Approaching Saturnalia

Claire is back. She flew in from Costa Rica a day or two back. Last night, she and Jarrod stayed over to join us, then Jarrod left for the Broncos-Patriots game. While he was gone, the other sisters and partners came over to wish her an early birthday. I will post a few pictures later, but will only mention here the mid-day meal menu. Mary and I marinated two sets of chickens thighs, one in lemon and black pepper and the other in yogurt, cumin, cilantro and garlic. The latter I cooked less thoroughly because I selected out the larger thighs to fit in the larger casserole dish... Accompanying the poultry were grilled Brussels sprouts, cut in half and doused in olive oil and garlic/butter mashed potatoes. The weather allowed us to sit outside in the sun as the temperature hovered in the low 60s, but we retreated to the family room to listen as Claire narrated hundreds of photos she collected during her fall semester experience. Shane called from Knoxville to say he was on the way. I spoke to my parents to touch base in the pre-holidays. Tally ho for now, Cheers.

Approaching Saturnalia

Claire is back. She flew in from Costa Rica a day or two back. Last night, she and Jarrod stayed over to join us, then Jarrod left for the Broncos-Patriots game. While he was gone, the other sisters and partners came over to wish her an early birthday. I will post a few pictures later, but will only mention here the mid-day meal menu. Mary and I marinated two sets of chickens thighs, one in lemon and black pepper and the other in yogurt, cumin, cilantro and garlic. The latter I cooked less thoroughly because I selected out the larger thighs to fit in the larger casserole dish... Accompanying the poultry were grilled Brussels sprouts, cut in half and doused in olive oil and garlic/butter mashed potatoes. The weather allowed us to sit outside in the sun as the temperature hovered in the low 60s, but we retreated to the family room to listen as Claire narrated hundreds of photos she collected during her fall semester experience. Shane called from Knoxville to say he was on the way. I spoke to my parents to touch base in the pre-holidays. Tally ho for now, Cheers.

First two days in July

Mary and I arose late for us. The SLV sun rises early, but yesterday we didn't. I intended to get out to fish early, but didn't make it until closer to noon. I spent two hours perusing the on-line content for a web class on family and community engagement, then headed out. The river is still fairly swift, so I looked for places up the south bank, across from Nat's house, to cast. Brown trout followed my spinners, but they did not bite. By now Mary and Eve had walked up to where I fished across the river from the Beaver Patch. Determined to try something more natural looking, I considered casting one of the flies in the tackle box, but settled on a small rubber minnow. A 16" brownie took the bait, got landed then grilled for lunch. All in all I spent two hours on the outing from cast to meal.

After lunch, Eve and Mary drove to the Peddler to provision Eve for a hike she planned to take up to Crestone Needle by way of Westcliffe. More on that below. I spent time in the potato cellar culling through cables and OLD computer hardware, we are talking back to the early 1980s and Texas Instrument 99/4a "upgraded" with an additional 32 KILOBYTES of memory. I sorted ADB and serial cables and loaded the Subaru with some old Mac books and trash bags for a combination trip to the dump and Rainbows End. Intentions to have Eve practice night driving were dashed when I discovered I had misplaced my keys, but Mary accompanied me to leave Eve at the Basinger's for the trip out this morning. Eve texted this morning that she and Ian had set up camp.

We drove to the Rio Grande Sanitary Landfill, the dump, this morning then enjoyed breakfast at the Movie Manor (me Huevos Rancheros and her eggs and sausage) then decided to drive on to Alamosa to pick up a prescription and other errands. We dropped off some old books at Rainbows End strolled around the Green Spot where I picked up a bag of blood and bone meal combo. Next was back to the Alamosa Rainbows Inn where I found, then rejected an old printer but picked up another vintage full size USB Apple keyboard. Next was to Milagros for coffee, then City Market for groceries, finally to Big R for a fishing filet knife.

We had to stop in Monte for coffee at the bakery on main street. Mary visited Sheryl Scherzer at her bead store. Owen works with her there. Upon arriving home, we noticed how unsettled the weather was, so I checked out the radar for the Westcliffe vicinity. Mary did some research on the Crestone Needle climb, a level 3. With the weather passing through, and news of a couple of hikers who died trying a Level TWO climb, we fretted a bit, then felt some relief to see the front had passed through the camping area Ian and Eve set up for the climb tomorrow. They are both outdoors types, but a climb up a 14,000 peak could be challenging.

Hither and Thither

On a recent email to Hannah, I remarked that my day was full of blog worthy events, but now I can't recall anymore than that they were a mix of work related readings and doings and ranch diversions. I tend to multi task due to general restlessness and the need to avoid sitting too long. I don't keep a regular journal like I used to which brings me to ask Mary questions like "What did we do yesterday?" or even "What day is this?"

To keep track of work I want to document, I am using a little iPhone app called "TimeLogger" which lets me set a time and categorize the task. With July on the horizon, it will be too soon that I need to return to work. One of the tasks I set for myself was something of reinvention, at least sorting again through strengths and interests to package and market to the administrative work I do for the school district. Perhaps that will be what you hear about next.

It has been hot, dry and windy. But this morning, rumblings over the mountains brought coolness.

Working in the Garden

Actually, it is mostly a flat of sand and rocks. The automatic sprinkler I set out didn't work too well with the water turned off at the pump, but I soaked the spot after we arrived. This morning I set beet seedlings in peat pots into the now wet sandy soil. Does "loess" describe what we are dealing with? It's better than the clay in Loveland.

Mosquitoes are out, but this morning I noticed lacewings landing on my hands. I am about to go to the Pipe Dream East to secure hinges to a shed door and will stop by the river to look for them there. The river is still fairly high and swift, but much less muddy. Snow pack estimates were put, from mountain readings at 101% of normal, but some experts contend the river flow will be more like 60-70% of normal.

The forecast is for 86 today. The Basinger family will be hosting a farewell meal and get together for a foster child leaving to join the military. Lebanese food has been prepared. We'll head out for perhaps warmer wetter in the Antonito area where the rendezvous will be held. My back has been very still and sore upon rising after sitting, but I think I will be able to enjoy the day after some garden stretching to plant those beets.

The bigger picture and gardener's shoes

west section: carrots, beets, garlic, something else...

Happy tractor operator, before the tire went out.

NEUROptera !

Father's Day 2011

Hello, All

Thanks for the Fathers' Day visit and gifts. Eve, here are pictures of most everything except the lovely pictures Pele drew for me, Mary's New Yorker subscription and the bag of pretzels I munched with a beer while resting my aching back.

 The owl mobile from Hannah is the same brand as the Blue Heron mobile Mary brought home.

 Another from Hannah, a fish wall hanging.

 From Mary, some fancy schmancy "fish bone and skin tweezers".

 From little acorns might oaks grow feltings with natural acorn caps.

 A "paisano" cup with some santa fe style incense sticks.

 From Jessica, Shane, Claire and other stuff with Mary, a book of Papa Poetry.

 No celebration is complete without a skull.

And from Hannah, the Dad Sauce.

I neglected to add Jarrod's tea, all the way from China! Jasmine and Ginger - Can you tell which?

And here's one more gift I neglected to share; Claire likes the shade-grown, I like the taste.

Love you all, Dad

The Owls are Back

Greetings from the San Luis Valley!

Unlike the previous two summers, the owls are back to the ranch sooner with plans to stay at least a bit longer. Roger's last contract day was Tuesday 7 June. Monday and that Tuesday, however, were spent attending Colorado Dept. of Ed. sessions at UNC. Wednesday was a freebie for the district as he wrapped up some loose ends then it was off to the ranch Thursday. Since Roger and Mary have been back, they have visited the Kelsos up the street at Sargent district, started watering the dry lawns, and planted a garden, more on that later. Shane helped Roger return the front right tractor tire and he has tried his hand at fishing. The river is terribly swift, muddy and high for fishing, but Shane has enjoyed walking to fish. More briefs, and maybe a theme later.