have released their juice and are translucent. Then add in some veggies, whatever you have on hand, but peas, carrots and corn are my favorites. If you have a bag in the freezer that will do just fine. Let these all mix together till nice and warm and bubbly.
When this is all blended I like to add in a can of cream of mushroom soup and a cup or so of milk. When this is all blended, add in a package of dry gravy mix. Now you can use beef broth here, or even chicken stock, or even make your own gravy, just be creative and use what you have on hand. The consistency you are looking for here is like the filling for a meat pie, neither too dry nor too wet. When it looks just right, it's time to begin the final seasoning.
I like to add a bit of Worcestershire, and then see where it goes. A bit of rosemary, a pinch of oregano, a hit of Cholula, use your imagination, but be sure to taste it to make sure it's heading in the right direction.
When it tastes really scrumptious, put it in a casserole and go on to the next step which is the potatoes. Ideally, this will be freshly mashed potatoes, but I've been known to use leftovers, instant mashed potatoes and even frozen hash browns in a pinch. I like to add some cheese to the potatoes, just to give them a bit more flavor but this is optional. Next, slather the mashed potatoes all over the beef mixture and make it nice and pretty. Sometimes I make rows in the potatoes with a fork so there will be a bit of design to brown up on the top of teh casserole.
Bake it for about thirty minutes at 350 degrees and it should be dandy!
As I write this, I've just taken mine out of the oven and OH NO, I've made a HUGE mistake. I'm such a ninny . . . Instead of making it in a nice flat cake pan, I made it in a taller sauce pan, and it never got crunchy on top.
But you know what? As Terry says, "It still eats good".
And it is yummy if I do say so myself. That said, it's not going to win any points in the presentation category! C'est la vie!
While I'm talking about cooking, I'd like to mention my newest most favorite kitchen item. They're called Ove Gloves and they are just the best thing since sliced bread.
I've been wrestling with oven mitts in various forms for years. The quilted ones are never thick enough and I've gone through three sets of silicone mitts, all too thick and clumsy to actually perform the job they were designed for.
Ah, but the Ove Glove, now that's a thing of beauty. These are actual gloves, knit (knitted?) from kevlar, with some blue silicone applied on the surface so that they are not only heat resistant but non slip.
Since they are gloves rather than mitts, they give you great flexibility. While you will feel a teensy bit of heat if you go all the way into the oven, they definitely allow you to reach right in and pick up anything that is piping hot without ever coming close to hurting yourself. They even say that you can reach right into a fire pit and move logs with these gloves, but I haven't tried that, I'm a chicken. The one thing you need to know is that if they get wet, they will conduct heat, but if you use them dry, they really can't be beat.
While they're a bit expensive at $15.00 per glove (and you REALLY need a pair, one won't do) they're totally worth it.
We have high hopes of going out to view the cranes tomorrow, so maybe I'll finally get some more pictures to post.
Life is good.
Probably twenty years ago we went over to a friends for dinner and were served Shepherds Pie. Well technically if it's not made with lamb or mutton, it's cottage pie, but what the heck. Anyway, we loved it and I have been making it in various forms ever since.
Start with a pound or two of hamburger, sauteed with garlic and onions till its nice and brown and the onions have released their juice and are translucent. Then add in some veggies, whatever you have on hand, but peas, carrots and corn are my favorites. If you have a bag in the freezer that will do just fine. Let these all mix together till nice and warm and bubbly.
When this is all blended I like to add in a can of cream of mushroom soup and a cup or so of milk. When this is all blended, add in a package of dry gravy mix. Now you can use beef broth here, or even chicken stock, or even make your own gravy, just be creative and use what you have on hand. The consistency you are looking for here is like the filling for a meat pie, neither too dry nor too wet. When it looks just right, it's time to begin the final seasoning.
I like to add a bit of Worcestershire, and then see where it goes. A bit of rosemary, a pinch of oregano, a hit of Cholula, use your imagination, but be sure to taste it to make sure it's heading in the right direction.
When it tastes really scrumptious, put it in a casserole and go on to the next step which is the potatoes. Ideally, this will be freshly mashed potatoes, but I've been known to use leftovers, instant mashed potatoes and even frozen hash browns in a pinch. I like to add some cheese to the potatoes, just to give them a bit more flavor but this is optional. Next, slather the mashed potatoes all over the beef mixture and make it nice and pretty. Sometimes I make rows in the potatoes with a fork so there will be a bit of design to brown up on the top of teh casserole.
Bake it for about thirty minutes at 350 degrees and it should be dandy!
As I write this, I've just taken mine out of the oven and OH NO, I've made a HUGE mistake. I'm such a ninny . . . Instead of making it in a nice flat cake pan, I made it in a taller sauce pan, and it never got crunchy on top.
But you know what? As Terry says, "It still eats good".
And it is yummy if I do say so myself. That said, it's not going to win any points in the presentation category! C'est la vie!
While I'm talking about cooking, I'd like to mention my newest most favorite kitchen item. They're called Ove Gloves and they are just the best thing since sliced bread.
I've been wrestling with oven mitts in various forms for years. The quilted ones are never thick enough and I've gone through three sets of silicone mitts, all too thick and clumsy to actually perform the job they were designed for.
Ah, but the Ove Glove, now that's a thing of beauty. These are actual gloves, knit (knitted?) from kevlar, with some blue silicone applied on the surface so that they are not only heat resistant but non slip.
Since they are gloves rather than mitts, they give you great flexibility. While you will feel a teensy bit of heat if you go all the way into the oven, they definitely allow you to reach right in and pick up anything that is piping hot without ever coming close to hurting yourself. They even say that you can reach right into a fire pit and move logs with these gloves, but I haven't tried that, I'm a chicken. The one thing you need to know is that if they get wet, they will conduct heat, but if you use them dry, they really can't be beat.
While they're a bit expensive at $15.00 per glove (and you REALLY need a pair, one won't do) they're totally worth it.
We have high hopes of going out to view the cranes tomorrow, so maybe I'll finally get some more pictures to post.
Life is good.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
WOW!
I just finished reading The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey and am I ever impressed.
Several entries ago I mentioned my curiosity regarding Theodore Roosevelt. Since this was the first book I could find on this remarkable man, I picked it up and finished it in just two days. My initial interest started after learning that he was the one person who had the foresight to set aside so much land for our National Park System (and don't we wish we had someone who appreciated it as much as he today!). But I digress . . .
This volume chronicles an adventure he undertook in the later years of his life, traveling to South America to lecture and then travel some of the as then unexplored tributaries of the Amazon River.
I have to say, this reads like an Indiana Jones adventure. Insects the likes of which no one had ever seen, man eating fish, cannibalistic natives, malaria, this is the stuff of true adventure.
The fact that this all happened, less than one hundred years ago, and that the journey was undertaken by a man who was already over 50 years of age (remember life spans were much less 100 years ago), it was just thrilling.
I find myself fascinated by this man, and have ordered another book on his earlier years. What a compelling individual!
On another note, I believe that we are almost 100% recovered. We even took the rig into town today to get propane! Tomorrow, I have hopes of getting out and taking some more pictures, so maybe this blog will get back on track!
I'm so happy to be feeling better (and hope Terry will soon follow suit).
Life is good and getting better!
I just finished reading The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey and am I ever impressed.
Several entries ago I mentioned my curiosity regarding Theodore Roosevelt. Since this was the first book I could find on this remarkable man, I picked it up and finished it in just two days. My initial interest started after learning that he was the one person who had the foresight to set aside so much land for our National Park System (and don't we wish we had someone who appreciated it as much as he today!). But I digress . . .
This volume chronicles an adventure he undertook in the later years of his life, traveling to South America to lecture and then travel some of the as then unexplored tributaries of the Amazon River.
I have to say, this reads like an Indiana Jones adventure. Insects the likes of which no one had ever seen, man eating fish, cannibalistic natives, malaria, this is the stuff of true adventure.
The fact that this all happened, less than one hundred years ago, and that the journey was undertaken by a man who was already over 50 years of age (remember life spans were much less 100 years ago), it was just thrilling.
I find myself fascinated by this man, and have ordered another book on his earlier years. What a compelling individual!
On another note, I believe that we are almost 100% recovered. We even took the rig into town today to get propane! Tomorrow, I have hopes of getting out and taking some more pictures, so maybe this blog will get back on track!
I'm so happy to be feeling better (and hope Terry will soon follow suit).
Life is good and getting better!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
New Mexico Skies
As I keep saying, the sky here is vast and the light unlike anything I've seen anywhere else.
Every evening, for just a few moments, the light bands the mountains, making a mosaic of the landscape, it's magical.
Tonight, I looked out and caught this landscape where a small mountain range sits off to the east. In this photo, you can see the incredible sandy colored ridge in the middle of the photo.
And just to show you how unusual it is here, facing west, just thirty seconds later, this is the same sky. One could get dizzy just looking at the skies!
I love New Mexico.
Every evening, for just a few moments, the light bands the mountains, making a mosaic of the landscape, it's magical.
Tonight, I looked out and caught this landscape where a small mountain range sits off to the east. In this photo, you can see the incredible sandy colored ridge in the middle of the photo.
And just to show you how unusual it is here, facing west, just thirty seconds later, this is the same sky. One could get dizzy just looking at the skies!
I love New Mexico.
Serendipity
The dictionary defines Serendipity as an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
I am a huge believer in Serendipity. In fact I count on it and it has rarely let me down.
Those of you who know me realize I'm kind of slippery with plans, but that is by design on my part, since I always want to leave room for the unexpected. This practice has opened doors I never would have expected, which is kind of the point, isn't it?
This may become a recurring theme in the blog. . . In fact, if I don't get well and out of the rig soon, all blog entries may be like this! Sorry, I'm just not getting out a lot lately to take pictures . . .
Anyhow, I did go into town yesterday. Terry is one week behind me in this hellish affliction, so chores are falling to me, and we needed some staples, so off to Socorro I went.
And do you think I could go into town and pass by that great thrift store without going in? I think not!
In my junking adventures, I always look for books, music and movies, as well as whatever strikes my fancy (assuming it will fit in Cholula Red of course).
For new music, I usually just go by my gut feelings. Sometimes I like the liner art, or the inner notes, sometimes I just like the sound of the song titles. Since CDs are usually only a couple of bucks, I'm always open to trying something I've never heard.
Yesterday I picked up a 3 disc retrospective of Janis Joplin, a collection of Paraguayan harp music by a gentleman named Alfredo Rolando Ortiz and the true treasure of the group, Painted Desert Serenade by Joshua Kadigan.
Now I've never heard of Mr. Kadigan, but something in the look of the CD and the names of the songs told me it would be a treasure, and is it ever!
Have you ever heard of him? He composes his own songs, plays a perfect piano and writes songs that play like stories. They allow you to enter a specific place in time, experience people and their relationships in an intimate fashion, making them instant friends, all set to exquisite music. That he writes from his heart is obvious on the first listening, but as you listen repeatedly, they really work their way into your consciousness. A lovely find.
Of course, I had to look him up on the internet, thus opening whole new aspects to this artist. His website is a real window into his life, making his music all the more real and poignant.
He shares his feelings on so many subjects, and he also shares a good bit of his music, much of his music is available on his website as a free download,
Please, take a listen, I promise you wont be disappointed.
Life continues to be very good!
I am a huge believer in Serendipity. In fact I count on it and it has rarely let me down.
Those of you who know me realize I'm kind of slippery with plans, but that is by design on my part, since I always want to leave room for the unexpected. This practice has opened doors I never would have expected, which is kind of the point, isn't it?
This may become a recurring theme in the blog. . . In fact, if I don't get well and out of the rig soon, all blog entries may be like this! Sorry, I'm just not getting out a lot lately to take pictures . . .
Anyhow, I did go into town yesterday. Terry is one week behind me in this hellish affliction, so chores are falling to me, and we needed some staples, so off to Socorro I went.
And do you think I could go into town and pass by that great thrift store without going in? I think not!
In my junking adventures, I always look for books, music and movies, as well as whatever strikes my fancy (assuming it will fit in Cholula Red of course).
For new music, I usually just go by my gut feelings. Sometimes I like the liner art, or the inner notes, sometimes I just like the sound of the song titles. Since CDs are usually only a couple of bucks, I'm always open to trying something I've never heard.
Yesterday I picked up a 3 disc retrospective of Janis Joplin, a collection of Paraguayan harp music by a gentleman named Alfredo Rolando Ortiz and the true treasure of the group, Painted Desert Serenade by Joshua Kadigan.
Now I've never heard of Mr. Kadigan, but something in the look of the CD and the names of the songs told me it would be a treasure, and is it ever!
Have you ever heard of him? He composes his own songs, plays a perfect piano and writes songs that play like stories. They allow you to enter a specific place in time, experience people and their relationships in an intimate fashion, making them instant friends, all set to exquisite music. That he writes from his heart is obvious on the first listening, but as you listen repeatedly, they really work their way into your consciousness. A lovely find.
Of course, I had to look him up on the internet, thus opening whole new aspects to this artist. His website is a real window into his life, making his music all the more real and poignant.
He shares his feelings on so many subjects, and he also shares a good bit of his music, much of his music is available on his website as a free download,
Please, take a listen, I promise you wont be disappointed.
Life continues to be very good!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Ramblings (again) . . .
Well, we're STILL sick, although well on the road to recovery. We're still staying in, but feeling a bit better.
I've been meaning to post but our life is so restricted right now that there really isn't much to report. We stay in, cook, eat, nap and watch movies and TV series on DVD.
Ah, such an exciting life we lead!
For lack of anything else to write about, I thought I'd mention one of the movies we've seen that I really love.
Just this morning, the Station Agent was on the Independent Film Channel, one of my favorites. I had seen this small film when it was first released and was charmed by it, but truthfully had completely forgotten about it.
After a second viewing, I have to say I liked it even better than the first time. A charming character study coupled with perfect casting and fine acting makes for a lovely, intimate meditation on loneliness and the value of friendship. I recommend it highly.
Lately I've found that whether in a movie or a book, I value character over most everything. Action movies are fun and mystery novels are involving, but what stays with me are the characters.
This has changed my reading habits of late to include a more commentaries, travelogues, history and biographies.
As regular readers know, I am enthralled with New Mexico and just finished a book that encapsulated just about everything I love about this awesome state.
Titled the Lightning Field, it's a series of essays written by Robert Eaton, who has lived and worked in and around New Mexico for years. His writing is what I aspire to, his descriptions perfect. If you'd like a true feel for this state, this book will do it.
I also find myself intrigued with Teddy Roosevelt, so my next reading will be something about him.
And that's it for today! At least I'm still posting . . .
Life is good (and getting better the better we feel)
I've been meaning to post but our life is so restricted right now that there really isn't much to report. We stay in, cook, eat, nap and watch movies and TV series on DVD.
Ah, such an exciting life we lead!
For lack of anything else to write about, I thought I'd mention one of the movies we've seen that I really love.
Just this morning, the Station Agent was on the Independent Film Channel, one of my favorites. I had seen this small film when it was first released and was charmed by it, but truthfully had completely forgotten about it.
After a second viewing, I have to say I liked it even better than the first time. A charming character study coupled with perfect casting and fine acting makes for a lovely, intimate meditation on loneliness and the value of friendship. I recommend it highly.
Lately I've found that whether in a movie or a book, I value character over most everything. Action movies are fun and mystery novels are involving, but what stays with me are the characters.
This has changed my reading habits of late to include a more commentaries, travelogues, history and biographies.
As regular readers know, I am enthralled with New Mexico and just finished a book that encapsulated just about everything I love about this awesome state.
Titled the Lightning Field, it's a series of essays written by Robert Eaton, who has lived and worked in and around New Mexico for years. His writing is what I aspire to, his descriptions perfect. If you'd like a true feel for this state, this book will do it.
I also find myself intrigued with Teddy Roosevelt, so my next reading will be something about him.
And that's it for today! At least I'm still posting . . .
Life is good (and getting better the better we feel)
Monday, December 31, 2007
Goodbye 2007 . . .
We're well on our way to recovery, and do I ever hope none of you get this particular bug, it's a whopper! While I don't have a whole lot to write about, I just wanted to close out the year with a short entry.
2007 has been an incredible journey for us, so for all the adventures, all the friends we have, both old and new and for all the adventures we all have to look forward to in 2008, I am truly thankful.
Below is a photo I took as the sun was rising this morning.
Life is Good and I wish that for all of you.
2007 has been an incredible journey for us, so for all the adventures, all the friends we have, both old and new and for all the adventures we all have to look forward to in 2008, I am truly thankful.
Below is a photo I took as the sun was rising this morning.
Life is Good and I wish that for all of you.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Reasons I Love Being Sick
NONE, dang it!
I have now been sick for the last twelve days, and I'm sick of being sick! That said, I am recovering, and starting to feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
Yesterday I even went to the grocery store (out of necessity, NOT a fun trip).
And now Terry, my sweet Hunny Bunny is into day six of the same malady, so he will be out of commission for probably another week. What a drag.
But this post isn't just to moan and groan (well, maybe it is a little bit . . .)
Being sick (and starting to feel better) makes me think about a lot of things I generally take for granted.
At the top of this list is the gift of good health that we generally enjoy.
Also I'm so thankful that I am no longer working.
For years I would get something like this and have to deal with the whole question of whether I should call in sick or stay home. This was always a horrible dilemma. If you call in sick, you put an extra burden on those you work with, and risk them thinking you're faking it. On the other hand, if you go in, you risk infecting everyone and that's not a good thing either.
Now that I'm retired, when I get sick like this, I can just lie back and feel crappy till I get well.
This may not seem like a huge deal, but for thirty seven years I worked in a small office. I can't begin to tell you what a relief it is to just be allowed to be sick with no mental hassles about work.
Another thing I am thankful for is living in such a small space. You know what a mess you make when you're sick? Meds, kleenex, magazines and whatever all over the place, it doesn't take long for your space to turn into a complete sty. In Cholula, no matter how bad it gets, we can always make it habitable in just a few minutes.
And this might be a good time to mention my new kitchen towels! After two years of using various "cute" kitchen towels, I finally broke down and bought some plain white flour sack type kitchen towels. No wonder these things have been around forever! They are THE most absorbent, cheap, lightweight towels I've ever used. They are just a pleasure to use. They make cleaning up the dishes a snap. Not really being sick related, but they do make my life easier, and I'm trying to be positive here!
So this is my sick post. Although it's been a drag, I still have things to be thankful for!
Life is good (and will be even better when we're both well and can get back to taking pictures . . .)
I have now been sick for the last twelve days, and I'm sick of being sick! That said, I am recovering, and starting to feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
Yesterday I even went to the grocery store (out of necessity, NOT a fun trip).
And now Terry, my sweet Hunny Bunny is into day six of the same malady, so he will be out of commission for probably another week. What a drag.
But this post isn't just to moan and groan (well, maybe it is a little bit . . .)
Being sick (and starting to feel better) makes me think about a lot of things I generally take for granted.
At the top of this list is the gift of good health that we generally enjoy.
Also I'm so thankful that I am no longer working.
For years I would get something like this and have to deal with the whole question of whether I should call in sick or stay home. This was always a horrible dilemma. If you call in sick, you put an extra burden on those you work with, and risk them thinking you're faking it. On the other hand, if you go in, you risk infecting everyone and that's not a good thing either.
Now that I'm retired, when I get sick like this, I can just lie back and feel crappy till I get well.
This may not seem like a huge deal, but for thirty seven years I worked in a small office. I can't begin to tell you what a relief it is to just be allowed to be sick with no mental hassles about work.
Another thing I am thankful for is living in such a small space. You know what a mess you make when you're sick? Meds, kleenex, magazines and whatever all over the place, it doesn't take long for your space to turn into a complete sty. In Cholula, no matter how bad it gets, we can always make it habitable in just a few minutes.
And this might be a good time to mention my new kitchen towels! After two years of using various "cute" kitchen towels, I finally broke down and bought some plain white flour sack type kitchen towels. No wonder these things have been around forever! They are THE most absorbent, cheap, lightweight towels I've ever used. They are just a pleasure to use. They make cleaning up the dishes a snap. Not really being sick related, but they do make my life easier, and I'm trying to be positive here!
So this is my sick post. Although it's been a drag, I still have things to be thankful for!
Life is good (and will be even better when we're both well and can get back to taking pictures . . .)
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Daybreak
Most mornings I am awake before sunrise, and it's become a habit to get up and experience the dawn.
It's been quite cold at night here, so I rarely go outside to enjoy the morning view, but by opening all the blinds, I am greeted every morning with a special gift.
Off to the west lie the Magdalena Mountains. From where I sit they're not exceptionally high but provide a distinct horizon. Often the higher peaks have snow and if there are clouds in the sky they are usually in this direction.
The light on these mounds changes constantly. Did I ever know there were so many hues of blue before New Mexico?
Some mornings I am greeted by the moon still hanging above these cliffs while the sun is preparing to rise in the opposite direction.
To the east lie a ridge of low mesas, apparently flat but on closer viewing alive with detail. At first, the sun still below the horizon, they take on a sharp silhouette, ebony against the dark blue of the emerging daybreak. Slowly the blue brightens up and then the sun quietly rises, changing the landscape to reveal a new vision every day.
When I see the early rising cranes and geese, it is always against this tableau and it never fails to move me.
As the sun continues its ascent, the vista opens up and I often try to imagine what life must have been like here along the Rio Grande in days gone by.
This land has taken a true hold on me, I feel at peace and at home.
Life is good.
It's been quite cold at night here, so I rarely go outside to enjoy the morning view, but by opening all the blinds, I am greeted every morning with a special gift.
Off to the west lie the Magdalena Mountains. From where I sit they're not exceptionally high but provide a distinct horizon. Often the higher peaks have snow and if there are clouds in the sky they are usually in this direction.
The light on these mounds changes constantly. Did I ever know there were so many hues of blue before New Mexico?
Some mornings I am greeted by the moon still hanging above these cliffs while the sun is preparing to rise in the opposite direction.
To the east lie a ridge of low mesas, apparently flat but on closer viewing alive with detail. At first, the sun still below the horizon, they take on a sharp silhouette, ebony against the dark blue of the emerging daybreak. Slowly the blue brightens up and then the sun quietly rises, changing the landscape to reveal a new vision every day.
When I see the early rising cranes and geese, it is always against this tableau and it never fails to move me.
As the sun continues its ascent, the vista opens up and I often try to imagine what life must have been like here along the Rio Grande in days gone by.
This land has taken a true hold on me, I feel at peace and at home.
Life is good.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays to all of you!
I have several posts that I've been working on, but unfortunately, I've contracted the cold/sore throat from Hell and have been pretty much out of commission for the last week or so.
That said, while we don't make a huge deal of the Holidays, I do like to make a special meal. This last Thanksgiving we had just arrived at Bosque del Apache and shared a lovely meal with fellow Laze Dazers Art and Barbara Bergreen. Barbara cooked a small turkey and I made a turkey roulade that I had seen on the Food Channel. While it was OK, I know it can be improved on, so that's my mission for Christmas dinner.
To start with, you need a boneless turkey breast. For Thanksgiving, I got my turkey already boned at Costco, but right now Costco is just too far away, so I went to the Smiths Market in Socorro (a lovely market) and found a regular turkey breast with the bone still in it. A few nice words with the butcher and I had boned turkey breast (yeah, yeah, I could have done it my self, but the butcher does such a neat and tidy job!).
Before you start on this project, you have to prepare and cool your stuffing. Now there are millions of stuffing recipes out there, so use the one you like the best. For Thanksgiving, I used a wild rice and mushroom stuffing but found it kind of blah, so for Christmas, I'm going a more traditional route. I'll use bread, chicken stock, spices, cooked bacon, onion, carrots, celery, Brazil nuts, and pecans (because I love that crunch you get from nuts). I also like to put in a whole package of fresh sage, chopped really fine. It just seems that the fresh sage adds a nice flavor not achieved with dried, but again, that's a personal preference.
Whatever stuffing you make, it must be prepared and chilled before you begin this project.
Now, on to the turkey breast. You should have good size turkey breast, all boned and skinned. The one we bought was just over four pounds prior to boning and skinning. Use a nice sharp knife to cut it into a somewhat even piece so you can flatten the whole thing. Try not to cut all the way through as this will make it harder to roll out.
Next, put it in between two separate pieces of plastic wrap (one on the top, one on the bottom) and pound away, taking out all those shopping frustrations on this poor bird. The object here is to have a large piece of turkey that you can stuff and roll, kind of like a jelly roll.
Since I've relinquished so many of my kitchen tools for life on the road, I had to improvise. Scrounging through the pantry, I found a full bottle of olive oil and discovered that it makes a pretty good substitute for my meat tenderizer. Need I mention that it was olive oil in a plastic bottle? When you're done pounding, the meat should be about one half to three quarters of an inch thick.
Now you want to take the plastic wrap off of one side only, salt and pepper liberally, then pread a nice even layer of dressing on top of the turkey. Try to stay away from the edges as it will kind of mush out as you roll it up. Use the plastic wrap on the bottom to help you roll the whole thing up, keeping it as tight as possible and set it aside for a few minutes.
Take a nice sized piece of cooking parchment paper, large enough to roll the whole thing in, with a bit left over. Take uncooked bacon and lay it out so that when you roll the turkey in the parchment, bacon will completely surround the roll. I like to do the bacon in a lattice design, since it keeps the whole thing together better but that's not absolutely necessary. It's more important that the bacon surround the roll so it will be nice and moist
When the bacon is arranged, lift the turkey roll onto the parchment. This can be kind of tricky but just take your time. You want to lay the roll on the bacon and tightly roll the whole thing up. There should be paper left over on the ends, which you will crimp as tight as you can. Now, take the roll (which at this point should resemble one of the New Years' Eve poppers) and place it into tin foil and wrap the whole thing up again, all snug in its' tin foil blanket.
I like to prepare this the day before and keep it in the fridge, which I just did on this Christmas Eve.
Tomorrow, I'll let it sit out for a few minutes to come to room temperature, then pop it into a 350 degree oven about ninety minutes. I like to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. While all the books say that a turkey should be 165 degrees, I like to let it rest a bit before slicing, so I usually take it out at 150 degrees. It will continue to cook in the foil and in about twenty minutes, it should be up to temperature and ready to slice.
When you remove it from the the parchment, the bacon will be limp and pretty much cooked out, so you can discard it along with the parchment.
I just love the presentation this makes, and the bacon keeps the turkey all juicy with just a bit of the smoky bacon flavor.
I'll serve this with more dressing, some mashed potatoes and the old standby green bean casserole. A lot for just the two of us, but I just can't let Christmas go without celebrating a bit.
If you were here, I'd certainly invite you to join us!
And now I'm off to watch Christmas movies and try to continue recuperating from this cold.
Even feeling kind of punk, the weather is bright (but very cold at nights), the birds are still impressive and life is good.
Merry Christmas to you all.
As an added note . . .
I woke up this morning and looked out the window and saw this beautiful site.
Did you know that for just a couple of days, the moon is at its closest point to the earth in years? I guess that accounts for this shot (not as good as I would like, but it's what I got). Taken at 6:00am I was just thrilled at the look of the moon over the mountains while the sun was rising on the opposite horizon.
Once again, Merry Christmas
Life is good
I have several posts that I've been working on, but unfortunately, I've contracted the cold/sore throat from Hell and have been pretty much out of commission for the last week or so.
That said, while we don't make a huge deal of the Holidays, I do like to make a special meal. This last Thanksgiving we had just arrived at Bosque del Apache and shared a lovely meal with fellow Laze Dazers Art and Barbara Bergreen. Barbara cooked a small turkey and I made a turkey roulade that I had seen on the Food Channel. While it was OK, I know it can be improved on, so that's my mission for Christmas dinner.
To start with, you need a boneless turkey breast. For Thanksgiving, I got my turkey already boned at Costco, but right now Costco is just too far away, so I went to the Smiths Market in Socorro (a lovely market) and found a regular turkey breast with the bone still in it. A few nice words with the butcher and I had boned turkey breast (yeah, yeah, I could have done it my self, but the butcher does such a neat and tidy job!).
Before you start on this project, you have to prepare and cool your stuffing. Now there are millions of stuffing recipes out there, so use the one you like the best. For Thanksgiving, I used a wild rice and mushroom stuffing but found it kind of blah, so for Christmas, I'm going a more traditional route. I'll use bread, chicken stock, spices, cooked bacon, onion, carrots, celery, Brazil nuts, and pecans (because I love that crunch you get from nuts). I also like to put in a whole package of fresh sage, chopped really fine. It just seems that the fresh sage adds a nice flavor not achieved with dried, but again, that's a personal preference.
Whatever stuffing you make, it must be prepared and chilled before you begin this project.
Now, on to the turkey breast. You should have good size turkey breast, all boned and skinned. The one we bought was just over four pounds prior to boning and skinning. Use a nice sharp knife to cut it into a somewhat even piece so you can flatten the whole thing. Try not to cut all the way through as this will make it harder to roll out.
Next, put it in between two separate pieces of plastic wrap (one on the top, one on the bottom) and pound away, taking out all those shopping frustrations on this poor bird. The object here is to have a large piece of turkey that you can stuff and roll, kind of like a jelly roll.
Since I've relinquished so many of my kitchen tools for life on the road, I had to improvise. Scrounging through the pantry, I found a full bottle of olive oil and discovered that it makes a pretty good substitute for my meat tenderizer. Need I mention that it was olive oil in a plastic bottle? When you're done pounding, the meat should be about one half to three quarters of an inch thick.
Now you want to take the plastic wrap off of one side only, salt and pepper liberally, then pread a nice even layer of dressing on top of the turkey. Try to stay away from the edges as it will kind of mush out as you roll it up. Use the plastic wrap on the bottom to help you roll the whole thing up, keeping it as tight as possible and set it aside for a few minutes.
Take a nice sized piece of cooking parchment paper, large enough to roll the whole thing in, with a bit left over. Take uncooked bacon and lay it out so that when you roll the turkey in the parchment, bacon will completely surround the roll. I like to do the bacon in a lattice design, since it keeps the whole thing together better but that's not absolutely necessary. It's more important that the bacon surround the roll so it will be nice and moist
When the bacon is arranged, lift the turkey roll onto the parchment. This can be kind of tricky but just take your time. You want to lay the roll on the bacon and tightly roll the whole thing up. There should be paper left over on the ends, which you will crimp as tight as you can. Now, take the roll (which at this point should resemble one of the New Years' Eve poppers) and place it into tin foil and wrap the whole thing up again, all snug in its' tin foil blanket.
I like to prepare this the day before and keep it in the fridge, which I just did on this Christmas Eve.
Tomorrow, I'll let it sit out for a few minutes to come to room temperature, then pop it into a 350 degree oven about ninety minutes. I like to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. While all the books say that a turkey should be 165 degrees, I like to let it rest a bit before slicing, so I usually take it out at 150 degrees. It will continue to cook in the foil and in about twenty minutes, it should be up to temperature and ready to slice.
When you remove it from the the parchment, the bacon will be limp and pretty much cooked out, so you can discard it along with the parchment.
I just love the presentation this makes, and the bacon keeps the turkey all juicy with just a bit of the smoky bacon flavor.
I'll serve this with more dressing, some mashed potatoes and the old standby green bean casserole. A lot for just the two of us, but I just can't let Christmas go without celebrating a bit.
If you were here, I'd certainly invite you to join us!
And now I'm off to watch Christmas movies and try to continue recuperating from this cold.
Even feeling kind of punk, the weather is bright (but very cold at nights), the birds are still impressive and life is good.
Merry Christmas to you all.
As an added note . . .
I woke up this morning and looked out the window and saw this beautiful site.
Did you know that for just a couple of days, the moon is at its closest point to the earth in years? I guess that accounts for this shot (not as good as I would like, but it's what I got). Taken at 6:00am I was just thrilled at the look of the moon over the mountains while the sun was rising on the opposite horizon.
Once again, Merry Christmas
Life is good
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Babylon 5
We are pretty heavy fantasy/science fiction fans. We particularly like watching a whole series on dvd, no interruptions, no commercials.
Our favorite series include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly (can you tell we like Joss Whedon?) and more recently we really liked the 4400, Battlestar Galactica, Dark Angel, Stargate SG1 and Farscape, an Aussie series which really blew us away.
In talking with different people, when they hear we have enjoyed all these series, they all say we HAVE to watch Babylon 5.
Written as a novel for television, it lasted for five season and has a pretty loyal following. Taking all this into account, when we found the series for a reasonable price, we picked it up and have started watching it.
And as of now (Season 1, the seventh episode) we are completely flummoxed.
Can someone tell us when this series picks up? I realize that some of these long term series take a while to gel, but this one is really bad.
Not only are the characters pretty uninteresting but we both agree, the acting is really atrocious, wooden and flat
Can any of my readers help me here? We are about to give up!
Just thought I'd ask!
Our favorite series include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly (can you tell we like Joss Whedon?) and more recently we really liked the 4400, Battlestar Galactica, Dark Angel, Stargate SG1 and Farscape, an Aussie series which really blew us away.
In talking with different people, when they hear we have enjoyed all these series, they all say we HAVE to watch Babylon 5.
Written as a novel for television, it lasted for five season and has a pretty loyal following. Taking all this into account, when we found the series for a reasonable price, we picked it up and have started watching it.
And as of now (Season 1, the seventh episode) we are completely flummoxed.
Can someone tell us when this series picks up? I realize that some of these long term series take a while to gel, but this one is really bad.
Not only are the characters pretty uninteresting but we both agree, the acting is really atrocious, wooden and flat
Can any of my readers help me here? We are about to give up!
Just thought I'd ask!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Hanging Around at Bosque del Apache
I'll start this entry with a few photos we took between where we're camped and the Bosque.
The cranes are everywhere around here, which in no way diminishes my delight with them. Generally, they travel in pairs or trios (do you know that Sandhill Cranes mate for life?) when they aren't with a larger flock.
These shots were taken in a pasture we drive past almost every day. This trio seems to live here, at least every time we've been by, they (or maybe their close relatives) have been here.
Here's a close up of the pair.
If you look carefully at this next shot you can see all three of them in the center of this pasture. Isn't this landscape glorious?
We've been spending some time at the Visitors center at Bosque del Apache, a most interesting place!
Inside, every day, they post the number of birds at the Refuge. This is calculated using sightings, amounts of feed, and some magical numbers that they seem to pull out of the air.
For instance, on this day, they stated no Bald Eagles, but we saw them, so we know they were there. I guess this isn't an exact science.
It is nice that they even try to count these thousands of birds.
Outside of the Visitors Center is a lovely garden, full of desert plants, sculptures and recreated structures from this areas rich past. This is one of several places where you can have lunch.
The day I was shooting these, the sun was rapidly descending, so the light was pretty interesting. I really liked the way the backlighting on these cactus spines.
For some reason, this shot came out really warm. Since it was in the 40s, it made me feel really good, so I'm including it here.
Another case of interesting backlighting. All these cactus are so intertwined, it's hard to tell where one starts and another leaves off.
With all the cranes and other large birds, we sometimes forget the thousands of small birds, but they add just as much to the magic of this place as their larger relatives.
I caught this just as the sun was going down.
The cranes are everywhere around here, which in no way diminishes my delight with them. Generally, they travel in pairs or trios (do you know that Sandhill Cranes mate for life?) when they aren't with a larger flock.
These shots were taken in a pasture we drive past almost every day. This trio seems to live here, at least every time we've been by, they (or maybe their close relatives) have been here.
Here's a close up of the pair.
If you look carefully at this next shot you can see all three of them in the center of this pasture. Isn't this landscape glorious?
We've been spending some time at the Visitors center at Bosque del Apache, a most interesting place!
Inside, every day, they post the number of birds at the Refuge. This is calculated using sightings, amounts of feed, and some magical numbers that they seem to pull out of the air.
For instance, on this day, they stated no Bald Eagles, but we saw them, so we know they were there. I guess this isn't an exact science.
It is nice that they even try to count these thousands of birds.
Outside of the Visitors Center is a lovely garden, full of desert plants, sculptures and recreated structures from this areas rich past. This is one of several places where you can have lunch.
The day I was shooting these, the sun was rapidly descending, so the light was pretty interesting. I really liked the way the backlighting on these cactus spines.
For some reason, this shot came out really warm. Since it was in the 40s, it made me feel really good, so I'm including it here.
Another case of interesting backlighting. All these cactus are so intertwined, it's hard to tell where one starts and another leaves off.
With all the cranes and other large birds, we sometimes forget the thousands of small birds, but they add just as much to the magic of this place as their larger relatives.
I caught this just as the sun was going down.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Yard Sales and Used Goodies
My whole life I have been a collector, with a particular knack for finding great deals. While this has brought me much pleasure, it's a facet of my personality I've had to examine living in the motorhome.
For the first year or so, I wouldn't allow myself to go to a flea market or yard sale, for fear of over cluttering the rig. But that wasn't to last for long, the lure of the used deal calls to me, even as we travel.
I believe I've finally worked it out to where I can have the best of both worlds (sort of) There are a lot of things in Cholula Red that are semi permanent, such as rugs, dishes, towels, etc. Now when I go to a yard sale or flea market and find something truly special, I make sure that there is a use for it in the rig While this often means getting rid of something already in the rig, it's working out fine for us. It makes me feel fine to get something new and be able to pass on whatever it's replacing to someone else.
Today was a perfect example. Our living room rug has been looking really shabby, definitely on its way out, so that's been in the back of my mind.
On our way to do some grocery shopping, we saw a sign for a yard sale and off we went. I strolled around outside and started talking with a gent who seemed to be in charge. It turns out that a lady is moving and he says there's lots more in the house. As soon as I got inside, I noticed a beautiful red Chinese carpet. It looked just perfect, with a delicate design of symbols and birds. I checked it out carefully and found it to be in fine condition, lightly soiled (not a problem) but tight and heavy, a perfect choice for Cholula Red. I asked the lady how much it was and she went into a long explanation of what a great carpet it was and how she would include the special Oriental carpet pad that she had bought specially for it (she said the pad cost almost as much as the rug). I was getting ready for an exorbitant price, when she said "Do you think $25.00 is fair?" I agreed that it was more than fair and loaded it in the car.
Here's a photo, but for some reason, it makes the rug look all mottled, which it isn't. But I wanted to show you our new rug, it certainly brightens the place up!
I continued looking around and noticed that there were lots of birding books. Ever since we spent last summer communing with the hummingbirds at Manzano, we've found ourselves more and more fascinated by birds of all kinds. Of course, being here at the bosque has only added to our interest. I started looking through the books and found six hummingbird books and about a dozen other books on birds. Since these are usually $10.00 to $20.00 apiece, I asked the price and was thrilled to find them only fifty cents each! While we wont be able to keep them all, we'll take a look and then pass them off to others who are also interested in birds. That shouldn't be too hard, here at the bosque!
All in all, a great day at the local yard sale.
We've decided to stay here at Birdwatchers RV till January 7, so we can celebrate Christmas with the cranes. Hopefully. before we leave I'll be able to get some good pictures to share with you.
Life is really good.
For the first year or so, I wouldn't allow myself to go to a flea market or yard sale, for fear of over cluttering the rig. But that wasn't to last for long, the lure of the used deal calls to me, even as we travel.
I believe I've finally worked it out to where I can have the best of both worlds (sort of) There are a lot of things in Cholula Red that are semi permanent, such as rugs, dishes, towels, etc. Now when I go to a yard sale or flea market and find something truly special, I make sure that there is a use for it in the rig While this often means getting rid of something already in the rig, it's working out fine for us. It makes me feel fine to get something new and be able to pass on whatever it's replacing to someone else.
Today was a perfect example. Our living room rug has been looking really shabby, definitely on its way out, so that's been in the back of my mind.
On our way to do some grocery shopping, we saw a sign for a yard sale and off we went. I strolled around outside and started talking with a gent who seemed to be in charge. It turns out that a lady is moving and he says there's lots more in the house. As soon as I got inside, I noticed a beautiful red Chinese carpet. It looked just perfect, with a delicate design of symbols and birds. I checked it out carefully and found it to be in fine condition, lightly soiled (not a problem) but tight and heavy, a perfect choice for Cholula Red. I asked the lady how much it was and she went into a long explanation of what a great carpet it was and how she would include the special Oriental carpet pad that she had bought specially for it (she said the pad cost almost as much as the rug). I was getting ready for an exorbitant price, when she said "Do you think $25.00 is fair?" I agreed that it was more than fair and loaded it in the car.
Here's a photo, but for some reason, it makes the rug look all mottled, which it isn't. But I wanted to show you our new rug, it certainly brightens the place up!
I continued looking around and noticed that there were lots of birding books. Ever since we spent last summer communing with the hummingbirds at Manzano, we've found ourselves more and more fascinated by birds of all kinds. Of course, being here at the bosque has only added to our interest. I started looking through the books and found six hummingbird books and about a dozen other books on birds. Since these are usually $10.00 to $20.00 apiece, I asked the price and was thrilled to find them only fifty cents each! While we wont be able to keep them all, we'll take a look and then pass them off to others who are also interested in birds. That shouldn't be too hard, here at the bosque!
All in all, a great day at the local yard sale.
We've decided to stay here at Birdwatchers RV till January 7, so we can celebrate Christmas with the cranes. Hopefully. before we leave I'll be able to get some good pictures to share with you.
Life is really good.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Around Socorro
Just a quick post today.
I thought I'd mention a few of the great things there are to do in this area.
Of course the Bosque del Apache is a huge draw, but there's a lot of other things to do.
We're about 25 miles from the lovely little town of Magdalena, which sits in the foothills above Socorro. A true old west town, it now boasts a rustic feel, full of old buildings, lots of atmosphere and a great collection of art galleries.
It sits on the road that leads to the Very Large Array (VLA).
The VLA is a true wonder of the modern world, a Radio Astronomy Telescope consisting of twenty seven giant dishes. Each dish has a diameter of eighty two feet and weighs a whopping two hundred and thirty tons. They are all connected via a set of rails which allows one or all of them to be moved into different configurations.
This array is a site to behold (I would love to see them in motion!) and something you should definitely visit if you are ever in this area. If you've ever seen the film Contact with Jodie Foster, then you've had a taste of this place, but no film can capture the surreal beauty of this place.
It made me feel like I had landed on another planet.
The El Camino Real International Heritage Center is located some 25 miles south of Socorro.
It's a relatively new museum chronicling the history of the El Camino Real. This road began in Mexico City and stretched all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. It follows a route that was used by the ancients, then the native Americans, then the Spaniards, and now the current residents of North America. Believed to be the oldest highway in the United States, the original path of the El Camino Real has been somewhat forgotten, but this heritage center hopes to remedy that situation.
Located out in the middle of nowhere (literally, it stands out in the desert, solitary and beautiful) this facility rises from the geography like some ancient edifice. You just can't prepare yourself for the experience of this place, both the museum itself and the outside grounds.
I've included just one photo of the rear area that sits above the Rio Grand River.
I realize I haven't covered these places very thoroughly but I find I get all caught up in the writing details, then I never post.
Figuring it was better to give you a small taste of the area, I'll just post these bits and pieces and hopefully whet your appetite for this wonderful area.
Life is good.
I thought I'd mention a few of the great things there are to do in this area.
Of course the Bosque del Apache is a huge draw, but there's a lot of other things to do.
We're about 25 miles from the lovely little town of Magdalena, which sits in the foothills above Socorro. A true old west town, it now boasts a rustic feel, full of old buildings, lots of atmosphere and a great collection of art galleries.
It sits on the road that leads to the Very Large Array (VLA).
The VLA is a true wonder of the modern world, a Radio Astronomy Telescope consisting of twenty seven giant dishes. Each dish has a diameter of eighty two feet and weighs a whopping two hundred and thirty tons. They are all connected via a set of rails which allows one or all of them to be moved into different configurations.
This array is a site to behold (I would love to see them in motion!) and something you should definitely visit if you are ever in this area. If you've ever seen the film Contact with Jodie Foster, then you've had a taste of this place, but no film can capture the surreal beauty of this place.
It made me feel like I had landed on another planet.
The El Camino Real International Heritage Center is located some 25 miles south of Socorro.
It's a relatively new museum chronicling the history of the El Camino Real. This road began in Mexico City and stretched all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. It follows a route that was used by the ancients, then the native Americans, then the Spaniards, and now the current residents of North America. Believed to be the oldest highway in the United States, the original path of the El Camino Real has been somewhat forgotten, but this heritage center hopes to remedy that situation.
Located out in the middle of nowhere (literally, it stands out in the desert, solitary and beautiful) this facility rises from the geography like some ancient edifice. You just can't prepare yourself for the experience of this place, both the museum itself and the outside grounds.
I've included just one photo of the rear area that sits above the Rio Grand River.
I realize I haven't covered these places very thoroughly but I find I get all caught up in the writing details, then I never post.
Figuring it was better to give you a small taste of the area, I'll just post these bits and pieces and hopefully whet your appetite for this wonderful area.
Life is good.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
the New Mexico Skies
We took a trip into Albuquerque today and once again, I was agog at the skies in this area.
Neither Terry or I seem to get bored with these enormous vistas. The light here is superb and the sheer enormity of the sky a constant wonder.
In the short course of an hour, I took these shots as the panorama continued to unfold, They were all taken from the car, about 70mph and through our less than pristine windshield, so I'm aware they're less than perfect.
That said, this will just be one of those blog entries that serve to help me remember a glorious afternoon and remind me how good life can be.
Neither Terry or I seem to get bored with these enormous vistas. The light here is superb and the sheer enormity of the sky a constant wonder.
In the short course of an hour, I took these shots as the panorama continued to unfold, They were all taken from the car, about 70mph and through our less than pristine windshield, so I'm aware they're less than perfect.
That said, this will just be one of those blog entries that serve to help me remember a glorious afternoon and remind me how good life can be.
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