Saving the Garden

Don't worry this is not another post on canning. However, I do have some Quince to experiment with. But back to the point, Colin and I are trying to save our garden from the impending frost. How you ask? With a hoop house. 

This puppy will have plastic laid over the top and secured. Perhaps we can have greens all winter. Or perhaps we can save my silly pepper plants that did nothing all summer long and then two weeks ago decided to flower. Ity bity seasonally confused peppers anyone? I will post another picture of our new hoop house once it has its plastic attached.

Sunsets in NM

You know your a New Mexican if you look at a gorgeous sunset and say, "Yeah, that's nice, but I've seen better." Well it didn't get much better than the other night. Believe it or not, these photos were not enhanced in any way, shape, or form. 

 All the RVs are parked for Balloon Fiesta.

Didn't Colin get some great shots? 

The Quaking Aspen

It is truly fall in New Mexico when it is time to go see the aspens turn into fields of gold.

We took full advantage of the aspens in Santa Fe by going for a bike ride through them on Saturday and then a hike with Colin's parents on Wednesday.

This little light of mine

Well, we are making some progress on the kitchen even if it is just some little things. We finally installed the undercabinet lights on the microwave cabinet.

My sister Camille says never to have interior lights on while taking pictures but I had to break that rule to show you my new little light. I also obviously did not style this picture. It even has a little switch. So it will only be on when I am making coffee or searching for a chocolate treat in the bread box (now you know our secret chocolate hiding spot).

Thanks to Heather and Norm this little light was free since it was left over from when they built their house. I think free improvements are the best kind.

Fall flowers

The giant volunteer sunflower in the front.

Is the kitchen finished?

No, of course not! Here's the breakdown of what still needs to be done to finish this project off.

Necessary:
Sink countertop
Under-window countertop
Bar countertop
Tile backsplash for behind the sink

and the stove

Decide on the copper backsplash for the rest of the kitchen ( I am worried it will make the kitchen look too dark- what do you think?)
Install the pot-filler
Paint and install the baseboards


Make a door to cover the flour container spot next to the stove (I am thinking something copper with wooden edges.)

Repaint the round wall where the chair has wrecked the drywall (Install a bumper on the chair or wall?)

Hang metal spice board

Optional: 

Paint the inside of the door with the blue chalk board paint

Install another shelf to display my homemade canned goods

Cut out the drywall by the door in between the studs to make a angled shoe rack instead of this mess!

 Create custom drawer inserts with balsa wood instead of this mess.

The plums are ripe

 

So far I have made, Plum-Apple-Tomato Chutney, Plum Butter, and a Plum custard.

Damn it feels good to be a Gangsta

Luna was not feeling like she fit in with the neighborhood well enough so we gangsta-fied her.

Doesn't she look hard core Nueva Mexicana?

The last of the apricots. Yay!

 Colin is not tired of the apricots but I sure am.

This was the last of the crop for this year. The amount you see here made 3 trays of apricot leather, 1 gallon of juice, two apricot tea cakes, and 3 gallons plus 4 pints of jam. Done!

DIY Aerator

We have an unheard of problem in Sunny New Mexico in the fact that we have too much shade for the grass. Every year we diligently plant grass seed in the empty spots and it has gotten somewhat better since we moved in. Colin thought of a fabulous idea for planting the seed deeper this time. This is the aerator he made. Maybe is should say these are the aerators he made. 

Pretty clever! This is him stopping and dropping in the seed. And yes he was doing it in the dark, the only time cool enough to do any type of physical activity outside. I think he should patent his invention and call them stomp and grow. 

We're Jammin', I wanna Jam it wid you.

FYI: The small jars are three jars deep on the shelf!

This song has a whole new meaning.

Apricots, be careful what you wish for...

So far I have made 36 jars of apricot jam, two pans of apricot cheesecake, a half gallon of apricot juice, and two apricot tea cakes. I have also given away three baskets full of apricots.

 A big thank you to Pat Newman for letting me borrow her pressure canner and canning accessories.

 So after all that work, what does my apricot tree look like?

 It looks like I have not picked a single apricot, that's what.

Be careful what you wish for.

"Lettuce rest, I'm feeling beet."

Wow, taking out the carpet really took it out of me.  I was so tired today. But in the evening I did have enough energy to make something yummy for dinner. (Yummy if you like beets, yucky if you don't)

Beet Salad on the sunny windowsill

Beet Salad

I used three beets with their greens but you could use however many you like. I also used up the last of our quinoa ( I think it was about half a cup - more would be good). If you are cooking/baking challenged you should know not to follow my recipes (since I don't measure anything) instead google yourself a nice beet salad recipe with measurements and other specifics.

With that said here is how I made this lovely pink dinner.

1) Wash beets.
2) Cut off greens and chop into pieces.
3) Wrap beets in tin foil and bake at 450 for about an hour.
4) Chop some garlic (2 cloves?)
5) Saute beet greens and garlic in your preferred fat ( I used butter -but olive or coconut oil would work)
6) Make some quinoa. (Just follow the package instructions)
7) Mix cooked quinoa and beet greens together and cool.
8) When the beets are tender peel and chop. (Wear some gloves unless you like to have pink tinted hands for a day or more.)
9) Mix beets with beet green/quinoa and chill
10) Dressing- use whatever - Pour over salad and serve.
10A) My dressing was: sesame oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic, black pepper, and anchovy paste (I added this when I knew no vegetarians would be partaking; it comes it a tube and yes, it is yummy.) Shake those up and pour over salad.
11) Contemplate the color fuchsia while you enjoy your salad.
12) I recommend changing into your painting clothes to make this. For the same reason as number 8 except clothes will be forever stained not just stained for a day or so.

Magic Carpet?

Only magically disgusting. But now it is gone. It had a good long life. I am pretty sure this carpet was original to the remodel that added the back of the house, which the old owners told us happened in 1984. Twenty eight years of grim gone!

No that is not weird colored concrete, it is dirt. Yuck.

What's next? Well I need to remove all the tack strips around the edge and then rent a polisher from a concrete place and then stain it. Add my new-oh-so-pretty wool rug and pull all the furniture back in place. Hopefully, I can accomplish this all before the family reunion brunch I am hosting in mid-January. Better hop to.

Too much baking?

I do concede that I bake an awful lot. But this mixer is a "Professional" Kitchen Aide.  I have had to take it apart twice in the last 3 months to tighten screws that are inconveniently located underneath the motor. It was a scary moment when I flipped the switch after putting it all back together but it came on and seemed tight. Next time I have to take it apart I am going to use some lock tight on those silly screws.