Hope for a peacefilled 2016

2015 was a most pitiful year....can we all try and be the very best we can be in 2016? 

Stop thinking about yourself, think of others first. 

Be thrifty, share what you have. 

The world can not go on with hate and fear.

Be kind and loving. 

Every single one of us on earth.

This year's Stollen

I went off on a spree this year and changed the flavor and fillings for my annual Stollen. This one is more Italian flavored than German. I think it is also the best one I've ever made and I've made hundreds. Baking at 7,000 feet is a challenge and I altered my original recipe to compensate for what I perceived as faults in previous attempts. The newer ingredient list is as follows, Italian diced glaceed fruits, raisins, sliced dried apricots and pine nuts! But the best additions of all are the grated peel of an entire large navel orange and Fiori di Sicilia! Amazing transformation of flavors. 

Merry Christmas one and all.......

Merry Christmas everyone

This is the photo that I used for my card this year, it was taken a couple years ago and I still think it is the prettiest wreath we've done in years. I wish you all the very best at this holiday season and ask that you join me in a wish for peace on earth.

Autumn is here with El Nino's rain

We just had the most rain we've had in three months. All of it came down in about a half an hour. Terrific, we need the moisture so that the trees and the animals will survive this coming winter. To say nothing about the people whose wells are going dry. And, it is still raining! Yippee

Normally this is a dry slope, now with two inches of water in it!

However, I have another thing to spout off about today, that being the fact that people don't seem to care to listen to one another anymore.   Husbands, wives, children, politicians, teachers, whomever.

 It is so very sad.

Why, I ask you, why? Why would anyone do that to another human being? Listen, please, listen.

So many people are alone now, no matter their ages or whether they live with another person, but, they have no one who really cares what happens to them. Do you, who ever you are, ask and listen to their cares, their problems, their wishes? If not, who are you really and why do you do this to someone you might care a little about?

I am no saint but I do spend time caring about people, as a result have many more friends than most. 

Sooooo, my plea today is for you to be a friend, be thoughtful, take care of the people you know and listen, love them and be there for them. If we all did this it would be a far, far better world.

Another APPLE day...

I don't know about you, but, I love being able to pick my own vegetables and fruit. Better even when it comes from my own garden, no travel needed. Today I made the first of several New Mexico apple pies. NM being that they were grown here, not that it is a special brand. These are from my four apple grafted tree. They are really flavorful and pretty much bug free. It is a bit of a challenge to peel and cut them if they have a few beasties inside.

Tomorrow I PLANT vegetable seeds! Let's see what comes up. I'll let you know!

P.S. You do know that if you double click on any of my photos they will open in a much larger size in another window. Have fun!

Autumn is in the air

The New England Asters are in full bloom everywhere. I feel like little Ms. Asterseed when they set seed as I harvest the seeds and spread them around the yard.  This year with all the rain we had in July they have fulfilled their promise of lavender beauty.

It was a real struggle to have a vegetable garden this year due to the preponderance of mice. They hate arugula so we have a bumper crop of it that we can hardly keep up with. It is delicious tho. I'm going to plant a late summer garden of kale and Swiss chard. Wish me luck.

The apple tree came thru with wonderful apples and the tomatoes were grown in mouse-proof pots!
All totally organic, not a spray touched their skins. Today is apple sauce and tomato sauce making day!

Ever changing gardens

We are having work done to the front of the house so I thought it would be a good time to remove the yarrow that was planted in the east garden. I hope they all make it as it would be lovely to see 18 plants in full bloom next year!

This morning was bright and cheery and when I went out to pick up the newspapers at the end of the driveway, there was a young coyote trotting along. He seemed to have a destination in mind, but when I scuffled my feet in the gravel he fled. He was so thin and looked so hungry I was sure that he'd find a meal somewhere. About 15 minutes later I heard the cry, some poor rabbit or critter was breakfast I'm sure.

We haven't seen the bobcat around lately so the coyotes are back in the neighborhood. Ah, the balance of nature.

There are times when we need to reflect......

I love this part of the south garden, it makes me happy.

I follow a great many brilliant blogs, some are photographers, some are artists, some are gardeners, some are cooks, some are very personal and these brave people talk about their lives and their tribulations.

One of the more interesting is a woman who now lives in France and is battling death with a very, very large stick. I urge you to read her at least once, it will put your life in perspective. She has hers down to a tee.    Her blog is:http://havesomedecorum.blogspot.com/2015/07/le-week-end_13.html

This was taken after a hail storm, nickel size hail and these beauties came thru.....the hollyhocks took a beating.

Oh, it just looked too good....

One of my many cooking magazines came the other day with this incredible looking galette on the cover. Who could resist? Not moi. So here is my attempt to copy the Bon Appetit recipe.

I have a little quibble with the recipe, in that if you think that you can roast a half a cup of pecans at 350 degrees for 12 or more minutes, I will guarantee you a kitchen full of smoke. It took mine 2 and a half minutes to be perfect. I watch, as nuts are squirrelly and will burn! Never answer the phone when you are toasting them.

Otherwise, we look forward to dessert tonight!

Oh My, it is one delicious recipe! Vanilla ice cream and a small fork and spoon! Enjoy!

The vegetable garden is a NO! We have a varmint or maybe more varmints who delight in seedlings.
Given the drought, no more seeds will be planted until those devils move on to greener pastures.

This is the year for lavender, we have a bumper crop in every garden. These will be harvested at dawn tomorrow before the bees get up!


I'm constantly amazed at how much global warming is changing the blooming times of plants here in the mountains. We have plants blooming two to three weeks ahead of normal and others aren't even thinking of sending up a flower stalk. I need to look into this. Here is an example:

It is a pretty combo tho, isn't it?

Glorious Spring

The rose filled sitting area surrounded by herbs of all kinds.

The opposite side of the sitting area.

The roses as seen from the kitchen window during one of our now frequent rain storms. All the gardens are so happy with the cooler weather and the moisture.

Lest we forget.....

Many years ago when I was in the English countryside, I came across a wonderful garden with a lovely and discreet sign in the middle of a rose arbor that just said, "Lest we Forget." On this Memorial Day when we should all be honoring those who served as well as those who did not come home, I'd like to thank each and every brave person who was willing to possibly give their lives for peace.

Let us all reflect on the fact that most everyone has forgotten how to make this world a more peaceful and harmonious place. Let us remember that we are all on this planet together and that we should strive for harmony everywhere we turn. Be kind, be patient and put others first. Just one tiny step...
lest we forget.

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

What to my wondering eyes should appear last weekend but a California Condor flying high above us and circling. Most likely on a search for food. We have plenty of rabbits for it once again. If you aren't familiar with this majestic vulture ( I didn't have a camera with me) follow this lead to a very good description with photos  California Condor !

Sunday was a day full of weather,  half an inch of snow in the morning, followed by rain,
followed by hail! Always interesting to get moisture in any form.