Happy, Healthy 2014

Tomorrow, January 1, 2014 

is the start of your new self!

Do what you need to do to make yourself the best  person you will ever be.

Good luck!

Merry, Merry Christmas to you all!

This is our Santa music man....he sometimes plays Jingle Bells. When he feels like it! But we forgive him as he is very old!

White Christmas, of course!

We will have a white Christmas. We got another 3 inches of snow last night, pretty and clean.

Today as I was starting the baking event for the holiday I thought about all the Christmas festivities past. I certainly don't remember the gifts I might have received over the years but I do recall some very fun things we all did at various times in our lives.

Interesting what one remembers, like the cat that thought the 9 foot Christmas tree was his personal springboard. He'd race to the top batting at ornaments as he went and then jump from the top to the nearest person, couch or whatever looked fun. We had two toddlers in the 4-kid mix and so the tree was firmly wired to the ceiling.  Or the year Mom thought we should all be constructive and make paper chains for the tree, the house and anything else she could think of to decorate. Somehow they never caught on as a favorite decor!

Our Grandmother was a fantastic cook, a professional sous chef really, and each year she would cook for days before  the annual Svenska family dinner. Oh, the delicacies she would prepare. Never again have we had such delights. Maybe our cousins got her recipes, I hope,  as no one could make headcheese like she did.

Food has always played a huge part in our celebrations. I married a German American who thinks it isn't Christmas without STOLLEN! Guess what I'm making tomorrow?

Merry Christmas to you all....I hope Santa is good to you if you deserve him to be! If not, try  harder next year!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

This is what  we looked like this weekend after the snows hit! 8 plus inches! It has melted a bit but with the temperatures in the high teens at night  and the 30's daily we should hold on to it awhile longer. Yippee! Love the happy mounds of plants nestled in their winter cloches.

Be safe and enjoy one another....

Global changes....

Morchella esculenta

All the rain that we have been having has brought forth some amazing discoveries. We hope this is a true Yellow Morel, but since it has past its prime we will not be having it for dinner. I have absolutely no idea where the spores for this beauty came from, the only new plant in the kitchen garden near where we found it is a Greek Oregano that was planted in May. Perhaps?  Who knows? I do intend to
spread the spores under an Elm tree with great hopes for future harvests.

It just finished raining for the ninth day in  row! Yea! The total amount we have had so far here at La Casa de las Hojas Rojas is an amazing 5.18 inches! Every plant on the property has flourished, turning green, putting out flowers, sprouting seeds that had lain fallow ALL summer. No amount of watering could bring these results. Only manna from the sky.

Also found where the leaks in the roof and windows are. Always chaff with the wheat!

Triskaidekaphobia

Never, never, never1 I love the thirteenth of everything!

And this month the thirteenth helped provide the 2.34 inches of rain that we got that we so desperately needed. It started raining on Tuesday and has been raining off and on all week, today was a winner. The ground was so dry that we didn't even have any accumulation in the runoff basins I've had created.  We are totally upset by some of the flooding that is occurring around the southwest. As much as we need the moisture, lives are more important.

Where did it go?

We always know that summer is coming to an end when the rainbows appear during the afternoon rain showers. This has been one of the more challenging summers, no rains, early forest fires, tomatoes that would be able to be shipped around the world three times with their tough skins. Rain, we need rain! Lots of it. The droughts have invaded  and are staying. I think I will rip up the gardens and plant rocks. Sad, so sad for a garden designer to have to give in to the inevitable.

However, my mantra is, "One day at a time!" So we will see what happens next. My forecast is for an early and long winter here in the southwest. That is based on my observations of the animal kingdom. They are acting panicky, much earlier than ever. The birds have stripped the trees of acorns and berries. We have a mountain lion digging like crazy, the rabbits are barely existing in this environment. Something gets them nightly. Coyotes are running in larger packs, trying to corner whatever food that might be available.

The 7,000 foot challenge!

It is very different baking here in the mountains....there are rules galore that I find just don't work for me.
So I persevere and try my own methods, complete with copious notes.

Bread being one of my greatest weaknesses I keep trying to get the perfect Boule...I think I got it this time.
What do you think?

Here it is photographed on my favorite bread board that was carved for me in Connecticut by a dear, dear friend about 25 years ago. He inscribed "Want Not" on it, which you can just barely make out at the top of the board.

Harvested the garlic the other day....some a huge disappointment size wise but flavor wise they are ultra sensational! Here is a sampling of the 4 varieties.

The one in the middle on the bottom was left in the ground too long, live and learn, so we are using it up first. It is the hottest tasting garlic I've ever eaten. Love it and will do more next year. I may just grow garlic, tomatoes are a royal pain here. Between the lack of rain, the alkaline soil and the horn worms...Oy!

Have a wonderful July 4th!

Be Happy...

Be Brave...

Be Thoughtful...

Be Careful...

Be Loving...

Rain...it is wet! Amazing.

Thank you, who ever you are, for sending us rain! We really appreciate it more than you will ever know.

We had a half an inch of rain tonight with more on the way!

Maybe we will be able to breathe without smoke in the air. Maybe it will put the fires to rest.

Maybe.

But, thank you!

Ah, summer

It's here......for sure. Lovely cool nights and warm days but no rain yet. The monsoons should be on their way in the next few weeks. Let's hope so. We sure need a respite from the fires and dying plants.

I was worried that my lovely garlic plants had succumbed to the monster (probably another gopher) that is tunneling my garden. Some of them survived and have sent out scapes...yes, they really did! Here they are, and they are delicious.

 

 

I was so delighted with them that they had to be the star of tonight's dinner. And, well they were. I had made boiled shrimp for the main course as a salad with a little toasted sesame oil, lemon juice, tamari, hot chili seasoning, some celery, carrots, white beans and a handful of thinly sliced garlic scapes! Fabulouso!

The heat and marshaled water have saved my three (am not going overboard with water or plants this year) tomato plants and the red tomato automators are a a blessing. This is the first year here I've had tomatoes on the vine in June! See below!

 

Of course, this is Early Girl and she sure knows how to produce. But I love what those red dishes do, at least the water isn't wasted. And in a severe drought that is mandatory. The duff you see in the bottom of the dish is slow release fertilizer that wants to float around all the time. But it is cheering the plants on!

Forget the eggs......

Didn't I tell you that mama snake looked pretty relaxed the other day? Well, lookie here, her first hatched!

I just spent a half an hour playing hide and seek with this little beauty! What brains they have, when I hid behind a bush it peeked over to that side to see where I was and when I went closer it ducked down behind a rock. Now, the question is....how many siblings? I've put out water for them, the mice are pretty shrewd and we haven't seen our lizards in days. Hmmmmm, who ate them or did they just flee?

JB's question is, where's Mom? How about, where's Dad?  I'd come in to post these wonderous photos and JB came back to the house, passing the apple tree...guess who was sunny herself beneath it? Mom! All 6 feet of her!

Yesterday was bread making day, here are the results. Peasant Rye and Buttermilk. Fantastic texture to both.
Had gotten my order of 50 pounds of flour from King Arthur and was inspired to bake. It was also too windy to be outside.

It starts......

As of today, June 1st, we have two wildfires going in the surrounding area. One to the east and one to the west. The air is getting denser and the visibility is around 8 miles. Pretty early, but then we haven't had a decent rain in months. Please...send rain!

Looking for eggs...

I know it isn't Easter but I've been looking for snake eggs ever since "Red Racer" landed on my portal and in my yard.  Being a totally relaxed snake, I felt by the look of it's happiness in the following photo I'd better be on the lookout. It seems they have about 15 babies....I don't have enough food for them here. What would I need to feed them?

I can't come up with a name for it......any suggestions?  Don't you just love that inquisitive look on it's little face?

Please send rain...anyone, please!

The lilacs are happy this year, they liked being cut back last year and seem to be doing well without a lot of water.

Nevertheless, please send rain. My rainstick is getting worn out.

Lest We Forget

As we all take time out today to remember our fallen heroes, 

PLEASE

 also think of what each and everyone of us can do to stop the horrors of war and hate.

Love all of mankind

Stop the narcissism that prevails today 

Be kind to all!

Yesterday was dull and annoying, today, well what a difference!

This is the reason for the following photo, poor dying deer mouse! Totally adorable, but very, very sickly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Just call me the predator....I'm a native Red Racer of the family of Coachwhips....I live here@HER house! I'm still young, I'm only about 6 feet long! But, I'm fast.

This is HER!

She is doing a rain dance with her rain stick that she bought about 20 years ago from a wonderful woman at the flea market. She has carried it all over the country as she moved from place to place....and she really needs to use it here now! And so she is!

Did you ever have one of those days?

       Well, I should have just stayed in bed today. Took me the entire morning to find (I should say, try to find) several things I thought I needed. Found one...the other is causing me to think I'm losing my mind. It isn't anything important, just something I thought I had purchased but can not find anywhere. SO...I guess the gremlin got it.

        It is a lovely day but so dry that I can't plant the rest of my flowers until after 6:00 p.m. when I can water them in.  We are all very concerned about the lack of moisture here in the southwest. We have only had about an inch or two of rain this year so far. We've gotten to the point where we count the drops that are flung fleetingly at us. The wind has been incredible, 40/60 mph or more at times. Witness the horrible tornadoes that occur after the wind goes into the plains.

 

At least the clematis and pansies are happy with the care and feeding I've been giving them. The garlic is still happy and the vegetable garden is at  least beginning to look like a vegetable garden. I tried the red tomato automators this year. I had such poor luck with the varieties I tried last year that this year I went with two old favorites and one new variety, that being 'Oregon Spring.'   

Here is a small overview of the south garden this afternoon. The garlic is in the far right corner of the raised area. It is about 18 inches tall . The Apple Mint is trying very hard to take over the entire area.

We have lost two deciduous trees to the drought so far this year and if it doesn't improve this summer we will probably lose three more. The native junipers and pinon are taking a hit as well. The trees in the photo above are close to the house and they benefited this past winter with the snow runoff from the roof. Thank goodness as they cool the house in the summer. 

Back to my search for that damn blouse pattern!

Earth Day, 2013

 Sorry, am a couple of days late in posting a terrible photo of the sad and sorry apple tree. I doubt that we will get a single apple this year. Granted, we did get a bumper crop last year, and we are still enjoying apple sauce, apple butter and apple pies from that crop. But....even the tulips are a failure, between the deep freezes we have at night and the lack of moisture....sheesh!

The poor little lizards are starving as well. The Asian stir fry mix that was growing so well  is totally gone, devoured by the little devils. Can't blame them, now I will have to start the plants in trays and transplant when they are large enough to have some for me and some for them. Luckily they don't like arugula or mustard or spinach so they are doing well! I planted shallots yesterday and they seem to shun them as well. Had bought some lovely seedlings of a long keeping variety.

Ah, the joys of gardening in a severe drought.

April 17, It is snowing.....

This was a year ago tomorrow........

What a sad and cold spring we have had here. I will post tomorrow a photo of this same site, with any luck it will still look pretty good, but, I wonder, we have had NO real rain, snow or moisture since last year. Perhaps, a half inch of precipitation since January first. And, that is any kind including fog. Sad, sad, sad.

In the interest of reporting something positive, the garlic I planted last November is up a foot and doing very well. Requiring total attention and water and fertilizer to keep it alive. But, it looks good and we are hoping for a bumper crop.

I planted the following seeds two weeks ago and am delighted to announce that the Asian Stir Fry seeds that I had saved from  various plants a couple years ago are up and very proud of themselves, the Onions are peeking through the ground and the Arugula and Mustard seeds are trying to prove themselves as well.

The Apple Mint is being totally assertive and is asking for a transplant to a more spacious area. Perhaps outside the wall of the garden. Do bunnies like mint, I wonder? The Italian Parsley is now being considered one of the better landscaping features in a small arid garden. It needs very little moisture, is delicious and invasive.

It is supposed to get to 22 degrees F, can the Apple blossoms survive?

Stay tuned!

Oh yes, Spring is coming!

What a totally wonderful day!
The sun was out, it was in the 60's and I was finally able to work outside on my winter's jewelry projects. The top of this ring is a Metal Clay casting I put together several years ago of that spring's Oak leaves. The band, which I put together today is sterling silver, not fine silver. I don't like to use a torch in my studio as I have so many paper and yarn projects floating around I'm terrified I'll set fire to the place. I opt for the outside spaces instead, which means warmer weather. I call this piece the Oak Leaf Angel, as it looks like an angel from some angles. It was so hard to photograph, took all sorts of shots inside and outside. I applaud all of you who make your work look so good.

Since it was so wonderous outside,  I had to go on a tour and inspect the progress in the garden.  Tulips are peeking, daffodils are up 4 inches in two days, grass is trying to grow and the Aspen are trying to bud!

BUT, the best news of all to me was that all four varieties of garlic that I planted last fall, are coming up! Hip, Hip, Hooray! Little green buds showing through the mulch.......now for water this Spring. Rain, please!

Happy Valentine's Day

A miniature rose bouquet for all my wonderful friends!

                                   

Spring is coming.....

Blowing snow frames my little herb pots which I use as candle holders. Too cute to get dirty.

I just discovered the very most wonderful web site for gardeners, it is: http://allthingsplants.com/

The Forum section on it is not to be believed, everything you've ever wanted to know seems to be included here.

This is my new go-to site for all things bright and beautiful and green and growing. Make it yours too, you will not be sorry. Only 6 more weeks and we can get busy in the garden, maybe sooner with this weird weather we all seem to be having.

In the meantime, enjoy the time off and read your catalogs. Tomato Growers Supply Company  has one that tempts me way too much.  Last year I succumbed to too may varieties, interesting but I'll try not to do that again this year with my limited space. Well, maybe 2 new ones!

The timed honored January Thaw!

I took this photo a couple of months ago.....the grasses have weathered the cold quite well. They still look like this.

But, I don't have a photo taken today...went to the art store and found all sorts of treasures....should have come home and taken photos but...the clouds rolled in and by then it wasn't such a warm day to be outside after all.

Yesterday I sat outside in the sun for an hour...delightful in the middle of January, no shoes, no coat, no sunscreen!

I'm so happy that January gives me time to rest, read and relax. But, being a total compulsive, I keep feeling that I should be creating something new. To assuage my guilt I have 4 projects started and sitting on my drawing board, sewing center and in my feeble mind! I'm thinking purple!