Crane Crazy

Uhmm, what have we been up to?

Not a lot, reading (I'm currently running through the work of James Rollins), cooking, daydreaming and of course, taking pictures of cranes.

If you're out at the right time of day
and continue to shoot,
the color seems to change by the second.

And I just got myself a fish eye lens for the new camera.
I'm not very skilled at using it yet. but it's a lot of fun
All of Cholula Red in one tiny shot . . .

For a couple of years now
I've been trying to get a decent shot
of the wrap around windows in the back of our rig.
Finally Success!
(and pardon all the camera gear on the bed)

I find I'm still fascinated
with the 18 times zoom on the FZ-28
This was taken right outside of the rig

And this was taken from exactly the same spot.
I like how you can see the holes in the metal

And of course I have to include
a wonderful New Mexico sunset


That's it for today, I was just checking in!

Italian Chicken with Veggies- - -and Number 200!

Wow, this is my 200th post, and in a few weeks it will be two years since I started writing this blog.

Time sure flies when you're having fun.

So what should I write about? Why not another recipe?

I've been thinking about using my solar cooker. While it's been nice and sunny, it's been a bit windy so I have yet to get it out for the season. I'm sure the cooker would work fine in the full sun, even with the wind, but I'm a wimp and like my warmth.

That said, I'm always on the lookout for recipes I can convert for the solar cooker.

I came across an Italian Chicken recipe that sounded good, and perfect for the solar cooker. But since I wouldn't be using the solar cooker, I figured I could just make it in the oven. The recipe looked good, if a bit too tomatoey.

Tomatoey, is that a word?

Tomatoey: definition tasting too much of tomatoes.

So, I looked at this recipe. Knowing that we were a bit short of fresh veggies (and being too lazy to go to the store) I figured I could just wing it.

I started with chicken thighs, since that's what I had on hand. Lately we've been eating a lot of chicken thighs, rather than breasts. I like how moist and meaty they are.

So I plopped the thighs, generously salted and peppered, into an oven proof casserole dish.

The recipe started with canned tomatoes and tomato puree. As I've already stated, this didn't really appeal to me. I dug through the cupboards and found some sun dried tomatoes and covered the thighs with about a cup of these, oil and all. At this point I also added some spices. Basil, a hit of fennel seed, oregano and a teensy bit of rosemary.

Then I added thinly sliced onions and a head of garlic. Now that's a lot of garlic but that's what we like so that's what I used. I peeled the garlic but threw them in the dish whole. I love finding bites of sweet roasted garlic in just about any dish I eat.

Next the recipe called for fresh bell peppers and fresh mushrooms, neither of which we had. What to do? Back to the never ending cupboard. . .

I found a can of roasted red peppers, and added these to the dish (minus their juice). I also found about a half a jar of marinated mushrooms, so in they went.

Normally I'd be inclined to use fresh everything, but I was cooking by the seat of my pants. Besides, I had a feeling that all these marinated veggies might make for a deeper, more interesting flavor.

Next I looked in the fridge where I found a half jar of capers and threw those in with the mix. Finally, way in the back of the fridge I found a jar of green olives stuffed with garlic and jalapenos. What the hell, they went in also.

Then I covered it all with foil and put it in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. The idea was not only to cook the chicken but give enough heat and time for all the flavors to blend.

Wowee Zowee, was this ever tasty! I just wish I would have taken some pictures to share!

The next time I make this (and believe me, there will be a next time) I'll add some Asiago cheese at the end. I think if I let it melt it's goodness all over the dish it will add another layer of flavor.

Then I'll serve the whole thing over a nice fettuccine.

And don't forget some nice crusty bread to mop up all the yummy juice.

This is now going to be a staple at our house.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

I love cooking!

Harvest Moon

More Pictures!

We have a soft spot for Socorro. It has a nice Smith's Supermarket, a college with a lovely campus, a great Thrift Store and an extensive Library. While we were at the Library yesterday, I noticed a large tree in their courtyard and took this photo.

Last night I looked out the window
and saw that we were gifted with a full Harvest Moon.

I rushed outside with the camera.

The sky was an incredible lavender pink color
which I was sure wouldn't last long.

These colors are so amazing.
I can't remember seeing these colors
in nature ever before in my life.
Or maybe my memory is going?
For whatever reason
I am in awe of the New Mexico skies.

This windmill is right behind our campsite.
Even though the moon appears quite small,
I know the yellow orange of it's glow
contributed to the colors in the sky.

Remember to click on any photo to see a larger image.

Since I had forgotten my tripod,
these aren't the clearest of pictures.
Realizing my limitations,
I decided to try for some shots
where sharpness
wasn't the most important element of the photo.

My "Arty" shots, as it were

This is just a bit of a wider shot
than the previous one.
I couldn't decide which one to post,
so I've included both of them.

I tried to move in for a closer shot
of this yellow moon through the trees.

Just a slightly different angle.

This was my best shot of the naked moon

One minute the sky was this color

Within just moments it went to blue

And then it was dark

Lots of Pictures . . .

This post will contain a lot of pictures, because that's what we've been up to!

Remember to click on any image for a larger version

While not a perfect shot,
I loved this bird coming in for a landing.

I've tried this shot a lot of times,
but I'm beginning to think
there's too much movement for a clean shot.

I still wanted to include it
because it shows the movement
of these wonderful birds

There will be several shots like this
looking straight up.

I seem to spend a lot of time
looking straight up lately!

The water here
seems to take on so many colors . . .

This little pond is really close to where we're staying.

It's the first place we stop when heading to the Bosque

Coming in
for a landing.

This could be included in my
"skies of New Mexico"

Cranes and ducks,
they're everywhere here!

I'm getting a crick in my neck . . .

I had to include this one.
Doesn't this look like a cut out silhouette?

Yet another landing.

The light really was this color
but just for a few
short moments

As the sun lowers in the sky
the colors change by the minute

More silhouettes

The sun begins to set

and gets lower

As it sets,
everyone is taking photos of the sunset
while I take photos of them!

And now everyone is gone
including the sun
Just the birds remain

Prescription Glasses on the Web

A few posts ago, I promised I'd post my results of ordering eyeglasses online.

I'll start with a bit of my vision history.

For the last ten years or so I've worn progressive lenses. If you don't know, these are like bifocals, but they have no line, and generally are more expensive than regular bifocals. I also have an astigmatism in one eye, so my prescription is completely different in both eyes.

The last eyeglasses I purchased from a US optometrist cost me over $400.

A couple of years ago, when we were camping at Rockhound State Park, I went down to Palomas Mexico and got a full eye exam and two pairs of glasses for just over $300, which I thought was a good deal.

Lately though, I've been noticing that my prescription seems to have changed, so I began researching my options.

And that lead me to the internet, where I found a lot of information. The first thing I knew was that I would need a current prescription, as well as a few measurements that are sometimes included in your prescription and sometimes not. The most important of these is your pupillary distance, the measurement from the center of one pupil to the center of the other, while you are looking straight ahead.

So I went to a licensed optometrist and got my prescription, which cost me $65.00. I had notes and made sure that I got all the measurements I would need.

Then I started looking for a supplier online. There are many, but I ended up at a site called Zenni Optical. If you need glasses, their site will give you all the information you need to order glasses online.

The downside to ordering prescription glasses online is that you can't try on the frames before you buy, but I have to say, for me, this is not such a huge deal. That's because, my eyes are so bad that when I try on frames at a Doctor's Office, I can't really tell what they look like anyway!

So I went with my gut and ordered a pair of rimless glasses with clear bendable plastic nose piece and earpieces. I also chose the shape and size of my lenses.

The lenses are a lightweight polycarbonate, and after I added a non glare coating, progressive lenses and clip on sunglasses my total was $56.00 delivered! So I pressed the "place my order" button.

The I sat back to wait. After approximately three weeks, they came in the mail and I have to tell you I am completely pleased!

The prescription is perfect, not always the case with progressives. I did have to do a bit of manipulation to get them to fit just right, but that was really no big deal.

I like them so much, I just ordered another pair. Since they're so reasonably priced, I decided to get myself a pair of purple sunglasses, which should arrive any day.

So that's my report for any of you that may need new glasses. These were reasonably priced and they work just fine, so I wanted to share with all my readers.

The next post will be more pictures of Bosque del Apache and the amazing Sandhill Cranes.

Life is Good!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

We're finally here at Bosque del Apache, and it is glorious.

We got up early to go see the sunrise. It was like it was just for us, Spectacular!

Unfortunately, my pictures are not so spectacular, many noisy and out of focus. It looks like I'm going It have to break down and read the manual for the FZ28 . . .

So bear with me on these photos. I'm mainly posting them for memories of a wondrous sunrise.

if you want the best image, you really do need to click on each photo for a larger image, since they're not my best shots.

Just as the sun was beginning to show off on the east

This shot is straight out of the camera,
and it doesn't even do justice
to this morning's sky

We couldn't believe this was a sunrise

A similar picture, but a longer shot

As the sun rose, the skies changed
from deep orange
to an ethereal shade of pink

This is a flock of white snow geese.

They just look like flamingos
because the sun is such a luminous color

I really shouldn't include this photo,
it's noisy and out of focus,
but I loved the look of the cranes.

We are so pleased to be here with all these thousands of beautiful birds, hopefully my pictures will improve . . .

But perfect pictures or not, Life is Good

It's a New Year!

I found this picture online at a Vintage Photo site that I visit frequently.

While we rarely celebrate New Years in such a lavish fashion, this is what is in our hearts . . .

I've spent some time looking over this last years photos.

So many of them speak to me of this life we love so much.

We are rooted lightly to this earth,
yet ready at a moments notice
to take flight as it suits our fancy.

We have many paths to choose from.

I often feel we are the luckiest people on this earth.

To start 2009, we will be moving down to Bosque del Apache.

There is also a peace and tranquility at the Bosque that soothes my soul.

I look forward to this New Year and the many wonders we have to experience.

Life is indeed, Very Good.

I wish you all a most wonderful 2009

Kate